tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710412033151937285.post-50050148966822980682008-07-16T09:12:00.007-05:002008-07-16T10:42:36.629-05:002008-07-16T10:42:36.629-05:00It might have been when gas prices blew past $4 a gallon and <span style="font-style: italic;">just kept climbing</span>, or maybe it was a bit earlier, and I just didn't notice.<br /><br />But suddenly, and I do mean <span style="font-weight: bold;">suddenly</span>, people are riding bikes places. Maybe <a target="new" href="http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/is-america-turning-into-europe-right-before-our-eyes/">we are becoming like Europe</a>, or maybe people are just ticked off enough that they realize, they <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>leave the car in the driveway, and get places without it.*<br /><br />Not too many years ago, say 2004 or 2005, I'd maybe see one other person riding their bike, either to/from the store, or to/from "work," every six months or so. Maybe. "Bike to Work Week" 2005, I think it was, I didn't see <span style="font-style: italic;">anyone</span>. (And this is on a bike commuter route that's <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span><a target="new" href="http://kcbike.info/2008/07/10/turkey-creek-trail-extension/">popular</a>.)<br /><br />But today, and yesterday, and the day before it, I'm seeing probably five people <span style="font-style: italic;">each day</span>, either appearing to be riding to/from work, or clearly riding to/from the store. Some bikes have baskets even! If I look outside the window at work, in downtown Kansas City, and watch just one nearby intersection, I'm seeing a handful each hour. People riding bikes with baskets, people riding bikes with bags. People <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>driving their cars.<br /><br />This is Kansas City, USA, July 08, and <a target="new" href="http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/34767">things are sure starting to look <span style="font-style: italic;">different</span></a>.<br /><br />*I think there's a difference here. Europe is Europe, with different distances/scales/expectations and histories than the US. We know most of it wasn't built in the 'sprawl' pattern many US communities followed after WWII, and getting around without a car is FAR easier there than here. All the more impressive that in Kansas City, anyway, today, people have begun to do what they CAN in light of skyrocketing gas prices, and it didn't take the government or "big business" to provoke them.<br /><br />We've rediscovered our bootstraps.<br /><br />People are riding bikes; I'm floored.Todd Simchuknoreply@blogger.com