More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Ken Lyon
Cross-Country Ramble 34: BicycleLand
Date: 3/23/98 10:54:45 PM Central Standard Time
"You're too damn close!" I shouted at the top of my lungs to the white Cadillac that passed within six inches of my handlebar mirror. Then I lifted my left hand, pointed my index finger at the driver and yelled "Bang! Bang!"
Ken pulled up beside me. "Calm down. Think of something positive."
I began to imagine Bicycleland, a large geographic area where bicycles are the Queen of the Road. Everyone in BicycleLand would own and love bicycles. Everyday touring bikes, adult and kid's tricycles, mountain bikes, recumbents and fairings would be seen on the hundreds of miles of bike paths. Even people walking, or skating on roller blades, or skateboards would be on the bike paths. Of course, in BicycleLand, bicycles would always have the right of way.
Economic development would be spurred by building bike paths next to rivers and along abandoned railroad tracks and by adding six-foot bicycle lanes to all existing roads. The money would come from the National Transportation Funds. The majority of funds would go bicycle paths and bicycle lanes. Some money would go to mass transit for the days when the weather is too bad to bicycle. The remaining funds would go to roads, to allow delivery of bicycles, bicycle parts, food, and mail.
Old industries would be transformed, for example the fashion industry. Clothing would bicycle functional. Not only would it be attractive for work or eveningwear but it wouldn't get caught in chains. Shoes wouldn't go click as you walked.
Some business would increase. Plumbing would be one. Bathrooms would be located unobtrusively every 10 miles along the bike paths. Businesses would install locker rooms and showers for their cycling employees to prevent any unpleasant odors.
Zoning in BicycleLand would concentrate businesses in a central center. Only bicycles and mass transit vehicles could be in the central centers in the daytime. Nighttime would be available for trucks and cars.
Cities would be about 30 miles apart, easily cycleable in a day. A few bicycle-oriented businesses could be located about halfway. These would primarily be food stops, featuring fresh fruit and steamed vegetables and crusty French bread and perhaps a bit of soft cheese, like Brie or Monterey Jack.
People would begin clamoring to move into BicycleLand. The air would be clean. People would healthier and live longer. Health insurance rates would be cheap. Soon all the U.S. would be BicycleLand.
Carol
Itinerary (days from Ventura, CA, in ( )'s)
- Day 16 (75) Hammond, LA
- Day 17-18 (76-77) Covington, LA
- Day 19 (78) Slidell, LA
- Day 20 (79) Bay St. Louis, MS
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