sinus wrote:
> There has been a lot of talk, though no action yet, from Melbourne city
> council about bicycle facilities. Probably the same in other state
> capitals.
>
> Here's an example of what can be done:
> http://www.chicagobikestation.com/index.htm
That's pretty snazzy.
I've been trying to get some people I know who ride recreationally to
commute, and we're gradually working through the excuses and finding
solutions, stuff like the above is great and would cross off a few of
their excuses. But, it's not *necessary* to have uberbikeparks to have
more people commuting etc by bike. Sure would be good though and would
probably help the cause.
IMO having facilities at workplaces and shopping centers to securely
park bikes & store clothes etc is something to be worked towards. I'm
loathe to ride to the local stupormarket unless I have (yet another!)
bike to do it - I don't want to leave the good roady out the front
while I go shopping, and most shopping centres are a bit nonplussed
when I wheel the bike through the isles
But the big killer is kids not riding to school anymore (but they all
drink sports drinks, high GI ... but not doing the exercise to justify
it .. and lo! obesity .. how amazing!). I rode past a few schools
yesterday at about kick-out-o-clock and hardly a bike to be seen. When
I was a kid (and we had to wear helmets then too, it was a school rule
that predated the road law .. so wipe that one ..) heaps of my friends
rode and the school bikeshed was overflowing with bikes (and it was a
*big* bikeshed). There's an article about kids and schools in the
latest BV rag, so at least they're (BV) aware of it. I reckon banning
kids being dropped off at schools would be a better thing than banning
cars from the CBD! (I'm only half tongue-in-cheek
).
