Drivers beware
because cyclists are out to conquer the road. Victoria continues to add
protected cycling routes and it is something we should all get behind. The
benefits are numerous.
That cycling is
good for your health may be obvious. Researchers at the University of BC have
done extensive studies on cycling and health. According to their work,
countries that cycle more are less obese. The UBC studies show moderate cycling
can cut heart attack risk in half, reduce the risk of diabetes and heart
disease, and improve mental health. Regardless of the direct health benefits,
being unfit carries a large price tag for the tax payer. “The economic costs of
physical inactivity and obesity in Canada in 2001 were estimated at $5.3
billion and $4.3 billion, respectively,” says the UBC Medical Journal.
Studies on the
economic impact of protected bike lanes within urban areas, “all reach a
similar conclusion: replacing on-street parking with a bike lane has little to
no impact on local business, and in some cases might even increase
business.”
In a given month,
cyclists spend more at and make more stops at more businesses than drivers do
with the exception of grocery stores. In New York, 95 percent of retail
spending is by cyclists and pedestrians according to an article published by
CityLab. Data from other cities point to businesses in Victoria near protected
bike lanes seeing continued levels of traffic if not more.
The American
Association of Retired Persons lists many reasons bike lanes benefit the entire
community. In an article written for the AARP website, cycling is better for
the environment and encourages more cycling. Bike lanes also make roads safer
for drivers and cyclists by reducing any confusion over who has the right of
way on a road or at intersections. They are far cheaper to construct than
standard roads and they last longer as cycling doesn’t wear on the road nearly
as much as vehicle traffic. They reduce noise pollution and contribute to an
improved community aesthetic. The city of Copenhagen is proof that a cycling
city is a beautiful, quieter city with the improved health of its
citizens.
Many local
residents continue to complain about the bike lanes arguing that the money
should be spent somewhere else. Some think their tax money should be better
spent improving the vehicle commute from downtown Victoria to the Western
Communities or increasing parking spaces. Perhaps these people may not be as
grumpy about their tax dollars if they left their SUV’s at home, hopped on a
bike and learned the joys of passing frustrated drivers waiting for their light
to turn green.
Jaffe, E. (2015). The complete business case for converting street parking into bike lanes. CityLab. From online Feb. 26, 2018: https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2015/03/the-complete-business-case-for-converting-street-parking-into-bike-lanes/387595/
Teschke, K., Reynolds, C. C., Ries, F. J., Gouge, B., & Winters, M. (2012, March 3). Bicycling: Health risk or benefit? UBC Medical Journal Volume 3 Issue 2 (March 15, 2012) Retrieved February 27, 2018, from http://cyclingincities-spph.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2017/09/Teschke2012-Bicycling_HealthRiskorBenefit.pdf
Walljasper, J. (2016). How bicycling infrastructure benefits non bicyclists. AARP. From online Feb 26, 2018: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/info-2016/why-bicycling-infrastructure-is-good-for-people-who-dont-ride-bikes.html
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