tagged w/ Bike Culture
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Bike culture is finally gaining ground in Manhattan and the boroughs. Bicycle commuting has more than doubled in New York City since 2000, largely due to new street designs that enhance safety. But not everyone sees this as a good thing.Bike culture is finally gaining ground in Manhattan and the boroughs. Bicycle... more
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With two hard days of riding Ben Sollee and crew say farewell to California with shows in San Francisco at Rickshaw Bags and Oakland at the Actual Cafe. Among the lessons they learn in this chapter is an appreciation for a strong headwind. And how long it takes to pack all the gear up for a long train ride to Colorado.
Follow tour updates at DitchTheVan.Tumblr.comWith two hard days of riding Ben Sollee and crew say farewell to California with shows... more
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In this chapter Ben Sollee and friends train in to Salinas, CA and then ride through the fertile crescent near Santa Cruz. Between the inspiring ride and the show at The Crepe Place the gang takes a little time to visit with famed bike builder Craig Calfee. His new startup company, Bamboosero, teaches skilled labor to impoverished communites in Africa, the Phillipines, and New Zealand to build high quality bike frames out of bamboo.
Check them out at: bamboosero.com/
Follow updates on the tour at DitchTheVan.tumblr.comIn this chapter Ben Sollee and friends train in to Salinas, CA and then ride through... more
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Great way to explore the back country without destroying it first....
Many regions are converting old abandoned railroad lines into paved road to hike and bike. The trails that are convenient to cities make excellent afternoon trips for your family and are perfect for this use (see rails for trails). Other railroad lines explore much of the American wilderness. Rather then come in and destroy part of the ecosystem to build a trail, why not equip the bike for the rail. As for the expense, it should be cheaper to purchase/make a few rail bikes than to tear out the old railroad tracks and build a road to walk, hike or bike on.
So America, lets save some trails for the railbikes.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/railrider-travel-in-style.phpGreat way to explore the back country without destroying it first....
Many regions... more
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via The Economist:
http://www.economist.com/world/united-states/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15911324
Portland and “elite cities”
Is Oregon’s metropolis a leader among American cities or just strange?
THE city most comparable to Portland might be Vancouver in Canada, reckons Sam Adams, Portland’s mayor, although “we look to Amsterdam, Helsinki and Stockholm” for ideas. Ethan Seltzer, a professor of urban planning in Portland, thinks little Freiburg, in Germany, is the best comparison, with its similar obsessions about recycling, sustainability, public transit and bicycling. Others pick Zurich, which, like Portland, has a view of snow-capped mountains, orderly (bordering on staid) streets with trams, even the same peculiar fondness for direct democracy and tolerance of assisted suicide.
This might seem odd for a city on the American West Coast that once was the terminus of the Oregon Trail and has a cowboys-and-rodeos heritage. The locals, in fact, enjoy feeling odd: “Keep Portland weird”, say bumper stickers on the city’s cars, which all seem to be hybrid-electric vehicles. “Keep Portland sanctimonious,” mumble a few contrarians, while others savour the irony that Portland had to steal the slogan from Austin, Texas. But on the whole, Portlanders not only love their city but believe that it is, and ought to be, a model for the rest of America.
Mr Adams has personally contributed by becoming the first (though no longer the only) openly gay mayor of a big American city, and even surviving a recall attempt after a sex scandal (he is now confronting another). Mr Adams has a vision of progressive urbanism: a city where most people cycle or ride the streetcar, recycle what they consume, exist in harmony with nature and live in communities rather than the suburban sprawl of cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix or Atlanta.
Nature, in fact, is the main draw for the mostly young and single newcomers to this city, almost the fastest-growing on the West Coast, says Joe Cortright, a Portland economist: the ocean to the west; the Cascade mountains to the east; and the high desert beyond them. The vineyards of pinot noir and chardonnay along the Willamette Valley are all within a manageable drive. In Portland, “business casual” means wearing a fleece. The area’s main industrial cluster is “activewear”, led by Nike and Columbia Sportswear and including thousands of smaller companies.
The environment is also the main theme of public policy. The biggest force in local politics is not a party (Democrats in effect rule without opposition) but cyclists. The bike lanes are impressive and getting even better now as streets get “bioswales”, patches of turf and shrub that capture and filter storm water and simultaneously calm traffic and separate pedestrians and cyclists from the Priuses. Those who can’t bike are encouraged to use public transport, which is free downtown.via The Economist:... more
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This Week:
1. The King of Cock
2. Twiran
3. Honduras Coup Plug
4. Mayan’s fight back against Goldcorp
5. The ELF strikes in Mexico
6. Jim Hansen’s Coal Theater
7. Uribe’s new boss
8. cOalbama’s clean energy plan
9. Really clean CO2 free transport
10. Emergency Broadcast Network
11. Nickelsville USAThis Week:
1. The King of Cock
2. Twiran
3. Honduras Coup Plug
4. Mayan’s... more
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Some might say that Brian Campbell has been living on the street for thirty years; others might suggest that he has mastered the skill of lightweight mobile living, with a blue styrofoam roof over his head and wheels under. He rode his previous pedal powered RV from Mexico to Oregon, reaching speeds of seventy miles per hour.
