Pictures from Critical Mass

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More bikes means slower bikes

Rachel Brown has a fantastic little 5-minute film about biking up First Avenue to work:

I love the way that she’s caught on camera all of the annoyances which drive bike commuters mad: the cars cutting across the bike lane to make left turns; the pedestrians blithely stepping out into the lane in front of you; the trucks using the lane as a parking spot; the taxis driving up it. And, of course, the Evil Bike Salmon.

At the same time, there’s more than a hint of tension, in this film, between relatively serious bike commuters, on the one hand, and slow hobbyists, on the other. And this tension, I think, is likely to get worse rather than better, even as the other problems might alleviate themselves somewhat as the number of cyclists in New York grows.

There’s safety in numbers, when it comes to cycling, and a similar phenomenon is likely to happen with regard to pedestrians and car drivers being increasingly conscious of bicyclists in their midst. Already, the First Avenue bike lane has reportedly cut injuries to all street users by 50%. But as the number of cyclists rises, the average speed of cyclists necessarily falls. Everybody thinks of northern European cities like Copenhagen as bicycling paradises — and they are. But if you’re biking around Copenhagen, you’re going to go a lot more slowly than if you’re biking the same distance in NYC.

A slow cyclist can cope with most of the dangers and obstructions that Brown complains about much more easily than a fast cyclist — and the fast cyclists, as Brown’s film shows, are now shunning the lane entirely, moving over to the right-hand side of the street, where they’re much less likely to get cut off by a car. (Cars often turn left off First Avenue, which runs up the east side of Manhattan, but much more rarely turn right.)

It’s going to be very interesting to see how fast cyclists cope with an influx of slower cyclists in Manhattan, as bike lanes continue to get built and average bike speeds continue to decline. I love to zoom down avenues at high speed, but I also love being safe. Maybe that means I’m just going to have to start going a little slower.

Bamboocycle UH-02

From Hypebeast

The brainchild of 24-year old Mexican industrial designer Diego Cárdenas, the Bamboocycle UH-02 Bicycle wanted to make an ecological statement by re-visiting bicycle design. The resulting project features a bike that integrates bamboo into the frame’s design. Known for its lightweight, strength and flexibility as well as its general ability to grow in any situation, the Bamboocycle UH-02 hopes to create more sustainable form of transportation.

Ek Shaneesh

Bicycle Friendly Communities Announced

Nice to see Mississippi has two cities mentioned, Alabama no way last, last, last......In 20 years though:) It will be too late

The League announced 18 new Bicycle Friendly Communities(BFC) and eight renewing BFCs at the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference yesterday, September 15. See the complete list of BFCs here.

“The most exciting thing about this round of awards was seeing communities that had implemented past feedback, improved their communities, and achieved a Bicycle Friendly Community designation,” said Andy Clarke, League president.

The third time was the charm for the Charm City, Baltimore, Md. and Knoxville, Tenn. Both received the bronze designation after previously receiving the Honorable Mention the past two times they applied. Other communities climbing the BFC ranks this round include Bloomington, Ind. and Carrboro, N.C., all of which moved from Bronze to Silver designations. Denver, Colo. is another thrilling success story – they rejoined the ranks of silver communities after having been downgraded to bronze for the past five years.

To learn more about becoming a BFC, click here.

The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by program partners Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle’s One World, Two Wheels Campaign. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visitwww.bikeleague.org.

First Impressions of Obama’s Big Infrastructure Announcement

From Streetsblog.net

by Angie Schmitt

President Obama gave the first outlines yesterday of a $50 billion plan for new infrastructure investment, which would provide funds for the expansion of high-speed rail and local transit systems, road construction and repair, and runway upgrades at airports. A centerpiece of the proposal is the creation of a national infrastructure bank, which would pool public and private funds to finance transportation projects.

