Well, the Smithsonian archives aren’t really very accessible on short notice, and the California Bicycling Museum and U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame is 3,000 miles away in Davis. David Herlihy’s go-to book on history of the bicycle always has good leads and is beautifully produced — but David’s history is about the bike and not so much about where the wheel took us after the glory years of the 1890′s.
The role of the League in the creation of the Good Roads Movement and everything that followed from that is excellently documented by Richard Weingroff and fellow authors at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), of all places. I say “of all places,” but, of course, the FHWA most definitely traces it’s own existence directly back to the League of American Wheelmen and their lobbying for the creation of an Office of Road Inquiry in 1892. Colonel Albert Pope was one of the founders of the LAW and a force behind the creation of the Good Roads Movement. General Roy Stone took the idea and ran with it, including pitching the idea of The National Road, and being one of the founding members of the Automobile Club of America (which went on to be a founding member of the American Automobile Association).
The League’s influential past is more than matched on the other side of the Atlantic by the UK’s Cyclists Touring Club (CTC). Those parallels are about to get a thorough airing thanks to the extraordinary work and creativity of Carlton Reid — and the support of a lot of individuals who responded to a kickstarter campaign to fund publication of Reid’s “Roads Were Not Built for Cars.” In fact, interest was so high that the initial fundraising goal was reached in 20 hours and attracted the attention of Kickstarter staff themselves.
The League’s story is entertainingly told by Reid (and he actually did take the time and planned ahead to visit the Smithsonian!), and there are plenty of relevant Women’s History Month stories in there as well. Check it out…
Andy Clarke League President
Andy Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director. Before joining the League in February 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.
Well, it’s “gold” as far as we are concerned over here at the League.
The Washington, D.C.-based bike commuter and blogger late last year dug up his great-grandfather’s League of American Wheelmen membership certificate, which was issued in 1895. McEntee found the century-old document, which bears the League’s former namesake, stashed away in his parent’s home amid family trees, funeral holy cards and cemetery plot deeds.
“Clearly, it was of some importance if my grandfather kept it for all of those years prior to leaving it to my own parents,” McEntee told us. “…I had no idea that my family biking history extended back to before the 20th century!”
McEntee (pictured) says he knows very little about his great-grandfather, John J. McEntee. When he received his League of American Wheelmen certification, he was living in Seaside, N.Y., in Queens. McEntee said his great-grandfather passed away when his grandfather was young, so his family isn’t sure what profession he held or how he became involved with the League. A guess? Perhaps “he was just swept up in its popularity at the time,” McEntee said.
And he’s right about the popularity of bicycling: By the turn of the century, the League had more than 100,000 members across the country. Some members at the time included the Wright brothers, John D. Rockefeller and Diamond Jim Brady. (Read more about the League’s history here.)
Ironically enough, McEntee said, biking has never been a major part of the family history.
“I learned to bike as a kid, but it was almost incidental amongst my childhood activities,” he said. “I grew up in a suburban bedroom community in Connecticut and spent more time being driven to soccer practice than riding around the neighborhood until I took up biking as an adult as a healthy, easy and cheap way to get to work.”
McEntee has been riding his bike to work for the last five years, including a stint in Denver, Colo., and he’s been bike commuting year-round for the past three.
“Prior to starting bike commuting, I hadn’t really ridden a bike since childhood,” he said.
His blog, Tales from the Sharrows, details the adventures of daily bicycle commuting. His Twitter feed, which boasts more than 1,000 followers and first tipped us off to the vintage League certificate, hits on issues related to biking in the nation’s capital.
McEntee has since framed his great-granfather’s certificate, an homage to his bicycling heritage.
“In many ways, I find it somehow fitting that the rediscovery of the certificate parallels my own redisovery of bicycling,” he said.
Ms. Murphy joined the League in January 2013. She previously worked as a reporter covering the Justice Department. Liz has journalism and women's studies degrees from Penn State University. She commutes to work on her bright red bike daily.
After the Nobel Peace Prize, the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business designation is one of world’s most sought-after commendations.
