Bike Friends!

In an interview in a local paper the other day the headline read: ”Motorists should be thankful  for the cyclists!” Not my idea, mind you, but intriguing, I should say: Not only can cyclists be excruci­atingly annoying, but we deserve gratitude as well! Why is this, you may ask? Well:

• Increased cycling leads to less traffic congestion and rush hour back-ups, so that those who insist on driving their automobiles will reach their destinations quicker and more easily.
• To reduce growing demand for land going to infrastructure will grow constantly more important as a result of increased urbanization and land pressure around the greater urban centers. More bicycling will reduce the need for giant and costly developments of new and existing road projects, thus freeing funds for better maintenance in general – and perhaps more bicycle paths?
• More cycling also has vast positive health benefits. This will free up hospital beds for those who need them due the effects of sedentary driving and physical inactivity. Cycling also con­tributes to increased quality of life, joy of living and physical and psychological well-being.

Not only the motorists can be grateful to the bicyclists, also politicians should be happy:

• Increased bicycling is good for the economy, both within the public health and transport­ation sectors.
• Grandiose development of bicycle infrastructure has the highest benefit-cost ratio of all other types of infrastructure.
• Encouraging more bicycling will reduce the need for environmentally damaging transpor­tation and thus contribute to reaching national climate goals.

It’s a paradox, then, that our main challenges today seem to be the following:

• To get politicians and planners in the transportation sector to think bicycle when considering alternatives to the automobile – and not only public transportation.
• To get public health officials and politicians to think bicycle as an effective mean in the pre­vention of physical decay and life style deceases, and in rehabilitation.
• To get motorists to switch to using bikes out of pure self interest.

The vision of the Norwegian Cyclists’ Association is to make bicycling attractive to most people. And this is also what the Norwegian Commuting by Bike Campaign is all about:

• To show that every day cycling in fact is possible, and
• To demonstrate that the bicycle can be the preferred means of transportation going to work, in the neighborhood and as recreation.

While others simply talk about health issues and the environment, the every day bicyclists take the bull by the horns and do something about it, simply by bicycling. Thus we become part of the solution. If we can direct much of the transportation taking place in automobiles – and for that matter, also busses and trains – over to the bicycle, this will lead to sizeable benefits to the climate, less pollution and better urban accessibility for all. In addition will increased bicycling lead to great health benefits – all together increased quality of living.

So pull out the old bike, wipe off the grime, fix them up and get out on the road and into the countryside. Here awaits you better health, freedom and the good adventures!

I wish all happy bicyclists many joyous rides – and the Commuting by Bike Campaign 2008 all the best!

Morten I Kerr  
President of the Norwegian Cyclists’ Association; Ambassador, the Norwegian Commuting by Bike Campaign 2008