Bike City USA
At this moment there are other cities that are battling it out to become the US Bike Capital... while others are going one step further by trying to claim that their city is the Bike Capital of the World. Because certain cities set their expectations so high the entire city learns to embrace the benefits of biking.
Some people may say that Buffalo doesn't stand a chance in hell of claiming rights to any such victory. Our city would have to have a cooperative bike lending program, and organizations fighting for safer streets, bike-friendly schools, and bike-friendly businesses. There would have to be progressive bike services, and people willing to spend time enacting them.
Once these (and many, many more) types of progressive people and programs make some traction, you can expect others outside of the city to take note. Even if it's a family making long bike trek and visiting a nearby bike museum along the way (a bike museum that needs to find a home downtown). When cyclists delivering a message come to Buffalo they should feel welcome... and when they leave they should spread the word that Buffalo is a bike-friendly city.
Did you even think about taking your bike to work this morning? If you did, does your office building have bike racks available? I've seen more and more BRO commentors discussing their rides to work in the morning and that's great.
For those of you who may say that Buffalo will never become totally bike-friendly because of the winters, then maybe we should be looking at the city in a different way. Have you heard that there is a small movement to re-open one of the city's old velodromes (an indoor arena for track cycling)? Plus there is still an ongoing effort to relocate the world's largest collection of American made bikes to a new home in the city. Recent news also includes Common Council passing the Complete Streets initiative - it will be interesting to see soon we will start to see that kick in. Let's hope that Complete Streets recognizes the growing number of winter cyclists.
The Niagara Greenway and all of the latest bike paths (and bridge) leading from Delaware Park to the waterfront have made it easy and fun to bike along our waterways. With the health and wallet benefits along with environmental impact, biking in Buffalo should be more that a pastime... it should be an ongoing movement. Get a bike and get out there. And look out for the bike races and the bike clubs that are popping up all over town. Oh, and try to support the small bike businesses in the city – they might not be the cheapest, but they are the best and the services that they offer will far outweigh the few bucks that you might save at Walmart (for a crappy bike).
What Others Have To Say
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Comment Options
sbrof
The density, flatness and weather in Buffalo actually make it much more comfortable and bikable than many other cities in the country. biking in 35-50 degrees is much more comfortable than biking in 70 - 90. We don't have the hills like san fran or the sprawl of almost anywhere. Biking for Buffalo could easily become a way of life for residents if we built the infrastructure and acceptance for their use like other cities have. There are much colder and hillier places on the planet that bike much more than we do. We don't have an excuse except urban design and general laziness for not biking more than we do.
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Joshua
Well I just picked up a bike to ride around the city with. It just needs some tweaking - front and rear reflectors, water bottle holder, helmet, WD40, and a bike chain/lock. If you see an old yellow Schwinn around Buffalo, that's me.
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berniceheartsyou
Bike riding to work should be something EVERYONE does. I recently sold my car and now I bike 10 miles back and forth to work everyday and i love it. Today there were 3 people ahead of me and another 2 behind me, it was like a bicycle parade. None of us knew each other but you could see how proud we were to be biking to work! Stop being lazy and bike!!!! Its not hard. I met a gentleman this weekend who bikes from the suburbs! how awesome is that?!?!?
We could definetly be a top biking city if we just try a little harder. We need to have more mass bike riding events that are not sunday nights ( people have to work in the morning!) I know there is critical mass which is the last friday of every month but we dont have many months of awesome weather to do this. We should have a weekly mass bike ride around the city. Why not do a "bike the ride" day where everyone bikes their normal drive/commute?!?!? I was in chicago and they were doing this, i dont think i have ever seen that many bike riders. They had to block off the streets!
BIKE THE RIDE!!!!
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flyguy
Just for the heck of it...after looking at that picture I wonder if there is anyway at all that those skyway uprights could be used to create an attraction (that is of course if the skyway doesnt end up coming down and that would certainly be fine with me). If they absolutely wont be coming down then how about doing something with them, especially the one pictured. Perhaps it would be gawdy or ugly but what about an illuminated waterfall wall between the two columns, something that would illuminate the area uinder the bridge and add interest? Kinda touristy? This wall, under glass or plastic could be etched with locally significant historic events and places...I dont know just thinking.
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flyguy
Damn, wish there were editing capabilities for comments. I stated it wrong above....I meant to say I would love to see the skyway come down but...if it doesnt....
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orlanmon
WNY and Buffalo has a huge number of vacated rail lines some of which are being converted to trail systems via Rails to Trails programs. Here is a great opportunity to reuse old infrastructure for bicycling commuters without the worry of riding in traffic for majority of a ride. On Genese Street near the Buffalo Airport I recently noticed another rail to trail conversion underway. With the high price of gas who knows, eventually these pathways could someday facilitate commuter bike/cycling traffic as opposed to strictly being used for recreation purposes.
http://www.railstotrails.org
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Hoss
Let's start with more bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, and follow through on the "Complete Streets" initiative.
More racks would be nice too. With the price of gas going up, I've noticed that the rack at Wegman's is almost always full these days.
I'd like to see the city do a better job plowing the road shoulders and existing bike paths when the snow starts flying. No reason we can't bike year round.
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PaulBuffalo
I've asked this question a few times on various threads with no answer: does anyone have access to the legislative wording of the Complete Streets initiative? Thus far, it merely seems like a phrase that is being tossed about without understanding the exact measures the city will be required to execute. If there are no specifics, the city will have the loophole to do nothing.
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Hoss
I'd ask Justin Booth. As the primary proponent of the "Complete Streets" initiative, as well as the Chair of the "City of Buffalo Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board", he can probably answer best. His phone # and email are here.
http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/CityServices/BicyclePedestrianAdvisoryBoard
Then let us all know the deal.
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TownLine
My favorite city for bicycling is Chicago. They have so many accomodations for bikes, everywhere you go. Most major streets have lanes, the waterfront has a great path, busses, racks, etc... For such a dense and traffic congested city, its really easy to ride your bike there! They would be a great model for Buffalo to follow as it develops its own bike networks and accomodations.
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neal1919
The Niagara River bike path is some of the best riding in any city - but Erie County has a responsibility to maintain it. Broken glass, ruts and foliage over growth makes it a real challenge is most areas. Car drivers would never sit still if the roads were anything like the path. And would someone remind the Army Corps of Engineers that the bridge over the I-190 should be open when the sign says it will be open. We have the foundation - we just need to get the people who are in charge to do their job and clean the path.
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buffalo2wheeler
the following characteristics should determine which city is America's bike capital :
1 - ice cream cycles per capita 2 - aggregate number of miles of bicycle-riding per year X region's average annual snowfall 3 - annual funds raised per capita by bicyclists for medical research (e.g. Ride for Roswell) 4 - complete streets policy adopted by municipal government 5 - home to one of America's original bicycle-lending programs 6 - home of several of America's earliest bicycle manufacturers 7 - number of international border crossings within a morning's riding distance 8 - number of the Seven Wonders of Nature within a morning's riding distance
what else is there?
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blackrocklifer
The Buffalo section of the Riverwalk has never been given the care it needs. Erie County gives much more attention to the Tonawanda section and now with" Chris I love the Suburbs Collins" in charge it is unlikely to change.
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icecreamdude
Don't be so modest Thomas, add yourself to that list. 9. pedicab!
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MEC
I'm just wondering what Berniceheartsyou is going to be doing when there are 2 feet of snow on the ground. I bike to work now, but I'm not selling my car-sorry.
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berniceheartsyou
MEC==== What will i be doing once the winter comes?!?!? hmmmm... there is the subway, walking, the bus AND you can ride your bike. dont get me wring, i play music and when i have a show, i drive with my band mate. i am not all against cars but they make people lazy... its truly all about doing your part for the world and for yourself. we are super fortunate in buffalo to be so close to everything within a 5 mile radius. bring on the winter snow!!!!!
How many people ride in the winter?!?!? i know of many who do.
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