Bicycling

Bicycling can be a delightful way to travel, facilitating fast and easy access to nearby destinations while allowing riders to get some fresh air and exercise. Like any transportation mode bicycles cannot be used for everything, but they are an excellent solution for short intra-city trips; first and last mile mobility connecting residences, workplaces, and businesses with transit hubs; and relaxing countryside rides. Much has been done to maximize these benefits, including the presence of bicycle racks on buses, construction of dedicated bicycle infrastructure such as protected lanes and grade-separated paths, and implementation of bike sharing networks in major cities. 

But currently bicycling is more stressful than it should be. This is because too many transportation corridors are designed to only move private automobiles, constraining the amount of space available for people to safely navigate. Since amateur drivers are not properly trained to share roads, the dangers of automobile travel are needlessly inflicted on cyclists. Motorists' inherently high stress levels exacerbate the situation, causing drivers who are good people to inadvertently take out their car-caused frustration on cyclists who are following the rules but happen to be nearby. Additionally, cyclists not wishing to tolerate such dangerous situations are forced to use sidewalks or transit lanes. This marginalization creates tension between cyclists and users of these other modes, pitting them against each other when it would be best for them to unite and work together to improve all non-car infrastructure.       

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