tcs

The new US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addresses the National Bike Summit tomorrow.

“We think of trains, planes, and automobiles, but what about bikes, scooters, wheelchairs for that matter?” Buttigieg said during a recent interview with Axios. “Roads aren’t only for vehicles. We’ve got to make sure that pedestrians and individuals and bicyclists and businesses can all coexist on the same roadway.”

Hopefully, by that time someone will tell him bicycles ARE vehicles.

Oh! And...Alvey Adee, call your office!

tomato coupe

I suspect he meant motor vehicles.

tcs

The Sec. of Transportation actually riding a bicycle in traffic and agreeing to speak at a bicycle conference? Promising.

BobbyG

On the one hand I think this may be good for cyclists.

On the other hand I think of what Ronald Reagan pointed out as the most terrifying phrase there is..."I'm from the government, I'm here to help."

How long before well-meaning advocacy falls victim to bureaucratic ineptitude or malfeasance and legislates the fun and practicality out of cycling.

Car sales down? Lobby for draconian cycling statutes under the guise of "safety" and make cycling a less attractive alternative.

Marcus_Ti 

Especially given COVID demonstrating to lots of businesses the waste of needing commuters and expensive office buildings.

Simple. Don't elect people to office who think this is a true-ism. They prove themselves right. Every time.

BobbyG

That's true! I will remember that the next time some one offers up the Reagan quote.

I will just reiterate my point that politicians and political parties seek out movements and groups whose growth and momentum they can harness and then divert for their own purposes which are often counter to the original aim of the smaller groups.

rydabent

In other words talk is cheap.

Paul Barnard

When I think of cycling infrastructure, I think primarily of city and state roadways. It'll be interesting to see how much money we can print to improve it at the federal level.

work4bike

I'm very happy with all the changes in roadways here in Jax, Fl. Luckily we don't waste our money on separated bike lanes or MUPs. Give me the simple bike lanes and I'm happy, especially the ones over major waterways.

pdlamb

Remember, though, that 60-70% of U.S. highway work is done with federal funds. Those state and local projects that aren't pork-barrel funded by the feds (and there's more than meets the eye!) are made possible by state money that's available because of the huge influx of federal money to the state.

Paul Barnard

Right. Money we don't have, but will rather have to print.

Pratt

How much more, on average, would it cost to add, say, a 4' shoulder on each side of a road when it is built?
I said "average" because we have roads, here in Vermont that have little or no shoulder before a steep wall of rock.
Relevant to the picture in the OP: Wouldn't it be safer to have that satchel on the rear rack?

mr_bill

Have you ever used a bikeshare bike? WHAT rear rack? There are no rear racks on a Capital Bikeshare bike. You bring your own bag. If the bag is small enough, you can put it in the small front rack. Otherwise, it's safest to wear your bag on your back.

p.s. DB Call a Bike are one of the rare bikeshare bikes with a rear rack.

Pete Buttigieg is US Secretary of Transportation, so he rides a Capital Bikeshare bike in Washington DC. Andreas Scheuer is the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, but he chooses to ride his own bike with a rear rack in Berlin.

-mr. bill

rydabent

Lets be truthful, it is TAXPAYER money no matter where it comes from.

tomato coupe

The amount varies a lot from state to state but, overall, 46.6% of road funding comes from the federal government.

Joe Bikerider

Despite all your squawking it is good news that John Kerry (another bike rider) is in the current administration. He’s very tall and has been riding for a long time. Fully recovered now as they say.

rydabent

That may be your opinion, but not mine.

Flip Flop Rider

wheel chairs on the street?

BillyD

Just a friendly reminder, the topic is fine, let’s just keep this free of partisan politics.

wphamilton

I've got to agree with what Secretary Pete said about it. Make sure that we can all coexist on the roadway, that's the bottom line.

And with a push to address our infrastructure, finally, it's a perfect time to advance the interests of cyclists.

mr_bill

There are lots of sidewalks that are not wheelchair accessible. Hell, when I was using a knee-scooter and there were times I had to “take the lane,” because sidewalk. (Or trash day, and most days are trash day somewhere.)

And yes, people in cars have killed people using wheelchairs.

I’m sure there’s an “advocacy” sub-forum on a wheelchairforums somewhere where some people will blame the person using a wheelchair. (And I’m guessing those people are very “vocal.”)

-mr. bill

UCantTouchThis

Wow, does this guy ever stop whining about cars? I looked at his profile and sure enough, a car hate image. I'm guessing he's one of the guys hit 5 times and can't figure it out.

I have a friend who was on the street and hit by a car. She was crossing in a lighted/signal push button operated crosswalk lights. She has MS and a motorized wheelchair. So yeah, she was in the street. Sadly some idiot doesn't know what it means what flashing lights at a crosswalk means.

rydabent

Facebook has now publish a picture of him unloading his bike from a huge SUV a short distance from the Capitol. All is not what it seems.

wgscott

I always look to Facebook to get the most accurate and authentic information.

rydabent

There has been at least a half dozen of posts on this now. A picture is worth a thousand words. Sorry if you dont like the truth.