Addressing the "what-ifs" of biking

Today (which is a lie) I was reminded of one of my biggest barriers to cycling more frequently: the risk of getting a flat.  While touring through Rijkswijk and The Hague (again), the risk became reality and I had to patch the oldest and crappiest inner-tube on earth.  Long story short, this didn’t work for long, I ended up walking at least 100km, and replacing the tube took at least twice as long as anything I’ve ever done before in my life. 

“Wow,” you say.  “You’re complaining about a minor inconvenience in the middle of your two-week stay in Holland and you expect me to feel bad for you?”  You’re not done: “Get over it man; flats happen.  And while you’re at it, send me some stroopwafels to compensate me for the time I just wasted reading your e-whinings.” 

Bicycle superhighway near Delft.  Despite its awesomeness,
 flats can still happen here.

Easy there.  My point in sharing this anecdote is simply to point out that no matter how thorough, innovative, and user-friendly a city or region’s bicycle infrastructure is, it does not solve the problem of flat tires and other mishaps.  It may reduce the likelihood by providing cleaner/smoother riding surfaces, but it will not eliminate bike issues. And if the potential of incidents like this is enough to deter me from cycling, it certainly doesn’t help attract those less likely to choose a bike for more of their trips. 

Of course, complications are not unique to cycling.  People often have car troubles, buses and trains can sometimes be painfully late (or break down themselves), etc.  So no matter what mode one takes, the potential for delays is always there. 

Separate bike signal on bike path to reduce conflict.  This cyclist still didn't stop though.  

Thus, having alternatives is crucial.  Depending on where a cyclist "breaks down" in the U.S., he or she may have the option of hopping on a bus or train with their bike.  This still makes the cyclist dependent on the quality of public transportation service (here in Holland bikes are not allowed on most public transit due to capacity constraints).  According to bikeportland.org, AAA and the Better World Club offer bicycle towing services (but only to members), while some local Portland companies attempting to do so have failed.  Perhaps - just perhaps - if more people felt assured that if they encountered issues on their journey they had a reliable backup option, there would be more cycling by a wider range of populations.