Published July 1, 2009 by BBC News
By Kieron Humphrey

On the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, next year's crop of bicycles is being watered by Benjamin Banda.

"We planted this bamboo last year," he says, "and now the stems are taller than me. When it's ready we'll cut it, cure it and then turn it into frames."

Mr Banda, is the caretaker for Zambikes, a company set up by two Californians and two Zambians which aimed to build bikes tough enough to handle the local terrain.

Co-founder Vaughn Spethmann, 24, recalls how it all started with a game of football.

"We were here on a university field trip and we organized a match against some locals. Afterwards we asked them what they did, and they said: 'Nothing'. They didn't have jobs.

"So we decided to come up with a business which would be a source of employment and provide a useful product."

That product was the rugged, bright yellow Zambike, assembled at the firm's smart red-brick workshop set in sun-browned farmland.

Other projects followed as the mechanics' skills improved: a sturdy cargo bike, a bike trailer and a bike-drawn "zambulance", now in use at 10 clinics around Lusaka.

Good vibrations

Meanwhile Santa Cruz-based bike designer Craig Calfee was experimenting with bamboo as a material for bike frames.

His prototypes proved that the strength and lightness of the plant made it a great substitute for metal.

As a bonus it had excellent vibration-dampening properties, making it comfortable for riding over long distances.

It was eye-catching too - Mr Calfee's stand was besieged when he unveiled his first bamboo frame at a bike show.

Mr Calfee hatched a plan to manufacture the frames in developing countries, distribute them in the US and share the profits.

He had already set up a workshop in Accra, Ghana, and started looking for more bike producers, nicknamed "bambooseros".

The industry telegraph started humming and soon he was talking to Zambikes.

"We were so excited," says Mr Spethmann. "The thought of Zambian-made products being sold in the USA. That just doesn't happen."

There are many reasons why it's so unusual: capital is difficult to raise in Zambia; tools and raw materials - if available - are expensive; skilled labour is in short supply; and bureaucracy isn't.

In this context having a low-cost raw material on the doorstep is a godsend.

"And of course there's very little impact on the environment," says Dustin McBride, the other American on the Zambikes management team.

Growth market

Inside the workshop, bike mechanic Elastus Lemba is setting up treated bamboo pieces on a jig made from plumber's pipes and bicycle parts.

It looks low-tech, but that's intentional.

Mr Calfee wanted a production process that did not require sophisticated machinery.

With wood glue holding the frame in place, Mr Lemba binds the joints using sisal - tough cord made from plant fibre soaked in epoxy.

Hand-making the frames in this way takes at least a week.

After a final sanding and coat of varnish, each batch of bamboosero bikes will be shipped to the USA, tested, fitted with wheels, pedals, handlebars and brakes, and put on sale.

So will the bike be a success?

Mr Calfee thinks so, based on all the enquiries and advance orders he has received.

"Hundreds of people have asked when they can buy one. From a bike messenger who wants an affordable fixie to a wealthy collector who wants one from each bamboosero location."

He is convinced the price tag - $475 (£290) for road or mountain bike frames, and more than $900 (£550) for a finished bike - won't put people off.

"The only criticism I've had is that they might be too cheap.

"After all, buyers are helping to get self-sustaining businesses off the ground in developing economies, and they're getting a unique bike into the bargain."

The mood is optimistic at Zambikes too.

Operations co-ordinator Divilance Machilika, watches company cook Fabian Mumba taking a finished bamboo bike for a spin around the yard.

"I can see these selling well in America. They'll like them because they're natural," he says.

Mr Machilika lived in a tent on the site for a year while the workshop was being built.

A quick learner, he soon mastered construction skills and bike mechanics. Now he oversees day-to-day running of the workshop.

Benefit to the community

One of the founders, Mwewa Chikamba, says Mr Machilika is an example of what Zambikes wanted to achieve.

"It was never just about bikes. We wanted to give our workers practical skills and reward their dedication. We want to change lives," he says.

Assistance is also offered in the form of business coaching or discretionary loans - Mr Machilika used one such loan to buy a plot of land.

"I want to build three houses there. I'll use the rent money to start other businesses and employ people myself."

Instead of charging interest, Zambikes asks staff to demonstrate that the investment made in them is benefiting their community.

Perseverance and an innovative approach to product design and working practices have helped Zambikes put down strong roots.

But in a business environment that leaves much to be desired, it is no surprise that they have not yet seen a profit.

If the bamboo bike shoots out of the shops as fast as Mr Calfee predicts, that may be about to change too.

Original Article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8125274.stm

Published July 1, 2009 by Examiner.com
By David Herron

Bicycling is one of the greenest forms of transportation you could imagine.  Bicycles require minimal materials to build, require minimal space during use and other times, require minimum energy during use, and give riders exercise improving their health.   Yet bicyclists often have friction with car drivers and there is a competition in street use between mass transit, trucks, cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  The question is which of those transit modes deserve prominence?  The modern street grid often makes it difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists, both very green transportation, while car driving gets the preeminent position.  In San Francisco the Municipal Transportation Agency recently voted to adopt the 2009 Bicycle Plan, a long awaited five year master plan to improve bicycle safety and convenience in the near and long term.  

On July 1, 2009 KQED's Forum program discussed this plan, audio is embedded below.  The debate offers an interesting lens through which to look at the issue in San Francisco and to extrapolate to other cities across the country.

There is a hierarchy of transit modes with pedestrians at one end, and cars, trucks and mass transit at the other end.  The question is where do bicyclists fit within this hierarchy, and what is the relationship between the users of the different transportation modes.

The bike plan is intended to make San Francisco more bike friendly.  However a lawsuit was launched which delayed the plan for years, the suit demanded that required environmental impact studies be conducted.  One of the litigants, Rob Anderson, was on the program to state his objection to redesigning city streets for the benefit of a small minority.  HIs claim is that the real alternative to driving is mass transit.

That is one position to take, that bicyclists shouldn't be given any special priority and that perhaps some of the existing bicyclists should instead either be riding mass transit or driving.

The plan involves adding more bicycle lanes, adding special signal lights at some intersections for bicyclists, adding more bicycle racks around the city, and allowing bicycles better access to mass transit.  Another impact is loss of driving lanes, and loss of parking spaces.  The latter two obviously will affect car drivers and on-street transit.

This is another position to take, that bicycling is important enough an activity to support as official policy.

Bicycling has seen a large growth in San Francisco.  Judson True of the MTA claimed bicycling use has expanded by 42% over the last two years, and it's not just for exercise but also for daily transportation needs.

A stated target audience are the "latent cyclists" who want to ride, and before they do want to feel safer on the road.  Adding bicycle lanes and other improvements stands to improve the odds a latent cyclist will become an actual cyclist.

San Francisco is famous (rightly so) for steeply hilly streets.  Hills tall and steep enough to be a bicycling barrier, you may think.  The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has mapped out the safest and flattest routes through the city, and publishes a map of them.

A big issue regarding bicyclists is the ones who ignore the law, blow through intersections, ride the wrong way down the street, cross illegally, etc.  Bicyclists are subject to the normal rules of the road yet obviously some bicyclists ignore the law and do whatever it is they want.  It's irritating to others, it's unsafe, and it's clearly a subset of bicyclists who do this, tarnishing the law abiding bicyclists with their bad behavior.

