>I came across this short video at the site of Virgin Vacation’s 11 most bike friendly cities (click here). It is a video of the world’s only bicycle lift (elevator) located in Trondheim, Norway. It is ingenious, and probably one of the most bicycle friendly inventions I’ve seen yet. Make sure you pause it towards the end of the clip so you can read the side of the lift’s machinery (it’s in English). I’d like to visit this city for the sole purpose of using this lift…what a way to commute.
Sometimes Only Vegetables Will Do
While I do not eat a great deal of meat I am far from a vegetarian…but sometimes I just crave vegetables…yesterday was one of those times. I made this delicious vegetable stew with enough leftover to eat a second day and freeze some as well. It is so simple to make…basically like a chunky soup but with only enough broth to just cover the vegetables. I seasoned it with Thai curry paste, lots of garlic, turmeric, and fresh lemon…the aroma was/is intoxicating. Here it is in photos:
>Sometimes Only Vegetables Will Do
>While I do not eat a great deal of meat I am far from a vegetarian…but sometimes I just crave vegetables…yesterday was one of those times. I made this delicious vegetable stew with enough leftover to eat a second day and freeze some as well. It is so simple to make…basically like a chunky soup but with only enough broth to just cover the vegetables. I seasoned it with Thai curry paste, lots of garlic, turmeric, and fresh lemon…the aroma was/is intoxicating. Here it is in photos:
Cargo Bikes
There’s a great article on cargo bikes at treehugger. It profiles 22 longtails/cargo/utility bikes (including the incredible looking 8-freight listed above). Click here to see the entire article.
>Cargo Bikes
>
There’s a great article on cargo bikes at treehugger. It profiles 22 longtails/cargo/utility bikes (including the incredible looking 8-freight listed above). Click here to see the entire article.
10 Ways to Pedal Toward Bicycle Activism
I found the following info at Planet Green…and liked it so much I thought I’d share it. It was cut-and-paste from their site, click here to see the original post. The author of the article is listed as Mikey Z. from Astoria, New York. Enjoy.
1. Educate Yourself About Car Culture
Most of us take cars for granted. It seems everyone drives and much of our landscape is set up as to require a car. But this doesn’t mean all this adds up to a good idea and it certainly doesn’t mean we can’t create change. Do your transportation homework and then, in the words of the immortal Freddie Mercury, get on your bikes and ride.
2. Educate Yourself About Bicycles
Since 40% of everyday travel in the U.S. are trips of two miles or less, choosing to bike makes plenty of eco-sense. When Worldwatch Institute compared energy used per passenger-mile (calories), they found that a bicycle needed only 35 calories, whereas a car expended a whopping 1,860. Bus and trains fell about midway between, and walking still took 3 times as many calories as riding a bike the same distance.
3. Buy a Used Bike
In one fell swoop, you’re challenging the the car culture and the consume-and-dispose mentality. As Jasmin Malik Chua suggests: Keep your eyes open, research the brand, look for major problems (some bike problems can be repaired, other’s can’t), and consider your needs. And don’t forget to choose used bike clothes, too.
4. Participate in Bike Sharing
We’re talking about a system in which a small fleet of bicycles are made available for shared use amongst individuals. None of these individuals own any of the bicycles; they simply pay into the program for the right to use/share the bikes. Such an effort lessens impact and increases a sense of community. Find out about the bike sharing programs in your neck of the woods.
5. Learn How to Repair Your Bike
Developing some skillz with the tools will give you a feeling of empowerment while also making it more likely you’ll hang on to that old beater bike even longer. Also, taking a repair class is a great way to meet like-minded souls.
6. Combine Cycling With Freecycling
Don’t toss your old, unwanted bicycle: give it away. Whether it’s Craigslist or a local bike shop bulletin board, there are plenty of ways to be sure your bike finds a new home. Another option: Donate it.
7. Volunteer With a Local Cycling Activism Group
Time’s Up is an excellent example of how cycling and environmentalism are compatible dance partners. To discover a broad range of other potential resources, check out the links provided by Transportation Alternatives and Recycle-a-Bicycle.
