Many of us are riveted to the TV and radio as the tragedy that struck Japan last night unfolds today. My heart goes out to the victims and those waiting to hear from friends and family in that country. [See where to donate, below]
One of the repercussions of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan is the widespread breakdown of the transportation system.
Officials shut down Tokyo's subway system and elevated highways as the danger of aftershocks continues. The result is gridlock on roads leaving the city, prompting many to rely on bicycles as the only way to get home.
A Tokyo-based blogger for an ice-skater fan page took this picture (at left) of people lined up to buy bicycles at a local shop.
The blogger at TokyoByBike.com reported at his Twitter feed that bicycle shops were “showing strong sales tonight as stranded commuters look for an alternative way home.” ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/03/11/bicycles-play-a-role-following-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-where-to-donate-and-find-help/
A Canadian bicycle manufacturer has recalled more than 300 Rocky Mountain Bicycles after reports of front fork steering tube breakages.
The recall by Procycle Group Inc. and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission includes seven models of the Rocky Mountain Bicycle line. The company received four reports of fork failures leading to injuries, including a broken wrist.
The company urges consumers to stop riding the bicycles and contact Procycle with the bicycle serial number to determine if it is included in the recall notice. The company will arrange for a free fork replacement….
While college coaches are awaiting the bracket results for the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament, bicycle program coordinators at 32 universities have been waiting for news about their own bids for recognition.
The League of American Bicyclists announced the results this week for its inaugural 20 awards in the Bicycle Friendly Universities program.
Stanford University in Palo Alto led the list with a platinum designation, followed by two universities with gold — UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara.
Nine others received silver level awards and eight received bronze awards …
The drive to create a 50,000-mile U.S. Bicycle Route System is taking hold in a majority of states.
A state-by-state progress chart created by Adventure Cycling Association shows that 30 states are working to implement routes and another 11 have expressed an interest in becoming part of the network of bicycle routes.
Only 8 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and South Carolina — say they aren't interested in participating at this time.
While the number of non-participating states is few, their location is critical …
“There's an important message for bicyclists here. It is recommended that bicyclists visit their local bike stores for brochures and information on recommended routes of travel, instead of riding on open roadways.”
— New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia, giving “advice” after a bicyclist was struck and killed on US Highway 70 near Las Cruces of the weekend, Las Cruces News-Sun, March 6, 2011.
This comment has frosted bicyclists in New Mexico…
Regular users of Capital Bikeshare should not be surprised if they can't find a rental bicycle this week in Washington DC and its environs.
Hundreds of bicycle advocates are descending on the nation's capital this week for the 10th annual National Bike Summit, and they're sure to be practicing what they preach when it comes to getting around town — they'll do it by bicycle.
US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is giving the keynote speech at a dinner Tuesday night. Although it's doubtful that he'll jump up on a table to give it this year, he's still a full-fledged supporter of bicycling. On Friday, he wrote on his blog:
“I've been to more than 100 cities in more than 40 states across this great country, and everywhere I've gone, people have said they want more ways of getting around …..
It's a popular and respected competition in some parts of the world, and Corrina Hein has earned the right to wear the rainbow jersey of a world champion.
Then I stumbled across this video of an unknown person performing his own style of artistic cycling to a funky drumbeat outside the BM Chez Kiki cafe in Senegal.
His stunts look every bit as difficult as those performed by the Germans. I especially enjoy how he commands his bicycle to stand up with his finger.
It's good to see that Washington state bicycle advocates are not alone in making progress for so-called vulnerable users bills that seek to protect bicyclists and pedestrians. A bill in New Mexico is similarly moving forward, although one in Maryland might be stalled.
Although the bills aim to levy more severe penalties than simple traffic tickets on motorists who injure or kill bicyclists, they vary widely in their severity.
In Olympia, two vulnerable users bills, one in the House and in the Senate, have passed their respective chambers. Now lobbyists for Cascade Bicycle Club and Bicycle Alliance of Washington are pushing for at least one bill to win approval in the opposite chamber and go to the governor's desk for a signature …
It took a Colorado jury eight hours to issue a guilty verdict against a man accused of threatening a group of bicyclists and hammering one of their bikes with a bat.
The LovelandConnection.com reports the jury found the man guilty of criminal mischief and menacing. The jury reduced the criminal mischief charge to a Class 1 misdemeanor, while the menacing with a deadly weapon charge remained a Class 5 felony …
A quartet of seniors — their average age is 68 — took off on their bicycles from Arizona this week on a cross-country trek to raise awareness about pediatric cancer.
The effort, called SammyRides, was triggered by the death of cyclist Michael Libenson's granddaughter, Samantha Rotman, at age 9 after a two-year battle with pediatric cancer.
Libenson, 73, Mike Brown, 62, Adolf Lex, 71, and John Baer, 64, left from Sun City, Arizona, on Wednesday and are headed 2,400 miles to their homes at Sun City, Florida. They were joined by well-wishers and fellow cyclists, above, for the first leg of their journey toward Phoenix. ….
I had to abandon a long tour that I had been planning for years halfway through it, and I’m still devastated. How do I get over it? Dear Devastated, I’m […] The post Ask An Adventure Cycling Tour Leader: How to Get Over Trip Abandonment appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.
Sleeping under the stars in a beautiful place, one that you reached under your own power, can be one of the biggest joys of bikepacking. If you’re new to camping […] The post Camping Tips for Bikepacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.
Water and food are always an important basic need for cyclists, and the remote nature of some bikepacking routes makes self-reliance absolutely essential. Knowing your route can help you strike […] The post Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.
The initiative is taking place in May, which is National Bike Month, a news release from the DuPage County Forest Preserve District said. Trail safety ...
Many of us are riveted to the TV and radio as the tragedy that struck Japan last night unfolds today. My heart goes out to the victims and those waiting to hear from friends and family in that country. [See where to donate, below]
A Canadian bicycle manufacturer has recalled more than 300 Rocky Mountain Bicycles after reports of front fork steering tube breakages.
While college coaches are awaiting the bracket results for the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament, bicycle program coordinators at 32 universities have been waiting for news about their own bids for recognition.
A quartet of seniors — their average age is 68 — took off on their bicycles from Arizona this week on a cross-country trek to raise awareness about pediatric cancer.
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