Dallas Bike Coordinator, PM Summer, claims that there’s a mass conspiracy going on in regards to On-Street Bike Lane studies throughout the world. Each year, the figures come in showing monumental growth in ridership levels, and staggering decreases in accident rates, yet somehow, this data is “dubious”. Hundreds of cities are now adopting on-street bike lanes, due to their success in bringing mass appeal to bicycle riding as a true replacement for the automobile. Portland’s Bike Coordinator, Roger Geller, stated to BFOC that, though you may be just as safe in a vehicle lane, people do not feel safe, which is what keeps people from riding. The bicycle lane programs in Portland, and Boulder, have brought people out on the streets in droves because they no longer have to sit at a stoplight with an SUV sitting at their backs. According to PM Summer, this “safety” is a placebo, and actually causes a rash of deaths nationwide…yet strangely, the numbers show absolutely no increase in accident rates in porpotion to ridership…in fact, it’s the exact opposite.

After much study, BFOC contends that this is not about safety; it’s about the promotion of an outdated phiolosophy in regards to bicycle infrastructure, known as “Vehicular Cycling”. PM Summer is one of the leading voices in this movement, whose argument is to fight being restricted to having to use a “controlled bicycle device” such as a bike lane. They want no restrictions confining them to a lane. When cities like Portland, Boulder, and Louisville, continue to see their streets get smaller, and ridership increases of up to 28% annually, the detractors like PM have had to result to claiming the numbers are smoke and mirrors.

In a recent missive to BFOC, Dallas’ Bike Coordinator stated the national figures pouring in were “collected in unscientific ways, based upon volunteerism and boosterism.” Roger Geller, Bike Coordinator for Portland, was able to respond to these claims noting Portland uses testing based on ITE (Institute of Transporation Engineers) standards, and doesn’t just poll using one survey, but through three separate testing methods. For a list of those tests, view Roger’s full response here.

Unfortunately, when someone makes a blanket argument like the “testing is bad”, then they have no onus to actually back up their own claims. BFOC does not believe there is a worldwide conspiracy in relation to on-street bike lanes, and that the proof is in going to these cities and riding on their streets firsthand. We have, and we’re no longer buying into the conspiracy.

If you are interested in getting involved, or wish to promote change, please contact us for more information. A simple first step is to communicate with your city councilperson, and let them know that Dallas deserves better, and that the voices of dissension are attempting to mislead with known false information.