A super frustrating article on the idiocy of bicycling in the city. I don't think you get any points for tongue in cheek remarks that do nothing to elevate the discussion. What is the value in reassuring people who agree with you and infuriating those who disagree. Is it worthwhile? Is it effective in converting the undecided? I just find it undermines credibility. If i were sharper, more clever, I'd love to pen a comedic retort. Alas, I am not one of those people. What I get though, is the irritation that should drive me towards a creative and determined reaction. How can I reshape my own opinions and beliefs in response to this, more strongly, more clear.
Cities and streets aren't made (shouldn't be) for cars or bicycles. Cities are for people. People living, people moving. Identifying, or rather replacing people who bike or people who drive, seems a semantic irrelevancy, but it is the point. It's not that cities designed for cars should be redrawn for bicycles, but rather streets and cities should be reexamined and judged by who they are as places for people, to live and move, by different means. How is it more democratic to design roads solely for people of age, ability, and ecocomic status to drive wherever they want at no cost and no consideration for people older, younger, less afluent, or otherwise minded who cannot or prefer not to drive? Is "tyranny of the few" less democratic than tyranny by the many against the few?
Cities and streets aren't made (shouldn't be) for cars or bicycles. Cities are for people. People living, people moving. Identifying, or rather replacing people who bike or people who drive, seems a semantic irrelevancy, but it is the point. It's not that cities designed for cars should be redrawn for bicycles, but rather streets and cities should be reexamined and judged by who they are as places for people, to live and move, by different means. How is it more democratic to design roads solely for people of age, ability, and ecocomic status to drive wherever they want at no cost and no consideration for people older, younger, less afluent, or otherwise minded who cannot or prefer not to drive? Is "tyranny of the few" less democratic than tyranny by the many against the few?
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