Blue Wheel and the Bicycling Community

Over the course of the 25+ years in the bicycle business I have repeatedly been asked “why don’t they build more bike lanes?” While there are a number of answers to the question, the pertinent one is “they” don’t perceive that people want them. In a representative democracy groups must advocate for their needs before each level of government: local, state and federal. Advocacy for bicycle facilities faces major hurdles. Specific needs have to be identified, plans have to be created within the context of the appropriate governmental agency and funding has to be allocated. Each of these steps is fraught with the potential for conflicts. Reaching the goal requires vision, persistence and the capacity to bring necessary force to bear at the appropriate time and place.

The task is large but if enough people are willing to do something, it can be accomplished. I hope that this area of our web page will give you the tools to do something. I would like to be a source of information and a voice in the conversation about what needs to be done and how to accomplish it.

Roger Friend
President
Blue Wheel Bicycles