Once again, Bicycling magazine has come out with its list of best American cities for cycling, and once again, alas, Albany is not on it.

Being on some list is not important. What would be nice, though, is if Albany could be more aggressive in helping local residents use bike transportation instead of cars.

May is a good time to think about this, because the weather is finally warming up, and those early-morning commutes are not quite as bone-chillingly cold.

The price of gas alone suggests that people leave the car in the driveway now and then. If they have a bike, they can do that more often than not.

What would it take for a town the size of Albany to encourage this sort of nonmotorized traffic? For starters: Painting more bike lanes and keeping them clear and usable, especially on the main routes; adjusting some traffic signals; designating alternatives to the thoroughfares for people on bikes, and making more of a push in the national effort called “Safe Routes to School.”

This thought is worth keeping in mind: Unless it snows or freezes, most trips within two or three miles from home can be done on a bike without having to buy a single drop of gas. (hh)