LeBron James, cycling superstar? He is, perhaps, in the eyes of kids at that much-discussed Akron school for at-risk students the NBA star opened last week. Each student, in addition to tuition-free education in a state-of-the-art public school facility, also gets a bike, in a more than symbolic nod to James’s association of his own childhood bike with the freedom it afforded him.
Biking apps like Ride Report and Strava are being used by transportation planners to determine where biking infrastructure should be focused.
In dozens of cities across the country, biking apps like Strava or Ride Report have become in-depth sources for data, informing planners where cyclists not only want to be riding, but where they feel safe.
These partnerships between public transportation departments and private technology firms are taking the place of manually counting bicyclists, surveying riders or even outright guessing, leading to the sort of data-based decision-making around areas like the placement of bicycle infrastructure, non-motorized master plans and other forms of transportation public policy.
Adventure Cycling’s third annual Bike Travel Weekend, June 1-3, 2018, is your chance to either try your first overnight bike trip or inspire your friends to get hooked on bike travel. Bike Travel Weekend
Beginning Wednesday, March 28, bicyclists willing to brave the unpredictable elements of spring can cycle select roads in Yellowstone National Park.
The city will reimburse residents who buy e-bikes and cargo bikes for up to €600
This year we’re planning a 4 day ride on the C & O Canal path from D.C. to Cumberland (184 Miles). The days will be 43 miles, 42 miles, 40 miles, 59 miles; OR 43 miles, 42 miles, 51 miles, 48 miles, depending on how we decide to break it up.
We’ll be staying hotels along the way and plan to stay an extra day in DC enjoying what it has to offer.
We’re planning on the first or second week of September. What are you big plans for the year?
New research finds that older adults who bike can reverse muscle decline and keep their immune systems strong.
It might not grant eternal youth, but cycling, scientists have found, can slow the aging process and keep your muscles and immune system healthy well into your golden years.
Aging, it turns out, can do a number on your muscles. Humans typically lose muscle mass as they get older. Fat and connective tissue also start invading, affecting the muscles’ ability to contract. Furthermore, muscles can no longer suck up oxygen at the same rates.
I’ve had this conversations more times than I can count. Some have said, “I hate when cyclists are on the road because it puts them in danger and slows drivers down.”
Or, “It doesn’t matter if there are marked bicycle routes, to me they’re just dangerous – both for the cyclists & the drivers.”
An all too common “solution” to this problem is, “why don’t they just ride on the sidewalks?”
Or, “Bikes should be ridden on sidewalks instead of streets.”
However, sidewalks aren’t an option for a lot of us. For example, when I’m biking on the road, I’m traveling 15-30 mph. There’s no way to safely do that on sidewalks where you come upon people walking 1/10 or less your speed, and the constant up curbs/down curbs at intersections. A dedicated bike lane is the best way to go, but NOT on the side with the parked cars.
The other issue is driver education. Drivers are overwhelmingly at fault in car/bicycle collisions.
I’m still waiting on the data that tells us why drivers keep hitting cyclists. Because I am tired of freaking out when I roll up to a stop light and every third driver is using both hands to type texts, and I don’t see them look up when they accelerate at the green light.
There appears to be little forward momentum on solving the causes of these accidents. Which to my estimation include (but are not limited to):
*Lack of driver education – includes misconceptions about bicycle positioning, aka ‘get on the sidewalk’ arguments, penalty pass, etc.
*Driver apathy
*Drunk/Impaired driving
*Sense of driver entitlement
*Intermittent explosive disorder at the wheel (aka regular people turn into aggressive warlike chimps behind the wheel)
*Distracted Driving!!
How do we solve this?
*Make bike lanes ubiquitous, and separated where possible
*Get self-driving cars on the road? (Yeah, maybe not realistic, but can you sense my frustration!?)
*In the mean-time, educate more drivers
*Perhaps a teensy enforcement regime?
Where is the forward momentum in the states? As far as I can tell, distracted driving is going up at the same time severe, fatal cyclist injuries are increasing. Every time I see a link posted about this problem, the answer is always reactionary.
I admit, there are a fair share of entitled and rude cyclists on the roads too. Some have no qualms holding up traffic for long stretches.
Cyclists need to use common sense and decency in those situations. Most of the time I can easily go the posted speed limit for motorized vehicles. If not I keep as far to the side as possible or pull over occasionally if I’m holding up traffic for more than a block or too. Those are rare cases but if cyclists show proper respect where appropriate, it could help ease tensions on the road.
Most cities, other than maybe some of the largest, don’t have the infrastructure or funds to create proper riding lanes. So until that changes motorists and cyclists alike should show respect, common sense and common decency. And for the love of pete, STOP texting in your vehicle! Even if you’re at a red light. If you’re “emergency” is THAT urgent, get OFF THE ROAD and make your call or text.