Whoa there! Before we go any further… We are not about to embark on a Democrat vs Republican, or Liberal vs Conservative rant here. In fact just the opposite. We are going to urge each and every one of you to strongly resist the actions of parties or factions who wish to claim us. The truth is, cycling and cyclists are far more difficult to characterize, and our issues and concerns cut across party lines and ideologies.
We have friends, and enemies, on both sides of the aisle, and at all points of the political spectrum. The thing is, cycling doesn’t necessarily put us in any particular camp, but it does tend to become political.
One uncomfortable fact, cyclists tend to be voters. That is, cyclists, as a group, are far more likely to register to vote, and then to actually show up on election day. That gives us a certain amount of clout, if we are willing to get organized and use it.
Liberals tend to go with the assumption that they own cycling. Cyclists are “green,” aren’t they? Cyclists are “for the environment.” Cyclists are an identifiable group, who choose to avoid cars and SUVs. They must be liberals.
Wrong! The truth is (much as I might not like it) that the majority of American cyclists are recreational riders. They ride machines that have a significant purchase price. They have the leisure to do so. Those two things tend to imply folks who are fairly financially solvent, and firmly in the middle class. That’s not necessarily a liberal demographic. You and I both know lots of folks who ride, and who are strongly conservative, drive SUVs, and are staunch Republicans.
Conservatives tend to think in terms of individuals, and cyclists are certainly an individualistic bunch. Some enlightened conservatives realize that there are a lot of utility cyclists out there, riding to conserve capitol and improve health. These folks like to think the “bikers” (I hate being called that) are solidly on their side. It just ain’t necessarily so. I know plenty of rugged, year-round commuters who make Bill Clinton look like a libertarian.
And what about the “urban-freeride-fixie crowd”? They are young, and at first blush appear to be a liberal group. That’s a really dangerous generalization. Politically, those folks range from all the way across the spectrum, from apathetic and uninvolved, to wildly activist at both ends of almost any issue.
Issues: This is where the discussion can get really interesting. There are some distinct issues concerning cyclists, and they will be coming up in our future.
Big Projects: It’s a fact, elected officials like to cut ribbons. They like to “bring back the bacon.” This gives big projects a strong appeal… to them! Big projects include things like mass transit, light rail, and heavy rail. We are often promised a lot of pie when these things are offered. “They will make life better for cyclists,” we are told. Has anyone else out there had the joy of playing in traffic near a MARTA bus? How about the fun of trying to find one’s way around a tracking right of way?
We’ve seen a lot of very pretty artist’s renditions of heavy rail, and rail bus hybrid projects, and if we look closely, there’s usually a depiction of a couple of cyclists along a pretty path. It’s a nice fantasy. The record doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. The various “big projects” just somehow seem to consume an enormous amount of money, and we pedestrians and cyclists end up with little or nothing to show for it.
Facilities Cycling: Many of us, here in North Georgia, and especially in Peachtree City, are often in this category. Facilities cycling is riding on a facility provided for the use of cyclists. The Silver Comet Trail, and Peachtree City’s path network are prime examples. There are some folks who are just plain happy as can be in this kind of environment.
The potential danger is that once the facilities exist, we are often expected to confine our activity to them. Has anyone else out there had a motorist shout at them, “Get on the path!” (And believe me, that’s the polite version.) Seriously, the reasoning goes something like this; “We gave you cyclists (subtext, slow and in the way) this nice ________ (park, sidewalk, trail, etc.) so why are you unhappy? And why aren’t you content to stay there?” We are then expected to be “good little indians” and stay on the reservation. This is fine if the cyclist in question is happy that way, but many of us choose to use our bikes to go farther and do more.
Law Enforcement: Often the police are not trained to deal with us as they should, even under the laws of our states. You all know all kinds of stories. Some of them are true. (I’ve had a few negative experiences with police, while I was on the bike. They do happen.) On the other hand, if police are trained, and if they actually enforce the law, equally and correctly, they can be a powerful force for educating both motorists and cyclists. When a motorist gets a ticket and pays a fine for following a cyclist too closely, or for failing to yield at a stop, they tend to remember it. Maybe not happily, but they get it. The same applies to cyclists. Get a few points on your license for moving violations, while riding your bike, and maybe you get the picture. The system works best if it is applied equally to all.
Land Access: This is a big issue, and it applies to a lot of us. Public lands. Should they be used for a BMX park, a mountain bike trail, a golf course, a paved multi-use pathway, a transportation alternative to the road? It takes a lot of work to make any of these things happen. It take informing oneself, and going to endless meetings. It’s tough. If you want it, be prepared to roll up your sleeves.
Vehicular Cycling: Simply put this means using the bike as a vehicle. That means that when riding on the road, the cyclist behaves as an operator of a vehicle. This means following the law. Honest, I believe this is our best protection. But even here, there is no clear answer. Bikes and cars don’t co-exist well if the speeds are greatly different. Some roads simply should not have cyclists on them. But all vehicle operators benefit from good, well constructed, safe roads. There’s a lot here. It can get very technical.
Here’s a case in point. Our county is bound and determined to build the “West Fayetteville Bypass.” As of this writing, no provisions are being made for cyclists on this project. It will be, in effect, a large highway. It cuts across a lot of good cycling roads. It puts an obstacle in the way of a lot of ridable road, and directs traffic onto roads that now do not carry much. Is this a good thing, or a bad one. The answer isn’t clear. What do you think?
Summary: All of the issues discussed here are, at some level, political issues. Often they are not party politics, but rather local politics. We get what we are willing to work for, and have the political will and strength to achieve. I’d advise joining up, and getting organized. Become informed, and be willing to do some of the work. The alternative? Failure to plan is planning to fail.
No comments:
Post a Comment