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What do you guys think?
Which cycling improvements need to made first in Columbus?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Transit
We (United States) need to change our car-centric ways
[9 posts] [6 contributors]
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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alove wrote >>
Which cycling improvements need to made first in Columbus?The ones that are currently in the works are good first steps.
http://www.columbusunderground.com/first-bikeways-sharrow-unveiled-today
http://www.columbusunderground.com/coleman-delivers-2010-state-of-the-city-address
http://www.columbusunderground.com/capital-crossroads-announces-new-biking-facilities
http://www.columbusunderground.com/cu-podcast-31-coffee-with-jeff-stephens
http://www.columbusunderground.com/cu-podcast-15-pedal-instead-with-catherine-girves
Posted 1 year ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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As I have said in the past, the best approach is not to take what is "great" in other cities/countries and apply it here. The best approach is to recognize what makes Columbus great in terms of cycling and the existing infrastructure and work from that.
The first 50 seconds shows the best thing we can do: more kids on bikes. Support Safe Routes To Schools, get cycling education programs into the various grade levels, teach kids the right way (with traffic and off the sidewalk) and show them that cycling is more than recreation. Load your kid on the bike and take them grocery shopping for those last minute items or to the library. Having a generation grow up with bikes and using them for more than recreation is going to create a better playing field to create change.
Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, recognizing how we can create genuine conversation and real action to get more people on bikes is going to help. Advocacy, in general, tends to be way too uptight. Too much focus on death to further the agenda. Too much focus on saying the right things and impressing the right people. We need to just have fun with our bikes and show people that it can be as simple as throwing a leg over the top tube.
We also need to support the organizations and programs that are doing things and showing results. We've got groups who are getting scraps of funding, burning out volunteers and yet are probably showing the most in terms of action and results. Where are the photo op checks for these groups to hire staff and expand their programming? Imagine what Third Hand or Franklinton Cycle Works or Pedal Instead could be with a boost in funding.
Posted 1 year ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Snarf wrote >>
better educated cyclists who follow the law would be a great start.Columbus LCI's (list of Columbus cycling courses)
Some of the instructors listed also cross post, as well as actively contribute content, their courses at Yay Bikes!.
Posted 1 year ago # -
alove
Downtown
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cc wrote >>
On a side note, I don't think I saw a single bicycle helmet. Those carefree, crazy Danes...They're not carefree or crazy. The dutch and danes ride without helmets because they rarely have to ride within inches of automobiles. (Talk about crazy!) The countries have enough bikers to create a general sense of awareness. Plus they use their bikes all the time and would prefer to just hop on and go.
Posted 1 year ago # -
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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alove wrote >>
cc wrote >>
On a side note, I don't think I saw a single bicycle helmet. Those carefree, crazy Danes...They're not carefree or crazy. The dutch and danes ride without helmets because they rarely have to ride within inches of automobiles. (Talk about crazy!) The countries have enough bikers to create a general sense of awareness. Plus they use their bikes all the time and would prefer to just hop on and go.
that is a novel perspective.
Posted 1 year ago # -
cc
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I don't think bicycle helmets just protect people from cars, I think it is more from the ground.
I am just seeing a niche for the first guy that sets up Helmetmart there. It was my idea, but anyone is free to run with it.
I also have this crazy idea about a belt that attaches people to car seats (I am keeping that one). :)
The video is very nice. Thanks for posting it.
Posted 1 year ago #
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