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Last night I was driving down an unlit hill in our subdivision when I briefly glimpsed something cross in front of a line of car headlights that was approaching.
After the traffic passed, I could see it was an at-times invisible bicyclist riding in dark clothes on a bicycle without front or rear lights or reflectors.
It was only 6:45, but completely dark. It occurred to me that riding a bicycle on poorly lit suburban streets is probably more dangerous than bicycling that way in well lit urban areas.
Let's hope I'm preaching to the choir here, but if I'm not, let me stress that bicyclists need lights to be visible at night. You can argue the motorists need to be vigilante when driving at night, but that won't help you when someone isn't …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/11/why-you-should-use-lights-to-ride-your-bicycle-at-night/
The completion of a 50,000-mile U.S. Bicycle Route System throughout the lower 48 states may be years away, but for Virginia the future is now.
The state currently has the most miles of designated U.S. Bicycle Routes in the nation — 838 miles.
The commonwealth got a head start when Bike Routes 1 and 76 were designated for bicycling more than 20 years ago.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently approved a National Corridor Plan that sets guidelines and framework for establishing a nationwide bike route network. …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/10/virginia-is-for-u-s-bicycle-route-lovers/
I always considered pepper spray products such as Halt! to be the ultimate weapon in the battle against bicycle-chasing dogs.
The former mayor of Seven Mile, Ohio, trumps that with a .357 Magnum handgun.
The man was bicycling through the small southwestern Ohio town with his wife when a 10-pound mixed terrier named “Precious” chased down the couple, knocked the mayor from his bicycle and attacked him.
He told police that he feared for his life and shot at the dog five times before killing it …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/09/man-on-bicycle-shoots-attacking-terrier/
This must be an exciting time to be a transportation designer. People walk the talk (and bike the talk) when it comes to choosing how to make a trip.
More people are taking up bicycling and walking and using public transportation to commute and make errands. At the same time President-elect Obama and others are calling for reinvestment in roads and bridges as an economic stimulus.
This is the atmosphere in which the Congress for a New Urbanism met in Charlotte last week for its annual Transportation Summit. Instead of focusing on getting folks from Point A to Point B by cars, this group considers “moving people comfortably where they want to go, whether the best choice is walking, biking, riding transit or driving ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/09/the-challenge-of-designing-cities-for-bicycling-walking-busing-and-driving/
You may have seen these Extrawheel bicycle trailers before, but they are new to me.
I use a standard cage-style Yakima bicycle trailer (now made by BOB, see video on jump) for touring. It allows me to keep heavy weight off the back wheel of my bike, and when combined with front panniers, my bike tracks very well.
It also allows me to fulfill my TMS syndrome — Too Much Stuff.
These Extrawheel trailers also keep heavy weight off the rear wheel, and they're lighter than standard BOB trailers …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/08/lightweight-bicycle-trailer/
A Virginia bicycle club is giving back for the years of motherly hospitality that June “Cookie Lady” Curry has offered to bicyclists on the TransAmerica Trail.
The Richmond Area Bicycle Association collected donations from across the US and is presenting the proceeds to the Cookie Lady at her home in Afton, Virginia, on Nov. 16. A bike ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway will follow.
Says RABA member Champe Burnley:
“We're very excited about the event. June has certainly done a lot for cyclists over the years and we're glad to give a little something back …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/07/a-bike-ride-and-dough-for-virginias-cookie-lady/
It might be the first week of November, but that hasn't stopped cyclo-tourist Steve Moline from touring across the US.
Moline is a retired Marine Corps major who is currently bicycling across country for the Captain Garrett T. Lawton Foundation. He founded the non-profit “to provide support and assistance to the thousands of military families who have lost a loved one in the service of our country.”
Moline named the foundation for his friend's son who was killed in Afghanistan in August. Capt. Lawton leaves behind his wife and two young sons.
The bike trip, which he calls a Gyrene's Journey, is expected to take him 56 days from St. Augustine to San Diego …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/06/autumn-doesnt-stop-retired-marine-from-bicycling-for-a-cause/
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is optimistic about improvements that bicyclists and walkers might see in the next four years.
Dissecting Barack Obama's statements and actions in recent months, the group found that the president-elect understands the role of active transportation in making metropolitan areas better places to live.
The Washington, DC-based advocacy group is promoting more federal money for bicycle and pedestrian projects in upcoming transportation funding bills. It says active transportation “has the potential to play an important role in this new administration ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/06/obama-presidency-could-be-good-for-bicyclists/
Pro cyclist Tyler Farrar will lead a community bike ride around Wenatchee, Washington, on Sunday in support of his father, Dr. Ed Farrar, left.
Dr. Farrar is hospitalized with a spinal injury after being struck head-on by a car the morning of Oct. 22 while riding his bicycle to work. He's still listed in serious condition.
An orthopedic surgeon and cycling enthusiast, Dr. Farrar helped form Wenatchee Valley Velo and encourage many people to get into cycling as a form of rehabilitation and exercise. People in the community came up with the “Rally for Ed” to show their support …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/06/rally-for-ed-bike-ride-to-support-ed-farrar-is-sunday/
Cyclists on a tandem (yes, there's stoker behind that guy) ride through fallen leaves on the Cedar River Trail between Renton and Maple Valley earlier this week.
The big leaf maples in the Puget Sound region are bright yellow, but seasonal rains have been knocking down the leaves.
The route is a rail-trail that …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/11/05/colorful-fall-bike-ride/
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