Originally Posted by Speedo
Thanks for the reference genec.
This paper specifically excludes recreational cyclists from its analysis. He seems to be addressing purely transportation in urban/suburban areas. I'm still not seeing the Forrester wants fewer (and only high mileage recreational) cyclists aspect.
No he never states that he wants fewer cyclists... but he dismisses off hand the larger segment of cyclists... the involuntary ones. He prefers to only deal with his form of "idealized" cyclist.
Imagine if we said that only "effective drivers" could use the roads.
Reading this, I only had one big complaint. That is the assumption that the status quo, the current mix of transportation types and users, will remain static forever. If I were a planner, I'd be thinking about the impact that the fight against global warming, and the tipping point of oil availability (limited sources, ever-increaing demand from big populations like India and China) will have on the transportation equation. I agree with his conclusions about current voluntary and involuntary transportational cyclists. The voluntaries do it because they like to, the involuntaries would give it up if they could. Where he goes wrong, I think, is that in the future there may be many many more involuntaries thrown into the mix.
Exactly... and by the very fact that involuntary cyclists now exist... should not cycling in general try to meet the needs of all cyclists. We address all forms of motorist with roads... from the highly experienced trucker to the commuter in a clunker... yet, we tend not do the same for the cyclist... prefering to marginalize anyone that is not "effective" or does not wear the "brightly colored pajamas" of the "speedy" cyclist.
I'll go further with the "assumption." The assumption is based not on any mix of transit, but primarily on individuals with individual motor cars... that alone is self defeating as the number of roads remains limited. Eventually other forms of transit will have to be used to relieve the congestion that an ever growing population will bring.