Trending
Two bicyclists recently found themselves, evidently in enemy territory, on Plank Road near the Wye Switches. Neither the best nor worst of cycling roads, bicyclists sometimes venture through such hostile places, not as a primary route, but to get from one friendlier cycling road to another.
The tale gets better, explains the loyal reader that passed along the details. As the pair negotiated the figurative and literal landmines along the route, one driver, not so kindly, told them they didn't belong on the road.
It begs the question: Why do some places so enthusiastically embrace and support outstanding bicycle and pedestrian access, while others seem to consciously discourage non-motorized modes of transportation?
To fully appreciate how varied different places can be on this issue, it is revealing to look at some statistics. The average Dutch adult cycles a mile and a half per day, while we Americans come in at less than a tenth of a mile, according to Statista's Global Consumer Survey and World Geography. The average American literally doesn't make it to the end of the block.
More than half the adult populace regularly commute via bicycle in cycling meccas like Denmark and the Netherlands. Nearly two-thirds of adults in Copenhagen, Denmark, regularly commute by bicycle. The highest rate in the United States is one-tenth that at 6.3% in Portland, Oregon.
Despite paling in comparison to places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Portland is rated highly (by North American standards) for its bike infrastructure. Minneapolis, Minn., and Portland lead the nation with ratings of 83 or "very bikeable, biking is convenient for most trips," according to Bike Score analyses compiled by Redfin Realty. By contrast, auto-centric Birmingham, Alabama, scores a 31 or "somewhat bikeable, minimal bike infrastructure."
Regionally, State College comes in with a score of 78 or "very bikeable." Altoona, at 32, has the lowest score of any Pennsylvania city or borough of more than 40,000 people.
It goes without saying that bike and pedestrian infrastructure is a key to building a less car-centered community, but the foundation may actually be built on our attitude. "One key component that has enabled Europe's successful bike revolution, I think, is not infrastructure, but sociology: While Americans still view bicycling as a form of exercise or recreation, a tectonic shift in attitudes has taken place in many parts of Europe, where people now regard bicycling as a serious form of urban mass transportation," wrote Elisabeth Rosenthal, who covered international environmental issues for the New York Times.
Rosenthal wrote that a dozen years ago, after then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg expanded the city's bike network in an effort to reduce auto congestion in the city. Her points still hold true, and if anything, anxiety over climate change has only magnified the concerns perceived a decade or more ago.
Unquestionably, much of the US in general, and Central Pennsylvania in particular, are much different from Europe and its dense population and high gasoline taxes. Altoona and State College are different from each other as well. But none of those differences should change the fundamental motivations to decrease our dependence on the automobile and recognize that a notable number of people don't have unfettered access to a car.
There's much to be done to turn us into Portland or State College. We'll look at the recipe next time.
John Frederick (www.johnjfrederick.com) writes about regional environmental issues.