If you’re working in the transportation industry, you know there are basically two ways to contribute to the amazing shift in perspective going on in our country towards livable streets: Advocacy or Consultancy. On one hand, you can work with a non-profit organization or advocacy group to push the envelope and make a stir. This is the perceived over-the-top approach because the norm is so far away from where things could really be. For example, in a saner world, the Critical Mass bike rides that have long rubbed New York City Police the wrong way would not be necessary because thousands of bicyclists would already be respected and given appropriate space on city streets. But someone has to scream “Wake Up!” On the other hand, you can choose to work “from the inside
Bicycles
Car Culture Challenged by "Pedal Power"
This Canadian documentary explores the emerging revolution in human powered transportation [Video].
CBC
Bike Traffic Around America, in Pictures
Streetsblog asked readers from around the country to submit photos of bikes in action around the country. The result is a slide show that brings the nation's burgeoning bicycle culture to life.
Streetsblog
Partial Closure Planned on San Francisco's Market Street
San Francisco's notoriously congested Market Street will soon see a lighter load of traffic, as officials roll out a pilot project that will ban private vehicles from the roadway.
San Francisco Chronicle
Popular Cycling Cities See Pedal Prices Rise
A Freakonomics blogger has trouble finding an affordable bike in Portland, and looks into the reasons why.
The New York Times: Freakonomics Blog
Biking is New York's Fastest-Growing Mode of Transport
Bicycles are on the rise in New York City, where more and more people are making bikes a major part of their transportation diet. City officials say it's the fastest-growing mode of transport.
WCBS
The Planetizen News Brief - 8/13/09
4:20 minutes (3.98 MB)
Miami nixes form-based code, cities warm up to tent cities, and Boston tries to be better to bikers -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
Bike Design, 2029
Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman unveiled a prototype bicycle design he believes is 20 years ahead of its time. It includes an onboard computer, spokeless wheels and solar power.
The Daily Mail
The Perils of Bus Bike Racks
Since the Columbus Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) put bike racks on the front of their buses, so many people have forgotten and left their bikes on board that hundreds of bikes are piling up in the lost and found.
The Columbus Dispatch
San Francisco's 7-Bike Sharing System
The City of San Francisco has taken a babystep towards developing a citywide bike sharing system. The city recently hosted a bike sharing sampler, with 7 bikes being displayed and available for use at Golden Gate Park.
San Francisco Chronicle
Chattanooga Turns To Bicycles To Help Homeless
Bicycles are being collected and distributed to Chattanooga's homeless in an attempt to improve their quality of life.
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Bicycle Use Surpasses Car Use in Amsterdam
According to the latest numbers out of Amsterdam, residents are for the first time using bicycles for transport more often than they use their cars.
The Oregonian
Return of the Pedicab
The City of Los Angeles is writing a proposal to bring pedicabs back to the streets.
la.streetsblog.org
Montreal's Bike Sharing System Goes Public
Montreal has unveiled a new bike sharing program. Though similar to the Paris Velib system, Montreal's new program differs in that it is not operated by a private advertising company.
The New York Times
Look South!
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 16:56
A week ago I spent some time with Enrique Peñalosa, urban strategist and provocateur. North Americans don’t often look south for innovation, but Peñalosa made remarkable changes in the public environment as Mayor of the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Nearly impeached for his actions to push cars aside in favor of people, now he is invited to provoke and inspire others. “We have Environmental Impact Statements; why don’t we have Human Impact statements,” is a sampling from last week.
Embracing Free Bicycle Infrastructure
Building bicycle infrastructure is expensive. Finding it is free. This piece from Citiwire implores cities to rethink quiet streets as "bicycle boulevards".
Citiwire
Why San Francisco's Bike Sharing Plan Won't Work
This piece from Streetsblog San Francisco looks at the city's recently announced plans for a bike sharing program and why the 50-bike pilot is likely to fail.
Streetsblog San Francisco
Bikes in the World Today
This three-part series from the BBC looks at bicycles in the modern world -- from Paris to Uganda to India.
BBC
Retiming Streetlights for Bikes
SF Streetsblog looks at cities that have timed traffic lights on busy bike streets to best suit their pace, and argues that Valencia St. in San Francisco is a prime candidate for retiming. (VIDEO)
Streetsblog
The Return of the Cargo Trike
The New Amsterdam Project in Cambridge, Mass., recently debuted a fleet of pedal-powered cargo tricycles, aimed at clients who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Christian Science Monitor
