Mark N. Shahan said: > .. these volunteers saw bicycling issues in the larger context of land use and transportation issues > More people need to see bicycling issues in that larger context. Bicycling is an important part of living for many people, just as walking is. But unlike automobile driving, bicycling and walking (roller blading, etc.,) are not nearly as dangerous and destructive to other forms of community living as motorized travel is, particularly automobile travel.
The reason automobile travel is becoming so bad is because there is simply way too much driving. While being driven, each car extends the size of its surface area of impact area severalfold. The impact area of its emissions and sound ways extends over a much larger area and, when combined with the impact areas of thousands of other operating motor vehicles, the cumulative effect on the area and those within the area can become very destructive. The traffic noise volumes go up, and the levels of air pollutants (particulates) from motorized travel rise to more unsafe levels all around the area. Meanwhile, Madison (and Wisconsin's ) ever rising motor vehicle miles travelled (VMT) (per day, month, year, etc.) contributes heavily to the growing problem of excessive greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere, as 22 pounds of carbon dioxide gas (the most abundant of the greenhouse gases that warms the atmosphere) is emitted to the atmosphere for each gallon of gasoline burning in an automobile, or other internal combustion or jet engine. A safe, liveable and quality outdoor environment is a prerequisite to bicycling, outdoor recreation; in essence, doing anything in the out-of-doors. But it is an especially important to prerequisite for bicycling, walking and other modes of travel and experiences in which the person is fully exposed to the elements that surrounding her (or him). That's why I believe that any organization that advocates for bicycling, but does not also cooperate with others in fighting for a quality and safe environment -- free from pollution and other dangerous and degrading experiences -- is only meeting half of its responsibilities. >From all the information I've seen from Mark and others about BFW candidate Mark Shahan, it's obvious to me he already has been working on this. He deserves to be a BFW board member, because he knows what is essential to maintain and improve outdoor bicycling in Wisconsin, and he's not afraid to say so, nor is he likely to make excuses for not working to achieve those goals. Mike Neuman "If you live within walking or bicycling distance of work, you can reduce the global warming impact of your commute to zero." Denis Hayes, http://www.rambles.net/hayes_earthday.html ________________________________________________________________ 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
