To bikes: too bad

In 1982 China, cars were few and bikes ruled the streets. In 2023 NY, a bike swarm took over downown streets to demand better, safer conditions.

Bicycles: efficient, environmentally sound transportation / a hell of a lot of fun.

Too bad then, roads are designed to serve cars. City bikers risk getting doored or crushed by multi-ton machines. Country bikers navigate narrow, ill-kept shoulders speckled with potholes and beer bottles.

US cities devote more than half their real estate to motorized vehicles, including millions of parking spaces. People who live in suburbs build whole houses just for their cars, while urban garaging can cost more per annum than other residents earn that same year.

Too bad, public policy promotes self-driving and electric cars rather than public transportation and safe bicycling.

In Beijing, with thousands of nearly identical bikes all parked together, it was a wonder people could find their own.