Isabella Gronchi
Prof. Grimaldo
Persuasive Speech Nº2
5 March 2012
Good Afternoon President Ricardo Martinelli, MOP, and ATTT board
members, I have summoned you here today to propose an urban project that will
reduce the traffic problem we’re dealing with these days and the number of
pedestrians who are victims of motor vehicles. I propose we build a network of
sidewalks and bike lanes all over the country, especially in the city.
I’m sure most of you have noticed the increased amount of traffic and the
fact that each passing day it gets worst. As I left The City of Knowledge last
Wednesday to go home, I encountered exaggerated lines everywhere I went. It
took me one and a half hours to get to my house, which is located near
Multiplaza. This is an incredible amount of time considering that there are no
more than 15 km of distance between these two places. In addition to all the
subway work being done, this traffic is due to the increased amount of cars on
the streets. A network of bike lanes will encourage people to travel in their bikes
instead of cars to get to their destinations faster. This would seriously lighten the
clusters of cars, at least during the summer season. According to the Texas
Transportation Institute, traffic jams cost the average traveler almost 40 hours a
year in travel delay, cost the United States more than $78 billion each year, and
are wasting 2.9 billion gallons of gas every year. Researcher Todd Litman of the
Victoria Transport Policy Institute estimated that replacing a car trip with a bike
trip saves individuals and society $2.73 per mile, since gas expenses are
eliminated. The construction of a bike lane can cost as little as $5,000 a mile, an
amount considerably smaller than that necessary to construct more car lanes.
Bicycles also cause less wear on the pavement, meaning that long and expensive
repaving works can be avoided. In addition to saving money, bike lanes can
accommodate 7 to 12 times as many people per meter of lane per hour than car
lanes, thus saving space. By building bike lanes we would also be helping our
environment by reducing the amount of gas and noise emitted by motor vehicles,
since bicycles are non-polluting and silent. Bicycling is ranked among the top
three exercises for improving cardiovascular fitness, which means we would also
be helping our body. Studies have shown that bicycle commuters work more
efficiently, arriving to work eager and alert, thus increasing business
productivity and improving the country’s economy. So, everybody wins.
A network of proper sidewalks is also a great way to reduce traffic and
pedestrian accidents. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
pedestrians killed while walking along the roadway account for 8% of all traffic
accidents. Providing walkways separated from the travel lanes could help
prevent up to 88% of these crashes. By providing facilities that are more
comfortable, we can increase the number of trips made by walking. Additionally,
by moving pedestrians off the travel lanes, motorist operations are improved
and capacity increased.
Imagine waking up one day and seeing a clear, uncongested street; there
are no honk noises or smoke blurring your view. This is the sight I would like
future generations to have, including my children. Wouldn’t you like that too?
It is possible to create this sight but not without federal, state, and local
investments in bicycle and walking facilities that will provide drivers with an
appealing, safe alternative choice. I urge all of you to contribute to this project
and start building these networks. Panamanian citizens will thank you and so
will I.
Works Cited
Flusche, Darren. “The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments.”
League of American Bicyclists. June 2009. 26 Feb. 2012.
“Bicycle Network Development.” New York City Department of City Planning.
2012. Feb. 26 2012.
“Safety Benefits of Walkways, Sidewalks, and Paved Shoulders.” FHWA Safety
Program. U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway
Administration: 2012. Feb. 26 2012.