page 46, Issue #5
-Charles Stuart
Don Burgess invented the “Thrustpac”, a gas-powered propellor on your back as you cycle. You move your index finger to accelerate or decelerate. It gets 150 mpg. [source]
Cyclists gathered for a ride to honor cyclists who died riding their bikes in 2006. As the numbers of cyclists has increased 33% over the last decade, the number of deaths has fallen 40%. [source)
In 2006 Australians bought 1,273,781 bicycles and 962,521 cars. Mr. Christie says, “Some of Australia’s biggest corporations now have bicycle fleets and when you add in government organisations, we now know of at least 50 organisations that operate fleets of bikes. Although the company bicycle is a long way from taking over from the company car, it’s an important trend when you consider that nearly half of all cars sold are to company fleets.” [source]
The Bicycle Advisory Board of Spokane Washington is recommending the creation of a Bicycle Master Plan. Loren Dudley, a guest at the December meeting, said, “There’s a strong component in Spokane that believes bikes only belong on the sidewalk.” There are openings for the Bicycle Advisory Board. To apply: www.bikespokane.com. [source]
The Seventh Annual New York City Bicycle Film Festival is accepting entries for films and videos with a strong theme or character of bicycles. Deadline for entries is March 1st, 2007. [source and of course here]
A bill requiring municipal police officers to be trained in bicycle safety laws and enforcement; requiring motorists to pass bicycles safely and to wait until it is safe before opening their car doors into traffic; making the ticketing procedure for bicyclists the same as the one for motorists and requiring stores that rent bicycles to make bicycle helmets available to their customers was rejected in Massachusetts on the grounds that it is “overly regulative and represents an unwarranted governmental intrusion into the recreational affairs of citizens.” Who is this Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey? [source]
A blind couple in England are looking for someone to ride front seat on their tandem. Mr David Radford and his wife Val are both blind and in their 60’s and have toured in Cuba, New Zealand, Holland the Isle of Wight. Call England and then call 602337. [source]
January 19th is “Winter Bike to Work Day” in Chicago, the same day as Chicago’s coldest recorded day. On Jan. 20, 1985, the official temperature at O’Hare International Airport was minus 27 degrees with 36 mph wind gusts that produced wind chills as low as minus 93 degrees. Thank you Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Visit http://www.biketraffic.org or call (312) 427-3325. [source]
Clever Cycles will be opening in Portland in early 2007 “supplying Dutch Bakfietsen for sales, service, and rentals. More nimble, capacious, robust, and convenient than ordinary bikes with trailers, these vehicles are Europe’s most luxuriously frugal alternative to cars for family-friendly transportation, shopping, and delivery services.” [source]
Britain is considering paying parents to get their children to bike to school since so many kids are obese. [source]
Pedicabs in NYC are facing regulation, and possible removal from the streets. Says Gregory James, “There definitely is a rogue element of cabdrivers who totally hate us. They see us as a threat.” [source]
The 24 Hour Bike Ride took place on January 20th-21st in Seattle. 8am to 8pm. Was it good for you too? [source]
Sergio Ortiz pleaded guilty to careless and imprudent driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He hit Jaun Portillo, 14, and then dragged him under his truck for 200 feet. [source]
“Bicycles are going to be an integral part of our transportation network.” – Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), a former bike mechanic in line to chair the House Surface Transportation subcommittee. Blumenauer (D-OR), founder of the Bi-partisan Bike Caucus that includes new House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who may take a senior position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or the Ways and Means tax-writing committee, is sponsoring a bill that would give tax breaks to bike commuters. [source]
The government of Qatar built a 30km bike path, and then covered and air-conditioned it. [source]
Towards Carfree Cities VII will be held in Istanbul, 27-31 August 2007. Proposals are being sought for hosting TCFC VIII in 2008. See http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference for details on how to submit a proposal. Proposals from North America are especially encouraged. Deadline is 15 December, so hurry! [source]
San Francisco passed a resolution recognizing, planning and preparing for Peak Oil. The city will close a mile and a half stretch of JFK drive in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays for a six month trial.[source & source]
A limit is to be put on the number of cars in Bermuda as part of a wide-ranging plan to reduce congestion on the Island’s roads. [source]
“Bicycling to work decreased risk of mortality in approximately 40% after multivariate adjustment, including leisure time physical activity. Benefit was found from moderate leisure time physical activity, with further benefit from sports activity and bicycling as transportation.” [source]
Cascade Iowa, population 9,000 passed a complete streets ordinance which requires all new construction projects to include bike and pedestrian lanes. [source]
British supermarkets are now competing to go green. Two big retailers have just launched initiatives to tackle climate change. Marks & Spencer, which sells food and clothing to Britain’s middle classes, promised this month to cut waste, sell fair-trade products, and make the company carbon neutral within five years. [source]
Salt Lake City government is proposing a mandatory helmet law for bicyclists. Rob MacLeod says, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to reduce the rate of accidents than to mitigate their damage through helmets?” Helmets are not required for motorcyclists over the age of 18 in Utah. [source]
Some California residents are pushing for a “Share the Road” themed license plate. A poster on the SFBike list states, “In communities where similar programs were pursued, drivers immediately misinterpreted the [Share The Road] slogan to be aimed at cyclists they perceived as hogging the road and getting in their way. It’s a terrible slogan.” Jim Dyer says “Seriously, though, San Francisco trumped “Share The Road” with the far, far, superior “Allowed Use of Full Lane” signage. I see no point in investing State resources into the far, far, inferior slogan when we’ve got this great precedent already.” [source]
Sharrows may be getting a bit more official. The NCUTCD just approved them. Now the FHWA may include sharrows in the MUTCD. A “sharrow” is a shared lane marking. [source]
Cotton sucks. So does polypootropylene. Wool will keep you warm even when it’s wet and it wicks the moisture from your skin. And Value Village or some other second hand store will get you wooling for less than $10. Oh, and it doesn’t let bacteria build up so it doesn’t stink (like synthetics), so you don’t have to wash it. [source]
Got some interesting and curious news that affects bikes?
crankedmag 