Don't overlook bike-friendly Montréal

A Bike Commute Tips Blog reader writes:

Dear Sir,

I am a frequent reader of your blog...I am in Montreal, a city covered with snow for a good part of the year (over a hundred inches this last winter) and where a lot of people commute by bike year round. The numbers for sure are not as high as Portland, mostly because of the often inclement weather and partly because we lack efficient cycling facilities. Still, for the entire city, cyclists accounted for 1.6% of commutes in 2005. In certain neighbourhoods, such as Plateau Mont-Royal, it is 6.5%. (http://www.veloquebec.info, page 5).

When you write "most bicycle-friendly city in North America", I feel we are left out. The ranking you refer to was established by the US census bureau and solely for the US territory. Of course Canadian cities such as Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal were not considered. But…aren’t they in North America? Best regards and Bonne Route!

As a New England native and avid francophile, I love Montréal. I certainly have never intended any slight toward les cyclistes Québécois. Prompted by this thawing correspondent from Québec, I decided to look into the bicycling culture of Montréal, which appears to be very healthy indeed.

The Montreal Mirror reports:

Last May, city hall released plans to transform Montreal into a cycling haven on par with Paris or Lyon, envisioning a not-too-distant future of 400 new kilometres of new bike paths, a self-service bicycle rental system and five times as many bike parking places. The $134-million plan has since gone through 10 public and 10 agglomeration council consultations, and in a few weeks the city will announce how year one will shape up. Vélo Québec, a non-profit cycling lobby group...called it "ambitious." The transport plan is available on the city’s Web site as part of the Reinvent Montreal guide.

Like any other hip dynamic city in the 21st century, Montréal also boasts a lively fixed-gear bicycle renaissance, again according to the Mirror. Fixie fans in la Belle Ville even have a website and message board. Many of these fixie riders may be pedaling over to the first ever Artistic Bicycle Exposition.

With more than 2,400 miles of bike trails, Québec boasts the largest cycling network in the Americas, the famed Route verte. Inaugurated last August, the Route verte was recently named the top cycling route in the world by the National Geographic Society.

Most notable, according to the Montreal Gazette:

Montreal plans to be the first city in North America to set up a large-scale "self-serve" public bicycle rental service...Pedalling along the same path as such French cities as Paris and Lyon, where similar systems have become wildly popular, Montreal hopes its project will start by next fall and be fully operational by late 2009. "Montreal wants to be the bicycle city par excellence in North America, and this project will definitely help us get there," André Lavallée, the city executive committee member responsible for transportation, said at a news conference...

It's been nearly 20 years since I last visited Montréal (having moved to California in 1991.) I look forward to another visit for a first-hand look at the city's bicycling progress.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Montreal Bike Fest 2008
Visit: La Route Verte au Quebec
Visit: A bicycle-friendly city is environment-friendly too, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Omaha: New map inspires cyclists

From the Omaha World Herald, 04.21.08:

New bike map may push people to ride more
Maybe it is eye-popping gas prices or that flab around your middle that has you thinking about dusting off the old 10-speed in the garage. In either case, Omaha's first bike route map is intended to help you get where you need to go.

Activate Omaha, a nonprofit community health group, developed the map to get more people exercising and commuting by bike. "If there are people thinking about gas prices and their health, this is a tool they can use to take that next step," said Tammie Dodge, the organization's project manager...

The new map--just as ski slopes are marked for their difficulty--color-codes streets based on their traffic levels, space for cyclists and other factors. For example, Dodge Street and sections of 72nd and 90th Streets are among those cyclists shouldn't consider. Neighborhood streets are the best and provide the backbone of the routes. The map also notes the Keystone Trail and other specialized, paved paths. (Read more.)

Bike route maps are very useful tools for new and experienced bike commuters in any community. This Omaha map sounds very encouraging for a city not known for bike commuting.

There are also promising developments with online bike route maps, such as Bikely and the petition drive to persuade Google Maps to include bicycling at GoogleMapsBikeThere.org.

