Ride Boulder Co

Cars vs Bikes (or other forms of getting around)

Posted on 14. Apr, 2010 by Jennifer in Transportation

(image found – http://liewcf.com/blog/wp-images/S_Bike.jpg)

I don’t know why this happens but it seems most times if there is a discussion around providing more bike lanes or encouraging (by law) drivers to give cyclist 3ft on the road the argument devolves into an us vs them. I was reading an article in HuffPost (I know, I know not the most balanced site):

Obama Bicycle Policy Wins Love From Cyclists, Scorn From Trucking Industry

The article explains how a new policy will promote other forms of transportation – give them a voice and no longer favor motorized vehicles.  According to the article some of the responses to this new way of looking at our transportation woes is “dumb”, “nonsensical” and that Transportation Secretary LaHood “must be on drugs”.  That’s the response. Cars, bikes, buses, walking all deserve equal support as legitimate means of moving around and the response is that’s “dumb”. They don’t say why they think it’s dumb, it just is. And this is how and why our arguments turn into nothing more than two rabid terriers fighting over a scrap of meat.

I love to ride my bike into town for work, errands, etc. but sometimes I need to drive. I can’t help but think making it easier for me to do either would help relieve congestion and improve overall transportation for everyone. There is a limited amount of money and priorities must be set but there has to be a way of promoting a benefit that doesn’t turn into an us vs. them when it comes to transportation discussions.