[*BCM*] Bike over trash to save on gas

[Anne Wolfe]

Don't forget that in conjunction with the London Congestion Charge, they moved heavily (although they rapidly discovered not quite heavily enough!) to 1) expand the number of buses and other public transport (funding it through the congestion charge) and 2) a very heavy ad campaign to get people cycling through London.  And it did work.  Having come back to London after 15 years away, I'm constantly floored by the number of cyclists.  Used to be that no one cycled in London, and you'd have to be crazy to do it.  Now, they're everywhere, and they're increasing every day.  More than half our office cycles to work, and we're smug lawyers - exactly the sort of people you'd never expect to be cycling through London.  And because we do it, we've been able to convert other similar people to doing it.  Although the fact that it is now costs £8 to drive into London (about $14), even if you don't stop, and a single on the Tube is £3 ($5) to go one way through Zones 1-2, then biking looks a better alternative all the time.

Also, it should be noted that places like National Trust and English Heritage, when they do their guides for places, always include bike directions.  Very handy!
-----Original Message-----
From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of Ethan Woehrling
Sent: 02 May 2006 17:15
To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
Subject: [*BCM*] Bike over trash to save on gas

(sorry about the previous mis-send)

Mike,

Living in a city with cycle lanes, I can promise you that they are only worthwhile once motorists give them the respect they deserve (ie worthless, since once motorists are aware of cycle lanes they might as well be asked to be aware of cyclists).

Here in Brum cycle lanes are either dangerously narrow, or so wide that cars don't stay out of them.  In Germany and the rest of mailand Europe they manage a good mix of off-road cycle tracks and on-road lanes, but these only work because motorists and pedestrians are considerate of cyclists (ie most drivers are also cyclists, there are lots of cyclists, and if you walk on a cycle track you will get run over by a cyclist).

The only "cycle friendly" initiatives that I have heard of, that could actually get more people cycling would be *lower speed limits in built up areas - ie 20mph *a London-style congestion charge *a Paris style full-scale assault on the roads (halve the number of lanes, close some major routes to make a beach, and make some other major axes one-way roads) *cycle friendly traffic enforcement (and more police cyclists)

Well I live in one of the worst cities for cycling in Europe, so I don't expect many of the above being implemented.  
__________________
Sure, there are problems with cycling in Boston. The streets are not bicycle-friendly, for the most part, and neither are those using them. And not only are motorists a danger to cyclists, cyclists are a danger to each other. But part of the reason for this is the lack of dedicated bike lanes. Organizations like Livable Streets (www.livablestreets.info) are struggling to raise awareness of Boston s enormous potential as a greener, more livable city, but it is an uphill battle, for sure.


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