By Steve Basar, Special to The Commercial Appeal -

Sunday, June 6, 2010 -

I ride a bicycle for transportation, for fitness and for fun. Now, I don't ride every day, but I have set myself a goal of riding at least once a week. In Memphis, unfortunately, riding a bicycle can be viewed as suicidal.

When people ask me about the safety of riding a bicycle, I usually smile, acknowledge the risk and make a mental note to check that my life insurance premium is paid up.

Riding a bicycle shouldn't be so dangerous. I do my part; I wear a helmet, stay to the right and obey traffic signals. However, as I ride the streets of Memphis I constantly find myself wishing the city engineer and his staff would do more to accommodate bicycle traffic.

Don't get me wrong. I am thankful for the mile or so of bike lane on Shady Grove, but with a City Engineer's Office that employs 160 engineers, technicians and other staff, I expect more progress on the creation of bike lanes.

Did you know that the city of Memphis has 60-plus miles of streets designated as six "bike route tours"? These routes were established back in 2003; maps and descriptions of them are available by searching for "bike routes" on the city's website, cityofmemphis.org.

Do you know what percentage of those 60-plus miles have bike lanes? Less than 5 percent. There are sporadic trail markers, but these do nothing to warn motorists that they are on a bike route. This needs to change. Every road that gets repaved should incorporate lines and signs for bike lanes.

Mayor A C Wharton confirmed that this summer, Southern Avenue will be repaved and the project will include bike lane signs and markings on the roadway. This is a great start and will enhance the ability of University of Memphis students to ride their bicycles to and from class. Going forward, I would like to challenge Wharton to guarantee that all roadway improvements will incorporate bicycle facilities.

The mayor should also appoint a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. The city administration needs someone who will be responsible for improving biking and walking opportunities in Memphis. We need a strong advocate (in addition to the mayor) to collaborate with the city engineers, help seek out federal funding and other grants, and promote biking and walking as healthy alternatives for transportation and fitness. This individual could also be an advocate for the Shelby Farms Greenline and Wolf River Greenway projects currently under construction.

I would also like to see the mayor pull together all the walking/biking stakeholders and coordinate a summit to discuss overall strategy and priorities. There are many excellent plans for future expansions of the greenway and the greenline. A comprehensive plan outlining priorities for future enhancements would help these groups coordinate their efforts and achieve more.

On May 23 another cyclist was hit by an automobile, this time in Germantown. We don't hear much about these types of accidents, probably because the auto wins most of the time. While it is tragic that a fellow cyclist was injured doing what should be a safe activity, I find it even more troubling that the media seem to ignore the plight of those of us who choose to ride bicycles. Perhaps if the media were more engaged, we would see an increased awareness of the safety issues cyclists face, and lives could be saved.

As I ride my bicycle to work I am encouraged by the other people I see commuting and exercising. Bike lanes and trails will result in more people riding bicycles and help change Memphis' culture so more of its residents will view cycling as an alternative form of transportation. Given that people riding bicycles are a minority, I can understand a hesitation to make bike lanes and trails a priority. However, that attitude is shortsighted. Bicycle facilities will help revitalize our urban centers and yield health and recreation benefits, and they often are a measure of quality of life.

Each step we take will help us move toward the long-range goal of a connected network of bike lanes throughout Greater Memphis. Our city and Shelby County officials have an opportunity to develop a permanent system of bicycle-friendly trails and lanes that will help establish Memphis as a world-class bike-friendly community. In my vision, the leaders of today can ensure a legacy by building for the future.

Steve Basar of Memphis is supply planning manager-suncare for Merck and a citizen member of The Commercial Appeal's editorial board.