It is essentially built out of rigid insulation, so it is very light. Jonathan describes it:
"Brian has perfected the fabrication of an all-weather enclosure that is light, insulated, very stable, and road worthy. This model is 8′ x 4′ and weighs only 80 pounds. It has a spacious interior that fits a sleeping adult (or two?), has many interior shelves, and is priced to sell (he's asking $1,950 but says he'll take offers). He can modify the hitch custom for any bicycle."Some might say that Brian Campbell has been living on the street for thirty years;... more
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hcice
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2 years ago
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This 7-yr-old girl is now an orphan because a truck veered into the shoulder her parents were riding tandem and killed them both. The driver is out walking free and was never ticketed or charged.
This happened near my hometown of San Antonio and although it's breaking hearts amongst locals, I wanted this situation to be known on a larger scale because I know it's not just a San Antonio or Texas issue. Cyclists are being treated no better than deer even in cities with a bike-friendly attitude. If you are a Texan, please to go to biketexas.org and sign the BikeTexas Safe Passing petition. If you are not, please do all that you can within your own community to ensure the cyclists and pedestrians have rights out there on the road and have a better chance of getting home safely.This 7-yr-old girl is now an orphan because a truck veered into the shoulder her... more
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After Josh Hadar left his first career as a documentary cameraman he entered the nightclub business by reforming and restoring the original Studio 54. This didn't make him happy either so he eventually sold his shares and took a cheap welding class. Shortly after, he created his first bike and his obsession took off from there.
Today, Josh has become sort of a George Barris-like character, whose custom built bikes are collected by a cult following around the world.
To read the rest of this article and more on Josh Hadar and what influences him, please check out our website, www.revelinnewyork.com
Related blog post on George Barris which is also fully worth a look: http://www.revelinnewyork.com/blog/09/23/2009/kustom-king-george-barrisAfter Josh Hadar left his first career as a documentary cameraman he entered the... more
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Very charming illustrations set to music in a time lapse format. Kinda like a children's book being born.Very charming illustrations set to music in a time lapse format. Kinda like a... more
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Tod Seelie is a prolific photographer who's spent the last decade documenting Brooklyn’s underground band and bike culture. Tod's work is a reflection of his life, which is centered around people like the Black Label Bike Club, Japanther, Todd P, Matt & Kim, The Madagascar Institute and just about every other marginalized artist and event east of the East River.
Check out www.revelinnewyork.com for more videos and for Tod's personalized city and culture guide to New York.Tod Seelie is a prolific photographer who's spent the last decade documenting... more
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Remember that Renewable Energy Tax legislation that passed a few months ago? It was filled with all sorts of green goodies, like alternative energy credits and money for weatherization assistance programs. Congress, doing something uncharacteristically awesome, slipped in an Easter egg that went went mostly unnoticed. Hidden deep within the flapdoodle and flummery of congressional legalese jargon is a nifty little tax credit for commuters who bike to work.
The Bicycle Commuter Act
The unnoticed tax credit was called the Bicycle Commuter Act. It was penned by Oregonian Congressman Earl Blumenauer. The aim of the bill was to give bicycle commuters a tax break similar to the ones that other commuters are eligible for.
What the Bicycle Commuter Act Offers
The credits breakdown like this:
From Mr. Blumenauer’s website:
(You’ll also find the legalese version of the bill on his website.)
For employees who regularly commute to work by bicycle, employers may offset the costs of bicycle purchase, improvement, repair, and storage at the rate of $20 per month. Based on how the employer chooses to offer the benefits, the employee may bring receipts to be reimbursed, may sign up for regular monthly payments, or devise some sort of voucher system with their employer.
Bike commuters are not allowed to receive transit or parking benefits in addition to the bike benefit.
The bike commuter benefit can be provided by employers beginning January 1, 2009.
Who Provides This Benefit For You?
The discount comes through your employers who probably contract a commuter benefit provider. Accor Services is one such provider. Speak to your company's liaison to the benefit provider about receiving your bicycling commuter credits. Your employers may elect not to provide these benefits. It would be wise for your employers to do so. They can save about 9.5% of their FICA contributions by participating in a commuter program.
What Do You Have Do as A Commuter?
Obviously, you have to ride a bike to work. You don’t have to ride it everyday, but you do have to commute by bike at least three times a week.
From the League of American Bicyclists:
Ride your bike for a substantial portion of your commute.
