Released August 2, 2010 by C.I.C.L.E.

Cause for Creativity: Tour da Arts, vol. 2 :: Sunday, August 22, 2010 2:00pm

Pedal on over to SMMoA for the second annual Cause for Creativity: Tour da Arts and Urban Expeditions event!! Festivities include: bike checks, spoke card workshop, live performances, and a closing party.

Registration is required: surveymonkey.com/s/TourdaArts

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Schedule of Events:

2 - 4 pm
Bike Checks – Bicycle “cooks” from the Bikerowave will provide bike checks to make sure your wheels are in perfect shape for the Urban Expeditions ride Spoke Card Art Workshop – FREE for SMMoA members, $5 for non-members

4 - 7 pm
Urban Expeditions Bike Tour – C.I.C.L.E will lead a bike tour featuring live music with Ben Sollee at The Broad Stage and Shakespeare at Virginia Avenue Park with The Actors' Gang

7 - 9 pm
Exhibition and Closing Party – Music by Dublab, Acro Yoga with lululemon, live t-shirt screen printing with Hit + Run, extended museum hours, food trucks, bike-themed vendors, fixie zone, and more!

C.I.C.L.E.’s Urban Expeditions program is made possible with support
from REI. Visit www.cicle.org or call 323.478.0060 for more information.

Date: Sunday, August 22

Time: 2:00 pm (ride leaves promptly at 4:00 pm)

Location: Santa Monica Museum of Art at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan
Ave.

Santa Monica, CA 90404.
Exit Cloverfield from the 10 freeway and go
north. Take first right onto Michigan Ave., which ends at Bergamot Station
parking lot.

Price: Free. Registration is required: surveymonkey.com/s/TourdaArts

What to Bring: Your bicycle, in good running order. (Please have bike
inspected and tuned at least once a year at a bike shop.) All participants
under 18 must wear a helmet and be escorted by a parent or guardian.
Children under age 8 should be on a tag-a-long, bike trailer, tandem, or
other safe child-carrying device to participate in the ride.

Background
Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that works with individuals and communities to promote the bicycle as a viable, healthy, and sustainable transportation choice. C.I.C.L.E. projects include Bike Week Pasadena, lifestyle focused and skill-building safety
workshops, and Urban Expeditions, a monthly community-focused bicycle ride aimed at getting more people out of their cars and onto bikes. www.cicle.org :: 323.478.0060

Released July 2010

As Liz Elliott transitions out of her role as Executive Director of C.I.C.L.E. in the upcoming future, we are looking to hire a new leader for our organization. Please submit resume and cover letter, as well as any questions to jobs@cicle.org.

C.I.C.L.E.
Managing Director
Job Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION


Under the direction of the Operating and Steering Committees, the Managing Director oversees all fundraising, programming, events, and advocacy efforts of C.I.C.L.E., and represents the organization to its constituency, partners, and to the community at large. Annual salary: $30,000 to $35,000 + benefits, with opportunity to fundraise for additional compensation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Program Development and Management:
--Develop all logistics, outreach, and components of C.I.C.L.E.’s programs, which include:
--Education – classes for new riders and workshops on bicycle lifestyle
--Engagement – Urban Expedition monthly group rides, Bike Week Pasadena (annually in May), additional planned events
--Advocacy – ad hoc projects to support bike infrastructure investments and policy in the Los Angeles area
--Manage the design and content of the C.I.C.L.E. website (www.cicle.org)
--Create press releases and marketing materials to promote all of the organization’s activities
--Hire and manage class instructors and group ride leaders, including training program development


Administrative Oversight:
--Maintain organizational records such as mailing lists, list of program participants, list of donors, correspondence and public relations materials
--Assist with development and management of the organization’s budget in cooperation with C.I.C.L.E. Operating Committee
--Oversee tax records, personnel records, insurance and contracts
--Oversee compliance with all nonprofit requirements


Development:
--Research and apply for relevant grants and funding opportunities
--Assist with fundraising events for the benefit of the organization
--Develop sponsorship relationships
--Develop and strengthen relationships with partner organizations
--Other duties as requested


Qualifications

--A degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent experience
--Experience working with an organization that advocates for active transportation, or similar nonprofit agency
--Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms
--Ability to work cooperatively with the organization’s staff and the community
--Strong organizational and computer skills (MSWord, Excel, and PowerPoint or Mac equivalents)
--Desired: Bicyclist, Bilingual (Spanish/English)


To apply for this position, please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@cicle.org. The position will remain open until filled, however the target hire date is mid-July 2010. Thank you for your interest!



Background


Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that works with individuals and communities to promote the bicycle as a viable, healthy, and sustainable transportation choice. C.I.C.L.E. projects include Bike Week Pasadena, lifestyle focused and skill-building safety workshops, and Urban Expeditions, a monthly, community-focused bicycle ride aimed at getting more people out of their cars and onto bikes. Visit us at www.CICLE.org

Published May 17, 2010 by C.I.C.L.E.

Full Schedule of events:

>> Event Locations and Mapping

Thursday, May 20 Bike to Work Day Pit Stops:
Pasadena City Hall from 6:30-8:30am & Shops on Lake from 2:00-4:00pm.
Pasadena City Hall will host the grand slam Bike to Work Day Pitstop from 6:30-8:30am on Thursday AM. Kick off your morning commute by pedaling to City Hall for a hot cup o’ joe and bicycle goodies, compliments of your community.

For the afternoon crowd, celebrate this nationally recognized bicycle day at the Shops on South Lake Courtyard between Corner Bakery and Macy’s. Learn more about bike routes, meet other bicycle commuters, and relax with some yummy treats during this exciting, bike-centric afternoon.

Thursday, May 20 Pasadena and the Bicycle: A Historical Romance
5:30-8:00pm at the Pasadena Museum of History
This one is for the history guru of the group. Ever heard of the Dobbin’s Cycleway? Wondered what happened to it? Once boasting the most bicycles per capita, Pasadena has a rich and exciting association with the bicycle. With Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and guest speakers, we are excited to present as part of Bike Week Pasadena 2010, a journey back into history to open up the story books of old Pasadena bike culture.

Friday, May 21 Pasadena Crosstown Bicycle Ride
Meet at 6:00pm, Ride departs at 7:00pm-9:00pm
One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town Pasadena
Bicycle Riders All Aboard! The Pasadena Crosstown Ride will scour the streets of Pasadena, picking up new riders at various Pasadena districts (Paseo, Playhouse, North Pasadena) along with a casual pitstop at Jones Coffee. This casual paced ride ends back at the One Colorado Courtyard for the start of the 2nd Annual Pedal Party.

Riders may join us at any of the following stops:

One Colorado Courtyard: Meet from 6:00-6:45pm, ride departs at 7:00pm
In Old Town Pasadena

Jones Coffee: Meet 7:15-7:30pm
537 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105

Paseo Colorado: Meet 7:45-7:55pm
Garfield Promenade off Green St.

Playhouse Courtyard: Meet 8:00pm-8:15pm
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101

Robinson Park: Meet 8:35pm-8:40pm
1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103

Friday, May 21 Intro to Bicycling Workshop
7:00-8:00pm in the One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town Pasadena
Don't feel comfortable heading out on a group ride just yet? We have just the thing for you! We'll break down the barriers of biking in this quick and fun workshop designed specifically for new cyclists. Learn the various products, including bicycles, on the market to make your bicycle adventures exciting, comfortable, and easy. Hosted by Tom from Pasadena Cyclery. Thanks, Tom!

