An article published today in the Wall Street Journal (by Portland resident Nancy Keates) examines how far U.S. cities have come in their quest to emulate cycling successes in Europe and the challenges we cities face in becoming on par with world-class bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam.
The article also features a quote from Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams. Here’s the link (it will only last for 10 days):
Adams and a contingent of Portland planners and advocates visited Amsterdam back in October of 2005. Portland’s love affair with Amsterdam has been well-documented on this site, but this excerpt from the article (which includes the Adams quote) touches on the challenges we face in copying their success,
“Officials from some American cities have made pilgrimages to Amsterdam. But in the U.S., bike commuters face more challenges, including strong opposition from some small businesses, car owners and parking-garage owners to any proposals to remove parking, shrink driving lanes or reduce speed limits. Some argue that limiting car usage would hurt business. “We haven’t made the tough decisions yet,” says Sam Adams, city commissioner of Portland, Ore.”
Adams knows all about “tough decisions”. He’s currently trying to re-engineer two major streets in downtown Portland and must make make them safe and efficient for all users, balancing the needs of motorists, the business community and cyclists.
The article is full of interesting insights. Here’s one that shows how much more difficult it is purchase and drive a car in Europe,
“Amsterdam and Copenhagen are generally safer for bikers than the U.S. because high car taxes and gasoline prices tend to keep sport-utility vehicles off the road. In Denmark, the tax for buying a new car is as high as 180%. Drivers must be over 18 to get a license, and the tests are so hard that most people fail the first few times“.
And what about the dangers from semis and delivery trucks?
“… cities have worked to train truck drivers to look out for bikers when they turn right at intersections, and changed mirrors on vehicles and at traffic corners so they’re positioned for viewing cyclists.”
I was surprised to read that even in Amsterdam, not everyone loves bikes,
“Even in Amsterdam, not everyone is pro-biking. Higher-end shops have already moved out of the city center because of measures to decrease car traffic …and now shops in the outer ring of the city are vulnerable. Bikes parked all over the sidewalk are bad for business, he adds.”
And this one really resonated with me,
“the Danish Cyclist’s Federation, says that to make progress it can’t be too confrontational and must recognize that many bikers also have cars. “Our goal is the right means of transportation for the right trips.“
At the end of the article, there’s a table that compares bike-friendly metrics of several U.S. cities including; Boulder, Palo Alto, Madison, Davis, and others. Here’s what they said about Portland:
“Though there are lots of hills and rain, this city has 163 miles of bike lanes. All but two bridges accommodate bicyclists. There’s still a long way to go: The city still has 38 miles of bike lanes left in order to achieve its master plan. But in some neighborhoods bike commuters are as high as 9%.”
The only thing about this article that makes me bristle is how the headline tries to create a conflict when one doesn’t exist. The title of the story says bike-friendly cities are “launching a new attack on car culture.” But notice the quote from the leader of the Dutch Cycling Federation. He says, “progress can’t be too confrontational.”
I notice this type of cyclist vs. motorist dichotomy often in U.S. media coverage. Hopefully someday, as the dominant transportation paradigm shifts away from the single-occupancy vehicle (and more editors begin riding), this will change.
Despite a Dutch bike invasion in North America, we still have a long way to go before the vast majority of countrymen are ready to release their grip on the steering wheel and embrace cycling instead.