Critical Mass not perfect, but sentiments shared

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

When I wrote in support of Aurora’s plan to work toward a more bike-friendly city last June, I did not expect to do a follow-up until Aurora had made significant strides in adding bike lanes throughout the city. I also expected that the column would not produce any controversy. I was wrong on both counts. I swear controversy seeks me out, even when I’m trying to avoid it.

Melissa Stoneking told me that my June 18 column helped inspire her to organize a “Critical Mass” event this Sunday to raise awareness of the bicycles among us and the need for more bike lanes. That column also put me in conversation with Daniel Klenke, who e-mailed to tell me, “Reliance on marked bike lanes is controversial within cycling proponents.”

Critical Mass is an international organization that organizes cyclists to take over streets in cities all over the world. Stoneking is not expecting to shut down any streets with her 20 to 25 people who will meet at West Aurora High School at 2 p.m. Sunday. The group will ride their bikes from West Aurora High School east to Eola Road via Galena Boulevard and New York Street, then return to West High by way of Fifth Avenue. “It’s not a protest, just a request to note our presence,” Stoneking said.

Klenke sees the event differently. He said, “Classically, that is a guerilla theatre type of event. Dozens, if not hundreds of cyclists show up to clog a specific area, akin to a sit-in, usually causing traffic jams and a police response and arrests.”

It’s not that Klenke doesn’t support better access for bikes, but he says, “Lanes don’t address education, training and attitude for cyclists and motorists to coexist. They’re a feel-good panacea that likely worsen the problems instead.” He referred me to the book “Effective Cycling” by John Forester, who, according to Klenke, “cites studies that suggest bike lanes lead to increased car-bike accidents and are inherently destructive to traffic management.”

Klenke provided me with many examples for me of how traffic patterns are made difficult — indeed incomprehensible at times — by certain types of bike lanes. Klenke has been biking since 1983. He has done bike tours in Germany, Iowa and Minnesota, all for more than 250 miles per occasion. He has ridden more than 1,000 miles on bikes per year since the late 1980s, with no accidents, but he says he has his name on his helmet and wears a dogtag just in case.

Stoneking and Klenke agreed that if there are lanes designated for bikes, they must be very clearly marked. They also agreed that some types of bike lanes can be dangerous. Stoneking wrote, “I think that barricaded bike lanes are dangerous, but what I think we need is just another lane that cyclists can ride in. This allows for a division between the bikes and cars. Most of the anger that I experience from drivers is when I am in the lane, holding up traffic. With a bike lane, traffic flows smoothly.”

It seems everyone ultimately want the same thing — more bike-friendly streets. But there are disagreements about how best to achieve this. Like Klenke, I have mixed feelings about organizations like Critical Mass, but understand Stoneking’s frustration. She told me she was at the Downtown Aurora re-visioning meeting this past Saturday and met Don Traux, who said that budgeting has not allowed the city’s plan (for bike lanes) to go further.

While we wait for improvements in bike accessibility, the city of Aurora and League of Illinois Bicyclists offer a map of routes in Aurora. Klenke reminded me this map is free and available at City Hall or local bike clubs. Plus there is a larger map of Chicago and suburbs, put out by a group formerly called the “Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.” It’s $6.95 and available at most bike shops.

Unfortunately, positive change seldom comes at the pace we would like. You may wish to address the lack of progress on Sunday by showing your solidarity with other cyclists. I hope you will also take time to provide the city with input and remind them that bike accessibility is important to you. As I mentioned in June, you can reach Eric Gallt, one of Aurora’s traffic engineers who is working on the issue of bike and pedestrian access, at 630-844-3620. It may be a long road to make this a bike friendly city, but if we work together, we can get there.

Deena Sherman can be reached at deenasherman@att.net.