Bike BetteR
20
PR: You would have missed that in a car?
HP: We would totally have missed that. So that right there
reinforces the bike philosophy.
PR: What are some of the factors you consider when making the
decision to bike versus taking the car?
HP: The obvious thing would be Astrid, but other than that, if there is a reasonable route, that’s number one.
PR: Tell me more about Astrid being a deciding factor.
HP: Having more light plays a part, be it time of day or just an overcast day. I think about our visibility more. I’m more selective for what conditions I will take her out with me on a bicycle. Her schedule also plays a part. I don’t want her to fall asleep and have to interrupt her nap. If she’s in the car seat, I can bring her in the store without disturbing her.
PR: What are some critical problems that you think prevent people from cycling?
HP: Infrastructure and route, and also a lack of understanding on behalf of the people whom we are sharing the road with.
PR: Do you think education would help?
HP: Yes. There should be some kind of education campaign. We’ve been successful with getting people to stop exposing others to second hand smoke. We need some kind of campaign like that. It’s a legitimate public safety issue. The laws, like the three-feet law, should be enforced.
PR: What are some benefits to using a bike for transportation?
HP: I think the obvious ones are financial and environmental savings in addition to maintaining your health. But I think the best advantage to using a bike for transportation is that it increases our visibility as a group, and it has the potential to inspire others. The more we do it, the more it’s going to be viewed as an acceptable means of transportation. When people are voting on things like Complete Streets, if they don’t see people riding their bikes, how can they justify being on our side?