Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2017 - 29

we have to listen to each other and understand each other's goals. For climate
advocates, their goal is to limit and
eliminate GHG emissions from transportation. They see replacing conventional vehicles with electric ones as the
straightest line to that goal. While they
do see increasing bicycling and walking
as a personal choice, they don't see how
we can get enough people out of their
cars fast enough to make a difference.
I've been told "If you are not talking
about a 25 percent bicycling mode share
in the cities, then what's the point?"
When confronted with this argument,
I first must acknowledge the truths in it.
Replacing conventional car with electric
cars will definitely reduce emissions -
and we are seeing those changes occur
across the whole country. For bicycling,
there are only a few major cities in the

FALL 2017

U.S. that have bicycling mode shares
over three or four percent.
However, even as we move to electric cars, we won't be totally eliminating
GHG emissions. Even if we switch to an
all electric fleet, The Union of Conservation Scientists report "Cleaner cars from
cradle to grave" states that while electric
cars reduce GHG emissions, they still
create them in the manufacturing and
life of the car. The mid-stage of moving
to hybrids means many of those vehicles
are still using carbon-based fuels in the
meantime.
In addition, this scheme doesn't improve transportation options for everyone, specifically communities that don't
own cars, or choose not to drive. In addition, it doesn't improve connectivity and
safe access for low-income communities
to destinations such as jobs, schools and

health care.
That is where traditional transportation advocates come in. By working for
better bicycle, pedestrian and transit
networks we can help improve transportation options and reduce GHG emissions.
For me, learning to listen to the environmentalists and understanding their
goals has helped me know how to approach transportation advocates and
find places to work together. Neither
electric vehicles or bike infrastructure is
THE answer- the answer is not either/
or; it's both/and.
Last fall, we worked together to influence the US Department of Transportation as they were developing
performance measures for Congestion
Mitigation and the performance of major roads. The environmental organiza-

BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA 29

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2017