The biggest safety problem faced by bicyclists is "the door zone".  On streets where cars are parked the door zone is those 2-3 feet where a suddenly opened door would strike a bicyclist.  Bicyclists need enough room along the street to avoid the door zone while remaining out of the regular traffic lanes.  However one infamous intersection was mentioned at Octavian and Market.  The Streetsblog San Francisco had this to say about a recent bicyclist crash: "As we've written many times, Market/Octavia is ground zero in the debate over bicycle safety in the city. The MTA now says at least 18 crashes have been reported at the intersection in the last three years between cyclists and drivers making illegal right turns onto Highway 101."

In Silicon Valley where this writer lives and bicycles the conditions are different.  The streets are less crowded and there are more bicycle lanes already existing.  The Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority publishes a Bikeways map showing relative safety of different streets around the county.  The most dangerous places shown on this map are next to highway interchange on/off ramps where bicycle and pedestrian access is tricky.

Bicyclists do belong on the road, this is the law all across the country.   Pragmatism though points to the relationship between users of different transportation modes and that not everybody agrees as to their relative importance.  As in any relationship talking to each other may help, or may not, but pragmatism says it's rather difficult to carry on a deep conversation with a car driver whizzing by at 35 miles per hour.  There we are, sharing the road, and unable to meaningfully discuss how best to do so.

Original Article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14333-Green-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Do-bicyclists-belong-on-the-road--The-San-Francisco-2009-bicycle-plan

Published July 3, 2209 by APP.com
By SARAH WEBSTER

Kerri Martin of Ocean Grove is known as the "Bike Lady" to some in Asbury Park.

That's not only because she uses a bicycle, not a car, to commute to work. She's also known because she's turned her passion for bicycles into Community Cycling, her programs to educate children and teenagers and to foster camaraderie among other riders.

Martin, 37, offers two programs that teach Asbury Park youths job skills such as bicycle mechanics, the value of volunteerism and work ethics.

She meets with younger children at The Bike Church at Holy Spirit Church on Second Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m. on Mondays. She meets with high school students throughout the week after school or during the day in the summer at Second Life Bikes, her bicycle store at 701 Memorial Drive. In return for volunteering to repair bicycles, the youths earn a bicycle.

Martin's idea for the bike church came from a previous job. While living in Brooklyn prior to her move in 2003 to the Shore, Martin worked for Recycle-a-Bicycle in New York City. The program teaches youths bicycle mechanics and offers job and environmental training.

When Martin met the Rev. William McLaughlin in 2006 at Holy Spirit Church, she told him about her idea to salvage bicycles and educate children.

He liked the idea and told her she could use the church's basement, she said. Martin spent a summer cleaning out the basement, and The Bike Church was founded shortly afterword.

"One of the kids said to me right after we started, "Do bicycles have to go to church?' ' McLaughlin said.

" "No, but the bikes are at the church so you can come over and learn how to fix them and learn how to ride them safely,' " McLaughlin said he answered.

The Bike Church provides children with a good sense of doing something positive while keeping them off the streets, he said.

Martin also hosts a Road Bike Ride at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, open to anyone, leaving from Second Life Bikes. The ride started as a ladies' ride but transformed when men wanted to participate in it, Martin said. Riders sometimes travel as far as 30 to 35 miles during the event, she said.

"I always loved bikes," said Martin, holding a wrench as she sat outside her bike shop, repairing a bicycle with some volunteers.

"I moved to Germany when I was 22. The first thing I did when I got there was bought a bike. It was in such bad shape that I had to learn how to fix it before I knew how to speak German."

People ride bicycles everywhere in Germany, she said. Family members often travel with one another by bicycle and carry all kinds of belongings, she added.

"I don't have a car," Martin said, adding she gave up driving five years ago.

"I have many bikes and bikes that hold a lot of things. I have a trailer on my bike and a cargo bike that actually fits a person on the back. So, I never felt a need (for a car).

"I loved the idea of rescuing old bikes from the landfill and just giving them a new life," Martin said. "You can have a bicycle, but, if you don't know how to fix it, you're probably not going to go as far — or appreciate it as much."

Visit www.thebikechurch.org for more information on Kerri Martin and the Community Cycling Program.

Original Article:

http://www.app.com/article/20090703/ENT/907030329/1031/ENT/+Bike+Lady++turns+passion+for+bicycling+into+educating+kids

Published July 2, 2009 by NYTimes.com : Freakonomics

Not long ago, cycling enthusiasts took fixed-gear racing bikes out of velodromes and onto the streets, where they were a hit among bike messengers and hardcore urban cyclists. The appeal had to do with the stripped-down simplicity of the bikes. A skillful rider could bring a “fixie” to a stop just by resisting the forward rotation of the pedals, which eliminated the need for hand brakes. In some circles, fixie became a byword for hipness in modern urban life. Then the bikes edged into the mainstream, and that’s when the trouble started — in Berlin, at least. Police, citing safety concerns, have started a crackdown on fixies. Considering, as Jonah Berger writes, that “cultural groups abandon a taste when outsiders adopt them,” will the fixie crackdown, by stunting the growth of the trend, only reinforce the bikes’ street cred among the faithful?

Original Article:

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/berlin-bans-brakeless-bikes/

Published July 1, 2009 by Indepedent UK
by Zoë Anderson

Live performance is easily affected by injury or illness, but this was the first time I'd seen a show delayed by a puncture. Bicycle Ballet is a dance for cyclists, which does make it vulnerable to flat tyres. Some brisk repair work later, all five performers were zigzagging and circling, hopping on and off bikes.

The show was originally conceived as a mass participation event, for a hundred performers. It's now been reworked on a smaller scale for this tour of festivals and outdoor centres. Workshops, running alongside the performances, encourage local cyclists to join in.

This performance, part of the City of London Festival, took place in Paternoster Square, by St Paul's Cathedral. The roped-off performance area is a big space, but not so big for cycling. Janine Fletcher's choreography cuts between cycling and dancing around the bikes, a series of routines in different styles. Ollie Aylmer's soundtrack provides mood, cutting from orchestral music to beats and voiceovers.

The performers wear black and pale blue, marked with cycling designs – a tyre print up one leg of a pair of tights, wheels and cogs printed on shirts. They start by stripping off their protective clothing, dropping reflective jackets in striptease fashion.

Cycling together, they move in formation, switching direction or rising on the pedals. They'll even dance while riding, swinging one leg up into arabesque as they freewheel through the square, or jumping up to pose on the saddle.

The unison cycling could be pushed further; Fletcher builds up patterns, then breaks off. But she and the performers have fun with cycling sketches. A plant jumps up from the audience to learn cycling, posed on his machine then left to wobble. Another dancer balances a bicycle on his chin. All five praise their machines, bending seductively over handlebars or producing roses from under the seats.

In another sketch, the cast take on actual ballet. A woman does classical exercises with her bicycle for a barre. Instead of steadying herself, she is holding the machine upright as she goes through a traditional warm-up.

Bicycle Ballet cuts between street theatre routines and more ambitious sequences. There are jokes and poses, quick cuts between styles, designed to hold an audience of passers-by. The transitions can be choppy. Jokes are made and then abandoned; others try too hard, carefully setting up a laugh. Elsewhere, Alexander and her team make inventive use of their props, playing with bicycles in the heart of the City.

Touring until September 26. Further dates from www.bicycleballet.co.uk

Original Article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/bicycle-ballet-paternoster-square-london-1725857.html

Published June 29, 2009 by SooToday.com

SAULT STE. MARIE - Do you want to be a part of the Rotary Community Day Parade presented by Brookfield Renewable Power and Great Lakes Power?

Want to roll your way down Queen St. on Saturday, July 18 to the cheers and waves of your friends, family, co-workers and neighbours?

If you answered yes, then all you need is a bicycle and a captivating imagination to be a memorable part of the 2009 Rotary Community Day Parade.