President Obama touts his $50 billion infrastructure plan yesterday in Milwaukee. Photo: New York Times

The infrastructure plan also offers a glimpse of the administration’s priorities when it comes to the reauthorization of the national transportation bill. Here’s a sampling of what Streetsblog Network members are saying in response:

Transportation for America called the plan “fundamental to the long-term health of our economy.” Director James Corless issued this statement:

The Administration has recognized that the earmark-driven, unaccountable spending of the past must end. The President today has promised to press for carefully targeted investments in those projects that compete best in satisfying clearly articulated national goals for energy security, safety, affordability, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.

Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic asks how the timing of the infrastructure push will affect its chances in Congress:

It is not clear how much enthusiasm the Congress holds for what is being portrayed as a second stimulus, nor how much can actually be built with the money, which would be invested over a period of six years though mostly at the front end.

James Rowen at The Political Environment had a front row view of the President’s speech, given at a labor rally in Milwaukee:

I loved the administration’s commitment to a national passenger rail system; jobs and growth for Milwaukee will be and already are the local outcomes.

Rowen thinks the plan might win broad support, even in this divided political climate, though not necessarily for the right reasons:

Continue…

Great Idea

Jimmy Johns Labor Troubles Deepen as Boisterous Bicycle Picket Puts Brakes on Business at Calhoun Square Location

From IWW

Submitted by intexile on Sun, 09/05/2010 - 2:02pm.

Jimmy Johns Workers Union (Industrial Workers of the World) - Contact: Jake Foucault, 612-508-4310.
Spirited Sandwich Workers Roll Out Innovative Tactic to Move Mulligans to Meet
MINNEAPOLIS: Uptown echoed with union chants and singing Saturday night as Jimmy Johns workers arrived with a surprise bicycle picket at Calhoun Square, bringing business at the store to a near halt. The job action comes two days after Jimmy Johns workers at all nine Minneapolis franchise locations announced the formation of a union and demanded talks wit owners Mike and Rob Mulligan over labor conditions at the chain. So far, the Mulligan have refused to meet with their employees.
"All we're asking is for the Mulligans to meet with us. If they're going to disrespect us by refusing to even talk to us, then they're in for a bumpy ride. The pressure won't stop until they meet our demands for more than minimum wage, sick days, and basic fairness," said Jake Foucault, a delivery driver at Jimmy Johns.
In response to the Mulligan's refusal to meet, the IWW Jimmy Johns Workers Union announced on Friday that the chain will face a National Week of Action beginning Labor Day, with leafleting and picketing planned in 32 of 39 states in which the company operates.
In Minneapolis, the Union plans a major Labor Day rally at 3pm at University and Pleasant in Dinkytown featuring hip hop icons I Self Divine and Guante.
The Jimmy Johns Workers Union, open to employees at the company nationwide, is affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World labor union. Gaining prominence in recent years for organizing Starbucks workers, the IWW is a global union founded over a century ago for all working people.

Climate Skeptic Lomborg’s New Tune?

Do you think Huntsville a place so tied into motorized vehicles will listen? Well if cancer,obesity or their daily commute doesn't why would this.

The U.K.’s Guardian reports today that the world’s most prominent climate skeptic, Bjorn Lomborg, has taken an “apparent U-turn” and is now calling for addressing human-induced climate change on a massive scale. Lomborg spoke recently with On Point, in a show about summer heat waves and their relation to climate change. (Listen back to the full show - Lomborg is in the final segment.)

Whether or not Lomborg is indeed singing a totally new tune is sure to be debated, despite blogosphere headlines already trumpeting the “U-turn.” (Huffington Post: “Now I’m a Believer.”)

Courtesy of Randomhouse.com

Lomborg says climate change is “undoubtedly one of the chief concerns facing the world today” and “a challenge humanity must confront,” theGuardian reports. For his part, Lomborg denies that his latest comments represent a total about-face. However, he now reportedly advocates spending perhaps $100 billion a year to address the problem — and that figure is sure to raise eyebrows.

read more or listen here