Friday, May 21 Bike Film Screening: Return of the Scorcher
8:00pm-9:00pm at the One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town Pasadena
Catch a screening of 'Return of the Scorcher', a classic bike film that captures the essence of bike lifestyles from all over the world. Meet at the One Colorado Courtyard to enjoy some buttery popcorn, a frosty Fat Tire and a great bike film before the start of the Pedal Party at 9:00 PM.

Friday, May 21 2nd Annual Pedal Party
9:00pm-11:00pm in the One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town Pasadena
Pasadena pedalers kick back and enjoy an evening of live tunes and brews. DJ Kenny-FUNK-port, New Belgium Brewing Company and Big City Hot Dogs at this C.I.C.L.E. FUN-draiser. Prizes and drawings including a giveaway of a Limited Edition Felt Cruiser Bicycle from New Belgium Brewing Company. Yes, folks, this will be one fun evening. You’ll want to invite your friends, too.

Saturday, May 22 Family and Bikes Day
10:00-2:00pm in Central Park, Pasadena on Dayton St. at Fair Oaks Ave.
Bike fun in the sun! Live music all day! Pasadena Cyclery, Incycle, Flying Pigeon, Xtracycle, REI and more! Vendors and exhibitors will display the best in biking gear for the entire family. METRO will have an ARTS bus on hand to teach you just how to load your bike on a bus rack. Safe Moves will have their children’s bicycle safety course on site for your little one to practice safe pedaling. Our local Girl Scouts troop will host face painting. We’ll have a yummy taco truck and a bouncing jumper on site for more fun. Come for an hour, stay all day.

For more information, visit www.cicle.org or call 323.478.0060.

Published April 5, 2010 by NY Times : Green Inc
By LEORA BROYDO VESTEL

The United States transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, recently caused a stir when he proclaimed that bicycling and walking should be given the same consideration as motorized transport in state and local transit projects.

Supporters, who continue to post notes of adulation and thanks on Mr. LaHood’s Facebook page, say the acknowledgment of biking and walking as legitimate modes of transportation is long overdue.

Critics, conversely, believe the secretary is taking the country in the wrong direction.

Mr. LaHood, formerly a Republican congressman from Illinois, spoke with Green Inc. about his reasons for introducing the new policy, the impact it will have on transportation financing, and why bike paths are a good bang for the buck.

Bicycling and walking advocates had a very positive reaction to the policy change. But here at Green Inc., we heard mostly from critics who said it showed you were “delusional” or reflective of some sort of “Maoist” bent. What’s your response to the response?

My response is that this is what Americans want. Americans want alternatives. People are always going to drive cars. We’re always going to have highways. We’ve made a huge investment in our interstate highway system. We’ll always continue to make sure that those investments in the highways are maintained.

But, what Americans want is to get out of their cars, and get out of congestion, and have opportunities for more transit, more light rail, more buses, and some communities are going to street cars. But many communities want the opportunity on the weekends and during the week to have the chance to bike to work, to bike to the store, to spend time with their family on a bike.

So, this is not just Ray LaHood’s agenda, this is the American agenda that the American people want for alternatives to the automobile.

What’s happened around America is people are buying bikes and they’re using them for recreational purposes on the weekend and there’s no better family way for people to spend a weekend than riding their bikes on these biking trails.

This is what Americans want and we’re accommodating their needs to really find places to recreate. And what could be healthier than taking a 30-minute walk, which is recommended by every doctor in America, or hopping on your bike and riding four, five or six miles and enjoying the great outdoors?

Look, this is a win-win. This is a way for people to get out of their cars, a way for people to recreate, a way for people to get good exercise, and it’s what Americans want to do.

In announcing the new policy, you used pretty forceful language, saying it was a “sea change” and “the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of nonmotorized.” The actual policy, however, is more benign in tone, saying, “well-connected walking and bicycling networks is an important component for livable communities, and their design should be a part of federal-aid project developments.”

Do you stand by your initial characterization of the policy?

I think that livable and sustainable communities is a game changer. It’s a game changer because it’s what Americans want. It’s a game changer because people do want to get out of congestion, they want to get out of their cars, they want to be able to enjoy the outdoors, they want to be able to recreate with their families.

And so it’s a game changer from the point of view that it’s a major component of livable and sustainable communities that provide alternatives to automobiles. And some of it is transit, some of it is light rail, some of it is street cars, some of it is good buses. But certainly a big part of it is the opportunity to bike or walk to the grocery store, to work, to the drug store or just spending time with the family and getting some good exercise.

In terms of the way federal transportation dollars will be spent on the ground, is this a zero sum game? Does more money for biking and walking mean less money for motorways?

We’re always going to take care of our highways. As I said, we have a state-of-the-art interstate system that’s been developed over three or four decades. We’re not going to give up on our roads. We know people are always going to drive cars. They’re going to use their cars for long distances.

But as we develop our livable and sustainable communities program, biking and walking paths will be a major component of it. And they will get some significant dollars.

In response to the policy change, a member of Congress said he didn’t understand how you get a bang for the buck out of a bicycle project. Why do you think they’re a good investment?

You don’t have to get a bang for the buck in every form of transportation. Certainly, transit, it provides a good bus or light rail or other kinds of transportation services. But, they don’t make money doing it.

This is a good bang for the buck because it provides alternatives to people, and good exercise, and for people who are very health conscious and for people who want to spend time with their families.

This is a win, win, win. It incorporates a lot of different opportunities for people and it’s a good bang for good health, and a good bang for a different form of transportation, and it’s what the American people want.

Was there any particular reason you wanted to introduce the new policy now?

It has more to do with the fact that we’re rolling out our livable and sustainable communities as we travel around the country and I also was at a huge bikers’ conference in Washington, D.C., and we wanted to give them the chance to really understand that all of their hard work over a long period of time has finally paid off. There’s an administration in place now that has taken to heart their request for more walking and biking paths.

Original Article:

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/qa-transportation-secretary-on-biking-walking-and-what-americans-want/

Published April 5, 2010 by Publicola
by Josh Cohen

Significantly fewer women ride bikes than men. It’s a subject I’ve touched on (very briefly) before, but it bears further exploration.

An article in October’s Scientific American reported that men outnumber women cyclists 2-to-1 in America—a fact the writers attribute in large part to cycling infrastructure. They argue that if there were more protected or separated bike lanes running through cities (and not just along waterways and green spaces) more women would ride.

Some local cycling advocates, however, say that infrastructure is just a small slice of the problem and that things like secure bike parking and appropriate equipment play much larger roles in keeping women from using bikes as transportation.

As I guy, I bring a pretty limited perspective as to what’s keeping women off bikes. So I posed the question to Every Day, commute specialist with the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Day, a bike commuter for more than 20 years, teaches workshops on safe commuting, basic repairs, and proper equipment selection. She says that the conventional wisdom that a lack of bike lanes or trails poses a significant barrier is no more true for women than men. In her view, the number one reason more women don’t cycle is a lack of safe, secure bike parking.

“Imagine you’re a woman on the UW campus going to unlock your bike in a dark area of campus at night,” says Day. “Whether it’s just perception or not, women feel more vulnerable. Bikes feel more vulnerable.”

