I appreciate a lot of the ideas of accommodating bikes, and think it's a laudable goal. But it's not practical everywhere.
As an example, I have lived in Houston in the past for some time. It is huge - I commuted roughly 20 miles each way. That's not "bikeable". And not everyone goes to the same place. Some work downtown, but not nearly as many as you'd think. The energy corridor is in an entirely separate area. Many people work in the Woodlands. Some people have jobs out in Katy. Some work in the industrial areas or near the ship channel.
And don't even get me started on the heat. Nobody wants to bike when it's 95 degrees out, even if you can shower once you reach your destination.
Many of the proposed solutions are centered around cities like New York: small metropolitan areas to which everyone commutes with at least reasonable weather and with reasonable distances. It's also very difficult to design good public transportation for such a city as I described, especially since many of the places I listed are technically different cities.
With that said, I would be interested in hearing ideas for how to solve a problem like this. I and friends of mine have debated how to solve such an issue before, and come away without an answer. If someone has an idea, let me know.
You're completely right, most cities just aren't built for cycling.
The solution is probably zoning. First, create smaller zones, resulting in more diversity. Second, allow some light commercial use inside residential areas. Ideally, stores like small supermarkets should always be within a 20-minute walking distance inside towns or cities. Third, create denser plots: discourage single-story buildings, leave less space empty on the plots, and create narrower roads.
The problem is the conversion, but it's doable over a longer period of time. If the proper laws are in place, this is probably doable over a year or 50-75.
Interesting point, as Houston currently has none. Arguably good for growth and business, though.
> smaller zones, resulting in more diversity.
Not sure I understand this part. Diversity of what? How?
> allow some light commercial use inside residential areas
This will be harder to deal with than it at first seems. Due to the earlier-mentioned lack of zoning, many neighborhoods have HOAs.
> discourage single-story buildings
How?
For what it's worth, I'm not sure I like the sort of cities that are considered "bikeable". Houston was nice in part because it was so open and wide. There was lots of green space everywhere you looked. Compared to cities like NYC, I'd argue Houston looked a lot better. Many more "sprawling" cities have much more pleasant, open atmospheres , rather than the dull, lifeless cement that pervades every inch of many other cities.
> narrower roads
Not sure this is a good idea. Many people in Houston own larger, comfier cars. A lot own trucks. Not all need to, but some do: many people have ranches, and Texas is so big that there's a lot of driving. This means a bigger car is sometimes necessary to fit enough stuff. It can also be nice when you have to sometimes do almost 250 mi day-trips.
On the heat issue, you need a shower after being outside and at all active for any significant length of time. Let's consider water usage: How much water would all those extra changes of clothes use? All those extra showers?
And now to the single largest issue: flooding. Remember hearing about Hurricane Harvey? Flooding is getting worse because of denser stuff. I know many people who have been flooded by storms that wouldn't have flooded them ten to fifteen years earlier.
Smaller zones? Denser plots? Less space empty? All of these will cause people to die the next time a storm hits. Many people are already discussing increased permeability requirements for this exact reason.
All of this comes down to the same root issue: many people simply wish to force all cities into a mold they believe works for theirs. There is a very "coast-centric" view in many places, new urban planning trends are premised on cities like SF, NYC, etc. Cities with decent weather, no flooding, a central commute destination, etc. It's worth rethinking how to do this for other cities that don't conform to the mold of coastal cities, because trying to force every town into that mold is impossible to do well.
Exactly. Many people don't realize that Houston is not just hot but humid. How much water would all those extra changes of clothes use? All those extra showers?
A long unpleasant bike ride for your daily commute: also yes
I think biking works if it's either a last mile type of thing via bike share programs combined with public transit, or if you are biking in a denser city. In NYC with lane splitting, sometimes you can be faster than cars.
As an example, I have lived in Houston in the past for some time. It is huge - I commuted roughly 20 miles each way. That's not "bikeable". And not everyone goes to the same place. Some work downtown, but not nearly as many as you'd think. The energy corridor is in an entirely separate area. Many people work in the Woodlands. Some people have jobs out in Katy. Some work in the industrial areas or near the ship channel.
And don't even get me started on the heat. Nobody wants to bike when it's 95 degrees out, even if you can shower once you reach your destination.
Many of the proposed solutions are centered around cities like New York: small metropolitan areas to which everyone commutes with at least reasonable weather and with reasonable distances. It's also very difficult to design good public transportation for such a city as I described, especially since many of the places I listed are technically different cities.
With that said, I would be interested in hearing ideas for how to solve a problem like this. I and friends of mine have debated how to solve such an issue before, and come away without an answer. If someone has an idea, let me know.