While a lot of attention is focused on making big cities more bicycle friendly, the next battle is being waged in the suburbs.
In South Jersey suburbs around Philadelphia, for instance, planners are going up against road networks built solely for the automobile, and bicyclists are facing motorists who don't look out for them. A regular bike commuter between Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, told the Philadelphia Inquirer:
“In Philadelphia there's a lot of volume, but maybe because [drivers] see more cyclists, they are more aware. Here (Cherry Hill) you really got to watch them, because they're not watching for you.”
Virtuous cycle
It has been documented that motorists tend to drive more safely when they see lots of bicycles and pedestrians. As others see that bicycling is safer, more people ride bicycles. It's a phenomenon termed “the virtuous cycle.”
But while Philadelphia is a bronze-level bicycle friendly city, the suburbs have a long way to go. Jeff Peel, a consultant for League of American Bicyclists, said:
“The way things are now, these places can't just change into Portland or Philadelphia overnight. It is something of an uphill battle in a lot of places, considering the path of development in the past.”
Improvements
While 52 miles of bike lanes and trails exist in Camden County, New Jersey, there are plans to install another 110 miles of these facilities. Planners are faced with the challenge of making room for bicycles along routes that were set up solely for motorized transportation.
That struggle isn't unique to the Philadelphia suburbs.
In Bellevue, Washington, an estimated 0.47% of the work force bicycles to work, compared to 2.9% in nearby Seattle, a silver-lever bicycle friendly community.
To make Bellevue better for bicycling, the City Council has approved a plan to install 80 miles of bike lanes, 90 miles of sidewalks and make 20 miles of trail improvements. The city faces the challenge of where to find the money to pay for the improvements.
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