Day says she’s “by no means saying that women are afraid of bicycling.” But bicycling for transportation means riding at all hours of the day, in all weather, which often means that the beginning and end of the ride is going to involve locking up your bike on a dark street or in a dark parking lot.

To address the issue of secure bike parking (for both bicyclists and their bikes), Bike Alliance introduced the Bike Station (recently rebranded the Bike Port) in 2003. It’s an indoor bike storage facility in Pioneer Square a block north of King Street Station that can be accessed 24/7 by key card.

Instead of standing in the dark and rain, commuters can enter the locked Bike Port, change at their leisure, and use the bathroom in comfort and safety. There are bathrooms, lockers, basic tools and a work stand, and a vending machine stocked with emergency repair supplies. It costs $100 per year ($10 a month, or $2 a day) to use the facility.

The number two impediment for women, Day says, is finding equipment that fits and suits their needs. Until recently, major manufacturers put little to no effort into designing bikes for women. Because the majority of a woman’s height is typically in her legs, riding a bike designed for a man often means being stretched beyond comfort in the upper body. Riding a saddle designed for a man (women’s saddles are often wider to accommodate wider hips and have cut outs to accommodate “soft tissue”) has caused serious discomfort as well for many of the women cyclists I know.

Fortunately, bike fit is significantly less of an issue than it was even five years ago. Some of the biggest companies in the industry—like Trek, Giant, and Specialized—have introduced women-specific versions of their road, mountain, and commuter bikes.

But getting people onto the right bike is still a huge issue. A skinny-tired road bike and a backpack might work fine for commuting to the office (though there are better options out there), but it can’t rival a car for running errands around town and dropping the kids off at school (and the dozen other places parents have to chauffeur their children every week). Day says cargo and electric-assist bikes are key to the viability of bikes as transportation. Cargo bikes give you room to pick up a week’s worth of groceries and the kids. And electric-assist bikes use a battery-powered motor to help you up hills. Day says that sore joints and muscles are major concerns for many of the older women she talks to at events.

Groups like Cascade Bicycle Club and Bicycle Alliance offer plenty of classes that are open to everyone, but there are few women-specific classes. The Bikery in the Central District occasionally offers a class called Basic Bike Maintenance for Women, Gender Queer, and Trans Folk. Their website says the class is for “people who are looking for an intentional alternative to the traditionally male dominated bike-shop environment.”

Nationally, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals is working on a project trying to figure out how to get more women into cycling as part of their broader effort to “change transportation culture.”

A major component of the APBP’s early effort is a survey for women and girls that they’re conducting through May 15. As such, the questions focus heavily on women’s experiences riding on streets, their interactions with cars, and their comfort on bike trails vs. bike lanes. But it also includes questions about other provisions women might want (in the office, around town) to make cycling easier. The APBP says the aim of the survey is to give engineers, city officials, and transportation planners the information needed to design improved, practical cycling infrastructure.

It’d be great to see the number of male and female cyclists equal out. If nothing else, it would basically double the number of cyclists out there, increasing visibility and acceptance. Things like the APBP survey, Bike Alliance’s Bike Port, and The Bikery’s classes for women are small steps in the right direction, but there’s clearly many more changes needed to close the gender gap.

Original story:

http://www.publicola.net/2010/04/05/why-dont-more-women-ride/

Published March 23, 2010 by Christian Science Monitor

How to help this sprawled-out city choked with more than 4 million vehicles and rampant air pollution? Ride a bike, says Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.

New infrastructure, road closures, and bike-sharing programs are helping to promote the two-wheel answer to congestion and poor air quality. There’s the “Muevete en Bici,” which opens 8.7 miles of major avenues to only cyclists on Sundays. The city has also promised to build new bike parking and 186 miles of bike paths by 2012. There are bike racks in the Metro stations as well as bicycle-designated subway cars. Bike-sharing programs abound, the largest being the newly launched EcoBici (EcoBike) that has 1,100 bikes for use. It is the first of its kind in Latin America.

“Just as in other cities, like Barcelona, EcoBici is a project that seeks to recover public spaces, improve people’s quality of life, and, of course, help protect the environment,” said Mayor Ebrard in February at a ceremony to unveil the program.

You’ll even see city government workers cycling to work on the first Monday of each month as they are required to by law.

But the city is still bedeviled by poor air quality, and the bikes are only the latest stab at the problem.

Mexico City has been fighting its appalling air quality since 1986, when birds were known to die mid-flight and the government finally started to establish pollution-cutting initiatives. In the 20 years since, Mexico City has phased out leaded gasoline, introduced emissions standards for cars, shut the worst coal-fired power-plants, and passed legislation to pull cars off the streets and shut factories when pollution levels spike.

Bicycle riders during the week are still scarce. The proposed new bike paths have been stalled because of “budgetary restraints.” Cycling advocates, however, remain convinced of progress.

“Despite the lack of infrastructure I can assure you that in some areas of the city, biking has increased,” says Gen. Bernardo Baranda, policy director for the Institute for Transportation and Development.

Original Article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0323/Mexico-City-makes-way-for-bicycles

After graduating from high school, where he excelled in mathematics, he was drafted into the Navy during World War II and served as a radio operator. Wood returned to Indiana after the war, where he married his first wife, Eve Steelink, and took up motorcycle racing. He even built his own dirt bike.

The couple then moved to Southern California, where Wood enrolled at the prestigious California Institute of Technology, and promptly dropped out.

"That's because he felt he could do better on his own than how they were training him," Williams said.

Wood and his young family migrated north to San Jose, where he found a job in mechanical engineering with FMC. He helped the company design and refine the process of freeze-drying foods, a feat that changed how and what Americans eat.

He stayed at FMC for about a decade. After the death of his first wife, he remarried in 1959. He settled in Monte Sereno with the former Lavada Sowers, with whom he raised eight children.

After refining the sealed hub, Wood invented a machine that turned out stronger spokes for wheels and started producing bike pedals and other components. After selling the company, he and Lavada retired to Baxter, Iowa.

Still intellectually restless, he wrote a textbook on differential calculus and a book on the theory of Turks head knot, a continuously braided knot without end. He tutored local students for years, earning an outstanding achievement award from the local school board. After Lavada died in December, Williams moved her father to Roseville.

Contact Joe Rodriguez at 408-920-5767.

Published March 4, 2010 by LA Times
Hector Tobar

Jose Guzman fell in love with bicycles thanks to God.

His first long bike trip was a few hundred miles through the dry mountains of Jalisco in central Mexico, in a long line with a few hundred other pedaling Catholic pilgrims. Later, he turned his passion for biking into a small delivery business, stacking 200 pounds of fresh chicken over his back wheel every day in suburban Mexico City.

In Los Angeles, Guzman pedals everywhere -- from his apartment in Pico-Union to the Inland Empire, Sylmar, Harbor City and other places, often hitching a ride part of the way on a Metro bus or subway line.

Guzman is a day laborer and soccer referee for hire. He's crossed the city on borrowed bikes and on bikes he's put together himself after salvaging frames and rusted wheels from the trash.

Once he owned a rebuilt bike with a pink frame, and when a girl at MacArthur Park yelled out, "Mommy, that man is riding a girl's bike," he answered back: "Señorita, it doesn't matter what it looks like, as long as the wheels turn and it gets me where I'm going."

