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St. Louis has a fantastic cycling atmosphere
To the editor:
As a recreational bicyclist, I have to agree with David Linzee’s assertion in his At Second Glance editorial (printed in your May 12-25, 2010, issue) that public hostility toward bicyclists is greatly exaggerated.
I moved to St. Louis from Los Angeles about a month ago. I love to bicycle. I’m not a competitive bicyclist, but if I have a choice between bicycling to the grocery store or driving my car, I would rather save the gas and bicycle.
In Los Angeles a simple bicycle trip about a half a mile away to the store would frighten me. Cars tended to honk their horns to get me out of their lanes or yell at me to get on the sidewalk because many people don’t know that bicycling on the sidewalk is illegal. Even walking in Los Angeles is hazardous. I’ve nearly been hit several times in a crosswalk by cars attempting to make right or left turns while I’m still in the crosswalk.
In the month that I have been bicycling in St. Louis, I have not encountered one bit of hostility. St. Louis drivers are the most patient drivers I’ve known. The other day, I was in the left lane waiting to make a left turn, and I held my breath and braced myself for what would definitely have been a barrage of car horns if I were in Los Angeles, but not so much as a single car tooted a horn. When I made my left turn, I breathed a sigh of relief. St. Louis drivers are definitely the most cooperative I have come across.
I have also encountered unbelievable public support. The “Bike St. Louis” signs posted all over the city are the best bicycling promotion signs I’ve seen. Also, at the recent St. Louis Earth Day Festival, I actually parked my bike at a bicycle valet parking spot.
Lastly, the numbers just do not support the position of public hostility toward bicyclists. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Missouri had only three bicycle-involved deaths in 2008. This is far lower than the national average.
Instead of trying to promote some sort of hostility that isn’t there, I would think that the media would be better served in promoting the fact that St. Louis is in reality a pretty bicycle-friendly city and attempt to run programs that continue to promote the already exceptional cooperation in place between bicyclists and drivers.
Katerina Canyon
Central West End
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