Biking Isn’t Green if You Harm a Tree

[Katie Sihler]

The District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration would like to remind all bicyclists that locking a bike to a tree is an extremely harmful practice, which can stunt growth or even kill a tree. In addition, locking a bike to any tree less than 10” in diameter is illegal. Bicycling is a great way to get around the city, and excellent for our environment, but biking isn’t green if you harm a tree in the process. Look around for the closest bike rack, and secure your bike to it instead. If you can’t find a rack but would like one, please contact the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center by dialing 311. If you are a business located in the District and would like one, please contact goDCgo at 202.299.2186. The District Department of Transportation thanks you for your support in this matter. Love trees? Become a Canopy Keeper by adopting one. Call (202) 671-5133 or visit ddot.dc.gov/trees for more information.

http://godcgo.com/home/get-me-there/tools-to-get-around/blog/entryid/95/biking-isnt-green-if-you-harm-a-tree.aspx

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[baiskeli]

Plus if a thief really really wants your bike, he’ll just go get an axe or a saw (which he also probably stole).

[acc]

That would probably be bad for the tree also. I honestly never thought about this issue.

[Jsnyd]

At first I thought, there’s no way my bike lock can harm a mature tree with a healthy amount of bark, but then I thought of how many people would use the same tree if it was in the right spot. Good post. I would have never thought about it if I didnt read it here.

[Mark Blacknell]

Yep. Saw a similar campaign last year, and it was all news to me. Definitely changed my behavior.

[Tim Kelley]

@baiskeli 5002 wrote:

Plus if a thief really really wants your bike, he’ll just go get an axe or a saw (which he also probably stole).

I’m just going to leave this here….

[Mark Blacknell]

It’s like watching The Sims, with the Idiot Expansion Pack.

[acc]

Ah yes, it’s all fun and games until my bike is stolen by a chainsaw wielding, hockey mask wearing, scary dude.

In this case it appears the bark is what we have to worry about and the bite, not so much. (For three days I managed to avoid saying that but eventually….)

ann

[Joe Chapline]

Years ago an Arlington arborist pointed this out to me after I had just locked my bike to a small tree. I told him that’s why I chose the one dead tree out of 10 or so. We had a nice talk, and he told me where the bike racks were — on the other side of a huge building, where I couldn’t see them. It’s good to scatter racks around buildings with multiple entrances, considering all directions cyclists might be coming from.

[Author]

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