Here in the Rockaways, we don’t have a lot of bike lanes on main streets and roads. It can be difficult to get around on bike or by foot, and public transit leaves a lot to be desired as well. However, head in the direction of the beach on a sunny day, and you’ll see pedestrians on the boardwalk, sunbathers, both the hardcore surfers who go out in any weather, and those who only come out when it’s nicer, and a relatively new feature of Rockaway’s revamped boardwalk – cyclists in their own special lanes.
At first glance, this might not seem related to sustainability. However, cycling is one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable forms of transportation at the time of this writing. Cities who incorporate bike lanes into their infrastructure, culture, and lifestyles can boast healthier citizens, fewer harmful emissions and a greener carbon footprint.
One such city is Copenhagen. If you go to Denmark’s official website, you can navigate to a page that explains the Danes’ love of cycling. According to a helpful info-box, “Danes cycle 1.6 km (~1 mile) a day on average” and there are “more than 12,000 kilometres (~7500 miles) of cycle routes in Denmark.” The conversions to mileage are my additions to the original text.
New York City can learn a lot from the example of Copenhagen and other cities where a culture of cycling has been established.
The picture you see above is of the sign that warns pedestrians to yield to cyclists in the two bike-only lanes, silhouetted by the setting sun. Everyone who lives here and frequents the boardwalk knows to be wary of the lane distinctions. So if you’re ever Down for the Day, just keep your eyes open for the people passing in the bike lanes.
Good warning. Very nice citation of Copenhagen.