Cult of the Bicycle

• Bay Area Bike to Work Day photos

  I posted my mostly lame South Bay Bike To Work Day photos to Flickr. Good photos are hard to take when you're camera is broken! Luckily, several other people carried their cameras on Bike To Work Day. Here's Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. Adam posted his photos from San Francisco. See also Bici Girl's nice photos from Oakland. All photos shown here with permission or with CC license. Click on the photos for attribution and captions. Posted May 15 2008, 04:32 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bicyles and the Sartorialist

  The Sartorialist: BICYCLE IN THE BACKGROUND. The Sartorialist: BICYCLE IN THE FOREGROUND. See also Scarlett Johansson, Ashton Kutcher, Zooey Deschanel, and Jay Hernandez racing their bicycles in this advertisement from The Gap. Posted May 15 2008, 06:00 AM by Cyclelicious

• Happy Bike To Work Day

  When this is posted on Thursday morning, hopefully I'll be on my way biking and doing my tour of South Bay Energizer Stations. I plan to stop off a the Energizer Stations at San Jose Depot, Mountain View Castro Street, Palo Alto Wilkie Way, Palo Alto California Avenue, Palo Alto City Hall, and Menlo Park Willow Road taking photos all along the way. Be sure to say "Cheese" for my camera! Here's what the San Francisco Bay Area news media says about Bike to Work Day: Chronicle: Thousands gear up for Bike to Work Day. On Thursday, almost 200 "energizer stations" will be set up in the Bay Area from Yountville (Napa County) to San Lorenzo during the morning and evening where cyclists can stop by to get something free to drink and eat, such as orange juice, bagels and bananas. Bike-related freebies will be handed out at several locations. Voice of America: San Francisco celebrates 14th annual Bike to Work Day. Mercury News (filed under "Weird News"): Firms ride bike to work popularity InsideBayArea.com: Get off the gas pedal and step on the bike pedal. NovoMetro: Thursday is Bike To Work Day. InsideBayArea.com: Air Quality District unveils bike fleet. You might recall when the Bay Area Air Quality District banned bike riding on the job a few months back. The BAAQD bought liability insurance and bought bikes and helmets for employee use. Speaking of the Air Quality District, they announced that Bike To Work Day is also a Spare the Air Day. Sorry, commuters, there are no free rides in 2008 for Spare the Air. Santa Rosa Press Democrat: Bike to Work Day could mark start of new way of life. San Mateo County Times: Peninsula bicycle shops say $4 gas spins up business. Palo Alto Daily News: Bike to Work Day promoters anticipate huge turnout. Posted May 15 2008, 05:00 AM by Cyclelicious

• Bike week bloggers

  Design O Jek says it's Bike to Work Week in Kansas! WashCycle says it's Bike To Work Week in the Washington DC area! Riverfront Times says it's Bike to Work Week in the St. Louis! Ozone Bike Department says Bike To Work Week and Day in Austin! Other stuff: wjc responds to jwz. Still, I’ve never heard of anyone who has reportedly ridden bikes so much for so long with so little interest in cycling culture or knowledge about bikes. Srsly, if you’ve been bike commuting daily for 10 years, paying a bike shop $20 to fix a flat is like a unix geek paying an intern $20 to write a 2-minute shell script. MAKE reports on the bikes at Maker Faire. Masiguy can't type, so he did a podcast instead, where he describes his crash in detail. I feel his pain. Ouch. He severs his thumb, is knocked unconscious, spends several days in the hospital, and then apologizes for his lack of blogging. What a trooper. "I am opening myself up to negative comments from the legions of gold plated Italian component fans on the web," writes James. Rich Kelly: Doping in pro baseball. A boy sold his bicycle to raise funds for Hillary Clinton's campaign. "I was thinking one day how could I make money for the campaign," he says. "And I just went through my closet and found things I didn't need." Rechargeable lantern for your Nalgene bottle. Amanda Annis seemed like such a sweet kid. Her boyfriend James Bausch was on his way to pick up an engagement ring when she was hit by a motorist running a red light and killed. James was planning to meet her father to ask Amanda's hand in marriage last weekend. MONKEY ELECTRIC. I have a set of these on the way! Back to Maker Faire: Guy Kawasaki took lots of bike photos. Danny in Seattle wrecked his car. What should buy to replace his ride? Enjoy your bike riding this week! Posted May 14 2008, 07:26 PM by Cyclelicious

