Cycle for Life

Here is a great video by WWF (not to be confused with the WWE). The WWF created the ad as a part of its campaign to promote cycling for the environment.

I try not to harp too much about the environmental benefits of bike riding because, for most Midwestern Americans there are other reasons to ride that are more compelling: convenience and health, to name just two. But you really can't ignore the environmental benefits from cycling, and cycling should be part of the larger conversation on how to survive in a world with finite resources.

Obviously, more bikes on the road mean fewer cars, which, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants that contribute to global warming and air pollution. Bike paths also leave a smaller footprint, so exchanging paths for road building reduces the amount of greenspace that is paved over with concrete. Increased greenspace has aesthetic benefits and directly changes current weather patterns, since massive amount of concrete heats up the air (creating heat islands).

But the environmental benefits from bicycles are not limited to reduced air pollution and emissions. Bicycling reduces noise pollution and light pollution. It also contributes to a sense of community because bicyclists must interact with their broader environment--and the people in it. They are not closed off, shut away in a car, windows rolled up, music blasting. They can't as readily be jerks to others. There is no (or at least less) anonymity.

Bicyclists also tend to be happier. They have reduced levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and increased levels of endorphins rolling around in their bodies from the exercise. They have been breathing fresh air and listening to the birds. They can think clearly from seeing trees and green space. 

Just imagine this world: people who are no longer depressed or suffering the ennui and exasperation that comes from everyday life, happily riding their bikes around cities with plenty of green space (trees, parks), interacting, talking, laughing with one another. The levels of ambient noise is greatly reduced, and, as a consequence, levels of stress.  Doesn't this sound like a pleasant place to live?

I'm not stuck in la-la land here. These places do exist. They exist in the Netherlands, in Denmark,  in Sweden and many other places. These are cities and countries where the people and their governments believe that it's important for people to exercise, to get fresh air, to enjoy reduced noise, light, and concrete pollution. It's important for people to interact with and trust their neighbors. And, yes, while all of this riding does help the "environment," it also helps all of us in countless other ways.

I applaud the WWF for promoting cycling for the benefit of the environment. I hope that we continue the conversation, including in our concept of "environment" everything around us.

Stop the Child Murder

Here is a great piece on how Dutch citizens were able to force their government to promote cycling: Stop the Child Murder.

In case you didn't know, the Netherlands has the highest cycling rate in the world. Around 30% of Dutch adults always ride their bike to work, and around 40% sometimes do. In fact, there are more bicycles in the Netherlands than there are people. And, in Amsterdam, more trips are made by bike than car.  Bicycle is a preferred method of travel.

But this wasn't always the case.  While cycling was popular before World War II, apparently the government--like governments worldwide--began to favor cars in infrastructure planning. As a consequence, but not a surprise, the number of deaths increased, including among children. Out of protest, the "Stop the Child Murder" group formed and advocated for policy and infrastructure changes that made bicycling safer, particularly for children.

This is another way of looking at advocacy for new and safer infrastructure, as the article points out. Instead of cyclists advocating for cyclists, maybe the solution is to advocate for safer travel for children.  American ideas of safety always go back to personal and individual choices--like wearing helmets--that are unproven or that make little difference.  We tend to react distastefully to ideas of government promotion of anything.  The fact remains, however, that the Netherlands and other European countries have much better health outcomes, lower rates of obesity, and higher levels of happiness than we do in the United States. 

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Christie on Pinterest

Wearing a helmet will not make a child safer, at least not as safe as providing a segregated lane or bike path will.  And until we begin to provide the infrastructure, parents will not feel safe sending their kids out on the roads to ride.  Perhaps it's time to reframe our arguments.

The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Bike Ride

This past Saturday, my family participated in the second (?) annual, Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Bike Ride, which the City of Bloomington hosted to encourage bicycle riding in all kinds of weather.  I need this encouragement because, even though I spend my free time trying to find inspiration through hardier souls, once the cold hits, I readily admit that I require an additional push to pull the bike out of the garage.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the weather was beautiful, and nearly perfect for a January day. The good weather produced a good turn-out. I know that I, for one, would have been hesitant to go out in colder or snowier conditions with my toddler. I can (and do!) work up a sweat, but the sedentary kid doesn't generate the heat. Nevertheless, the weather was great, and we had fun.

