Oh NZ Herald.. where do we even begin with you?
Yes – you are right that it would be very easy to get sucked into the the tit-for-tat lowground of blame. But thoughtful cycling advocates are well above that – notwithstanding that their cause is good – for all of us: Cycling reduces obesity and its costs to the nation. Bicycles reduce congestion by freeing roadspace for other road users. When we are desperate for solutions to rapid climate change they are emission-free after manufacture. And for flat-earthers who will ignore this scientific reality, bicycles mitigate the transport caused air pollution that sends hundreds of kiwis to an early grave every year. Renowned urban designer Jan Gehl, contracted to auckland city reports that retail trade is much higher when cities are friendly to pedestrians and people on bicycles. And cycling makes people happy – the cities whose culture you so quickly dismiss report the highest levels of happiness.
All of which begs the question: why not learn from successful people / cycle friendly cities like Amsterdam, or Copenhagen, Tokyo – or for that matter San Francisco, New York, Portland, London or New York? The latter who have radically improved their cycle infrastructure in just a few short years. Flat roads are nice, but not essential: the trick, is to just, ride, slower. No sweat. Literally.
Much of the confusion around commuter cycling here comes from its association with sports. But Auckland inner city commuter cycling increased 38% in the last year alone. These people aren’t ‘cyclists’, they are mostly thoughtful people on bicycles, making a smart choice about how they make their short journeys. They will continue to increase in number, and ignoring that fact is both dangerous and a missed opportunity.
You are wrong. Opportunism is exactly what is needed right here, right now.
NZ Herald: Cycle Safety Not a Blame Game
yeah, of course, if a cyclist has an accident with a car it's always the cyclist's fault. That's the way to go.
makes sense.