Clearly, allowing all staff to ride to work if they want to is an important step. Last week, President Barack Obama said his new Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, “probably isn’t allowed” to continue commuting to work on his bike. With your help, we’ve collected dozens of great reasons to #letdenisride. But with a health-conscious Commander in Chief in the Oval Office, we couldn’t help but dream of the day that President Obama adds a BFB award next to that Nobel Peace prize.
Here are a few more ideas to help the White House join the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency as a League Bicycle Friendly Business.
1) Secure bike parking is great way to encourage riding. BFBs often find that bike racks in prominent locations are a great way to start a conversation about their commitment to bicycling.
2) Convenient shower access is a great way to make bike commuting easier on both commuters and their co-workers.
3) We consider the ways businesses encourage cycling when deciding on BFB awards. We’re always impressed when workplaces print up custom cycling jerseys for their key staff.
4) While biking isn’t always going to be the best choice for a particular trip, the top BFBs make it possible to combine biking with other forms of transport.
5) Even with everything they do to promote cycling throughout the year, Bicycle Friendly Businesses always find a way to step it up on Bike to Work Day.
The first step is easy, Mr. President. Click here to download the BFB scorecard. #letdenisride and build a bike lane to the 21st century!
Thanks to my Photoshop genius colleague Katie Omberg and Primal for their help envisioning a Bicycle Friendly White House.
Scott Williams League Director of Membership
Williams joined the League in April 2010. For the four years prior, he worked providing technology consulting and solutions to nonprofit organizations with Community IT Innovators.
Maybe it was love at first sight — a wayward glance on a crowded street. Maybe you met through a friend or a family member and the first date was awkward and off-balance. Maybe, it didn’t seem like the right fit, but, over the years, the ride took you places you never imagined.
Yeah, our relationships are different, but one way or another, we all fall in love with our bicycles — and the way they make us feel. Taliah Lempert captures those sentiments on canvas.
The New York City-based artist is known widely in the cycling community for her bicycle paintings, that showcase the spirit and personality of the diverse bikes that bring us such joy and utility.
How did she fall in love with cycling… and marry that passion to painting? Read my interview with Taliah below — and hear more of her story when she joins us at the National Women’s Bicycling Forum on March 4.
What inspired you to start riding?
Bikes were a big part of family life growing up, more as recreation than transportation. We rode a lot, but I didn’t bring a bike with me when I left home for college and I didn’t think about it much for a long while. Years after I finished school and moved to New York, I bought a bike on a whim — it just caught my eye while I was walking down the street. I immediately got on and rode across the Brooklyn Bridge to work in Manhattan and have been commuting by bike ever since. I think that was 1996 or 1997.
What’s your bike style — commuting, racing, long leisurely rides on the weekend…?
I got all those kinds of style. My bike is my transportation, with rare exception. I do a lot of commuting. Sometimes I ride my fast street bike and it’s pretty racy. A lot of times, I’ll ride a more sensible bike that has fenders and racks. My racing days may be over, but I was a regular at Kissena track from 1999 to 2007. I’m usually up for a long ride on the weekend or days off, either headed up the Hudson, to Prospect Park or out to the Rockaways.
What’s your artistic background — how and when did you get into painting? Was bicycling your first creative muse or later inspiration?
I got into painting when I was about 16. It too was kind of a whim. I took an art class as an elective in high school and then, suddenly, one day I knew it was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a painter. I’ve never thought twice about it. Before bicycles I painted groups of people and still life mostly. I still keep a sketch book and work regularly from the figure, make pictures of my family and draw still lives. My painting, printmaking and the work in my studio is all bicycles.
How did bicycling and art first intersect for you? Was there a specific bike that was your first love?
The bike that really got it started was a big Schwinn cruiser called the Klunker 5. It was a bike that Schwinn marketed as an early mountain bike. It was tremendous. Huge. Riding it through the city was wonderful. I was captivated. When I’d return to my bike, locked to a pole, it looked so great, I could see the painting already.
How have your bicycle paintings evolved over the years?
When I look back at my work, it’s like a journal: Different bikes and friends’ bikes through the years. The drawing has gotten more accurate and I spend longer on each piece. I’ve gone through periods where I focus on different aspects, be it in painting or about the bike.
What do you hope to convey in your paintings?
