Lane envy
From Bicycle Queensland, a posting with an image of a “Copenhagen” style bike lane.
Segregated two way bike lanes are a very safe and efficient way to enhance bicycle travel. Talk about adding to quality of place. Brisbane has a population of almost 2 million and has evolved a great bicycle culture; even a website that reports on bike lane closures and news.
This posting, while having me think wouldn’t it be nice, had me checking out Copenhagenize.com, and they commented on the same post. What a nice feeling of pride…
Also from Copenhagenize.com is a post on
cycling around New York City with some lovely images of bicycle lanes in that city.
Toronto is where I do most of my bicycle commuting. As I think about my ride home tonight, I think it’d be best if quit looking at bike lanes in other cities.
How to get 50,000 new commuters on bicycles…
I think it’s beneficial to remind people every so often of progressive ideas/policies that would benefit us here in North America.
In order to decrease the number of autos in UK cities, alleviating a significant source of carbon emissions and improve the health and well-being of it’s citizens, the UK government introduced a Cycle To Work initiative a few years ago.
The plan allows employers to “loan” bicycles to employees, who then pay the employer back for the value of the bike (up to £1,000, $1700 CDA) using pre-tax salary. In addition to all the benefits of bicycle commuting, both to the individual and the community, this can result in a 50% saving on the cost of the bicycle. Since 2005, there are some 100,000 who have taken advantage of the initiative with some 50,000 NEW bicycle commuters. Great program! Something to think about here, particularly in Ontario Canada when tax harmonization likely eliminates the <$1000 PST exemption on bicycle purchases.
From the UK Department of Transport website, excerpts below:
Cycle to work
The Finance Act 1999 and the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 provided
a tax exemption to allow employers to loan cycles and cyclist safety equipment to
their employees to cycle to work. In 2005 the Government assisted the cycle industry
in promoting the scheme by providing implementation guidance. It also asked the
Office of Fair Trading to issue a group consumer credit licence to allow all UK
businesses to offer cycle packages to each member of staff of up to £1,000 in order
to cycle to work. This dispensed with the need to apply for an individual licence.
Since 2005 we estimate that nearly 100,000 employees are now benefiting from the
use of new bikes to cycle to work. Half of these are new or returning cyclists.Value for Money
Economic modeling carried out for Cycling England3 shows that increasing cycling
levels by 20 per cent by 2015 has the potential to save £107 million in reducing
premature deaths, £52 million in NHS costs and £87 million in reduced absence from
work.
There are also quantifiable benefits in terms of reduced congestion and pollution.
The SQW work quoting a 20% increase in cycling delivering congestion benefits of
£207m and pollution benefits of £71m. Overall, it is estimated that investing in cycling
gives very good value for money, with benefits estimated to be 3.2 times the costs.
Regular cyclists are also likely to live a healthier, longer life.
Belt-Drive pioneered by STRiDA goes mainstream
The STRiDA folding bike successfully commercialized the use of a drive-belt over more than 20 years. Clean, maintenance free belt-drives have a lot of advantages over chains. As I mentioned in a previous post, they are now beginning to be adopted by some industry heavyweights and more than 50 other manufacturers and custom shops.
Here’s a more specific summary from Bike Radar.
The Hong Kong of Active Communities
A thought provoking post at Freakonomics; really a Q&A on so called “Charter Cities” such as Hong Kong where a special economic, “better” rules zone, attracted economic growth. Can/should this be considered for developing countries?
If the charter specifies good rules (or in our professional jargon, good institutions) millions of people will come together to build a new city.
People will be attracted there because of the benefits of interacting with everyone else.
In addition to the charter city as a special economic zone, why not consider the potential growth in population, quality of life, culture and therefore attraction of investment and economic development of a special environmental zone. One where the “good rules” for the city are built around people instead of automobiles. It would seem many would choose to live, work and invest in a city where the percentage of cars used to commute is the same as bicycles are now: some .5%, and bicycles and other active transportation methods take the current place of cars at some 90%.
The entire design of the charter city would not be auto-centric: much less hard space, roads, highways, bridges, overpasses, parking lots/garages etc. And, the huge city budget dollars going to supporting the auto-infrastructure would be redirected to people. Sounds wonderful, new types of innovation around quality of place for people and better preservation of the environment.
There is a thoughtful quote contained in the article relating to barriers to change:
I think we’d do our jobs better if we just said what’s true without trying to be amateur politicians.
Interbike 09 Trends observed
Interbike 2009 wrapped up in Las Vegas on Friday.
Amidst the thousands of bicycles and accessories, there were 3 major trends.
1. The emergence of the drive belt replacing the chain has become, well, more mainstream. STRiDA folding bikes have been successfully using the belt since 1985, and the reviews of the belt drive have all been positive. For 2010 bicycles from Specialized, Trek and others adopt the proven technology and reviews are positive as well. A drive belt lasts longer than a chain and does not need to be lubricated with oil. It therefore can be much more appropriate for the commute, keeping your clothes clean. The belt on the STRiDA folding bike has an expected service life of a minimum of 50,000 miles!
