To the editor,                                                       Oct 9, 2001

"Clean air in valley requires group effort" (HJ, Oct. 6) reminds us of the recent official news that
our fresh, mountain air is being spoiled by the pollution of our daily activities.

"Good commuter bike paths, or at least bike lanes" are recommended to help our air pollution
problems.  This recommendation is explained by the non sequitur: "biking to work is only healthy if
you can avoid being hit."

Being hit while biking is clearly not healthy, but it is also true that bike lanes and bike paths do not
contribute to "not being hit" while bicycle commuting.

If a bike path (off road, separate right-of-way) provides a shortcut, it may make bike commuting
more feasible for some.  But there aren't many placed around Logan where a shortcut is an
affordable possibility.  There are NO places where a bike path provides affordable safety.

Bike lanes (on road, paint-delimited pavement) are what we already have, except for the paint. 
They are called "Wide Curb Lanes" (WCLs).  Brigham Young's original urban planning standards
insure that we have lots of those in and around Logan.  

Does the paint gain safety for cyclists?  No, it has no auto-repellant properties.   Any motorist who is
paying enough attention to see the paint, will also notice the cyclist.

So, bike lanes do no real good, but what do they hurt?   If they entice someone into bike commuting
aren't they worth it?  Maybe not.  If a person will ride in a bike lane, but won't ride without a bike
lane, they are focused on the wrong safety issues.  They'll get hurt by the greater safety concerns that
they do not recognize: intersection conflicts.

In thirty years of bike commuting in Logan, I have never been hit by an overtaking vehicle.  I have
never longed for the magical, mythical protection of a stripe of paint or a separate path.

I welcome anyone to join me as a bicycle commuter if that's the way that they want to contribute to
preserving and improving the quality of the fresh, mountain air that we all want to continue to enjoy.
They don't need to wait for a bike path or bike lane before they do it.

Others may tune up their car, join a car pool, ride the LTD or CVTD, move closer to work, combine
errands in single trips, adjust their schedule to avoid rush hour or just press more gently on the gas
and wave when they pass me in a wide curb lane.  (I'll wave as I pass them again when they are
looking for a parking space or filling up at a gas station.)

Bob Bayn
North Logan