Biking in Bryan & College Station - Please don't run over my friend with your truck.

Dear Readers,

A friend of mine almost died riding his bike to campus last week. I'm not sure whether to blame the kid in the big pick-up truck or the lack of bike lanes in Bryan & College Station.

Increasing the infrastructure for bikers in the Brazos Valley, like many "green" initiatives, just makes sense (financially). Unfortunately, we have to get past the them & us mindset.

Here are some facts from City's for Cycling:

• In one generation, the percentage of kids who walk or bike to school has dropped 50%, while childhood obesity has tripled.
• The average adult spends 36 hours per year in traffic
• Right now, bike trips make up 1% of traffic. Increasing that just .5% to 1.5% will save 462 million gallons of gas per year.
• It takes about $8000/year to own and drive a car.
• It takes about $300/year to own and ride a bike.
• Biking is something everyone can do.
• By expanding bike lanes instead of traffic lanes cities save money in new constructions and parking costs.
• "We can't afford this," is an uneducated excuse. Investment tends to me minimal and cost perceptive.
• There is a dated perception that bicycling is a kids activity. Bike commuting in the U.S. went up by 50% in the last decade.
• Biking give you a perspective you don't get in a car. It is a slow, detailed and enjoyable process.
• Smart mayors understand they have to embrace change and make cities livable to attract talent.

Please use common sense and support bike paths, lanes and greenbelts in the Brazos Valley so we can take come cars and trucks off the road. The bikers are here, we just have to be nice to them. Also, please respect bikers when you drive.

Blue skies,

Sam White