Originally Posted by
Roody
There were roughly half as many cars then. Do you think a doubling of the cars could make a difference in the bikability of the suburbs?
Do you think most people today (not bikeforums denizens) feel safe or comfortable cycling for transportation in these suburbs?
Even back in 1973, do you think very many people felt comfortable riding on those streets, other than young, fit, and arguably foolhardy followers of the bike boom? Keep in mind, we were all like 18 back then! Now we're going into our 60s. How long will we feel good about riding on the multi-lane highways of the suburbs?
Give us bike lanes and bike paths!
True, we are an ageing population. However, oddly enough, the fastest growing demographic on bikes is...people in their fifties and sixties. I suppose they're the same ones who were riding forty and fifty years ago, but my experience with them on the road is they aren't terrified at the prospect of sharing the road with motorists. I'm sure most of them pick their roads with some care, but then so do motorists.
As far as those multi-lane expressways: those weren't built in the west, other than in SoCal, until the late seventies and later. Our DOT's were busy building freeways in the '60s and '70s, not freeway-like surface streets. One nice thing about them is they do two things: they calm the parallel streets and they often have decent shoulders (if one is inclined to ride in such a noisy, smelly place).
Where bike-specific infrastructure is well done and not merely a way to get cyclists out of the way, I'm all for it. Unfortunately, very little is well done. Give me quality road standards and follow them!