Student blog posts from the Great VCU Bike Race Book

Fiscella, Luanda

English

VCU Scholars Compass

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVCU Scholars CompassGreat VCU Bike Race Book Student Blog Posts Great VCU Bike Race Book2015Bicycle Urbanism, Blog 4Luanda FiscellaVirginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/bike_studentPart of the Higher Education CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA4.0) License.This Blog Post is brought to you for free and open access by the Great VCU Bike Race Book at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted forinclusion in Great VCU Bike Race Book Student Blog Posts by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, pleasecontact libcompass@vcu.edu.Downloaded fromhttps://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/bike_student/2511/24/2016 Bicycle friendly city, what does it look like? | Bicycle Urbanismhttps://rampages.us/bicycleurbanism2015/bicycle­friendly­city­what­does­it­look­like/ 1/3Bicycle UrbanismPart of the Great VCU Bike Race Book CourseBicycle friendly city, what does it looklike?October 2, 2015 Student Post dpittThe biggest obstacle any city faces trying to become bike-friendly is the modification of its car culture.In many ways bicycle infrastructure already exists, but roads continue to be dominated byautomobiles and desensitized drivers. Cyclists are subject to distracted motorists who are notaccustomed to sharing the road. Changing this alone can create bicycle-friendliness in any city.Bicycle infrastructure is necessary no matter what but tra庆�ic calming poses to be a challenge that willrequire multiple approaches and long-term commitment. Educating motorists how to share the roadand the importance of safe driving is just as critical as teaching cyclists how to ride in the city.While funding the bricks and mortar of any kind of infrastructure is always challenging, it is theattitude and behavior motorists have towards cyclists that will pose the biggest di庆�iculty. Even themost experienced and competent cyclist using a designated bike lane is subject to the hazards oftra庆�ic conditions. Roads everywhere are congested with vehicles operated by people o庆�entimestexting. Cyclists are at a serious risk when drivers travel at higher speeds while distracted. Havinglived in Richmond for only 1 year, I have seen 3 accidents occur between a car and a cyclist. This notonly rightfully scares people out of riding bikes but also a complete and unnecessary tragedy whenworst-case scenarios happen.A bike-friendly city would require motorists to drive less, slow down and learn how to share the road.A bike-friendly city would be one that motorists are hyper-aware of pedestrian and cyclists’ right tostreet space. Such a city is cognizant of the true burden singular vehicular use has on theenvironment and communities. Car use would be discouraged as much as possible while promotingthe low-cost sensible alternative of bussing or biking. Schools and places of employment wouldimplement incentives for those who choose to ride instead of drive. This kind of place goes beyondjust needed infrastructure; it involves rebuilding a culture where cars are less dominate.11/24/2016 Bicycle friendly city, what does it look like? | Bicycle Urbanismhttps://rampages.us/bicycleurbanism2015/bicycle­friendly­city­what­does­it­look­like/ 2/3Creating a bicycle friendly city is no small feat and requires long-term commitment and thecooperation of multiple stakeholders. This kind of evolution doesn’t happen overnight. From citiesdown to the individual, a thriving bicycle culture relies on the acquiescence of dominant car culture.The pursuit of bicycle infrastructure like lanes and parking should continue without haste. But in themeantime, we should all consider the sustainable influence bicycles have and start respecting thestreet space they deserve.Side note: I choose this image of Curitiba, Brazil because of the powerful presence the bicycles haveon street. The cyclists easily outnumber the vehicles. This shot captures the shi庆� that most cyclistshope to see in more cities.Submitted by Luanda4 thoughts on “Bicycle friendly city, what does itlook like?”MariamSankohWith the America sense of independence associated so much with being able toown and drive a car rather than bike and use other forms of transportation. Do youthink that encouraging more bicycling by limiting car driving and slowing it downwill catch on here the way it has in other cities around the world? I ask because Iremain skeptical that we should approach improving bicycling culture bydiscouraging car driving culture.October 5, 2015 at 10:40 pmJamesYanceyYou’re correct in saying that cooperation between cyclists and motorists is key.Many people, in my view, neglect the fact that educating motorists in bike safety isjust as important as educating cyclists. Also, I’m glad you chose the image ofCuritiba to represent such a shining example of a well adapted cycling community.This entry presents excellent insight into what a bike centered culture might looklike, not only in Richmond, but in many other cities as well.October 9, 2015 at 3:04 pmI am glad that you also brought of pedestrian safety. A lot of bicycle advocacyseems to ignore pedestrians rights, whom, in the end, are the epitome ofOctober 9, 2015 at 3:30 pm11/24/2016 Bicycle friendly city, what does it look like? | Bicycle Urbanismhttps://rampages.us/bicycleurbanism2015/bicycle­friendly­city­what­does­it­look­like/ 3/3Alex Cortes concerned citizens of earth. This picture is awesome, I could imagine a two-waybike avenue of this sorts on Broad, which is one of the most uncomfortable streetsto ride on.StevenHeinitzI think your comment modification of the local car-culture is an important step to amake a city bicycle friendly. Regardless of how many bike lanes and sharrows acities has will not improve bike safety if car drivers dominate the roads and do notrespect the bicyclists around them. A city needs to to have certain streets that are“bike friendly corridors” to welcome bicyclists and encourage automobile to driveslower and give bicyclist a safe distance to ride. As the City of Richmond movesforward with the Floyd Avenue Bike corridor it will be interesting how people livingin this area change their driving and bicycle habits.October 9, 2015 at 7:23 pm

Bicycle Urbanism, Blog 4

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=bike_student

Bicycle Urbanism, Blog 4

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

VCU Scholars Compass