Whether it's giving kids the vision to ride or not, someone has to start them on the routine of regularly doing it as well. Once they become confident they can do it, which can be taught or learned by experience, they are likely to continue doing it.
But they also have to have confidence in finding a safe route for biking that they can use to get them to their destination. That's where a good map becomes critical for many, whether it be Madison, La Crosse or some other part of the state (or another state like Minnesota that also has fairly good bicycling routes). Gaylord Nelson had a vision for bicycling that I was not aware of until just yesterday, when I wiped the dust off a bicycle map/book I bought in the mid-1970s, and read the introduction to the book. The Introduction reads, in part, as follows: "After nearly 200 years of rosy optimism that there would always be a new frontier, America is finally being confronted with the necessity of facing some tough realities. It has been a painful awakening. It started a few years ago when we began to realize that in our unthinking, pell-mell national growth, we were destroying the air, the water, the land -- the very environment that provided our unique natural heritage, supported our well-being, and sustained our existence." "Fuel shortages are among the debts that have come due on the mortgage for America's unprecedented material success. Our unceasing demand for "more" has stretched to the breaking point the energy systems and resources that are the foundation of our style of life. In fact, the pollution crisis and the energy crisis are merely different sides to the same coin, and both must be dealt with together." ... "Individually and collectively, we must make adjustments in our policies, priorities, and values today as a down payment toward meeting our energy and environmental needs tomorrow." "The increased use of the bicycle -- which does not pollute and which requires human power rather than fuel -- is a heartening sign that the seeds of a new environmental ethic are beginning to grow in this country, that Americans are at last realizing that they must change their attitudes if they are to save a rapidly deteriorating environment." ... "Clearly though, we have made just a small start. We need many more miles of bikeways if the bicycle is to become an integral part of our transportation system. And, at the very least, we need to make more Americans aware that the environment cannot be taken for granted. Hard work, great care, and new attitudes will be necessary if we are to preserve it and to protect it." "Every bicycle we see in this country is a sign of this increasing awareness." - Senator Gaylord Nelson, 1975 The school officials spoken of in another message, who appear to be giving out the wrong message regarding the priorities bicycle travel should have versus motorized vehicle travel in this city, should be given a copy of the above quotes from former Wisconsin State Senator, Wisconsin Governor, and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, (and now author) Gaylord Nelson, to read, reflect on, and take the right course of action on. With global warming now a reality, along with worsening pollution and depletion of practically all naturally sustaining resources -- the air, water and land resources -- as well as the biological systems of which we are part of, two additional quotes by Gaylord Nelson are provided below: ""When it is asked how much it will cost to protect the environment, one more question should be asked: "How much will it cost our civilization if we do not?"" "The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." - Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day Founder For more quotes Gaylord Nelson quotes, please see: http://www.beyondearthday.com Mike http://danenet.danenet.org/bcp/trans/neuman_vmt.html Good luck. ----------------------------------------- From: Cathy Van Maren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 11:30:34 -0500 Subject: [Bikies] carl sagan quote Thinking about the current hoo-haw about the Madison public schools anti-biking policies and having good thoughts for those of you who are working to change the policies and the attitudes, I found this quote recently and thought it was particularly pertinent to this situation: "The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are, often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps." -- Carl Sagan good luck cathy in la crosse ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
