U.S. cities promote bicycling as gas prices soar

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – U.S. cities that have long promoted bicycle use by commuters are now seeing a steady rise in the popularity of pedal power as gasoline prices soar.

Campaigns originally designed to cut down on traffic and pollution are now paying off for people looking for an option to driving with national gas prices averaging a record $4 per gallon.


People in cities such as Chicago, Washington and Portland, Oregon, can take advantage of bicycle lanes, bike-friendly transit systems and bike-parking locations built in recent years.

“Twelve years ago, I would bike down to City Hall and often it was a lonely ride,” said Ben Gomberg, Chicago’s bicycle program coordinator. “Today, there are often 17 or 18 riders stopped at the intersections.”

Reuters