Bicycle wheels are turning across the Columbia

[depakid]

Bicycle commuting is gaining ground nationwide, with ridership jumping in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. Now add this unlikely enclave: Vancouver.

As in, Vancouver, Wash. Like crocuses nudging the soil surface, intriguing signs suggest bicycling is making its move in the pack of commuter choices in Vancouver.

To rival cars? Don't be silly. But it's a safe bet that the next time a government agency surveys bicycle use at the Interstate Bridge or measures the number of companies with bike-commuting employees -- something last done in 2007 -- they're going to see an uptick.

No one's suggesting Vancouver is prepared to rival Portland's bike culture and its double-digit rates of participation. But instead of resisting the pull of the behemoth neighbor to the south, Vancouver appears to be making a rare exception where cycling is concerned and emulating Portland. Still, in true Vancouver fashion, the city has found an opportunity to one-up Portland where possible. Check out the bike-friendly directional signs to be introduced this summer and compare them to Portland's. Vancouver's are bigger.

<snip>

"We're talking about doing a lot of things in the downtown," Leah Jackson said, referring to the possibility of light rail and even streetcars, "and I don't want bicycle commuters and casual riders to be overlooked when we're putting in new roads and parking." Jackson is a bicycle activist who organized today's meeting.

More: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/wheels_are_turning_across_the.html

[kestrel91316]

1. I wish I could ride my bike to work here in LA. I'm only 2 1/2 miles

away, but it's just too scary on the street, and the sidewalk is too messed up (and the side streets I have to cross too rutted and broken up).

Ventura Blvd and its cross streets all desperately need repaving, and the sidewalks too, and drivers need to learn that bikes have a right to be on the street so we don't HAVE TO go on the sidewalk for safety.

[onehandle]

2. Atlanta is highly unfriendly to bikes too.

People who move here from LA have told me that they feel right at home with our many highways and urban sprawl.

Atlanta and LA are always on the "worst cities for bicycles" list.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. This always surprises me

Over here, we think of California as so progressive…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_bike_paths
http://www.lacity.org/ladot/bicycle/
http://bicyclesafe.com/
http://cicle.org/cm/criticalmass.html

[FightingIrish]

3. I've been bike commuting in southern Oregon for thirty years

I usually wait for warmer weather, but I started in March this year. I was just amazed by all the new obstacles to my 16 mile daily round trip. The city eliminated traffic signals at the one place I have to cross the city's busiest arterial. This morning, the little stretch of bike path I use was closed. They just opened the final link in the bikeway that connects the north and south ends of the valley but, to use it, you have to cross another busy arterial where drivers evidently never expect to see bicycles. The tax protesters are up in arms because a bridge is being planned to make the crossing safe.