Smart Planning Provides Equal Respect

Lately I have been riding out on rural roads throughout areas I've never been before. I've taken off from Lebanon and rode throughout Hartsville, Hayesville, Lafayette, Woodbury, Alexandria, Liberty, Statesville, Auburntown, Goshen and many other little towns I can't even remember. One day I missed a turn that was unmarked and ended up going well into Kentucky by mistake. You know you've gone the wrong way when all the license plates around you change to a different state!

I have been literally printing out county maps from the Tennessee TDOT website and narrowing down an area to venture into. I have been on roads I never knew about and opened up my eyes and legs to new experiences. I'm sure you all can relate to being a little bored with the same ole same ole when it comes to training routes. Well it doesn't have to be that way if you'll be just a little creative and go pedal on faith that you'll find your way back. I usually print out a detailed map, study it, and then highlight a route I think will work for me. My mid-week training rides have been 4 to 5 hours in length several times per week, so it has made it even easier to be adventurous when you have to train that long. If your rides are shorter then I suggest driving out to a point farther than normal and then riding out beyond your usual boundaries. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

In the more rural areas that I have been in lately the topics below aren't such a hot button issue, but those little towns look to the bigger cities for guidance and inspiration in developing their identity. If Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville take the lead then other towns will follow.

Building biking system creates healthy option
I have to agree with Brad, we are obese because we have designed for it. Several people have told me after having traveled to the Netherlands how accessible bicycles are and how mainstream active transportation is, ie walking and cycling. This is accomplished not so much because the Dutch are health fanatics, but more so because the policies of local governments have given people options to choose. Here in America our cities are built for vehicular monsters while our quality of life continues to decline. Sure, we've got everything at the touch of our fingers. Good for us huh. Laziness is winning out as convenience is literally killing us.

Report Shows Federal Transportation Program is Broke — and Broken
We are in need of a "new beginning", yeah, you think? Our other option is to continue sending billions to OPEC and reading about Exxon Mobil raking in $40.6 BILLION in Net Income for 2007. I said BILLION. I'm a 100% believer in the capitalistic society and will put my faith and trust in the open market. Having said that our system is built with limited options that point us all in the direction of our nearest gas station. Provide an equal balance of options that aren't skewed to one side and the people will re-shape the market towards a healthier economic balance as well as in the mid-section.

Complete the Streets
It takes a lot of forethought and planning to design a city allowing us to move about freely and safely without relying entirely on our vehicles. The city planning designs offered by Complete the Streets is something we are beginning to see in newer mixed-use development, but only in a very small and concentrated method. Still, most of it does not account for a bicycle. Take the Providence development in Mt. Juliet and the new Green Hills development hosting Whole Foods. You see similar parking and sidewalk design, but where are the bike lanes?

Should bicyclists be licensed to ride?
If having to become licensed meant that we would get equal funding and equal access then I would pay double the amount I pay for my car in order to have a bicycle license. This license would also have to ensure our rights would be upheld in court with consistency and respect throughout the judicial process. It would have to start at the level of traffic officers all the way to judges to state legislators.

It is a good point made that licenses from bicyclists would raise very little money, but it would certainly raise the level of respect given to bicyclists. Moreover, let's face it, we bicyclists are already paying our fair share of gasoline taxes at the pump because we drive our cars quite a bit too. Aside from young kids and college students very few people in Tennessee are relying on the bicycle as their only mode of transportation. This is what we should strive to turn around.

To take it a step further it would legitimize who we are if our local government required the license. Isn't that the strategy of every other minority group out there? Get recognition and attention, fight to become a protected class through legislation, and then boom, everybody is mentally adjusting their focus to include your minority group on the playing field of all those seeking acceptance.

Strategic Plan for Sidewalks and Bikeways
All the talk above leads me to this, which is the city of Nashville and Davidson County is wanting to hear from us. The city planners will not do entirely what is in our best interest if we do not express our best interest. Sure, we have organizations like Walk/Bike Nashville lobbying and advocating on our behalf, but they need more support from tax-paying citizens. As of today there are four more public meetings set for Metro Public Works to hear our voice, your voice. Will it be heard?

Shopping by bike is patriotic...
"Ahh, that's the way Patriot. Let the OPECs keep their gasoline. We'll just tap into a far more efficient energy source. Man power. If we all learn to pull our weight, nobody, nobody will be able to siphon away our High Life."

I could opine how this simple commercial is deeply embedded with global truths, and how those sad truths are destroying our opportunity to thoroughly live the High Life. Instead, I will let you ponder this one on your own.