Now Guzman has a new set of biking friends. Every week he visits a workshop in downtown Los Angeles, picking up bike repair and riding tips from Arlen Jones and Ramon Martinez, "bicycle cooks" and volunteers with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

"In L.A. we have thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people on bikes that mainstream cyclists never see," Martinez told me. He called them "invisible cyclists" but then corrected himself because really, if you pay attention, you'll almost always see them on the streets.

I've seen the cyclists in the garment district, Koreatown and Pasadena, often in the uniforms of cooks or kitchen workers. They don't wear spandex and they don't bike to lower their cholesterol or to reduce their "carbon footprint."

They don't bike because it's a cool lifestyle choice. Mostly they bike out of necessity.

"My bike is my salvation," Guzman told me. "I see it as part of me. It's my vehicle. I carry bags, backpacks, groceries on it. Everything."

At the small work space on South Main Street, Guzman and a handful of other day laborers get lessons from some young but seasoned mechanics who are also passionate biking activists.

The two groups of men fix brakes together, take apart gear assemblies and push pedals with their hands until the spinning freewheels produce their normal, soothing clicks.

Original Article:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/04/local/la-me-tobar5-2010mar05

Published March 7, 2010 by Boston Herald
By Christine McConville

Bike builder Ted Wojcik has a problem.

The gifted mechanic, who honed his skills in the Navy as an aviation machinist, has come up with a machine that’s catching investors’ attention.

The not-yet-named device is a recumbent-style bicycle with a lawnmower attachment on the back. It’s a pollution-free way for homeowners to get some exercise and cut their lawn at the same time.

Since introducing it to the world at last month’s North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Virginia, investors have approached the Vietnam War veteran with plans of getting rich through mass producing his product.

But this proud American will only work with people who promise to make the bikes here in the United States.

“I only want to do this if it leads to American jobs,” he said from his southern New Hampshire home. “I believe that Americans can’t compete on prices anymore, but we can certainly compete on quality. “And I’d like to see this machine sold as a high-quality object that will last a while.”

Wojcik, 63, is well-known in the high-end cycling world.

For 30 years, he has been building custom bikes, for a select international clientele, and he’s proud of his position.

“There are 4.3 million bicycles sold every year, and I only want to sell 100,” he said.

About a year ago, a customer from Portsmouth, N.H., approached him about a human-powered lawnmower.

Wojcik got to work, with his engineer son Cody. Together they created what many say is the world’s greenest, quietest, least-polluting sit-down lawnmower.

“I wouldn’t use it to take care of a golf course, but it is very capable. It has been mowing lawns since August,” he said.

The bike works on its own, too.

The prototype cost about $3,500 to make, and when it first went into use this past August, Wojcik said passers-by got out of their cars to take a closer look.

Wojcik and his son are now working on a second, less-costly version of the machine.

Wojcik is a New York native who came to New England when he joined the Navy. He later worked in motorcycle and automobile shops on the North Shore.

Published February 22, 2010 by LATimes.com: Blogs

Two bike messengers saved the day for a Los Angeles man Monday when they chased a bike thief for five blocks downtown and then knocked him to the ground, causing him to flee, police said.

Jesus Tobar, 43, said he was working out at 24-Hour Fitness in the 500 block of Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles when he emerged to find his green Iron Horse Desperado Mountain Bike gone.

Tobar returned to the gym to ask if there was any security surveillance video. But two bike couriers had seen his $500 bike being taken and had already set off after the thief.

The couriers pedaled through downtown at high speed on a chase that traversed sidewalks and busy streets, said LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith. Eventually, one of the messengers was able to grab the thief's shirt and pull him to the ground.

The man then took off on foot and the couriers reclaimed the bike.

"This was a wild, high-speed bicycle chase through crowded streets of the Jewelry Mart," Smith said. "We are now looking for a 30-year-old man with a torn shirt, a possibly sprained ankle, as well as road rash."

A Times analysis of LAPD data found the USC campus area, Venice, parts of Hollywood and downtown L.A. to be hot spots for bike thefts.

As the thefts have increased, some people have taken matters into their own hands. Last month, bike messengers downtown caught two suspected thieves, teenage boys who attended a local Catholic high school, and stripped them down to their boxer shorts before taking their cellphones, backpacks and clothes.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Original Article:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/bike-couriers-case-down-would-be-bike-thief-in-wild-downtown-pursuit.html

Published February 12, 2010 by LA Times
By Richard Winton

Although crime is dropping in Los Angeles, there is one glaring exception: bicycle thefts, which rose 29% last year.

Nearly 2,000 bikes were reported stolen last year -- and authorities believe the actual number of thefts was much higher because so many people don't report stolen bikes.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives believe the increase is due in part to more people using bikes to get around in some neighborhoods.

A Times analysis of LAPD data found the USC campus area, Venice, parts of Hollywood and downtown L.A. to be hot spots for bike thefts.

LAPD detectives recently broke up a downtown bicycle theft ring and nabbed two men who allegedly swiped bikes downtown and sold them on Craigslist.com. At the motel of one of the alleged thieves, they found bolt cutters, hacksaws and a Mercedes-Benz equipped with a bike rack.

Some bike messengers last month took justice into their own hands when they caught two suspected thieves, teenage boys who attended a local Catholic high school.

According to police, the messengers stripped down the teens to their boxer shorts before taking their cellphones, backpacks and clothes.

"They meted out street justice. We don't condone street justice. They never threatened them. But they made it clear: Don't mess with another person's property," said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. "This incident and the arrests are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people stealing bicycles."

Vernon said the two boys told police they were robbed about 3 p.m. Jan. 12 by about 20 men on bicycles at 6th Street and Grand Avenue.

Investigators said they cannot prove the boys were stealing bikes and are continuing to look for the assailants.

Still, the incident has been the talk of the downtown biking world.

"There wasn't any violence. . . . They were stripped of their clothes and sent home," said Douglas Forrest, a process server and bicycle messenger who heard about the incident.

In downtown, the number of bikes reported stolen increased last year by more than 57% -- and cyclists have noticed.

"They'll take anything they can get these days. It has gotten really bad," Forrest said. "They even go as far as [to] rip off the cranks. People glue ball bearings in the Allen wrench holes under their saddle to protect them."

Downtown, bicycles are most likely to be stolen between noon and 6 p.m., and Wednesdays are the hottest days for theft, according to an LAPD analysis.

Original Article:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/12/local/la-me-bike-thefts12-2010feb12

Published February 15, 2010 by ETA.co.uk

New technology is fuelling a cycle lights arms race; the most powerful of the latest crop of LED, Xenon strobe and high-intensity discharge (HID) bicycle lights are rated at over 2000 lumens – by comparison, the typical halogen car headlamp produces around 1000 to 1500 lumens.

However, despite the ever-increasing power of cycle lights, they illuminate only the road ahead.

Research from America suggests that the majority of collisions involving cyclists that occur at night happen when a rider is struck from the side.

Neon lights for bikes

A company has developed a neon strip lighting system for bicycles that can be positioned to provide all-round illumination.

The Down Low Glow lights come in a variety of colours and are similar to the kits fitted occasionally fitted to cars, but feature shatterproof thermoplastic tubes for safety and rechargeable batteries for power.

A spokesperson from the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Flashing lights help cyclists stand out, but these neon lights help make sure you seen from all angles – they are great fun, too.”

