Ultimately, I refuse to bicycle for a commute to a destination that will require me to outrace the motor traffic, which is why since 2011 on and off, I have become less and less of a cyclist, commuting from the boonies of Broussard in a 35 year old subdivision in the middle of farms and high speed, substandard agricultural roads created as far back as the time of european settlement. I do not cherish the reality, and will find a way out of it as soon as possible, but for too many of us, this is the only form of development Lafayette Parish has been delivering, and as recent political overridings of the planning commission by the consolidated council show, we can expect only more of it to be delivered. Adjoining neighborhoods will not connect, and half mile trips become two mile trips. Country roads will be improved for cars, high-speeds, and a hierarchical pattern of connections. These problems will hold us back, as the Downtown Action Plan observes, because younger generations no longer singularly value the low density, long distance, low social interaction form of urban development. In Lafayette Parish, my 7-10 mile commute is impossible, except for total road warriors ruling to accept the average 30xs greater odds of getting hurt. In NOLA, that same mileage will take you through directly connected neighborhoods, Carrollton all the way to the Lower Nine. Borrowing lines here from a fellow named Victor in New Orleans: I wanted to re-share this because I think its extremely demonstrative of the culture shift needed both in education and bicycle infrastructure without being too condescending. The dudes tone is just right for expressing the subtle disbelief at our ridiculous concepts of what is necessary transportation infrastructure.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 23:06:23 +0000
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