Another one of these articles about how cities are battling to attract the magic youthful demographic of 25-34 appeared in the NY Times today. Richard Florida is of course mentioned in it. Well, Pittsburgh, you would be smart to take some queues from Portland, one of the top five cities in the country attracting this demo.
Portland happened to have a group who wanted concessions for cyclists and was able to get them, he said.
“The real issue was, is your city open to a set of ideas from young people, and their wish to realize their dream or objective in your city,” he said. “You could go out and build bike paths, but if that's not what your young people want, it's not going to work.”
Well Pittsburgh DEFINITELY wants them. Take a minute to make sure you write your councilperson and let them know that you are one of the Pittsburghers who wants better bike amenities. Click here for a list of council members and how to contact them.
NEWSLETTER
2 Comments
we don’t need bike
paths so much as we as cyclists need bike lanes and paths that actually go to more places than just the park, or the point. as a cyclist who is car free, it is frustrating to be treated like a criminal because i choose to ride a bike to be healthier, to save money, to help the environment, and mostly because i really enjoy riding. pittsburgh is a city of people, a living breathing population. to build a network of routes for the people is just plain obvious. it is okay for pittsburgh to think green. create the lanes for all bike riders, and pittsburgh will be the better for it.
Agreed. I don’t think the guy quoted really knows what he’s talking about, he just knows “cool cities” and that Portland is good for biking. Portland is MUCH more known for its on-street bike lanes, centered around commuting than its “bike paths,” which invoke images of recreation. That said, cities like Berlin have extensive bike paths that are completely centered around commuting and practical cycling. Eugene, OR and Madison, WI have an elaborate system of paths and trails that are also very commuter-centric.
Our trails here in Pittsburgh are a good start, but they aren’t maintained often enough in the fall and winter months, and aren’t even open or lit in the evening – eliminating them as a commuting option for much of the year.