Kits start at around £82 and can be ordered directly form the manufacturer in America via Rock the bike

Original Article:

http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/02/15/pimp-your-ride-coloured-neon-lights-bicycles

Published February 11, 2010 by GreenbayPressGazette.com
By Michael King

A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate students says bicycling generates more than a $1.5 billion economic impact in Wisconsin, exceeding the impact of even the deer hunting industry.

"People do not realize that bicycling is a big business in Wisconsin," said state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, who commissioned the report by the university's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Among the policy recommendations included in the report are to: accelerate investment and development of bicycle routes, lanes and paths throughout the state for safety and convenience; encourage people to replace short automobile trips with bicycling trips; and develop a culture of bicycling for recreation and transportation, especially among the younger generation.

The report also suggests that increased bicycling has the potential to deliver significant health benefits and savings to the tune of $319 million annually.

"Right now people in droves come to Wisconsin for cycling," said Kevin Hardman, executive director of Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. "Wisconsin has some of the best bicycling in the world. We're not proud enough here. We don't tout ourselves. It's the Midwest modesty, but we really do have it here. To me it's not a laurel to rest on, but an asset to leverage to really be world class."

Jeff Wentworth of JB Cycle & Sport in Howard said the industry in Wisconsin ranges from sales of trail passes and participation in various racing series and events, to retail sales and manufacturers like Planet Bike, Trek — and their associated brands — that are based in Wisconsin.

"There's quite a bit of overall impact if you consider both ends — the consumer end and my end where we are selling to the public," he said. "And people buying trail passes."

Appleton bicycling enthusiast Dick Kendall said the economic impact found in the comprehensive report is "positively surprising" since it far exceeds the $556 million impact estimated in 2006 by the Bike Federation of Wisconsin.

Kendall said it also bolsters the need for local trail development since bicycling is very affordable for anyone to participate in, while the health benefits are profound.

The report will be used to help support lobbying efforts, justify trail grant applications and serve as a "great reference point to cite as we continue to grow the idea of expanding trails in the Valley," Kendall said.

"The cost of owning a bike is small compared to a snowmobile or an ATV," Kendall said. "So, for a reasonable investment almost anyone, no matter age or size, can ride a bike."

With the current economic climate, the report said promoting bicycling tourism could encourage visitors from places like metropolitan Chicago or Minneapolis-St. Paul who choose to forego more exotic vacations. Increasing nonresident bicycling by 20 percent has the potential to increase spending by more than $107 million and create 1,528 full-time equivalent jobs.

Town of Menasha resident Tom Ales, who bikes about eight miles year-round to his job as a research scientist at Kimberly-Clark Corp., estimated he spends $500 to $1,500 annually on bike equipment, apparel, tools and components.

While biking 8,000 to 10,000 miles a year, Ales spends money at "local convenience stores, the mall, movie theaters" while avoiding other costs. "I save a ton on gas and only put 2,000 to 4,000 miles on my car a year as a result," he said. "I ride all year-round and from March to the end of November I ride everywhere I can."

Locally, Wentworth said his shop has seen a spike in recent years for bike repair — thanks in large part to stratospheric gas prices in the summer of 2008.

"One of my suppliers said he sold more 27-inch tires for the old Schwinns that summer than the past five or eight years put together," Wentworth said. "A lot of tune-ups came in. A lot of new cables, new seats."

Original Article:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100211/GPG03/2110548/1247/gpg03/Bicycles-helping-state-economy-go-round

Published January 26, 2010 by New York Times Blogs : City Room
By J. DAVID GOODMAN

There are days — sometimes ten a month — when Steve Vaccaro finds himself in the saddle well past midnight. A lawyer in Midtown, Mr. Vaccaro, 44, commutes by bike to and from his Upper East Side apartment, even when work keeps him in the office until early the next morning.

“It’s very pleasant,” he said – except for the garbage trucks – “and I find it helps me unwind before going to sleep.”

Until recently, Leah Casner worked the late shift as a financial proofreader in downtown Manhattan, regularly riding through the dead of night back to her home in the Rosebank neighborhood of Staten Island. She, too, said she found peace cruising through a quieter city.

“There weren’t too many cars on the street, and those that were, it always seemed as if they were watching for me,” said Ms. Casner, 53. “I seldom had to stop or even slow down, and no one honked they way they do during the day. It was just, as I said, almost magical.”

No firm numbers exist for the number of New Yorkers who commute by bicycle during the wee hours. But in a city of inveterate overworking undersleepers, it’s a near certainty that many of the tens of thousands of regular bike commuters are doing so. Often festooned with lights and reflective clothing, these night riders find an almost monastic commute in the slowed-down streets.

“There is nothing so peaceful as that little jaunt through SoHo and N.Y.U. that early in the morning,” said Meredith Sladek, who wakes up at 4:20 a.m. in order to make it from Staten Island to the coffee shop near Washington Square Park where she works by 6.

Of course, riding when others are sleeping is not without the usual urban risks: “Once someone tried to mug me while I was unlocking,” Mr. Vaccaro said. “But I informed him (truthfully) that he was on a video camera and he ran off.”

Those who leave or arrive at work at odd hours are also not able to take advantage of the city’s new “bikes in buildings” law, which requires office buildings of a certain size to grant access to freight elevators during regular business hours. The Department of Transportation, which promoted the law as a way to encourage bike commuting, has received “a handful” of comments from riders about elevator operating hours, said Seth Solomonow, the department’s chief spokesman.

Transportation advocates report similar difficulties with the limited hours required by the law. “It’s coming up often,” Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives wrote in an e-mail message. “The solution is for buildings to just let folks bring their bikes down the front of the building after hours,” when traffic in the passenger elevators is lighter.

Besides commuters, other night riders venture out for the pure pleasure of it. David Jordan, a cycling coach on the Upper West Side, said he enjoyed going off-road in Central Park at night. “This is especially fun when there is snow and ice throughout the park,” Mr. Jordan said. “It’s also a great chance to approach critters like raccoons. The bridle path, the reservoir, the North Woods, through the zoo — when there aren’t pedestrians around is fantastic riding!”

Night training among racers in Central Park has a long, if fading, legacy, one that traces its way to the early days of track racing in the 1920s. It was known, for years, simply as the Night Ride.

The ride, which would often approach racing speeds, eventually faded from Central Park on all but the coldest nights as police patrols increased, said John Campo, a veteran racer. A video from the early 2000s documents one of the more recent rides.

Whether racing or just riding home, cruising through the city at night is a time for reflection and release.

My colleague Amedeo Tumolillo rides home every night around 3 a.m., when his shift on the Times Web site ends. He writes, “There are times Broadway is so clear of activity, I freely swerve my bike from one side of the street to the other for no other reason than that I can.”

Original Article:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/for-night-riders-finding-peace-on-sleepy-streets/

Published February 11, 2010 by MercuryNews.com

RENO, Nev.—Reno police say stepped up safety enforcement in crosswalks and bicycle lanes is paying off.

Published Feburary 8, 2010 by LA Times : Traffic Talkback
By Ari Bloomekatz

In a region known for traffic-jammed freeways, a group of cycling advocates has developed a plan for a freeway system for bikes.

The Backbone Bikeway Network would create miles-long east-west and north-south corridors for cyclists along some of the county’s largest streets and heaviest-traveled corridors.

