Notwithstanding the benefits of cycle paths, are still mentioned some disadvantages these might have, whether are for motorists and pedestrians as for cyclists; due that we’ll talk about the veracity or falsity of some cycle path myths.
Adjust your speeds and check your tire pressure, because we are going to up and down in this fun ride. Ready? Let’s go.
Bike way myths, how many do you know?
From being an impediment for motorists to reduce customer quantity to business, these are different beliefs about using bike ways. We introduce some bike way myths. Let’s see if you guess the real ones:
Bike ways increase traffic
Of course, is true the lane reduction for motorists, is also true that streets are for everyone. Exists the same right to circulate for a motorized vehicle and for a non-motorized vehicle. For this reason, bike way doesn’t take street space, but distribute it for people with non-motorized vehicles to ride on it.
Obstruct the passage of people with physical disability
This myth is related with the first one. Exclusive lanes are for cyclists, skaters and people with physical disability or people who use wheelchair. In addition, in Mexico City is allowed the circulation of people who use a hand truck.
Bike ways are dangerous
It’s about a bike path myth that is true and also false, it has a bit of both. The truth is, that is much safer to ride within a confined bike way that in a car lane. But, on the other hand, for a cycle path to be 100% safe, must have the necessary infrastructure to provide cyclist protection. This can be from a correct paving and street patching of the same, to delimitation elements as confibicis, flexible posts, channelizers and bike road markings, anyway, all the necessary articles to avoid cars invade that space.
Nobody circulates on them
As it was mentioned, this depends on the correct construction of the bike path. If this is in bad conditions, cyclists prefer the sidewalks or go on opposite way (which are forbidden, of course). However, the correct construction of these tracks, increase the presence of cyclists exorbitantly, as the Insurgentes bike path that increase up to a 275% the recreational cycling in the city.
Is faster to go by car than by bike
All depends on the distance to cover. For example, if you want to go from one end of the country to other, it will be quicker by car, and a lot more by airplane! However, for short distances of less than 18 miles, is faster to arrive by bike than by car. For example, a 3 mile commute might take 15-20 minutes by bike, while driving might take 30 minutes due traffic and parking.
Is too expensive to construct a bike path
One of the easiest myths to refute than the flat earth theory. Yes, is true that a good cyclist infrastructure isn’t cheap, but represents more long-term benefits for mobility and citizens than the expenses to create it. Each government have their own budgets for road works, but the difference between construct a path for bikes and a path for motorists is abysmal. Don’t you think so? In accordance with the Director of Mexico City’s Sport Institute, Javier Hidalgo Ponce, a 0.6 bike route mile costs 2 millions of pesos, while an audit of the European Court of Auditours (ECA) revealed that in Mexico a 0.6 highway mile costs 26,8 millions of pesos, meaning 2 million dollars.
Affect my personal economy
If you believe a bike way affects your pocket by using them, we have great news, you might feel a heavier wallet at the end of the week, when you notice the money you saved in public transport or the money invested in other things as a candy or a drink. But on the other hand, if you own a coffee shop or other business nearby bike ways, well, various analysis have revealed that sells increase if there’s a bike path of this type close, due the flow of possible buyers increases.
Myths, do you still believe them?
After this little journey, we hope you know that some of them aren’t myths. Some of them are true, but as you saw, have the fortunate solution through a better road culture for everyone: cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and any other inhabitant.
