This idea was first posted here on Thursday, June 21, 2007 and was most recently revised on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
It's my intention that this idea should be a part of the public domain and should never be patented.
I
believe that there should be a coast-to-coast network of paved bicycle
paths. The paths should be physically arranged in such a way as to
discourage motorized traffic on them. They should be arranged with
appropriate tunnels, bridges, and fences so that a bicyclist would never
have to cross paths with motorized traffic. A good place for some
of them would be alongside of the railroads. The grade of a railroad
is seldom greater than 2%. Bicyclists would find it easy to get through
mountainous regions on such paths.
A
whole new commercial sector might develop along such bicycle paths.
Every few miles, about as far apart as a bicyclist pulling a trailer could
easily travel in one day, there might be bitels, that is, bicycle hotels.1
The bitels could cater to the needs of the bicyclists who used the paths.
Other
benefits of such a network of bicycle paths might be more important than
were the so-called benefits of the interstate highways. Those highways,
allegedly for the sake of efficiency, made travel faster, more boring,
more sterile, and more artificial. The bicycle paths might make travelling
more pleasant, more interesting, more healthful, and more natural.
People taking trips on bicycles instead of in cars would get some fresh
air and some exercise. They'd get wet in the rain and tanned in the
sunshine. They'd see the scenery. They'd hear the birds and
smell the flowers. They'd meet the local people. They could
travel without the onerous requirements of a driver's license or vehicle
registration. They could avoid the expense of auto insurance.
They'd wouldn't have to endure the insulting arrogance of the security
thugs and the traffic thugs.
Such
a network of paved bicycle paths wouldn't replace the interstate highways.
It would provide an alternative, a whole new choice for long distance travel.
Such travel would be slow but, as Gandhi said, there's more to life than
increasing its speed. Eventually, the network of bicycle paths might
lead to the birth of a whole new culture. It might encourage a whole
new way of life. It might lead to the rebirth of liberty, self-reliance,
and hope for the future on this continent.
| 1 | The word motel was originally a portmanteau word formed from motor or motorist and hotel. |