Bicycle symbols are encouraging

Opinion

August 17, 2010

Anonymous The Goshen News Tue Aug 17, 2010, 06:47 PM EDT

There is something new in downtown Goshen.

At the suggestion of the Goshen Bicycle Advisory Committee, the city has painted stylized bicycle symbols under double chevrons on Washington Street in the downtown area. We like both the appearance of the symbolic bicycles and the thinking behind painting them onto the pavement.

As the bicycle advisory committee and city are quick to point out, the markers do not indicate any change in traffic rules on Washington. Instead, the symbolic bicycles are intended to recognize the growing use of bikes as a means of traveling downtown and to further encourage that trend.

Washington Street was chosen because many cyclists enter the downtown area either via Fifth Street or the millrace trail head near the Farmer’s Market, and Washington Street acts as conduit connecting those two points.

Though mostly symbolic, the new markers also have the practical effect of warning drivers to keep a sharp eye out because there may be bicycles in the area. Bicycles and motorcycles can be easily overlooked by inattentive drivers, and in a collision with a car or truck, the cyclist usually loses.

We hope the new markers also have the effect of encouraging more people to ride their bikes, and to abide by traffic laws while doing so. There are obvious health and fitness advantages to the rider, of course, but more bike riding would also reduce vehicle congestion and exhaust emissions.

And as anyone trying to get into or out of downtown almost any evening could tell you, bumper-to-bumper traffic on Main Street and U.S. 33 is commonplace. There are times you can get from one end of town to the other much faster on a bicycle than in a vehicle.

We commend the Goshen Bicycle Advisory Committee and the city for this welcome addition to downtown Goshen.

It would be nice if we had designated bicycle routes throughout the city, and that may happen someday. In the meantime, the new bicycle symbols on Washington Street are a very encouraging start.

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