Thursday Thoughts: “Bicycle Facilities” vs Vehicular Cycling

There is an argument going on nationally.  It’s a quiet one, and it doesn’t get the press that some of the “Big Deal” issues do, but it has deep and lasting consequences.

The case, in very simple terms, is divided roughly into two camps of cycling advocates, both competing for attention and support against the current status quo.

Here’s what’s at stake.  We are in the process of deciding now, where, when, and how we will all use our bicycles in the future.

The Facilities Argument:  This camp states that bicycles and motor vehicles don’t mix well together.  They argue that we should rebuild our transportation infrastructure with designated bicycle lanes, traffic signals that separate motor and bicycle traffic, and other bicycle/pedestrian facilities.  This is the “build it and they come” argument.

The Vehicular Cycling Argument:  Simply stated this position is that a bicycle is a vehicle, roads already exist, and they go where we want to go.  The idea is that if motorists and cyclist simply obey the laws coexistence is possible.  After all, we’ve had a long time to work out laws and rules that allow road users to avoid conflict, collision, and injury.  Generally, these laws work.  This is best typified by John Forester’s maxim,  “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as the drivers of vehicles.

Of course there are a lot of shadings and ovelraps between the two camps.  I generally take the stance of the vehicular cyclist.  (That’s the same one that Forester promotes.)  I like the convenience and freedom of the road.  And there is a problem with facilities.  The thing is, once facilities start to get built, officials tend to start taking a stance.  “After all,” they say, “We gave you bike lanes on several streets, and paths in the park.  Why can’t you just cycle there?”

One obvious answer to that last question is that “there” isn’t where I want to go!  I may want to ride between my home and my work, but the “there” just doesn’t happen to connect these two places.

On the other hand I have to admit, where bicycle lanes have been built, bicycle usage has increased.  Often this increase is dramatic.

We’ll talk more about some aspects of all this in the near future, but for now…

It’s something to think about.