So You Got Hit by a Car — Here is The Part Nobody Talks About
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Senior citizen bikers
21% percent of Europeans are more than 65 and similar high figures present developed countries. It is a non-deniable fact that they represent an important part to such societies. Thus, it is necessary to analyze how we adapt to an ageing society. A lot of times proposals which foment “dependency” instead of “independence” implement actions to take. So, we need to change our viewpoint as it comes to sustainable mobility and particularly bicycles. Against the misconception of disabled people should buy a car to be independent, the reality shows that it promotes dependency on fuels, less physical activity compared with bikes and the need to adapt it to their disability.
Ageing or some disabling disease or accident can diminish our abilities and maintaining independence is fundamental for instance to go to the doctor or to movies. Indeed, Karel Dolekens (accessibility technician at the Breda council) affirms that there are no disabled people, the surroundings make disabled people. Building segregated bike lines, bike parking and promote their physical maintenance help making bicycles for everybody. Even in some cases people on crutches can use a cargobike, a tricycle or an e-bike. In The Netherlands, people over 65 use bicycles in the 30% of their daily movements.
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The tourists impact
As more and more tourists visit interesting cities and places, more impacts cause on them such as environmental impacts, water consumption increment which can cause dryness and water wells depletion, a boom in the price of houses as many touristic cities are suffering or fights against local inhabitants when drunks. Some reasons for such increment in tourism are social nets and the low cost flights. Indeed, there is the word touristification to describe the negatives consequences that cause an excessive number of tourists.
On the other hand, bicycles can be part of the solution. Take for example the EuroVelo 8 which goes through Turkey, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Spain and Cyprus, and 23 world heritage cities. As the ciclotourism becomes more popular, pollution is reduced similarly as traffic problems, and strenghen links with local communities. Reaching this target is basic for a sustainable tourism and planning should be made thoroughly. Public administration should plan bike-friendly paths in order to connect cities and interesting places in advance, whereas ciclotourists should think previously where they will want to pedal on and which resources they will need in their trips.
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Going a step further
Urban biking intends to make a better world for everybody. It promotes a way of living differently from the one in Western countries in the XX century: More bikes means less polluting vehicles on streets, less noise, better human physical health, better human psychological health, better environment, more surface for people, you name it.
Social movements like feminism and LGTBI+ share an equal ultimate point: Make a better world for everybody. Thus, it is not rare to cooperate between movements with similar, universal targets. If as Susan B. Anthony said (“I think [bicycling] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world”), and there are of course LGTBI+ bikers, we as urban cyclists should support and even encourage them. Summing up allies to growth is key to advance.