Thoughts on Viva Bike Vegas ‘09
It was chilly at 6:30 in the morning when some 400 cyclists took off for century rides around the valley. I couldn't get a camera on one of the bikers, so I can only imagine what they saw and what it was like.
Instead, I hung out with Jake Spidle and his girlfriend Kassey of the Las Vegas Bicycle Cooperative. They are trying to start up their co-op repairing and reselling donated bikes. They're still looking for bikes and donations. So if you have a bike you don't use anymore, send it their way. The festival did open my eyes to the problems facing Vegas commuters. The biggest problem facing cyclists isn't the roads or lack of bike lanes, but aggressive drivers. Smart Car drivers and motorcyclists experience the same kind of discrimination. Anything seen as "different" than a car is treated with animosity. Almost deadly animosity. There is huge lack of education among drivers and even cyclists. Those who bike out of necessity ride unsafely: against traffic, no helmet, on the sidewalks, etc. Drivers coming in contact with bikers don't know how to act. Either they give too wide a berth or cut cyclists off. NDOT is focusing its efforts on educating school children and parents on biking, but little is being done to get the adults on board. Two major groups of cyclists are university students and casino workers. But not much is going towards these groups of people. Yes, it's important to educate children. But there are people out there now who need support for their efforts in being green. How could NDOT reach you or your friends who cycle?