• jwz on cycling in San Francisco

  Jamie Zawinski aka jwz is a well known computer programmer who helped author the original Netscape Navigator web browser and made significant contributions to the open source Mozilla browser and XEmacs (a text editor). These days he runs a night club in San Francisco. He posted jwz's bicycle wisdom to his blog. His feeling are apparently hurt because some people disagree with his "wisdom", but it's still a worthwhile read. I agree with some of his collected wisdom, and some I disagree with. Big deal. I've been using a bike as my exclusive transportation in SF for about ten years. I've always ridden, but that's when I stopped driving a car except under extreme duress. Here's how to begin your adventure as a commuter-bicyclist in San Francisco.... Read more at jwz bicycle wisdom. Posted May 14 2008, 01:16 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bicycle news in the Bay Area

  100,000 to bike to work in Bay Area East Bay Business News: Up to 100,000 in the Bay Area expected to bike to work. Mercury News: Oh so smug in spandex: I bike to work Palo Alto Weekly: Bike commuters of the year. Palo Alto Weekly: List of Palo Alto Energizer Stations [PDF] Mercury News: Panel of judges overturns manslaughter conviction of truck driver who hit and killed a cyclist. Santa Cruz Sentinel: Dead cyclist's parents sue over death on Mission Street. Santa Cruz Sentinel: Cycling along Mission Street is awful. Doh! Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mission Street cyclist ban impractical. Posted May 14 2008, 11:42 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: news

• Trips for Kids conference at IMBA National Summit

  Trips for Kids National (TFK) today announced it is hosting a Pre-Conference for TFK chapters in conjunction with the 2008 International Mountain Bicycling Association's (IMBA) World Summit taking place in Park City, Utah, this coming June. The conference will cover how to start a Trips for Kids advocacy program, promote it, respond to challenges and how to ensure long-term chapter success. The TFK Pre-conference is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Park City Marriott, and is for current TFK chapters and those interested in starting a new TFK chapter. "Trips for Kids is honored to partner with IMBA at its upcoming World Summit," said Marilyn Price, founder and director of TFK. "Many TFK chapters consist of IMBA members, and IMBA clubs are natural vehicles to start TFK chapters, so it made sense to meet together before the conference to share ideas and best practices." The TFK Pre-Conference Workshop will address how to start and promote a program, respond to challenges, use the bicycle as an education tool and guarantee the long-term success of an individual chapter. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 18, there will be a facilitated workshop for TFK and other youth biking groups. "The goal of adding youth topics to the IMBA Summit agenda and including Trips for Kids in the session is to identify barriers, find solutions and ultimately inspire more youth biking programs around the globe," said Mike Van Abel, director of IMBA. To that end, Quality Bicycle Product's Advocacy Director Gary Sjoquist requested that QBP's sponsorship of the IMBA World Summit be directed toward making Summit scholarships available to Trips for Kids chapters. "With more than 60 chapters nationwide, it made sense to use our sponsorship funds to help get these folks to the Summit," said Sjoquist. "Kids are the future of mountain biking, and both IMBA and Trips for Kids are helping get kids on mountain bikes and out on the trails." The 2008 IMBA World Summit begins immediately following the TFK Pre-Conference on Wednesday, June 18, and ends Saturday, June 21. Price and TFK Chapter members are also participating in panel discussions concerning mountain bicycling and trail stewardship among youth during the Summit. Posted May 14 2008, 10:21 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: news

• Bike to work day weather and pollution forecast

  Here's the Silicon Valley forecast for Bike to Work Day 2008. In a nutshell: sunny, hot, and with elevated ozone levels. The "USG" in the graphic means "Unsafe for Sensitive Groups." I still encourage you to ride your bicycle as fewer cars means less ozone, but stay hydrated, take it easy if you're not heat acclimated and avoid routes with heavy traffic if that's at all possible in the South Bay. Posted May 14 2008, 06:00 AM by Cyclelicious

• How green is your bike ride?

