This story makes the argument of why bicycles, though obviously a great way to get around, (I once—when much younger—lived about two years without a car and only a bike for transport while living and working in mid and downtown, enjoying it very much) aren’t really practical for 98% of people who prefer transporting themselves in safety and (congestion accounted for) some comfort.
And when the city will begin expending the tax money on creating a truly safe and comfortable biking downtown, approved by 2/3 of the voters, fuggebaboutit.
Editorial notebook: City to cyclists: Keep out of downtown
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, October 1, 2007
Thanks to some car thieves, my wife and I have been a one-car household for more than a year. We couldn't be happier.
One less car means less money spent on gasoline and insurance. It also means more opportunity for exercise. Instead of replacing our car, I used part of the insurance check to purchase an Electra Amsterdam -- a California-made bicycle inspired by Dutch designs. Heads turn across midtown as I ride my shiny machine from home to work to various governmental foxholes.
Sacramento offers enormous potential for two-wheeled commuting. Grid streets and a shady tree canopy make it a pleasure to ride. I never fight for a parking space. My carbon-neutral commute allows me to be righteous about fighting global warming, without the kind of guilt trips that prompt politicians to purchase carbon offsets.
Unfortunately, not all parts of "America's greenest city" -- a label that city leaders say they aspire to -- are friendly to cyclists. While Sacramento has made important investments in midtown bike lanes and street conversions, downtown remains hostile territory for people who like to pedal.
Ever tried to bicycle to Sacramento's Amtrak station? Fuggedaboutit.
