April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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Behind Bars Let’s Talk About Bikes Like many of you, bikes and bike transportation find their way into many of my conversations. Of course, I don’t mind. I love to talk about bikes! These interactions generally fall into three categories, depending on the background of the person I’m talking to: • Biker to Biker • Biker to non-believer • Bike to curious non-biker Category 1 is the most comfortable. If I’m talking to someone who rides themselves, they usually “get it” and the banter generally moves in the direction of by chris eatough info@bikearlington.com a great trail to ride on, a recent epic ride, the current weather and riding conditions, or the latest bike equipment. All fun stuff that leaves everyone energized and thinking about the next ride. Category 2 can be more awkward and difficult, but can also be satisfying in their own way. The nonbelievers often have the attitude of “never in a million years” and might see bikes as a kid’s toy or a recreational vehicle that some people use for exercise. The fact that biking is a valid transportation mode that is very practical and sustainable is usually lost on these folks and the reasons that it’s not for them (whether these reasons are valid or not) may well be deeply cemented in their minds. These conversations can be frustrating, but usually there is some ego boost value in the conversation, to know that I easily accomplish something healthy and beneficial to the community that they consider so impossible and unrealistic. Category 3 is maybe the most interesting to me. These are the people that are not biking currently, but are at least somewhat intrigued in the concept. They are often curious, ask many questions, and you can almost see them visualizing themselves riding to work, riding to run errands, and riding for many of the short trips they currently make by car. They probably see some barriers (again, they may or may not be valid), but they also show at least some awareness of the benefits of bike transportation, and they might even be thinking “maybe I could do that too, if…” I love having conversations with these individuals, helping them break down their barriers and obstacles, and giving them the confidence to try integrating bike riding into their everyday lives. For some insight into the fascinating category 3 group, take a look at the graphic below. This slide shows just one small piece of the results of the 2009 Resident Transportation and Green Study, conducted by the Southeastern Institute of Research and LDA Consulting for Arlington County, Va. The full survey and results can be found at Commuterpage.com/ research. The question asked was “what could Arlington County do to make it easier for you to ride a bicycle” and the survey group is representative of the general population. Note the most common response at 38% was “Nothing would encourage me.” Bah humbug. These are probably the Category 2 folks from my classification above. They are not biking now, and there is not much that can be done to get them biking. However, the good news is that 62% of Arlington residents do have some input on what can be done to make it easier to ride. Some of these folks might be riding already, but many fall in the “curious non -biker” group of Category 3. These are the people with at least a glimmer of hope that can be helped! The responses are mostly infrastructure related, and many of them are being addressed, particularly in the more urban areas of Arlington, D.C. and Baltimore. Of course, we need more, and the survey results certainly strengthen the case for separated bike facilities such as bike lanes, cycletracks and off street bike trails. These features also contribute to “make it safer” covering all of the top three on the wish list. I also believe that many of these curious non bikers often just need a nudge of encouragement, a vote of confidence, and some information on safe routes for bike riding, safe cycling classes, and other resources such as BikeArlington.com, goDCgo.com and WABA.org. We can all provide this nudge in our daily conversations and interactions, especially when we notice we are talking to someone in the most likely to be influenced category 3 group. What’s in it for us bikers? More people riding means more motorist awareness of cyclists which leads to safer riding conditions. Increased bike transportation also justifies increased investment in bike lanes and other infrastructure, leading to more people biking. The virtuous circle that benefits all of us. So enjoy your conversations about bikes at the water cooler, the stop light, or the grocery store, and be aware of what category your acquaintance falls in. Focus in on those that show a glimmer of interest and whenever possible, give them some encouragement and help them envision themselves incorporating cycling into their daily lives. The right nudge might just lead to one more person on a bike and that means better biking for all of us. 22 April 2011
Editor’s Note: SPOKES is excited to welcome one of the world’s legendary bicycle racers to our group of featured columnists. Six-time 24-hour solo World Cup champion and five-time 24-hour solo National Cup champion Chris Eatough has been a professional mountain bike racer since 1998. The Baltimore area resident dominated 24-hour mountain bike racing for over half a decade, revolutionizing the sport by combining cross country race speed with meticulously choreographed pit stop strategies. Eatough gained considerable world wide fame as the subject of the full-length motion picture 24 Solo, which told the gripping story of his bid for a seventhconsecutive 24-hour Solo World Championship. In addition to his World and National solo titles, Eatough won the 2007 24 Hours of Moab; 2007 National Ultra Endurance Champion; 2007 “BC Bike Race” Champion; and ten victories in 100-mile mountain bike races. The married father of two young children has joined the ranks of the non-pro bicycle workers. Chris, who has a degree in engineering was hired in 2009 as program manager for BikeArlington. Chris would like to know what topics you would like him to cover in upcoming columns. If you have a particular interest or questions you’d like to ask Chris, email them to him at info@bikearlington.com. For more information about Bike Arlington, log onto www.BikeArlington.com. Long + Mini Survey n = 4,344 multiple responses permitted 62% of Residents Note One or More Actions that Could Make it Easier for Them to Bicycle They primarily note a need for more extensive and separate bicycle facilities and for amenities to make cycling safer. But residents’ particular concerns vary by area. Separate bicycle lanes 15% Social More bike trails 10% Make it safer 6% More bike racks / lockers 5% Shop Lighting on bike paths / lanes 3% Roadway signs to alert motorists 3% Provide bike share / rentals 3% More connections to bike trails 3% Other 16% Don't know 8% Nothing would encourage me 38% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Q33j What could Arlington County do to make it easier for your to ride a bicycle? 50 Particular Concerns by Area Safer – Columbia Pike and Other Bike trails – Shirlington Bike share – R-B and Jeff Davis Signs – R-B and Jeff Davis Southeastern Institute of Research April 2011 23
Page 1 and 2: Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlanti
Page 3 and 4: On theCover Ride with heroes and Wo
Page 5 and 6: BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA 32nd an
Page 7 and 8: It was a day that pretty much finis
Page 9 and 10: F I S H E R D R E A M E D . T R E K
Page 11 and 12: town and bike valet/parking locatio
Page 13 and 14: public health people, and low-incom
Page 15 and 16: THE PERFECT RIDE NO MATTER HOW YOU
Page 17 and 18: than two miles on the NCR trail tog
Page 20 and 21: Triathlete Doug Landau (right) was
Page 24 and 25: COMMUTER CONNECTION by ron cassie r
Page 26 and 27: Progress Continues on Black Rock Mi
Page 28 and 29: calendar of events To be listed, se
Page 30 and 31: calendar continued from p.29 teur a
Page 32: SATURDAY & SUNDAY | JUNE 11-12, 201

April 2011 - Spokes Magazine

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