Census estimate puts Minneapolis second to Portland, Ore. If you started pedaling to work last year, you’re not alone. The number of Minneapolis workers who commute by bicycle jumped 49 percent in 2007, according to a city report highlighting recently released U.S. Census Bureau estimates. About 7,200 city residents biked to work in 2007,...
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Wired Magazine goes to Interbike and reports that As America Implodes, The Bike Industry Booms some snippets: “The gas prices are the best thing that ever happened to cycling,” says Kevin Menard, whose year-old custom bike business, Traitor Cycles, is thriving. “I hope they go up even more.” —
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Bicyclists suffer far less from actual dangers on the road than they do from the mythologies which influence their behavior. I bring these up a lot because the key to being a truly empowered and safe cyclist is overcoming them… I mean really purging the damaging nonsense from every fiber of your being. Yesterday,...
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It wasn’t that long ago that Publix cashiers would look at me like an alien when I took my canvas bag to the checkout. Seriously, they would try to bag the groceries in plastic before putting them in the canvas bag. Because, why would I not want eight plastic bags for six items? Times...
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I just picked up my new Surly at Retro City Cycles. It’s BEAUTIFUL! And Diane Blake said, “It’s going to rain now, because you’re on a new bike.” That’s how it is. And the sky opened up the minute I rolled out of the parking lot. And I was wearing my office clothes (such...
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Thanks to Fritz at Cyclelicious for this one. Of course, it’s a good idea to carry tire supplies and know how to repair/change a flat tube. I once had a blow-out that completely shredded a tire. Foruntately, I was only 3 blocks from David’s World Cycles. And my bike shoes are comfortable for walking.
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How many vehicles do you see on this road? As the equinox approaches and daylight closes down on our commutes, I’ve been contemplating a post about the hazards of the rising and setting sun. Tonight I stopped on my way home to take a photo. I kid you not, I had no idea there...
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That hint of fall in the air this morning? Ah, the promise of hospitable weather just around the corner! Winter! When I can get to the end of the driveway without being soaked with sweat at 7 AM. When I don’t have to spend the first mile of my trip wiping condensation off my...
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Yesterday I joined fellow LCI (CommuteOrlando editor and occasional contributor) Lisa B in Tuscawilla to teach bike handling to Joy VonWerder’s triathlon training group. This meant I would be commuting from College Park to Tuscawilla at rush hour… with panniers full of cones and Street Smarts books. I planned a route using familiar roads...
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Bicycle Facilities advocates love to invoke the name of Northern European cycling. Whole websites are dedicated to notion that we should recreate Amsterdam in America. The City of Portland has explicitly claimed that its goal is to become more like Amsterdam. But they’re, like, so ten years ago! Just as the separatist ideologues try...
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