May, 11, 2008
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Bike lanes do make a difference
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THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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I have been dismayed by recent news coverage of Public Works’ consideration of new bike lanes on Cornwall Avenue.
The Bellingham Herald and the weekly papers have consistently quoted neighborhood association presidents in the neighborhoods affected saying that bike lanes do not improve safety or increase bike ridership.
A quick review of the research available online at credible government Web sites shows studies consistently find that bike lanes increase safety for both bike riders and car drivers.
A research summary from the city of Cambridge, Mass., titled “Safety Benefits of Bike Lanes” indicates that multiple studies show: Bike lanes reduce bike-car crashes by about 30 percent.
Bike lanes reduce car-car crashes by removing the problem of swerving to avoid bikes in traffic lanes or shoulders.
Bike rider behavior improves when bike lanes are added (less sidewalk and wrong-way riding, less swerving into traffic).
Bike lanes on major streets increase bike use, especially with newer riders.
I value our neighborhood associations and agree strongly that their concerns (lost parking spaces in this case) should be considered carefully, but let’s decide how to use our shared public resources based on facts from studies, not opinion.
Tim Burnett
Bellingham
