When the new George Herbert Walker Bush Elementary School opens its doors next year, students will be given the opportunity to get to class the old fashioned way.
Image: League of American Bicyclists
“We’re encouraging bicycle transportation,” Jeff Miller of WRA Architects, designer of the facility, said earlier this year. “Being right there near the bike trail, we’re able to put a couple more bike racks on the site.”
Plans call for the campus to be incorporated into the existing trail system. Students who would prefer to walk or bike to school will have a safe way to do just that.
“It’s really going to be pedestrian and bike-friendly,” Miller said. “Having that option as we move through the future is really going to be valuable.”
May is Bike Month, and May 21 is Bike to Work Day. With more and more emphasis on reducing carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels, cycling enthusiasts all around the nation are encouraging students and commuters to consider using a different kind of pedal to get to school or work.
Public transit and bicycle commuting are gaining ridership, but it is estimated that only 0.05 percent of Americans use a bike as their primary means of transportation — even though 40 percent of our daily trips and errands require less than 2 miles of travel, according to the National Household Travel Survey.
What keeps people from hitting the streets with two wheels instead of four? According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics the main reasons people choose to travel by car and truck are “convenience” and “safety from accidents.”
Only 23 percent of respondents felt “very satisfied” that their cities were designed for making bike riding safe, according to the same nationwide survey.
National statistics show that the danger doesn’t quite match the fear: In recent years, bicyclists have accounted for about two percent of all traffic fatalities. In 2008, six times more pedestrians (4,378) than cyclists (716) were killed in traffic collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Many cycling groups offer safety courses to help commuters navigate traffic hazards and plan safe routes. The “Traffic 101” course, taught in cities around the country by League of American Bicyclists certified instructors, is an example of one course that will teach novice and experienced commuters how to ride defensively and avoid collisions while commuting.
“Be visible, be predictable, follow the rules of the road and have fun,” said Andy Clarke of the LAB.
Additionally, many bike-centric websites, such as BicycleSafe.com, offer practical advice about commuting safely by bike. Google Maps recently added a feature to provide assistance planning bike routes.
Clarke agrees that cycling, just like driving, has the potential for injury. But he thinks of bike riding as a way to reduce other risks in life, since, unlike driving, bike riding is guaranteed to improve health and reduce environmental impact.
“It isn’t without risk, but people shouldn’t think of it as a dangerous activity,” Clarke said. “You are a lot better off riding than not riding in the grand scheme of things.”
Whether you’re looking to map out a commute, or simply seeking a safe place to get a little exercise on two wheels, Addison’s trail system offers plenty of ways to get around the Town.
Check them out:
Addison Town Park
Arapaho Pedestrian Trail
Celestial Park
Les Lacs Linear Park
North Addison Park
Redding Trail Map
White Rock Creek Trail
Tags: Addison Town Park, Addison Trails, Arapaho Pedestrian Trail, Bike Month, Bike to Work Day, Celestial Park, League of American Bicyclists, Les Lacs Linear Park, North Addison Park, Redding Trail Map, White Rock Creek Trail
