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wendesivert's comments:
on Bike Plan 2030
cool.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
scottmil,
To answer "You think the lack of cyclists make rural roads unsafe?"
No, speeding and roadway designs are the primary culprits. A significant presence of bicyclists and pedestrians, however, does force drivers to pay more attention and drive slower, improving safety for everyone. Also, roadway designs that are safer for peds/bikes (i.e. grid systems) are also safer for motorists.
An exception is the interstate system, which is comparatively safe for cars at high speeds, but not for bikes, peds, scooters, etc. This design only works well, however, when on/off points are miles apart.
None of this is to imply that the main reason we should promote bicycling is to improve safety for cars. It is merely to point out one of the many ways bicycling, even by a minority of road users, benefits the larger community.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
scottmil,
It's not overstating the cause at all. If "cars only" is safer, why are there more per capita fatal traffic accidents in rural areas with few bicyclists and pedestrians?
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
scottmil,
Safety is a reason many people who perhaps are interested in the benefits of cycling (health, money, environment, etc) do no bicycle. That's why making bicycling feel safer to new users is important.
As I mentioned, I have already perceived an improvement in safety during the six years I have been communting. I've always been wary of cars, but I definitely sense cars paying more attention to me (in a good way.)
And this is measurable - the Oregonian just ran an article about Portland being the ninth safest city for pedestrians. In it, they talked about how that translates into safer roads for everyone. (Remember, the vast majority of traffic fatalities are motorists.)
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
scottmil,
You have it exactly backwards. More bicyclists (and pedestrians) make the roads safer for everyone including motorists. Motorists paying better attention has a positive impact on all road users.
I have been commuting by bike regularlly since 2003, and as the number of bicyclists increases every year, I feel noticably safer every year. I've never had an accident with another road user (I have fallen due to slick conditions a few times) and I have had only a few near misses.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
I'm not a "hipster." I am a small business owner with an office downtown. I wanted to ride for health, but it was hard to get started (about 5 miles from our house to office). Then, in 2003, our gross receipts of our business dropped more than half from the previous year. We needed to find little ways to save money - we refinanced the house, stopped eating out and started riding our bikes.
Not only did we save money, I lost 10 pounds and my husband's borderline blood pressure went down to normal. We've been riding regularly ever since (usually 3-4 days per week, all year). The infrastructure gets better every year. I'm 8 months pregnant, and I rode until 2 weeks ago. (Now I am on the bus/MAX.) We drive, too, BTW.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on Bike Plan 2030
In my personal experience, the marjority of current motorists do NOT obey the posted speed limit.
posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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