H.G. Wells

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.”  –H.G. Wells

[Thanks again, boingboing!]

Repost: The Real Reason Why Bicycles are the Key to Better Cities

The ever-delightful Cory Doctorow adds:  “the advent of short-hire bikes around town has got me riding everywhere again, and I’m loving it.” [bold emphasis added :-)]

The most vital element for the future of our cities is that the bicycle is an instrument of experiential understanding.

…

The bicycle doesn’t need to be sold. It’s economical, it’s fun, it’s sexy, and just about everyone already has one hiding somewhere in their garage.

Invite a motorist for a bike ride through your city and you’ll be cycling with an urbanist by the end of the day. Even the most eloquent of lectures about livable cities and sustainable design can’t compete with the experience from atop a bicycle saddle.

“These cars are going way too fast,” they may mutter beneath their breath.

“How are we supposed to get across the highway?”

“Wow, look at that cathedral! I didn’t know that was there.”

“I didn’t realize there were so many vacant lots in this part of town.”

“Hey, let’s stop at this cafe for a drink.”

Suddenly livability isn’t an abstract concept, it’s an experience. Human scale, connectivity, land use efficiency, urban fabric, complete streets… all the codewords, catchphrases, and academic jargon can be tossed out the window because now they are one synthesized moment of appreciation. Bicycles matter because they are a catalyst of understanding – become hooked on the thrill of cycling, and everything else follows. Now a new freeway isn’t a convenience but an impediment. Mixed-use development isn’t a threat to privacy but an opportunity for community. And maybe, just maybe, car-free living will eventually be seen not as restrictive, but as a door to newfound freedom.

[sustainablecitiescollective via boingboing]

The fat/money calculus

One BoingBoing commenter made a good point that time is money, but if he’s commuting 30 miles each way he’s probably not the target of these markings.  He also ignores many of the more substantial costs of both modes, including ownership, parking/storage, maintenance, etc.

[Once again, BoingBoing, ftw]

I want to ride my bicycle!

Awesome.  I can do without riding it directly through the train station, but I’m glad these talented people couldn’t.

[Thanks, Nurit!]

Reinventing The Wheel

Bicycling, Northern Europe, regenerative braking, environmental sensing, smartphone compatibility, environmentalism, and social networking?  Too bad Stuff White People Like fizzled after selling out to Random House…

Maybe it’s just because I entertain fantasies of biking around Denmark on an impractically attractive Cinelli, but I want a “Wheel” for my bike.  Great idea, MIT; let me know when I can test one.

LaHood on Bike Infrastructure

Responding to Senator Tom Coburn’s complaints that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for two bike infrastructure projects is “waste,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood blogs: “We don’t call that waste; we call it progress.” He also characterizes bike paths as “a key ingredient in our livability initiative to allow people to live, work, and get around without a car.”  As someone who misses his commute on the Mount Vernon and Custis Trails, I couldn’t agree more.  Hopefully this is a sign of things (and funding) to come…

19th Century Bike Monorail

Sweet.

I can just picture these dapper chaps (and ladies) cruising along a Victorian sci-fi network of these babies, high above the manure and filth of the horse-drawn carriages… [Thanks, Meg]

SucceedBlog: 3 Cool Bikes

A Watershed Moment?

“It’s sad for both sides”

Cycling in L.A. hasn’t been nearly the harrowing experience I thought it would be, but it’s still a far cry from a comfortable cruise on a dedicated bike/ped path.  Clearly there are still plenty of too many conflicts between cyclists and motorists on the streets.

P.S. If this still isn’t reason enough for you to wear a helmet, check out Jessica’s helmet stats.

Goal: Track Travel

Counting all those pedestrians and bikers got me thinking I should probably look a little more carefully at how I get around.  I’ve been trying to do more biking and less driving lately, but we all know where the road paved with good intentions takes us…  So in order to think more critically about this issue, I’m going to keep track of how far I travel by the following modes every day for the next 30 days, and put up a summary at the end of the month:

• Walk
• Bike
• Run
• Drive (noting number of passengers in the car)
• Bus
• Plane
• Train

If anything else comes up, I’ll add it.