Transportation planners would do well not to ignore the needs of Hartford’s bicycle community.
On Tuesday evening, cycling enthusiasts packed the Aetna Theater in the Wadsworth Atheneum to watch Reveal the Path. All seats were sold out and a few people were spotted standing in the back. Some rode through the snow flurries while others drove to the benefit for Bike Walk Connecticut, an organization with the mission to educate and advocate.
The film, Reveal the Path, is a followup by the creators of Ride the Divide, which has also screened in Hartford. Though these films deal with cyclists who push themselves to ride in extreme conditions, Bike Walk Connecticut does not represent only recreational bicyclists. With events like the Bike to Work breakfasts, Bike Walk Connecticut also supports those who use their own energy to power their methods of transportation.
The attendance of this should be of no surprise. Last week, when Kaid Benfield spoke at the iForum, he indicated that transportation trends are beginning to change. Within the Millennial/Generation Y group, bicycling has increased 24%, Benfield said, and 45% want to replace driving with some other mode of transportation.