Accept only the $20 benefit for biking for transit benefits. Unfortunately, the law prohibits people from accepting both the transit benefit and biking in the same month. The SFBC is working to fix this by helping Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) pass H.R. 863.
Use the money for a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair or storage at your local shop!
The League of American Bicyclists provide reimbursement cards that make it easy for you to invoice your rebate.
If you already bike to work, it's like a free twenty bucks. (I smell a pizza party.) Otherwise, it's just one more good reason to do so.Remember that Renewable Energy Tax legislation that passed a few months ago? It was... more
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Cavalry Couriers dispatcher, Ricky Leopold, lays down the law on a typical day's work in New York City. His messengers, Billy the Kid and Sleazy Drew are armed with the new G1 from T-Mobile to get the job done. Ricky uses the Google feature 'Latitudes' to spot Billy the Kid taking an afternoon ride over the Williamsburg Bridge. Then interrupts another one of Sleazy Drew's overstayed delivery-visit-flirt-sessions at Animazing Gallery in SoHo. By the end of the day, Ricky Leopold kicks back and uses the G1 to surf the web and chat for kicks.Cavalry Couriers dispatcher, Ricky Leopold, lays down the law on a typical day's... more
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Make Your Own Bicycle Path
Design21's Power to the Pedal design competition has a lot of interesting entries. One of the finalists that caught my eye is the Bike Contrails concept, though I'm not quite sure what to think about it.
Here's the theory, from Studio Gelardi:
Contrail is a tool for developing bicyle communities. As you ride, contrail leaves a fanit chalk line behind your bike. The goal is to encourge a new cycle of biking participation by allowing the biking community to leave a unique mark on the road and to reclaim this crucial shared space.
The old cycle: More cars on the road --> more percieved danger for bikers --> fewer bikers on road --> even more cars on the road.
The new cycle: A few bicyclists ride with contrail a couple times per week --> faint lines on the road inspire curiosity and remind bikers where it's safe to ride --> new bikers are encouraged to ride and use contrail --> contrail lines get brighter as community grows.Make Your Own Bicycle Path
Design21's Power to the Pedal design competition... more
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For the month of November, the Peet's Coffee & Tea /location at the Ferry building - San Francisco is offering $1 off when you roll by with your bike.
According to the staff young woman that told me this, they are doing for this month as a test, and will perhaps keep on the promotion if there is demand for it.
Save a buck and get caffeinated.
Pass the word, dear bike coffee lovers For the month of November, the Peet's Coffee & Tea /location at the Ferry... more
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Let your friends and neighbors know!!
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Light up the Night
Tuesday Dec. 2 | 5-7pm
The SFBC is teaming up with the SF Municipal Transportation Agency to give away hundreds of bike lights to cyclists who don't already have them. SFBC volunteers with handy fingers will be out along the city's major bike corridors to help riders increase their visibility with the darkening winter hours. Remember, bike lights are a key piece of safety gear! If you'd like to volunteer, go to http://www.sfbike.org/?vol_sign_up_bl
- McAllister @ Webster
- Polk @ California
- Cesar Chavez @ Valencia
- Howard @ 8th
- Duboce BikewayLet your friends and neighbors know!!
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Light up the Night
Tuesday Dec. 2 | 5-7pm... more
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The first issue I collected of Momentum was the issue that included the opening of Lance's Mellow Johnnys in the awesome city of Austin TX. Now MORE awesome, is the upcoming issue – Momentum Magazine: San Francisco!!
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[Published - November 2008]
San Francisco has always welcomed emerging and fringe cultures. The city saw the origin of the Beats in the 1950s, the Hippies in the 1960s, and was a centre of the gay rights movement in the 1970s. San Francisco has the perfect climate to nourish the flowering of new ideas, and its winds send the seeds of change across the globe. Bicycle culture is no exception, and Critical Mass is just one testament to this. The monthly ride in celebration of cycling started here 16 years ago and has since spread to communities across the globe. The ride began with just dozens of cyclists and has grown to a steady showing of thousands. Cycling in the city has more than doubled since.
Even the city's chilly summers and hilly streets don't deter the local cyclists. An estimated 120,000 of the city's roughly 800,000 residents ride a bike. In a recent survey of San Francisco residents, five per cent said the bicycle is their primary method of travel and recent counts by the city have shown that bicycles outnumber cars at peak commute hours on downtown's Market Street.
-more on link-The first issue I collected of Momentum was the issue that included the opening of... more
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Musician Peter Mulvey takes his band on the road, for the second year in a row, to ride 500 miles on a grueling (minus the fueling) seven city tour. Fascinating funny and inspirational! (..."You don't really have to wear a super hero custom"...)Musician Peter Mulvey takes his band on the road, for the second year in a row, to... more
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