Leave it to Copenhagen to implement such a small luxury that can make a big difference in the lives of cyclists. Bicycle culture blog Copenhagenize shows us why minor infrastructure improvements are so important:
It’s a tiny detail. No bells and whistles, just a simple idea to make a tiny fraction of the day a little bit easier for a small percentage of the cycling citizens of the city.
Which is precisely why it’s brilliant.
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Actually, if you cycle about in Copenhagen take a look at the light posts next to where cyclists wait for lights to change, you’ll see a tiny anthropological detail. I called it Bicycle Culture Buddhas.
The metal is rubbed smooth on precisely one side of the post from all the cyclists’ hands that lean up against it. Just like the tummies of so many Buddhas.
Could such a railing and foot ledge increase the occurrence of cyclists stopping at red lights? I can think of several locations where such an innovation would be useful such as the intersection of Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive or any light that takes a while to change. Copenhagenize admits this isn’t a solution for every intersection, but believes similar ideas could be implemented on a smaller scale across the city.
Perhaps if we make it comfortable, easy, and even fun for people to get out on their bikes, everyone could be a little safer. What are your thoughts?
Read the full article over at Copenhagenize.
As a bicyclist downtown this would be a very nice addition. I grab hold of the light posts or at least saddle up to the curb downtown where I can. As Mark Twain said, this is probably 20 years from now in Louisville…
btw, the determination of the location of the bike depot/transportation hub is critical given the need to service the transit users. Putting my prejudice aside given my financial interest on Fourth St., looking at the amount of cyclist that use the great bike racks downtown you would be hard pressed to get a better location than somewhere on Fourth St.
This is such a cool idea. I generally stop 15-30 feet back from the traffic light and grab a hold of a telephone pole or sign. Telephone poles are tricky in terms of splinters, but either option allows me to remain seated & upright on the bike. The footrests are icing on the cake.