ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book seeks to cultivate bicycle urbanism by looking to the aged and underutilized, but well-networked, spaces of industrial activity. It addresses the state of active transportation in Seattle and focuses on education and advocacy work through the creation of "personas" used to engage "interested but concerned" bicyclists. The book discusses how signal timing for intersection crossings was tipped toward motor vehicles in a lower-income community of color, while the timing favored pedestrians in a more affluent white neighborhood. It explores the proliferation of electric bikes in urban life and their gradual adoption as commuter vehicles. The book proposes and explores a comprehensive methodology for conducting cost–benefit analyses to reduce the knowledge gap about the level and effectiveness of health gains and consumer cost savings of added cycling facilities.