This year, in addition to traditional float submissions, Rotaryfest, the Sault’s summer festival, is inviting all you visionary and technically-skilled individuals out there to partake in an exciting new category known as the best human-powered (kinetic) sculpture competition sponsored by Back in Motion Physiotherapy and Velorution.

Never heard of a kinetic sculpture before?

Basically, a kinetic sculpture is a “human powered vehicle with artistic themes,” but that definition hardly covers the ground your innovative imagination may run!

Imagine, if you will, a bicycle colliding with an artist’s canvas and you are closer to understanding the kinetic sculpture!

Submit a creation that is as basic or as extravagant as you like.

You can submit anything from a classically simple, elegantly-ornamented single bicycle to a complex, eye-popping engineering marvel to commandeer down Queen Street during the festivities.

The best creation will receive a $300 gift certificate to Velorution, while all participants receive a stylish Velorution water bottle.

Still wondering what a kinetic sculpture might look like?

Struggling with the blank page of your design?

Check out pictures of some cool, innovative creations on google.com by entering kinetic sculptures or human-powered sculptures in the search engine.

Who knows?

Maybe one of these models will spark your imagination and inspire your own masterpiece-in-motion.

If you are interested in submitting an original kinetic sculpture for the 2009 Rotary Community Day Parade, fill out the application form.

Be sure to read the rules and regulations, located on the right-hand side of the application form, to make sure you and your creation comply with parade policies.

Rotaryfest, the Sault’s summer festival, is one of our community’s most cherished annual traditions.

This year, the festivities run from July 16 to 18 centered in Clergue Park.

The festival presents a number of exciting events, including the stage which features three days of free entertainment including a special Saturday evening concert with The Road Hammers, the Second Stage - a celebration of original art and music, Cirque du Rotaryfest - a new attraction that features eye-popping routines of Cirque performers as well as workshops, the 87th annual Rotary Community Day Parade (theme: Entertainment on Parade), the glint of steel and hot wheels featured in the Wheels on the Water Car Show, the hands-on fun of the PlayZone, and savoring events at Indulge - a celebration of food. 

Go to the website for the complete schedule.

Published June 29, 2009 by LBPost.com
by Ryan ZumMallen

Belmont Shore's 2nd Street may have seemed a little bit, "greener" in more ways than one. In the latest effort by the City to increase bicycle-friendliness, a green stripe was painted down the right lane on both sides of the street, with the goal of promoting a shared lane for both drivers and bikers. Current law actually states that drivers and bikers have equal rights in that lane and all others like it in the city, but the "Sharrows" design is meant to increase awareness and foster a positive relationship with the biking community.

The lane made its debut on Saturday, and LA.streetsblog.org celebrates the idea in this article.

The Los Angeles news blog LAist.com also showed the Sharrows lane some love today with this article, highlighting some of the benefits of the new lane and also including a pretty funny video made by Russ Roca, biking-photographer extraordinaire who found that the cars were slowing the bikes down - not the other way around.

So, is it working? While Roca and many others have embraced the lanes, I saw a biker this morning trying desperately to stay out of the street despite the bright green lane saying that it was alright to do so. Maybe drivers and bikers both need a little time to adjust to this arrangement.

What do you think of the new Sharrows?

Original Article:

http://www.lbpost.com/ryan/5924

Released June 29, 2009

ELYSIAN VALLEY -- Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Ed Reyes broke ground on the new Elysian Valley Bike Path along the west bank of the Los Angeles River this morning.  The new path will extend the existing bikeway by 2.5 miles south from its current end at Fletcher Drive to Barclay Street. The project will repave the existing asphalt and add striping and a barrier along the river. It will add sustainable landscaping and two new pocket parks along the path’s south side at Gatewood Street and at Fernleaf street. When the extension is completed, the bike path along the L.A. River will total eight miles.

“The Elysian Valley Bike Path will revitalize the river by making it safer and easier to bike along it,” said Eric Garcetti. “When this path is completed, more people will be able to enjoy this community resource.”

“Every piece of bike path, including the Elysian Valley Bike Path, contributes to the greater vision for a mountains-to-sea greenway," said Councilmember Ed P. Reyes. "The Elysian Valley bikeway is key to our Los Angeles River revitalization plan, too. The bike path is a recreational amenity to be enjoyed by our community, as well as an important transportation link for commuter cyclists."

“Riding along the path, everyone will be able to enjoy L.A.'s natural beauty, stay healthy and reduce traffic congestion - all at the same time,” said L.A. Department of Transportation General Manager Rita L. Robinson.

Previously, the path was an asphalt easement owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, but the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority worked to acquire the rights from 74 easements along the property.

“The project is a clear example of the intent of the River revitalization plan because not only does it provide public access and recreation, but most importantly it provides people the ability to experience nature and get the larger ecological connection with the river,” said Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Chief of Urban Projects in Watershed Division Barbara Romero.

"The Bureau of Engineering is pleased to have played a role in implementing this key phase of the Los Angeles River Bike Path plan, and we look forward to being of help in future phases as well," said City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.

Published June 30, 2009 by Wired.com/GeekDad
By Doug Cornelius

This Saturday, the 96th edition of the Tour de France starts in Monaco, kicking off three weeks of bicycle racing. Twenty-one teams of nine riders each will have to endure 3,500 kilometers of racing and 20 mountain passes to reach the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.  It is an event full of incredible human achievement and endurance. But it’s also full of geeky goodness. Here are my top ten reasons why geeks should love the Tour de France:

10. Aerodynamics.  During the three weeks of the Tour, the teams and their riders battle one another. But they also battle against air resistance. In a group of cyclists riding closely together, the rider in front is expending as much as 30% more energy than those behind him or her. That means that a rider doesn’t want to be out in front for long. Bicycling tactics call for a rider to let someone else lead for most of the race day, then come from behind to grab the win. The peloton forms as a way for the riders to share the work of cutting through the wind. A single cyclist out in front riding ahead of the peleton stands little chance of victory, faced with battling the wind alone. This is why breakaways rarely survive.

9. Twittering Cyclists. Many of the stars of the event are avid users of Twitter. Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) even announced the birth of his son, Max, on Twitter. Other Tour de France participants using Twitter include: Levi Leipheimer of Team Astana (@Levi_Leipheimer), Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto (@cadelofficial), Dave Zabriskie of Team Garmin-Slipstream (@dzabriskie), Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin-Slipstream (@ChristianVDV), George Hincapie of Team Columbia-High Road (@ghincapie) [Mrs. GeekDoug's favorite], Robbie McEwen of Team Katusha (@mcewenrobbie), Johan Bruyneel, Manager of Team Astana (@JohanBruyneel), and Team Astana (@TeamAstana), the official feed for the Team.

8. The Team. Like any geek adventure, it’s not just about individual achievement. Sure the team leader gets the fame and glory, but it requires team work for victory. The domestiques help keep the leader safe, lead him in the wind so he can conserve his energy, ferry water bottles from the team car, and even sacrifice their bikes. This year marks the return of the team time trial — the ultimate combination of teamwork, aerodynamics, and outfits. The team suits up in aero helmets, skinsuits, and special time trial bikes to minimize wind resistance. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.) In true team fashion, it is not the time of the first cyclist across, but the time of the fifth man across the finish line that applies to all members of the team. Each team also has a large group of mechanics who keep everything moving smoothly, including quick wheel changes for flat tires and bike changes after a crash.