The network is one part of the plan offered by The L.A. Bike Working Group and was created as an alternative to the city of L.A.’s proposed bicycle plan.

What do you think about the proposed bike plan? Do cyclists deserve a larger chunk of the road? Can motorists share the road? Leave your thoughts in the comments at the LA Times site below.

Original Article:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/should-la-give-cyclists-more-space-on-the-road-share-your-thoughts.html

Published February 10, 2010 by ETA.co.uk

Ducati has built its reputation on building thoroughbred twin-cylinder sports motorcycles, but the latest two-wheeler in the Italian company’s range is an electric bicycle with a top speed of 15mph.

The Ducati ‘City Pearl’ electric bicycle has a 250 watt motor mounted in its front wheel hub, with a lithium battery and other electronics on a luggage rack above the rear wheel.

A joint venture between Ducati and Italian electric bicycle maker, Italwin,
the bicycle is expected to go on sale in the forthcoming months and will be available via cycle shops as well as a handful of motorcycle dealerships.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) “If the City Pearl proves as popular as the other bikes in the Ducati line up, the electric bicycle market could enjoy a boost.”

Original Article:

http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/02/10/my-other-electric-bicycle-ducati

Published January 29, 2010 by CityWatch
By Stephen Box

Declaring "The culture of the car ends now!" City Councilman Bill Rosendahl invoked the Cyclists' Bill of Rights (LINK) and took a giant leap at pursuing a city ordinance that would prohibit the harassment of cyclists. He drew applause from council chambers as he articulated several examples of the behavior that he wants to forbid on the streets of Los Angeles. (Video here) 1. Knowingly throwing a projectile or discharge at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle:

2. Threatening any person riding a bicycle verbally or by use of his/her vehicle for the purpose of injuring, frightening or disturbing the person riding the bicycle;

3. Knowingly placing his/her vehicle within 3’ of a bicyclist while passing or following;

4. Making physical contact with a bicyclist from a moving vehicle or the roadway either by physical person or use of an implement;

5. Knowingly placing a person riding a bicycle in concern of immediate physical injury;

6. Knowingly engaging in conduct that creates a risk of physical injury or death to the person riding a bicycle.

As cyclists offered testimony of their experience riding the streets of Los Angeles, they were echoed in their concerns by members of the City Council who agreed that the City needs to do more to support the cycling community.

Councilman Ed Reyes recounted his experience as a child getting hit by a motorist as he rode his bike.

Councilman Rosendahl reminded the council of the Mandeville Canyon Road-Rage incident that brought the issue of harassment of cyclists to the forefront.

Councilman Paul Koretz stood in support and declared "We need to send a clear message."

Rosendahl brought it home saying “We’re going to give cyclists the support they should have been getting.”

It seems simple, after all, who can stand in favor of harassment of any kind, but the devil is in the details.

The proposed "anti-harassment" motion, which simply directs the generation of reports on the development of an ordinance has made it through the Transportation Committee but hit a speed hump at the Public Safety Committee which recommended further study. The City Council voted to essentially direct the City Attorney and the LADOT to continue with the generation of reports.

As cyclists recounted their experiences turning to the LAPD for assistance when they experienced road-rage, aggression from motorists, threats, assaults and even hit-and-run collisions, Rosendahl responded by saying "The LAPD hasn't been part of the solution, but sometimes has been part of the problem." The LAPD had no response, they weren't there. Somehow the LAPD and the District Attorney were left out of the process, leaving the LADOT as the lead and the City Attorney deferring in the development of an anti-harassment ordinance that requires enforcement and prosecution support. Some might even suggest that it requires support from Sacramento.

The real value of this ordinance lies not in its chances of becoming law but in the fact that the harassment of cyclists is being discussed, prompting some to murmur "This is how it starts!"

Complementing the City Council's slow but steady pursuit of a more bikeable Los Angeles was the City's ongoing study of Bike Sharing, an endeavor that prompted Council President Eric Garcetti to refer to great bikeable cities such as East Hollywood, Paris and Long Beach. (Not often that those three are mentioned in the same breath!)

The bike sharing concept is an old one even in Los Angeles where college students can "rent" a bike for the quarter, studio employees can "share" a bike while on the lot, tourists can "borrow" a bike from some hotels, and bikes "for hire" exist in several locations.

None of these are as visible as the programs in Paris or Munich or Leon but perhaps that's the real opportunity for the City of LA, to support those small operators who are already in the bike share business with promotion and marketing support.
•••
Capping off the "anything but the budget" day at City Hall was the Transportation Committee's showdown over the speed limit increases in the Valley. On the agenda were proposals to raise the speed limit on Riverside Drive (up to 45 mph) and Chandler Avenue (up to 50 mph) in an effort to certify the streets for radar/laser speed limit violation enforcement.

Cyclists were joined by members of the community, all braced with arguments against the City of LA's continued pursuit of increased speed limits as a tool for enforcement, but the debate faded at the request of Councilman Krekorian who wanted to pursue other options, such as his AB 766 Safe Streets bill which he introduced last year when he served as the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Assembly.

The bill did not make it to the finish line but the message was clear, the 50 year old speed trap law needed to be revised so that local authorities can set speed limits with greater sensitivity to the local community. Not all streets should be raceways, not all streets should be fast cut-throughs, not all streets should be hospitable for speeding motorists.

Councilmembers Krekorian and Koretz both asked the hard questions and seem to understand that there are methods for slowing traffic other than simply raising the speed limits and then relying on traffic officers with radar/laser enforcement.

Now is the time to pursue traffic calming methods, many of which represent funding opportunities such as Safe Routes to School, Highway Safety Improvement Program funding and Office of Traffic Safety grants.

Road diets, bulb-outs, speed tables, pedestrian enhancements and other innovations are not just tools for safety, they are also opportunities to put people to work, to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and to bring funding into the city coffers.

(Stephen Box is a transportation and cycling advocate and writes for CityWatch. He can be reached at \n Stephen@thirdeyecreative.net This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) -cw

Original Article:

http://citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3148

Published January 7, 2010 by ParentCentral.ca
Kristin Rushowy

Yes, it was built with a kiss 'n ride lane. No, the school doesn't want parents to use it.

In fact, P.L. Robertson elementary in Milton, which opened this week, has been designated a "walking-only school," where students will be strongly encouraged to use their feet – or bikes or any other active way – to get there.

It is part of a broader initiative at the Halton District School Board to stop traffic jams around schools and get students moving.

Gridlock in the parking lot and surrounding streets is an all-too common problem for schools in the Greater Toronto Area, thanks to parents who insist on driving their children, even if they don't live all that far away.

At other schools, Joyce Jermyn has watched parents who live close by drive their kids, cramming their cars in between buses, then idling as the youngsters make their way inside, even though staff is out there helping kids get to class.

"For me, exercise has always been a part of who I am and what I do," says Jermyn, vice-principal at P.L. Robertson. "There are too many kids who don't want to go outside because they never play outside."

The statistics bear that out: 54 per cent of Ontario children do not get enough physical activity to keep them healthy; in Halton, less than half of 12- to 14-year-olds are active in their free time. One-fifth of 5-year-olds are overweight in Halton.

That's why Jermyn felt it was so important to get on board with Active and Safe Routes to School – a national program that supports walking to school – and start off right with the brand new school.

