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| Friends of the Pacific Electric Trail |
Bike month
2020 was a year for the history books.
The month that so many look forward to celebrating with other cyclists, turned
into settling for virtual events experienced from the safety of our homes due
to the COVID-19 crisis. I was looking
forward to participating in local community rides with other cycling
enthusiasts in celebration of Bike month.
My bike is always at the ready to whisk me off on neighborhood
adventures for a little fresh air, exercise, and sunshine. I especially miss the connectivity and social
benefits of riding with groups of people who enjoy cycling as much as I do.
Recently, I stumbled
upon an outstanding and informative documentary about the humble beginnings of the
bicycle and I cancelled my plans then and there to learn about the sport that
is so dear to my heart. The invention of
the bicycle originated in Coventry, England in 1871 with the Penny
Farthing. This first bicycle was
designed for athletic men who had the strength to peddle these heavy human
powered machines, not to mention that they were expensive so that only the
elite could afford such an extravagance.
By the mid
1880s, the first modern bicycle was invented for comfort which is the basic bicycle
frame which was known at the time as the “safety bicycle” that is still popular
today. This redesigned model transformed
personal mobility for the masses and provided personal transportation to exist
outside one’s own village on into the countryside and neighboring
villages. The social impact was an increased
gene pool and an affordable way to obtain employment. Cycling made it possible
for single women to venture out of their home un-escorted for the first time. The bicycle represented freedom and affordable
transportation.
After WWII,
bicycles were being manufactured for the masses and were more affordable than
ever. Folks that could afford an
automobile were few and carpooling was as common as gas rationing. Work weeks were reduced to just five days a
week which allowed for more leisure time for recreation on the weekends. By the end of the 1950s, wages increased and
the perception of people riding bicycles was that of a poor man’s means of
transportation. The automobile industry pressured
lawmakers to prioritize the motorways plan, which left little room or
consideration for cyclists.
Cities were
built for automobile transportation consideration as suburbs sprouted up across
the nation. This was a setback for cyclists
who still needed a safe place to ride their bikes. Motorists did not want to share the road with
cyclists and there was not a collective voice for the cycling community. Then the tipping point appeared in 1973 with
the Saudi Oil Embargo that produced long gas lines, gas price wars, and enormous
frustration. Many of us remember sitting in our cars waiting to fill up while watching more and more cyclists passing by. People saw the immediate cost
savings and simplicity of bike riding as bike sales sky-rocketed. The world demand for bicycles surpassed the
demand for automobiles. Lawmakers realized
that cycling has the potential to change the world. Cycle Bag was born as a cycling campaign to
reduce the number of cars on the road and raise awareness of cycling as a
viable mode of transportation.
In Bristol,
England, Cycle Bag organization proposed transforming an abandoned railway from
Bristol to Bath into a dedicated bike trail.
They surveyed the five mile stretch of railway and designed a beautiful
bike trail that avoided hills but provided picturesque countryside to enjoy. They only had $10,000.00 to begin the project
but quickly mobilized to gain community support. This famous bike trail now carries more
people than the rail line ever did. This
destination bike trail has transformed the towns of Bristol and Bath and
neighboring communities.
Fast-forward
to 1980s with the popularity of the BMX bike that was fashionable but designed
for racing. Next evolution in cycling was
the ever-popular mountain bike that was designed with heavier tires, shocks, and a
more comfortable ride, perfect for wilderness rides on urban trails. By the mid-1980’s cycling is hotter than ever
with time trials gaining in popularity but it’s still a solitary sport and it’s
not organized. Mike Burroughs, the mad
genius, eccentric, brilliant designer, wanted to transform cycling for anyone
who was seeking a sense of adventure on two wheels. For over 100 years, the bicycle was
constructed with a steel frame that was heavy and Mike along with other
cyclists wanted more people to discover the joy of cycling. He changed the materials from steel to carbon
fiber which reduces the weight of the frame and is stronger than steel.
In 1992 at
the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the first Veledrome event produced the
first gold medal winner from the UK, Chris Boredman. Then SUSTRANS UK, the National Cycling
Network enters the cycling world with a 43 million dollar grant to connect all short trails in
England. Simultaneously, cycling is part
of the everyday life in the Netherlands as a viable mode of transportation and
caters to all. The planning and design
for safe streets is factored into the business plan when it comes to active
transportation for the Dutch.
In the
summer, some ski lifts utilize their recreation space for bikes. E-bikes are the latest to join the party and
are popular in many metropolitan areas.
Folding bikes are also popular because of the ease of use, comfortable ride,
and compact ability.
Whatever
bike you enjoy riding is up to you. Bike
Month 2020 might turn out to be the perfect time to dust off your old bike,
strap on your helmet and re-discover the joy of cycling again. If a mere 10 – 20% of local trips were on
bicycles, there would be a significant reduction of car trips, cleaner air, and
healthier people. Bike sales continue to
soar and for many, they are discovering what we have always known, riding your
bike is fun!
Let us know what kind of bike you enjoy riding in the comments below. Whatever bike you decide on, do yourself and the earth a favor and get your ride on.
- Victoria Jones Friend of the Pacific Electric Trail
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