tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post7295773310597069009..comments2024-01-15T19:54:05.116-05:00Comments on Nancy At Large: Need for Infrastructure to Support BikeshareCouncilmember Nancy Floreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057395275467496388noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-44516320643892389962012-12-29T09:20:34.767-05:002012-12-29T09:20:34.767-05:00Bike commuting is the best-kept secret in Washingt... Bike commuting is the best-kept secret in Washington. The weather permits year-round commuting. Close parking is always available and i never schedule my commute to avoid traffic delays. Great exercise. My daughter rides on my bike to daycare everyday, and my 3rd grade son rides his bike to school. Despite how it sounds, we are not cycle enthusiasts. It's simply the most convenient way to get around. I am for anything that encourages others to start pedaling to work. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-88452480862665150882012-11-02T22:06:38.692-04:002012-11-02T22:06:38.692-04:00Copenhagen, Denmark was so eager to get commuters ...Copenhagen, Denmark was so eager to get commuters on bikes that they provided free, secure parking at bus stops, rail terminals, ferry docs, etc. AND...they paid daily bike commuters a government stipend that was enough for a person to buy a new bike every three years. They're a bit more practical over there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-34753788916803836042012-11-01T10:34:28.724-04:002012-11-01T10:34:28.724-04:00Anonymous has a point, but only just. Cyclists pa...Anonymous has a point, but only just. Cyclists pay taxes, like everyone else, for the maintenance of roads that cars and cyclists use. Cyclists' taxes also go to fund county sports facilities, some of which have user fees. I also pay some of these user fees for the sports leagues my children and I play in. User fees are discussed here. This shows that the user fees are for maintaining facilities against wear and tear from the users, not for capital construction costs. (www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/cupf/documents/FAQ.pdf)<br /><br />Also, because I bicycle to work, my house needs one less car. One less car on the road means that much less traffic, and less wear and tear on the streets. I would hope that non-cyclist daily drivers would see this a direct benefit to them, one which they should support. I don't begrudge drivers at all -- I am one, too -- but, cars and bicycles should be able to coexist. It is not a zero-sum equation. <br /><br />As a cyclist, if the county built high quality dedicated bike lanes and maintained them in first-class condition, I would be willing to pay a user fee, sort of like a toll, to offset some of their wear and tear. So, Anonymous has a point. But I think his or her apparent anger indicates that he/she doesn't care very much for cyclists, which worries me. <br /><br />In sum, anonymous should take a look at the state and county roads budget. He/She'll discover that a good $25 million or more will be spent next year on roads-related work. (The county's budget is here: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/ombtmpl.asp?url=/content/omb/FY13/psprec/index.asp) A small expenditure to make bicycling safer would lure more people out of cars and onto bikes, clearing the roads for other users. <br /><br />If Anonymous wants a full pay-to-play county, he should argue for it across the board and not vent only on cyclists.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />D.S. Bethesdanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927807349319882991.post-52395224482375157702012-10-31T18:26:57.467-04:002012-10-31T18:26:57.467-04:00Bikers need to get a grip. Already 1 million has ...Bikers need to get a grip. Already 1 million has been spent to appease these never ending bikers that want governments to pay for their pleasure!! As a former softball, football and basketball player/coach, WE HAD TO PAY TO USE THE FACILITES!! Please tell me how much do bikers pay??? It is time for these obsessive, build me another biker trail to PONY-UP with cash to play the game!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com