Image: ActivateOmaha.org.
Visit: Omaha's making room for bicyclists, Omaha World Herald
Visit: Where's the bike route, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Portland: Democracy Now! celebrates bicycling culture

From Democracy Now!, 04.15.08:

Portland Considered Most Bicycle-Friendly City in North America

AMY GOODMAN: For many, Portland is a haven of green-friendly urban planning. It recently topped Popular Science’s list of the greenest cities in the United States. A big part of that is bikes. Portland is widely considered the most bicycle-friendly city in North America, so much so that bikes are on display throughout the Portland airport. Worldwide, it’s seen as only second to Amsterdam.

I’m joined now by two local transportation activists. Elly Blue is the coordinator of the Towards Carfree Cities conference taking place in Portland this June. She is also a contributing writer to bikeportland.org. Scott Bricker is also with us, executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, or BTA, a nonprofit membership group working to promote bicycling and improve bicycling conditions in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Welcome to Democracy Now! Talk about how Portland is so bike-friendly. What does it do?

SCOTT BRICKER: Portland has a history of being bicycle-friendly, and it actually—it really goes back to Oregon in the 1970s, when they passed a bicycle bill, which required that all new bicycle—all facilities would be built with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. And in the ’90s, Earl Blumenauer, who was a city councilor at the time, is now a congressman, worked to get a bicycle program that at the time had four staff members, and they worked to just get bicycle facilities on the streets.

The city has a 170 miles of bike lanes, but it also has a number of low-traffic streets that are good for the whole family, bicycle boulevards and paths. So we have a great infrastructure here, and it’s growing. And then, more recently, we’ve been working on the community, so promoting bicycling, bicycle websites and blogs, a lot of fun activities. (Read more.)

Amy Goodman is the best journalist in the U.S., and I am a big fan of Democracy Now!. Goodman broadcast from Portland last week, and her crew couldn't help but notice the city's bicycling reputation. The program features an excerpt of a video by the talented folks at StreetFilms.org.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Portland's bicycling economy, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Portland acts to protect cyclists, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: New York Times on Portland bicycling, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Portland: Leaving the car behind, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site

Boston: Paths to safe cycling

From the Boston Globe, 04.20.08:

Gone are the days when cycling advocates bickered about whether bike lanes actually improve safety for cyclists. Studies prove that bike lanes and other markings boost bicycle use, reduce vehicular traffic and speeding, and in many cases, decrease car-bike collisions.

"A handful of people are opposed to bike lanes on a philosophical or practical basis," wrote Chris Porter, chair of the MassBike Metro Boston chapter, in an e-mail. Many of this minority are holdovers from the days when "vehicular bicycling" thinking --folding bikes into the regular flow of traffic with no special accommodations--held sway. MassBike and other major bike advocacy groups support bike lanes, as long as they are designed properly. But bike lanes aren't the only option.

"Not every street is right for a bike lane, but there are plenty of alternatives, like bicycle boulevards, "sharrows" [or] "Share the Road" arrows, and signage," said David Watson, MassBike's executive director...

Roads often need to go on "diets" to either remove or narrow a lane of traffic or parking to make a little room for bikes. This is what happened on Mass Ave in Central Square, said Cara Seiderman, transportation program manager for Cambridge.

Eleven feet is a generally accepted minimum width for a busy urban travel lane such as on Mass. Ave., said Seiderman. Cambridge has found that even 10-foot lanes, like on Hampshire Street, are as safe as wider lanes. One reason: they slow traffic.

Most engineers design at least five-foot-wide bike lanes, but not every advocate agrees about appropriate widths. Some believe that even standard widths "encourage bikes to ride too close to parked cars," said Porter. In other words, raising the threat of getting "doored."

But a 2003 study by the city of Cambridge found that bike lanes and pavement markings actually encouraged bicyclists to travel further from, not closer to, parked cars, compared with their behavior when no markings were present. Motorists also cited bike lanes as a big reason why they noticed bicyclists.

In short, bike lanes work. (Read more.)

I've written in the past about the welcome demise of vehicular cycling (VC) among bicycle advocates. As a practical approach to individual cycling, VC makes great sense: "drive" your bicycle as if it were a vehicle, claim your space, signal your turns, ride with traffic.

However, as a basis for bicycling advocacy, VC is negative, pessimistic, and counter-productive. Essentially, VC proponents conceded bicycling's marginality and didn't believe the roads could be changed to better accommodate cyclists. Instead they encouraged bicyclists to accept their minority status and adapt to roads designed for high speed vehicle traffic.

