BICYCLES OVER CARS?
Is Denver excluding the automobile?
Re: “A policy of bicycles first?,” April 12 Vincent Carroll column.
I’m awed by the amount of concentrated growth in downtown Denver and the surrounding areas where I live, work and play. Having listened to plenty of gripe sessions about traffic congestion and the lack of parking, I ask: How about trying light rail, bus, bicycling or walking? Plenty of folks who could easily access other forms of transit don’t. They are genuinely surprised when I tell them how easy it is to get around without a car. Given the obvious frustration of getting around by car, how could you not consider this?
I’m glad that the city is working to solve density-related transit issues. However, I am not convinced that will “undermine the mobility of the majority,” as Vincent Carroll writes. It’s a fact that there is just not enough room here if we all drive. What are our alternatives?
Robbie Hobein, Denver
If the Denver City Council wants to encourage more bicycle traffic in Denver, some important practical issues must be addressed.
Foremost is enacting cycling laws. License and tag bicycles; ensure every cyclist receives a bicycle lane/path map; require visible headlights, taillights and bells or horns on bicycles; require cyclists to wear light or reflective clothing at night; and enforce obedience of traffic laws.
Next, establish “no-bicycle” streets. Just as we designate bicycle lanes, we should designate certain streets where bicycles are prohibited. Frequently, slow-moving cyclists impede automobile traffic on busy, narrow streets when there is little if any traffic just one block in either direction. Rather, establish bicycle lanes/paths on low-traffic streets.
These simple steps would go a long way toward encouraging more cycling and acceptance thereof, as well as alleviating the frustrations experienced by everyone who uses our streets.
Carla J. Wilson, Lakewood
I began commuter biking in Denver at age 50. Now, as a retiree, I ride in from a suburb to meet friends or run errands. People have told me they would be more inclined to bike if they felt safer on the streets.
More bicyclists means less air pollution, more physically fit people, and maybe even lower health care costs. Denver ought to be moving full-speed ahead on improving access for bicycles.
Mariann Storck, Wheat Ridge