8. Good First Campaign Idea: Traffic Calming
As the aforementioned folks at Transportation Alternatives explain, traffic calming holds that streets are “valuable public space and should be shared equally by all users. It is a set of street designs and traffic rules that slow and reduce traffic while encouraging walkers and cyclists to share the street. Traffic calming methods include: speed humps, raised crosswalks and raised intersections; extended and widened sidewalks; mini-roundabouts; widened medians; bicycle lanes and rumble strips.” Download a free PDF guide to traffic calming activism now.
9. Join Your Local Critical Mass Rides
Critical Mass started in San Francisco in 1992 and the idea has never stopped spreading: a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road. Critical Mass (CM) “has no leaders, and no central organization licenses rides” and is viewed as “an idea and an event, not an organization.” Find the CM group in your area and experience the solidarity.
10. Display Your Activist Spirit–Everywhere
>10 Ways to Pedal Toward Bicycle Activism
>I found the following info at Planet Green…and liked it so much I thought I’d share it. It was cut-and-paste from their site, click here to see the original post. The author of the article is listed as Mikey Z. from Astoria, New York. Enjoy.
1. Educate Yourself About Car Culture
Most of us take cars for granted. It seems everyone drives and much of our landscape is set up as to require a car. But this doesn’t mean all this adds up to a good idea and it certainly doesn’t mean we can’t create change. Do your transportation homework and then, in the words of the immortal Freddie Mercury, get on your bikes and ride.
2. Educate Yourself About Bicycles
Since 40% of everyday travel in the U.S. are trips of two miles or less, choosing to bike makes plenty of eco-sense. When Worldwatch Institute compared energy used per passenger-mile (calories), they found that a bicycle needed only 35 calories, whereas a car expended a whopping 1,860. Bus and trains fell about midway between, and walking still took 3 times as many calories as riding a bike the same distance.
3. Buy a Used Bike
In one fell swoop, you’re challenging the the car culture and the consume-and-dispose mentality. As Jasmin Malik Chua suggests: Keep your eyes open, research the brand, look for major problems (some bike problems can be repaired, other’s can’t), and consider your needs. And don’t forget to choose used bike clothes, too.
4. Participate in Bike Sharing
We’re talking about a system in which a small fleet of bicycles are made available for shared use amongst individuals. None of these individuals own any of the bicycles; they simply pay into the program for the right to use/share the bikes. Such an effort lessens impact and increases a sense of community. Find out about the bike sharing programs in your neck of the woods.
5. Learn How to Repair Your Bike
Developing some skillz with the tools will give you a feeling of empowerment while also making it more likely you’ll hang on to that old beater bike even longer. Also, taking a repair class is a great way to meet like-minded souls.
6. Combine Cycling With Freecycling
Don’t toss your old, unwanted bicycle: give it away. Whether it’s Craigslist or a local bike shop bulletin board, there are plenty of ways to be sure your bike finds a new home. Another option: Donate it.
7. Volunteer With a Local Cycling Activism Group
Time’s Up is an excellent example of how cycling and environmentalism are compatible dance partners. To discover a broad range of other potential resources, check out the links provided by Transportation Alternatives and Recycle-a-Bicycle.
8. Good First Campaign Idea: Traffic Calming
As the aforementioned folks at Transportation Alternatives explain, traffic calming holds that streets are “valuable public space and should be shared equally by all users. It is a set of street designs and traffic rules that slow and reduce traffic while encouraging walkers and cyclists to share the street. Traffic calming methods include: speed humps, raised crosswalks and raised intersections; extended and widened sidewalks; mini-roundabouts; widened medians; bicycle lanes and rumble strips.” Download a free PDF guide to traffic calming activism now.
9. Join Your Local Critical Mass Rides
Critical Mass started in San Francisco in 1992 and the idea has never stopped spreading: a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road. Critical Mass (CM) “has no leaders, and no central organization licenses rides” and is viewed as “an idea and an event, not an organization.” Find the CM group in your area and experience the solidarity.
10. Display Your Activist Spirit–Everywhere
Things That Can Be Carried (or pulled) On A Bike (#111)
A covered trailer.
$46.12 in groceries.
A gym bag full of wet clothes.
