Well Said!

Letter to the Editor in the Idaho Statesman responding to a letter complaining about cyclists paying their "fair share".

BOISE - Paula Riehl of Boise (letters, Oct. 19) would have you believe that bicyclists are a bunch of freeloaders who ply the roads on specially designated lanes for free, at the expense of the hard-working, taxpaying drivers who have graciously allowed our presence. She suggests that we pay additional license fees to maintain the patchwork of bike lanes through our communities.

Well, Ms. Riehl, let me tell you something. The vast majority of bicyclists are just like you. We have cars, we pay taxes and we use the roads for both automobile and bicycle travel.

The major difference is that we, as taxpayers, believe that some small percentage of those dollars should be spent ensuring bicyclists safe and efficient passage from one place to another. Not unlike what you expect for your car. Given the growing number of bicycles in our community, we probably need to devote even more money to bike lanes. Just to make it fair.

Dave Fotsch,
Ada Bike Alliance, Boise

I would also add that a very large portion of our road funding, especially on local roads, is from property taxes, not fuel taxes and registration fees. So, when we get a 5-foot bike lane on a 5-lane road, who is really paying their "fair share"?

Be Extra Careful Tonight!

From Where The Sidewalk Starts:

It's one of the three deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians (the others fall around Christmas and New Year's Eve), particularly for young walkers: deaths among pedestrians between 5 and 14 years are four times higher on Halloween than other nights of the year. If you're trick-or-treating--or driving--make sure to take special care tonight.

It's usually a good idea to where something reflective, carry a flashlight, and use the sidewalks. Motorists need to really look out for the ninjas out there.

Dezy the "Pianobike Kid"

Dezy Walls, the "Pianobike Kid", frequents Portland area farmer's markets and makes his living selling CDs and putting on performances at corporate parties and events with his 300lb piano bike. Read more at: http://bikeportland.org/2011/10/25/meet-dezy-walls-the-pianobike-kid-61030

Giant Fires Back at GM

A couple weeks ago, GM ran this horrible ad in some college newspapers, pretty much insulting the entire cycling community. They got a lot of negative feedback from all over the country for it.

They subsequently pulled their ad, but not before Giant fired back with this ad.

Unfortunately, to my knowledge, GM hasn't pulled these versions ripping on walking and transit.

Copenhagen....City of (Bike) Dreams

Wine for Wheelchairs

From the Huckleberries Blog:

When Gordon Holmes takes the podium tonight in the Davenport Hotel’s swank Isabella Ballroom, it’s a given the subject of precious metals will come up. Holmes, after all, is the featured banquet speaker for the annual Silver Summit. This year’s two-day confab will unite 700 investors, explorers, vendors, silver producers and metals aficionados. But here’s the thing about Holmes. While the 60-year-old has been dubbed “an evangelist” for the silver-and-gold crowd, his real zeal centers on one of the most compelling charities I’ve ever encountered. “Wines for Wheelchairs,” Holmes calls it. Here’s how it works: Buy a bottle of wine from his premium Lookout Ridge Winery (www.lookoutridge.com), and Holmes will donate a wheelchair to someone in desperate need of mobility/Doug Clark, SR. More here.

New Ped/Bike Education Campaign

http://www.stickmanknows.org/

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Coolest Crosswalk Ever

Check out Monica Broere's painted crosswalk, installed this weekend at Conkling & Eastern Aves. in Highlandtown, MD! The crosswalk was sponsored by ha! (Highlandtown Arts). How cool would it be to have a couple of these in downtown CdA?

The Pursuit to Bicycle Friendliness

This 10 minute video shows why Boulder, Colorado is a Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community. There is much we can learn from communities like theirs to make ours even better.

Computers are like a bicycle for our minds...

Steve Jobs, R.I.P.

Freshman Stripe

Now that rain season meets bike commuting, this article from KCRA.com reinforces the need to get fenders on your bike. It only took me one rainy ride many years ago to convince me to buy fenders; the wet seat of my pants swinging around like a full diaper...

DAVIS, Calif. -- Some new students at UC Davis have this week received a mark of shame, known as the "freshman stripe." From The Field: Bikes At UC Davis As rain fell on campus Monday afternoon, roads and bike paths became wet, and so did the backs of uninitiated bicycle riders. Students who have experienced the "freshman stripe" describe a mixture of discomfort and shame. "It was bad. Everybody was looking at me. And I was like 'No!' " transfer student Eric Lal said. "All my bag got wet. And then my books got wet, too." At the on-campus bicycle shop known as the Bike Barn, riders were lined up out the door. Most had come to pay $21 for a set of plastic tire fenders. "Biking in the rain sucks. And the 'freshman stripe' or the newbie stripe? Nobody wants it," transfer student Samantha Torsky said. The Bike Barn said business picked up as soon as the rain started to fall Monday, and it continued to be steady Tuesday. In addition to bike fenders, the shop also recommends rain jackets designed with long backs and without hoods, so that they can be worn with a helmet. "A lot of people come in right at the beginning of the year, as well. But pretty much as soon as the first rain hits, they'll come in," said Kristin Snow, one of the managers at the Bike Barn. Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/29386203/detail.html#ixzz1ZvOA4d7d

Walk to School Day

This Wednesday (October 5th) is National Walk to School Day. If you want to know more about this event, check out http://www.walktoschool.org/. Otherwise, the least you can do is walk or bike to school on Wednesday. Who knows, it may become a habit for you.

Dog Powered Bikes?

Perhaps the market for this is a bit limited, but you can't accuse them of not being entrepreneurial.

More at: http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/

Velo-City

A little long, but the graphics are great...