  Mr. Green is the Sierra Club's answer guy. He has a column about all things green that he updates weekly. In honor of Bike to Work Day, he's put out this discussion of the carbon emissions of biking vs. driving. He puts to rest the myth that fueling a bike (by feeding a person food that has been grown with fossil fuel inputs and traveled to them) is worse for the environment than fueling a car. Read the discussion in Hey Mr Green, is driving better than cycling?. A hat tip to Carolyn in San Francisco for this tidbit! Posted May 13 2008, 07:31 PM by Cyclelicious

• The most popular vehicle in the world today is the bicycle

  Visit Cozy Beehive for the full sized graphic of this cool poster. Posted May 13 2008, 05:05 PM by Cyclelicious

• Then and now

  Railroads in the United States pay for their own police forces. They are certified law enforcement officers and carry full police and arrest powers. Railroad police have full peace officer status in some states, while in other states they are limited to enforcing the law on railroad property. From the Union Pacific Railroad Officer Down Memorial Page: Monday, August 19, 1878: Special Agent Robert Widdowfield and Special Agent Henry Vincent were killed when they were ambushed while pursuing a suspect from a train robbery in Carbon, Wyoming. As the officers approached the suspect's campsite they were ambushed by the suspect. The suspect was later arrested and sentenced to death for the murders. Before being executed he was lynched by an angry mob. Saturday, July 9, 1977: Special Agent Boles was shot and killed after interrupting a burglary in progress in Denver, Colorado. Agent Boles called for backup, but by the time they arrived Agent Boles and been shot and killed by the suspect. The suspect was later arrested and convicted for Agent Boles' murder and served 15 months on a reduced charge. Posted May 13 2008, 12:36 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bike to work challenge

  My employer's Eco Responsibility group and fitness center is offering incentives to those who can spend 2,000 minutes biking to work over the next 12 weeks to promote alternative transportation, environmental awareness and wellness. The human resources department sent an email to all USA employees promoting this program, and I've actually heard people who normally don't bike to work in the hallway talking about it. 2,000 minutes is a genuine challenge -- it'll take effort even for me to get those many hours in. I know the people who put this program together, but unfortunately I don't think it will do anything to encourage newbies to try bike commuting. Posted May 12 2008, 07:22 PM by Cyclelicious Filed under: work

• Bicycle love

  Ewwwwww. Posted May 12 2008, 06:04 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bikes Belong Awards $44,200 in Grants for Recreation Projects