In contrast to this nonsense, the success of "complete streets" advocacy in cities such as San Francisco, Portland, New York, and Chicago has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of infrastructural enhancement. These cities all have strong bicycling advocacy organizations, which have successfully pushed for enhanced bicycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes, "sharrows," signage, bike paths, and secure parking. Friendlier streets have led to more bicyclists, which in turn has increased safety as motorist awareness improves.

And now Boston is finally moving to improve the streetscape to better serve bicyclists and other non-motorized travelers. I couldn't agree more with this new Boston Globe columnist: Bike lanes work.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Bike czar creates buzz just gearing up, Boston Globe
Visit: Boston improves as a bike city, Boston Globe
Visit: Josh Switzky Interview, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Brooklyn: Bike Lanes Save Lives, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site

Escondido plans for more bicycles

From the North County Times (San Diego, CA), 04.19.08:

Escondido: New plan would triple the city's bike lanes
Goal is encouraging people to commute ---- without cars

Aiming to encourage more people to ride bicycles to work and school, city officials and a consultant have nearly completed a plan to triple the number of bike lanes in Escondido.

Studies indicate that roughly 3,500 of the city's 144,000 residents would ride their bikes to work or school if the city implements all the projects in the plan. The plan recommends expanding the city's bike lanes from 33 miles to 106 miles. City officials estimate that fewer than 2,000 residents use bicycles to commute.

The plan would be designed to improve safety by creating new bike lanes that are separated from traffic by painted lines in the street, connecting some of the most popular existing routes more effectively, and launching a citywide education campaign...

The city previously updated its master plan in 1993, so another revision was long overdue. State and federal agencies give preference for grant money to cities that update their plans frequently, because the projects requested by those cities are based on more current traffic patterns. (Read more.)

While Escondido has grown significantly in the past 15 years, its bicycling infrastructure hasn't. Pushed by the advocates in the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the San Diego county community is finally moving to better serve cyclists.

Image: North County Times.
Visit: San Diego Bike Advocate Interviewed, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Buy some gas!

From the Hartford Courant, 04.14.08:

"Lisa", Newington, CT: what a freakin joke! Now we got to pay millions so a couple cyclist can peddle to work? get some brains! stop paying $100 a month for cable tv and buy some gas you dolts!

"Bostonian", Boston, MA: Lisa-Thanks for putting it so bluntly. You are everything that is wrong with America.

I couldn't resist sharing this, from the comments section of the Hartford Courant, responding to a generally favorable editorial, Watch That Cyclist, in support of a pro-bicycling bill in the Connecticut legislature. "If bike commuting were safer, more people would try it. They'd get exercise, save fuel and cause less pollution — which all should be encouraged." However, the Courant editorialists stop short of fully embracing the bill's Complete Streets provisions.

The Connecticut legislation is similar to the AB 60 Safe Passing Distance bill introduced last year in California, which failed in committee. The Connecticut bill will require motorists to allow at least three feet when passing a bicyclist. It's a modest acknowledgment of bicyclists' rights to the road. However, I remain skeptical that legal provisions offer better security for bicyclists than improved road design. Give me Complete Streets anyday.

Image: Andy Singer.
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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LA: Bikeway, not highway

From the Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA), 04.13.08:

My way or the highway? Try the bikeway
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa earlier this year urged city residents to take public transportation to work in a bid to fight soaring gas prices and reduce traffic congestion. Though I don't live in the city of L.A., I felt that if the mayor could get to work on public transit once in a while, so could I.

Actually, I had been thinking about this ever since Redondo Beach completed its new bike route through the northern part of the city in December. That 2.8-mile path links the Metro Green Line station on Marine Avenue with 190th Street. As someone who lives close to the eastern end of the Green Line, I figured the combination of bike and light rail would offer a viable alternative to commuting to work by car.

All told, it took about an hour and a half to complete the 21-mile commute. Normally, it takes about an hour to make the trip by car on busy weekday mornings. I figured I could shorten the 90-minute ride somewhat with additional conditioning.

My legs were a little wobbly as I headed to my desk, but the exercise made me more alert than usual. I had a feeling of independence knowing that it was possible to sometimes get around the L.A. region without having to take a 2,300-pound machine with you. (Read more.)

