Advocacy Project: Barriers to Bicycling

Purpose
Through this activity, I hope to show why biking should be encouraged as a form of transportation and to prove the need for adequate bicycle accommodation on our state roads.

Instructions
This is a two-part activity.

Part 1: Please read the following web pages:

• Learn about the benefits of bicycling and see for yourself what a great mode of transportation it really is.

• Check out these state- and nation-wide crash facts. The point is not to blame either motorists or bicyclists (because both are at fault), but to learn what causes accidents and think about how they can be avoided with proper bicyclist accommodation.

• Read the following Rules of the Road to learn how to keep yourself and others safe. It is important for bicyclists and motorists alike to know these rules.

Part 2: For your assignment, please choose ONE of the following options:

• Write a short description of a time when you were somehow involved in (or witnessed) a bicycle-motorist accident. Describe what happened and state how the problem could have been avoided.

OR

• Go out into the community and photograph a situation that is unsafe for bicyclists. (Ideas include lack of room on the road, huge potholes, etc.)
  

Even if you are not an avid bicyclist, hopefully this activity helps you bring the issue down to a personal level. As I mentioned before, both motorists and bicyclists need to take responsibility in this issue in order to keep all commuters safe: motorists can help by being respectful of bicyclists on the road, bicyclists can do their part by following traffic laws, and both can advocate for safer and more convenient bikeways. After all, many people will find themselves in both these roles through out their lives - it's important that everyone is working together!