Twenty-five miles of urban bicycle trails built, funded and maintained with the aid of city engineers, designed for recreation, students and commuters. A dedicated bicycle toll road connecting Seattle to other Puget Sound communities. Bike cops enforcing cyclist speed limits, safety and dealing with the scourge of bike thefts. Bike shops — over 20 on Second Ave. alone — selling the latest models and newest gear. Multiple bike race tracks in the city.
That paragraph would fit seamlessly into a modern day vision for a bike-friendly Seattle, yet it reflects our desires from more 100 years ago according to this piece by Knute Berger at Crosscut. I am struck by the idea that our forebears were working for much of the same things we want today. I'm proud that a love of bikes has been part of my city's identity for so long. Yet I'm left with one thought: why aren't we there yet?
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