Personal account of a newspaper editor who attempts a "carbon-reduced commute" in Los Angeles, taking advantage of the region's recent expansions in transit service and bike path infrastructure.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Visit: Bicycling hazardous in Los Angeles, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Bicycling "arrives" in car-crazy Los Angeles, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Calgary: Get back in the saddle

From the Calgary Herald, 04.11.08:

Biking to work is one of those activities that sounds great in theory, but putting it into practice requires a considerable leap of faith.

On the plus side, bicycle commuting kills three birds with one stone: it integrates exercise into your daily routine, cuts down on pollution and saves you a ton of money in gas and parking fees. Bonus: With Calgary's ever-worsening rush hour, cycling can also potentially save you time.

But safety concerns, logistical worries (weather, where can I fix my helmet hair?) and a fear of the unknown can prevent commuters from taking the plunge...

A lot of those questions are answered on user forums at bikecalgary.org, where about 400 cyclists share information and sound off about their concerns.

The site acts as a virtual support group for cyclists, with tips for newbies, links to local bike shops and a guide to city pathways. "One of the purposes was to support new bicycle commuters," says (Stewart Midwinter, a member of cyclist advocacy group Bike Calgary), who started the site.

He sees Bike Calgary as bridging the gap between events like Bike to Work Day and year-round behaviour by providing a support network and advocating for improved infrastructure.

"We need a strong advocacy group to push for infrastructure improvements. They don't happen unless people are asking for it," Midwinter says. The results can be impressive, he adds, noting Portland, Ore., tripled its number of cyclists in the past 10 years through similar initiatives.(Read more.)

Comprehensive article from Calgary, which celebrated Bike to Work Day on April 11. The Alberta city appears to have an emerging bicycling advocacy movement, calling for more bike lanes, better transit access, bike racks.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Bike to Work Day was a snow-free success, Calgary Herald
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Chicago: Commuter Challege promotes bicycling

From the Chicago Sun-Times, 04.07.08:

Push is on to bike to work
Businesses, organizations can sign up for 'Commuter Challenge'

The hardest thing about biking to work might be getting up the nerve to try it. It could be easier than you think.

"There's a level of discomfort in riding in traffic for some people," said Melody Geraci of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. "It's just a matter of trying it once or twice and finding a level of confidence."

Sign-up begins today for the Bicycle Federation's "Commuter Challenge" for Bike to Work Week June 7-13. Businesses and organizations compete to see who can get the most workers on their bikes...

Every morning, (Michael) Burton puts his 18-month-old son, Miguel Kilgore, into a bike trailer and takes him to day care. Then Burton rides to his job. In the afternoon, Burton's wife, Gin Kilgore, bikes from her job at Mitchell Elementary School in Ukrainian Village to pick up Miguel. They don't own a car, which helped them to save enough money to buy a three-flat.

"Some of our friends who own cars said, 'Once you have a kid, you can't do this,' " Burton said. But he sees owning a car as a bigger hassle than riding bikes. "I think it's like any form of transportation," said Burton. "Once you figure it out, it's what you do." (Read more.)

Inspirational article from Chicago, featuring encouraging comments from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, as well as several testimonials from local bike commuters. Very encouraging.

Image: Chicago Sun-Times. Michael Burton heads to day care with his 18-month-old son in tow.
Visit: Is Chicago bike-friendly?, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Chicago: winter bicycling grows in popularity, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Bob Fuller Roadside Memorials, PSA from Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Drivers turning to alternatives

From KHQA-TV (Quincy, IL), 04.08.08:

Drivers turning to alternatives
Larry Patterson's feeling the pinch at the pump...but that's driven him to do something a little different with his transportation these days. What have you done differently?

Patterson said, "A couple of things I've done differently, I started walking, the weather is nicer so I've started walking places close to me but if there's a distance then I try to get a bus pass."

But on this particular day...Patterson was actually fueling up for a specific purpose. Patterson said, "I have considered getting a bike. I'm actually on my way now to look at prices for a bike."

As it turns out that's becoming a popular thing to do these days. Greg Davis is a partner at Madison and Davis Bicycle shop in Quincy. Have you seen an influx in customers since gas prices started going up?

