On New York’s hurried streets, one passing cyclist can appear no different from another. But cyclists are hardly a monolithic subculture — more like a collection of finely divided sub-subcultures, each with its own uniform, lingo and attitude toward the bicycle’s place in the urban landscape. Here’s a look at members of five different cycling tribes.Bike messengers continue to hold their place as iconic New York riders, but Transportation Alternatives, a group that advocates cycling, walking and public transit, counted only 1,700 of them last year; there are about twice as many food...
News
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Apr
This Guide has been developed with key industry players to help all businesses and organisations take up sustainable transport options. This is a visible and often immediate way for businesses to show their commitment to sustainability and a great start for any sustainability journey. Sustainable transport practices can also deliver significant cost savings, by reducing airfares, fleet costs, fuel costs, car parking and freight costs. Some less obvious benefits are improved employee health from walking, cycling and running to work, increased productivity and a reduction in employee...
26
Apr
Apr
I had always been under the impression that it was so easy to cycle in Holland that no cycle training was required or delivered. But I am mistaken; cycle training in the Netherlands:
26
Apr
Apr
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is urging cyclists to make themselves seen and to "claim their lane", moving out into the middle of the lane when approaching a junction or parked cars.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has 100,000+ members and runs the advanced driving test.
Duncan Pickering, IAM Cycling Development Manager, said: "There has been some debate as to whether cyclists should stick to the kerb or push out into the road when riding in built-up areas. Our advice to cyclists, based on a comprehensive study, is to stay near to...
26
Apr
Apr
I'm walking through the 1960s housing estate when a policeman, cycling furiously, overtakes. In a single elegant move he rear-wheel skids his bike to halt, drops the bike and approaches, arm held out: "Just a second, sir." I take an instinctive step back – straight on to the front wheel of another police bike. A burly arm pulls me backwards across the handlebars. Helpless, my collar is well and truly felt.
This is, luckily, a training exercise, but if the officers involved – PCs James Aveling and Mike Notley – had been minded to take me in for questioning you could understand...
26
Apr
Apr
Cycling advocates say Auckland will lose a valuable extension of its public transport system if a bike rental operator is squeezed out by the city council.
The council has ordered rental operator Nextbike to remove 69 of its 170 bikes from street fixtures by the end of the month, to comply with a resource consent and free its bike racks for general cyclists.
But the company, which says it provides 55 per cent of rides on its bikes free to 2000 registered users, says that unless it can expand its fleet it will have to pull the plug on a loss-making operation.
It...
24
Apr
Apr
Two articles of interest from my friends.
New Delhi high court ruling on cycle rickshaws, that included cylists as well http://www.livemint.com/2010/03/17205103/Progress-in-an-urban-mess.html
John Pucher's progress in Infrastructure, programs, and policies to increase bicycling from a health perspective http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Pucher_Dill_Handy10.pdf
cheers,
Sridhar
23
Apr
Apr
Riding a bike like this sends a clear advocacy message: cycling is more than just a sport. Everyday cycling is back, and beautiful.
A new breed of simple, stylish, practical city bike is making a comeback overseas and is starting to arrive here. These bikes are easy to ride and low-maintenance, harking back to the ones some of us grew up with, but with modern 8- or 9-speed hub gears and disc brakes, their performance is in a different league. And some are gorgeous, like the Civia Loring from the USA.
The Loring is designed for shorter trips around town (up to 10km),...
22
Apr
Apr
A cyclist was deliberately knocked off his bike in an incident New Plymouth police have branded as road rage....
See: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3608495/Cyclist-hit-deliberately
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Apr
Apr
The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) says cyclists, like all road users, need to pay full attention while on the road.
A woman cyclist killed yesterday after being struck by a train near Tauranga is believed to have been listening to an iPod-style music player.
CAN spokesman Bevan Woodward recommends that people shouldn't use headphones while cycling.
“The Road Code is clear. All drivers – and this includes cyclists – must not allow themselves to be...
21
Apr
Apr
A woman cyclist killed after being struck by a train is believed to have been distracted listening to an iPod-style music player, prompting warnings about the dangers of the devices.