7. The Fans. There are plenty of fans lining the race course, especially as the race cuts through cities and towns. Since the race cuts the town in half, its hard to do much except watch the race. For years it was just fans from each country supporting their countrymen and waiving their flags along the course. Then fans started lining the mountain courses, where the riders have to slow down to deal with the steep inclines. With increased television coverage, fans realized that a crazy costume might get you on worldwide coverage for a few seconds. Didi Senft, who dresses up in a red devil costume, was one of the first costumed spectators. You will see him often. The “Schlugs” line the race course, camping for days in prime locations. There are also the “Schmenges,” Belgian or Dutch cycling fans who end up rather intoxicated at the top of mountain passes. 

6. Wind Tunnels. Since aerodynamics play a key role in the Tour, many professional cyclists spend time in a wind tunnel to hone their position for maximum efficiency. The wind is as much the opponent as the other cyclists. Positioning is extremely important for a cyclist to be able to maintain a low drag while still producing sufficient power. Since bicycle aerodynamics are very specific to each different rider’s body size and type, a position that works well for one may not work well for another. Its not just the rider and bicycle frame. They test the water bottles, wheels, helmets, handlebars, and clothing. They even designed a special pocket on the back of the jersey to hold the racing number instead of clipping it on. Watch Lance Armstrong in the Wind Tunnel.

5. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. These two Brits have been the voice of professional cycling for years. Expect each day to be full of wonderful quips like “He’s really having to dig deeply into the suitcase of courage,” “Carnage is the only way to describe this ascent,” “The devil has joined in and that’s never a good sign”, and “He’s dancing on his pedals.” The Liggett-isms do tend to carry over from year to year. You might want to play Phil and Paul Bingo to help follow along with commentary. Kidding aside, I think they are the best announcing team in all of professional sports. They offer an encyclopedic knowledge of the race, the riders and the course.

4. The Clothing. Anyone who has seen an amateur cyclist cruising down the street knows that cyclists wear special clothes. During a race, there are special jerseys which denote a rider’s status. The leader in the time competition wears the yellow jersey, the leader in the sprint competition wears a green jersey, the king of the mountains wears a polka dot jersey, and the best young rider gets a white jersey. There are also special purpose outfits, such as the time trial kit. In the time trial, racers compete against the clock (either as an individual as a team) and clothe themselves in the most aerodynamic way they can, with special helmets to cut through the wind. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.)

3. The Countryside. Over its three weeks, the race winds its way across the French countryside and into neighboring countries. Race coverage is full of helicopter shots, highlighting the racers, farms, castles, rivers and panoramas. Many of the race days are visually stunning. The mountains often loom above, some still speckled with snow. Even in the heat of the summer, French farmers build elaborate monuments to the race as it passes by their farms. Some displays are simple collections of hay bales. Others are elaborate moving displays of bicycle action. Part of the Tour’s magic lies in the changing backdrops to the action, with villages competing to devise the most elaborate welcome signs.

2. The Equipment. The Tour de France bicycles are some of the most high-tech equipment used in any human powered sport. Titanium, carbon fiber, and high tensile steel alloys are routinely used for bicycle parts and frames. Lance Armstrong proclaimed in the title of one his books that It’s Not About the Bike. The bikes are still very cool, being the product of intensive development. Many bicycles are wind tunnel tested to maximize aerodynamics. (Remember that it’s all about aerodynamics.) The bikes for the time trial days of the race, where the cyclists rides against the clock (either alone or with their teams), are especially odd looking. This bike bears little resemblance to the geeklets’ boulevard cruisers.

1. Lance Armstrong. He is back this year, looking for another victory after “retiring” in 2005. Now he is racing to win the battle against cancer as much as he is racing to beat the other riders. Clearly he is a tremendous athlete, which would place him in the jock category. But Lance has geek credentials. I already mentioned his avid use of Twitter. The silicone cause bracelet phenomenon started when Lance convinced Nike to sell the bright yellow LiveStrong bracelets to raise money to cure cancer.  The original target was 25 million; to date, Nike and LiveStrong have sold over 70 million. During the Tour of California earlier this year, his first race after un-retiring, he had two special numbers on the frame of his bike: 1247 and 27.5 The first is the number of days that he had been retired and the second, shocking number represented the 27.5 million people who had died of cancer during his retirement. Lance, after all, is a man who cheated his own death, having survived testicular cancer.

The Kids. I don’t want to forget the kids, since GeekDad is the parenting blog of Wired. My geeklets like watching bike racing. The bright colors, incredible action and great scenery keep their attention. While I am writing this, the GeekDaughter is watching replays of past Tours, entranced by the vivid images and dulcet tones of Phil and Paul.

Watch. For a video preview of the route of this year’s Tour de France: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwTUFNMTP-M. There is live and delayed coverage of the Tour de France on the Versus TV network. Versus also has a site onTour 101 if you want to learn more about the Tour de France.

Original Article:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/06/top-ten-reasons-that-geeks-should-love-the-tour-de-france/

Published June 29, 2009 by Examiner.com
Daniel Canfield

Bicycles are commonly used to to move cargo. In the United States it is less common then in other countries. In Twin Falls Idaho the use of cargo bicycles is very low. You rarely see a cargo bicycle in Twin Falls Idaho but Cargo bike usage in the United States seems to be seeing an up tick.

Weather you choose to purchase a cargo bike or cargo trailer for your bicycle or instead design and build your own cargo trailer for your bicycle is up to you. Some people are surprised at what can be hauled with bicycles.

The bicycle is a tool. The tool to transport people and things efficiently. A bicycle is a low cost method used by many through out the world to provide medical care, gather food, and to harvest from the trash dump that which may be used or resold to help feed their family.

We tend to think of bicycles as a recreational activity but they are so much more. Here in Twin Falls we have many homeless individuals that depend on bicycles to get them from their “camp” into town to work and do errands.

In England a man has started a lawn mowing business and he hauls his lawnmower on a trailer pulled by his bicycle. In Africa health workers travel many miles by bicycle to transport medicine to those dying of AIDS. In Afghanistan some of our troops are using bicycles to help them move rapidly in certain areas.

A bicycle is the basis of advanced transportation. Without the lowly bicycle we never would have had motorcycles, automobiles or airplanes. The design of a bicycle is simplicity, but the necessity of bicycles is complex. To not just ride bicycles, but to utilize them to better ones life, increases the mobility of much of society in a low cost fashion that simply can not be duplicated by any other means. The bicycle is not just a toy. It's a lifesaving tool.

Original Article with Video:

http://www.examiner.com/x-14111-Twin-Falls-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m6d29-Cargo-bikesbicycles-hauling-lawnmowers-and-more

From staff and wire reports
Monday, June 29, 2009

MALIBU — An Oxnard man was arrested in a hit-and-run accident after his truck allegedly struck and killed a father and injured his son cycling along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Cyclist Rodrigo “Rod” Armas, 45, of Kern County, died at the scene, while his 14-year-old son was taken to UCLA Medical Center and was in stable condition with numerous broken bones, Los Angeles County authorities reported.


The two were riding east on the shoulder of the 34000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Driver Robert Sam Sanchez, 30, drove about a mile south of the crash and ditched the truck, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported. He was found a short distance away and arrested, still displaying symptoms of alcohol intoxication, authorities said.


He was being held Sunday night on $100,000 bail.


Sanchez is a records clerk for the city of Malibu and lives in Oxnard, according to Lt. Scott Chew of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lost Hills station.

Authorities said the cyclists were on their way back to Malibu during the annual 200-mile Los Angeles Wheelmen “Grand Tour” event.

The bicycling event starts and ends in Malibu and wends through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Armas was a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer. He is survived by his wife, Shelly, his 14-year-old son and two daughters, ages 9 and 12.

