You may remember a column published on Monday titled, “Bicycles are the worst mode of transportation.” The premise, from what I understand, is that bicycles, while admittedly environmentally friendly and cost-effective, are a hazard in the streets and should therefore be relegated to sidewalks or banned completely as an official mode of transportation. 

The author cites two isolated incidences to prove the bulk of his arguments. In both cases, the cyclist was riding in the street, and both accidents involved a car and a cyclist with an unfortunate, although harmless in the long run, ending. While it is true that there is a safety hazard to riding a bicycle in the streets, the hazard isn’t due to the cyclists themselves, but rather to the fact that there are not enough bicycle lanes, and very little proper courtesy shown to cyclists by impatient drivers. 

According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, there were 743 deaths and 48,000 injuries caused by motor vehicle/bicycle accidents in 2013. These numbers are startlingly high, and yet the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has made sure to state that the data does not factor in the number of miles those cyclists biked every year, nor how long it took them to cover those miles; that is, there is no way to know how often those cyclists were exposed to the motor traffic that could potentially have caused the accidents. 

The only solution offered by the author was to move those cyclists insisting on using the bicycle as their primary source of transportation out of the streets and onto the sidewalks. Chapter 20 of the North Carolina General Statute defines bicycles as vehicles, thus prohibiting cyclists from riding on sidewalks, but allowing them to ride on the road. Furthermore, it is law that cyclists use reflective gear on their vehicles and apparel to increase safety and visibility. 

Road-sharing argument aside, the only other argument the author brings up is the practicality (or lack thereof) in riding bicycles as a primary mode of transportation. According to the author, bicycles are unable to transport any cargo, are impractical over long distances and are borderline impossible to use year round, what with dangerous weather conditions such as rain or snow. 

It’s common knowledge that bicycle add-ons such as detachable carts or trailers are available, and some particularly economical cyclists even attach milk crates to their vehicles. It is not out of the ordinary to see cyclists going to school or work with backpacks, either. 

Cyclists can purchase ponchos or other waterproof gear in case of rain, and thermally insulated pants and jackets to protect from the cold, which is rarely felt anyway, due to the warming effects of physical exertion. On the off chance that there is inclement weather such as snow or ice, it is more than likely that the roads and most schools and workplaces will be shut down, preventing the necessity for anyone to venture out in any kind of vehicle. 

Mentioning distance in an argument against bicycles is a moot point. Bicycles as a main form of transportation are primarily used in urban areas, where streets and buildings are compact and easy to navigate. The growing prevalence of bike lanes in many major cities such as Raleigh provides safety for cyclists, allowing them to exist in harmony with other vehicles on the road. 

I could go on about the positive environmental impact of bicycles, as well as their economic efficiency and relatively minimal use of physical space or time; it seems, however, that the author’s one redeeming sentence is an acknowledgement of the positive qualities of bicycles and their use as day to day transportation. 

I will say that aside from that one leading sentence, the rest of the column was poorly organized with arguments that had no foundation, nor any evidence to back them up. Bicycles are the most efficient mode of transportation on this planet; the safety problem does not lie in the presence of bicycles on the road, but rather in the inability of the average egotistical driver to share the road with our two-wheeled pedaling friends.