CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES. TWO WHEELS ARE BETTER THAN FOUR

Biking is good for individuals as well as the urban environment. However, bicyclists in most cities face substantial barriers, and if advantage is to be taken of the bicycle in combatting urban transportation problems certain changes should be made. Suggestions for such changes are listed and briefly discussed. These suggestions are as follows: ban cars from certain streets; reduce auto traffic on some streets (traffic lights on some one-way streets could be modified to "roll" at 12 mph; install speed bumps with narrow "bicycle slots"; and residential streets may be blocked with planters); create bike lanes; restripe car lane so that the right lane is 13 feet wide (wide enough for a car and bike side by side, but too narrow for two cars); and erect "bike route" signs and thru routes should be regularly swept free of glass, etc. Other charges recommended include improving bicycle parking, making bridges and tunnels accessible, and allowing bikes on board mass transit. Incentives such as $20 rebate to any employee purchasing a bike for office-related trips, bikes for free use by employees, and reimbursement for office-related bike trips are also described. Examples set by California in appropriating #2 million a year from thru highway trust fund, and by Oregon in using 1% of the state gas tax for cycling programs are noted.

• Corporate Authors:

  Department of Energy

  Office of Consumer Affairs
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Harnick, P
• Publication Date: 1980-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 19-21
• Serial:
  • Energy Consumer
  • Publisher: Department of Energy

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bikeways; Bridges; Cyclists; Incentives; Public transit; Traffic lanes; Traffic restraint; Traffic signals; Traffic signs; Tunnels; Urban transportation; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fund allocations
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00322695
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM