On 1/27/2020 5:24 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 12:06:18 PM UTC-8, Frank Krygowski wrote:

I suspect a reason for drops in cycling is perceived dangers, but I
don't think it's specifically connected with light sentences for
offending motorists. I say that because in the U.S. (and I suppose in
Canada) there never was a time when motorists were adequately punished
for their offenses.

I think a big change has been the never-ending push for "Safe!" separate
facilities, with the unavoidable implication that ordinary streets
cannot possibly be "safe." My understanding is that the big bike
companies - especially Trek, IIRC - are strongly behind this facility
push. If so, it's a classic case of shooting oneself in the foot. It
would be much more sensible to put out publicity proving that bicycling
on most ordinary roads is actually quite safe, and very beneficial. It
can also be very useful.

I've noticed a change in our bike club. ISMT a high percentage of people
who have joined in the past five years strongly prefer to ride on
trails. They'll drive 50 miles to some distant trail, off load bikes to
ride back and forth on the trail, and consider it a big adventure.

I'd consider it a long drive followed by a boring ride.

What kind of a trail? A trail-trail or a MUP?

I should have said MUP. In our area in the past 5 - 10 years, the
mountain bikers have sort of forked off into their own club. There are
some members in common (I was one, for a while) but now those are very few.

A lot of people are sick of battling car traffic and are heading toward gravel or off-road because it is more pleasant. It's not even a safety thing -- it's quality of life.

I've absolutely come across people who say they ride only mountain bike
trails because the roads are too dangerous. I don't know how common that
motivation is, but it does exist.

Keep in mind that this area is unlike anything I've encountered out
west, including the Portland - Beaverton - Hillsville area. Due to early
farm-based settlement, we're surrounded by a high density network of
ex-farm roads. Terrain (at least, south and east) prevents a true grid
(and adds interest), but it's a tangle that approximates a grid with
less than a mile between intersections.

Yes, some of those old roads are now nasty because they sprouted huge
McMansion developments, or serve as rush hour cut-throughs for people
avoiding traffic and stop lights. But five miles away from anywhere, we
can easily find roads with daily traffic counts below 1000, and not a
few below 500.

One of our weekly club rides (on a mid-morning weekday, so almost
entirely retirees) leaves a restaurant/bar and covers 25 to 30 miles of
country roads chosen by the momentary whim of the ride leader. At each
intersection, he makes a snap decision. He seldom duplicates his route,
because there are countless choices.

And a lot of people around here will drive 40 miles to trail -- but it is real trail.

A few (very few) times I've driven a distance to explore some MUP I
heard about, or to ride one with a newbie who needs near-total flat
terrain. But such a shame to pass up all the other pleasant roads!

About gravel: A few people I know bought "gravel bikes" recently. I
suggested they'd be great for riding through Amish country maybe 40
miles north of here, where the many gravel roads have almost no traffic
but buggies. I might enjoy that with (say) 32mm tires on my touring
bike. But I really am reluctant to drive very far to do a ride.


--
- Frank Krygowski