I took my old Trek (AKA, the mule) out for a spin today with my BikeRev trailer…getting ready for the snowy season. During the summer months (or should I say non-snowy months) I’ve been riding the Yuba and Dahon as my everyday bikes, but during the winter I use the mule a lot…and fitted with a covered trailer it keeps things from getting wet and snowy.
The mule does need some work before the snow flies…derailleur adjustment (it’s a new one…was replaced after the old one fell of during frigid January temperatures last year), and also new cables and brakes. It’s a twenty-one speed (seven in the rear and three at the pedals), but I’m thinking about changing it to a seven gear by removing the front derailleur…I rarely use anything but seven gears and without the front derailleur I would be able to install a chain guard…I can’t tell you how many pairs of pants I have with either oil stains on the right cuff or tears in the fabric. At-any-rate, it felt refreshing to ride the mule with it’s trailer…different, but good.
Lastly…can you believe that is $46 in groceries?
>Things That Can Be Carried (or pulled) On A Bike (#111)
>A covered trailer.
$46.12 in groceries.
A gym bag full of wet clothes.
I took my old Trek (AKA, the mule) out for a spin today with my BikeRev trailer…getting ready for the snowy season. During the summer months (or should I say non-snowy months) I’ve been riding the Yuba and Dahon as my everyday bikes, but during the winter I use the mule a lot…and fitted with a covered trailer it keeps things from getting wet and snowy.
The mule does need some work before the snow flies…derailleur adjustment (it’s a new one…was replaced after the old one fell of during frigid January temperatures last year), and also new cables and brakes. It’s a twenty-one speed (seven in the rear and three at the pedals), but I’m thinking about changing it to a seven gear by removing the front derailleur…I rarely use anything but seven gears and without the front derailleur I would be able to install a chain guard…I can’t tell you how many pairs of pants I have with either oil stains on the right cuff or tears in the fabric. At-any-rate, it felt refreshing to ride the mule with it’s trailer…different, but good.
Lastly…can you believe that is $46 in groceries?
Now This Is Really Cool…
This image was found here.
I want one…and I wonder why we don’t see these anywhere. Yes I am fully aware there are Velomobiles available, but they all look like they are some sort of a pedaled spaceship…none that I’ve come across on the www are as stylish as this. The best part, I think, is that the guy is driving it in a shirt and tie.
>Now This Is Really Cool…
>
This image was found here.
I want one…and I wonder why we don’t see these anywhere. Yes I am fully aware there are Velomobiles available, but they all look like they are some sort of a pedaled spaceship…none that I’ve come across on the www are as stylish as this. The best part, I think, is that the guy is driving it in a shirt and tie.
Dance For The Climate
Firstly, let me qualify this post by stating straight out that I am not a dancer…but I love this short clip! I’ve watched it a few times (it’s under two minutes long) and find it extremely inspiring…but more importantly, empowering. I originally came across it at Copenhagen Bicycle Chic, but there’s an entire website that supports the video (click here).
As the good people at Copenhagen Bicycle Chic so eloquently say…spread this video like a virus.
>Dance For The Climate
>Firstly, let me qualify this post by stating straight out that I am not a dancer…but I love this short clip! I’ve watched it a few times (it’s under two minutes long) and find it extremely inspiring…but more importantly, empowering. I originally came across it at Copenhagen Bicycle Chic, but there’s an entire website that supports the video (click here).
As the good people at Copenhagen Bicycle Chic so eloquently say…spread this video like a virus.
Macaroni and Tomato Sauce with Peas and Turkey
This is incredibly easy to make…you can have it ready by the time the pasta boils (well…almost). And it’s as delicious as it looks.
>Macaroni and Tomato Sauce with Peas and Turkey
>This is incredibly easy to make…you can have it ready by the time the pasta boils (well…almost). And it’s as delicious as it looks.
Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#110)
A loaf of whole wheat honey-oatmeal bread.
>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#110)
>A loaf of whole wheat honey-oatmeal bread.
A Dangerous Annoyance
Firstly, a couple things: the woman in the above picture is not the person that I speak of in the following text…I don’t know who it is, it just resembles what I saw. I found the image here. Also, when I post these thoughts the last thing I want to do is imply that I am “Mr. Anti-Automobile” (but I do wish there were less of them), because I have a motorized vehicle myself…as stated in previous posts I have never claimed to be car-free, just car-lite…really lite.