Released June 2009 by REI
 
SEATTLE - REI is launching the Bike Your Drive mobile iPhone application, a free interactive tool that helps cyclists track, view, and share their bicycling experiences.   It's available through theApple iPhone app store or by visiting: www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive#bikesGear

Whether it's a quick trip to the grocery store, or a long training ride with friends, the customizable application allows users to view their bicycling progress, pinpoint and save their bicycle mileage, upload geotagged photos to document their ride and measure gas savings as well as individual CO2 offset. Second generation iPhone users with GPS capabilities can capture their bicycle experience in real-time, wherever and whenever they ride.

"Most people carry their phone when they're outdoors, so we wanted to create a mobile tool that was easy and fun for bicyclists," says Tom Vogl, vice president of marketing for REI. "Using GPS functionality and geotag capabilities, we created a user-friendly application that lets you bring your friends along for the ride."

The REI Bike Your Drive iPhone application was designed to be approachable and easy to understand for bicyclists of all levels and interests. Its one-touch functionality makes it easy to view progress on a bike trip, including: location, average speed, distance, elevation, compass heading, time elapsed, and calories burned.

In addition to showing the specific location map of a ride, users may tap the "map view" function to create a visual interactive trip report of their ride. Photos taken along the trip are automatically geotagged, and plotted so that the ride may be shared with family, friends or the broader bicycling community.

The application can also calculate an individual's personal overall carbon offsets from riding a bike instead of driving a car. Users input the details of their car and average gas prices in their area for customized CO2 offsets data and overall gas savings.

Maps, rides, photos and ride history are saved for quick tracking through EveryTrail.com, a platform created for geotagged-user generated travel content.

The REI Bike Your Drive mobile iPhone application is free to all users, and can be downloaded to iPhone devices via the iTunes application store: or by visiting www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive#bikesGear

Non-iPhone users may access REI's online Bike Your Drive site at www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive, a frequently updated online resource offers helpful "how-to" video demonstrations, a calculator to show environmental, calorie and financial "savings," and recommended cycling gear essentials.

REI's "Bike Your Drive," www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive, is an online resource created to inspire more people to cycle by debunking myths and breaking down common barriers associated with using a bicycle as an alternate means of transportation around town. REI's online expert advice, videos and other tools assist riders of all skill levels in understanding proper safety procedures, bike maintenance and the rules of the road.

Released June 23, 2009 by the League of American Bicyclists

On June 22, 2009, Chairman James L. Oberstar and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the committee print of the next Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009. The bill's markup is available here. The completed bill will be introduced at a later date.

Additionally, Oberstar unveiled the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Transportation Blueprint on June 18, 2009. The League and the America Bikes Coalition were quite encouraged by many of the elements contained in the authorization blueprint, such as establishing the Office of Livability, improving data and research, establishing the US Bike Route System, and emphasizing Comprehensive Street Design. We will be working to review the Committee Report to ensure those elements are still contained within the legislation.

Original Article:

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikeadvocacy/

Published July 16, 2009 by DailyCamera.com
By Heath Urie

BOULDER, Colo. — Tensions between drivers and bicyclists in rural Boulder County have reached a new level, with fliers circulating in mountain neighborhoods asking drivers to blockade next month’s Sunrise Century ride.

:: Link to Sunrise Century Flier ::

The fliers — which started appearing in mountain communities last week, a few days after a Boulder driver was ticketed on suspicion of endangering a cyclist on Lee Hill Road — ask residents along the route of the 100-mile annual cycling event to block the return leg of the ride.

“On July 25, in celebration of driver’s rights, many cars will use the Left Hand Canyon Road, drive slowly and many may break down unexpectedly, blocking areas to the cyclists on the return leg of the ‘Sunrise Century,’” the anonymous, one-page note reads. “Many cars and safe drivers all working together can send a message to the Statehouse to restrict cycling on our roads which are our only alternatives during family emergencies, commuting and required duties.”

David Flores, 46, an avid cyclist who lives near Lee Hill and Left Hand Canyon drives, said he and his neighbors found the fliers stuffed in their mailboxes Thursday.

“There is nothing to be gained in trying to line the roads with cars to try and disrupt people on bicycles,” Flores said. “I don’t hope cyclists unite and decide to block U.S. 36 to make a point.”

Flores said the tone of the letter is obviously meant to incite a confrontation during the ride, despite its suggestion that pulling over to “inspect” vehicles for “engine trouble, sounds or other safety issues” is a form of civil disobedience.

“If that happens, there will be either an accident or some kind of confrontation,” Flores said. “There are people who will go out of their way to light the powder keg on both sides.”

Colorado State Patrol Trooper David Hall said he shares that concern. He warned that drivers ought to think twice before trying to block the riders.

“We would highly discourage people from engaging in that behavior,” Hall said. “It’s illegal. You can’t block the path of events or traffic.”

Hall said there is an “incredible safety risk” if people intentionally block traffic.

“For a motorist engaged in some sort of illegal activity that ends up injuring or killing a bicyclist — there’s obviously some very substantial consequences,” Hall said.

The trooper said he receives calls daily from drivers complaining about bicyclists, but the issue is a two-way street.

“As frustrating as it might be for some, they (cyclists) have the right to use the roads,” Hall said. “When we see bicyclists who are disregarding the rules of the road, we do enforce that.

“It’s the individual responsibility of the bicyclists and the motorists to keep each other safe. We’re not going to have a state trooper at every mile post.”

‘Play nice’

Alex Hearn, a Boulder resident and organizer of the Sunrise Century ride for the past three years, said the event this year will be capped at 1,500 riders.

The group will leave in waves, departing from Boulder’s Stazio Ball Fields, 2445 Stazio Drive, and moving through Niwot and Hygiene before looping around Lyons, the St. Vrain Canyon, the Peak to Peak Highway, Ward, Left Hand Canyon, Nelson Road and finally down 63rd Street.

The flier calls for the disruption efforts to center along Left Hand Canyon Drive near Nelson Road.

“I think it’s intentionally inflammatory,” Hearn, 38, said Tuesday afternoon. “We’re trying to be a voice of calm and a voice of reason. We just want to see everybody play nice.”

The event planner said he plans to send e-mails to registered riders asking them to obey the rules of the road and report aggressive drivers.

Anita Riley, a Boulder County transportation planner, said the ride has been approved for a special-event permit.

That means Boulder County sheriff’s deputies and state troopers will be stationed along the entire route, but cyclists have to obey regular traffic rules, and no roads will be closed for the event. Signs warning residents and drivers about the ride will also be posted.

Riley said the flier’s message about civil disobedience is “highly disappointing.” She said she almost always hears complaints from residents along cycling routes, but there’s something different this time.

“It just seems like it’s a much more difficult year with people not being able to understand the other person’s side,” she said.

An ‘immature response’

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle has been warning for weeks that cyclists and drivers, who have already been at odds over road use for years, have been escalating the conflict as a new law giving cyclists better protection is set to go into effect Aug. 5.

The law requires motorists to give cyclists 3 feet of space when passing, and it increases the penalty for tossing objects at riders. It also allows cyclists to ride two abreast in most situations and to ride in the middle of mountain roads if shoulders don’t exist or aren’t safe.

“We are planning a response to (the flier) in the way of a physical presence on that day,” Pelle said. “We’ve also increased patrols in that area in the past few weeks.”

Pelle said the flier is a “pretty immature response” to a legitimate debate about road use.

“It doesn’t seem to have that much support from the community,” Pelle said of the call to action. “I would be surprised if it gathers much steam.”

Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado, said the flier was apparently written by someone who “doesn’t understand what the law does and what it doesn’t do.”

“The bill clarifies the rules on how to safely share the road,” he said.

Sheriff’s Cmdr. Heidi Prentup said nine off-duty deputies will patrol the Sunrise route and its key intersections.

Deputies who come across stalled or parked vehicles will talk to the drivers and find out what the problem is, she said. If drivers claim their vehicle is disabled, “we’ll call them a tow truck,” she added.

Prentup said she hopes there aren’t any confrontations. Still, “It is frustrating that everybody feels they have the right and the own the lane,” she said.

Original Article:

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/16/boulder-drivers-blockade-sunrise-century/

Published June 18, 2009 by Examiner.com

Most of us are quite fond of our automobile with good reason and their advantages over bicycles are obvious. Still if you fit a couple of simple criteria, an electric bicycle might be just what you need to make ends more readily meet in these challenging economic times.

If you work downtown, pay to park and live within 10 miles of your office you are an excellent candidate for an electric bike. Saving the $200 to $300 a month you spend on parking and gas for the commute will pay for a bike over the summer.

There are a handful of providers in the metro area including Bird RV in Aurora, the Electric Bike Shop in Castle Rock, Green Machines in Edgewater plus a couple more in Boulder and Longmont.

We recently spoke with Bruce Campbell, owner of Green Machines at 5217 W. 25th Ave. When Campbell talks about hybrids he means bicycles that combine human power with electric motors. The result is a power-assisted bicycle that feels like it’s always going downhill.

“You have two different modes of propulsion,” Campbell explained. “On some models you can go on power alone, without having to pedal, or you have the choice of pedaling and using less power. Other models you have to pedal but as soon as you start a sensor notices the motion and assists you.”

The one we took for a brief test spin had eight gears and five power levels. It was easy to ride and made climbing a slight incline as easy as coasting. The bicycles use a battery pack that locks into place to power an electric motor. The bicycles will go from 15 to 20 miles on a single charge and the batteries can be recharged in 3 to 6 hours, making it a practical way of commuting to work for those who live within 5 or 10 miles of their job. One would also make quick trips to the convenience store or post office both fun and economical.

“It’ll go 13 to 15 mph under it’s own power, which is a fairly typical bicycle speed,” he said. “Right now I am only selling new bikes that are all electric. I do have some used bikes for resale.” Campbell accepts bike donations as well and fixes them up, donating any proceeds to charity. “It’s more of a charitable contribution to the recycling effort – just to try and stay green.”

The new bikes come in a range of models and power levels starting with the IZIP, which retails for $499 plus shipping and taxes. “The mid-range is roughly $799 to $875 and the high end is from about $1,799 up to $3,000 for the real top of the line. It’s a monster – a really great bike.”

Read the rest:

http://www.examiner.com/x-13981-Denver-Car-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Green-Machines--Should-you-trade-your-car-for-an-electric-bicycle

Published June 18, 2009 by Examiner.com

A small, inconspicuous neighborhood bike shop in Columbia City is doing an incredible service to make bicycling both more appealing and accessible. Thanks to Bike Works, bicycling is available to many kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Bike Works is a non-profit that offers several programs that educate children and adults and promote bicycling. The flagship program, Earn-a-Bike, at Bike Works allows youth to work for a bike while they learn bike repair and give service. After an eight-session class and donating 24 additional hours of public service repairing bicycles, they've earned their bike. The program's benefit is threefold. Kids get to learn a usable skill in a setting away from school, earn a bicycle, and become involved in a life-long healthy and community-building activity.

Read the rest: http://www.examiner.com/x-7318-Seattle-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Bike-Works

Published June 17, 2009 by MyNC.com

On Sat., June 27, Bikes for the World will be collecting unwanted, gently used bicycles at a convenient location near Research Triangle Park for donations to build job skills, generate jobs, deliver health services, and provide affordable transportation to those in need in the developing world. The public is asked to bring donations of no-longer-wanted bicycles for shipment to non-profit community development programs, which refurbish and distribute them. Volunteers will staff the collection to receive the bicycles from the public, evaluate them for tax purposes and issue receipts, and compact the bikes for shipping.

Each year, Americans purchase between 18 and 20 million new bicycles. Unknown millions of old ones are thrown out or abandoned. Millions more - generally of a higher quality - gather dust in basements, garages, and storage areas. Meanwhile, many poor people overseas have little alternative to walking to get to jobs, schools, and markets; are willing to repair bicycles inexpensively, and are generally able to pay a modest price for them.

Bikes for the World (BfW) is a sponsored project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. BfW’s mission is to collect valuable but unwanted bicycles and related material - parts, tools, and accessories - in the United States and deliver it at low cost to community development programs assisting the poor in developing countries. As much as possible, Bikes for the World uses the donated bicycles to help set up self-sustaining bicycle repair operations, which can make enough money to pay the direct costs for subsequent container shipments of donated bicycles. In receiving countries, partners train and employ local workers to recondition the bikes - generating productive employment - and distribute the repaired bikes free or more commonly at low cost to farmers, small businesspeople and students. So these individuals, who otherwise might have no transportation, are able to work and study more effectively. Other organizations use the bikes directly in programs providing agricultural extension, community health and literacy services to the poor.

Since its founding in 2005, Bikes for the World has enlisted communities of faith, scout troops, service clubs, corporations, and schools across the mid-Atlantic region to undertake one-time community bike drives to rescue this under-appreciated resource. During its first year, BfW collected another 6,000 bikes; in 2006 it collected and shipped 7,800 bicycles; in 2007 it delivered just under 8,000 bikes; and in 2008 more than 10,300 bikes were shipped out to Uganda, Ghana, Honduras and Afghanistan, among others.

Bikes for the World relies on volunteers to compact and ship bicycles. Still, it has many expenses, including international shipping and a modest salary for the director. Therefore, a tax-deductible ten-dollar per bike donation is requested to defray a portion of costs. This donation, as well as the value of the donated bike, is potentially tax-deductible, and BfW provides donors a receipt good for tax purposes.

Last year's Triangle collection broke the Bikes for the World record for bikes collected at one single collection day: 315 bikes and over $3,000 were collected. The Triangle team hopes to do as well this year, on Sat. June 27.

For those who would like to help, but do not have a bike to contribute, cash donations are accepted. Such contributions can cover the $10 donation for bikes that come in through police departments, universities, or other entities not able to pay $10 per donated bike. Checks should be made out to Bikes for the World and mailed to M. Wigley, 1609 Edgevale Rd, Durham, NC 27701.

For further information on Bikes for the World, visit www.bikesfortheworld.org, or call Keith Oberg at (703) 525-0931.

For additional information about the collection in the Triangle on June 27th, please call Merywen Wigley at (919) 688-9347.

DETAILS

What: Bikes for the World used bicycle collection

When: Saturday June 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Headquarters Park, 2224 E NC Hwy 54, Durham, NC 27713 (on 54 between Alston and 55)

Suggested $10 donation per bike for shipping costs (cash and bike value are tax deductible)

Photo: 2008 RTP collection (for additional photos contact Merywen Wigley)

Published June 16, 2009 by C.I.C.L.E.

C.I.C.L.E.'s newly published booklet, “The Bicycle Lifestyle Guide”, is a small, but weighty, full-color 30-page little guide that features nice-thick pages, eye-catching illustrations, great photos and an inspiring message. Thanks to REI, we were able to publish a nice share of these, but if you don't have a hot copy in your hands, you can get a "feel" for it online.

