Comments on: Two Wheels and High Heels

By: mmayer

mmayer — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:53:09 +0000

Do Seattle’s hills play a role? I’m an occasional biker, but the hills on the north-south commute downtown can be a drag (especially heading north above the cut). It’s hard to imagine making that ride in a suit. I’ve seen biking in Berlin and London, and people did often look like they could step off and hit the town. The lack of helmets — which arguably goes to infastructure — strikes me as one factor, but the generally flat topography seems to be another potential influence. I saw the reference to Zurich being hilly, but are there studies considering a city’s natural terrain?

By: Georgie Bright Kunkel

Georgie Bright Kunkel — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 03:15:13 +0000

High heels on a bike? High heels throw a peron’s balance off and twist the spine. But what else is new when women have to wear high heels so that their butts wobble to attract a male.

We have an ERA in Washington State which allows supposedly for women to be equal to men in employment and elsewhere. Women don’t have to focus on attracting a partner as first priority anymore.
They can make their own living and then partner when they feel like instead of looking for a breadwinner.

By: Georgie Bright Kunkel

Georgie Bright Kunkel — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 03:14:30 +0000

High heels on a bike? High heels throw a peron’s balance off and twist the spine. But what else is new when women have to wear high heels so that their butts wobble to attract a male.

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:26:42 +0000

…Sorry – I meant inimical to motorists

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:25:34 +0000

These are not “missing pieces” Patrick…those who study active transportation know that these measures, and others, improve the cycling experience…Their problem is getting local governments to implement them. The biggest problem is a mental one…measures that prioritize cycles over cars are seen as inimical to cyclists – and politically risky…There are still many more drivers than cyclists. The second problem is an institutional one – active transportation has been “adopted” by traffic engineers – who can’t seem to shake the idea that increasing capacity for cars, widening roads and “organizing pavement” is the answer to all traffic problems.

By: Alan Durning

Alan Durning — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:04:36 +0000

Rob Allen,

You might be interested in our article specifically on helmet laws and bike sharing, which discusses Australia.

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/08/18/unchain-bike-sharing/

Thanks for writing!

By: Rob Allen

Rob Allen — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:59:07 +0000

Hi, good article and massive comments. In Australia, we have mandatory helmet laws, which are actively policed, and hot weather in summer. After a recent trip to Paris and seeing the amount of use of the Velib bike hire (we have the same in Brisbane) it is obvious the helmet laws act as a big disincentive to cycling generally and for the bike hire schemes. The Brisbane citycycle has tried to counter the helmet issue, by …providing shared helmets which are hung from some of the bikes for hire. Apart from issues of health and safety of a shared helmet it is evidence in itself the laws don’t work. Cycling needs to be a normal part of life where consideration is given and shared between road users for multiple coexistence. Where this is drowned through numbers / traffic etc, then creation of separation etc is necessary. Let users rule the roads not roads rule the users.

By: John P

John P — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:26:32 +0000

Well it is important to understand that bicyclists must obey the road laws and maybe one day the government will make us pay for registration. Then we will need to fit a number plate to our bikes.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:47:45 +0000

So when do bicyclists start paying road taxes via licensing and start following street and road signs and signals?

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:25:33 +0000

I read your blog post with interest. I’ve often been tempted to take my bike back to the UK and ride from London to my folk’s home in Scotland. However, you brought back memories of riding a loaded bicycle down the 12 inch wide “shoulder” of the A74 near Glasgow as there was no other route for many miles.

I was amazed to discover bike lanes after moving to Portland. Yes, it could be better but there’s hardly a day that passes when I’m not thankful for living in a town with real bicycle infrastructure.