Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Role Models - which one do we want?

Choose Wisely
Everyone can benefit from a good role model.  We all have them & the good ones, whether they are friends,  teachers, sports heroes or successful individuals, can change lives for the better.  They inspire us to reach beyond our capabilities, raising our bar.

In the 60s and early 70s, the automobile was well on its way to becoming entrenched as the role model of travel.  More roads, better roads and falling car prices meant more cars.  This is the period in which the automobile began to edge out cycling, worldwide.
The number of cars rose dramatically, cycling fell to the lowest levels in decades, yet the number of cycling injuries and fatalities increased to the highest ever reached.  The decline in the number of cyclists and growth in injuries for Amsterdam in the 60s is clearly seen in the chart and was indicative of  the worldwide trend.

After hitting a low in the mid 70s, the Dutch reversed the cycling trend.  They decided it was time for change.  The Netherlands is the world's most successful cycling nation.  Everyone cycles, the young and the old.  People are healthier and more active.  Health costs are lower.  The popularity of cycling in the Netherlands was restored and "made part of everyday life because it was designed to be made part of everyday life."  The bike network is continuous, safe, accessible and integrated with transit and cars.  In North America, cycling is often incorporated into design as an afterthought, something to be done after the roadway has been planned.  Cycling is not seamlessly integrated into our transportation models.

I hope you will view the short video below.  Its well worth the time.  At the two minute mark you will see the precipitous decline in cycling and rise of cars followed by the significant change a determined populace can effect.  We too can make that change but we need the fortitude to do so.  Burlington, aligned with its Dutch twin city Apeldoorn, is well positioned to take advantage of its Dutch role model.  It needs to decide to make it happen.