What have you done to encourage cycling ?

Question

What things that can be done to; encourage people to take up cycling, improve facilities, raise awareness, lobby governments/ councils etc

Even the easy little things and the obscure. It all helps

Please visit this Question and thumb up the good answers (or answer yourself). (Asked by a high profile Australian politician)

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArvK6Fq6K6VL9C79C54wzabg5gt.;_ylv=3?qid=20070912184515AAZw5cd

Answer 1

I like to get older bikes back into working condition and give them to the neighborhood kids. I also seem to be the neighborhood mechanic. All the kids stop by and ask me to fix this or that. I love doing it.

When riding, I always try to be as courteous to auto's as possible. Staying as far to the right as possible. Signaling ahead of time, etc. And I always wave to people as I go by, even at high speed, I always at least give a head nod.

Tell people about how much fun it is to go out for a two hour ride and take it the scenery. Tell them about how much beauty you miss when driving.

These are just a couple simple things.

Answer 2

I think cycling is great . We have some great cycling tracks on the Gold coast. I was recently in South Australia and met up with 2 , 80 plus year olds and they had cycled over 15000 kilometres since they retired. I find life very easy to jump in the car but do discipline myself sometimes to get on the bike. The thing also is I've had 3 bikes that were chained up, stolen which is rather off putting to have a nice bike as its a quick easy $100 for a druggie

Answer 3

I work in a big company and am encouraging to get everyone on board for Bike to Work Day on Oct 17th.
I have convinced a couple of colleagues who live nearby to ride with me all the way to work a few times.

I also work Saturdays in a bike shop and just love talking about bikes and generally spreading the positive word. I have three! One is worth more than my car.

Cities like Vancouver are an amazing example of how to make cycling more viable as a way of life for everyone and Australian governments really need to step up.

Answer 4

Hi Glenn,

I'm a high profile citizen of Sydney and I've been getting up you guys lately over the mess our rental market is now in, but lets stick to the question shall we..

I ride my bike as often as possible and my record is a ten hour ride in 35 degree heat which nearly killed me. I've riden most tracks all across Sydney and find the new trails are oustanding for regular bike users as I can ride to most places within one hour and driving might take 30 minutes. the tracks are also great for an escape with adjoining parks and friendly people walking their dogs and kicking balls, I always feel the atmosphere around the bike rider community and associated public is warm and amicable, though there is some friction between motorists and cyclists; especially when one lone cyclist hogs a lane in peak hour and sit on 15km/h for 10 kilometers.. I even want ot run those dudes down myself especially if there is a biketrail only 5 meters off the road. That really does annoy me as I always ride safely on bike trails or on the footpath and share thje road, but I NEVER hog a lane of traffic nor ever flirt with danger in traffic..

Importantly when you ride you will loose salt and alkalytic enzymes which are critical for circulation. DO NOT make the mistake as I have of not drinking enough proper fluids on a long ride.. it is critical as I ended up with heart pulpitations for a week after one long exhaustive ride where i didn't drink enough. I usualy put a teaspoon of salt and squeeze a slice of lemon into my water bottles,AND SHAKE IT UP that will give you exactly what you will need, no need to buy expensive powders. Lemon replaces the lost alkalytes(to reduce body acidity buildup in legs for example), and salt replaces lost salt (without any salt you will clog up your whole fluid/circulatory system and not get enough oxygen to the legs)..

I ride a super light moutain bike 11kg as it is more practical for my needs plus i used to ride a BMX and am partial to jumping the odd gutter for fun.

I'm in the process of equiping my bike with a robust panier as i plan to use it throught this summer firstly to get fit, secondly to preserve cost and furthermore.. it's actually FUN! I like taking my time now to go shopping and rather than go to supermarkets and blow $500 once per week I now prefer to hop on the bike.. tottle down to the grocer and spend $20 nightly to eat proper food instead. It's cheaper, healthier and you're not eating poisonous and ripped off supermarket foods.

So.. go the bike

Answer 5

Some simple infrastructre adjustments to prioritise cycling and public transport. European cities have excellent transport systems. They have cycle lanes and bike racks everywhere, especially around city centres and train stations. They also discourage cars in the city centre with traffic restrictions, narrow streets and cheap bus/tram options.

Cycling needs to be promoted as a common thing, not just some greenie or fitness lifestyle. It's not about being fit, or saving the environment - it's just living. Cars are for minority groups and specific lifestyles, not bikes!

Answer 6

It's a little impractical for me personally, as i live 40km's from the nearest town.

I think these days it is also too dangerous in the majority of situations. I believe there are other ways we can help with the environment (i assume that's what you're getting at with this question?) and i try in as many ways as possible to reduce the CO2 i produce (ie: try to drive less, i have a new car which also uses minimal fuel). I do as much as i can to help the environment where it is practical for me to do so.

Answer 7

I ride a bicycle, for fitness. But I would say that some cyclists are a nuisance on the road.
I think bicycles are a good means of transport, easy to park and are good for the environment and for fitness.
I would like to see a licence system and registration for cyclists.It would enable more funds for bike lanes/cycleways and also ensure that they know the road rules and ensure their bicycles are roadworthy.

Answer 8

Frequenting my local cycle shop, owning five bicycles and taking them on trains to the annoyance of others. I believe that the best way to promote cycling is to do it yourself. Safety in numbers you see. Did you know that in Austrialia, after you introduced a law calling for compulsory helmets the accident rate rose quite significantly?

Answer 9

I really like what they did around here, its called rails to trails. Old railroad routes have been converted to bike trails. Nice senic and they have little information stops about the old rail routes... They are always maintaing the trails too, by the DNR. I dont know if that was what you are looking for, but I thought it was cool that it was done.

Answer 10

I have promoted the idea of an Electric Assist motor for bicycles. In the 1980's I built a prototype:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/Type5MilitaryPoliceBike.jpg
In the early 1990's my Daugher designed a ladies bike version (step thru frame):
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/00000024-1.jpg
In 2002 Electric Bikes started coming in from China, and I bought one:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/photo013.jpg

I am a little disappointed that the Chinese companies started importing the product before I could find an investor to fund my building E-bikes here in the United States. It would cost approximately three times (3X) to build anything here in the US as it does in China.