Streetcars and Bike Lanes

These were the two bike subjects that came up on Dr. Gridlock's chat this week.

One reader wrote in about the streetcars, which an earlier commenter had said was "a wasteful project designed solely for politicians concerned about the yuppie vote", and they wrote

Since I am over 50, I hardly consider myself a Yuppie, but I do support the Streetcar plan even as a non-bicyclist, I support the new bike lanes throughout the city.

As part of his response Dr. G wrote

By the way, some cyclists are concerned about the streetcar plan: They worry that bike tires will get caught in the streetcar tracks. The District is working on a solution.

Later, someone wrote a not-at-all-loaded question about cyclists and bike lanes

Dr. G, Now that the micro-minority of bicyclists have succeeded in getting DC to assign them exclusive space on the street, did you happen to go out last Thursday afternoon and count the number of bicyclists using their exclusive lanes vs. the number of motorists gridlocked in traffic?

To which he (in part) responded

District Department of Transportation Director Gabe Klein's approach is to offer people more options for getting around the city. Bike lanes may encourage more people to bike, just as new Circulator buses or streetcars may encourage more people to take transit, and safer crosswalks may encourage more people to get out of their cars and walk. Any of those things would have an effect on the number of drivers and could reduce traffic congestion.

Comments

[Just161]

did you happen to go out last Thursday afternoon and count the number of bicyclists using their exclusive lanes vs. the number of motorists gridlocked in traffic?

It's funny that the writer thinks this is an argument against bike lanes. In fact, traffic is exactly why we need more bike lanes, and to encourage biking generally.

[Contrarian]

Repeat after me: bikes reduce congestion. That's the advocacy message (and it's true).

I'm glad Dr. G is beginning to get it.