Some motorists are still losing sleep over conversion of auto lanes to bike lanes. Co-hosts (and City Councilors) Bill Murray and Tom Strand continue to explore this issue in search of a solution. Are parties in full possession of the facts? Are there any opportunities for improvement in planning or implementation? (Episode 107, Recorded 1/4/19)
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How about we leave the bike lanes alone for a summer, and see if everybody calms down?
Yes, please! I am so disappointed in the “me, me, me” behavior of the vocal critics of the bike lanes and elimination of unneeded auto lanes. Our city is trying to join the 21st century, let’s go! As people discover they have more safety sharing the roads with tons of gas-powered steel, they’ll choose bikes more and more.
Where is the evidence for that? Bike commuting is decreasing across the country, and even the most bike-friendly cities have a very small percentage of people biking. Seattle was #1 2018 bike friendly city and (a) they have only 3.4% of their population biking and (b) that amount is actually decreasing. And that’s a very bike friendly town–nationally and in Colorado Springs it’s closer to 0.5% of commuters who bike. Where’s the evidence that “if we build it, they will come”?
Sources:
1) Bike commuters are decreasing – https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/02/bike-work-fewer-americans-new-trails-share-programs/2319972002/
2) Seattle #1 – https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a23676188/best-bike-cities-2018/
3) Seattle 3.4% – https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/releases/2014/cb14-86_graphic_biketowork.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1K_tm55vjWVTB_ZZcO2rc20RmvOKJGY2OS4dRg7pA8hkWB3c-xlfKIFEU
4) Seattle biking is decreasing – https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/seattle-bike-commuting-hits-10-year-low-census-data-show/?fbclid=IwAR181YaOKlhMQiZ8E-ENdDjemxvFURym63jZG8k7ZPPR3dby3iAM-qeyCTc
5) National average 0.6% – https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/releases/2014/cb14-86_graphic_biketowork.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1K_tm55vjWVTB_ZZcO2rc20RmvOKJGY2OS4dRg7pA8hkWB3c-xlfKIFEU
6) COS bike commuters 0.5% – https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_B08006&prodType=table (You have to click “add/remove geographies” and specify colorado springs)
So what are you, City Councilmen, going to do about all the drivers who don’t follow the motor vehicle laws? Good Grief pick on the bikes and their “lawlessness”.