Davis said, "Actually last year we saw it quite a bit. We're seeing a couple of things, people are coming in and looking for what a new bicycle would cost to supplement their transportation and we're seeing a lot of people pulling out bikes that haven't been ridden a long time to get refurbished." (Read more.)

Interesting video report on the growing appeal of bicycling. This "high gas prices moving people from four wheels to two" is increasingly popular as a news hook these days. Those of us who have been riding for years have always known bicycling is fun, healthy, effective. That message hardly got through. Now bicycling as affordable transportation is gaining traction.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: High gas prices keep bike shops busy, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Fuel prices driving more to bikes, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Greensboro: Mean streets for bicyclists?

From the News Record (Greensboro, NC), 04.06.08:

The streets can be mean around here to bicyclists
Theoretically, bicycling is supposed to be a healthy activity. And statistically, Greensboro, where the accident occurred, is supposed to be conducive to biking and walking -- relatively speaking, at least.

But you have to wonder. The numbers don't factor in close calls and abuse. And they only include those accidents that are reported to police.

Despite the spread of bike lanes (up to 14.5 miles now) throughout the city and such cyclist-friendly amenities as bike mounts on city buses, local drivers are not especially known for our willingness to share the road.

We cuss at cyclists...We throw stuff at them...Sometimes we even kill them.

But the law is incredibly soft on drivers who hit bicyclists. A crash that results in a bicyclist's death is only a Class 2 misdemeanor (six months in jail or a $500 fine or both), said (Greensboro transportation planner Peggy) Holland, who is herself a bicyclist. "Is it because we don't count? What's going on? Why doesn't the law protect us? If you hit a bicyclist, there really isn't much punishment for it." (Read more.)

Great column from North Carolina, reacting to a near-fatal collision involving a local bicyclist. If only more news outlets offered such intelligent writers.

Will more punitive legislation improve bicyclist safety? Maybe. Just as capital punishment prevents murder...right? Personally, I prefer that advocacy demand better road design--Complete Streets--which reduces vehicle speeds and improves safety for all road users.

Image: Yehuda Moon.
Visit: Interview with Bicycling in Greensboro President, Greensboro News-Record
Visit: As Gas Prices Rise, Cycle To Savings, WFMY-TV
Visit: Greensboro: Bicycle first in rat race, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Marin: Bike crashes down, commuting up

From the Marin County Bicycle Coalition e-newsletter, 04.03.08:

Bicycle Crashes Decline by 34% in Marin over Past Decade
While Bike Commuting Increases 66%

The recent deaths of two bicyclists in Cupertino once again highlight the need for aggressive timetables for projects and educational programs that make Marin County roads safer for bicycle riders. However, a positive piece of data from the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWTRS) shows that Marin County bike and car crashes declined by 34% over the past 10 years, while bicycle commuting has simultaneously increased by 66%.

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition's efforts continue to help make the road safer...Through our collaborative efforts with law enforcement and public works departments we have raised awareness and changed the physical environment to make our roads safer for bicycle riding. Each time we secure new bike lanes, Complete Streets policies, fiscal support for non-motorized transportation projects, etc. we are helping to make the roads safer for bicycle commuters and recreational riders in Marin County.

Check out MCBC’s Share the Road page on our website for more information about bicycle education classes, safety tips for both bicyclists and motorists, and more.
(Visit MCBC website.)

Bicyclists in California's Marin County are among the luckiest riders in the world: great weather, bike shops, bike facilities, reasonably bike friendly public transit (Golden Gate Transit ferries and buses), great bicycling community, and outstanding terrain--including my favorites Mt. Tamalpais, Marin Headlands, Point Reyes, and the rural roads in the western coastal part of the county. And bicyclists in Marin also have one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the country, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC).

The MCBC pioneered the Safe Routes to School program, and their advocacy played a huge role for Marin County's selection as one of four communities in the country awarded a $25 million Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program grant, passed by Congress in July 2005. (The other communities are Sheboygan County, Wisconsin; Columbia, Missouri; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.)

Also, as a Bike Commute Tips Blog reader recently reported, the daily Marin Independent-Journal has had a bicycle columnist for five years, Christine "Peanut" Vardaros. The Boston Globe's new bike columnist is a relative newbie.

