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THE FERGUSON CYCLIST
by Gerry Noll
FEBRUARY 2009
Woe is me! Like a lot of us I followed the debate
on President Obama's stimulus package with skepticism. (Don't
lose me now, this will be a column on cycling!) It didn't seem
like anyone really wanted to set and enforce the parameters that
the stimulus package needed to meet. At some point one of the
President's top economic advisers, Larry Summers, said that the
stimulus needed to be "timely, targeted, temporary". Those are
good solid parameters. But were they followed? No!
Personally I feel that the stimulus package is
double-jinxed. First because it is not at all clear that it is
going to succeed. And second because even if it does succeed it
will be ignoring the simplest and most effective way to meet many
of the President's agenda items.
At its barebones basics, the stimulus package
attempts to support the President's agenda. Some of the President's
agenda items most commonly mentioned are:
- Invest in public works that strengthen the
country's infrastructure
- Invest in alternative and renewable energy
- End our addiction to foreign oil
- Address the global climate crisis
- Promote public health
Each of these items can be found on the President's
agenda website: (http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/).
My problem is not with the agenda. It's a good
agenda. We should do those things. My problem is that there is
a relatively simple solution that fully supports and meets many
of the agenda items but is basically ignored. And that solution
is cycling.
Imagine if $50 billion of the stimulus ($1 billion
per state) were spent in making sure our road infrastructure provided
safe and convenient routes that would enable people to bicycle
to their most common destinations: work, the grocery store, church,
etc.. That spending would be an investment in public works that
would strengthen the country's infrastructure.
This spending would also automatically invest
in alternative and renewable energy. Hey, guess what? We are all
an alternative energy source! Each of us has within our bodies
an amazing amount of energy stored in the form of fat. Listen
to this statistic: the average lean 150 pound person has enough
fat stored in their body to bicycle from New York City to Salt
Lake City (Cycling
Past 50 by Joe Friel, pg. 183)! And this energy is renewable.
Every time we eat we are renewing our energy reserves. Some of
us renew more than others!
Every mile cycled to common destinations is one
less mile driven. This will help end our addiction to foreign
oil.
By burning calories instead of fossil fuels at
least a part of the global climate crisis is addressed.
And it doesn't take much imagination to see the
positive effect that all of this cycling would have on public
health.
Less dependence on oil, less pollution, less
congestion, better air quality, better health; what's not to like?
So there it is: invest in a way that enables
cycling as a safe and convenient method of transportation and
get a 5-for-1. That's why this is a simple and effective way to
accomplish many of the goals that the stimulus package is supposed
to meet.
I'd be interested to know if you agree: is building
cycling infrastructure a simple and effective way to accomplish
many of the President's goals. Let me know. My email address is
below.
* * *
Now for some rides you might be interested in
if you want to think ahead to nicer weather…
The rides below are organized by the Gateway
Council of Hostelling International-USA. The rides appeal to all
levels of cyclists, from recreational family groups who want a
leisurely ride to dedicated cyclists who want to ride a "century"
(100 miles). Just the names of the rides will give you a flavor
of what to expect:
- The Tour de Stooges
- 12th edition. T-shirts and movies of the 3 Stooges; ride,
then watch movies while eating lunch. Saturday, May 2
- Strawberry Fields Forever
- start at Eckert's Country Store in Belleville, IL during strawberry
season, ride, pick or buy some strawberries. Saturday, May 23
- Get Your Kicks on Route 66 - start in
Eureka, listen to 50s music, guess which road you'll ride on?
Saturday, June 27
- Tour de Flood Plane
- start at Mueller Soccer Complex, St. Charles. Saturday, July
25
- The Moonlight Ramble - advertised as "The World's
Original Nighttime Bicycle Ride", 10-15,000 riders start cycling
at midnight in downtown Saint Louis. Saturday/Sunday, August
29/30
- Johnny Appleseed Apple Pie Ride
- ride begins at Mills Apple Farm in Marine, IL. After riding,
pick apples. Saturday, September 26
As you can see, there are rides with interesting
themes throughout the year. The entire 2009 schedule is posted
at www.moonlightramble.com.
* * *
If you want to talk about cycling,
or comment on this column, you can reach me at: GRNoll@sbcglobal.net
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