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The consequences of low awareness are dire. The truth is that most people DON'T think of bicycling as anything else but a form of exercise. Even more of us don't realize that bicycling is the most efficient form of transportation—a self-powered machine that won't eat gas or release toxic fumes. We forget that it's also fast, healthy, cheap, natural and above all fun. We expect nothing and in return, what do we get? Unsafe neighborhoods where we are afraid to permit our children to bicycle alone, a lack of bicycle lanes, inconvenient
transit systems . . . the list goes on.
The biggest problem of them all? Not realizing that we have the potential to turn problems like these around. Not understanding that things don't have to be the way they are—and that through better planning, enforcement, engineering, and so on, we can make significant improvements.
The rest is easy. Because when we place a high value on bicycling, we will come to understand that a bicyclable community is well worth the small sacrifices we make.
After all, when you stop and really think about it, would you really mind driving more slowly and carefully so that others can share the road? If it were safe and convenient, wouldn't you try using a combination of bicycle and public transit service rather than sitting in traffic all morning? Outreach and promotion is all ABOUT making people stop and think and see connections like these.
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