General Cycling Discussion - Just Recognizing a Few Cycling Friendly Cities

I've always thought that when cities demonstrate greater consideration for cyclists, it illustrates a higher level of civility. When cities both create and maintain bicycle lanes and paths, it shows that they are environmentally concerned and conscientious about the future health of their citizens. Furthermore, when cities become intimately involved with facilitating infrastructure that makes it safer for children, the handicapped, and the elderly to cycle, then you know that those cities deserve special recognition.

To me, these cities deserve special recognition:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rwwxrWHBB8&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rwwxrWHBB8&feature=related)
(Click Here To See The Video)

- Slim :)

all right, Preacher Slim.
thanks for the video. I'll check it out later.

all right, Preacher Slim.
thanks for the video. I'll check it out later.

You're so welcome, my child!

You're always welcome in the house of the....

Wait A minute!

It's not Sunday!....I don't even have my collection basket ready yet! :lol::roflmao2::lol:

I think the worst three cities are Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Dallas (I forget which was the worst but they were the bottom three, if it was from the same study). I find this amusing in that I rather enjoy riding around Fort Worth. There is a lag involved though, and current studies can reflect conditions for 3 or 4 years back, and Fort Worth has been making rapid strides. Adjacent Arlington, TX, on the other hand, is pretty hostile to cycling and is the largest city in the U.S. without public transportation.

I think the worst three cities are Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Dallas (I forget which was the worst but they were the bottom three, if it was from the same study). I find this amusing in that I rather enjoy riding around Fort Worth. There is a lag involved though, and current studies can reflect conditions for 3 or 4 years back, and Fort Worth has been making rapid strides. Adjacent Arlington, TX, on the other hand, is pretty hostile to cycling and is the largest city in the U.S. without public transportation.
Your initial statement surprised me until I got to the part about time lag in these studies. I've seen some huge upgrades both on the river trails and in bike lanes elsewhere recently.

Interesting talk with a non-cyclist. I was taking my wife's cousin home the other day, and saw some new bike lane striping (on Forest Park Blvd) with signs advising that bicycles may use the entire lane. I commented that this was a good thing, and she insisted it was dangerous and bikes shouldn't be on that road at all because of the traffic, but if they had to, that they should not be in the lane. I explained to her that being on the edge encourages drivers to squeeze by when it is not safe, and that taking the lane is safer. She couldn't understand.

I've heard the same about Arlington before. Perhaps the presence of the GM plant is a contributor to unfriendliness to bikes and public transit?

I think it's also antipathy toward UTA students. What little bike culture there is there, is centered around UTA.

My response to people who say that bicycles shouldn't be in the lane to ask them why not, and they usually say something like, "Someone will run you over!" I look them in the eye and say, "It's okay. I trust you."