As often happens, a person I met yesterday asked me about bicycling in Springfield. People are generally curious about someone who rides as much as I do, i.e. rides for basic transportation. The usual attitude seems to be mild wonderment about logistics. I always point out that I think riding in Springfield is very easy. [...]
Here’s a test to determine if your short-trip utility bicycling attire is appropriate: Your attire should be equally comfortable and useful for the trip and the destination. Pictured below is what I believe to be the proper utility bicycling attire for a 1.5-mile ride to a friend’s house for dinner. Note the leather jackets that [...]
I’m the subject of “15 Minutes With…” in the current issue of Community Press Press (scroll until you see my picture because, sadly, the CFP isn’t hip to the whole web thing yet). The writer, Sarah Bennett, is a student of mine. This is a Q & A feature that, unfortunately, doesn’t demonstrate her ability, [...]
The National Journal asked a “panel of insiders” to respond to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s recent “sea-change” remarks. The responses are posted as invited comments. Interesting reading. Technorati Tags: cycling, transportation, Transportation Planning, utility cycling
From Skribit Suggestions: The Parable of the Electric Bike Alan Durning contends, in 5-part series for Sightline Daily, that electric bicycles may become popular in the United States in the next few years, and that popularity may help jump-start the move toward more electric vehicles of all types. The series examines the demographics, economics, politics, [...]
Ya gotta carry stuff to be a utility bicyclist. Now that I have a Burley Nomad, I can carry a lot more stuff — like groceries and such. And when the farmer’s market opens, well, just look out. I’ll be buyin’ some food. It’s attached to my Marin Pioneer Trails here. And I’ll soon be [...]
Mighk Wilson, of Bicycling Is Better, has decided not to renew his membership to the League of American Bicyclists. He’s a guy with a lot of serious bicycling cred. So when he says the following, I’m inclined to listen: I don’t want this to be seen as a League-bashing exercise. I’ve been wondering if I [...]
Jason Peters continues to meditate on the virtues of walking at Front Porch Republic (re: Walk, Damn It!). This week he writes about what it means to walk in the cold. And by now this walking has become habitual enough that, if for pressing reasons I do not or cannot walk, I feel that an [...]
The Sanyo Eneloop eclectic bicycle won a Best of Innovations award for eco-design and sustainability at the 2010 International CES sponsored by the Consumer Electronic Association. Let’s be clear about something first: I have nothing against electric bicycles. They serve a purpose for people who want or need them. But, really, giving a green award [...]
Getting involved in bicycle (and active transportation) advocacy is serious business. How do you discover/plan the right course of action to encourage people to get out of the cars once in a while? Like many other bicycle advocates, I have approached this question programmatically, i.e. identify a problem or opportunity and then dream up a [...]
The key is your head and hands — and layers. Temperature at departure time this morning: 19 F. So, the usual stuff: I wore leather sneakers, athletic socks, blue jeans, and a shirt. (Professors can be a bit more casual than your average professional, but the point, however, is that I’m not donning anything particularly [...]
So, how soon until we see the Cannondale Dutchess utility / commuter for women show up in Springfield? (Hat tip to Copenhagenize) Wytze’s graduation project for Cannondale from Eelke D. on Vimeo. Here’s the skinny on this design from Bicycle Design. This bicycle appears to meet my rigid (and arbitrary) criteria for a good utility [...]
Click here to check out the Biking Rules handbook for New York City published by Transportation Alternatives. Its “mission is to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives.” The book is remarkably comprehensive. You don’t have to live in NYC [...]
Well, here it is — my new messenger-pannier. Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. You’ll notice that I did not go with the one most people suggested. That’s not to say that I didn’t take your suggestion seriously. I did. In fact, checking out the Ortlieb helped me make my decision to go with [...]
It was a dark and drizzly afternoon. I left for the STAR Team meeting at about 5 p.m. The meeting spot is slightly less than 3 miles from my house along residential and city streets — streets that were now filled with rush-hour traffic. The drizzle made the streets slick and cut visibility because it [...]
