General Cycling Discussion - Washington Post on Cyclo-Commuting

I thought it was a pretty even-handed article, and definitely makes me feel optimistic about more attention being paid to bicycles in the DC area. Unfortunately, no mention of any MD counties, all NVa or DC, but its a start.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59422-2002Dec15.html

I agree, it's a start.



"There's not enough room on the streets for the cars," said Mahlon G. "Lon" Anderson, a spokesman for Mid-Atlantic AAA, who said he commutes in his 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier because he lives 35 miles from his Chantilly office. "And now we're taking some of that space for bicycles."
Motorists will find out that educated cyclists sharing the road will not hold them up as much as they think. In fact, it's usually long lines of cars that hold me up, after they pass me trying to beat me to the light. I don't know if we need more bike lanes to
solve the problem, just strict law enforcement, low speed limits and skilled motorists and cyclists.



"Dan Tangherlini pedals his Cannondale hybrid bicycle along K Street NW, squeezing between the cars and trucks parked to his right and those whooshing past on his left. A moving van's side mirror skims by within inches of his helmeted head."

This guy sounds like he needs to take the lane a bit more.

I agree with many points in the article. Bike commuting will never be 50% or close to that, but we can atleast make it easier for those that do...

What is really sad is that the DC area has had a
strong bicycle action group (washington area bicycle assoc
or WABA) for a long time and they
weren't consulted for the article.
One Nina Rowe (forgot the middle part of that) used to write about Gov't initiatives (nationwide)
for Bicycling when the mag actually meant something.
No one who was truely bicycle friendly was interviewed
(excepting the one guy with the 10 mile commute) and even
those who did use bikes only did part time.
Then there is the schmuck who drives 2.5 miles each day
because he might have a meeting, give me a break.
Sure the article is a start but I think the whole idea
of commuting by bike was missed.
It was all about the spandex and helmet head in
the cafeteria after all.
Just my $.02 worth

Lack of shower facilities at work is not a convincing excuse for the guy with the 2.5-mile / 4km commute.

The article is not too bad, and any publicity is probably a good thing, but the article, obviously written by a noncyclist, does reinforce many stereotypes, attitudes, and excuses, and it will probably not entice John Q. Public to take up transportation cycling.

Sebastian, who lives five miles from work, commutes by bike three days a week, as long as it's no colder than 30 degrees and no hotter than 90.

Wuss

"I think it's great for health and recreation, but I don't think it's a realistic solution for traffic or air pollution."

Huh? won't help air pollution you cyclists out there aren't living off of beans are you? And from this guys (meaning me) standpoint I would rather get most of these people on buses or light rail than on bikes. It makes me shudder to think how they would drive a bike with the way they drive cars :crash: could somebody tell me how I could make one of these with a car instead? :D

Though the article does live up to the standards of todays journalism (meaning they never really do talk to those in the know) I do have to admit it is more positive than most I have seen recently.

And for those of you that do not have shower facilities at work, for a small fee (I am trying to buy a new bike you know) I can give you some tips on the helmet head thing as well as the sweat thing they did not mention (whats up with the spandex anyway I like it enhances my butt anyway)

artical not agresive enough, if i`d never riden in traffic i think it would put me off, at least the fact that bike commuters exist & have a right to be on the road & that there are laws to protect them was passed along to the general road users who think ,cos your on a bike your fair game.:crash: