Safety in Numbers
When riding your bicycle through an urban area, it certainly feels safer to bike when other people are also biking. When a bunch of people are riding on the same block, they’re much more visible to cars than a solo cyclist. And when drivers become accustomed to their being cyclists on the road, they’re more aware of the potential presence of bikers. Ben Fried at Streetsblog points to evidence of the “safety in numbers” effect coming to New York City:
As the number of riders in NYC goes up, the aggregate quantity of accidents is going down. So the rate of accidents is plummeting. Obviously, bicycling as a mode of transportation isn’t going to work for all locations—its viability has a lot to do with terrain. But there are a lot of places in America, including Washington DC, where it can be a very useful addition to the mix. And I know that one reason some folks in Washington don’t want to take it up is that it feels unsafe. But what we’re seeing here is that incremental improvements in safety can, if they get more people out on the bike paths, lead to a positive feedback loop of more pedaling and more safety.
36 Responses to “Safety in Numbers”
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June 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Isn’t there a correlation vs causation issue here?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
In other breaking news:
Saturday, Jun 6, 2009
Posted on Sat, Jun. 06, 2009
George Tiller’s daughter to funeral guests: ‘You are my dad’s living masterpiece’
BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS
The Wichita Eagle
At George Tiller’s funeral this morning, his oldest child, Jennifer, said that her father loved to relay axioms, “pearls of wisdom for how life should be lived.”
He recently told her that “life is like an Impressionist painting,” she said. “‘When you are up close to it, it can be confusing and not make any sense. … Only when you stand back from it can you see the broad, masterful strokes of the artist.’ And then he laughed at himself,” she said.
After her father’s death and the outpouring of condolences, sympathy and stories, “I thought, well, if life is a painting, then Dad, you’re the artist,” Jennifer said.
“Your painting certainly had color and confusion at times. All the small dots and sweeps of the brush were each and every day of your life. … Maybe my dad wasn’t even aware of what he painted because he was so close to it. Maybe he had no idea how it was all going to work out. But for sure, he believed in his art. He believed in the effort and the joy of his work. He loved the feel of the brush in his hand and the paint on canvas, and he kept painting because he had faith and because he loved it.
“As I look out on you today — all of you in many colors — I see all the brush stokes. I see all the dots. I see all the people, the color, the canvas of my dad’s life.
“I can stand back from it and I can see the plan. I can see the whole picture. He really did paint an incredible masterpiece, and it’s you. It’s all of you. You are my dad’s living masterpiece.”
Each of Tiller’s four children shared reflections of their father. They and many other funeral-goers, including preacher Rev. Lowell Michelson, wore Tiller’s trademark “Attitude is everything” buttons on their shirts or robes.
Tiller’s youngest child, Krista, shared a letter her father had written to her when she was 13 years old, after losing a race.
“‘I’m proud of the way you handled yourself –- no whining or complaining today,’” Tiller wrote. “‘One race does not spoil the entire racing season. Remember, nobody wins all the time – not Dad, not Mom … Be gracious in victory, never arrogant. Share the credit and the praise.
“‘And the sting and the loneliness and the depression of defeat or setback will be less severe. Because the friends with whom you have shared the good times will not abandon you in the bad times.
“‘Love, Dad.’ Underline, underline,” Krista said, chuckling.
Tiller’s daughter Rebecca said she shared her father’s “warped sense of humor” and his love for action movies and “Star Trek.” Years ago, Tiller gave Rebecca a poster of Star Trek axioms — “Star Trexioms,” she said. She says he told her, “Read these every day before you go out, and you will be successful in life.’” Then she shared several: “Seek out new life and new civilizations.”
“Keep your fazer on stun.”
“Humans are highly illogical.”
“Enemies are often invisible. Like Klingons, they can be cloaked.” His two favorites reflect Tiller’s life and philosophy, she said, fighting back tears. “‘Live long and prosper.’ And ‘When going out into the universe, remember: Boldly go where no man has gone before.”
The funeral eulogy: ‘Heaven will never be the same’
Larry Borcherding of Overland Park, a friend and fraternity brother of George Tiller’s for more than 50 years, delivered the eulogy at Tiller’s funeral at College Hill United Methodist Church: “For me to have been asked to eulogize George, who was one of the most accomplished communicators, one of the most brilliant minds I have ever known, is truly and honor and, I’ve got to admit, somewhat awesome … ”
Borcherding described Tiller as someone who “always put us first,” even when he was experiencing threats to his life and security.
“I’ll not get into any of the current political and media frenzy,” he said. “George’s constant challenges over these last decades have been exemplary of his brave, courageous, passionate and dedicated attitude … Most of which the common man can’t even comprehend.
“George continued to meet challenges and their associated experiences and overcame the tough ones time after time after time until Sunday, May 31, at his church, when he was tragically taken from us.
“He went to be in that better place. And dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming. Heaven will never be the same.”
Borcherding and Tiller were members of Delta Chi at the University of Kansas. He said friends called Tiller “Tuna” because he was attending the university on a swimming scholarship.
Tiller’s children and grandchildren called him “Papa.”
“George loved his family, there’s no question of that,” Borcherding said. “Aren’t you all proud to be George’s family? What a gift of family he has given you.
“All of the traditions, all of his love of skiing and music and the shopping trips and going to Colorado and traveling the world. Probably the most important of anything, though, is the one-on-one time that you each had with him.
“Let your minds and hearts wander through the love of a remarkable husband, dad and grandfather.”
The sanctuary and overflow rooms of the church are full for Tiller’s funeral, which began at 10 a.m.
The classic hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” would begin the funeral service for Tiller, according to the funeral program. The front of the program reads “Kindness, Courtesy, Justice, Love, Respect: A Service of Thanksgiving to God Celebrating the Life of Dr. George R. Tiller.”
Readings include the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, which begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.”
The Gospel reading is John 11: 25-26 and 14:1-7.
The presiding minister for the program is Rev. Kristin Neitzel.
The Reformation Lutheran Church parish choir also will sing.
One of the pallbearers is Colorado abortion provider Warren Hern.
A video screen in the overflow room where members of the media are gathered showed scenes from the front of the church, where a portrait of Tiller sits beside a wreath of flowers with the phrase “Trust Women.”
The funeral ended at 11:25 a.m. with a rousing version of “Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises,” with piano, bongo drums and many voices.
Scenes before the service
Before the service began, guests were standing along the sides of the fellowship hall, which was warm. The Rev. John Martin, pastor of the church, scanned the church kitchen looking for water bottles to pass out to overheated funeral-goers.
He said his church, at 2930 E. First St., can hold about 1,000 guests.
Members of church handed out white carnations to guests “as a sign of hope and love,” Martin said.
Wendy Anderson, spokeswoman for Tiller family, distributed written copies of this statement: “Family, friends and colleagues have come together to celebrate the life of a devoted humanitarian and loving father, grandfather and husband, George R. Tiller, M.D. People are here today from across the country to celebrate and honor the life of a man who wholeheartedly dedicated his life to kindness, courtesy, justice, love and respect.”
More than 50 American Legion Riders arrived at the funeral for George Tiller at 8:24 a.m., riding east along First Street in front of College Hill United Methodist Church.
Cregg “Bronco 6″ Hansen, of Derby, a spokesman for the group, said the group was not here because of the abortion issue.
“We’re here in respect for George Tiller’s Naval service. We’re here because he was a veteran.”
The funeral started at 10 a.m., but police and others arrived as early as 7 a.m. Officers said they expected a large crowd. At 8 a.m., security already was tight, and parking was getting scarce.
Police set cones along some side streets around the church, near Hillside and First Street, to prevent motorists from stopping or parking in no-parking zones. Some who live in the area were in yards and on porches watching.
Members of the media were reporting from the south side of First Street, across from the church’s entrance.
At least one protester was there, as well.
Daren Buchanan of Wichita arrived at the church at about 7 a.m. carrying a sign that says “Pro-Life (does not equal) terrorism.” He said he feels the pro-life movement “has kind of been under attack for the past week.”
“I don’t support what Tiller did for a living,” Buchanan said. “But I was really hurt by the way some people … have kind of turned this into a bash-fest against conservatives in general.”
The Wichita Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies are overseeing security during the service, which is at the College Hill church at the request of the Tiller family. Officials said College Hill’s sanctuary, which seats between 650 and 700 people, offers more available seating than Reformation Lutheran Church, where the Tillers are members.
Tiller was shot and killed Sunday at Reformation, where he was serving as an usher. Scott Roeder, 51, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting.
Officials say crowds and some protests are likely. Members of Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church, who regularly protest at funerals across the country, have announced plans to be at Tiller’s funeral.
Check Kansas.com throughout the day for updates.
Contributing: Hurst Laviana of The Eagle
© 2007 Wichita Eagle and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansas.com
June 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Obviously, bicycling as a mode of transportation isn’t going to work for all locations—its viability has a lot to do with terrain.
True, but in most older cities at least, there are railroad rights of way that have an acceptable grade that can accomodate bike paths.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
If people can bike in large numbers in places like San Francisco and Portland, I hardly think there are many places with terrain that is completely incompatible with it.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I’m sure there’s some truth to this, but it’s also true that NYC has been adding a *lot* of bike paths in recent years (thank you Janette Sadik-Khan!), which presumably is independently increasing bike ridership and safety.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I’m not particularly aware of a large number of bicyclists on the road in New York. If this is a significant trend, my guess is that the mechanism is not the sensory impact to drivers of large numbers of cyclists on the road simultaneously.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Isn’t there a correlation vs causation issue here?
Possibly, but the main question is whether there’s a tipping point that turns a situation where cyclists are perceived as freaks in spandex whose presence on the road offends drivers, and one where they are considered a legitimate group of road users. That’s not just about numbers, but the nature of the cycling population.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Those numbers are not terribly convincing. The bulk of the decrease in casualties comes while ridership is flat, suggesting causation is the other way around — people notice things are getting safer and decide that now it’s OK to ride a bike. Split the graph at 2002 and tell me if you still think it’s telling the same story.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
“into one”, even. And you don’t even need the kind of superabundance of cyclists that you see in Amsterdam to get to a situation where people cycle around town without being dressed for the Tour de France.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’m not convinced that terrain makes much difference. We have lot’s of bike riders here in Boulder. And Boulder isn’t exactly flat.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I wish there were no bicyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge. Tens of thousands of tourists and New York pedestrians are menaced and cursed at by a few hundred (at most) bicyclists who get equal space on the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge. Bicyclists’ behavior on the road makes them disliked by both drivers and walkers.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
David Hembrow had a great post regarding safety in numbers. His point is that “safety in numbers” is no substitute for actual safety. What you need, like Matt says, is a positive feedback loop where more cyclists demand safer conditions which leads to more cyclists demanding safer conditions, etc. We won’t get there by telling people they have to act macho and fight it out with SUVs in the streets.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Bicyclists and PodTaxis go well together, they can share the same road. PodTaxis are very courteous, PodTaxis hate automobiles as much as bicyclists. PodTaxis go at a consistent speed, always watching for pedestrians. PodTaxis are great defensive barriers for bicyclists. Bicyclists should not spook PodTaxis too much.
NYC can buy all the PodTaxis they want to cruise along with the bicyclists, they are available today. PodTaxis work great in large venues, such as football games, moving people to and from the stadium.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
The bulk of the decrease in casualties comes while ridership is flat
No, you’re misreading the graph — it’s showing the total number of deaths/injuries, not the rate. Eyeballing the graph, the ratio of annual injuries to daily riders goes from about 1:16 in 1998-99, to 1:25 in 2002, to 1:40 in 2004, to 1:70 in 2007. So in fact, most of the improvement has come in the past couple of years.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
The certainly confirms my experience, as an urban cyclist in Calgary since 1974 and as a long-distance tourer through 20 states and provinces. When there are few bikes on the road, motorists simply don’t see you, and if they do they don’t comprehend how fast you’re traveling, what your signals mean, and that you’re supposed to follow the rules of the road like other vehicles. In places like Texas and Mississippi, I’ve had people earnestly inform me that I’m supposed to ride facing traffic or on the sidewalk (if any). By contrast, in cities like Portland or the Bay Area — and increasingly other places like Calgary, Santa Fe, and New York over the past decade or so — there is much greater acceptance and willingness to “share the road.”
And I agree with #10 fostert that terrain isn’t that big a factor — gravity giveth back what it taketh way. Wind, however, is a drag.
[Out of curiosity, what the heck is that wobbly Tiller post doing on this thread?]
June 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
“Wind, however, is a drag.”
It sure is. Some days, you just can’t ride here. 100 mph winds are fairly common for Boulder. You can literally be blown off the road.
June 6th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
What Aaron S. Veenstra said; sorry, lemuel pitkin. Going from a 1:16 to a 1:25 risk drops the probability from 6% to 4%. Going from 1:40 to 1:70 only drops the risk from a 2.5% chance to a 1.4% chance. Like going from one chance in a billion to one chance in a hundred billion trillion gazillion. Impressive sounding numbers, but not too much impact on your actual probabilities.
So from the 1998 numbers, any one bicyling in New York would be virtually certain to suffer death or an injury over a 16 year period? Yegods.
June 6th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
In addition to better bike paths, the average commuter bicycle itself has become safer in recent years – easier to accelerate at intersections, better brakes, and more likely than before a set of lights.
Still, I don’t want to take away from Matthew’s point, which does have some truth to it. A steady stream of cyclists in a regular road is in many ways safer than a lone cyclist in a marked “bike lane.” Drivers don’t tend to perceive an in-road bike lane as a boundary when it’s not heavily used, and the points at which they blur into street parking and turning lanes are extremely hazardous without the critical mass of cyclists. I see no reason for a city that manages to set aside funds for bike paths to not allocate some of these for both increased ridership (i.e. subsidized bike rental and repair programs) and safety improvements (who wouldn’t snap on a free light?).
Regarding the terrain of San Francisco, I would caution against using it as an example. It’s true that the financial district has a huge number of cyclist, especially bike messengers, but this small area was built on bayfill and is artificially flat. The number of recreational cyclists is also quite high – lots of parks have fantastic bike paths that aren’t really practical for commuters, and enough major thoroughfares are flat enough to get across town slowly but comfortably. But very few of SF’s cyclists use the bike for a significant portion of their day-to-day transport needs compared to the already-small minority of cyclists in flatter East Coast cities.
June 6th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Re: If people can bike in large numbers in places like San Francisco and Portland, I hardly think there are many places with terrain that is completely incompatible with it.
Agreed. Climate is more of a limiting factors. Places that get lots of snow and ice in winter will not be bike commute-friendly throughout the year. Extreme heat and/or humidity can also be limiting.
June 6th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I agree with Matt’s larger point, but I want to note that at the beginning of spring, the roads feel more dangerous due to the influx of inexperienced cyclists along with irate drivers who realize that nice weather = more obstacles in the road.
June 6th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
JonF: Climate isn’t all that limiting. There are year-round bike commuters in every major Canadian city. On a per capita basis, Canada has three times as many bike commuters as the U.S.
Studded, knobby tires provide surprisingly good traction. And the Swedes have a saying, “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.” There’s a website http://www.icebike.org/ with lots of tips for winter riding.
Heat and humidity may be worse deterrents, but doesn’t that raise the question, why in the world do people live in places they can’t endure without air conditioning? I’ve ridden a little in summer in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, and it isn’t too bad if you’re fit, stay hydrated, and watch your pacing.
June 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
i’d say the #1 reason people don’t bike, whether in DC or elsewhere, is that they suspect it would not _feel_ safe. that’s very different from whether or not it would actully _be_ safe.
thought stolen from here.
so, are bike lanes actually safer? who knows, and who cares? all that matters is that they make people _feel_ safer, so more people ride, which increases everyones’ safety, including pedestrians–so that’s justification for more bike lanes and all bike infrastructure.
when we move to this type of thinking — how to make DC a place where it’s obviously safe and comfortable to ride — we’ll be able to achieve a much better place to live. it will never be comfortable riding next to traffic moving more than 20 MPH, etc. — it’s too loud, scary, etc. people who are more risk averse, generally speaking — women, mothers (who won’t let their children ride), the elderly — won’t ride until it _feels_ safe — we owe them all a decent environment to ride in.
bike advocates need to come right out and start stating the obvious — we need to prioritize travel within the city: first pedestrians, then bikes, then mass transit, etc. don’t be bashful about it. on every level, morally, economically, etc. — it just makes good sense.
June 6th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
it isn’t too bad if you’re fit, stay hydrated, and watch your pacing
This is part of the reason we can’t get folks out of their cars, even for short trips. Most Americans, even city dwellers are not that fit, and arriving to work sweat-soaked and disheveled isn’t a viable option.
The difference I’ve noted in European cities (see link above re: Amsterdam) is that both the terrain and the types of bikes make it more feasible for a wider range of residents to feel comfortable using this mode of transportation.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Re: Climate isn’t all that limiting.
Obviously there are some die-hards who would ride in the teeth of a major blizzard, or in the face of a hurricane. But the average cyclisyt will not. I will not ride when snow or ice are factor due to safety concerns (not just the bike itself, but the fact the fact that snow and ice make it hard for other vehicles to stop)
Re: I’ve ridden a little in summer in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, and it isn’t too bad if you’re fit, stay hydrated, and watch your pacing.
I rode for pleasure in the summer in St Pete FL, and also rode home from work a lot (we only had one car for two of us that year), but I would get dropped off with the bike at work in the morning. The problem of course is that most jobs expect employees to show up clean and well-groomed, not sweat-sodden and disheveled. I didn’t mind coming home that way, but arriving at work a mess was not practical or sensible. In that regard heat and humidity do limit bike commuting.
Re: i’d say the #1 reason people don’t bike, whether in DC or elsewhere, is that they suspect it would not _feel_ safe.
Another safety concern: having your bike stolen if there is no where secure to leave it. My employer has a bike room, so I do ride to work weather permitting. But I don’t ride when I go out for the evening on weekends mainly because there’s no where I trust leaving my bike, even chained, in the Mt Vernon neighborhood (or any other district) of Baltimore. We just made headlines as the Murder Capital of the USA (though Detroit is contesting), but what Baltimore really is, is Theft City. I’ve even had my recycle bin and trash can stolen here.
June 6th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Hembrow’s really on to something with his subjective safety thing. Cycling advocates will tell you that you should ride in the street, that you should own the road, and that it’s actually safe after all. But people aren’t robots. Can you really train your body to ignore 100 decibels of roaring engine coming up fast behind you? Every thirty seconds for a ten minute ride to the store?
Even if it is safe, if it doesn’t feel safe, your stress hormones are going to stay pegged, and you’re going to say, “screw this, I’m taking the car.” Streets aren’t working unless a 60-year-old woman in regular shape feels comfortable biking.
@22 Peter Smith, have you seen David Pucher’s “Cycling for Everyone” video? It’s terrific.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Going from a 1:16 to a 1:25 risk drops the probability from 6% to 4%. Going from 1:40 to 1:70 only drops the risk from a 2.5% chance to a 1.4% chance.
Huh? In the first case, chance of injury has dropped by one third, in the second by 40%, so the second drop is larger. (What a silly thing to be arguing about.)
So from the 1998 numbers, any one bicyling in New York would be virtually certain to suffer death or an injury over a 16 year period? Yegods.
Based on my experience biking in NYC, I’d say the odds were probably a lot worse than that. A lot of biking injuries, even serious ones, aren’t reported as such — I know mine wasn’t.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
One could argue against those who say, quite sensibly, that cycling is not an option because of extreme weather conditions by reminding them that, with hurricanes, floods, ice storms or blizzards approaching, driving a car is also quite dangerous. There’s a good cause here for mass transit options that suit the local climate/geography and can safely accommodate an influx of pedestrians and cyclists when the weather takes a sudden turn. But car owners, who have an inflated perception of their own safety, would rather not invest in that, whereas bike lanes are much cheaper.
bike advocates need to come right out and start stating the obvious — we need to prioritize travel within the city: first pedestrians, then bikes, then mass transit, etc.
