Letter: West Hartford Isn’t Trying to Become Amsterdam; We Don’t Have Canals
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To the Editor:
As Kevin Sullivan undoubtedly discovered during last week’s Town Council meeting, West Hartford’s bicycle community is a passionate group. It’s worth taking a moment to understand the reasons behind that passion, especially as they relate to biking in town.
For starters, West Hartford’s mostly flat terrain makes bicycles a practical option for shopping and other local trips. The cost of operating a bike is minuscule compared to that of a car – eliminating expenses like gas, insurance, and property taxes. In a society plagued by soaring obesity rates (now at 40.3% in the U.S.), cycling has been proven to promote fitness, health, and weight loss. Bikes also take up far less space than cars – you can fit 10 bikes in the same parking space as a single vehicle. Yet, more than 30% of all square footage in West Hartford Center is dedicated to parking lots, garages, and on-street parking. The space allocated to bicycles? Practically zero. Why is that?
During my engineering career, I was fortunate to work in Amsterdam on several occasions. The downtown hotel where I stayed provided loaner bikes, and a highlight of each visit was my daily bike commute to and from work. Pedaling got my “motor” running, it jump-started my day. Like thousands of other bike commuters, I arrived at work alert and energized. I also noticed that the vast majority of Dutch cyclists were fit and trim.
No one is trying to turn West Hartford into Amsterdam. The town has invested heavily in bike paths, traffic calming, road upgrades, and safety signage – investments that are starting to pay off. Much of that funding comes from state and federal grants, not local taxes. But if roads like North Main Street or Mountain Road are too narrow or congested, no amount of traffic engineering can fix that. And a small yet vocal percentage of drivers regard bicyclists as second-class citizens, treating them as a nuisance – or worse.
I’ve lived here for five decades. I still remember when I could ride through Bishops Corner, along Farmington Avenue, or down New Britain Avenue without worrying about being struck by a car or “doored” by a parked one. The town deserves credit for improvements to roads like Boulevard and Tunxis, but more needs to be done.
Given the safety concerns, you might wonder why cyclists continue to promote biking in town. Speaking for myself, here’s why: Every time I get on my bike, I feel lighter, freer, and more optimistic. Despite my 72 years, I feel like a kid again every time I ride. My bike keeps me strong, healthy, and a bit adventurous. I acknowledge my fellow cyclists with a wave or a nod – a small but meaningful gesture of community.
Is the bicycle the most human-centered machine ever invented? I think so.
The British writer H.G. Wells summed it up best: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” In these challenging times, we could all use a little more of that.
Sherman Schlar
West Hartford
West Hartford is more than friendly and accommodating to bicyclists. Truth is, you are dangers to yourselves and motorists. Roads are meant for cars not bikes.
Please cite the Connecticut statute that says roads are meant only for cars. I have been biking here for years. I stick to the bike lanes when the Trout Brook Trail doesn’t take me to where I need to be. On a few occasions cars have almost clipped me or cut me off – usually by driver inattention – often gross inattention, such as not stopping at a stop sign (and in 2 cases deliberately – once to try to hit me, once to squeeze me into oblivion). Power corrupts: too many drivers think their more powerful engines give them a free pass to ignore the law.
Roads were originally for people, not cars. Our road centric road design came in the 1950s. We don’t need a Main Street with 5 lanes of car traffic.
For those that drive and feel that our roads our dangerous for all users, proper road and town design will make it better for all.
Marc, please review the Connecticut General Statute below regarding rules of the road for bicycles.
(a) Every person riding a bicycle, as defined in section 14-286, an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter upon the traveled portion of a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle subject to the requirements of the general statutes relating to motor vehicles.
And please keep in mind that the person riding a bike is not some anonymous street person, they are someone’s son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, or cousin. And they could be one of your very own relations.
I’m a pedestrian and bicycles here are a menace.
I’m not anti bike, I’ve raced in criteriums, routinely pedaled 100 miles on Sunday mornings, and attended several Tour de France stages. I love bikes and am a cycling fan.
North Main and Fern Streets were I most often walk, both have bike lanes. But you’d never know it you were a walker. Apparently, the bike lanes are insufficient so they travel on the sidewalks. Often in groups. Without fail, I’m required to walk into the street to allow them to pass by. I’m talking all sorts of cyclists. Kids, families, young, old, serious bikers. So they’re a menace for using the sidewalks despite having a roadway set aside just for them. They’re a menace as they never stop for stop signs as required and expected. I have to dodge ’em. I need to dodge cyclists when crossing the street, even in a crosswalk as red lights don’t apply to them, just ride around.. They’re a menace of the Trout Brook Trail considering it their exclusive domain, pedestrians are in their way.
Cycling advocates, say they speak for all those who use our roadways. They speak of safety. But they never look in the mirror see that they are the problem that needs to be remedied, not the behaviors of others.
The roads are not the exclusive domain of motor vehicles, but all users are required to use them responsibly. Cyclist don’t.
And, although West Hartford doesn’t have canals, we do have freezing temperatures, snow, and ice.