Encouragement
Bicycling must be promoted in public and private campaigns as a normal, expected and respected activity, like driving or walking. Bicycling for transportation and recreation should also be promoted as an environmentally friendly, healthy, and economically productive activity for people of all ages, races, genders, and abilities, irrespective of trip purpose or bicycle type, to foster community among cyclists. Governments should enact ordinances that require end-of-trip facilities, such as racks and lockers for bicycle parking, and even clothes lockers and showers, as part of all new and improved developments. Public and private agencies are also encouraged to provide incentives and end-of-trip facilities to encourage bicycle commuting.
Posts in the Encouragement Category
The Stories We Tell – Part One
This is the first in a series of posts highlighting the challenges for encouraging bicycling in America. Part 1: Origin & Influence of Our Stories The stories we tell are a product of the experiences we have. Our experiences are the product of our choices and behavior. There’s a saying popular among pilots: “Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judgment.” In bicycling, the journey to good judgment is complicated by inhibiting beliefs and social norms. Test Your...
read moreEncouraging Cycling
Twice a month since 2006 I’ve taught a course for the local safety council on “alternative” transportation to adults with suspended driver’s licenses. The students routinely recognize the benefits of bicycling when prompted: improved health, reduced environmental impact, reduced transportation costs, increased sociability, and of course, simple fun. To varying degrees they also believe cycling to be slow, dangerous, uncomfortable, physically demanding, and impractical if one needs to carry things. So encouraging people to bicycle is more a...
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