Deb Wood: Raleigh now bike-friendly

Regarding Julie Tisdale’s July 23 Point of View “An unjustified expense in Raleigh”: Seventeen years ago I moved to Raleigh from a U.S. town with more bike than car commuters. It was a shock to find no bike lanes in Raleigh, few kids cycling to school and drivers not knowing how to respond to cyclists. Back then I felt that I was taking my life in my hands cycling in Raleigh.

I now actively seek out routes with bike lanes and welcome every new one. I get more out of this city now than I ever thought possible.

Tisdale’s arguments focused on the cost per bike commuter, but ignored that cyclists also ride for pleasure, exercise and out of necessity. Not all residents can afford or choose to own a car.

I often commute by bike, but last week I also cycled to friends, to the movies, to the grocery store and downtown. Like hundreds of others, I cycled to the car-free Destination Dix Festival. All of these activities were made possible, enjoyable and safer by bike lanes.

As the 2015 BikeRaleigh report indicated, only 30 percent of the population are categorized as total noncyclists. The math changes significantly when comparing how $4.62 million impacts 70 percent of Raleigh residents, versus 1,200 commuters.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Deb Wood: Raleigh now bike-friendly."