🚀 go-pugleaf

[ ... ]
> With few exceptions, there is simply no way to give bikes their 
> "own space" in an already built-out urban or suburban area.  As a

[ ... ]

I don't think that is really a problem. Entire houses and communities
are moved for airports and freeways. People's front yards and storefronts
are claimed for sidewalks. 

I think the real problem is that the general public doesn't see bicycles
as a legitmate transportation vehicle like a car, a plane or two feet. 
Instead, it's viewed as primarily a recreational vehicle that can 
sometimes be used as a primary mode of transportation. Kinda
like an RV or a private plane. We don't see commute lanes and garages set up for 
RV's even though RV's could become the transportation craze and most small
aircraft aren't allowed to land at major airports, except in emergencies.

Until this view is broken, people are going to comtinue to view bike lanes
and bike paths as glorified "hiking trails" and such.

I would imagine that if someday everyone started to bike to work, or skateboard
to work, that we'll start to see more and more public funds pour into creating
skateboard ramps or bike paths. Not unlike what has happened with freeways 
and trains. One year we're tearing up the tracks saying they're congested and
ugly, 20 years later, we're putting them all back in and calling them "green".

Steve

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Stephen Lau                 lau@ai.sri.com|  "You can't fight in here,
SRI International                         |   this is a War Room!" 
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(415) 859-2925              (415) 326-6200|
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