The ride brought forth a wide variety of riders--the sporty, gear-loving sort, young people, old people, hipsters, parrots, parents and children (including a couple of young kids on their own bikes).  In my snarky moments (which admittedly are many), I wonder if the lycra-clad "got" that their participation in lycra was a bit beside the point.  People who are sport-cyclists aren't the kind of riders the City needs to encourage. They are already out there (on evenings and weekends, but are they riding to work?).  We need more people who use the bicycle as a mode of transportation--and who ride in the same clothes they work in. But maybe they work in lycra?

All snark aside, I really do appreciate that so many lovers of the bike came out to ride. 

So, yeah, lots of riders. And lots of helmets, which means that I can't become a member of the cyclechic group of bike blogs.  But, to each his own, right? Who am I to comment on personal style, or the lack thereof?


The route was around seven miles, and took us East past the mall, then back through the Bryan Park neighborhood.  This is to say that we went up some nice hills. And I once again questioned my decision to ride a 3-speed, Dutch-style bike with a toddler on it (ehem, an extra 40 pounds).

Does a bike meant to ride on the flats of Northern Europe have any place in hilly South-Central Indiana? I ask myself this whenever I ride to the East side of town, but I inevitably come back to the answer yes for these reasons: 1) a Dutch/Danish-style bike is much nicer looking than a racing, touring, mountain, or hybrid bike (and if you don't have talent, you ought to have style); 2) Dutch-style bikes have nice fenders, chain guards, and, often, coat or skirt guards, which let you use a bicycle as a mode of transport; and 3) this style of bike allows you to sit upright, which is not good if you want to go fast, but is likely safer because it provides me more visibility to cars and more stability since the upright position has a center of gravity that is akin to walking. Quick movements are less likely to result in crashes, which is important when riding in my work clothes (or with my son on the bike). Plus, it's more comfortable.


In the end, I was huffing and puffing more than most, and sweating up a storm, in which case the breathable cycling gear would have come in handy.



I may have complained a bit about the hills, but the easterly-ride took me through an area I had yet to see: the bicycle underpass on Seventh Street! (see right; more about that later).


 After returning to City Hall, some of us rode on to Lennie's for brunch. Lennie's, a seriously bike-friendly business, offered 50% off for riders. Chicken and waffles and a persimmon ale hit the spot.

And on the way home, I was able to ride in the new bike lane on Third Street, and use the new bike box (Oh, I am so excited about this bike box, but more on this later, as well).
 

It was a great day, and I am already looking forward to next year.  Thanks to climate change, I expect the weather will be just as nice.

Bicycle Around the US: A Series

While the United States, as a whole, lags far behind Europe and Asia on building bicycle infrastructure and encouraging bicycling as an alternative transportation mode, more and more cities and states are making an effort. Of course, some places, like Portland, Oregon, have long encouraged bicycling. But it certainly isn't the only place. Even traditionally non-bicycling friendly places like, say, Indianapolis, are beginning to build paths and designated lanes.

In addition to writing about Bloomington's bicycle culture, I am going to start two new series here: one devoted to highlighting efforts from around the country to promote a bicycle culture or aid the growth of one that has already taken root, and a second focusing on laws and how they can be used to encourage or discourage this alternative form of transportation (the second one is of particular interest to me, given my legal background).

The first in this series is Memphis, Tennessee.  I have been to Memphis on several occasions, but it never once occurred to me to ride my bike. And I'm glad that I didn't because, according to the New York Times, until recently Memphis was the worst city in the country for bicycling. In 2008, it had only a mile and a half of bike lanes. Since 2009, Memphis has increased the number to 50 miles of designated (segregated) lanes, and it has a total of 160 miles of lanes (including shared) and paths. This is a HUGE growth. And it shows that when the political will is there, change can happen!

