Environmental Health News, Week 11: Saved by the Bike

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Copenhagenize is a new design studio that specializes in bike infrastructure. Mikael Colville-Anderson is the creator of this innovative studio, and his mission is to "renormalize the bicycle." Inspired by using his bicycle as the primary mode of transportation in Copenhagen, Denmark, he aims to encourage other people and create more ways to incorporate bikes into cities. There are also multiple benefits to using bicycles stated. Cities with established bicyclists and bicycle infrastructure  have reduced carbon emissions because less cars are used. Bikes also improve physical and mental health. According to the article, studies have showed that riding bikes lessens the feelings of loneliness. In addition, bikes are safer than cars -- death from motor vehicle accidents are much more common than death from bicycle accidents. Copenhagenize is looking to make more bike-friendly cities.

I think the idea of incorporating more bicycle riding into society is a great idea. It clearly has benefits, however, it is something that we would have to work on. San Francisco is a pretty bike friendly city, compared to other cities, like Los Angeles. Cars are the primary mode of transportation in much of the United States. Not saying that we wouldn't be able to achieve using more bikes and changing city infrastructure to be more "bike friendly," but it something that we are definitely not used to. There's a lot of changes that comes with this as well -- new laws and rules, new bike lanes and street design. In Europe, it's common to ride bikes and walk. I remember actually crossing "biking in Amsterdam" off my travel list because it's something that you just have to do. It's a bike friendly city; everyone rides their bike. Perhaps maybe in the future we can become more bike friendly here in the US, with the help of Copenhagenize.

Reference:
https://www.fastcompany.com/40550701/how-the-humble-bicycle-can-save-our-cities

Comments

  1. Ashley SubramaniApril 6, 2018 at 2:28 PM

    Hi Loren,

    I think its a great idea to incorporate use of bikes more. As bikes do not cause pollution like most means of transportation, they should be utilized more. In many instances such as going to the store around the corner or going to the library a few blocks away, it would be more environmentally friendly to use bikes as a car is not absolutely necessary. It will take time and strong efforts to convince more people to use bikes.

    -Ashley

    ReplyDelete

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