Category: Bicycle Advocacy

Ride of Silence and Bike to Work Day this week

All month we’ve been celebrating that coolest of all forms of transportation — the bicycle. The recognition slips into high gear this Monday through Friday for National Bicycle Week, culminating in Bike to Work Day.

You might be aware of bike-related promotions this week.

In the Seattle area, for instance, anyone who loads a bicycle on a King County Metro bus or Sound Transit express bus this week will ride for free …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/05/14/ride-of-silence-and-bike-to-work-day-this-week/

Pedal America begins airing this weekend — except in Seattle

A new 7-part public television series that examines bike culture in North America begins Saturday in some major cities, just in time for National Bike Month.

“Pedal America” is hosted by Ira David, a New York City native and avid cyclist who has criss-crossed the country many times on his bicycle to benefit charities and causes in the past.

Aiming to “educate, inspire, and motivate cyclists of all ages to rediscover the basic joys of cycling,” David and co-host Kati Lightholder visit far-flung locations to find examples of bicycling goodness in people and places …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/05/04/pedal-america-begins-airing-this-weekend-except-in-seattle/

Smile hit ‘n’ run driver — you’re on candid camera

A California motorist who is suspected of striking two bicyclists in Berkeley and speeding away has been arrested by police after a bike-mounted video camera captured his license plate number.

The video, posted on YouTube and viewed more than 200,000 times since Thursday, shows the black Acura’s license plate as it strikes Brazilian cyclist Bruno …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/30/smile-hit-n-run-driver-youre-on-candid-camera/

National Bike Challenge: Ride bike, log miles, repeat

What’s the best way to be an ambassador for bicycling? Simply go out and ride your bike.

That’s what I’ve been doing for all but one of the “30 Days of Biking” the past month, and that’s what I plan to do for the National Bike Challenge, which starts Tuesday and last through the end of August.

The idea, unveiled in March at the National Bike Summit 2012 in Washington DC, seeks to sign up 50,000 people as individuals or team members to ride their bicycles 10 million miles from May 1 to Aug. 31..

When I signed up Sunday night, I was No. 12,048, so they have a way to go until they hit their goal. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/30/national-bike-challenge-ride-bike-log-miles-repeat/

Are bike path bollards an unnecessary hazard?

Whenever I used to come across a bollard in a bike trail, I’d get the righteous feeling of ownership that this was my trail; cars cannot get in.

Now I worry that a bicyclist might hit the bollard and suffer an injury. Are bollards safe?

Not always. Experienced bicyclist Giuseppe Maino, 53, died from injuries he suffered when he struck a bollard on the Richland B&O trail in Bellville, Ohio, this week.

Maino was riding at the rear of a group of cyclists …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/27/are-bike-path-bollards-an-unnecessary-hazard/

National Bike Month is on the way: Take if from this kid – you can ride your bike

May is National Bike Month. Get out on your bike. You’ll feel happy of yourself. Just listen to what this little fella in the video has to say about riding a bike.

May 9 is Bike to School Day.

May 14-18 is Bike to Work Week.

May 18 is Bike to Work Day.

You can search for events in your local area by checking the bike month database at League of American Bicyclists.

Here in Seattle …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/25/national-bike-month-is-on-the-way-you-can-ride-your-bike/

Judge dismisses cyclists’ suit against SLUT tracks

A judge has thrown out a lawsuit by six bicyclists who claimed the city of Seattle created unsafe conditions when it opened a streetcar line.

As soon as Seattle’s South Lake Union Trolley (S.L.U.T.) opened for business in 2007, Seattle cyclists started crashing around the tracks at a regular rate.

It turns out the gap in the street for the trolley tracks — 44 mm — was just wide enough to catch their tires and flip their bikes.

Reacting to the epidemic of crashes and a protest ride by cyclists …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/12/judge-dismisses-cyclists-suit-against-slut-tracks/

Nebraska 3-foot passing bill on Governor’s desk

The Nebraska legislature has sent a bill that requires motorists to give bicyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing to Gov. Dave Heineman for his signature.

Unlike the struggle similar bills face in some states, the bicycle safety bill has been in the fast lane in Nebraska. It was introduced by Sen. Tom Hansen in January and unanimously approved and forwarded last week.

The governor’s signature would make Nebraska the 21st state to enact a safe passing law of 3 feet or greater. ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/10/nebraska-3-foot-passing-bill-on-governors-desk/

Is your college campus bicycle friendly?

Picking up the NCAA March Madness theme, the League of American Bicyclists has announced the latest additions to its list of Bicycle Friendly Universities.

The League added 5 colleges each to the Silver and Bronze rankings, raising the number of bike friendly campuses to 35 in 21 states.

Another 6 campuses were given an Honorable Mention.The new additions are …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/03/28/is-your-college-campus-bicycle-friendly-2/

Write WSDOT: Hood Canal bridge still needs work for safe bicycling

Washington state bicycling advocates are facing a March 30 (Friday) deadline to convince the state to make some safety improvements to the Hood Canal Bridge (left).

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW) is asking cyclists to contact state Department of Transportation officials to get moving on the project.

Although replaced in 2009, the bridge that links the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas still needs an estimated $1.8 million in work to make it safer for bicycles.

Problems include uneven surfaces between bridge sections, slick metal plates, raised rivets on the plates that narrow riding surface and gaps that have trapped narrow bike tires, causing falls. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/03/26/write-wsdot-hood-canal-bridge-still-needs-work-for-safe-bicycling/