This is also great for the health of Memphis residents because the more they ride, the healthier they will be.  And the more that residents see others riding, the more they will be inspired to ride.  The more bikes on the road also mean fewer cars, which, in turn, means less pollution. It's a win for everyone.

Here is the article from the Times today. Enjoy and Happy Riding!

Parents & Kids (Take II)

Last year, I posted several photographs of parents and their children on bicycles. Their numbers seem to have doubled. Here are some parents, showing how to do it in style:

Some parents prefer the rear-style Cargo bike

which can be used as a stroller...


A very Euro front bike-seat.


The ultimate goal being, of course, to get them on their own bikes. That's how you propagate a bike culture.

But, if I ever have a kid, I'm getting one of these:

(photo from Christiania)

A Bike Culture

People in normal clothes, doing normal things... on their bikes.

Hauling oranges

Heading to yoga class


Going to work (or racing cars?)


Going out on a Saturday Night.

Why Bloominghagen?

What right-minded town wouldn't want to emulate Copenhagen? Here is a wonderful video to demonstrate why:




As part of my role as a commissioner on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission, I have advocated for segregated bike lanes and identifiable paths (including colored lanes) that run through intersections. These measures would drastically increase the safety of bicyclists because they would be separated from traffic and more visible when crossing intersections.

Wouldn't it be nice if Bloominghagen looked like this?


(Thanks to Mikael at Copenhagenize for his images, videos, and, well, leading the advocacy for this cause)

Props for Bloomington

Let there be no doubt: much can be done to improve Bloomington's bike-ability. But, in my criticism, it may seem as if I believe that Bloomington has done nothing to promote a bicycling and pedestrian friendly city. To the contrary, for a small town in Indiana, Bloomington has done much. To wit, the amazing B-Line trail.


This trail, which will eventually link to a Rails-to-Trail south of the city, is on what used to be part of the Monon rail line. After phase 1, the paved trail goes from 2nd street to 11th Street, which is straight through downtown Bloomington. The highlight of the trail is right outside City Hall, where, every weekend, people converge on the Farmer's Market.

I'll just say it: I love the B-Line. It is beautiful. It is easy. It is fast. And since it opened late last Spring, I have seen tons of people use it to walk to shops, the farmer's market, and restaurants. I can easily hop on from my neighborhood, and in about 5 minutes be at my office. From my office, I can quickly walk on the B-Line to Bloomingfoods for lunch or dinner provisions. With the B-line, my commute is fast and safe, not to mention scenic.

Here are some photographs of the trail.

Artwork on the B-Line.

My other half (on the bike) stopping for breakfast at Le Petit Cafe's walk-up window.

The Farmer's Market, on Saturday (above and below).

What Other Cities Do

Aside from a few select cities (Portland, OR, San Francisco, CA) in the United States, the idea of the bicycle as legitimate transport has not caught on. But this has not stopped even car-loving cities from trying to do something. On a recent (May) trip to St. Petersburg, Florida, I was completely shocked that this town, in an otherwise car-loving state, had put in segregated bike lanes. I adore segregated bike lanes. I wish Bloomington would create segregated bike lanes.

Isn't this beautiful? The bicyclists travel down this lovely tree-lined lane, completely safe from car traffic and opening doors.



In St. Pete's, the lane has traffic going in both directions. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it's better than nothing!



Here the lane crosses an intersection. You can see how bicycles are given a striped crosswalk, which helps bring bicyclists to the attention of motor-traffic. Bicyclists are given their own crossing light.




But, even with this great infrastructure, some still choose the "safer" sidewalk.

International Purple Peddalers

Yahoo and Flickr have combined forces to take bicycle shots worldwide. They sent purple bicycles with built in cameras to a handful of people around the world. The cameras automatically take photographs every 60 seconds, and those shots are sent via satellite to Flickr.

You can follow the exploits of everyone at the purple peddalers on yahoo's site.

Here's Copenhagen Cycling Chic's take on it.

Fun Stuff!

Parents and children

Bloomington parents enjoy taking rides with their children. Our bike culture is not as developed as certain Northern European countries, but we're getting there.


