Came across this survey at the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation – trying to raise awareness of cycling as an alternative mode of travel. Check it out:
“How “Bikeable” is Your Community?”
It depends. I hate to say it but I live in one of those suburban areas that, let’s face it was built for people to get around in by car. It once was a small town, but has been gobbled up by the urban sprawl around the city of Toronto. You CAN get around easily by bike, but few do. They did not even have bike racks at the local Zellers!! - so it’s something that people just don’t seem to care about. I think that I am the only adult in my neighbourhood who actually rides a bike - it’s mostly just kids That being said, I do tend to do a number or errands by bike when I can and ride to/from work on days that I don’t have outside meetings and need my car.
Now, we are well positioned for road riding/training. Within 5 minutes of riding, I am on quite back-country roads with little traffic. There are also some great off-road options in the York Regional Forest areas about a 15 minute ride from my house.
Fleck
There’s a bike lane painted on the street right outside my front door…OK they painted it over the bumpiest most potholed, steel plated and badly patched street you could imagine, but its there alright.
I’m about 2 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge so I can’t complain.
Riding a bike on the main st of my town is illegal, both on and off the side walk. Since it is a little 2 stop light (pop 4000 ±) town, it is impossible to go anywhere in town since they all things are on main st. The local police don’t enforce this unless you are creating a problem. But I had one officer tell me during a friendly discussion on the topic that because it is illegal to ride there if I get into an accident it would probably be termed my fault no matter what.