tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post4044203830720554444..comments2023-11-05T01:50:47.040-07:00Comments on Bike Commute Tips Blog: Tampa Bay: Bike commuting gets a pushPaul Dornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893190816290007375noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-70375066093312830722007-05-08T10:19:00.000-07:002007-05-08T10:19:00.000-07:00Thanks for your comment. Yes, I am an League Cycli...Thanks for your comment. Yes, I am an <A HREF="http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/index.php" REL="nofollow">League Cycling Instructor</A> (LCI #1237) who has a respectful but critical view of Mr. Forrester. He has contributed much to bicycling knowledge, and almost nothing to <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2006/12/advocacy-works-for-bicyclists.html" REL="nofollow">bicycling advocacy</A>.<BR/><BR/>I have observed first-hand how the improvements in the bicycling environment of San Francisco--not just bike lanes, but also <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/03/wheres-bike-rack.html" REL="nofollow">bike racks</A>, transit access, encouragement programs, <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/04/wheres-bike-route.html" REL="nofollow">bike route network</A>, <A HREF="http://www.sfbike.org/?coexist" REL="nofollow">public awareness campaigns</A>, "<A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/01/sharrow-appearing-soon-on-street-near.html" REL="nofollow">sharrows</A>," etc.--have attracted additional people to bicycling. <A HREF="http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/9/3/205" REL="nofollow">More bicyclists means safer bicycling</A>. <BR/><BR/>I have also observed first-hand how extensive bicycling infrastructure in <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/02/davis-commemorates-50-years-of.html" REL="nofollow">Davis</A> has facilitated bicyclists of all ages, experience levels, and skills. It isn't "Bike Ed" that makes Davis a great bicycling town; it's the facilities.<BR/><BR/>I also take an expansive view of "bicycle education," well beyond Road 1 or Street Skills classes, which are of undeniable benefit to those cyclists fortunate enough to have access to them. I agree with you that <I>motorists</I> are in even greater need of "education" or "consciousness raising" than bicyclists.<BR/><BR/>A bike lane is educational, a "sharrow" is educational, a <A HREF="http://www.sfbike.org/?tubetimes" REL="nofollow">newsletter or pamphlet</A> is educational, <A HREF="http://www.sfbike.org/?news" REL="nofollow">bicycling-friendly media efforts</A> are educational, <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/04/media-war-again-on-critical-mass-in-san.html" REL="nofollow">Critical Mass</A> is educational, billboards and bus shelter signage are educational, <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2007/01/share-road-means-what-exactly.html" REL="nofollow">street signage</A> is educational.<BR/><BR/>I've shared my thoughts on bicycling advocacy <A HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2006/12/advocacy-works-for-bicyclists.html" REL="nofollow">earlier on this blog</A>. Again, thank you for your comment. One of my goals for this blog is discourse.Paul Dornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03893190816290007375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36250316.post-66711369011760664332007-05-08T09:31:00.000-07:002007-05-08T09:31:00.000-07:00Gainesville (pop. 150k) has 60 miles of bike lanes...Gainesville (pop. 150k) has 60 miles of bike lanes, so if the length of those 'motorist conveniences' is the way that you measure friendliness, then the Tampa/St. Petersburg area has a long way to go to reach that per <BR/>capita level.<BR/><BR/>I would say bike friendliness is much more influenced by the bike awareness and perceptions of motorists.<BR/><BR/>I perceive that Mr. Dorn is not a fan of John Forrester, based on his promotion of the European bikeways, so he'll probably not agree with my assessment of bike lanes as motorist conveniences either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com