Two cyclists die in accidents in less than a two week period in Memphis

Two cyclists die in accidents in less than a two week period in Memphis
By:  Michael Lander

The most recent cycling-related fatality in Memphis was at Sam Cooper and Tillman,
which is about 1.2 miles east of the Overton Park bicycle arch.  Because of the dangers
that intersections like this present to cyclists, the Memphis Metropolitan Planning
Organization recommended bike lanes at this intersection, among others.  The work
on this particular bike lane is expected to be completed within about six months.

In less than two weeks, two cyclists have been killed on our city streets.

The deaths have left friends and families with not only a terrible sense of loss, but with questions of how and why it happened.

The most recent fatality occurred on Monday evening, March 9, at around 8 p.m.  Zachary Walls, 40, of Memphis was identified as the latest victim.

This recent deadly incident occurred in the Binghamton neighborhood at the intersection of Sam Cooper and Tillman.  This cyclist was hit by a pick-up truck and he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The driver of that pick-up, who hit Walls, 50-year-old Solomon Johnson of Memphis, remained at the scene of this accident as Memphis Police investigated and gathered details. Johnson was subsequently arrested and charged with driving on a suspended, revoked, or cancelled license and a violation of the financial and state registration law.

Only a week and six days before, Eric Dyrell Taylor, 34, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver around 10:35 p.m., as he was riding on the 3300 block of New Getwell Road near Winchester.  He was riding from his residence in Whitehaven and was on his way to work at Swift Truck Company when he was killed. 

Because the driver fled the scene, Memphis Police Department's traffic investigators are asking that anyone who may have seen anything, or who might have some information regarding the accident that resulted in the death of Taylor, should call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

These two cycling-related deaths are the fourth and fifth that the Memphis area has seen since 2010.  The one prior to these recent deaths occurred last July at U.S. Hwy 61 and Star Landing Rd in Desoto County in Mississippi.

While the circumstances and details surrounding these cycling fatalities may have been different, they did share at least one thing in common with one another.  Both of these cyclists were riding at night when poor visibility may have been a contributing factor, especially for the latest victim who was also riding while it was raining.

These two deadly accidents are a sad and tragic reminder of some of the dangers that cyclists can face any time that they ride and it furthers emphasizes the need for cyclists to remain vigilant, especially when riding in less than ideal conditions.

Even though accidents cannot always be avoided, cyclists can take some precautions to help minimize some of the risks that are involved, most notably, having bikes that are equipped with lights on the front and back, with reflectors, and by wearing bright and reflective clothing. 

Here is a link with some safety tips that cyclists might find especially helpful:  http://memphiscyclist.com/html/safetytips.html.

As the friends and families of these two Memphis area cyclists mourn the loss of their loved ones, the Memphis community should do what it can to help prevent this from happening to any other cyclists who ride and commute on our city streets.

Many Europeans make cycling a part of their lives while providing an example for the rest of the world to follow

Many Europeans make cycling a part of their lives while providing an example for the rest of the world to follow
By:  Michael Lander

Data from surveys indicate that more Europeans ride a bike, like these in
Freiburg, Germany, than Americans ride and they do so more frequently.

Europe has had a very long history with the bicycle.  It was first introduced to the world almost 200 years ago (around 1817), in 19^th Century Europe, and, soon, it will be celebrating its bicentennial birthday.

The first archetype of the bicycle, (that provided a means of human-powered transport on two wheels, with one in front of the other), was the German draisine  and the word “bicycle,” itself was conceived by the French in the 1860’s.

Today, the bicycle is a common sight along the urban and rural landscape throughout Europe. 

For many Europeans, the bicycle is simply a part of their everyday life.  They can be seen on city or village streets or on country roads and they are very much an accepted presence in a part of the world where they got their start.

As popular as it may be in many places around the world, Europeans have seemed to embrace cycling and Europe has become a cycling culture like no other.