C.I.C.L.E.’s co-founder and Program Director, Shay Sanchez, has written and helped illustrate an inspired little gem that presents C.I.C.L.E.'s kindly message with snap and style. Its warm and inspiring tone makes it an easy read that never bores, drones or makes you feel like a schmuck for driving as much as you might. While it throws in a few notable hard facts, its direction keeps you encouraged and inspired and doesn't use guilt or shame tactics to spur you into action. Great design and illustration was key to creating a winning booklet, and we really hit the mark with designer Eric Cushing. Eric’s impeccable sense of design and clever sensibility really helped the booklet spring to life. Packed with great tips, an easy-does-it attitude, and lots of right-on-the money motivation, this simple, yet smartly woven, little guide is sure to get more people interested in the Bicycle Lifestyle.

And why not—when it sounds so fresh and fun to do?

While not meant to be the end-all on bike life, it's a great introduction that's sure to butter up the fence sitters and get them to jump-on-in to enjoy the warm waters of The Bicycle Lifestyle.

Get a copy while they last… They’ll be available at the next Urban Expeditions on Saturday, June 27 in Venice, CA.

>> View and/or share a copy online with friends:
http://issuu.com/cicle/docs/bicycle-lifestyle-guide

Special thanks to REI for supporting the Bicycle Lifestyle! Thank you Eric Cushing and Al Zesatti for the awesome design, illustrations and photography!

.

.

.

About C.I.C.L.E.
Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles working to promote the bicycle as a viable, healthy, and sustainable transportation choice. C.I.C.L.E.'s Education, Encouragement, and Community-Building programs encourage and empower everyday people to choose bicycling as a lifestyle, and as a transportation solution that greatly enhances our quality of life on a personal and global level. Learn more about C.I.C.L.E. at www.CICLE.org

Published June 12, 2009 by LA Streetsblog
by Damien Newton

The City Council Transportation Committee has re-scheduled the "bike themed" meeting that was postponed from mid-May for tomorrow, June 17, at 8:00 A.M. in room 1050.

There is a clear tier to the agenda.  The "big ticket" items include a report from the LADOT on the Bicycle Plan, which for some reason has lost the word "Master" in its description and a report from the LAPD on it's internal education on bicycle and pedestrian issues and a report on the late April "Hummer incident."

Let's hope that city officials come prepared attend the meeting to answer questions on both of these agenda items.  Last week at the Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting, LADOT Senior Bike Coordinator Michelle Mowery claimed she wasn't able to answer any question about the Bike Plan because it's Planning Department is in charge of the plan and Alta Planning and Design did all of the work. 

The same holds true for the LAPD's report.  When the police tried to address the hummer incident at Council it didn't even bring a copy of the report on the crash and was prepared to talk about how it wants to educate cyclists and pedestrians not how it does internal communications.

The debate on the Bicycle Plan could be very interesting.  Based on what's been made available on the maps released two weeks ago, a debate has broken out on whether or not the best bet for cyclists is to work to amend the plan we already have or lobby to scrap it altogether and start over.  The Los Angeles County Bike Coalition is soliciting suggestions to improve the plan, but I've also heard plenty of chatter that the plan is already not salvageable.

Also on the agenda are motions having to do with funding, a resolution to lower the speed limits on sidewalks to an arbitrary "speed that is reasonable and proper," a motion directing a slew of departments to develop a plan that brings back bike licenses in a form that promotes safety and discourages theft, and a question of what to do with abandoned bicycles at city-owned racks.

 Original Article + Discussion at LA Streetsblog

Published June 16, 2009 by Columbia Missourian
BY Jordan Wyner

COLUMBIA — A bicyclist harassment ordinance passed unanimously at the City Council meeting Monday after nearly an hour and a half of debate.

The ordinance makes harassment of bicyclists — including throwing objects, verbal assault and other offenses — a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine or one year of jail time, the council said.  

After the lengthy testimony from citizens and discussion by the council, the ordinance passed with plans to amend it at the July 20 City Council meeting. At that time, the ordinance will be expanded to include other types of pedestrian traffic.

The delay in a decision was due to debate over who should be covered under the harassment ordinance. Some council members felt the ordinance should be more broad and encompass other types of pedestrian traffic, while others thought protecting bicyclists was important now and the rest could be added later.

Many in the bicycling community showed up to voice their feelings about the ordinance. Twenty individuals, some with children in tow, lined up to wait for their turn at the microphone. All 20 supported the ordinance.

Residents cited a number of reasons for their support and shared horror stories from bike riding. The tales ranged from waking up facedown in ditches to having ashtrays dumped on their heads. The consensus among supporters was that the ordinance would help protect them on the streets.

“Unfortunately, there are people in our community who believe that roads are for automobiles and bicyclists who dare ride on the road should be honked at, yelled at or even have something thrown at them,” PedNet Education Coordinator Robert Johnson said.  

The ordinance, which is modeled after similar ordinances in South Carolina and Colorado, makes it a misdemeanor to do the following: throw an object at or in the direction of a cyclist, threatening a cyclist to frighten or disturb the cyclist, sounding a horn with the intention to frighten or disturb a cyclist, knowingly placing a cyclist in the path of physical injury, or knowingly engaging in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury for a cyclist.

Residents who spoke at the meeting said they have experienced all of the above, and those who remained after the deliberation stood and cheered when the ordinance was passed.  

“If you’ve ever been in a subcompact car and had a semi get on your back bumper and blow the horn, that’s what it was like,” ordinance supporter Steve Epstein said of being tailed by frustrated motorists.

Published June 15, 2009 by LA Bicycle Transportation Examiner

Unless you’ve been in a coma the last two days (in which case I’m deeply sorry) you know that the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship. With the city deeply in the red some people speculated that there may have not been a victory parade, but alas even number crunchers cannot stop the great people of Los Angeles from celebrating. That being said, even if basketball isn’t your thing, the parade will still be fun. Even more fun will be following the parade on your bike. A parade ride has been set-up by some of the good people at Midnight Ridazz, meeting at the corner of Figueroa and 11th Street a little before 11AM this Wednesday. The plan will be too then ride from Staples to the Coliseum for some type of victory party. This ride should definitely be better than driving down to the Staples or the Coliseum and trying to find parking. For more info check the map, hope to see you there.

Original Article:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11119-LA-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Lakers-parade-ride-on-bicycles

Published June 15, 2009 by Guardian UK

British youngsters would rather stay at home and play computer games or watch TV than learn how to ride a bike, according to research released today.

A report carried out by Kellogg's reveals that one in three homes in the UK are now bike-free zones, while nearly three-quarters of Britons (74%) admit that the attractions of a TV or computer screen have replaced learning to ride a bicycle as a childhood rite of passage.

The research also shows that the latest games consoles such as the Xbox and PS3 have replaced the BMX as the childhood accessory of choice, with parents admitting they had spent double on computer games and consoles during the past decade than they had on bikes or cycling equipment.

This week is national bike week – a celebration of cycling designed to encourage people to get on their bikes and explore their local communities. This year it will urge families to take up cycling as a regular activity.

According to the research, almost half of UK parents also admitted they never ride a bike anymore, while nearly half confessed that learning to ride a bike was not as important for children nowadays as it was during their own childhood. One in five parents in London said they were not going to bother teaching their children at all.

More than half of those questioned blamed a lack of local cycle routes for their reluctance to cycle, with 52% describing their home town or city as unsuitable for cycling. They also cited road safety concerns and lack of time as the major obstacles to cycling.

Liverpool is the city with the fewest cyclists, with 48% of households admitting to not owning any bikes.

