News

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a weekend bicyclist, might consider keeping his head down and his helmet on. A backlash is brewing over his new bicycling policy.

LaHood says the government is going to give bicycling — and walking, too — the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money. The former Republican congressman quietly announced the "sea change" in transportation policy last month.

"This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized," he wrote in his...

Secure parking is crucial if bikes are to be used more as a main form of transportation (or in combination with public transit). The 1,600 sq/ft Bikestation in Washington DC is a good example of how to do it properly, and it's not just parking: They also have changing rooms, lockers, bike rental, bike repair and retail sales. All of this right next to Union Station, and major transit hub. View video here at StreetFilms.org

From Treehugger.com

Nice idea…and why not? We could start for a few hours on a Sunday morning once a month…I joined a ‘Bike the Bays’ ride some years ago and it was quite incredible to be able to ride along this road when it was car free. And reading The Banksie Bulletin you would have to think we have a strong supporter for this proposition.

In the meanwhile, Auckland City Council have come up with detailed plans of how to spend the $450,000 promised to upgrade cycling infrastructure on Tamaki Drive. These plans will be available on the councils website from April 26 and the cycling...

Nelson’s annual beer fest this Saturday has come up with an interesting environmental concept.

It will be trying to use a bicycle-powered music stage for the acts that include Don McGlashan.

Volunteers from the Marchfest 2010 audience will be asked to pedal to contribute to the power supply – and can win a bike or a beer tab for their efforts.

It’s a fun project,” says Glenn Harvey of sponsors Solar Peak. It also demonstrates how easy it is to augment or replace grid power. We may use it to power the 500 watt mixing desk or some other piece of musical equipment...

Britain is agog over Conservative leader David Cameron riding without a bicycle helmet. According to This is London,

Headway, the brain injury association, said "Brain injury can happen at any moment - all it takes is just one fall and you will regret it for the rest of your life. We are deeply disappointed. Mr Cameron should be proud to be seen to be wearing his helmet. He should be setting a good example to cyclists, particularly young cyclists in the UK."

He has been criticized in the past for not setting a good example for children by removing his helmet.

...

So, it all started when a bunch of people got together for a 'think tank' on Waiheke Island on 27th-28th March, 2010 ....

The Tipping Point

New York City agreed Tuesday to pay tens of thousands of dollars to five cyclists who filed a lawsuit saying they were harassed during the monthly cycling group-ride Critical Mass — including one man seen on videotape being shoved off his bicycle by an officer. As part of the settlement, the city will pay the cyclists a total of $97,751, with each plaintiff receiving $500 to $30,000 apiece and their lawyers receiving a total of $35,000.

The cyclists claimed that they were wrongfully detained and arrested during the March 2007 Critical Mass ride, a monthly event in which...

On the 31/03/10, British professional racing cyclist Alan Bate will begin a dramatic attempt to sensationally lower the Round the World Cycling Record to just 99 days. This punishing schedule has been widely ridiculed as “impossible”. Mark Beaumont set a fantastic Guinness record of 195 days for the 18,000 miles. This record was broken twice last year and now stands at 165 days (to be ratified by Guinness) His birth date is 01/04/65. So, at 45 years of age on the first of April, he is twice that of the current record holder. "It’s been said I am just an April fool…..well let’s see...

Traffic on Auckland's northwestern motorway may have to contend with more than other vehicles in the next few days, with the risk of flooding from exceptionally high tides in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

Parts of the northwestern motorway were very close to sea level and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) warned motorists today high tides of up to 3.5m, nearly half a metre higher than normal, would begin today and last until Saturday.

The high tides happened in Auckland every six to seven years.

The motorway causeway and cycleway next to it between the...