I took a leisurely bike ride – about 20 or so blocks – to Noelridge Park tonight. I have never really considered Noelridge to be close to my house growing up and certainly wouldn’t call it a park serving my neighborhood, but the way there was pleasant and did not take long at all. It just goes to show that having a connecting grid of residential streets and more bike-friendly thoroughfares makes everything seem much closer together and accessible on a bike. Think of all the little trips that, by default, we just drive to when we could bike (or walk if close enough) to instead without taking a lot of additional time. Of course, it’s all relative to the type of street environment and how contiguous neighborhoods are. Recreational cycling is a good way to discover biking can also be a legitimate means of getting around.
July 20, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Bike stands would be nice, too. I find that going to some stores is not feasible because I can’t bring my bike inside, nor can I lock it up.
I just recently had a conversation with two guys from India and Pakistan, both of whom were amazed by Americans’ dependence on cars. There’s definitely a place for them, especially in areas that aren’t dense, but the number of reasons to second guess your next car trip keep growing.