Aug 26 '08 - 1182 W, 2 I - Vote Good + 2 :: Bad - 5 Like peanut butter and chocolate, bikes and transit go great together
Published August 26, 2008 by C.I.C.L.E.
By Tony
The increase in fuel prices is shifting travel and other types of behavior in many obvious ways. People are definitely feeling it financially. With added pressures to make ends meet, people are invigorating their creative minds to adjust accordingly and to avoid desperate measures and actions. So please don’t siphon anyone’s gas tank. You have plenty of your own fuel to burn, just look around your waist.
Bicycling is a perfect countermeasure to offset rising transportation and living costs. It helps save money, it’s a great calorie burner, and bicycling helps relieve stress when you’re not in a traffic jam. But, you may want to choose a nice alternate route to avoid rush hour madness or high speed traffic. And, there are the many other benefits that we previously highlighted here as well.
Distance, in the case of Los Angeles, is one of the main factors that affect people’s decision to bicycle or not. Let’s face it - most people live too far from where they need to go. Combining bicycles with transit is a great option to get around when distance is a concern. Bicycles and public transit are sustainable transportation modes that complement each other. Bicycling instead of driving can reduce the number of cars on the road. The combination of bicycles and transit helps to save money and to cover the long distances that some of us would be challenged to ride.
However, with a shift in transportation modes new pressures are emerging. Public transportation use has increased by as much as 12% in some places. Bicycling has too, from accounts in the media to my own anecdotal observation.
The pressure of overcoming attitudes is a challenge. Transitioning from the private realm of the automobile to the more open public transportation takes some getting used to. However, by riding a bike and taking public transit you get the best of both worlds: permeating private and public relationships. In essence, we need a more balanced life and what’s missing is our social capacity that sustainable transportation advocates like C.I.C.L.E. seek to promote. So it’s important to have a positive attitude and understand that people all need to get somewhere.
Public transportation combined with bicycling definitely provides solutions to overcome distance, especially in the Los Angeles area. There are also limitations to be aware of such as “peak” or “crush” loads. These are the times when most people are using transit: commuting to work, going to a special events, or it may be a tell tale sign that transit is finally viable in Los Angeles. Space is mainly the issue during peak or crush load times and taking on a full size bike at these times may lead to some conflicts. So here are a few options to consider:
1. If your starting point or destination is close to transit you may want to consider parking your bike at either end of your trip at the transit station. All rail stations have bicycle parking. Bicycle parking could mean bicycle racks, and many stations have bike lockers you can rent as well. See here for more information on bicycle parking at Metro stations. Bicycle racks are free to use, just remember to supply your own lock and secure all the removable parts on the bike like wheels, seat, (etc) or any part attached to the bike with a “quick-release” mechanism. (Here’s a previous article on locking your bike) A good lock is worth the investment. Sometimes people make the mistake and skimp out and buy a cheap lock. If you’re really worried about your bike then you might want to consider getting a “spare” bike with all that money you’re saving from driving less. There are many decent used bikes for sale and for a minimal price, bicycle collectives can help you get them in working condition and give you the knowledge to do a repair such as fix a flat tire. That way you’ll never worry about being stranded.
2. Folding bikes are another option to avoid peak hour restrictions. Folding-bikes can fold to the size or footprint of a grocery bag or small piece of luggage. The great thing is that you can take them on the bus if both the racks are full and on the train if you’re commuting during peak hours. Folding bike technology has come a long way. Bikes share similar parts with conventional bikes including brakes, shifters and gears. Folding bikes are much lighter and provide a rather stable ride. Another bonus is that you can take the bike with you almost anywhere – inside your office, inside a bar, or stow it away somewhere else for safe keeping. It’s also a good idea to keep your folding bike clean too, especially the wheels and chain. Since these parts are closer to you when you are holding the bike you’ll want to avoid getting yourself or someone else dirty.
3. Other neat concepts include bike transit stations and bicycle-sharing. Bike transit stations offer a variety of services for bikes and transit users including bike repairs, bike rentals, secure bicycle parking and more. Metro has identified a number of transit hubs throughout the region for improving access for bikes. Bikestation is one of the first bike transit station concepts in the US and was launched in Long Beach. Bicycle-sharing is another concept made popular through the Velib bicycle-transit system in Paris. The system allows you to take one bicycle from one station and leave it somewhere else at another station. It’s a self-service type system spread throughout the entire city of Paris. You are sure to find a Velib bicycle-station at just about any corner in Paris. Washington, D.C. has launched a similar project on a smaller scale and some local governments provide similar bicycle-share concepts for employees. These are exciting concepts that are yet to be fully realized.
There are many new opportunities when combining bicycles with transit. At C.I.C.L.E. we’re developing a new workshop to show you how to combine bikes and transit (and some important things to know) to help make your trip more enjoyable.
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