Where the good goddamn are the bikes at COP26?
Cycling should be a cornerstone of global, national, and local strategies to meet net-zero carbon targets
For a greener future GET MORE PEOPLE CYCLING
This week a global coalition of over 60 bicycle organizations, including theEuropean Cyclists Federationand theWorld Cycling Alliance, pennedan open letterto the COP26 attendees. It offers a clear message: if you want to get serious about fighting the climate crisis, get more people on bicycles and do it now.
As the letter states:
Time for governments to put cycling first
The letter calls for a range of policy, funding, and public health actions. These include:
We’ve seen an acceleration ofpro-ebike laws and fundingproposals in the US. Still, for cycling to go mainstream, it needs to addresswhypeople prefer cars over bicycles — including issues of safety and road quality.
Asurvey by Good Orderinga couple of years ago found that the perception of unsafe roads and concerns around bike parking and security are two of the biggest reasons people avoid cycling — and it’s up to governments to act.
Let’s not forget the most basic form of transport — walking
However, if we’re talking about roads, I’d also like to see some attention turned to the plain old act of walking.
There are many cities without sidewalks or where broken concrete and potholes make it an obstacle course. It’s even worse when you are visually impaired or use a mobility aid.
Then, there are poorly lit streets that make walking at night unsafe — especially for women.
When I was in Amsterdam recently, I had to get a PCR test for my next leg of travel. As there was no public transport option between the clinic and the conference venue, I thought I’d walk.
It was a lovely day, and I had plenty of time. I started walking the route suggested by Google Maps only to find it directed me to an overpass bridge that had car and bicycle lanes but no lane for walking. And I can’t walk through a canal!
I ended up getting a Bolt. The driver told me this was a common problem for tourists and visitors unfamiliar with the city’s layout. God forbid we want to take the fastest route too on foot.
Getting people out of their cars — even just some of the time — is a pretty radical act when you think about the money machine that is the auto industry. But cycling is a win for all in terms of health, air quality, and reducingCO2 emissions.
But, it just takes leadership and even more, follow-through, something I’m not convinced we’ll see all that much of at COP26.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart ci(show all)Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart cities, and the future of alternative energy sources like electric batteries, solar, and hydrogen.
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