And this is the goal. I first saw this video on Copenhagenize. This is a typical morning in the Netherlands--parents dropping their kids off at school. As Copenhagenize says: normal people in normal clothes doing normal things on their bikes. Enjoy!

Commuting Through Bloomington Safely: Part II

The benefits of having citizens travel by bike instead of cars are fairly well known and include less traffic congestion, decreased pollution, and increased safety for pedestrians. Benefits also include a more vibrant and active city center and higher profits for businesses (as cyclists make better shoppers than drivers).

And though it is a laudable goal to "encourage" people to ride their bikes to work or the store or to shopping and shows, many people fear riding their bikes through traffic. So, in order to gain the benefits of bicycles, the city needs to take affirmative steps toward getting people on their bikes. The single most effective way to do this is to make riding safer. And the single most effective way to make riding safer is to get more bikes on the road. hmmm....

Clearly, something else must be done to increase safety. In a previous post (Part I), I explained what the city could do better to make cycling safer around town. The proposals included adding more bicycle lanes, segregating bicycle lanes from traffic, and avoiding the "disappearing bike lane" at stoplights.

Although Bloomington has much to be chastised for regarding a lack of safety infrastructure around town, bicycle safety cannot be put wholly in the hands of city officials. Commuting safely through Bloomington also requires smart bicycling, and obeying traffic laws. It may appear that an idiot bicyclist (and I'm just going to call a spade a spade here because I think they are idiots) who refuses to obey the rules of traffic puts only himself at risk, but--alas--such is not the case.

The benefit of traffic laws is their gift of predictability. In other words, you, as participant in traffic, generally understand that others will be following the same rules as you, and thus you can predict with some accuracy what other vehicles will do in any given situation. This allows you to anticipate events and react accordingly. Hence, if you, driver, pull up to a four-way intersection where other cars have already stopped, you realize that there is some order to which each car will leave the intersection. And, if you are driving down a one-lane road, you have a justified expectation that vehicles will not be careening toward you.

All of these rules guarantee a degree of safety for you and for others. And the same must hold true for bicyclists. No good is served when a cyclist determines to make his own traffic rules. Such actions confuse drivers, who have no way of predicting what a cyclist will do, and diminishes safety for other bicyclists.

A case in point: many bicyclists seem to think that those red octagonal signs that say STOP in big, white letters do not apply to them. So when cars arrive at intersections where bicycles have also arrived and where both are supposed to stop, drivers are not sure whether they should procced when they have the right of way or wait and see what the bicycle will do. This causes also sorts of madness and frustration for everyone.

The three main violations I see around town that wreak havoc on predictability (and car, bicycle, and pedestrian safety) are: (1) riding the wrong way on one-way streets; (2) running not only stop signs but also traffic lights; (3) and riding on the sidewalk.

One-Way Streets:

You, who feel so inclined, I think you are just big jerks. I don't think I need to spell out why this is dangerous and selfish.




And it is not dangerous only to the idiot riding the wrong way. You also put me in danger because I have to worry about my safety from cars AND from you. Explain to me, sir, how we are both to fit in this narrow lane going in opposite directions? (I can't even get a clear shot from this direction)

Running Red Lights

This might seem like not such a big deal, right? When the intersection is clear, why not just ride straight through?

Look, bicycles are not children's toys. They are vehicles. They are modes of transportation. And, as such, they must obey the rules of the road. This is not just an inclination or feeling that I have. It is the law (an unenforced law, but still). The only way to improve safety for cyclists is for cyclists to be respected as equals of other vehicles. And the only way for that to happen is if we respect the rules of the road.

Riding on Sidewalks

Aside from the short (and slow) sidewalk trips that are required to arrive at the bike rack, rides on sidewalks are no-nos. Roads are for bicycles; sidewalks are for pedestrians. Otherwise, it is just dangerous for both. Not to mention rude.


Not even trees in the middle of the sidewalk can stop these intrepid bikateers!

bike lane, schmike lane.