Cyclists can be found in many scenic cities throughout Europe and the
British Isles like this one in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 
From commuting to just riding for fun, the bicycle has earned a spot of affection in the psyche of Europeans and, for more than century now, they have been a dominant force in competitive cycling.  Collectively, they have won more Tour de Frances than anyone else. 

Many countries throughout Europe also currently lead the world in being some of the most bike-friendly places to ride a bike.  Here is a current list of the 20 most bike-friendly cities in the world and it really should come as no surprise that most of these are located in Europe.

For now, the United States is not quite where Europe is when it comes to cycling, but there are some signs that things are clearly heading in the right direction.  Over the last couple of decades, many U.S. cities like Memphis have begun to promote cycling and have strived to make it a much safer activity and a more viable means of commuting. 

When it comes to cycling, the U.S. Department of Transportation has even begun to see the light as evidenced by their description of bicycles and pedestrians as “equals” to trains, planes and automobiles.  In recent years, they have begun to encourage further development of a cycling infrastructure at the state and federal level.

Amsterdam, Holland is one of many cities across Europe that is known for
having a long history and tradition of cycling and for being cyclist-friendly.

Even with all of the progress that has been made across the U.S., America still has a way to go to be where Europe is today.  The first step to getting there, though, will begin with not only more Americans riding bicycles, but being more receptive to others who do.

According to conservative estimates in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, as of 2008, Europeans rode about 5 times more than Americans did each year.  Europeans, on average, rode about 116 miles (or 188.68 km) per year while those in the United States only rode about 25 miles (or 40.234 km) each year.

Americans, it would seem, not only ride less than those in Europe, but they also ride less than those who have recently immigrated to the U.S.  In an article by Michael Smart, entitled US immigrants and biking: Two-wheeled in Autopia, Smart compares Americans with those who immigrate to the U.S. and he found that new immigrants to the U.S. are much more likely to travel by bicycle than native-born Americans.

In an article entitled, “On Biking, Why Can’t the U.S. Learn Lessons from Europe?” Elizabeth Rosenthal addresses America’s need to emulate Europeans and not to focus as much on bike trails and other such amenities, but instead, she said that we should be look at cycling as a serious form of mass urban transportation.

Europeans are accustomed to seeing cyclists on the roads, even in large
metropolitan cities like London in the United Kingdom.

More than anything, Rosenthal sees America as needing to adopt a new attitude regarding cycling.  She believes Americans still view bicycling as a form of exercise or recreation, but in Europe, cycling is more than just that.

In many parts of Europe, she says, people now view cycling as a way to commute and that, she contends, is the main lesson that Americans can learn from Europeans.

For nearly a century, Americans have had a deep and abiding love affair with the automobile.  Over time, as automobiles grew in immense popularity, cycling seems to have simultaneously experienced a precipitous decline, and cyclists subsequently became more of an obstacle or an annoyance for motorists.

The automobile further established its dominance in a post WWII America when the economy exploded and the country prospered and many Americans moved to many newly created suburbs.  None of this could have happened without the automobile and it quickly became the primary means of transportation for most Americans.

Since distances between home and work, in many cases, increased significantly, it made traveling and commuting by bicycle extremely impractical, if not impossible, for most people.

In contrast to the diminished role that bicycles have held in a car-centric America, they have remained steadily popular in Europe and they have continued to serve a utilitarian purpose across much of the continent.

Commuting by bicycle, such as this cyclist at Fairford RAF in the
United Kingdom, is a much more common phenomenon in
European countries.

Today, Europe stands as a role model as to what America can and should do, when it comes to cycling.

America not only needs to invest the money and resources to develop an adequate cycling infrastructure across the country, like what can be found in various locations throughout Europe, but it also needs to have a shift in how Americans view cycling and those who do ride.

Much of what is needed will not happen overnight, but it can happen through a concerted effort of local municipalities, states, and the federal government working together.  

More importantly, it can all come about if Americans can see the true value and benefits of riding a bicycle that is integrated into a comprehensive network of alternative modes of mass transit. 

