**Why Bike Lanes are Bad: A Medical Perspective**
As a black person, it is important to keep our health in check. Regular exercise is necessary for maintaining our physical and mental wellbeing. Cycling is a popular form of exercise that has gained popularity in recent years. However, with the introduction of bike lanes, concerns have been raised about their safety and effectiveness. In this blog post, we will discuss why bike lanes are bad and how they can impact our health.
**Safety Concerns of Bike Lanes**
One of the primary reasons why bike lanes are bad is the safety concerns that have been raised regarding them. While bike lanes are introduced with the aim of making cycling safer for people, it has been observed that bike lanes can be more dangerous than cycling on the road without the bike lane. It is primarily due to the conflict between motor vehicles and cyclists.
Motorists complain that bike lanes take up space that they could use; whereas, cyclists feel exposed and vulnerable to fast-moving cars that pass them on the left. This increases the risk of accidents as drivers have to swerve to avoid hitting cyclists. Moreover, bike lanes are often narrow and situated between parked cars and the curb, which can increase the risk of “dooring,” an incident where drivers open their car doors into the bike lane without looking and collide with the cyclist.
According to a study published in the Journal of Transport and Health, bike lanes can increase accidents by 34%. The study concluded that bike lanes do not always provide comprehensive protection for cyclists, and in many cases, they create an additional hazard.
**Health Concerns of Bike Lanes**
While cycling is an excellent form of exercise, bike lanes can also have an impact on our health. One of the primary concerns is air pollution. Bike lanes can be situated close to high-traffic roads, where pollution levels are the highest. Studies have shown that exposure to air pollution can have adverse effects on our health, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, bike lanes can also result in a decline in physical activity. It is mostly because the infrastructure is not suitable for all types of cycling. Some people prefer to cycle on the road, which is not always an option with bike lanes. Additionally, bike lanes are often disconnected, which makes cycling to your destination more complicated. This increases the reliance on cars, leading to a sedentary lifestyle.
**Alternatives to Bike Lanes**
While bike lanes have their drawbacks, it is essential to encourage cycling as an exercise. Some alternatives can provide comprehensive protection for cyclists and promote cycling to its full potential. One of the alternatives to bike lanes is cycle streets. Cycle streets prioritize cyclists over motorists by changing the road’s design to make the intersection more accessible to bike riders. Cycle streets also offer shared space with vehicles, which promotes respect for all road users.
Another alternative to bike lanes is dedicated bicycle routes, which provide a designated cycling space that is separated from motorized traffic. A study has found that of all the cycling infrastructures, bicycle routes are the safest and most effective.
Moreover, it is essential to include cycling within our daily routine, and we can also do so with other means of transport. For instance, electric bikes can provide an excellent alternative for people who struggle to cycle long distances or face inclined hills. Electric bikes can help lower the barriers to cycling and increase physical activity levels.
**Conclusion**
While bike lanes have been introduced with good intentions, it is necessary to consider the safety and health concerns raised about them. Bike lanes can increase the risk of accidents and expose cyclists to air pollution, leading to adverse effects on their health. Alternatives to bike lanes, such as cycle streets and dedicated bicycle routes, can provide comprehensive protection for cyclists and encourage cycling. By using cycling as an exercise, we can lead a healthy and active lifestyle that benefits our physical and mental wellbeing.
