Bicycles on Highways

Pleeeeez Mr. Hammond and Mr. Governor, do you really think that all the people forced to ride bicycles because they can't afford or can't drive a car live in the North End? What do you think people in Middleton or Shoshone or Post Falls do when they don't have the money for gas or car repairs? Does it really help these people that you still propose to raise registration fees to as much as $120 after spending every penny of the stimulus you can, borrowing hundreds of millions through GARVEE and raising gas taxes to build more roads.

Mr. Governor your people talk about bike lanes like they are a luxury item. Have you ever tried to ride to work on a rural highway, especially one where the transportation department has eliminated bike lanes and further narrowed shoulders at your request. I grew up in Custer County and I am not talking about he North End of Boise, I am talking about trying to figure out how Idahoans get to work when they don't have a working car.

It might be OK if you'd dedicated some funding to making sure there was some bus or van or some public transit in every community, but you and people like Mike Moyle say public transit doesn't work. What do you mean? Doesn't work for you because you can't imagine leaving the comfort of your giant new pick up truck to ride a bus? What if you had no choice?

What choices to Idahoans have left? Walk, bike, hitch hike? What about kids in rural communities? They walk and bike along state highways everyday. Are bike paths a luxury for them? How many kids and adults in Idaho die on highways every year because they have no safe place to walk or ride? I  bet someone knows.

Comments

[carol]

Maybe if we called them horse trails instead of bike paths.

[tjh]

Not to mention the utter blindness to modern multi-modal transportation planning and the increasingly important "complete streets" concept. Federal grant funding will eventually require Idaho to take a more enlightened view. Or at least I hope so...

Also, with outdoor recreation an important component of the tourist economy in some sectors of our fine state, it should also be viewed as an economic development investment.

Anyway, from North Idaho (not the North End), thanks for all you do.

[J Chris Hendrickson]

Nicole,

Your comments on about bike paths & lanes are greatly appreciated! Although I'm rural, living in Boise, I don't live in the North End. I bike commute 11 miles each way on the greenbelt. I don't do it because I have to, but because I want to. I'm doing my small part to help Boise from going into non-attainment status. Of course biking to work provides many other benefits as well.

Thank you!

[LF]

I live in McCall and this winter, I have seen three folks continually using their bikes for transport on icy streets with no bike lanes. In previous year, I haven't seen cyclists commute in the winter, and I have to think it's for economic reasons.

We do have a free local bus, but the schedule doesn't necessarily work for everyone. Better bikelanes, bus service, and sidewalks would make this town much safer for and conducive to using other forms of transport besides a car.

[Liam O'Leary]

Nicole, thank you for standing up to Mr. Hammond on bike paths. As a daily bicycle commuter - Garden City to BSU - I appreciate any effort dedicated towards making cycling safer and more convenient for all.

One thing I would like to point out is that many of our current bike lanes, even the very good ones, suddenly "dead end", leaving the cyclist in a very dangerous situation without even a decent shoulder to ride on. This situation begs to be addressed.

I wish our "super patriots" like Hammond would realize that putting one's patriotic butt on a bike helps reduce pollution, dependance on foreign oil, road costs, parking costs, obesity, depression and can improve quality of life for all. Thanks Again!!

[Tom von Alten]

As someone who has done such crazy things as attempt to use state and U.S. Highways for transportation by bicycle in the state of Idaho, I appreciate having someone in the Legislature speaking up for the lowest-impact, highest-vulnerability, and most healthful means of medium-distance transportation available to most of us.

Thank you, Senator.

[danielo]

Thank you, Senator, for you support. As a year-round exclusive cyclist who gave up his automobile 3 years ago, I like it that SOMEONE in government "gets it."

[Jaime de Brebisson]

Nicole,
Let me tell you about a girl growing up in rural eastern Idaho - Idaho Falls to be exact on County Line Road. About 12 miles away from town. Poor family, This girl got her first job at McDonald's at 16, still too young to drive. Working parents couldn't get her to and from work so she rode the 12+ miles to work on her bike down Lewisville Highway as it was the "quickest" way for her to get to work. She had no options for public transportation, no safe bike lanes, nothing to help her help support her working class family. This girl was me, and this issue reaches far beyond Boise's North End. Thank you for keeping bike lanes and safe reliable public transportation in the minds of Idaho lawmakers.

[auto transport]

Hey Governor!
Stop being a Mike Sanford!!! The people of Idaho deserve a better whack job than you.

[auto shippers]

You brought up some great points. It upsets me when just because politicians don't use transportation other than their own cars, they don't understand that many of us do. And what if we WANT to ride our bikes to work?

[generic viagra]

I am trying to become fit ang get into better shape. Should I get a
treadmill or a stationary bike? What will provide a better workout?
Get me faster in shape (assuming equal time spent on both exercises)?
Which has more health risks (are treadmills tough on knees)?

[truck rental]

This is a difficult situation to deal with.
Some people need to travel by bicycle because they have no car or that there is no reason for them to have a car, there are people who want to ride a bicycle because they think it's sporty and healthy and there are those who want only to protect the environment.

Why not build and arrange in any major city cycling routes? People will still use cars, sure, and of course, but at least they will sure be exposed to bicycle driving culture ...and some will fall in love with it for sure!

[Nursing PJs]

i love bicycles and i just do hope everyone keeps safe.

[Navel Rings]

I'm really quite fascinated by this. I would love to go back in time and explore old, seedy Times Square (not in a lascivious way!) - seems to have had so much more personality than it does now.

[Free Quick Claim Deed Form]

exactly, i guess it is more expensive than of paying gas but on the other hand it is enviromental vehicle. so i guess people

should just think on which is better. :D

[Bicycle Cleaners]

I had been searching on yahoo for sites regarding fitness and cycling when this posting showed up in the final results. While not really what I was looking for it was really worth a study and for that I could give it four stars.

[Casual Shoes]

I wish our "super patriots" like Hammond would realize that putting one's patriotic butt on a bike helps reduce pollution, dependance on foreign oil, road costs, parking costs, obesity, depression and can improve quality of life for all. Thanks Again!!