Go Ride a Bike
Lina Savickas
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Opinion
Most people see bicycling as a sport, a hobby or a way to get exercise. But what about those who see it as their main form of transportation?
"The United States is not very 'bikey'," said Marc Davidson, Education Abroad Coordinator. Davidson mentioned that in Copenhagen, Danes ride their bikes like Americans drive their cars.
"You shouldn't have to be in a car for every single ride you have to take," said Josh Potter, Village Planner of Lisle. However, it seems only a very small percentage of the population takes advantage of the bicycling option. Such a fact is regrettable, as bicycling can solve several problems and provide numerous benefits.
In addition to giving people another way of getting around, biking mitigates one of Benedictine University's most talked about dilemmas.
"I think plenty of people live close enough to bike here, I don't really care if they do or don't, but I'd also not like to hear anyone complain about parking," said bicyclist and BU freshman Gabe Rodriguez.
Without a car to worry about, countless BU students would not be stuck in congested traffic, let alone speeding around campus, frantically trying to find a parking spot before bounding into class in the nick of time.
Leaving the car in the garage would also prove to be a great help to the environment.
"[Biking] is the best way to cut down on our carbon footprint," said Dr. Jean-Marie Kauth, BU Writing Director and Assistant Professor.
The Village of Lisle website also named energy conservation and improved air quality among the benefits of replacing automobile use with bicycling.
For some, a cleaner and healthier environment is not a good enough reason to abandon their car, but the money-saving aspect of bicycling is.Driving cars less often would ease the strain that gas and automobile tune-ups put on bank accounts.
"The more people we can get off the roads, the longer the roads last. The longer the roads last, the less taxpayers have to pay," said Brian Miller, manager of Lisle's bike shop Bicycles Etc.
"The United States is not very 'bikey'," said Marc Davidson, Education Abroad Coordinator. Davidson mentioned that in Copenhagen, Danes ride their bikes like Americans drive their cars.
"You shouldn't have to be in a car for every single ride you have to take," said Josh Potter, Village Planner of Lisle. However, it seems only a very small percentage of the population takes advantage of the bicycling option. Such a fact is regrettable, as bicycling can solve several problems and provide numerous benefits.
In addition to giving people another way of getting around, biking mitigates one of Benedictine University's most talked about dilemmas.
"I think plenty of people live close enough to bike here, I don't really care if they do or don't, but I'd also not like to hear anyone complain about parking," said bicyclist and BU freshman Gabe Rodriguez.
Without a car to worry about, countless BU students would not be stuck in congested traffic, let alone speeding around campus, frantically trying to find a parking spot before bounding into class in the nick of time.
Leaving the car in the garage would also prove to be a great help to the environment.
"[Biking] is the best way to cut down on our carbon footprint," said Dr. Jean-Marie Kauth, BU Writing Director and Assistant Professor.
The Village of Lisle website also named energy conservation and improved air quality among the benefits of replacing automobile use with bicycling.
For some, a cleaner and healthier environment is not a good enough reason to abandon their car, but the money-saving aspect of bicycling is.Driving cars less often would ease the strain that gas and automobile tune-ups put on bank accounts.
"The more people we can get off the roads, the longer the roads last. The longer the roads last, the less taxpayers have to pay," said Brian Miller, manager of Lisle's bike shop Bicycles Etc.
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