As fuel costs rise, expect more bicyclists

Since hindsight offers opportunities for more astute thinking than foresight, it’s easy to say now that bicycle lanes should have been incorporated into city street planning.

Most folks who ride bicycles for exercise find trails and less traveled roads to get in their miles. Those needing to ride bicycles for transportation through major city traffic arteries do so at their peril.

The kernel of the idea leading to this column began recently when I found myself in a turning lane next to a man riding an old-fashioned, fat-tire bicycle at the intersection of Glenstone and Sunshine. Engulfed as he was in traffic, he seemed so out of place and so vulnerable.

It occurred to me that he might be riding that old bicycle because of rising gas prices. Many folks might be forced to ride bicycles for cheap transportation, not the safest way to go. With no designated lanes, bicycles are no match for automobiles.

Gas prices have been erratic for most of this year. They continue to fluctuate, with more movement up than down.

Americans have been spoiled for years with low gas prices compared to most of the rest of the world. Spoiled thought we might be, the specter of $2-a-gallon gas became a reality, and prices continued to soar to a point where $2 sounds like a bargain.

We are told that the rapid economic growth of China and India has led to an ardent demand for cars and gasoline to power them. As usual, the law of supply and demand was being enforced. Then came a tragic blow to the supply side of the equation in the form of a direct hit by Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.

The most horrible natural disaster in the history of this nation struck with a force no one could have predicted.

As this is being written, no realistic estimates can be made as to the loss of lives; body counts exceed 700.

Among the untold economic losses brought by the hurricane is the shutdown of a large portion of America’s petroleum industry located in the Gulf of Mexico. Immediately following the hurricane, a frenzied reaction by the petroleum industry caused gas prices to leap to well over $3 a gallon. As my deadline approaches, gas prices have begun to retreat.

Granted, I’m no authority on the subject, but I believe gas prices won’t remain as high as they are as this is written; however, I believe they will eventually nestle closer to $2 a gallon than $3.

Cheap gasoline over the years has made it easy for us to become so dependent on the automobile that it will be very difficult to cut back.

Drivers will have reason enough to economize. Creation of new kinds of fuels and cars that will run on them are somewhere in the future. For now, sky-high gas prices might increase the number of bicycles as alternate means of transportation. The rider I encountered in heavy traffic might be a harbinger of things to come.

It goes without saying that riders should be very cautious out there. Drivers are not always on the lookout for two wheelers. Cars, trucks, pickups and SUVs are bigger, more powerful and hit harder than bicycles.

Riders, don’t assume cars will see you and give you the same consideration they give each other. When in traffic, think of Springfield as an African plain and yourself as an antelope; imagine the cars to be lions. Keep your eyes on them, don’t trust them and give them plenty of room.

Drivers, you need to realize that in this new high-dollar fuel era, there are apt to be smaller and slower vehicles sharing the roads with you.

They aren’t riding bicycles to annoy you; they are trying to get from Point A to Point B without spending a day’s pay on gasoline.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.

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