  Bikes Belong is celebrating the joy of cycling and trailbuilding this spring by awarding six recreation-focused grants to grassroots groups across the country. The projects—all made possible by dedicated volunteers—include a riverfront path, a freeride trail, a BMX freestyle park, and some really sweet backcountry singletrack. From all of us at Bikes Belong, enjoy the ride! Willimantic Whitewater Partnership—Hop River/Airline Extension Bike Path (Willlimantic, CT) The Willimantic Whitewater Partnership will receive $10,000 to help build the Hop River/Airline Trail Extension bike path as part of their riverfront recreation park. Bikes Belong's grant will match SAFETEA-LU and Recreational Trails Program funding for the dynamic project, which also includes a whitewater park for kayakers. Willimantic Whitewater Partnership is an innovative community coalition of corporations, families, and nonprofits working together to revitalize the historic riverfront and create a recreation hub in the town of Willimantic. The multi-use path will link to the East Coast Greenway, a national trail extending from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine. More about WWP. . . California Off-Road Bicyclists Association—Mount Hillyer Freeride Trail (Los Angeles County, CA) The Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) will use their $10,000 award to help build a freeride trail in the Mount Hillyer area of the Chilao Recreation Area and enhance the surrounding trail system. Bikes Belong's funding will leverage pending grants from local businesses as well as donations from CORBA members and other local riders. CORBA has gained the full support of the Forest Service for this exciting project, which sets a huge precedent: It will be the first legal freeride trail in Angeles National Forest. More about CORBA. . . Vermont Mountain Bike Association—Green Mountain Trail Access The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) will receive $9,200 for their Green Mountain National Forest Access Program. This grant will help VMBA in its effort to reconstruct and extend three sections of singletrack in the Green Mountain National Forest's Moosalamoo National Recreation Area—previously off-limits to mountain bikes. Bikes Belong's funding will leverage a National Forest Foundation grant as well as state funding for this important mountain bike initiative. VMBA, the state's stellar mountain bike advocacy group, works to increase ridership in Vermont while minimizing impact on public lands through sustainable trailbuilding and stewardship. They also foster active, healthy lifestyles through Trailheads, their youth mountain biking program, and are working to promote mountain biking at eastern ski areas in the summer months. More about VMBA. . . Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship—North Yuba Trail Extension (Downieville, CA) Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) will use their $5,000 grant to help complete the final 4 miles of the North Yuba Trail—referred to as the Golden Spoke—which will connect 14 miles of singletrack. This non-motorized trail will enable cross-country mountain bikers to ride to the renowned Downieville trails from town instead of drive. SBTS has established itself as a strong partner with the National Forest Service and promotes community support for trails through their innovative Trail Adoption program. They've also garnered state funding for this project. More about SBTS. . . Friends of Pathways—Order of the Arrow Trail Construction Project (Jackson, WY) Friends of Pathways will receive $5,000 for their "Order of the Arrow" initiative, which will replace 10.5 miles of eroding, illegal trails with fun, sustainable singletrack on Teton Pass. Bikes Belong's funding will bolster grants and volunteer hours from the National Forest Foundation and the Teton Freedom Riders. More than 650 Boy Scouts from the trail's namesake service team will donate their time to trail construction this summer. Friends of Pathways promotes active healthy lifestyles through great trail facilities. Their advocacy and fundraising work helps to connect and enhance communities and recreation opportunities—from paved paths to backcountry trails—in and around Jackson Hole. More about Friends of Pathways. . . Village of Mexico, New York—Freedom Skate/BMX Park The Village of Mexico, New York, will use their $5,000 award to complete the Freedom Skate/BMX Park. Bikes Belong's funding will go toward bike-specific elements in the park and help leverage city funding as well as money raised by the BMX and skate communities. The Tony Hawk Foundation has also contributed to this great project. The shared-use facility, which has strong support from the city's mayor and parks & recreation commissioner, will provide a place for freestyle BMX riders and skaters to coexist happily—and free of charge. It will also be a venue for events, clinics, and after-school programs. Don't miss the IMBA World Summit! If projects like these get your adrenalin pumping, head to Park City, Utah, June 18–21 for the IMBA World Mountain Bike Summit. Bikes Belong is a proud sponsor, and we'll be representing (and riding) at the event. Hope to see you there! More about the IMBA Summit. . . About Bikes Belong Bikes Belong Coalition is the U.S. bicycle industry organization dedicated to putting more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong lobbies to increase federal bike funding, awards grants to support innovative bike projects, promotes bicycling and its benefits, and backs crucial national efforts such as Safe Routes to School, Bicycle Friendly Communities, and the National Bike Summit. The affiliated Bikes Belong Foundation focuses on improving bicycle safety and enhancing children's bike programs. Since Bikes Belong's Grants Program began in 1999, we have funded 166 grant proposals in 44 states and the District of Columbia, awarding nearly $1.3 million in cash and leveraging more than $476 million in federal, state, and private funding. Our facilities grants alone have helped finance nearly 1,400 miles of bike paths and trails that link close to 6,400 miles of trail facilities. For more information, visit bikesbelong.org. Posted May 12 2008, 12:58 PM by Cyclelicious Filed under: news

• Welcome to fair weather bike commuters

  Jonathan at SFist writes: We were there through the bitter season--the mud, the rain, the cold, the mid-afternoon sunsets. With dripping, grime-streaked rain gear covering our heels and neckties, we rode our rusting, filthy commuter bikes to the Caltrain station all through the winter, a sweaty, soggy bunch, smelling of mildew and Tri-Flow. And now, with the arrival of the easy, sunny days of spring, you’ve joined us. And we’re happy to see you, really. As Jonathan writes, the bike cars on Caltrain have been getting awfully crowded lately. I too see a lot of shiny brand new bikes, some with price tags still dangling just like those showing what Minnie Pearl paid for her big hats. Welcome aboard, and please read the Caltrain tips for newbies page. Read more at SFist. In other news: BART experiments with removing seats to make room for bicycles and luggage. SF Weekly: "Can't we all just roll along?" examines how public policy and attitudes impact the safety of bicyclists. When you ride your bike, try not to hit the train. Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said this was the first incident she had heard of involving a moving bicyclist striking a moving Caltrain. There was a "celebrity bike ride" this morning in San Jose. I saw them gathering at Diridon Station but they got going too late for me. Posted May 12 2008, 12:55 PM by Cyclelicious