The Need for Speed
It’s the age of COVID-19 and we’re learning a lot about ourselves. Some of this learning has been hard with very real health consequences. Other learnings have been couched in mild to angry complaints. My friend came over to borrow my wheelbarrow the other day and we were privileged enough to complain that we could not hug.
But here’s something interesting. He was prompted to borrow my wheelbarrow because sheltering in place has forced him to slow down. That, in combination with economic uncertainty, led him to conclude that he and his family would, on their own, take up an ambitious project to dig up the side yard and re-landscape. I am certain this kind of hard work will result in a lifelong family memory. The hard labor of digging dirt will probably be a little painful with yelling, irritation, and sore muscles. But years from now, they will look back and reminisce about how the bond between them, a father and his sons, was strengthened.
All because we were forced to slow down.
While we shelter in place people are focusing on what really matters. Safety, family, health.
From the Bike Coalition’s perspective, this is a moment that should not be lost. In the face of very serious health consequences, this moment is reminding us all the value of a slower pace, one that allows us to enjoy life more fully and develop habits that are healthy for our mind, body, soul, economy, community and planet. Riding a bike is one of those habits.
Will this stick? More importantly, how do we ensure that the good things we’ve discovered during this time don’t disappear once we are allowed to hug again?
To do so, we need to reject our need for speed. Silicon Valley’s mantra to move fast and break things is not always appropriate.
This fact was reinforced recently by a poll commissioned by the Bike Coalition in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the Mineta Transportation Institute. The goal of the poll was to understand the barriers to bicycling. What that survey told us is that speed is the number one factor in determining why people choose certain transportation modes. People want to get where they are going fast. What does that mean for the widespread adoption of bicycling?
That means that we have to speed up bikes, slow down cars, and change the culture that pushes us to do more faster.
Unfortunately, with less traffic on the streets today, drivers are speeding up, even when there is no good reason to do so. That is why the Bike Coalition will be asking cities and counties to issue speed reduction advisories, particularly on residential streets where people are walking and biking to get exercise. It’s not safe or healthy. Drivers need to slow down. We all need to slow down on a more permanent basis.
At the Bike Coalition, our end goal is a better community, economy, and environment through the everyday use of the bicycle. Despite today’s problems, that goal remains as we know that the bicycle is one of the most resilient, healthy, affordable, and sustainable forms of getting around. Yet the need for speed slows our ability to get more folks to ride.
So we ask ourselves, if our goal is a community where we can all live, work, and play; where housing is affordable; where jobs are plentiful; and where everything is within a bikeable distance; then what technology solutions should Silicon Valley companies pursue? What policies should our local governments adopt? What cultural changes should we as people welcome?
It starts with a culture that slows down to focus on what matters. Today we’re seeing that we can slow down, and in fact, we like it.
Once we can hug again, what will you do to hold on to the good we’ve discovered out of this bad situation?
We encourage you to share this message with your friends with an invitation to go for a bike ride, at a distance of course. And, we’ve created this fun way to start, #joyRIDEsv.
Thank you for your support of Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, stay safe, and give 6 feet.
If you haven't joined or are inspired to donate more today, please do! Become an SVBC supporter here while sheltering in place. It's just a few clicks.
Shiloh Ballard, Executive Director
