Originally Posted by
Bekologist
200 word letter to the editor supporting bicycling got put up at the letters to the editor at the Seattle Times; drafted a 600 word op-ed piece for possible submission by two of the states' large bicycling advocacy organizations.
my 200 words reprinted below...
"Danny Westneat forgot to mention the civic virtue and economic value of bicycling in his recent column on bicycle backlash [“Getting a handle on ‘bikelash,’” NWSunday, May 22].
Bicycling and walking in public is an exercise of our American right to travel. Those of you interested in our collective American liberties or our cities saving money do not ignore the right to travel public roads in this country by bicycle.
Planning for bikes makes economic sense, public-safety sense and is common sense for drivers miffed at bike traffic as well. Planning for bike traffic saves cities money.
Planning for bike traffic makes it easier for motorists to drive around bikes and encourages more bicyclists to obey the law.
Road rechannelizations increase public safety in Seattle. Pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists are safer along roads that have been rechannelized, and traffic usually flows smoother.
Who doesn’t want smoother traffic, safer driving and safer conditions in neighborhoods for residents?
People who are antipathetic toward bicycling have lost sight of the fact that the widely held values of limited government, lowered civic costs, safer cities and more affordable personal transportation goes hand in hand with promoting bicycling.
Whether you’re a liberal, libertarian, conservative or a tea partyer, your values support promoting and respecting bicycling on the roads."
Nice!
I also made the paper this Willamette Week...
Meet the Cyclante
Check out the length of that thorn I'm showing to the reporter. What (insert John Malkovich yelling MORON! from "Burn After Reading" here) would think it would be a good idea to plant trees with 3 inch long thorns in planter boxes along a sidewalk?