Cycling - Chicken or Egg First?

Considering a Bicycle Ride? 

Cycling is my preferred transport mode. You could say, I'm the every day cyclist. I don't have toe-clips, or use clip-less. My ride has flat pedals, and I wear sturdy shoes, jeans, jacket, and my helmet. There's little spandex on my rides.   

I have taken longer rides, with camping gear and supplies in paniers. Last century, I rode from Binghamton, NY to Boston through the backwoods of the Adirondacks, the notches of the White Mountains, and the seacoast of New England. The most frightening section was getting into Boston from the North. It was in the late '90s, and there was little infrastructure to support a cyclist riding into the city. I gritted my teeth and rode my 90 pound rig across a bridge with traffic. It may have been the Rt. 28, Fellsway Bridge. Cars were travelling 50 to 60 mph, and the shoulder was nasty. It was a lot more scary than playing chicken, with pickup truck mirrors in Vermont.

I've been thinking about my own motivation, and how my daughter experiences cycling in Concord. We've ridden a handful of times to school in 2013. Honestly it's pretty tough, and a bit scary at times. There have been instances of drivers not sharing the road, and others speeding around us. Plenty of drivers have been patient, allowing us to make our turns. Thank you, for that! Some of the crossing guards are not sure how to work with us, while others have been really helpful in holding traffic. To my fellow parents at drop-off - please leave us room on the road, and a heartfelt thank you, to those of you who do.

So, what's it like for my kid, as I sheapard her through the streets of Concord? This Morning we met a 4th grader cycling to school. The rack at school had 5 bikes, which is a great trend to see. But realistically, how many other parents feel comfortable riding our streets and letting their kids ride bicycles to school? Is it safe enough for that? What would make you feel safe enough to use a bicycle for transport? This evening, my daughter told me she would like to ride in a place like Portland - she's been hearing my stories. She likes to ride here, and wishes we had more bike lanes.

I have years of experience riding on streets in the Twin CIties, Seattle, Portland, and Boulder, and think nothing of sharing the road with cars, trucks and buses. Other than being behind a vehicle spewing diesel exhaust, I really enjoy my rides. I've ridden since childhood and it's just always been part of me.

In cities where bicycling is growing, more bicycles on the road make it safer for all cyclists. Cycling begets more cycling. When drivers begin to think of themselves as cyclists too, then they start to share the road differently. As the most efficient human powered transportation mode, cycling can make us healthier, happier and reduce wear and tear of our roads. Replacing one errand with a trip on a bicycle is a small step. Unfortunately if that trip seems too frightening to consider, only a few will attempt it.

It's a chicken and egg problem. Too few people are cycling, so we don't need to build infrastructure. If the existing roads are too scary to consider cycling, who is going to try?

Complete Streets!

From the City of Concord Complete Streets Policy:

"In the effort to promote a transportation infrastructure that primarily focuses on quality of life and mobility for Concord residents, proactively assesses traffic operations and safety, and improves the experience of visitors, it shall be the policy of the City of Concord:  

1. To design, build and operate its roads and streets to safely accommodate all users and modes of transportation – the so called “complete streets” initiative..."

If we as a city are serious, then we need streets which feel safe for bicycling, so people can be confident. Cycling can be a safe transportation choice, for every day cyclists, with or without toe-clips, clip-less, or Lycra.  

The Re-Thinking Main Street Report specifically mentions how front in diagonal parking movements are incompatible with cycling. The approved TIGER application supports bicycling, yet the current plans retain the dangerous parking movements. Unfortunately Main Street will not be a place for every day cyclists, nor a safe place to bring our kids on a bicycle. Instead of welcoming "all users and modes", it will be the"so called" Complete Streets - incomplete solution. Here's my suggestion: Although back-in angle parking has drawbacks, it would allow many more users to safely access Main Street by bicycle.

We will live with Main Street, as well as the bonds to pay for it, for many years to come. It will become a legacy for future generations. It's looking like the past, instead of the future. Join me in asking the City Council to revisit this plan, to make it a Complete Streets solution for all, for the next 50 years.