Would More People Bike In Austin If It Was Safer To Do So?
In the last several years growing numbers of Millennials in particular are taking the health world by storm with new innovate ideas to keep them staying fit and healthy. Ranging from Zumba to hot yoga to soul cycle. Although I think it would be even to see more people exercising outside on bikes rather than stuck inside working out. Biking to and from places should be the next new fitness trend due to its vast benefits. The major concerns from stopping people biking in Austin are the safety issues including: lack of bike lanes, careless drivers, car drivers’ negative view on cyclists and many other smaller things.
Commute time within Austin is increasing from the increase in traffic jams. Austin experiences a ‘25 percent increase in overall congestion during peak times’ (N. Raney 2015). Travelling two and from your destination such as work or school by bike could be a great alternative to sitting in traffic. Not only will you not be sat in traffic but also you can gain several health benefits from it. Depending on the time frame; cycling could count as your daily-recommended amount of exercise without having to go to the gym. Exercise in general can prevent several sedentary diseases. For example your chance of getting a sedentary disease like type two diabetes would be increased if your typical day looked like this:
- Drive to work
- Sit at a desk all day
- Drive home
- Sit on the couch for a few hours in the evening.
The reality is this is a lifestyle that many people do day after day. If people cycled more two and from places they would at least be doing something active. Additionally, the health benefits mentally and physical from exercising outdoors can be far greater than being inside. In indoor facilities you can feel as though you are in a vacuum going through the motions of working out, especially if you are in an area with no windows. Compared with being outside where you have unlimited amount of space, you feel more refreshed especially if you have been inside all day. Supporting this a study that showed ‘being outside was associated with greater vitality’ (R.M. Ryan). Why wouldn’t you want to be outdoors? The sun is always shining in Texas that makes for perfect conditions.
As car ownership increased post World War two as too did the infrastructure for cars to use. Bikes were shifted out the picture, as cars were perceived as more efficient transportation. Although research has shown ‘40 -70% car trips are less than two miles’ (Mann 2014) .That could easily be done by bike with safe equipment and safe bike lanes. A common theme amongst the top bike friendly cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Eindhoven is: the infrastructure they have built for cyclists; the social acceptance of biking around making it safe; a good commute strategy to add to your lifestyle; good facilities such as several bike repair shops, racks to lock up the bikes, ect. Infrastructure is at the centre of it all making it as easy as possible for the cyclists. ‘In Denmark and the Netherlands, rules have been put in place making protected, one-way bike lanes that aren’t shared by cars, buses, or pedestrians’(Garrard, Rissel,Bauman. 2012). This makes the cities more friendly and welcoming for everyone not just cyclists.
As a society we are not going to do things that are unsafe. Therefore, if you want to commute somewhere that does not have cycle lanes and protected areas you are much less likely to want to bike. I believe if more bike lanes were introduced around Austin we would see more cyclists as it minimalizes the amount of excuses we can say to ourselves to not cycle and take the car instead. A map showing the distribution of people who bike to work, school ect in Austin tends to be from north of the University Of Texas campus on Red River. Reasons for this could include that they feel safer to bike, as drivers are more aware of them since they are close to a large institution where many cyclists are riding to and there are bike lanes on some parts of red river. In recent years west campus has seen an increase of the number of bike lanes that are protected against cars. West campus is an area where the majority of UT students live. A research study on students’ mood in relation to how much exercise they do show ‘both clinical and nonclinical subjects may benefit acutely from even a single bout of exercise’ (R. Yeung. 1996). Supporting the argument that exercise — (biking) has a positive effect on students’ education due to mood adjustments perhaps making them more focussed and more motivated to study. Thus cycling too and from campus is a good way to meet those needs.
On the other hand many more upper class business like individuals bike less as they have access to more expensive parking compared to college students who tend to be on a budget. Therefore cycling in downtown business districts occurs less by the local community compared with tourists visiting the area. With fewer cyclists around there are not many bike lanes in downtown Austin, but if there was an increase we may see more. The map supports this with a low percentage of people biking downtown. On Rio Grande in West Campus the lane has been made into a two-lane bike path, unlike the flow of traffic that is one way, this should encourage more people to use their bike.