Respondents also said that they would be more likely to cycle if VAT on bicycles was removed, while one in five claimed that improved government schemes or incentives would encourage them to get back on their bikes.

Original Article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/jun/15/cycling-popularity-falls

Published June 10, 2008 by Associated Press
By SCOTT SAYARE

PARIS – From behind prison bars, the view never changes. From behind the handlebars of racing bikes, dozens of French inmates are seeing the vineyards of Provence, the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast and the majestic spires of the Alps in their own special Tour de France.

The convicts are cycling in the inaugural "Tour de France Penitentiaire" — an event whose goal is not just to physically challenge the prisoners, organizers say, but also to instill self-respect and pride that will help prepare their return to normal life.

There are differences, of course, from the real Tour de France: The prisoners' two-week, 1,370-mile event, which began June 4, is not as grueling as the 2,100-mile, three-week Tour. Any "breakaways" or "escapes" from the pack are strictly forbidden. And the inmates' guards are riding along with the convicts in the peloton, or pack, with a police escort among the support vehicles.

It's not a competition, prison officials say, but rather an exercise in commitment, solidarity and grit.

"It's a beautiful gift they're giving me," said Olivier, an inmate at a prison in Montmedy, near Luxembourg, who is scheduled for release in two months. He gave only his first name in accordance with French judicial regulations.

"It brings a close to my situation perfectly, spot-on," he added. "It's the icing on the cake."

Officials chose the nearly 200 participating inmates from across France, prisoners with terms as short as two years and as long as 25. They are men and women, young and old, petty crooks and hardened criminals — including rapists and killers.

Most of the inmates have been training since January. The event's 15 stages average about 90 miles, with some stretching to more than 135 miles.

Starts and finishes were selected for their proximity to penitentiaries, where the tour picks up or drops off inmates and prison personnel as it circles France. A core group of six prisoners and a dozen guards is riding the entire course, which finishes in Paris, like the real Tour — minus the champagne and fanfare.

Wardens, guards, judges and prisoners ride shoulder-to-shoulder, indistinguishable from one another in their matching white jerseys, helmets and cycling shorts.

The prison peloton has rolled through villages and hamlets to applause. Cheering crowds have massed each stage's finish line. It helps, perhaps, that the riders are unidentifiable as members of the penal system, except for the word "Penitentiaire" across the backs of their jerseys.

As prisons have become more crowded in recent years, officials have increasingly turned their attention to the ways of returning inmates to society.

"It's an absolute innovation to take the risk — but which is a calculated risk — of sending out so many prisoners at the same time and for so long, and to expose them in such a willful and even deliberate way to the eyes of French society," said Francois Grosvalet, director of athletic programs for French prisons.

Andrew Coyle, a professor of prison studies at King's College, London, who spent 25 years as an overseer in British penitentiaries, acknowledges that some people won't understand a program that allows inmates on even a supervised outing such as this.

"Invariably, when any prison administration does these things, people will say, 'Hang on, why is this happening? Aren't they in there to be punished?'" Coyle said. "But if we're serious about helping prisoners to re-enter and to reintegrate, then we need to find opportunities to give them positive experiences."

French victims' groups agree.

"At a certain moment, you have to consider these people, these individuals, these prisoners as people who might one day once again take up the path of society, of community life," said Sabrina Bellucci, director of the French National Institute for Victims' Aid and Mediation.

Prison officials decided on cycling "because in the history of French sporting events, the Tour de France is something that finds itself very near the summit," Grosvalet said, speaking by phone from a support vehicle behind the riders.

British cyclist David Millar, who has won several stages of the Tour de France, said the sport was well-suited to help the inmates.

"I can't think of a better way to strip down a person to their basic human nature," Millar said.

He knows something about rehabilitation. He returned to racing in 2006 after serving a two-year doping suspension.

"I have had my own personal struggles," he said, "and it was cycling that gave me the peace and tranquility I needed to rediscover myself, then the passion and drive to better myself."

Cycling's simple elegance has long enchanted the French, who lionize their champion riders.

"Actually, it looks a bit like the Tour de France that we know," said Thierry Huguenin, sponsorship director for Francaise des Jeux, a French lottery group that helped finance the event.

The company also sponsors a professional cycling team, a perennial competitor in the better-known Tour; in the past months, the pro racers and coaches visited prisoners to offer advice.

Huguenin himself has been pedaling in the pack.

"The guards and the prisoners, who are usually archrivals, are teammates here," he said, speaking by phone as he refilled his water bottles during a sunny, 116-mile stage from Valenciennes to Montmedy, in the north.

The Tour de France Penitentiaire comes at a difficult moment for the country's penal system.

French prisons, long viewed as brutal institutions, have seen a rash of suicides by both inmates and employees recently. Correctional workers blame living and work conditions in the aging, increasingly overpopulated facilities — many dating from before World War I — and the Justice Ministry says the system is more than 10,000 detainees over capacity.

But the riders have temporarily put such concerns out of mind, focusing instead on the whir and click of spinning chains and shifting gears, on the open road unfurling before them.

"We're not here to remind them what they've done," Huguenin said. "We're here to talk about the future."

___

AP Sports writer Chris Jenkins in Milwaukee contributed to this story.

Original Article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090610/ap_on_re_eu/eu_tour_de_felons

Published May 26, 2009 by C.I.C.L.E.

There is no doubt that we need positive solutions when faced with a myriad of overwhelming problems. This year, Bike Week Pasadena took on a slightly different flavor then in years past—it functioned not just as a celebration, but also as a community-based push to support a positive transformation in our lives and in our cities. We sought solutions that were not just dependent upon policy changes, new infrastructure or large sums of money. We set out to create the foundation that supports a bicycle friendly city—one built by community, not by government or construction crews. We definitely preserved the celebratory nature of our rides and events, but we were committed to the idea that this year’s Bike Week Pasadena should be a kick-off to a year of community-based change, and not just be a flash-in-the-pan, see-you-next-year event.

With our enthusiastic Bike Week Pasadena planning committee, we forged ahead with two new ongoing (and regional) projects that put the power of change right into our communities. Our Shopping-by-Bike Workshop and ride not only shared practical advice, tips and tricks, but inspired participants to come together (as a community) to take their next trip to the store by bike. The C.I.C.L.E. Bike Salon engaged a small group of Pasadena residents to gather and discuss issues related to transportation bicycling, and more importantly, to provide the encouragement and support to bring positive life affirming change to their neighborhood. Bike Week Pasadena is about gathering community and engaging a diverse network of partners and visionaries to inform, inspire and create a paradigm shift—to help people realize that our transportation corridors should be built for people not just built for cars. And we look forward to working with Pasadena (and Los Angeles) residents to continue creating community-based change on an ongoing basis during the coming year.

We thank the dedicated C.I.C.L.E. crew who grew this year’s events into an unstoppable power, and to all our volunteers that came out to help support this year’s efforts. Another big round of thanks goes out to our partners and to the City of Pasadena’s Department of Transportation for believing in this vision and for working with our organization to create a unique and progressive bike event.

We spent a great day riding bikes and chatting it up with KTLA’s Gayle Anderson. Big thanks to our riders who dragged themselves out of bed on a Monday morning to meet with Gayle at 6:30am. Several clips that were filmed in various Bike Week Pasadena event locations and were aired throughout the morning—check ‘em out below. And be sure to join us for Bike Week Pasadena. We are only in our second day, so there’s still lots more bike fun to be had.

View the full Bike Week Pasadena 2009 event schedule

8:00 AM Broadcast

9:00 AM Broadcast

1:00 PM Broadcast

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)