Month: October 2010 (Page 2 of 6)

 From:  Invest in non-motorized transportation | The Salt Lake Tribune

“Transportation studies show that more pedestrians

and bicyclists on our streets make the streets safer

for everyone: As the percentage of trips made by

non-motorized transportation increases,

the percentage of injury accidents per miles

traveled decreases.” 

 

This is because:

1. More bicyclists and pedestrians increase driver awareness.

2. As more people bike and walk, they become more empathetic drivers, better able to anticipate and respect non-motorists.

3. Pedestrians and bicyclists have a “traffic calming” effect. Slower traffic means fewer and less severe accidents.

4. More pedestrians and bicyclists result in more spending on safer infrastructure for active transportation.

“This is a classic chicken-and-egg problem. Do we ignore the safety needs of non-motorists because they are a minority? Or do we invest in facilities to make walking and bicycling safer and more convenient? There is ample evidence that building infrastructure for active transportation substantially increases the number of pedestrians and bicyclists. Build it, and they will come.”

We have signs that bicycling in Oklahoma City is getting better.

Hopefully, getting safer too.

As I posted earlier in “Use Full Lane” there are plans underway to mark 70 miles of designated bike route in Oklahoma City with signage to include the standard green “bike route” signs, sharrows – in the street bike/arrow painted signs, and most impressive – alerting motorists (and cyclists) for cyclists to “use full lane” and for drivers to change lanes to pass cyclists.

These signs are along Hefner Road, just east of the Hefner Parkway.

In light of the news that another cyclist was hit this past Wednesday in Oklahoma City, these signs bring hope to cyclists and their loved ones that roads in Oklahoma City will become safer for those riding bikes.

Part of our struggle has always been to make drivers aware that cyclists have a legal right to be on the road – these signs clearly make that point.  As cyclists, we need to do our part and follow the laws of the road as specified in Oklahoma, which also can only help to ensure our safety.

Adding this signage to designate various bike routes is a significant step toward making Oklahoma City more bikeable.