Image: Marin County Bicycle Coalition. Abandoned CalPark railroad tunnel, future bicycling route.
Visit: Feds report on Marin's cycling progress, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Biking Innkeeper: Interview with Amanda Eichstaedt, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Pedaling bikes on Cape Cod

From The Cape Codder(Brewster, MA), 04.03.08:

Pedal power
With a barrel of oil trading above $100 and fears that gasoline could hit $4 a gallon this summer, many Cape Codders are looking for ways to lessen the pinch on their wallets. For some, the solution may be found at your local bicycle shop.

At Orleans Cycle on Main Street, manager Doug Jordan has noticed an increase in the number of people coming into the store who are interested in purchasing a bike for commuting to help cut down on driving and paying for gas.

Jordan, who lives in Dennis, said he also sees more people biking locally to do their shopping. With the start of spring, Jordan said he hopes to increase the number of days a week he rides the 13 miles on the Cape Cod Rail Trail from Dennis to work in Orleans. "The Route 134 trailhead is my commuter parking lot," said Jordan. (Read more.)

Another article demonstrating the breadth of the high-gas-prices-drive-bicycling theme. This theme recently inspired a new State Farm Insurance commerical, which has provoked much discussion on bike listserves and was intelligently deconstructed by StreetsBlog.

Image: The Cape Codder.
Visit: Cape Cod Bike Guide
Visit: Suggestions for buying a bike
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Bikes come in all types for all people

From the Daily Star (Oneonta, NY), 04.05.08:

The weather is just about perfect to begin a full season of biking. Current world affairs make riding a bike environmentally correct, financially satisfying and the secret to a healthy mind and body...

More than 100 years (after the first popular wave of bicycling), the bike is again going to step up onto the podium of popular choice as fuel costs, automobile prices, rising insurance and pollution curb this driving nation. Bike designers seem to have been anticipating the demand with designs that are efficient, comfortable and durable, as well as being eye-appealing.

One great thing about bikes is that with a small amount of upkeep, there is little expense beyond the initial purchase, and you can save money, too...

Add up all of this biking information and the sum total is priceless with the sights you will see, the money you save, the exercise you get and the adventures you will have to share. The season has begun! (Read more.)

One of the most common inquiries I get from visitors to my bike commuting tips site is: "What bike should I get?" And the response I usually make is just what the reporter on this story did: visit a trusted local bike shop and consult with the staff. Selecting the right bike is very subjective. The experienced staff at a bike shop can advise prospective bicyclists on the most appropriate ride, after consulting on the buyer's needs, tastes, budget, abilities, and expected travel distance.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Suggestions for buying a bike
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Connecticut cyclists fight for train access

From the New Haven Independent, 03.25.08:

Bikes on Trains? ConnDOT and Commuter Council Say No
Members of Elm City Cycling, Connecticut Bicycle Coalition and other supporters of making room for bikes on the new Metro North train cars in the interest of multi-modal transportation were dealt a serious blow when the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council voted on March 19 against a resolution that asked Metro-North and Connecticut DOT to provide bicycle parking on New Haven Line cars.

Bike Commute Tips Blog reader Mark Abraham forwarded information about this fight in Connecticut, trying to gain better bicycling access on one of the busiest commuter routes in the U.S. Presently, bikes are allowed on-board only during off-peak hours; such as this ridiculous sitation in the image above. Compare this chaos on Metro North, with a system like Caltrain's dedicated bike cars on every train or, better, the Amtrak Capitol Corridor. (Better, IMHO, because it disperses cyclists in small numbers throughout the multi-car train, rather than causing them to crowd in and crawl over each other in a single dedicated bike car.)

Bicyclists were a strong presence at a recent Metro North President's Forum:

A half-dozen New Haveners joined a group of cyclists on a train ride from New Haven to Grand Central Station Wednesday to promote their cause before the president of Metro North Railroad. He insisted it's a zero-sum game--i.e., more bike access means fewer seats for passengers.

So the cyclists vowed to take their fight to the governor and the Connecticut General Assembly. New Canaan resident (Richard Stowe) is a devoted cyclist and promoter of linking cyclists to mass transit. He’s been beating the drum, asking Metro North to create "safe, secure bicycle parking" on the new M8 cars the railroad has ordered.

One of the problems seems to be conflicting information from the Connecticut DOT, which first indicated that additional bike space would be provided on the system's new cars. Then it seemed that added capacity wouldn't materialize.