Look, I'm not a saint. I've broken my share of traffic laws both in a car and on a bicycle. But I endeavor to ride my bike as I drive my car--obeying laws as much as I can humanly withstand. My general rule, and perhaps this can be a rule for us all: ride your bike as you would drive your car. And if you drive your car through red lights, the wrong way down one-way streets, and on sidewalks, there's not much more I can say.

Blooming-pedi-cabs

This post on pedi-cabs at Copenhagenize made me wonder what was happening with the pedi-cab idea here in Bloomington. A couple of months ago, I read in Bloom Magazine (a wonderfully written and designed, though kind-of elitist, magazine on Bloomington) about a student at the University who wanted to start a pedi-cab company. He already had several workers signed up and was waiting on the necessary permits. Unfortunately, those never came.

The pedi-cab idea in Bloomington, like those in many other places, has stalled because--and this is my favorite part--the city doesn't know how to regulate open-air taxis.

I'm quite sad about this. I was so excited about the prospect of pedi-cabs. There are so many places downtown that I would like to go to that are just out of high-heel walking distance and not easily accessible by bicycle (as are few places). Or, rather, not easy to return home on bicycle after one too many beers.

The pedi-cab, for those not familiar with it, is like a rickshaw, but a little more upscale. These bike-taxis are used all over the world, including some cities in the United States. They are a great way to tour a city, and thus are popular with tourists. But pedicabs are also a viable transportation alternative in an age of high gas prices and concern about the environment. Regular taxis, as you may realize, leave a huge carbon footprint.

As the hip downtown area of Bloomington expands from the historical few blocks surrounding the Courthouse, easy transportation to and from restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries will grow in importance. Bicycles present a wonderful alternative to the car, but, for those who would like someone else to do the work, pedicabs seem like the next best option.

Here's hoping that the City Council will get its act together and encourage this blooming-bike-taxi business to grow!

Saturday: Farmer's Market

One of the greatest things about Bloomington, if not the greatest, is its Saturday Farmer's Market. The Market lasts from the first weekend in April until the end of November (outside), then picks up again (inside) from the end of January until the end of March.

The market is the largest in the state, and it is an event. Each week vendors from around the area (some traveling upwards of 2 hours to sell their products) set up shop and offer a wide range of food from grassfed meats, to baked goods, to plants, to every kind of seasonal vegetable you can imagine. The key is that the seller has to have grown/produced the product himself, thus, the food is most definitely local and seasonal. We even are lucky enough to have cheeses from the famous Capriole farm.

Every Saturday also offers a different musical event (with street musicians interspersed throughout the market). The market is the place to see and be seen (and to get delicious food that you can't get anywhere else. California tomatoes just can't compare). It is also a good place to see people on bikes.

Heading to the market. Ready to load up the backpack.

People of all ages spend their Saturday mornings at the market. Young college students come by and see their friends; parents bring their children; and yuppies and elderly folk also shop the stalls. By 10 o'clock, it can be difficult to navigate the large crowds.

Most people still head to the market by car, but the number of bicycles seems to increase from week to week.
These friends were heading to the market, riding in a row, together.

Girl in dress, leaving the market.

The market is not the place to see stylish people. The style of dress is more what I would call "farmer's market casual," meaning that most people look as if they picked up whatever was last dropped on their floors. Anyone dressed any nicer certainly warrants stares.

What you do see at the market are the increasingly common back-cargo hold for children. This seems to be the tote of choice for biking-parents with children:

My other favorite sight--and perhaps one of the most convenient ways to haul the large bags of produce--is the Milk Crate. An unusually large number of bicyclists put these crates on the backs of their bikes to increase the cargo-load capacity of their bicycles (we are not quite at the level of Copenhagen and Amsterdam where people have real cargo-bikes). You can see one example above. Here are some more:

Friday Round Up

Heading home on a Friday after picking up some provisions (sweet bike).





Dads and children enjoying leisurely rides in the evening.

Bike-racer style


Enjoying Friday afternoon downtown.

Posing for the crazy girl with a camera


Evening commute.