The United States is now one of the world’s leaders in obesity and related preventable chronic diseases. We spend the lion’s share of our transportation money on road building, helping to make our society one in which driving, the most sedentary of transportation options, is king. Meanwhile, take a look at the healthiest, happiest countries in the world. Every year, countries that have embraced active transportation (walking, biking) and good public transit (trains, trams, busses) are on top of the rankings: Denmark, The Netherlands, and others. Even when you visit, you can’t avoid saying to yourself, “Wow, these Danish people look so fit and happy!” It’s because they bike and walk everywhere in a country that has made safe and accessible active transit a national priority. When I biked in Copenhagen, for instance, I’ve never felt safer on a bicycle. The safe design of bike and ped facilities in a city make it easier for peoploe to bike and walk, which in turn helps them live happy and healthy lives. This is the message we advocates can repeat again and again.

The about-to-be-adopted 25-year regional transportation plan for Southern California is a dramatic departure from convention with its emphasis on transit, biking and walking, and on multifamily housing instead of single-family homes. This smart growth plan yields many benefits including reduced traffic congestion on the 10 and the 210 freeways despite a prediction of 4million more Southern California residents by 2035. The plan actually predicts a 24 percent reduction in “per person traffic delay.” The plan locates 87 percent of all jobs and 82 percent of all housing within a half mile of transit, triples funding for bike and pedestrian projects and provides a $3,000 savings per family per year due to lower auto, fuel, water and energy costs.

I totally agree with Ben’s experience in Copenhagen.  EVERY single street works well for cycling, and I mean every single one.  High speed/high car traffic = separated cycle tracks.  Calm streets with slow/little traffic, use the lane like the cars do.  The cycling culture is so well established that drivers are use to dealing with them.  It’s so relaxing and enjoyable and that’s why so many people of all ages and demographics do it.  Don’t be fooled by the “mere” 19% modal share of cyclists in Denmark.  This just includes those who commute only by bike every day.  At least 70-80% of the population ride a bike periodically for some trips (local grocery shopping, etc.) so you’re bound to get way more sympathy and respect vs. a society where only 1% ever commute anywhere by bike.