Europeans have enjoyed a long history and a deep appreciation for the bicycle that we in America could and should have ourselves. 

For a nation that has long prided itself in its many accomplishments, this is something that we, as Americans, should not allow ourselves to fail at.

We should be able to succeed at this if we would simply follow the lead of our European friends and adopt the same mindset as they have.  If we were to do this, we should be able to reap the same benefits as they have and we'd all certainly be better off for it if we did.

Two friends from China pedal across the U.S.

Two friends from China pedal across the U.S.
By:  Michael Lander

Xiaoxin Cheng and Peiwu Wang rode through many small towns and cities across
the United States on their cross-country bike ride from July to October 2014.

Xiaoxin Cheng and Peiwu Wang are from Beijing, China and the two friends had a dream to see and travel across America. 

Rather than seeing it in a conventional way, as most tourists do, the two chose, instead, to make a cross-country, 5,000 mile (8,046.72 Km) trip, from Vancouver, B.C. to New York, N.Y. on what has to be one of the best ways to see and experience America.  They decided to do this on a bicycle.

Cheng and Wang met many friendly people along their cross-country trek who
were interested in their ride and what they thought of the U.S.

The 54-year-old Cheng and the 52-year-old Wang began their 85 day cross-country cycling adventure in Canada on July 24, 2014, traveling approximately 58 miles each day, as they rode from one coast to the other.  They followed a cycling map that they purchased from Adventure Cycling Association with a significant portion of their route going along the TransAmerican Trail.    

"We met many good people who showed a strong interest in us and they wanted to know how we felt about the United States," Cheng said.  "They also wanted to know what our motive was for doing such a cross-country ride, too," he added.

The two cyclists from Beijing rode about 58 miles a day and made an effort to visit
a few interesting places that they could find along the way.

"Our purpose... was to realize a dream and to learn more about the land and its culture," Cheng said.  After they completed their ride, the two traveling companions felt that they had not only achieved an incredible feat, but they had also come away with a whole lot more.

"We saw the real U.S. that most Chinese never get to know," he said. 

Cheng said that they saw a wide variety of scenery, terrain, and climates in their long journey that they completed on October 17, 2014.

The two friends had dreamed of visiting the U.S. and they could not think of a
better way to do that than on a bicycle.

Their ride did not come without some challenges, however.  There were some cross-cultural communication issues and there was an occasional lack of adequate services, just to name a few.  Safety and unfamiliarity with the roads was an especially big concern for them as well.

The two traveled extremely light, taking as little as they needed, and they spent most of their nights, (all but about 20 of them), in a tent that they brought with them for their journey. 

A key part of the success of this cross-country trip came from the preparation that the two took before they even left Beijing. 

It took Cheng and Wang 85 days to ride from one coast to the other and they
tried to travel as light as possible so as not to make the trip any harder than
necessary.

"We did lots of short distance rides, about 60 to 100 miles a day, near Beijing.  The longest ride that we did together was a 700 mile trip in 2012," Cheng said.  "Teamwork was also a fundamental factor to our success," he added.

Aside from accomplishing an amazing feat that many cyclists might be a little apprehensive in attempting to do themselves, the two cyclists also feel that they benefited in ways that they did not expect. 

Cheng made a 2,063 mile trip with his son that took the two of them across
mountains with the ultimate destination of Kathmandu in Nepal.

"We discovered a lot more about ourselves," Cheng said. 

The two realized that this journey that they took was an intensive process of self-development and growth. 

After sharing his experience with his friends, many of them told him that the trip that he took was nothing less than a miracle.

As miraculous as the cross-country ride might have seemed to Cheng's friends, he is no stranger to challenging long-distance bike rides.  In 2013, he and his 23 year-old son rode from Chengdu, China, through the Himalayas, to Kathmandu in Nepal.  It took the two of them 50 days to ride 2,063.574 miles (3321 km) and they crossed 24 mountains with elevations that often exceeded 13,123.36 feet (4,000 meters).