A large portion of why people don’t commute by bike is because driving as seen more of the ‘social norm’. People see the car as the most convenient and efficient way to get around so why would they be willing to change this? Supporting evidence shows ‘the more legitimate a system is perceived to be, the greater in-group favoritism and out group discrimination that dominant users will display.’(Pratto et al 2006). However biking can actually reduce travel time therefore be more efficient and could be more convenient for your day as most places biking allows you to get closer to where you need to be, rather than walking from a parking lot that sometimes is not situated close by. Research has shown ‘every innovation begins as a deviation from existing social norms’ (Lawrence Kincaid, 2010). Thus, I think the more people who commute by cycling the better and faster cycling will grow, as the more people who do it the more of a norm it will be perceived as. Furthermore, the attitude of car drivers towards cyclists leans towards more negative than positive. Whilst on the roads most of the time cyclists have to interrupt what car drivers have to do next.
I think cyclists would feel safer and more willing to ride around if there wasn’t such a divide between the two. Research argues that ‘cyclists are caught between two threats: appearing too competent as a cyclist (a ‘proper cyclist’), and appearing not competent enough (a ‘bad cyclist’) (R.Aldred. 2012). The driver interprets this and makes a decision on how they drive around the biker. For example how much room they give when they pass cyclists. A more competent one may be given less room then a not so competent cyclist. Also research found that drivers used a ‘greater passing distance when the bicyclist was unhelmetted or appeared female’ (Pratto et al).
From personal experience several occasions have happened where cars have misinterpreted the speed I’m going and will pull out right in front of me but the driver will accuse me to be the one at fault. In a similar scenario I have witnessed a car user not being so understanding of a bike user. I was in a car driving down South Lamar, at six in the morning when there was a biker ahead. The driver was quick to judge the cyclist for being out on the roads as she thought it was ‘dangerous’. She was judging the rider from some distance away as she wore a bright fluorescent, a helmet, and lights on her bike, all making it safe for her to ride. Even though the rider was not in a bike lane — as there was none, she had the same right to be there as the car user did.
Therefore to get more people cycling in Austin I believe, attitudes near to change between the car drivers and cyclists so bikers do not feel on edge during their ride. More protected bike lanes need to be put in place, making cars more aware of cyclists. People need not to be afraid of following the norm of driving. Finally if it is only a mile or two miles away by car it is a much healthier option to bike, so if the bike lanes are in place. Why not?
Speaking with Francisca Bon, 20 — Student at the University of Texas. Moved to school from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Where do you enjoy cycling in Austin?
I enjoy cycling there where there are special biking lanes. Example: around the Library area / close to 2nd street and Nueces by west campus. It helps when they bike lanes have a different color than the rest of the road.
Why do you cycle rather than drive or take public transport?
I feel safer, it’s faster, it is more reliable, it’s good exercise and the weather is usually nice. But the main reason being because it is fast and reliable.
Why do you think there is small number of cyclists in Austin?
I think there is a small number because people don not feel safe and there are quite a lot of hills.
What do you think could be done to increase the number of cyclists on Austin’s roads?
Having more separate biking lanes: especially on turns. Now you have to bike in the middle of the road with cars driving 50 mi/hr while trying to take a turn.More clear rules on how to go around bikers. If a biker goes straight, and the car is on the same road, the car needs to stop.More bike parking areas because now, especially on campus, you’re not allowed to park your bike anywhere. That scares people away.
How do you think car users opinion of cyclists in Austin compare to those in Amsterdam?
I think they are actually quite similar, however, in the Netherlands bikers are actually crazy and they take a lot of risks because the biker is protected in court cases. When a car hits a biker, it’s always the car’s responsibility. Here bikers are a lot more careful and aware of their surroundings, however, drivers are not used to them and get frustrated easily because they don’t know how to anticipate on their behaviour.Better roads will clarify for drivers what they can expect from bikers.
