Secretary LaHood’s statement about bike and pedestrian activity is a logical extension of what we have learned about transportation in America over the last 25 years. That lesson is simply to look at the big picture, serve all users, and maximize the total transportation system.
For years, the needs of cyclists and pedestrians were virtually ignored, resulting in disproportionate numbers of injuries and the loss of life. It has left many cities with an unbalanced system that doesn’t work well for all users, like those who are disabled, unable to drive, or not old enough to get a license, such as kids going to school. While not everyone uses a car, at some point everyone is a pedestrian. Transportation systems that take everyone’s needs into consideration simply work better.
The fundamental point about cycling is that it is the least expensive way to add new capacity to our stressed transportation systems. In 14 years of biking in Washington, DC and not using a car, I have produced virtually no wear-and-tear on the roads, no air pollution, no competition for scarce parking spaces, nor added to Washington’s notorious congestion. My decision to burn calories instead of fossil fuel was good for me and the motorists who have chosen otherwise.
A vivid example of this can be found on the Hawthorne Bridge, located in the heart of downtown Portland, OR. Over the last 20 years, bridge traffic has increased some 17%. All but 1% of that increase has come from bicyclists, with almost no costs going to added wear-and-tear or necessary expansion to the bridge that would have resulted if the increase in use came from auto transportation.
Making simple accommodations for cyclists and promoting pedestrian activity, supplemented by efficient transit systems, is the fastest way to make America’s congested arteries work better for motorists and businesses that need to move freight.
For communities that have tried to deal with congestion by expanding highways, it doesn’t work. As the Mayor of Phoenix told me, after they struggled with a car-only approach to fix their transportation system, it was only after offering a balanced transportation package that they got the public support they needed. In the end, they saw better results from a mix of modes.
I have worked with dozens of communities across the country in similar situations, and the pattern is repeated. As they struggle with congestion and economic development, they have turned to community revitalization and balanced transportation systems that work. A pedestrian environment that is welcoming, safe and efficient sparks retail activity, makes property more valuable, and provides housing opportunities that are more cost-effective for the community.
Further, when children can walk and bike safely to school, there will be less congestion and less strain on harried parents. These parents, in turn, will be more likely to support the need to make their communities more livable.
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https://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2010/03/should-bikes-and-cars-be-treat.php#1572912oldId.20100325181832838
Biking in Baltimore