Originally Posted by
buzzman
.....The Rutger's study, recently debated thoroughly in these forums, shows evidence that bike facilities (bike lanes, bike paths) encourage cycling and increase the numbers of people on bikes and that those increased numbers actually promote cycling safety.
John, I believe, disputes this conclusion, but it seems to me a well-documented study and one that certainly corroborates my own personal observations. Do others have similar experience?
Absoutely. the rutgers study IS well documented and should corroborate your experieces. It jives with mine as well.
Cities that are better accomodated have both more bicyclists as well as more 'vehicular' law abiding bicyclists.
In The city of seattle, only 3.9 percent of streets have bike lanes but we have higher bicycling participation than many (US) cities our size. on over 96 percent of our streets, most bicyclists act as competant, 'vehicular' bicyclists...and we 'vehicular bicyclists' also get to use bike lanes vehicularily, and paths as vehicular cyclists too! Very very few bicyclists subscribe to the prejudices john forestor has about bike specific infrastructure.
I even hypothesise bike facilites can create MORE vehicular cycling activity by bicyclists, and this carries over to greater vehicularity by bicyclists along UN-accomodated roads.
Should many of forestors comments be brought into question? absolutely. many of his ideas about bicycling are incorrect.