Gas prices are soaring to the point where gasoline is starting to look like a luxury item. Politics has brought Health Care back to the forefront.

Will these two items do anything to increase the number of daily cyclists in the U.S.?

I'm not here to discuss the cost of gas and Health Care. This post is not politicaly motivated. I'm not prepared to start that war here and now. I'm just wondering if these two issues, these two realities, might bring more people to ride bicycles. I wonder if there is a drift towards more bicycle usage in my area what the positive or negative results to my own cycling experience might be.

Will the thought of dropping $100 into the gas tank on a weekly or biweekly basis get folks motivated enough to pedal more and drive less? I have personally seen a distinct decrease of motorized traffic since the first foray into the $4 per gallon arena a few years back. I think much of the decrease can be attributed to smarter resource usage such as combining errands to decrease auto trips.

How has this affected me, the 50+ cyclist? For one thing the roads being less congested makes my cycling more enjoyable. I also suspect that more of the motorists that I do encounter may be splitting their transportation needs between cars and bikes. I expect that part time cylists driving cars would have more respect for cyclists on the road which would also enhance my cycling experience. Of course I have no data to confirm any of this beyond my personal observations.

With Health Care in the daily news how can one not spend some time considering what their own health status is? I often wonder if such thoughts will cause some folks to turn to cycling as a way to perhaps improve their health.

I continue to wonder, could this be the year that bicycle usage actually increases enough to be noticable? Is it possible that my area roadways might actually become even more pleasant?

I'm I alone in these wonderings? Has anyone else seen any positive cycling trends recently and have they had any influence on your own cycling experience?