To Get More People on Bikes They Need a Safe Place to Ride
By Lloyd Alter, Treehugger
A study confirms that if we are serious about getting people on bikes, they need a safe place to ride.
It is a mantra on Treehugger that three things are needed for a bike and e-bike revolution: good affordable bikes, safe places to ride, and secure places to park. But all three things are not of equal weight. A new study, "Barriers and enablers of bike riding for transport and recreational purposes in Australia," based on surveys in Melbourne, finds that the fear of being squished by a car far outweighs any other consideration.
One would think that Melbourne would be bicycle heaven, with its relatively flat topography and moderate climate. Yet overall, only 1.7% of trips are made by bike.