I suppose I’ve worked enough for the cause to be one of these dreaded “bike advocates,” and this sounds like a pretty obvious straw man. Even the most militant cyclist is also a pedestrian and, when possible, a mass-transit user, and would hardly miss this point in a public-policy crusade. However, when you’re involved enough in local politics to know where the money comes from, you start picking different battles. Fighting for improvements and funding in bicycle safety can be as simple as lobbying a city council or contributing to a good non-profit. Most governments don’t actually have a cycling czar or bike trails department, so the approach is quite flexible. This is really not so with improvements to mass-transit and pedestrian infrastructure, which are overseen by big-government departments with tightly allocated funds and elected officials who haven’t taken the bus since they were 12. It takes a lot more work to fight for even a minor change in a bus service or get half a mile of sidewalk put in, and it’s pretty rare to see much other than disappointment in return.
Still, a reliable, extensive, and bike-friendly mass-transit system is essential to make cycling and carlessness viable options, and it doesn’t work the other way around. So there, as one of those advocate things, I’ve said it. Thanks.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
JonF: I spent a couple summers in Albuquerque NM biking 20 miles round trip to and from work every day. It wasn’t that hard to keep from stinking up the place. There were plenty of other people I would see biking every day there, as well.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
To add, I have also spent time biking in Florida all year round. I understand that it isn’t really feasible to bike any reasonable distance once the summer gets started. I know it sounds awful to repeat a cliche, but it really is the humidity that does it.
80 degree days in Florida leave you drenched and a mess.
110 degree days in New Mexico leave you with some salt to wash off, but otherwise pretty much fine.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Biking in New York definitely doesn’t feel safe, which is why it’s so much fun. I used to love screaming down fifth avenue, cutting of taxi-cabs all over the place, bellowing at idiot pedestrians who mindlessly stepped out into the cross-walk while talking on cell-phones.
My first day on the job as a bike messenger I got hit by a cab in Columbus Circle and tossed from my bike, luckily without injury. Bike messengering, and biking in NYC in general, are a great way to learn how to yell and curse loudly and threaten others in public, which is something that I lacked as a child growing up in the suburbs.
June 7th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Re: I understand that it isn’t really feasible to bike any reasonable distance once the summer gets started.
As I said, I used to bike for pleasure in the Florida (St Pete) even in summer, mainly in the evening. Yes, I would end up a sweaty mess, but it didn’t bother me too much: I would just come home, shed the clothes and plop down in the hot tub with a tall glass of ice tea or water. Here in Baltimore it can get humid too (though nothing like Florida– I laughed at people last year whining about the summer weather). My ride to work isn’t bad though– two and a half miles, slightly downhill. At worst I need to wash my face and hands, brush my hair amd spitz some body spray at work. You mention Albuquerque. I recall visiting the city in July. It was oddly comfortable compared to Florida. I barely broke a sweat meandering about on foot.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am
with respect to DC, the forthcoming expansion of the smartbike program will help a lot, adding many more ‘numbers’ to the road. it’s a great way for people to be able to commute without committing to the purchase and upkeep expenses of their own bike. i can’t wait to get docking stations on the hill and around the stadium (and no, i don’t work for ddot).
with that, i’m off to cycle around haines point!
June 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Of interest to bikers in the DC area, a bike lane just opened on the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge between Alexandria and Prince Georges Co., Maryland. From the Virginia side, access is afforded from Washington ST.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060602145.html?hpid%3Dmoreheadlines&sub=AR
June 7th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
It also doesn’t hurt that the city built a ton of new bike lanes under Bloomberg. Perhaps we could plot miles of bike paths on the chart as well.
Yep, just like there is with gravity and falling objects. Does planetary mass determine acceleration during free fall or is it just correlated with it? Hmm.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
LED lights have become a lot more common in the last few years. Perhaps increased visibility in low-light situations has helped.
For a while there, folks riding racing-style eschewed any visibility-enhancers (other than dayglo jerseys) as fashionably inappropriate, or “too heavy” — lightness being the end-all-be-all consideration during that time.
June 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
[...] as Ben Fried and Matt Yglesias point out, there’s also a “safety in numbers” effect. As more people bike, everyone [...]