France offers subsidy to tempt lockdown cyclists
 

*******Checked the forum for posts on the same subject.Were none. Got interrupted by a phone call while composing this thread .
After posting discovered that moments before a similar thread was submitted. Probably was typing it at the same time******


"France is encouraging people to cycle to keep pollution levels low once lockdown restrictions end.

Under the €20 million (£17m; $21.7m) scheme, everyone will be eligible for bike repairs of up to €50 at registered mechanics.

The funding will also help pay for cycle training and temporary parking spaces."

Wonder how many of our politicians here in the US are considering ways to increase cycling?
Seems like NOW is the optimal time to permanently make changes for bicycling infrastructure.
It'd be nice if they kept some of those roads closed. Also,it's the perfect time to commandeer a portion of the road for a bike lane ,with the traffic numbers being so low.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52483684

Traffic numbers aren't low where I live.

Understandably not every place is precisely the same. .Last time I cycled in TN (southern part) didn't see anyone else on a bicycle while there for a week.

Up here ,while slightly increasing over the last few days, traffic is similar to a normal Sunday morning even though is 5pm on a weekday.
Several of the regular cyclists I mash with made the same comment.
I've pedaled on roads, in the last few weeks, that I wouldn't have considered riding down unless I had a death wish.


America at Its Best

We (US) could learn much from France and the world. Co-operation over competition! :thumb:

You guys are kidding, right? France is smaller than the state of Texas. To ask Americans to give up the automobile is futile, especially when the cost of gasoline is below $2.00. I like your concern for the planet, etc, but good freaking luck.

I take your point, but the current situation should be an object lesson as to how fuel prices decrease when demand drops. More bikes on the road would be good for car drivers

They're not.
They won't.

We're better off as third-class citizens. If cycling becomes too mainstream, you can be sure the govt. will figure out a way to charge us for doing it.

Kinda cynical. However my take is that if cycling becomes mainstream, the oil lobby will pressure your government into measures that will make cycling more expensive. Don't blame government, blame the powerful economic forces that resist change and lobby against it

Instead of third-class citizens maybe we can be referred to as undocumented riders. Probably gain a bit of political backing that way.

There is no difference....

Actually cars seem like pretty good protection against a virus. What needs to go is mass transit. Already NYC is shutting down subway at night. In Hawaii we're wasting $10 billion on an elevated rail. Dump the rail and turn it into a bikeway. That's something I could get behind.

scott s.
.

Is that supposed to be a joke? Mass transit means LESS vehicles on the road.

Exactly, it is high population density and allowing cars into extremely dense areas like manhattan that is the real issue.

There seems to be a remarkable correlation between air pollution and how hard the coronavirus hits.

Let me get this straight, Ross. You are going to advocate for mass transit, with all the inherent problems of people in close contact spreading their "contagions" at an enormous pace, with people who decide to be socially responsible and use private transportation for commutes to work/meeting loved ones. Please let me know how this works out for you.

I suspect that has more to do with dense population in urban areas.

This forum seems to be about 90% deluded hippy types who ride for political reasons instead of simple fun or exercise. However in reality an urban only world is an utter nightmare, just look at china. That is the last thing anyone should be aspiring to.

"Hippy types" want an urban only world? That's a new one to me. Doesn't seem grounded in any reality with which I'm familiar.

And "riding for political reasons?" That's pretty far out there. I guess delusion is the order of the day. There's an old saying that the fish rots from the head down.

You going to live in the country with no car? Of course not lol

No. This is a specific correlation with air pollution, which only partially correlates with urban areas. For example here hardest hit regions are mainly agricultural but have polluted air. It needs research of course to draw any conclusions, but research is justified.