The Future of Active Transportation and The Biking Boom

The Buzz 1: “Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle. I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle... I want to ride it where I like.” (Queen, Bicycle Race) The Buzz 2: “When my legs hurt, I say: ‘Shut up legs! Do what I tell you to do!’” (Jens Voigt, German former professional road bicycle racer) The Buzz 3: “Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to.” (Dr K.K. Doty, 19th century New Yorker and cycling evangelist) German baron Karl von Drais created a steerable, two-wheeled contraption in 1817, known as the “velocipede,” “hobby-horse,” “draisine” and “running machine.” He is widely acknowledged as the 'Father of the Bicycle'. The bicycle – a self-propelled, human-powered mode of active transportation – has transformed lives. If you’re willing to pedal, a bike provides self-reliant, practical, affordable, eco-friendly transportation as well as freedom and adventure, allowing you to go where you want, when you want. More people in the world own bicycles than cars. The number of people commuting to work on bikes has increased significantly in last decade – but they need safe, bicycle-appropriate accommodations including accessible paths, trails and parks, lighting and traffic patterns. We’ll ask Donna Matturro McAleer, Executive Director of the Bicycle Collective; Teri Newell, Deputy Director for Planning and Investment for the Utah Department of Transportation; Hugh Van Wagenen, Active Transportation Planner with the Wasatch Front Regional Council (Utah); and Maria Vyas, AICP, a Senior Associate with Fehr & Peers, for their take on The Future of Active Transportation and the Biking Boom.