The 55-year-old, from Tauranga, was crossing a rail intersection with her bicycle on Matapihi Road, Mount Maunganui, at 2.30pm yesterday when the goods train, pulling six carriages, hit her.
The train driver braked immediately, but she was carried 40m down the tracks.
The woman - who has yet to be formally identified - died instantly.
Tauranga Senior Sergeant Tania Kura said it...
19
Apr
Apr
Forced stationary bicycle pedalingtherapy at a high steady cadence (RPM) has recently been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Dr. Jay Alberts, a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, in a paper presented in Paris, June 15, 2009, reported that Parkinsons disease patients, who were forced to pedal at a high steady rate (80-90 RPM) showed a 35% improvement in motor function.
Dr. Aberts is currently using an electric motorized mini cycle to force Parkinson's patients...
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Apr
Apr
The Royal Mail has confirmed long-standing rumours that the traditional postal worker’s bike is to be phased out, citing the dangers faced by cyclists on Britain’s roads as a prime motivation behind the decision, and has rejected calls to use cargo tricyles instead of vans to deliver letters and parcels.
Yesterday, the Labour peer Lord Berkeley, secretary of the All-Parliamentary Cycling Group and a critic of the move to dispense with postal delivery bikes, revealed to the House of Lords that Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail had written to explain...
19
Apr
Apr
After watching an inspired doco called ‘The Age of Stupid’, my wife Sarah and I began Mamachari Bicycles at the start of 2010 as a way to learn to live more lightly on this beautiful planet we’ve been blessed with. Since then, we’ve become importers, bike mechanics, bloggers, retailers and in a way, cycle advocates.
Now we have an awesome new logo and website put together by our talented neighbours and friends, Hannah and Thomas, who also created World Sweet World. Waiting in the wings, we’re planning to re-locate to have our warehouse, workshop and showroom all under the...
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Apr
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What would make it easier for New Plymouth residents to leave the car at home when they head to school, work or elsewhere? The New Plymouth District Council are surveying to find out. Read about it here:
http://www.newplymouthnz.com/HaveYourSay/Consultations/WalkCycleBusSurve...
They want to know "What makes it difficult for you to walk, cycle or bus to work, school, or another destination?"
Fill in the survey form on-line here:
http://www.newplymouthnz.com/forms/WalkCycleBusSurvey.aspx
You have got...
15
Apr
Apr
The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) welcomes an increase in the driving age to 16, but says the government also needs to invest in professional cycle training to improve road safety.
CAN spokesperson Anne FitzSimon says one of the best ways to raise driving standards is to make cycle training widely available.
“Trained cyclists make better drivers.”
She says that raising the driving age means more young people will be cycling.
“We all win when cyclists receive proper training.”
“Research published in the...
15
Apr
Apr
Danish architect Jan Gehl was asked by the Wellington City Council how to improve Wellington urban design. Are his recommendations still of value?
World-renowned urban design specialist Jan Gehl visited Wellington in 2004. He said the city needed greater pedestrian priority, cycle lanes and light rail.
Commissioned by the council, Copenhagen’s Gehl came up with about 94 recommendations, from taming vehicular traffic, stepping up pedestrian priority, supporting alternative transport, and improving links to the waterfront.
Councillor Celia Wade-Brown...
15
Apr
Apr
Tweed Run 2010: a genteel gathering of riders decked-out in tweed, leather, wool and facial hair. Photograph: Matthew Sparkes
Tweed Run brings cyclists on to streets of London to celebrate an era when lady and gentlemen riders ruled the road
Some journalists would have you believe that a certain Doctor, recently returned to the BBC, has done wonders to revive the street-cred of tweed. But a bow-tied Matt Smith has done nothing for Harris et al that 400 cyclists in London had not already been planning for months.
The Tweed Run genteel gathering of riders decked-...
15
Apr
Apr
City staff wants to dedicate a lane of University Avenue to cyclists this summer, insisting it won't slow automobile traffic, as they create a denser bike network downtown.
Transportation staff is proposing bicycle lanes along University Avenue and Queen's Park Crescent.
Both roads have four lanes in each direction, with a median in between. If a pilot project is approved, one lane in each direction adjacent to the median will be dedicated to cyclists, using flexible bollards to protect them from traffic, from July to September.
"Traffic capacity analysis...