Bike commuter - cities are trying to find ways to accommodate and encourage this form of transportation over automobiles and mass transit

By Gerald Dlubala

"The increased number of bike users is very encouraging, given the less than ideal, and sometimes downright dangerous conditions, having to compete with extremely heavy motor vehicle traffic. But given the opportunity, people will take to the streets by bicycle."

That's the findings of a recent study, (October 2015), performed by Transportation Alternatives, a street safety advocacy group in New York.

Their study echoes many of the studies performed in major metropolitan areas on the topic of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, generally showing that the public has definite interest in bicycle

 

The trend continues - more cities are creating bicycle master plans, investing in bike infrastructure and requiring bike rooms in new buildings

There's no doubt about it - bicycling infrastructure continues to grow in America as we see more bicycle master plans,  bike lanes, bike-share programs, bicycle racks, bike rooms and bike laws.

According to the Census Bureau, 43 of the 70 largest cities in the US saw an increase in 2015 in bike

Jack the Bike Man Hairston in the charity's massive warehouse of bikes that are rebuilt and given to those in need

When some guys retire they like to spend their days playing golf. Not Jack Hairston. He likes to give away bikes. Not just a few of them, but thousands of them. To needy kids and their families.

"I just wanted to make the community a little bit better," he says, and adds "What else would I be doing?"

At the age of 75, Jack "The Bike Man" will be at it again this holiday season.

His bicycle giveaway is an annual spectacle in West Palm Beach, Fla., that attracts hundreds of families every year. From his enormous warehouse with the giant bicycle mural painted on the front, he and a dedicated team of volunteers distribute recycled bicycles to at-need children of all ages. This is an event that really can make a big difference for a child or family without a bike.

Bike commuter crosses the Hawthorne bridge in Portland that runs over the Willamette river

When it comes to the effectiveness of bike lanes and bike parking racks, all you need to do is visit Portland, Ore. They have their chain securely on the sprocket.

Take these stats  from the Portland Bureau of Transportation for example:

- 7.2% of workers in Portland, commute by bicycle.

Ford recognizes the growth of bike commuting and invests in GoBike progra

You would never expect a major automobile manufacturer to invest in bicycles, but that's exactly what Ford announced last month as they jump on the bandwagon for cities to offer more bicycles, more bike lanes and more bike parking racks as an alternative means of transportation.

Their investment in buying Chariot, a crowd-sourced shuttle service, and establishing Motivate, an urban bike sharing program, confused some investors and customers. But the investments are a timely decision that actually go hand-in-hand.