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Editor’s Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership to share their knowledge and experiences.
I find myself somewhat conflicted when it comes to the term, “bike-friendly.” I feel like Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. where he has a “Good Jack” on one shoulder, telling him the good thing to do, and on the other shoulder a “Bad Jack,” telling him what a pirate would do.
Conceptually, bike-friendly is a wonderful asset in a community that can create accessible alternate transportation routes, promote good health and exercise, be a community amenity encouraging socialization, and even help tourism and trade in a locality.
Come Together
On its Web site, the League of American Bicyclists points out, “With more people bicycling, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness. In addition, bicycle-friendly towns are often seen as places with a high quality of life. This can translate into increased property values, business growth and increased tourism.”