CP: Interview 1

Asher Forman
Mr. Roddy
IHSS
21 April 2020
Interview Blog   
     For my challenge project, I decided to interview John Long who was the former Executive Director of Bike Houston. Although, what exactly is Bike Houston and how did it start? Well, this organization works to advocate for better bikeways, safer streets, and to make sure that everyone on the streets is following the traffic laws. However, they weren’t always an established organization like they are today. When Bike Houston began, it was made up of a club of bike riders who realized that Houston had no bike infrastructure. This drove these bike riders to make an organization of their own to help make a more bike-friendly Houston. At first, they got the city to adopt a bike plan, but things weren’t really followed up. The organization started to slow down as people had other commitments, and couldn’t really put in their time. Then miraculously, Bike Houston was given grant money, which allowed them to hire an executive director and staff to work full time on helping the city increase their bike infrastructure. After officially establishing this organization, big changes were made to the bike scene. Some of them include a new bike plan being adopted, the implementation of “Vision Zero” (a network that seeks to end traffic fatalities), increased bike infrastructure, trails, and so much more. On top of that, they also motivate people to ride their bikes. Bike Houston offers classes to kids and adults to help learn how to ride a bike and sponsor big group rides throughout the city. This organization has been one of the driving factors behind all of the new bike development that we see throughout Houston.
     Overall, the information that Mr. Long gave me was extremely interesting, especially on ideas that I had never really thought about. One thing that he mentioned that really stuck with me was that one of the benefits of biking is the community aspect. I kept thinking of biking as good for one’s health, a way to stay fit, and an economical way to travel the city, but I never thought about how it is a way to engage in the community. While biking in the bike lanes or trails, one might run into someone or meet someone new that wouldn’t occur if one was in a car. Then after talking to him about the effects of biking, I spoke about what I was thinking of doing for my engagement project. This included making a flyer that essentially informed people on why one should be biking, the positive effects from it, and to show the bike lanes/trails in their area. He agreed with my ideas and recommended that I go onto Houston Bike Plan and look at their map to see all of the present bike lanes in the Houston area. Mr. Long also explained how it is important that I communicate this bike awareness to my classmates. Doing this will help grow the biking population and bike-friendliness of our community. Furthermore, Mr. Long has given me valuable tools and knowledge that I can apply going forwards to my engagement project.

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