[Ebbc-Talk] Egregious use of English language by Chronicle reporter to describe decision by Caltrans to build bike path on Bay Bridge

It is unfortunate that Chronicle reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken chooses to belittle the bike path on the Bay Bridge by claiming that Caltrans included it to "placate" cycling activists in this May 29, 2013 article.

> Caltrans designers added the bike path to bridge plans in the late 1990s to placate cycling activists. 

> 
> http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bolts-along-Bay-Bridge-bike-path-fail-4555354.php#ixzz2UewAUI3i

One could argue that the new span of the bridge was built to "placate" motoring activists, although we're not likely to see that word used for expanding or "improving" highways or bridges.

The word "enhancement" is also used to belittle bicycle infrastructure.

> A similar semantic trick that's used is to call bike/pedestrian infrastructure "enhancements," which triggers the feeling that they are more embellishments that aren't really necessary, and if fiscal times are tight, are more expendable than facilities for cars.


Len Conly
 
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