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For the past 60 years the “American Way of Life” has been defined by a reliance upon the automobile for transportation and a glorification of the auto as an icon of social status. The convenience and relative affordability of private gasoline-powered transportation for essentially all Americans has also created problems that are recently coming into clearer focus.
Ex-urban sprawl, suburban congestion, air pollution and climatic extremes are by-products of our automobile addiction that are creating increased social and economic consequences. So, what’s to be done?
I really like my car. I enjoy driving. I need to drive for my work, and I often drive for travel and recreation. I am addicted (strongly habituated sounds better) to the necessity and convenience of driving my car. I also ride my bike. I have three bicycles; one for touring, a second for trail riding and a third for in-town transportation. I value both my car and my bicycles, and I don’t see the urban transportation discussion as bicycles vs. automobiles.
I don’t know any bicyclists who don’t also drive a car. For me, the issue is not about giving up the automobile but changing the habit of total dependence on gasoline-powered vehicles for all of our transportation. Most of La Crosse is essentially flat and conducive to in-town bicycle commuting. Why don’t more people cycle to work in La Crosse? My impression is that the two main reasons are concerns about safety and social convention.
Addressing the first concern: Bicyclists can protect themselves by wearing a helmet, maintaining safe equipment, choosing safe routes and riding defensively with consideration for others on the road.
The city of La Crosse has made efforts to maintain and expand the bike trail system and provide designated low traffic routes for bike commuters. Much more needs to be done.
The second concern about social convention requires a change in attitude. In most of the rest of the world, it is commonplace and socially accepted for adults to walk or bike to work and to other in-town destinations. Not so in the United States.
The two issues of safety and peer acceptance could be addressed by substantive support for bicycle commuting by local employers. Specifically, I challenge the two major health care institutions in La Crosse to develop substantive, ongoing “bike-to-work” initiatives for their employees. Here are a few suggestions: 1) Provide bike helmets at little or no cost to employees who bike to work. 2) Provide all-weather, secure, on-site bicycle storage and shower facilities for bike commuters. 3) Offer specific financial incentives at work for non-motorized commuters.
Franciscan Skemp and Gundersen Lutheran could lead the way in supporting healthy lifestyles in the Coulee Region and reducing our collective “automobile addiction.”
Eric J Wheeler of La Crosse is a teacher/consultant and unabashed bicycle advocate. He is one of 13 Tribune Community Columnists, whose writing appears on the Sunday Opinion pages.
