Inspiration from a 103 year old

Octavio Orduño, 103, taking his daily tricycle ride through the streets of downtown Long Beach, is “our poster boy for healthy, active living around here,” says Charles Gandy, the city’s bike coordinator. Three years ago, Orduño's wife insisted that he give up riding two-wheelers in favor of a trike. (Don Bartletti, Los Angeles Times / March 14, 2011)


See the full story here:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-long-beach-tricyclist-20110314,0,6508824.story?page=1
 

Mayor of Geneva creates a stir at the International Car Show

Sandrine Salerno, Mayor of Geneva, while opening the Geneva automobile show, said that she hadn’t touched a car for years, that cars "pollute, are expensive, make noise, are dangerous and encroach on the public realm" and that "all these nightmares" were linked to cars.


Apparently the car show organizers weren't thrilled.

Bikes and Coffee....mmmmm

A merging of coffee shops and bike shops is gaining popularity.  I heard a rumor that Terra Sports will be adding coffee to it's services.  This msnbc article discusses how some are going beyond coffee to offer food as well.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41953889/ns/travel-active_travel/

When someone yells at you from their car...

You should probably ignore the advice about flashing them...

Coeur de Pirate

I couldn't resist posting this video even though I don't understand a word of it.  It has bikes in it.  She has a great voice.  And it's called Coeur de Pirate....Heart of a Pirate?




Coeur de pirate || Comme des enfants from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

Bike Commuting Saves $$$$

While the yearly cost of owning and operating a vehicle is over $9,000, or 18 percent of the average household’s income, owning and maintaining a bicycle can cost as little as $120 per year.
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

If that sounds high to you, consider the cost of buying a car plus the cost of insurance, registration, oil changes, repairs, tires, parking, and of course, gas. Now factor that out over the time you own a particular car. If you want to get a little more extreme, consider the cost of a garage, driveway, and a driver's license. 
 
Although my particular bike setup likely costs me more than $120 per year, it is nowhere near $9,000 and I'm a happier and healther person because of it.  You can't put a price on that!

How often do you wear a helmet?

I just posted a new poll....Look to your right.

Vote on how often you wear a helmet.

Bags for Bikes

Bikes for the Rest of Us has a great post on different types of bags available for bikes.  It is by no means all-encompassing but has great examples of the different ways to carry stuff on a bike.  Add to the list backpacks and messenger bags and you've got the bulk of it.  Check out this article http://www.bikesfortherestofus.com/2011/02/bags-for-bikes.html and find more reasons and more ways to leave your car at home.

The Geography of Youth

The Geography of Youth from Restless Collective on Vimeo.

Irony?

What's wrong with this picture?

Cars to be Awarded to Best Walkers

 Dubai Municipality yesterday announced two cars as grand prizes for the best walkers in the "Yalla Walk," campaign

Staff Report

Published: 00:00 March 4, 2011

Dubai: Dubai Municipality yesterday announced two cars as grand prizes for the best walkers in the "Yalla Walk," campaign it launches tomorrow.

The largest health awareness campaign, organized to attract the public to the 23 walking tracks built by the civic body in Dubai, will also be an opportunity to win 12,000 prizes and 40,000 giveaways.

The best male and female walker will get a car each, said Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for International Affairs and Partnerships Sector. To participate in the campaign people can register through http://www.yallawalk.com/en/.

Maybe someone is missing the point...

A bike ride a day keeps the doctor away

Swiss epidemiologist Thomas Gotschi authored a groundbreaking study published last week in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health which illustrates a cost/benefit analysis on bicycle infrastructure in Portland, OR.  The results...investing in bicycle transportation can save millions of dollars in health care costs alone.  See the complete story here: http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=129910338768364600

Moving Beyond the Automobile

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Biking from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Washington Vulnerable Users Bill

Our neighbors to the west (Washington) are working on a new bill that would increase penalties for drivers who injure a vulnerable user.  Good luck to them in their attempts to protect pedestrians and bicyclists on their streets.  Hopefully, we'll see something like this come to Idaho soon.

Full story: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/25/1556303/senate-protects-cyclists.html

Whole Foods Bike Repair Stand

Apparently these have been installed a couple different Whole Foods stores and they have a way to hold your bike, a tire pump, and a few basic tools to help you make minor repairs to your bike.  How cool is that?

Bicycle Powered Water Purifier

Japanese firm, Nippon Basic Company, has invented a bike that also doubles up as a water purifier. The Cycloclean is equipped with a pump and hoses and requires the user to put it on a stand and pedal it for the cycle to suck up water through a series of filters. The bike can purify up to five litres of water in a minute and features puncture-free tires, making it a great mobile gadget that can be taken near any water source and produce clean, drinking water from it. Perfect for remote villages, disaster zones and bike riders.


Cycloclean is already being used in Japan and a few neighboring countries and plans to expand its production in Bangladesh that would help reduce its present cost of over $6,000.

Bike Vacation

Hit the Vacation Trail With a Bike Trip (Click the here for the complete article)

Need new vacation ideas? Try a healthy, green travel alternative to the beach by taking a bicycle tour. Customize your bike trip with options ranging from self-guided, rails-to-trails cycle routes to fully-supported, guided bike tours. You won't believe how new the world around you looks when you pedal through it. Why not try it for yourself?

Let's go for a ride!

Welcome to the town of Speedkills

Thanks to Facebook, and over 30,000 Facebook users, this town in Australia has changed it's name to Speedkills in an effort to get people to slow down on rural roads.  See the full story here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/18/3142067.htm

Bicycle lights...

Interesting concept, but I'll use my hand signals for the time being




Find it at:  http://www.signobike.net/Buy_It_Today.html



These lights, however, are something I need to get ahold of.  More like my style...

Find them at: http://skully.com.tw/htm/products.php

Are you driving alone?

Some of you may remember this poster from World War II.  Although you may think it is a bit extreme, this recent article from Streetsblog indicates that some experts are applying this same reasoning to current times and terrorism. http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/02/10/retired-military-leaders-corporate-ceos-driving-alone-aids-terrorists/

Helmet Bill Proposed

The Associated Press


BOISE - State lawmakers are considering a bill that would require children age 12 and younger to wear a helmet while riding their bicycles on Idaho roadways.

Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, brought the legislation to the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday.

Bilyeu says the bill was prompted by eastern Idaho man, whose 8-year-old daughter was struck by a car while riding her bicycle. Bilyeu says the man approached her with the battered helmet that he believes saved his daughter's life, convincing her to introduce the legislation.

Under the bill, kids who are bicycle passengers would also have to wear a helmet.