A Bicycle Renaissance

Cycling Becomes A Real Transportation Alternative

by Larry Lagarde

In towns and cities across the nation, there's a change in the air. It may be a subtle breeze at the moment but communities are improving their bicycle infrastructure, making bicycles a practical & fun transportation alternative and sparking a true bicycle renaissance in the process. (Image right: bikeways in Lower Manhattan)

Studies have shown that when it's safer and more convenient to get around by bike, more people go cycling, lowering motor vehicle congestion and greenhouse gas emissions while fitness improves and neighborhoods are revitalized. Still swooning from the effects from Katrina, this could be just what New Orleans needs to flower again.

The Big Easy has long held the potential for being a bicycle friendly community. Flat and compact, New Orleans should be ideal for living car free; however, a gumbo of issues has prevented all but the most determined cyclists from using their bicycles for more than occasional recreation. But the situation is improving considerably.

Over the next 2 years, 50 miles of new bike paths and lanes will connect city neighborhoods in a bicycle network that will allow most New Orleans residents to commute by bike.

Last month, New Orleans' new Wisner Bike Path (a beautiful & car free concrete path alongside Bayou St. John) finally opened. Earlier this year, the brand new Robert E. Lee Blvd bike path and lane opened as well as the St. Claude commuter bike lane into Downtown.

Over the next year, work will begin on the exciting Lafitte Corridor bike path and linear park connecting the French Quarter to Delgado College, City Park & Lakeview. Additionally, New Orleans' director of Public Works Robert Mendoza noted recently that the Robert E Lee bike lane should reach within a few short blocks of the University of New Orleans campus and that 2 additional bike lanes on major connector routes should be complete by this time next year.

Yet New Orleans is not alone. With half of all trips people make in the US being no longer than 3 miles long, it should come as no surprise that major improvements in bicycle infrastructure are taking place across the nation.

Look at New York City. The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, Eighth Avenue cycle track (photo right), Broadway Bikeway and various other bike lanes are all soon to be complete. Had Mayor Bloomberg gotten his way, even more projects would be taking place.

To spotlight all the bike paths, lanes and routes that are being created in the USA, I plan to post updates regularly with info about various projects and links to additional info. Stay tuned...