Creating a Bicycle-Friendly Memphis
Organizations--
I see two exemplary organizations - Transportation Alternatives in New York City and Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Both of these groups are huge and have comprehensive programs. I hope we in Memphis can do half of what they have done in those cities. There are a lot of others, too-- if you want to track all of these groups, it can become a full-time job.
Check out this film: John Burke, President of Trek recently did a 40 minute talk in Taipei on the opportunities he sees for the bike industry given global warming, the obesity epidemic, urbanization, and traffic congestion. Check the video out-- for a dedicated bike person, it is entertaining and even inspiring-- (your kids or spouse might not think so!). You can view the video at bikememphis.ning.com or at quickrelease.tv . (Thanks to Carlton Reid of bikebiz.com . The film makes a big deal about Louisville, KY, which recently became a bike-friendly city certified by the bikeleague.org. A few tidbits from the film: 50% of car trips are less than two miles. Biking burns 500-700 calories an hour, driving a car burns 5-20 extra calories an hour.
So- Memphis a bicycle-friendly community? Yes. If Louisville can do it, we can do it, too. We need an organization in Mephis that is at least as comprehensive as is Louisville's. See Louisville's bike site at
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/BikeLouisville/
http://cache.libsyn.com/thefredcast/The_FredCast_65x1.mp3
But-- we need, I think, to be unified, at least, as much as we can be.
