Alex Marshall is the transportation columnist for GOVERNING and a Senior Fellow at The Regional Plan Association in New York City, and the following is a column on the growing popularity of bicyles:
Bicycling, the mode of transportation stereotyped by short-pants-wearing tykes or spandex-clad health nuts, has become fashionable. Not since the 1880s — when the first bicycle craze hit the nation and produced some of its first paved roads — has this two-wheeled, self-propelled machine been such a symbol of urbanity and style.
In September, The New York Times ran a cover story in its fashion section about fashionable women and the bikes they were riding as part of their stylish ensemble, not apart from it. They could even choose high-status accessories, such as a $365 leather and canvas bag for their handlebars.
“These daring young women, in their stylish attire, are turning heads as they roll by,” wrote Ruth La Ferla, the story’s author. “They are clad not in spandex but in fluttery skirts, capes and kitten heels.”
I don’t know what a kitten heel is, but it sounds nice.
The retail clothing company Banana Republic has been running full-page ads in national magazines showing a relaxed young man in a dark gray suit, red shirt, scarf and tie. And he’s not behind the wheel of an Italian sports car — he’s on a bicycle.
To read more, click here.
There was also an article in the Times recently disscussing the growing opposition to the very aggressive plans the city has implemented and is continuing to implement for installing bike lanes. Much of the debate mirrored the recent debate in Cooper Young about bike lanes v. parking spaces.
ONly in Memphis would the city’s plans be considered “very agressive.” In most cities they would be considered “pathetically minimal.”
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. The article in the times is about the opposition in NYC to the plans, some implemented and some not yet, in NYC for bikes lanes – plans that included the bike lanes in between the parking spots and the sidewalk. The complaints there were as here – giving up parking. They had other plans we don’t – like painting the bike lanes a distinct color – but some of their plans were just like those floated in CY. In other words, Memphis isn’t the only place where this debate is occurring.