Writer Edward Abbey had an insight years ago about the automobile congestion on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Passengers in those days would tumble out of cars at each scenic overlook, creating crowds and traffic jams in a park tens of thousands of acres in size.By prohibiting car traffic, he said, the public space would instantly be enlarged many fold, as walkers and bikers traverse not just those few parking areas but all the beautiful spaces in between.

Biking and walking make the most beautiful parts of a city more spacious, with more places to engage and enjoy. Instead of passing by a neighborhood in a moment, a biker or walker can come to know and care about the fine grain of the place, the solitude, the views, the shops, the people. Sealed in our cars, just as we are often sealed in our private lives, we miss a chance to engage. This has been our loss for some time now in many American neighborhoods, the poshest of which have often been created without sidewalks, discouraging even a casual walk after dinner.

Happily, South Bend, Indiana, where I live, has been adding miles of bike lanes and paths each year, and in spring a big public biking festival is among the most popular events of the year.

[Written in response to an article about biking in Portland by Elly Blue at the Guardian.]