| Cross-Country Ramble 34:
BicycleLand Date: 3/23/98 10:54:45 PM Central Standard Time
"You're too damn close!" I shouted at the top of my lungs to the
white Cadillac that passed within six inches of my handlebar mirror.
Then I lifted my left hand, pointed my index finger at the driver
and yelled "Bang! Bang!"
Ken pulled up beside me. "Calm down. Think of something
positive."
I began to imagine Bicycleland, a large geographic area where
bicycles are the Queen of the Road. Everyone in BicycleLand would
own and love bicycles. Everyday touring bikes, adult and kid's
tricycles, mountain bikes, recumbents and fairings would be seen on
the hundreds of miles of bike paths. Even people walking, or skating
on roller blades, or skateboards would be on the bike paths. Of
course, in BicycleLand, bicycles would always have the right of way.
Economic development would be spurred by building bike paths next
to rivers and along abandoned railroad tracks and by adding six-foot
bicycle lanes to all existing roads. The money would come from the
National Transportation Funds. The majority of funds would go
bicycle paths and bicycle lanes. Some money would go to mass transit
for the days when the weather is too bad to bicycle. The remaining
funds would go to roads, to allow delivery of bicycles, bicycle
parts, food, and mail.
Old industries would be transformed, for example the fashion
industry. Clothing would bicycle functional. Not only would it be
attractive for work or eveningwear but it wouldn't get caught in
chains. Shoes wouldn't go click as you walked.
Some business would increase. Plumbing would be one. Bathrooms
would be located unobtrusively every 10 miles along the bike paths.
Businesses would install locker rooms and showers for their cycling
employees to prevent any unpleasant odors.
Zoning in BicycleLand would concentrate businesses in a central
center. Only bicycles and mass transit vehicles could be in the
central centers in the daytime. Nighttime would be available for
trucks and cars.
Cities would be about 30 miles apart, easily cycleable in a day.
A few bicycle-oriented businesses could be located about halfway.
These would primarily be food stops, featuring fresh fruit and
steamed vegetables and crusty French bread and perhaps a bit of soft
cheese, like Brie or Monterey Jack.
People would begin clamoring to move into BicycleLand. The air
would be clean. People would healthier and live longer. Health
insurance rates would be cheap. Soon all the U.S. would be
BicycleLand.
Carol
Itinerary (days from Ventura, CA, in ( )'s)
- Day 16 (75) Hammond, LA
- Day 17-18 (76-77) Covington, LA
- Day 19 (78) Slidell, LA
- Day 20 (79) Bay St. Louis, MS
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