Race Across America? - Spokes Magazine

ANNAPOLIS MAYOR ENVISIONS BIKE FRIENDLY CITY
by NEIL SANDLER
ELLEN MOYER, MAYOR of Annapolis, Maryland’s capital
city, and home to the U.S. Naval Academy, is not
a cyclist, but she has some good ideas of what would
make the city friendlier to cycling enthusiasts.
going to work with the folks who put on that event
and the local cycling community to have a series of
events surrounding that major happening.”
But the challenge of making Annapolis better for
cyclists, can only be part of an overall transportation
strategy, she explained. “In trying to build an ethic
that gets people to choose alternatives to getting into
their cars, we need a full slate of alternatives, a better
bus system, better safer roads, and the bicycle is just
one component.”
“There are so many people who live within one mile
of where they want to go, whether it’s to work or to a
restaurant, and we somehow need to show them that
there are viable, safe alternatives to getting into the
car. People need to know it’s safe to walk or ride bikes
to these amenities. The older neighborhoods lend
themselves to these models. Unfortunately, the engineers
always seem to want to build wider roads, moving
people faster and over longer distances, and that’s
not the best solution.
“If we could reverse the direction we are headed in,
people would be less tense. Many people have a feeling
they are no longer in control of their lives. If we
can get them out of their cars, to the point where
they can occasionally walk or ride bikes to their destinations,
they will be happier, healthier citizens.”
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And being host to the finish of the legendary Race
Across America (RAAM) this June is not a bad way to
highlight some of her city’s steps in the right direction.
It’s a plan, though still in development, that would
likely help many similar sized U.S. cities.
“I think the first thing you’ve got to do is get to the
kids and their parents,” she began her explanation.
“We had an education program for children where two
of the things we did was encourage everyone to plant a
tree, and for the students to get their parents to commit
to driving their cars 10 miles less each week.
“Basically, we need similar educational efforts to
get people to use their bikes,” she explained during
an interview at the 2008 Bike/Ped Symposium
in Annapolis this past February. “In a city the size of
Annapolis, with the small busy streets, we can do maps
showing people the safest and most effective way of
getting around by bikes but we also need to encourage
employers to provide the amenities needed to get
their employees onto bikes. Some people might call
having showers installed at the workplace a ‘frill’ but
if you really want to get people out of their cars you
need these so-called frills.”
“Annapolis is an walkable city. It’s compact with small
narrow streets, lots of places to eat, and things to see.
Getting around by bicycle is certainly something we
need to nourish,” she added.
Last year Annapolis introduced a “freewheeling” bike
program. Visitors to the visitor’s center near the docks
downtown could use a loaner bike free of charge. All
they had to do was turn over a credit card to serve
as collateral. The 12 bikes in the program were used
frequently and the city intends to continue and even
expand the program this year.
The city has also outfitted many buses with bike racks,
which also have proven popular among commuters.
Mayor Moyer is excited that her city will, for the first
time ever, serve as the finish line for RAAM. “We’re
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May 2008
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