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The Issue |
What are the
benefits of cycling? |
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Sacramento is behind other big
cities in the U.S when it comes to options for public transportation that don’t
require cars. Currently the main options for public transportation are city
buses, light rail system and bicycles or scooters. As
of 2018, the Sacramento region is home to 495 miles of multi-use paths, 2
miles of separated bike lanes, 1,270 miles of bike lanes, and 216 miles of
bike routes — all of which are used for transportation and recreational
purposes. Over 4,000 employees commute to work in Sacramento. But recently,
Sacramento has been ranked as the nation’s fifth worst city in
cycle safety. So how can Sacramento improve their current cycle safety issue in order to save lives, encourage cycling as a form of
transportation and reduce the use of cars. |
According to the Queensland
Government, a few benefits that result from choosing cycling over driving
are: ·
Improves mental
health (decreased stress and anxiety, better sleep, and productivity) ·
Health benefits ·
Economic benefits (riding
a bicycle 10km each way to work each day will save about $1,700 per year in
transport costs) Another example is in Seville, Spain, where an 80 km network
of segregated bicycle lanes cost the equivalent of 5-6 km of highway. ·
Environmental benefits
(reduces the use of fossil fuels, conserves roadway and residential space, etc.) And more… |
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Step by step solutions to improve cyclist
safety: |
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1.
Construct more bike
lanes and block streets to vehicle traffic to create a safe space for
pedestrians and cyclists. 2.
Traffic light signaling
that prioritizes pedestrians and bicyclists over vehicles. 3.
Implement an incentive
system to encourage individuals to purchase and use bicycles and to report bike
lane violations. 4.
Create a social media/advertising
campaign to inform and bring awareness to the public about the benefits of cycling
and infrastructure improvements. |
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Adriana Robles takes full responsibility
for the information posted. The information on this page represents that
of Adriana Robles and not that of California State University,
Sacramento. |