Exchanging Places – a driver and cyclist see from the others’ perspective
I’m not sure what a lorry is, but it sure looks a lot like a truck. All kidding aside, in this video from the Greater London Metropolitan Police, a local cyclist and a driver explain how each can take better steps to avoid crashes. They then take turns in each others’ place to see just how dangerous riding near one of these vehicles can be if you’re not visible. After the rash of incidents in London recently, hopefully it can help save some lives.
Tweet PrintDrone delivery vs. bike messengers
Via Zipments
Tweet PrintHundreds of Santas ride through Milwaukee
Photos by Dave Schlabowske
Sleigh bells were ringing as hundreds of riders decked out in holiday cheer swarmed the streets of Milwaukee last week for the annual Santa Cycle Rampage.
Traditionally not much more than a pub crawl, some of the restaurants along the route took it upon themselves to donate a portion of the profits to the Wisconsin Bicycle Fed. Lowlands Group Restaurants event even brewed up a special Santa Rampage Belgian Bier. Lakefront Brewery offered up free beer. And Great Lakes Distillery donated $1 for every drink sold.
If you missed out on the action you can read about it and see more photos at wisconsinbikefed.org.
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Could delivery apps signal a new renaissance for bike couriers?
One of the fastest growing sectors of the mobile-app driven economy is delivery. You can get anything delivered these days. A car to pick you up, groceries from your local store, even the “green” economy is getting in on it.
All these deliveries have one thing in common though: they need couriers. New apps like Postmates are heavily dependent on couriers – on foot, on a scooter, but especially on a bike. Need some office supplies, a latte and a birthday card to send to mom? Fire up the app and a “postmate” will gather up your items and deliver them for a small fee in under an hour.
Right now the service is only available in a few major cities, but if it sees success like the car-share app Uber, it will likely be spreading soon. You can apply to be a bike courier now and earn a share of the delivery fee and 100 percent of the tips.
Have you tried any of these delivery apps? What has been your experience?
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Road Bike Party 2
Martyn Ashton’s first Road Bike Party video was a huge internet sensation, with the trials legend doing things on a road bike that no one had ever seen. The sequel had to be bigger and better, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Tweet PrintHow bikes make cities cool
Fresh from the Kona Productions Crew, How Bikes Make Cities Cool – Portland, is a five-minute mini documentary that explores the thriving bicycle culture resident to one of North America’s most progressive metropolises. Filmed entirely by bike, with support from longtime Kona Portland dealer Sellwood Cycles and resident Team Kona athletes Erik Tonkin and Matthew Slaven, we spent the better part of a week talking to commuters, following kids to school and capturing the friendly vibe and funky nature of a city that embraces self-propelled commuting at the heart of its identity.
Tweet PrintThe Genesis of Bikepacking
It’s a shame we can’t get Genesis bikes here in the US. They’ve always made some unique and interesting products. Turns out the bikepacking scene is taking off across the pond as well, and they’ve put together this video of an overnight adventure.
Tweet PrintAdventure Cycling honors Bicycle Travel Award winners
The Adventure Cycling Association‘s nationally recognized awards program acknowledges exemplary contributions to the success of bicycle travel. There are four awards:
- The Pacesetter Bicycle Travel Award recognizes individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations that have consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to the advancement of Adventure Cycling’s mission of inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
- The June Curry Trail Angel Award honors an individual or group encountered during a bicycle tour who made the cyclotourist’s journey easier or possible by helping the cyclist through an act of goodwill.
- The Braxton Bicycle Shop Award honors bicycle shops throughout the nation that go out of their way to provide unique or exemplary services to bicycle travelers.
- The Adventure Cycling Volunteer of the Year Award is our way to say ‘Thank you’ to Adventure Cycling volunteers who are helping us inspire others to travel by bike.
Click here to see the 2013 award winners
Tweet PrintBike Trains in LA on NPR
NPR did a profile this past week about LA Bike Trains, a service that helps new cyclists feel more comfortable on the road by arranging commutes in groups. An experienced conductor leads the group along safe roads and the pack of cyclists inherently leads to more comfortable riders and better visibility.
Since launching L.A. Bike Trains in May with just a few routes and no budget, the system has grown to a dozen volunteer leaders, covering Los Angeles by bike by as much as 20 miles per trip each way, like the route from Silver Lake to Santa Monica.
Still, bike trains are far from seeing mass adoption.
Herbie Huff, a policy researcher at UCLA, says there are lots of obstacles to taking part in bike trains. Instead, Huff thinks infrastructure like bike lanes would be a bigger winner, or a concept like bike sharing could be an easier entry point.
“In order to go on the bike train, you need to already have made a commitment,” Huff says. “You need to already have a bike.”
Read more about Bike Trains here
Tweet PrintTomorrow!
You don’t even have to pay the troll toll.
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