This is a guest post by David Veibl. David is a contributing writer for Cruiserbikes.com too, a source for the best cruiser bikes online.
Let’s begin this post with a little disclaimer. No one – not even Sylvia Browne – knows exactly what the future holds. While any psychic couldn’t give you next week’s lottery numbers, s/he could still give you a detailed pattern analysis that would tell you the numbers most likely to show up in next week’s drawing. That’s what we humans do. We predict. We have all kinds of tools that help us see what the future holds. There are even entire industries dedicated to predicting the future – the weather and climate industry, the stock market, and urban planning, to name a few.
Look at Portland. In 1996, Portland’s urban planners predicted that bicycling would become more widespread in the following decades. At that time, the Portland Bureau of Transportation reported an average of 3,257 daily bicyclists. Since then, the number has jumped by 560% with an average of 18,257 daily bicyclists in 2011! Portland’s predictions came true, and it looks like the number of bicyclists will only increase in the years to come. If the numbers continue to rise consistently, Portland will see at least 102,240 cyclists on the road in 2030! Luckily, the city is prepared for such a situation. A couple years ago, they rolled out the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030, a plan that accommodates the increasing number of cyclists with a new bikeway facility design, a stronger bicycle transportation system, larger bicycle parking areas, and so much more. It’s expected to be complete by 2030.
More people are riding bikes now than ever
If there’s anything past statistics tell us, it’s that the number of cyclists will continue to climb dramatically year after year. The increasing number of cyclists on the road could be due to soaring gas prices, concern for the environment, or the need to stay healthy and in shape. Whatever the reason, bikes are becoming more and more popular. In fact, the National Bicycle Dealers Association reported that 19.8 million bicycles were sold in the U.S. in 2010, while the Bureau of Transportation reported only 4.6 million cars sold that same year. BMW sales are dwindling while Schwinn cruisers are selling like hotcakes!
Portland isn’t the only city to prepare for the growth in bicycle commuting
Major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as countless small towns across the country, are installing more bike lanes, increasing funding for bicycle facilities, and encouraging their residents to travel by bicycle. Now, since New York installed more than 200 miles of bike lanes in 2009, 1 out of every 24 vehicles on city streets is a bicycle.
Possible reasons behind the bicycle phenomenon
With the economy the way it is now, it’s hardly a surprise that more and more people have taken up bicycling. The economy might not be the only reason, though. If the economy miraculously improves in the next decade or two, it’s highly unlikely that people would ditch their bikes for cars. By then, the habit of riding a bicycle for short trips would probably be so ingrained that people wouldn’t even hear of driving to the bank on a warm sunny day. People would get so used to seeing cyclists everywhere that they wouldn’t think twice about buying a new bicycle and joining everyone else in the bike lane on their way to work.
Also, by 2030, communities everywhere will have expanded so much that it would be rare to have to travel to the next town to pick up a gallon of milk. With everything available nearby, people living in urban, suburban, and some rural areas would hardly have to travel more than 5 miles to get something. Almost every road would probably have a bike lane, so it would be far easier and safer to travel by bicycle. People are far more environmentally conscious now than ever, and with scientists constantly finding new information about the environment every day, we’re paying closer attention to reducing our carbon footprint.
Do you think that, when 2030 rolls around, bicycles will be the main mode of transportation? Why or why not?
Sounds good to me, but I hope it happens even quicker.
Darryl
No way, it’s just dreaming, sorry! Just look at our government now, they killed off 60% of available funds for walking and bicycling to put the monies into CAR infastructure. In the USA the CAR will always be KING, we need to get over the “euro-fantasy” thoughts and live in American reality. We bicyclist’s will be the “dreaded minority” in the USA thru the lives of my great-great-great grandchildern! BTW, my wife and I are CAR-FREE NOW! It ain’t gona happen here boys and girls, don’t put away your refelective vests and helmet cams! JMHO, YMMV.
Hey, B.J. — Completely off-topic, but since you live in the Colorado Springs area, I hope you’re dodging the wildfires all right.
Luckly I’m to POOR to live in the foothills so yes, the wife and I were 12 miles or so from the fires! Man it was UGLY and the air was tough to breath, there are times being “car free” isn’t the best thing. 😉 Most of the area has been opened up, 346 homes and 2 persons lives, destroyed! 🙁 Thanks for asking! Have a most excellent day! 🙂
torture numbers long enough and they’ll confess to anything
I always laugh when people try to extrapolate trends and misinterpret numbers. Going from 1 to 1.4% of commuters in 10 years in no way predicts that everybody will be biking in another 20 years. Silly conclusion.