Cheng takes a break and is able to take in some beautiful scenery with some
mountains in the background, some of which were similar to those that they
had to ascend.

Cheng, and his friend, Wang, are from Beijing.  This is the second largest city in China and it is the political center for the country and home to the country's largest businesses, palaces, temples, and other treasures. 

China, itself, is a land rich in history, beauty, and culture.  It is known to many in the West for its Great Wall, panda bears, Feng Shui, Tai Chi, and for having invented gunpowder, paper, and printing and for being the most populated country in the world and for having the world's fastest growing economy.

Cheng poses with his son during their ride together through the Himalayan
Mountains in 2013.

When looking back on his remarkable trip, Cheng sees it as being more than just a bike ride. 

"The trip can be summarized as being a journey and an adventure of discovery, learning, and excitement," he said. 

In every sense of the word, it was a trip of a lifetime that neither his friend nor he will ever be able to forget.

Cycling is all about numbers and they can tell what we need to know about the future

Cycling is all about numbers and they can tell what we need to know about the future
By:  Michael Lander

Memphis has seen a steady increase in the number of cyclists over the last
decade and this is only expected to grow as more amenities and facilities
are put into place in and around the city.

There is an old saying that numbers don't lie.  Some say that numbers can even speak louder than words.

Because of numbers, much of what we know of the world can be explained and understood.  It is through them, and more specifically, statistics, that we might even be able to get a glimpse into the future.

Cycling, like many other sport or athletic activities can be all about numbers, speed, distances, and averages, etc., and it's future may very well lie in what we do with the statistics that we have in front of us today.

By looking at those who now ride, from men, women, children, and people of different races, economic status, and geographical location, we can get a pretty clear picture as to the trends and what direction and where cycling might be going in.
 
Much of what we know about this comes from polls, surveys, retail sales and other means of data collection.  This can give businesses, private and public organizations, and local, state, and federal governments an opportunity to make decisions and allocate resources for things like a cycling infrastructure that will improve and enhance the lives of those in a community.

It may come as little surprise to anyone who is into cycling, that men comprise the largest group of those who currently ride.  The most significant growth of cyclists in the U.S., over the past two decades, have been men, especially those between the ages of 25-64 years of age.  The average North American bicycle commuter is also a 39-year-old professional male.
 

Men make up the largest population of cyclists across the U.S. and many do not
seem to be apprehensive about riding on busy city streets and are more likely to
commute than any other segment in the population.

There may be many reasons why men chose to ride a bike more often than women do, but one of the more prevalent explanations for this may simply come down to the issue of personal safety with more men seemingly less concerned about this than women who were surveyed about it would appear to be.

As for men, age does seem to be a factor for those who do ride.  The largest group of cyclists, at 43 percent, are those who are in between the ages of 25 to 44.  This is followed by those who are 45 to 64, at about 33 percent, with 15 percent of those from 18 to 24 who ride and then 10 percent for those who do who are 65 years of age and older. 

This data seems to correlate with times in our lives when most of us are typically more physically active, but perhaps too busy with school, beginning careers, and starting families to be interested in spending as much time on a bike.

For women in the U.S., about 10.2 million rode 109 days or less in 2010, which was a decrease of 13 percent since 2000.   This drop does not seem to parallel what is happening in other places around the world, such as in many countries throughout Europe, where there are as many women bicyclists as men. 

According to surveys, a majority of women indicated a preference
to riding on bike trails and on less congested city streets out of
concerns for their personal safety.

Studies that have been conducted seem to suggest that more women in the U.S. might be enticed to ride if they have bike trails or if they had the option to ride on streets where there is less vehicular traffic or where special traffic-calming features are in place to help minimize the risks to cyclists.

Even though riding a bike was once a really big part of childhood in the U.S., it does not appear that it is that way today.  The number of children who ride bicycles has declined more than 20 percent between 2000 to 2010. 