CT bikers are writing letters, reaching out to media, packing hearings, making noise. They will succeed. I'm a daily multimodal commuter, and wish great success to cyclists in Connecticut. (And until victory, they might want to consider a folding bike.)

Abraham also reports that New Haven registers a respectable--by U.S. standards--1.8 percent mode share for bike trips. He also sent a link to an interesting article on the Elm City's role in bicycling history.

Image: Five Borough Bicycle Club. Bikes on Metro-North car.
Visit: Metro-North unveils bike rack ideas, The Advocate (Stamford, CT)
Visit: Study: Bikes will get to ride on trains, The Advocate (Stamford, CT)
Visit: Cyclists fight for space on trains, New Haven Independent
Visit: The facts about bikes on trains, Darien Times
Visit: Connecticut bike commuters on TV, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site

Warmth excites bicyclists in Wisconsin

From the Capitol Times (Madison, WI), 03.30.08:

Bikers gear up as spring is upon us
Along with the first tentative rays of spring sun, flocks of fair-weather bikers are coming out of hibernation. Madisonians are hauling out their bikes for tune-ups, greasing up the chains and stretching out the spandex.

"We've had a big rush as soon as the first day of warm weather," said Eric Lyngaas, a salesman at Willy Street Bikes. "The first warm weekend hits, we get inundated with repairs, and our service department has been extremely busy. It's been pretty backed up in general."

Bike store employees cite a combination of escalating gas prices, an increase in the range and affordability of bikes, and an overall spread of bike culture as key factors in the increasingly wide spectrum of people using bikes for recreation and commuting.

"For a long time the bike industry has been ruled by competitive road-riding professionals, now it's more accessible to everyone and more a part of the culture," said Taylor Struwe, pulling a metallic blue cruiser from the rack for a customer to test drive. "With higher gas prices, people are just gonna ride two wheels. It's enjoyable, it's good exercise, minimal maintenance and far more economical than cars."

(Luke Clark of Machinery Row Bicycles)...noted that people are experimenting with trading in their four-wheeled transport for two. "A lot of people come in and say, 'We're looking to go from a three car to a one car family, we want two good commuter bikes.' Those types come out in fairer weather," Clark said. "There's a trend of people getting out of their cars." (Read more.)

With the approach of spring, thoughts turn to bicycling (and baseball, of course.) This article is another example of the storyline this year on bikes: higher fuel prices are causing more people to consider bike commuting. And an interesting comments section, with the usual back-and-forth between drivers ("bikes belong on sidewalks") and bicyclists, and a lengthy flame war among the pedaling contingent over the merits of a local bike shop. As a veteran of numerous flame wars on the SFBike listserve, I know that nobody can split hairs with as much venom as bicyclists.

Image: Rob Lambert.
Visit: Wisconsin’s commuters parking cars in favor of bikes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Visit: Fuel prices creating bike commuters, Wisconsin Radio Network
Visit: Is bicycling a possibility for commuting in Madison?, Madison Leader
Visit: Bikers ready to roll, Sheboygan Press
Visit: Winter cold no obstacle to bike commuting, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site

Bust out the bike

From The Coloradoan, (Fort Collins, CO), 03.30.08:

With gas prices on the rise and the weather warming, here are some things to consider when choosing a new ride
How is that $3.17 a gallon gas treating you?

There is an alternative, you know.

I became a fair weather bike commuter when gas first hit $3 a gallon, and I love my ride to work. Of course, it helps that my 25-minute commute from the southwest side of town to the Coloradoan on the northeast side of town is virtually all on the bike trail.

With the weather warming, it's time to get a bike or get out your bike. Whether looking for a bike to commute or to recreate or both, here's a quick primer to help you turn from gas power to pedal power. (Read more.)

Very basic "how to" article from Ft. Collins, Colorado, with suggestions on bike models, sizing, materials, accessories, and bicycling etiquette.

Image: The Coloradoan.
Visit: Vision puts commuters on their bikes, The Coloradoan
Visit: Changing Gears: With bicycle ridership soaring, how ready is Fort Collins for bike mania? Fort Collins Now
Visit: Bike coordinator speaks out, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Colorado study on collegiate helmet use, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site

High gas prices keep bike shops busy

From the York Daily Record (PA), 03.27.08:

Bicycle business is brisk
Many bicycle shop workers across York County used the same word to describe business on Wednesday.

