Cycling industry boosts UK economy

The BBC News online reported today that the cycling industry has created quite a boon in the economy there with 13M people cycling in the UK. This is the kind of reporting we need in the local and mainstream news media in the US. One argument I have made personally to those against cycling for transportation in COMO (as opposed to cycling as sport to be limited to the Katy Trail) is that when one forgoes a car they have a lot more money (approximately $8000 more per year) to spend in local shops and restaurants rather than the bottomless pit that is the oil business. Not to mention the shrinking of waistlines, bottoms, type II diabetes rates, blood pressure....you get the picture.

New Streetfilms: Stephanie's Story

Saw this new film on the Streetfilms website and wanted to share. Having just visited San Francisco this summer, I was amazed at the alternative transportation infrastructure. I was surprised to hear Stephanie in the video above remark that the streets still don't quite seem safe enough--but she has small children and I am beginning to see the value in separate bike lanes, etc. Food for thought.

Doing the math

I found this image on the PedNet website and love the way it conveys an 

important truth in a simple yet profound way. I was biking across town 

the other day and was amazed at how many cars only had one driver in

them. What will it take, gas prices at $10/gal to get us to choose smarter 

alternatives? More importantly, what about those citizens of Columbia

who simply cannot afford a car? All those people working at Walmart,

Target, the grocery store, gas station, etc who make our worlds go around

and yet cannot get inexpensive, efficient transportation to that $7/hr job?

Just a thought.

Making your Bike into a Business

I have been recently fascinated by the opportunities for building a business around bikes--and not just bike shops, etc. Jim Gregory's book was my starting place but the video above really captured my imagination given the lack of sustainability of most modern transportation systems. Given current fuel costs, I don't know how truckers make much of a living anymore (another example of a U.S. system completely dependent on cheap fuel to make a "profit"). The fellow in the video, Brandon, was once a trucker who covered 500,000 miles per year. He now has a delivery business using a cargo bike in Chicago. I do wonder what his winter business is like (probably high demand but rougher commuting?).

Mia Birk on TEDxPortland

Unbeknownst to me (*gasp*) Mia Birk, author of Joyride: Pedaling Towards a Healthier Planet, gave this lovely talk at a special TED conference in Portland this last April. Mia is a hero of mine due to her contribution to creating a successful alternative transportation culture in Portland. Read on people! 

Go Car in Dublin Ireland

I found this video on the Copenhagenize website and thought it was lovely. There are parts of Europe that have really gotten ecological transportation dialed in. Bravo!

Wonder-ful Woman

    I so want this t-shirt from Endurance Conspiracy.com!  It is called 'Wonder-ful Woman'. 

    *smile*