Good transportation planning is more than just planning for cars. Bicycle commuting has doubled since 1991, up from about 2,600 a day to more than 5,500. The same kinds of changes can be made here in the District of Columbia. There are little things that can be done to make a more-friendly environment for bicyclists, such as providing safe places for bicycle commuters to park their bikes during the day and providing employee showers. We've also sponsored bike rides for members and staff to highlight some of the biking opportunities in the area.
Safety remains a primary concern of current and potential bicycling commuters.
But Ritch Viola, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Arlington County, Virginia, believes much of the fear is ungrounded. In Virginia, there have been an average of 20 bike fatalities a year in the past decade, most of them recreational riders. And the quality of equipment available to deal with the rain has improved dramatically. If you're serious about commuting daily, you can get Goretex rainwear, fit fenders to your bike, and carry waterproof bags or panniers. The carrying capacity of bikes also has vastly improved.