South Valley Bike Scene ... Opinion
MORE BIKES FEWER CARS
by Jodi Hall jodi @ biketherapy . bike
A recent trip to Paris blew my mind because there were cyclists everywhere ! Bike lanes lined every road , and pedestrians , bikes , scooters and cars all navigated their way around the city . Over the last five years , Paris officials have transformed two-way streets into one-way streets , with twoway bike lanes on the other side . Cyclists can get anywhere in the city using a combination of protected and shared bike lanes and bike paths , and because these lanes exist , people use them .
I really wanted to understand how a city of 10 million achieved this transfiguration . The shift in Paris didn ’ t happen just by changing the rules , but by creating the infrastructure to make it safer . According to Ken McLeod , Policy Director for the League of American Bicyclists , the success in Paris has come in large part from presenting a bold , citywide plan , instead of the gradual way many U . S . cities add such infrastructure , upgrading corridors one at a time after lengthy trials .
Mayor Anne Hidalgo has relentlessly pushed forward with plans to reduce emissions , increase bicycle ridership and ban all fuel- and diesel-powered cars by 2030 . Despite some angry pedestrians and drivers , all mayoral candidates have bought into the idea of a greener Paris with fewer cars . It is easy to understand how disruptive this could seem at first to citizens used to driving around the city , but it is wonderful to see people adapt and create a cleaner , more healthy city for all .
Bike-Friendly South County
Could we do that here ? Both Morgan Hill and Gilroy have master plans committed to improving bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure . Morgan Hill just added buffered bike lanes on Main Avenue , several more miles of bike path in the south end of the city , major traffic lights for busy road crossings , and paved the first half of the Madrone Channel Trail .
“ The Morgan Hill Community is increasingly seeing the benefits of creating transportation network that prioritizes more than just cars ,” said Chris Ghione , Public Service Director in Morgan Hill . “ The City and bicycle / pedestrian advocates have worked together on many improvements , which have supported many individuals and families in getting outside on foot or on a bike during the pandemic .”
The question of whether to downsize Monterey Road through downtown is very controversial because it will change the way people get across town . But what if that change makes for a healthier , happier community in the end ? As it did in Paris , safer , more accessible passages will make life much easier for people who don ’ t have cars , can ’ t afford gas , or just want to live healthier , cleaner lives .
Morgan Hill Cares
Hopefully by now you have seen the signs that went up in late summer at each end of Morgan Hill welcoming visitors to our “ caring community .” This project , developed by the 2022 class of Leadership Morgan Hill , includes safety signs to remind drivers , pedestrians and cyclists to respect each other , and their space , no matter what vehicle they are using . Let ’ s remember that our small South County community is not the same as the anonymous world on social media . That person on their bicycle or scooter could be your neighbor .
We Can Change the World !
If you are interested in becoming more involved in creating a bike-friendly community , check out these organizations :
On a national level , the League of American Bicyclists promotes a bicycle-friendly America and has tons of great ideas on their website to bring to your community .
https :// bikeleague . org /.
The California Bicycle Coalition will keep you informed about initiatives in the State Assembly and biking resources around the state .
https :// www . calbike . org /.
Our local Silicon Valley Bike Coalition offers biking resources on a county level . https :// bikesiliconvalley . org /.
Finally , People for Bikes also does national advocacy work , rates communities for their bike accessibility , and has their own app to motivate everyone to ride bikes .
https :// www . peopleforbikes . org /.
60 FALL 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com