Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Get on Your Bike and Ride
Bikes are on the rise around the world, according to a recent article on OneWorld.net. (I should know — I edited it.)
Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 — more than double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million). Bike production took off in the 1970s, and after a brief dip, has been soaring since 2001.
So, why don’t you hop on and get with the cool kids. It saves gas, which saves money and reduces your CO2 emissions. It’s healthy for the body and, frankly, for the mental state too — especially if you’re like me and you spend too much time in an office chair each day.
According to the League of American Bicyclists (via Co-Op America), 40% of Americans’ car trips are 2 miles or less. On any nice day, that can easily be done by bike. I’ve just put a rack and saddle bags on my bike. Now I can ride to the coffee shop, supermarket, and video rental store.
And if you’re really into the idea, think about converting to a “human-electric hybrid” bike. It’s really not that crazy an idea — I saw one parked outside my supermarket in Denver the other day.
In case you’re interested, here’s a little more on the state of bicycle riding and bicycling policy in the United States, from that same OneWorld.net article:
The United States lags far behind this emerging trend, with less than 1 percent of workers commuting by bicycle. Overall, bike ridership has dropped by 32 percent since the early 1990s.
But, [the Earth Policy Institute report] notes, there are positive signs as well: “Aided by $900 million a year in federal funding for promotion of biking and walking for 2005 to 2009, the installation of bicycle facilities — including parking, bike-friendly roads, and designated lanes — is proceeding at a record pace” in the United States.
Several large cities, including New York, plan to double bike and pedestrian routes by 2030. Washington, DC is set to begin a bike-sharing program like that in Paris, and even hilly San Francisco is considering a similar program, according to the Worldwatch Institute, and environmental think tank.
Bicycle advocacy groups are expanding, and a “Complete Streets” movement has blossomed in recent years, bringing together a broad coalition of citizen and environmental groups demanding more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly roads. Six states and more than 50 cities, counties, and metro regions have now enacted some form of Complete Streets legislation.
(Image © FrizzText [flickr])
on Monday, June 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 am:
Hi. Please join the Bicycle to Work! LinkedIn networking group. Members pledge that they will try to ride their bicycle to work or on an errand at least once a week. Although the benefits should be obvious, let me outline them here.
Right now people in the industrialized world are facing two very grave problems: obesity and a growing scarcity of oil. Compounding this problem is the new food shortage brought about, in part, by the conversion of food cropland to bio-fuel crop production. Most people feel powerless to help, but there is one thing that we can do. Ride our bicycles to work.
If everyone would agree to ride their bikes to work one day per week we could cut oil consumption by as much as 10-15%. No one would argue that riding a bike burns more calories than driving the car. Although popular politically right now, most bio-fuels consume more energy than they produce. We would be much better to eat those bio-crops then use our own energy to transport us around.
So spread the word. Make it a movement! Bicycle to work one day a week and do your part to cut back obesity and the overuse of oil and precious cropland.
Just go to my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylstevenson and you can click on the group to be included. While you are there, don’t forget to ask to link to my network of more than 9,000,000 like-minded professionals. I accept all invitations and look forward to meeting you.
Jeff
on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm:
check out ebikehub.com
the electricbicycle forum