Even though it will be February – the coldest time of year – when the walking routes are up and running, she is optimistic. "In a neighbourhood that's been established, it takes a long time to break that (driving) culture," says Jermyn. "But now, in a new school, we can set the culture to begin with.

"We know we aren't going to get 100 per cent compliance, but if we can get 90 per cent, I'm thrilled."

The school has a 1-kilometre walking route, as well as a second route with drop-off points for parents who want to drive their child to a central meeting spot. There are vests for walking leaders, and the school received some money to purchase wagons to carry younger children's backpacks.

Jermyn says because it is a new subdivision, there are a few drawbacks: No crossing guards, stop signs, or even speed-limit postings.

Jennifer Jenkins, who has been seconded from Halton public health to work with the board to expand "walking school bus" programs, piloted them at eight schools last year. No child is ever expected to walk more than 1.6 kilometres.

Some schools last year were so successful they had three routes each. One school was able to get up to 100 per cent of students in several grades walking every day. The programs are led by parent volunteers or, sometimes, teacher volunteers who walk the routes and meet up with students at various points.

"It increases physical activity, there's better air quality, safety and decreased traffic around the school, which again increases safety and injury prevention," says Jenkins.

About 20 Halton schools are currently taking part.

Original Article:
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/747328--dropping-kids-off-here-better-lace-your-shoes-up

Published January 25, 2010 by LOS ANGELES (KABC)

Los Angeles police detectives broke up a ring of downtown bike thieves over the weekend, recovering several stolen bikes and parts, drug paraphernalia and counterfeit money.

On Friday, undercover detectives arranged to buy a bicycle posted on the Craigslist Web site. That same day, the bike's owner had reported it stolen from the 500 block of Olympic Boulevard.

The detectives met Ukrainian native, 51-year-old Konstantin Rostovtsev, in Santa Monica and arrested him on suspicion of receiving stolen property. They said Rostovtsev then led them to 43-year-old Edward Arciga.

Detectives arranged another bike sale and met Arciga on Saturday at the Olive Motel on Sunset Boulevard. They said an accomplice opened a motel room door as they arrested Arciga. Inside, they spotted bolt cutters and more bicycles.

Detectives said, in addition to the stolen bikes, they found counterfeit bills, counterfeiting equipment, and drug paraphernalia. They said Arciga was booked for receiving stolen property, but may also face federal counterfeiting charges.

"This is a significant break for us," said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon. "There were 123 bicycles stolen downtown in 2009. That's 45 more than the year before, and we know there is more than one ring of thieves who are preying on bicyclists."

Police remind bicyclists to protect themselves with strong locks and not to leave bikes in public places any longer than necessary. It is also a good idea to record your bike's serial number and keep a receipt of its purchase.

Original Article:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7239019

Published January 26, 2010 by LA Times
By Tony Barboza

A dozen notables mounted bikes outside the entrance to Long Beach City Hall late last year for the unveiling of a metallic bicycle sculpture with a lofty proclamation:

"Long Beach, the most bicycle friendly city in America," it reads in bold steel lettering under the likeness of an antique bicycle.

It was a little premature, leaders admit.

"But we're striving for that," said City Manager Pat West, a longtime cyclist.

While other cities spin their wheels, Long Beach is joining the ranks of places such as Portland, Ore., San Francisco and New York City that have made safe passage for bikes a priority, even at the expense of traffic lanes.

And as Los Angeles reviews comments to a draft of a bike plan that proposes 696 miles of new bikeways, Long Beach is taking action.

"Long beach is a built-out city and yet they're finding a way to make east-west and north-south corridors that are safer and more inviting," said Jennifer Klausner, executive director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group. "There's no reason L.A. can't do the same thing. It doesn't have to be the slow-moving cog in the machine."

At a time when cities are cutting expenses across the board, Long Beach has raised $17 million in state and federal grants to improve its bike system through traffic improvements, education and bike share programs. In the next six months, the city will be resurfacing 20 miles of streets to include new bike lanes, part of a plan that includes painting and paving more than 100 miles of bike infrastructure.

In spring, the city hopes to install traffic circles on less-traveled streets parallel to thoroughfares and designate them "bike boulevards" -- preferred routes for cyclists.

Also in the works are plans to replace entire lanes of traffic with protected bikeways. And in what's bound to be a controversial move, the city is looking at taking away prime parallel parking spots -- the ones most convenient to shops and restaurants -- and putting "bike corrals" in their place.

"We can fit 15 customers where we used to fit one," said Charles Gandy, the city's bike mobility coordinator. "This is about differentiating Long Beach from L.A. and Orange County."

City planners have gone far and wide for input, bringing in experts to give advice, the mayor of Bogota, Colombia, and Copenhagen's traffic engineer among them.

And officials have enlisted a corps of volunteers -- from young, fixed-gear-riding hipsters to paunchy, middle-aged road cyclists -- to help out with tasks such as bike counts, which will help determine where more bike lanes will be placed.

Street by street, cyclists and motorists are seeing changes, the most dramatic of which took place last summer when lanes of green paint appeared on one of the city's busiest stretches, providing an early test of how the city will balance car traffic with cyclists' rights to safe routes.

The green strip created a "sharrow" -- a 6-foot-wide space in the middle of the right lane of traffic on both sides of 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. It was intended to be a stark reminder that drivers must share the road with cyclists.

But when the green lane appeared last summer, it startled drivers and cyclists alike in the often traffic-choked retail district, drawing national attention for pitting the two against each other. "City puts bicycles directly in the path of motorists," USA Today wrote in a blog post.

"There was a lot of confusion from cyclists and motorists because there was green paint all over the place," said Dominic Dougherty, manager of the Bikestation, a business that provides bike rentals, parking and repair in downtown Long Beach. "And confusion breeds anger."

Gandy said the green strip "better articulates the existing law," which allows bikes to travel with vehicular traffic.

"We haven't given cyclists any more privileges than before the green stripe, we've just made it more obvious," he said.

But others say the green lanes have emboldened cyclists too much, with many weaving in and out of traffic, riding four-deep and making the already clogged street impassable.

"We just don't understand" the purpose, said driver Anne Long, an insurance agent who lives blocks from 2nd Street. "Are we supposed to pull over and go around them? I just stay behind them and go really slow until there's an opening in the other lane."

But others say that slowly, behavior is changing; cyclists are being more consistent about where they ride and drivers are being more attentive.

"When it first got put in we thought, 'Oh, my God, everyone is going to get murdered,' " said Jean-Marie Garcia, a hair stylist who rides her baby-blue beach cruiser to work on 2nd Street every day.

"But gradually, over time, drivers have adjusted. They're slowing down."

Volunteers counted bikes before and after the green lanes appeared. According to a December report by the city, the number of cyclists on 2nd Street increased by 29% while the number of bikes on the narrow sidewalk waned by 22%.

And there have been only two incidents since they debuted, both involving cyclists running into cars.

Calling the green lanes an early success, the city is undertaking other bike-oriented enhancements. Last month, crews painted more green on two busy intersections where early morning road bikers congregate. The "bicycle boxes" give cyclists a designated place in front of cars to safely wait for the signal to change.

The city is also working with businesses and community groups to provide incentives such as 20% lunch discounts for cyclists -- to get people to ride to work, shops and restaurants.

The port-adjacent community also has some built-in features that may ease its quest for bike friendliness.