Anyhow, the dangerous annoyance is this: people in cars pulling out or turning in front of me when they plainly see me coming…treating me as if I am a lesser vehicle on the road because it is not motorized, basically not taking me (on a bike) seriously. I can’t tell you how often this happens. This instance that really P#%@!d me off happened yesterday, and it’s the one that prompted this post; it happened on Elmwood Avenue.
I was cruising at a pretty good clip, and as is often the case when I ride down Elmwood (which is bustling, narrow, and has a lot of cars) I scan the parked cars in front of me for anyone about to open a door or pull out. There was one car, maybe three in front of me, where I could see there was a person in it…so I watched but kept pedaling. When I was almost up to it I was close enough to see that the motor was running, so close in fact that I could see the person’s eyes in the side view mirror and that she in turn could see me (as in the photo above). When I was maybe half a car-length behind it, still pedaling, she abruptly pulled out, no turn signal…nothing. Luckily I was riding the mule, which has good stopping power. I didn’t fall off the bike, nor did I hit her…though I did think I was going to hit the rear end of the car.
Now, I’m a pretty patient guy, but this really got my blood boiling…enough-is-enough already. It was such an obvious infraction that a person who was waiting at a bus stop yelled certain expletives at her that I’d rather not print here. As previously implied, I think everyone has their right to own and drive a vehicle…I just wish it were a law that they ride a bike once in a while to see what it’s like amongst the big metal boxes.
Anyhow, just felt the need to get this off my chest. Thanks for letting me vent.
>A Dangerous Annoyance
>Firstly, a couple things: the woman in the above picture is not the person that I speak of in the following text…I don’t know who it is, it just resembles what I saw. I found the image here. Also, when I post these thoughts the last thing I want to do is imply that I am “Mr. Anti-Automobile” (but I do wish there were less of them), because I have a motorized vehicle myself…as stated in previous posts I have never claimed to be car-free, just car-lite…really lite.
Anyhow, the dangerous annoyance is this: people in cars pulling out or turning in front of me when they plainly see me coming…treating me as if I am a lesser vehicle on the road because it is not motorized, basically not taking me (on a bike) seriously. I can’t tell you how often this happens. This instance that really P#%@!d me off happened yesterday, and it’s the one that prompted this post; it happened on Elmwood Avenue.
I was cruising at a pretty good clip, and as is often the case when I ride down Elmwood (which is bustling, narrow, and has a lot of cars) I scan the parked cars in front of me for anyone about to open a door or pull out. There was one car, maybe three in front of me, where I could see there was a person in it…so I watched but kept pedaling. When I was almost up to it I was close enough to see that the motor was running, so close in fact that I could see the person’s eyes in the side view mirror and that she in turn could see me (as in the photo above). When I was maybe half a car-length behind it, still pedaling, she abruptly pulled out, no turn signal…nothing. Luckily I was riding the mule, which has good stopping power. I didn’t fall off the bike, nor did I hit her…though I did think I was going to hit the rear end of the car.
Now, I’m a pretty patient guy, but this really got my blood boiling…enough-is-enough already. It was such an obvious infraction that a person who was waiting at a bus stop yelled certain expletives at her that I’d rather not print here. As previously implied, I think everyone has their right to own and drive a vehicle…I just wish it were a law that they ride a bike once in a while to see what it’s like amongst the big metal boxes.
Anyhow, just felt the need to get this off my chest. Thanks for letting me vent.
Lan Yin "Eiko" Tsai: an inspiration
This is an inspiring story. For the past 26 years Lan Yin “Eiko” Tsai has been biking 150 miles to benefit MS research…and she does it on an old single speed while wearing heels and a dress. With all my rants and raves about the usefulness and importance of a bicycle, and by discourses on my aches and pains (being a middle aged guy on a bike), I have never ridden 150 miles at one time…she’s been doing it for 26 years, and was 10 years older than I am now when she started!
“I always try to tell people, whatever you can do, keep doing it, keep doing it,” she says. “And that’s why I do MS. When I start something, I don’t want to just quit.” These words could be applied to many things in life, no doubt.
To read the entire story, click here.
Urban Simplicty 