2. The rapid growth of the number of commuter and city bike models that we have seen recently has become massive – definitely the fastest growing segment of the Bicycle Industry. The industry is betting heavily that people in North America will continue to move to bike commuting in ever-larger numbers.
3. Speaking of growth in bike commuting, this is beginning to fuel a related trend that was evident at Interbike; business appropriate clothing that is at the same time, bicycle commuting appropriate. On display were more and more garments tailored to business/career and casual dress, made out of lightweight wicking fabrics and cut for cycling motion.
All positive confirmation of a positive trend away from fossil-fuel commuting.
Fall bicycle clothing tips
Fall brings with it some of the best weather for bicycle commuting or recreation. This post from Let’s Go Ride a Bike about dressing for fall cycling is little different than most because it’s from a woman’s perspective.
It’s still a long while before winter, but the cool winds are just around the corner. Of note in the post is the reminder that fallen leaves which have already begun to arrive can be quite slippery.
Any favourite cooler weather clothing tips?
Sept 29: Yonge St bike & pedestrian lane opens
It was always a bit of a deadly ride or walk from downtown, past the access points to the Gardiner to the lakefront. But, a safer and easier access to the waterfront trails opens tomorrow.
From the City of Toronto’s Media Advisory:
Ribbon cutting for Yonge Street pedestrian promenade and bicycle lanes
Media are invited to join Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28 Toronto Centre – Rosedale) as she officially opens the Yonge Street pedestrian promenade and bicycle lanes. The section of Yonge Street that has been improved is located between Front Street and Queens Quay. This significant transportation project will result in safer and more aesthetically pleasing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
Date:Tuesday, September 29
Time:11:30 a.m.
Location: Northwest corner of Yonge Street and Harbour StreetThe project features wide sidewalks with decorative pavement, pedestrian-scale lighting and granite-clad planter boxes with seat walls. There are also groves of trees, landscaped traffic islands, new crosswalks, public art installations, and new plazas and walkways. As well, the improvements include a reconf igured Yonge Street off ramp from the Gardiner Expressway, safety and lighting improvements in the railway underpass, weather protection along new buildings, 0.6 kilometre-long bicycle lanes and bicycle parking.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto’s incorporation as a city. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.
Car Free Day
September 22; Toronto was the first city in North America to host a Car Free day. Started in 1999 in France as “In Town Without My Car!”
I did happily notice more people on the GO Train this morning. Participation in the event in which Car Free day is the final day of a week long event, has been growing steadily.
From the European Union Mobility Week press release: (http://www.mobilityweek-europe.org/)
In 2008, under the focal theme of ‘Clean Air for All!’, a record number of 2,102 local authorities signed the EMW charter and/or registered their activities on the campaigning site www.mobilityweek.eu. In terms of population, this translates into 220 million citizens in 39 countries potentially engaged by EMW 2008!
This was also an increase of nearly 4% on 2007 rates, with a good participation of old and new EU Member States, Accession Countries and EEA/EFTA countries. EMW’s successful campaigning model is also increasingly being adopted by countries outside Europe, including Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, with the major cities of Seoul, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei, Montréal, Yokohama and Quito all participants in EMW 2008.
We should be doing more with this here; many European Cities have free public transport for the day. Montreal has closed off some streets to cars…
At Fault in Car-Bike crashes. Cyclists: it’s not you.
I’ve seen this in a few places and was reminded of it on Freakonomics. It bears repeating since I hear so many say and write that cyclists are reckless.
90% of car-bicycle crashes are caused by the motorist.
I notice with interest that the largest cause is Drive Out at Controlled Intersection. 20 years ago I remember a study that concluded that pedestrians were statistically safer to cross at a crosswalk that at an intersection with streetlights. Essentially the streetlights lent the pedestrian a sense of security, where the pedestrian was aware and more careful at a crosswalk.
If you’re the pedestrian, or on a bike and a motorist hits you, it doesn’t really matter that the other guy caused it.
Be aware, obey the laws (and common sense), be safe.
Sport Duos: Second Impression
The STRiDA 2-speed SportDuos are here. It’s my 2nd impression since I tried one about 1 1/2 years ago in a parking lot for all of 45 seconds.
For those who would either like a little more top-end speed from their STRiDA, or even better hill climbing ability, the Sport Duo is amazing.
The gears are changed with a tap of the heel. At first, I needed to look down, think about where, when and how I would tap. During the first day though this became much more natural with little need to look down to see what your feet are up to.
1st gear at 47 gear inches ( vs. 52 on the single speed bike) is a terrific hill-climber. For acceleration from a standing start, you’ll find yourself shifting to 2nd before getting to the other side of the intersection. 2nd gear gives you much more speed at a reasonable cadence.
If you add 18″ wheels to your Sport Duo, 1st gear becomes the same as the single speed at 52 gear inches and 2nd is almost too tall, but amazing for speed (see gear chart below).
I really enjoy what happens when, on occasion, a cyclist who may take themselves fairly seriously assume that because my STRiDA is a nice small folder that they will need to crowd in front of me at a stoplight; then I out-accelerate them, click into 2nd and they never catch up.
| Model | 16″ | 16″ | 18″ | 18″ |
| Strida 5.0 | 52 | 59 | ||
| SportDuo | 47 | 77 | 52 | 86 |
