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MM: Simply put, a bicycle is a tool. But it seems you have some pretty philosophical views on why they are important. So, why bicycles and not some other contraption?

JB: My fascination with bikes stems from the fact that the bicycle is the most efficient mode of transport ever devised. That is, on a bike, for a given amount of energy you can go further down the road. That’s truly what makes bicycles so important and it’s essentially what puts that smile on our faces – we’re able to fly down the road with so little effort.

MM: Many cycling advocates say, among many approaches, it takes bike trails and other infrastructure to get people out of their cars and onto bikes. What role does the bicycle designer/ builder play to encourage adoption?

JB: It’s important to have the right tool for the job. It’s also important to have it available right off the shelf, or the shop floor. Few people can figure out how to build up a truly useful bike that will replace their car trips.

Until recently, North American bike shops offered only “naked bikes,” bikes without useful features such as fenders, lights and ways to carry stuff – you know, like a car has. Recreational bikes, including flat-bar fixies, unless they are outfitted with parts that add utility, can only inspire so many.

As many people as there are riding in North America today, I see it as only 10 percent of the potential. Having plenty of useful bikes for everyday getting around is the key to help grow cycling to its full potential. The transportation-ready bike is also the very bike that has the greatest influence in convincing local, state and federal movers and shakers that bicycling is a viable transportation alternative. Bicycle trips that replace car trips offer the biggest return for transportation dollars spent. Bicycling makes sense not only for mental, physical and environmental health, it makes sense for fiscal health as well.

Web links:

breezerbikes.com