Reflections from Davis, CA
This is being posted on behalf of Tom Benevento.
Thanks to Harrisonburg's Voluntary Gas Tax group and Rob Davis, It was such a gift to be in Davis, California! I was inspired to see the infrastructure for bicycles and to experience the spirit and positive energy that comes with this kind of transportation infrastructure. Bike paths and lanes were networked in almost every direction connecting schools, parks, shopping, and entire neighborhoods. This infrastructure facilitated community interaction in ways I have not seen in other US cities. We could say hello to passer-bys, talk with each other easily as we biked, connect with nature, and feel the power of our bodies. In a car, this level of community interaction would not be possible.
I happend to stay in a co-housing community in the heart of the city of Davis. My two hosts, Jason and Robbie, both worked at the Davis Bicycle Collective. Jason is completing his PhD studies of bicycle motion. As we talked late into the evening about places that have transformed themselves into bicycle friendly cities, I learned that not only Davis can do it , but almost any city can. Transformation is not dependent on the right climate, topography, or the age of a city's existing infrastructure. It is more about a city's willingness to step out of our common notions of what is possible and try something new, creative and exciting.
I learned that in the late 1950's the US had no bicycle infrastructure, so Davis set out to push for the very first bike lane in the country. It was hard work and required significant risk-taking. Now, thanks to their efforts, bike lanes are common across the US. Davis also has the country's first traffic signals specifically designed for bicycle crossings. The delightful green and white silohette bicycle image now helps 1,100 cyclists every 15 minutes cross one intersection in town.
My hosts also taught me about Portland, Oregon. Portland is another great example of a city that is willing to try new things despite obstacles. Portland has steep hills, old infrastructure, and rain eight months out the the year. Some of those eight months are very cold and "yucky". Yet, Portland has become a national epicenter of the growing movement in bicycle commuting. The city has built over 300 miles of bike lanes and paths for the same cost of a quarter mile of freeway and is earning $80 million dollars each year through its bicycle economy.
During my the last night in Davis, Jason told me how he spent last year in the Netherlands studying that country's bike culture. He explained how Davis, though impressive for US standards in bike-ability, would not even be considered a bike-friendly city in the Netherlands. Some cities in that country boast more than 30% of trips done by bicycle. At nearly midnight, Jason pulled out his laptop with excitement and showed me time lapse photos of Netherlands city scape. He showed me photos from the 1950's. They were dominated by cars. By the 1990's those same streets were transformed into bike and pedestrian havens. Cars were a side note in the photos.
In the end, I learned that a perfect environment or ideal topography are not necessary to make a more livable, bike-friendly city. We can do it too in Harrisonburg. I am excited to join the energy and enthusiasm of so many citizens in our city who will make it happen!
Tom Benevento
Thanks to Harrisonburg's Voluntary Gas Tax group and Rob Davis, It was such a gift to be in Davis, California! I was inspired to see the infrastructure for bicycles and to experience the spirit and positive energy that comes with this kind of transportation infrastructure. Bike paths and lanes were networked in almost every direction connecting schools, parks, shopping, and entire neighborhoods. This infrastructure facilitated community interaction in ways I have not seen in other US cities. We could say hello to passer-bys, talk with each other easily as we biked, connect with nature, and feel the power of our bodies. In a car, this level of community interaction would not be possible.
I happend to stay in a co-housing community in the heart of the city of Davis. My two hosts, Jason and Robbie, both worked at the Davis Bicycle Collective. Jason is completing his PhD studies of bicycle motion. As we talked late into the evening about places that have transformed themselves into bicycle friendly cities, I learned that not only Davis can do it , but almost any city can. Transformation is not dependent on the right climate, topography, or the age of a city's existing infrastructure. It is more about a city's willingness to step out of our common notions of what is possible and try something new, creative and exciting.
I learned that in the late 1950's the US had no bicycle infrastructure, so Davis set out to push for the very first bike lane in the country. It was hard work and required significant risk-taking. Now, thanks to their efforts, bike lanes are common across the US. Davis also has the country's first traffic signals specifically designed for bicycle crossings. The delightful green and white silohette bicycle image now helps 1,100 cyclists every 15 minutes cross one intersection in town.
My hosts also taught me about Portland, Oregon. Portland is another great example of a city that is willing to try new things despite obstacles. Portland has steep hills, old infrastructure, and rain eight months out the the year. Some of those eight months are very cold and "yucky". Yet, Portland has become a national epicenter of the growing movement in bicycle commuting. The city has built over 300 miles of bike lanes and paths for the same cost of a quarter mile of freeway and is earning $80 million dollars each year through its bicycle economy.
During my the last night in Davis, Jason told me how he spent last year in the Netherlands studying that country's bike culture. He explained how Davis, though impressive for US standards in bike-ability, would not even be considered a bike-friendly city in the Netherlands. Some cities in that country boast more than 30% of trips done by bicycle. At nearly midnight, Jason pulled out his laptop with excitement and showed me time lapse photos of Netherlands city scape. He showed me photos from the 1950's. They were dominated by cars. By the 1990's those same streets were transformed into bike and pedestrian havens. Cars were a side note in the photos.
In the end, I learned that a perfect environment or ideal topography are not necessary to make a more livable, bike-friendly city. We can do it too in Harrisonburg. I am excited to join the energy and enthusiasm of so many citizens in our city who will make it happen!
Tom Benevento
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