For one, it's flat and built on a grid -- easy to get around on a simple beach cruiser.

While it's a city by any measure, its digestible size makes bike transportation a more plausible alternative than in the sprawl of Los Angeles.

And the city already has continuous bike paths along three of its borders: the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers and the beach.

"We have such a huge advantage over other cities because we have these things," said City Manager West, who rides a road bike around town on the weekends.

"We're doing a lot of things outside of the box -- at least for Southern California," he said.

One example is the city's spin on a recent rise in bike thefts: It's a good thing, West and others joked, because after all, it indicates more people are out riding bikes.

And Long Beach is getting attention for its efforts. This week, the city is hosting delegations from some admirers: transit planners in Los Angeles, Glendale and other nearby cities who would like to draw inspiration from the Long Beach bike plan.

It's a shift for Long Beach, where, like in many other Southern California communities, the car still reigns supreme, said Andréa White-Kjoss, president and chief executive of Bikestation, the Long Beach-based firm that has seven bike transit centers in California, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

"If we can do it here," she said, "you can do it anywhere."

tony.barboza@latimes.com

Original Article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere26-2010jan26,0,2379007,full.story

Published January 25, 2010 by Bike Radar

Roughly a month before the start of North American Handmade Bicycle Show, 121 exhibitors have bought 167 out of 177 total spaces making the 6th annual NAHBS a virtual sellout.

"It looks like we're headed for another big one,” said Don Walker, the show’s founder and director. “We've sold way more than our block of hotel rooms, and have had to expand that, and now it looks like we're going to be at or very near capacity in the show hall. I think this is a clear indicator of the amount of interest this show attracts."



Any last minute exhibitors at the show have until Wednesday January 27th to get their information to NAHBS for publication in the show directory.



The three-day show starts on February 26th, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, in Richmond, Virginia.

Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival set for August 7 and 8 in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Complex.

This third-year event, formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show, has grown steadily since it’s inception prompting the name change.

“Calling it a festival better describes what the weekend is all about,” says Carol Johnson, the event’s director. “The Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival features everything from custom builders, production bikes, components and accessories, to specialty service companies and non-profits together with a wide range of other cycling-related attractions.”

For the 2010 edition, the RMB Festival adds an Indoor/Outdoor Demo allowing attendees can test ride bikes. Free seminars and a Graham Watson photo exhibit are also planned.

The Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival will kick-off the weekend with a party at Boulder Indoor Cycling on Friday night with the return of the Boulder 6. Last year’s event saw Hüdz-Subaru riders Chuck Coyle and Colby Pearce top an international-caliber field including Clark Sheehan and Ryan Sabga after a fast-paced night of European-style Six Day track racing.

On Saturday the Festival opens at 10am and concludes with an awards ceremony on Sunday at 3pm.

Original Article:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/north-american-handmade-bike-show-and-rocky-mountain-bicycle-festival-updates-24777

Published January 15, 2009 by Sacramento Business Journal
by Melanie Turner

Lea Brooks commutes 42 miles round-trip daily between Rancho Cordova and her job downtown — on a bicycle.

Brooks, assistant director of communications for the state Department of Pesticide Regulation, acknowledges she’s a bit of an “extreme” bike commuter who rarely misses a day. But even riding a short distance once a week means there’s one less car on the region’s often-congested roadways, she said.

“Even if you ride once a week well, then, good for you,” she said. “You should never underestimate the contribution you’re making.”

Though few people actually bike to work, the numbers are growing, according to American Bicyclist, the magazine of the League of American Bicyclists.

Brooks said she’s noticed the trend, and attributes the local upswing in bike commuters to the increase in gas prices and work the region’s cities have done to better accommodate riders.

“If you build it, they will come,” she said. “We still have a long way to go, but the facilities are improving all the time.”

Sacramento ranks fourth in the nation — and first in California — for bicycle commuting among the 70 largest cities, according to a national survey published by American Bicyclist.

The magazine ranked cities based on data from the American Community Survey, a nationwide survey of households meant to provide information about how communities are changing during the years between the decennial U.S. census.

Sacramento ranked fourth behind Portland, Ore., Minneapolis and Seattle. Portland more than tripled its bike share to almost 6 percent in 2008 from 2000.

The percentage of people in Sacramento who bicycle to work jumped 101 percent between 2000 and 2008, to 2.72 percent from 1.35 percent.

A bicycling infrastructure

Walt Seifert, executive director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, said he believes more people are riding bikes to work because the city has become more bicycle-friendly.

“I think the city has been good about making conditions better for cyclists,” he said, noting a number of changes the city made last year in midtown.

Several streets, including P, Q, 19th and 21st, went from three lanes to two with bike lanes. The city also converted a number of parking meters to bike racks.

Efforts by cities to improve conditions for cyclists, from investing in engineering and education to planning, are paying off with increases in bicycle commuters, according to an article in the most recent issue of American Bicyclist.

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments Metropolitan Transportation Plan anticipates the region will spend $1.4 billion on facilities for cyclists, pedestrians and people with disabilities by 2035, a 56 percent increase over the previous plan. In 2008, SACOG awarded $11.4 million to such projects, and directors will consider next week approving another $8.6 million over the next two years.

Last year, Mayor Kevin Johnson said he’d like to see Sacramento achieve the top, or platinum, level of the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Communities program, which recognizes cities that actively support bicycling.

Cities such as Portland and Davis are platinum, while Sacramento is bronze.

The article notes that the American Community Survey, which it relied on to rank cities for bike commuting, does not determine how many people have ever, or sometimes, bike to work. “The phrasing of the question means that only the consistent bike commuters get counted,” the article states.

Multiple benefits

Matt Kuzins, president of Kuzins and Kumpany, a direct-mail fundraising consulting firm, said he averages four days a week on a bike.

“I don’t have a very long ride,” said Kuzins, who rides less than four miles each way between East Sacramento and downtown.

melanieturner@bizjournals.com | 916-558-7859

Original Article:

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/01/18/story3.html?b=1263790800^2734901

Published October 17, 2006 by C.I.C.L.E.

As most of us dedicated urban bicycle commuters already know, we bikers are entitled to the use of the existing roadways (most freeways excluded), and have all of the same rights and responsibilities as that of a motorist. Yet most motorists and many beginning bicyclists are not informed about the vehicle code as it pertains to bicyclists. This frequently leads to misunderstandings, hostile relations, and sometimes collisions between bicyclists and motorists.

In an attempt to address this problem, we’ve drafted up a little easy-to-read motorist tips card designed to educate motorists about some of our basic rights and needs as bicyclists, while also identifying some of the most common misunderstandings about bicyclists on the roadway. This is in no way a complete and comprehensive text on the issue -- rather, this simply focuses on some key areas that seem to be common sources of conflict on the road.

We will be distributing these cards within the Los Angeles area. But we really encourage you to get involved. Help us print and distribute these cards, as this will greatly broaden the reach of this awareness campaign, and reduce our costs too.

Downloads

These cards are available as pdf -- 3 to an 8.5” x 11” sheet.

Print or copy each side back to back, making sure that the columns are aligned. Cut them into 3 parts, trimming the excess on the sides.

Front: (English)

Back: (English)

En Español

For a more comprehensive understanding of the vehicle code as it pertains to bicycles, please read:

California Vehicle Code (as it pertains to bicycles)