Top Ten Bicycle Infrastructure Issues

I'm out of shape. It takes too long. It's too far. My bike is a wreck. I'll ruin my clothes. What if it rains? It just isn't safe.

There are a lot of excuses for not riding your bicycle to the office or to the grocery store; but for many people, the decision to ride (or not to ride) is influenced by the physical design of their community. Someone who looks out his or her window and sees safe, comfortable streets and bicycle-friendly businesses is more likely to use a bike than someone who looks out and sees only miles of high-speed highways and other barriers to bicycle travel.

How do you create a high quality bicycle environment? Some of the answers are quite simple. Others are more daunting. Here, in my opinion, are the top ten infrastructure issues facing the bicycling community:

• Street Maintenance - Roadways and bicycle facilities should be designed for easy maintenance--and that maintenance needs to be done on a regular basis. Loose gravel and other debris should be cleared along major bicycle routes, while potholes and cracks should be fixed promptly.
• Bicycle Signs and Markings - Communities should provide signs along bikeways to mark designated routes and make drivers more aware of non-motorized traffic.
• Showers and Lockers - Large businesses and other major destinations should provide bicyclists with places to store equipment and "freshen up." The needs of most bicycle commuters can be met through the provision of lockers, changing rooms, showers and other facilities.
• Bicycle Parking - Developments that provide parking for cars should also provide parking for bicycles. The short-term needs of most bicyclists can be met by providing bike racks that are protected from the weather, easily accessible, highly visible and well lit. Bicycle commuters would benefit from fully enclosed bike lockers or special storage rooms for secure long-term storage.
• Bicycles on Transit - Communities should allow bicyclists to use other forms of public transportation. Transit agencies can accommodate bicyclists by providing bicycle racks on buses, trains, taxis and ferries. They can also help out by providing parking at bus stops and other transit centers.
• Bicycle-Safe Intersections - The vast majority of bicycle--auto crashes in urban areas occur at intersections. When designing, engineering, signalizing, striping or upgrading an intersection, communities need to enhance the safety of bicyclists and minimize conflicts with motorists. Special consideration should be given to intersections that have, or can be expected to have, a lot of bicycle traffic.
• Bicycle Lanes on Major Streets - New roads and roadway improvement projects should include appropriate bicycle facilities and these facilities should allow for safe and comfortable riding. Bicycle commuters tend to have the same trip destination as their motoring counterparts.
• Continuous Network of Bicycle Routes - There should be a safe and efficient system of paths and streets that provide bike access to parks, workplaces and residential areas. Cities and towns should try to coordinate their bicycle planning efforts with nearby communities in order to eliminate gaps in the network. Developers of new projects should provide direct bicycle links to surrounding neighborhoods.
• Land Use and Transportation Planning - Land use development should be coordinated with transportation planning in order to improve the safety and convenience of bicycle travel. Communities should allow homes, shops and workplaces to be built closer together. They should also coordinate land use decisions with existing and planned public transit projects.
• Economics and Funding - State, county and local governments need to provide adequate and predictable funding for bicycle facilities and roadway projects that incorporate bikeways. Money for the construction of new bicycle projects and the preservation of existing facilities should be an integral part of all transportation budgets. Without money, none of the other infrastructure needs will be met.

As communities start to address these issues, it becomes easier for people to look past the excuses, inflate the tires on the old wreck, and make bicycling a regular part of their daily lives.

Mike Kinde has worked on several projects with Citizens for a Better Environment. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.