Some of this decline may be attributed to safety concerns by parents who are not comfortable with allowing their kids to ride alone in their neighborhoods as they once did.  It may also be that children today have more things that they can do both in and out of the home that may compete for any time that they could devote to riding a bike.

When it comes to the issue of race, one of the most positive developments is that cycling is becoming increasingly more diversified.  While bicycling may be highest among whites and Hispanics, between 2001 to 2009, cycling rates rose fastest among blacks, Hispanics, and those of Asian descent.  In North America, these three groups accounted for an increase of all bike trips, rising from 16 percent in 2001 to 21 percent in 2009.

The number of children who ride a bike has steadily decreased by at least
20 percent from 2000 to 2010, but this decrease has been offset by an
increase of adult men who have taken up cycling.

While race has become less of factor as far as those who ride, the reasons behind why they do it may be different.  For whites, bicycles would appear to be mostly used for exercise and recreation whereas other groups may ride for more practical purposes like commuting to and from school or work. 

This also seems to parallel what occurs with various income levels.   Bicycling rates do not seem to vary much when it comes to income level, but the purposes appear do as those with lower income typically ride more for utilitarian purposes and those with higher income seem to ride more for fitness and leisure.    The same seems to also be true for children from low-income and minority households who are more likely to ride to school than whites or those are from higher income households.

In addition to all of the variables that might influence who rides and how, the location of where someone lives also seems to be a factor as well.  In the U.S., western states would have the highest bicycling rates and southern states currently have extremely low levels when compared to all other regions throughout of the country.

Some of the more positive trends in cycling is how it is growing in popularity throughout the most of the U.S.  The number of Americans who ride today is greater than all of those who ski, golf, and play tennis combined and more adults participate in bicycling than in any other outdoor sport.  

When compared to other age groups, individuals of college age, between 18 to 24,
make up one of the smaller groups who are inclined to ride a bike.

 
They also take more bike trips than trips for all types of motorized outdoor sports put together.  Between 2006 to 2011, only 12 sports had a positive move toward increased participation and bicycling was one of them.

On the other side of the coin, there are some negative aspects of cycling that currently deter some people from riding.  The costs of purchasing a bike was given as a major obstacle by some who have been surveyed as was a lack of a bike-specific infrastructure and pro-bicycle programs with supportive land use planning and restrictions on automobile use.
 
Even though some southern cities have been slow to warm up to the idea of providing cycling-related amenities, Memphis has been one of the leaders in coming around and changing all this.

In 1966, Joyce Carol Oates had a short story published entitled, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"  It is a story that chronicles the odyssey of a young girl who is lured away from her home to an uncertain future.  Even though this fictional tale really has nothing to do with cycling itself, in some ways it's title arguably could.

The question of where you are going and where you have been, as it relates to cycling, is one that cities like Memphis have looked at and answered themselves. 

When it comes to cycling, over the last decade, it is obvious, even to the most casual observer, where Memphis has come from, where it is now, and where it is going in the future.  

 

Statistics indicate that cycling is becoming increasingly diversified and, not unlike
any other large metropolitan city in the country, cyclists of different ages, races,
and varying economic backgrounds, etc., can be found in many areas throughout
the City of Memphis.

 

In less than ten years, the Memphis Metropolitan area has seen a cycling infrastructure that has gone from being non-existent to one that is growing by the day and slowly emerging as a nationally recognized destination for cycling enthusiasts.

With these changes, the number of cyclists has exploded and will likely continue to move in that direction as more is done to draw people out of their homes and on to the burgeoning number of bike lanes, trails, and cyclist-friendly roads.

In the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?", George Clooney's character becomes angered when he's told that it'd take two weeks before the owner of a small country store would be able to order and receive the hair gel that Clooney's character is asking for.  In response to not being able to get what he wants for another two weeks, he says, "Well ain't this place a geographical oddity!  Two weeks from everywhere!"

