Carbon Trace

Kinda Cool Greenwise

Andy Cline — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:34:47 +0000

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle design

1-mile Solution At PechaKucha #6

Andy Cline — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:20:06 +0000

Come to PechaKucha #6 this Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the Creamery Arts Center. I’m on the program giving a talk about the 1-mile Solution. It’ll be cool. So, yeah, be there.

Whatinthehellis PechaKucha?

Technorati Tags: 1-mile Solution, bicycle advocacy

Bike Lane Laws; It Could Happen Here

Andy Cline — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:34:08 +0000

What can happen after a community spends a lot of money painting bicycle lanes? Well, someone will get the idea that, having spent so much money, bicyclists should be required to ride in the lanes. Check out what Keri Caffrey writes about why that’s a problem.

A couple of highlights:

Forward focus is your priority in a complex streetscape. Leaving a bike lane to avoid a potential conflict requires scanning behind you to negotiate before moving left. Any time a series of potential conditions would cause you to move in and out of a bike lane every 15 seconds (that’s common with a city street grid, it also happens on trash day), it’s easier and more predictable just to stay out.

… and …

Exceptions or not, the far right and mandatory bike lane laws repress defensive driving practices for the drivers who are most exposed, passed with the highest speed differentials, create the least impact upon the system, and are the least likely to threaten the safety of others. These laws are egregious. The costs of having to fight an unjust and unwarranted citation in a potentially-biased court are onerous. This creates conditions for targeted harassment, such as Fred has suffered in Port Orange, Ormond Beach and recently Daytona Beach. Exceptions or not, they make us second class citizens.

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle politics, bicycle safety, cycling, Transportation Planning

Smart Moves In #SGF

Andy Cline — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:50:49 +0000

The Let’s Go Smart initiative is live — we’re livin’ it! This new campaign by the STAR Team of Ozark Greenways is a multi-modal concept aimed at encouraging people to think about their transportation choices. This is more than bike-ped advocacy.

We’ve re-designed and upgraded the former Drive Less, Live More booklet. It’s now called Bike Smart Springfield (note that the paper edition has a different cover). Click that link, and take a look. You’ll also find it linked on the Carbon Trace sidebar.

Be sure to visit the Let’s Go Smart website.

Also check out the Let’s Go Smart page on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle culture, Springfield Missouri, sustainability, transportation

Yer Morning Chuckle

Andy Cline — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:24:40 +0000

Check out the cover picture of the new edition of Effective Cycling. What in the heck is that person doing? Are those parked cars on her left? Why is she on the line? Why isn’t she commanding her lane? Is that the image of modern urban bicycling? Why are her feet strapped into pedals in a complex urban traffic environment?

Check out the article and comments on Bike Portland regarding the new edition of John Forester’s book. As you can imagine, the whole thing is quite spirited. I’ve discussed Forester and my emotional problems before. No need to go into it further. Well, OK, I will simply remind Carbon Trace readers that I 1) am fully able to separate the concept of vehicular bicycling from Forester’s (to be charitable) grumpy presentation and reliance on fallacious argument (see link above), and 2) am tickled by the idea, as often expressed in comments to posts about Forester, that he is an automobile industry plant

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle culture, bicycle education, bicycle safety, cycling