If we want to learn how to create a culture where bicycling is a normal part of life, it would probably help to study success stories elsewhere. Copenhagen is probably the best place to look. I've read (see http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/10/04/notes-on-bicycling-in-copenhagen/, for example) that was "very much a car town" until the 1960s. Obviously, it's very different now, in large part, I'm told, because of public investment and public policy.
Denmark is not the same as Wisconsin, of course, so Copenhagen's experience will not automatically transfer to our situation. But if a far northern city, with long winter nights and lousy winter weather can transform itself into a bicycling mecca, perhaps there's hope for us, too. [email protected] wrote: > Comments in-line: > >> From: <[email protected]> > >> I don't think I can wait for a majority of [motorists] to become bikers. >> Even in Madison, bikes are >> only about 5%? of traffic. > > I guess the duration of our wait depends on how much of a "bicyclist" a > driver needs to be before they develop an emotional association from a > bicyclist's perspective to road sharing issues. My guess is that anyone > that has spent two solid weeks on two wheels during the last 10 years is > probably enough of a bicyclist to get it. I imagine that a number far > less than 50% (15%?) would be sufficient to affect a substantial change > in road behavior. > > Whatever those numbers are, I have come to believe that trying to > cultivate bicycle riding in anyone over 18 is a very low > return-on-investment venture - and this fact suggests that pushing the > bicycling mode split up to 15% would take 26 years (assuming we can get > 25% of 18-year olds to cross the critical threshold for bicycling > experience.) > > 26 years is a long time to wait - but if I'm right, spending time > advocating for enforcement when you could be advocating for better > infrastructure is only going to make your wait longer. > >> Also, there is the chicken-and-egg problem. One reason people choose >> driving over biking is the >> perception that biking isn't safe. That perception is based on the >> reality that bike safety laws >> are not enforced. Adding more bike lanes won't change that. > > Yes, one reason why people don't bike is because they feel it isn't safe > - or at least that is what they say when you ask them. The reality is > that it is much safer to bike in traffic (especially when you practice > effective cycling) than common knowledge would have you believe - and > that fact alone suggests that stepping up the availability of effective > cycling classes (especially for the 18 and under group) could be one of > the keys to getting more butts on bikes. > > But why would someone want to spend their time taking an effective > cycling class? Because there is a fun and inviting bicycling > environment out there to explore and enjoy. Why would that environment > exist? Because we bikies argued our elected officials into creating > that environment! > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