While Memphis may not exactly be two weeks from everywhere, one thing that it is quickly becoming is a place known for its cycling.  It is conveniently located in the middle of the country and it is quickly becoming a place that is not only beginning to accept and embrace cycling, but it's where people will eventually want to come to ride from all around the nation.

Time will tell how far Memphis will come with all of this, but at this point, it seems pretty clear in which direction that it is heading in. 

Ultimately, in the end, numbers don't lie and the steady growth in the number of cyclists will speak for itself.   If we will but wait, listen, and act, we should see and hear what should be good news to anyone and everyone who loves cycling.

All of Memphis can expect a brighter future ahead with cycling

All of Memphis can expect a brighter future ahead with cycling
By:  Michael Lander

Throughout the year, Memphis has plenty of sunshine with an annual average of
64 percent according to NOAA, which gives Memphis area cyclists, and even some
unicyclists, ample opportunities to be able to ride in the sun.

Sunshine.... Memphis has a lot of it and the city, on average, has 218 days of sunshine every year, but for Memphis area cyclists, it may be the future that's looking even brighter than ever.  For them, it may be time as Timbuk 3's 1986 song says that "The Future's so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades."

The future most definitely looks bright for cyclists in and around the city of Memphis and there's really a lot to be optimistic about and to look forward to in the years ahead. 

With an ever expanding number of bike lanes and trails, connecting to those that already exist, and the beginning construction of a bike and pedestrian pathway on the Harahan Bridge over the Mississippi River, cyclists from here and everywhere will be able to ride their bikes in and around many parts of our city within just a very few years from now.

Much of the progress that has already been made in a cycling infrastructure, and the tremendous growth that is expected in the years ahead, can be attributed, much in part, to the mayor and various other city, business, philanthropic, and community leaders.  Together, they have all demonstrated their steadfast commitment to putting the city on the fast track and making it a much more cyclist-friendly place.

The continuing development of a cycling infrastructure throughout the entire city
and beyond will not only provide a greater opportunity for people to ride a bike
for fun, exercise, or to commute, but, in the years ahead it should help to further
unify neighborhoods, communities, and people with one another in a mutually
shared interest in cycling.

In only a very few number of years their efforts have already paid off in a really big way, as the Bicycle/Pedestrian Program Manager, Kyle Wagenschutz noted in an article that he wrote entitled, "The Demographics of Cycling in Memphis." 

Bicycle use in Memphis, Wagenschutz said, is increasing at the fastest rate of growth compared to any other city in Tennessee and, according to the League of American Bicyclists, the city is the 14th fastest growing city for bicycle commuting in the U.S. between 1990 to 2013.  This, he contends, is directly correlated to the increase in dedicated bicycle infrastructure and this trend, he says, will likely continue to rise as more is developed.

One of the most positive and encouraging aspects of all this is how many people will benefit from this, not to mention how many tourists will come to the city who will want to ride a bike whenever they come here for a visit.

While some might think that some areas or neighborhoods may benefit from this more than others, Wagenschutz would likely be one of the first to disagree with anyone who believes that.  As he sees it, city officials have a responsibility to consider the equitable development and the well-being of all of its residents.

Even though a disproportionate number of cyclists currently ride either for exercise
or for recreational purposes, as more bike lanes and trails are created, and connected
to existing ones, it should provide a safer and more viable means to consider it as a
way for commuting as well.

The goal for community-wide inclusiveness may not be better demonstrated than with the development of a bicycle infrastructure, which Wagenschutz says is one of the most diverse and truly collaborative efforts that cultivates positive working relationships between local advocates, neighborhood leaders, city officials, private developers, and philanthropic organizations.

Cycling, it would seem, may be one of the best ways to bring a community together for a common good and it can offer health benefits to all Memphians.  It is also something that can offer an alternative way to commute, and it is an activity that can also be done purely for the enjoyment of it.

With all that Memphis already has in the way of cycling, and will have in the years ahead, the future could not look any brighter than it does today.