Marc HedlundFeb 10, 2023

Cyclists are portrayed in debates about bike lanes as younger, athletic people. Berkeley's Commission on Aging recommended against supporting the city's current bike lane project (#Hopkins), apparently thinking bike lanes were not for older people.

And yet, over the past eleven years, the median age of the six cyclists and pedestrians severely injured or killed on Hopkins is 69. Only one of those people was under 50. The oldest was 78.

The stereotypes are wrong.

#Berkeley #BikeTooter

Show threadI Am the Fly Eagles FlyFeb 10, 2023
@marcprecipice It’s a different story in DC: According to US DOT research, the demographic profile of the DC cyclist is 88% white, 6% black and 6% other. It is 67% male, affluent, highly educated and has a median age of 31. The DC Policy Center argues that bike lanes lead to increased gentrification, displacement and isolation of diverse communities: https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/the-demographics-of-walking-and-biking-to-work/
The demographics of walking and biking to work tell yet another story of gentrification - D.C. Policy Center

The demographics of walking and biking to work tell yet another story of gentrification - D.C. Policy Center

D.C. Policy Center
Show threadMarc HedlundFeb 10, 2023
@iapfel I'm interested to read these links; I've heard this point before but have seen mixed results in what I've read so far. Do these point to who is getting injured and killed? Those groups may differ from the overall set of riders.
Show threadI Am the Fly Eagles Fly
@marcprecipice Not sure! But I do wonder if age was a contributing factor to mortality stats.
Feb 10, 2023 at 5:11amWeb
Show threadMarc HedlundFeb 10, 2023
@iapfel I have to assume it was. My thought is that seniors (and others, including small kids) would be able to bike more safely in protected lanes, and so would be beneficiaries of those installations—not just younger athletic folks.
Show threaddragonfrogFeb 10, 2023

@marcprecipice @iapfel

It makes perfect sense - "If we built a bridge across the river, it would just benefit the fit young people in bathing suits we see swimming across the river today"