Skip to content

Category Archives: business

Our Urban Challenge: First in a Series

“What is striking about biking is not that it solves any particular problem but, instead, that is it part of the solution to several.” —  J. Harry Wray We have several problems in Springfield. You can begin to survey our problems — or challenges — by reading Springfield’s Competitive Assessment. Another snapshot of our community [...]

Posted 11 March 2010 † Andy Cline § advocacy § ecology § policy ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , , , , , ,

My Trip to The Hub

OK, so there I am pulling up to the Hub at 811 N. Boonville (across from the city government complex) this morning on my Redline R530 and I notice — no bicycle rack. Hmmmm… So I remember what my buddy Dave says about businesses that don’t provide racks: “I figure if they don’t provide a [...]

Posted 11 December 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: ,

Cultural Change

The New York Times today has a special section on cars today. The lead story asks the question: Is happiness still that new car smell? What I find fascinating about this article is that, despite the reported evidence, the tone and point of view are decidedly sympathetic to the car culture (well, duh, it is [...]

Posted 22 October 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments (11) ° Tagged: , , , ,

More on (a / the) Tipping Point

I highlighted a few columns from the papers last Sunday that seemed to me to indicate a “tipping point.” That’s not the best term to use. It’s merely trendy and, perhaps, a bit optimistic. Today I want to comment on How High Gas Prices Can Save the Car Industry, by Daniel Sperling and Deborah Gordon. [...]

Posted 20 November 2008 † Andy Cline § news § policy ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: , ,

Pedal to the Metal

Hoo-Yah! We Americans love our cars, baby! And we love to drive fast! Screw the freaking speed limits! This is the USA! USA! USA! You know what happens if you drive over the speed limit in Springfield, Missouri? — Gotta love real America! — The city will raise the speed limits to fit the speed [...]

Posted 06 November 2008 † Andy Cline § Uncategorized § announcement § bicycle § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments (8) ° Tagged: , , , ,

Who Belongs on the Road?

Everyone. Who feels welcome on the road? That depends. The answer should be: Everyone. But it often isn’t. Following from my thoughts yesterday about being yelled at for NOT using a bicycle lane, here’s an interesting look at who belongs on the road from Commute Orlando. Our problem in the U.S. is that we suffer [...]

Posted 05 November 2008 † Andy Cline § bicycle § ecology § policy ‡ Comments (7) ° Tagged: , ,

Report: Increase Spending on Active Transportation

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Bikes Belong issued a comprehensive report yesterday arguing that the governments should spend more on transportation infrastructure for bicycling and walking. The report documents the benefits of bicycling and walking in creating a more efficient transportation system and a healthier environment. The report also outlines how modest investment in bicycling and [...]

Posted 21 October 2008 † Andy Cline § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: , , , ,

Dirt Rag Planning Street Bike Mag

The publishers of Dirt Rag Magazine are planning to introduce a new magazine this spring about riding the streets–from commuting to road biking to family biking. Bicycle Times will begin publishing in April of 2009 and publish quarterly during the first year. This is good news if commuting really gets some attention. I’ll remain skeptical [...]

Posted 03 October 2008 † Andy Cline § announcement § ecology § news ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , ,

Closer to a Bicycle Commuting Tax Credit

The Bicycle Commuter Act bill was added as a line item to the Senate version of the Wall Street bailout bill. That bill passed the Senate yesterday 74-25. The House is expected to vote on the bill on Friday. Technorati Tags: bicycle commuting, cycling, green transportation

Posted 02 October 2008 † Andy Cline § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , ,

Bullish Times and eBikes

What economic crisis? WIRED reports from the recent Interbike 2008 trade show: The nation may be wracked by collapsing banks, foreclosed houses and a tanking economy, but there’s no sign anything’s amiss here at Interbike, the bike industry’s annual trade show. In fact, it’s party time as a perfect storm of eco-conscious consumerism, health-conscious lifestyles [...]

Posted 28 September 2008 † Andy Cline § bicycle § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: , ,

What is a Commuter Bike?

The Interbike 2008 trade show is this week in Las Vegas. I’ve read several reports (such as this one) saying that commuter bicycles and accessories are all the rage this year. Hmmmmmmm… What is a commuter bicycle? Easy answer: Whatever ever bicycle you like to ride to commute. Difficult answer (is actually a series of [...]

Posted 26 September 2008 † Andy Cline § bicycle § ecology § news ‡ Comments (5) ° Tagged: , ,

Supply and Demand

Christopher Pierson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, writes in a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal: I suggest the way to keep oil and gas prices in check is to simply consider supply and demand. Where politicians (and seemingly this newspaper) care to only address the supply side of the equation, I’ll [...]

Posted 25 September 2008 † Andy Cline § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments (4) ° Tagged: , ,

A Bike Shop in the Netherlands

David Hembrow takes us on a tour of a typical bike shop in the Netherlands: Today I visited a bike shop here in Assen. Apart from special shops which stock special types of bikes, bike shops mostly stock practical bikes which can be used for every day journeys. 60% of bicycles sold in the Netherlands [...]

Posted 25 September 2008 † Andy Cline § announcement § ecology ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , ,

Retailers Warming to the Commuter Market?

Paul Dorn found a section for commuters at an REI store. It took him by surprise. Why? Well, check out how similar his complaint is to mine: Despite some signs of a shift, the bike industry as a whole remains very much in the business of selling recreational equipment. A quick leaf through Bicycling will [...]

Posted 05 September 2008 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (7) ° Tagged: