During any crisis, actual and self-styled pundits weigh in about how said crisis will change some aspect of our culture, society or economy.
In that sense, the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Wherever I tune, click or listen, someone is talking about how shutdowns and lockdowns will forever change the ways we live, work, eat, shop--and, yes, even make love.
Of course, it will be a while before we know which prognosticators are correct. I hope that at least one of their forecasts comes true. Specifically, it's one that appears in Tree Hugger.
That title--and the fact that I'm talking about it--is a giveaway that it has something to do with bicycles. The opening line of Lloyd Alter's article sums it up: They are not toys, they are transportation, and they can be a big help in this crisis.
Alter, however, is not merely making a prediction or expressing a hope. Rather, he describes the way the definition of an "essential business" has evolved during the crisis. He mentions that when Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a shutdown of "non-essential" businesses in New York State, he included bicycle shops--but not auto-related enterprises--in that category. London Breed made a similar pronouncement when she ordred a lockdown in San Francisco, where she is the Mayor. After pressure from folks like me, she and Cuomo revised their definition of "essential" businesses to include bike shops. Not only is cycling one of the few outdoor activities in which one can engage in a dense urban area while keeping a safe "social distance", some essential workers, like food deliverers, use them to perform their jobs while others, like hospital employees, are using them to get to their jobs as trains and buses become more crowded due to service cutbacks.
As Alter points out, this crisis might finally show that bicycles aren't just a viable alternative to other forms of transportation; they should be considered integral parts of transportation planning. Even after the virus is "defeated," many people will be reluctant to return to commuting in trains, buses or other shared vehicles.
That said, as I mentioned the other day, some shops (including one of my favorites) have chosen to remain closed, or to see customers only by appointment. I understand their decision, just as I am happy that some shops have remained open.
In that sense, the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Wherever I tune, click or listen, someone is talking about how shutdowns and lockdowns will forever change the ways we live, work, eat, shop--and, yes, even make love.
Of course, it will be a while before we know which prognosticators are correct. I hope that at least one of their forecasts comes true. Specifically, it's one that appears in Tree Hugger.
That title--and the fact that I'm talking about it--is a giveaway that it has something to do with bicycles. The opening line of Lloyd Alter's article sums it up: They are not toys, they are transportation, and they can be a big help in this crisis.
Alter, however, is not merely making a prediction or expressing a hope. Rather, he describes the way the definition of an "essential business" has evolved during the crisis. He mentions that when Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a shutdown of "non-essential" businesses in New York State, he included bicycle shops--but not auto-related enterprises--in that category. London Breed made a similar pronouncement when she ordred a lockdown in San Francisco, where she is the Mayor. After pressure from folks like me, she and Cuomo revised their definition of "essential" businesses to include bike shops. Not only is cycling one of the few outdoor activities in which one can engage in a dense urban area while keeping a safe "social distance", some essential workers, like food deliverers, use them to perform their jobs while others, like hospital employees, are using them to get to their jobs as trains and buses become more crowded due to service cutbacks.
As Alter points out, this crisis might finally show that bicycles aren't just a viable alternative to other forms of transportation; they should be considered integral parts of transportation planning. Even after the virus is "defeated," many people will be reluctant to return to commuting in trains, buses or other shared vehicles.
That said, as I mentioned the other day, some shops (including one of my favorites) have chosen to remain closed, or to see customers only by appointment. I understand their decision, just as I am happy that some shops have remained open.
Takes a pandemic for society to see the obvious!
ReplyDeleteWith no proven treatment, no vaccine, and woefully inadequate testing for covid-19, I will be avoiding mass transit until the risk landscape changes dramatically. In addition to currently having immense health advantages over mass transit, cycling offers a benefit of enhanced immune system health afforded by better fitness. Win-win!
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