Busy.

Some of the workers said the jump in business might stem from more people wanting to ride bicycles in an effort to spend less on gasoline while, at the same time, improving their health.

"People are making a concerted...effort to try to start riding to work," said Will Mahler, the bike shop manager at Ed's Ski and Cycle in Spring Garden Township. "If you can kill two birds with one stone, it's a great thing."

Ed Brandt, owner of Adventure Cycling & Fitness in West Manchester Township, said the shop has been busy with requests to service bicycles. "We're seeing a lot more people interested in commuting on their bicycles," he said. "I think it's obvious it's gas prices." (Read more.)

More evidence of a common theme these days, high gas prices causing more people to look seriously at bicycling.

Image: York Daily Record.
Visit: Fuel prices driving more to bikes, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: High gas prices yielding more bicycling commuters, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Tucson celebrates bicycling

From the Tucson Citizen, 03.28.08:

Bike events aim to boost Tucson's image
A series of events this weekend will kick off Tucson's Clean Air Days and Bike Fest, and the three-day Tucson Bicycle Classic race also is this weekend south and west of town. The events highlight Tucson's reputation as a bike-friendly community.

But that reputation needs some burnishing if Tucson is to be successful in receiving the top ranking among bike-friendly communities from a national bicycle advocacy group. The Pima Association of Governments last week applied for platinum status from the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign. A decision is expected next month. Davis, Calif., is the only community that has platinum status, according to the league's master list.

Since May 2006, the Tucson/Pima Eastern Region is one of only seven communities awarded gold status for having bicycle-friendly environments. But a bicycle-friendly environment does not necessarily mean a bicycle-friendly community.
"Achieving platinum is not bike utopia," said Diana Tolton, chairwoman of the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee. "It's not the ultimate bike-friendly community. It just shows we have a lot to offer." (Read more.)

Article that conveys Tucson's ambitions for bicycling, and some of the remaining tensions between the "lycra-clad" set and a minority of motorists in the area.

Image: Tucson Citizen.
Visit: Putting the pedals to the pavement, Tucson Citizen
Visit: Tucson aims for pinnacle as bicycling mecca, Arizona Daily Star
Visit: Bike sharing program peddled for Tucson, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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Kansas City, see it on a bike

From the KC Community News, 03.26.08:

Experience Kansas City's sights, sounds by bicycle
Theresa Van Ackeren wants people to experience Kansas City from a different driver’s seat--that of a bicycle.

“It’s part of the whole philosophy of ‘stop and smell the roses,’” Van Ackeren said. “When you’re on a bike and going slower, you tend to look around and see things you don’t typically see from the hermetically sealed confines of a car. You come in contact with more people and hear the sounds of the city.”

“I’m a big proponent of using your bike instead of a car for short trips, like to the grocery store,” she said. “I’m somewhat of an environmentalist but I also support it for the physical fitness aspect, for getting people outside and enjoying the fresh air. I plan to ride to work everyday.” (Read more.)

As a bicycling community, Kansas City doesn't get much love. A recent U.S. Census report identified KC as having the lowest rate of bicycle commuting of any of the country's 50 largest cities.

Bike Commute Tips Blog reader Eric Rogers, creator of KCBike.info, reports that things may be changing for the better in Kansas City: "We are actually on the verge of many great things. The city has its first-ever bike/ped coordinator, Andy Clarke (executive director of the League of American Bicyclists) is coming in May for a regional Bike Friendly Communities workshop, and Missouri is getting close to a state-wide Complete Streets law. And last year we hosted the cyclocross nationals and the Tour of Missouri. So it's not all bad news."

Rogers also reports that Kansas City has seen three new bike shops open in less than a month. "This has to be some kind of a record. Two of the shops in particular have a strong focus on commuting and urban cycling." One of these new shops is Family Bicycles LLC, owned by the same Theresa Van Ackeren featured in this article.

Image: Missouri Bicycling Federation.
Visit: Kansas City cyclists making slow progress, Bike Commute Tips Blog
Visit: Returning to KC and its booming downtown, Kansas City Star
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site
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