In August, I moved into a high density apartment complex just 1.5 miles from my office and a five minute walk to a bus stop. One of the central advantages of the building's location was its access to alternative transportation modes. While I could park my car for "free" (the real cost is built into the lease), I was interested in keeping it parked as much as possible. Now, after nearly three months of experimentation, I'm ready to give up the bus, and the reasons are central to understanding the future of transit in the US.
Bicycle Commuting
Does Downtown Seattle Have Enough Bike Parking?
A study of bicycle amenities in Seattle concludes that most of the private office buildings downtown lack bike parking, and other amenities such as showers and bike pumps are almost nonexistent. Public bicycle parking downtown has a better showing.
Puget Sound Business Journal
Joyride: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet
Portland is known today as one of the nation's top bicycling cities, but it wasn't always thus. Mia Birk, the city's bicycle coordinator in the early 90s, explains how the city changed course to create an enviable bicycle infrastructure.
Bike Sharing Becomes Part of Transportation Picture
Erik Weber of non-profit EMBARQ argues that bike sharing systems combine the benefits of cycling and public transit and is a sustainable solution for cities.
TheCityFix
Increased Ridership Often Means Increased Safety for Cyclists
While bicycle ridership has been boosted by improvements to infrastructure, what is keeping cyclists safest may simply be more of their own kind on the road.
Grist
Bike Sharing Rolls Nationwide
2010 may become a tipping-point for bike-share programs with new pilots popping up in Denver, Boston and Minneapolis.
Marketplace Radio
Cycling: It's About Individualism?
In this op-ed, Verlyn Klinkenborg posits that cycling, at least on the Stanford campus, is more about asserting one's identity than anything else.
The New York Times
Cycling Safety for All
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Kaiser Permanente are teaming up to offer safety training, bike helmets, and lights to day laborers.
Daily News Los Angeles
Bike Commuting Surges in Portland, Oregon
Fueled by the city's investment in infrastructure, 6.4 percent of commuters in Portland, Oregon biked to work in 2008, an increase of nearly 60% over the previous year.
The Oregonian
Business Buys Bikes For Commuting Workers
A brewery in Ashland, Oregon decided that the best way to incentivize employees to commute differently was to buy them bikes. A 15-minute on-street parking space was removed and replaced with a large bicycle rack to accommodate the bicycles.
Mail Tribune
Beaterbikonomics: Owning (And Occasional Theft Of) A Bike Is Way Cheaper Than Transit
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 09:35
Pains of an imminent NYC transit fare hike and a recent article in the New York Times on bike theft/vandalism defeatism inspired me to validate the overwhelming perceived economic benefits of commuting by bike versus transit, despite the occasional theft. If frugal is the next big thing and green is the new black, then hop on a crappy old bike if you want to be hip.
Bailout Gives Tax Break to Bicycle Commuters
The $700 billion bailout bill includes federal tax benefits for people who commute by bike.
The San Francisco Chronicle
Milwaukee More Bike-Friendly than Residents Realize
One resident finds it surprisingly easy to live on Milwaukee's East Side without a car.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Bike Culture in Beijing
This video from the Wall St. Journal Online gives a first-hand look at the current bicycle culture in Beijing, and the variety of bike types available.
Wall St. Journal
Commuting By Bike (Spandex Not Required)
A Vancouver company is importing Dutch city bicycles, and the relaxed commuting lifestyle that goes with them.
The Vancouver Sun
Bike Warriors in L.A.
In many cities across the U.S., commuters are taking to their bikes as gas prices climb. But as the Wall St. Journal reports, it takes guts to bike in Los Angeles, where bike lanes and racks are a rarity.
Wall St. Journal
New York's Suburban Bicyclists
Whether for exercise, eco-consciousness or necessity, a growing number of suburban New York commuters are using two wheels instead of four.
The New York Times
Bike Buddies Turn Commute Into Workout
T.J. Kelly was finding it difficult to squeeze in exercise, and looking at his rising commute costs. A new co-worker helped him turn his commute into a workout.
Wall St. Journal
Simple Cycling Solutions
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 10:21
Now that the weather in Los
Angeles has gone from pleasant to perfect with the subtle advent of
spring, I've been spending more time risking my life atop my bicycle as
I wend my way to meetings and errands. As a faithful urbanist I have
little trouble convincing myself of cycling's merits, which, as former
California State Health Officer Dr. Richard Jackson likes to say, can
"improve your life span, lower your blood pressure, make you better
looking, improve your sex life, and save you money." Sounds good to
me.