I want to convey the beauty in people and bikes. I love how cycling is such an uplifting thing, that we harness our own energy to move forward. It’s a powerful symbol, not just for riding a bike but for living well. I love that each bike I paint is unique and exists in its current form because of a specific person — and that it’s also a universal icon.
It must be such a joy to be able to make a living doing what you love — a dream for so many of us. What challenges have you overcome in making ends meet by bringing your passion to life?
I feel very lucky and happy that my painting supports me. Cycling, and especially the time I spent at the track, inspired the way I do business. To come up with a plan and go with it, with conviction. To define my faults and work to overcome them. Practicing to improve both painting and business. Making a living from my work didn’t happen immediately. I had been painting for about 15 years and painting pictures of bicycles for about three before I quit my day job (which was decorative painting and assorted odd jobs).
What advice would you have for other small women or bike-oriented artisans?
Be relentless. Keep trying. Make it happen.
If you had to choose to have just one bicycle painting in your home, which would it be?
The one I’m working on.
What are you painting right now?
I’m about to start a commission. It’s a mid-1980’s mountain bike. It was the bike that introduced cycling to the guy who owns it. He bought it new and rode it on trails and for transportation. He took it on a trip to Italy and rode it up mountains. It’s not his only bike, or his fanciest one, but it’s the one that started it.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
What lies at the intersection of transportation and technology? In a word: TransportationCamp.
Put on by OpenPlans, I attended the most recent event last weekend in Washington, D.C., which brought together professionals, advocates and nerds like me who gladly give up their Saturday to delve into wonky discussions about urban transportation. Of course, balancing the wonk was the unconference structure: An interactive and spontaneous forum in which each attendee is empowered to propose and lead a session on a topic of their interest.
Not surprisingly, bicycles featured prominently into the lively and informative discussions.
There was a lot of discussion about the need for data on actual trips to see where bicyclists ride and how current infrastructure affects route choice. Much of the conversation focused on whether data obtained by a smartphone app would be representative of average cyclists and how equity could be maintained in planning if our data is skewed towards engaged cycling enthusiasts likely to discover and use the app. Many outreach methods were brainstormed and everyone agreed that the data will be valuable, especially as the app’s functionality is expanded.
In the next session I learned about the difficulties that were faced by transit advocates in Atlanta while campaigning for a referendum. Equity issues were again a prominent part of the discussion and I was amazed by the complexities that face advocates as they deal with local and state governments. The strong showing from Atlanta-based groups was great to see, considering the setback of their failed referendum — and is a good sign for the upcoming TransportationCamp South on February 9th.
After lunch I saw great visualizations of Capital Bikeshare data from MV Jantzen (see below) and innovative hardware from Social Bicycles. Capital Bikeshare is one of the few bikeshare systems that provides data to the public on a regular basis. It was amazing to see the different ways Jantzen worked with the data to make it meaningful and interesting. Seeing the data visually made me appreciate the work to ensure bikes are available throughout the system and where people need them.
My day ended with a discussion of how we communicate about funding for transportation projects. Much of the discussion centered on historical distrust for transportation funding and a lack of knowledge amongst the general population about how much they pay for transportation — and what they get as a result. Developing better data and transparency were key tools that came up repeatedly in developing better messaging about transportation funding and engaging public ownership of our transportation network.
Overall, I had a great time interacting with members of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Toole Design Group, and other organizations that believe that bicycles are an essential part of our transportation system. The unconference format not only encouraged participation, but made me feel at ease while attending my first transportation conference and it was great to see the energy of so many people directed at important transportation problems. For those that are interested in learning more about TransportationCamp and the things that were discussed visit: http://transportationcamp.org/.
Ken McLeod Legal Specialist, Advocacy Advance
Ken joined the League in 2012 after graduating from William & Mary School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Virginia. During law school he worked for a private law firm in Cambodia and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Prior to that, Ken worked at a law firm in Orange County and a legal services provider in Seattle. He graduated from Pomona College in 2007 with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He began using his bike regularly after college and has been car-free since February 2012.
Riding my bike gives me a lot of time to think. I sometimes think about what is to come in the day, what happened yesterday, what I need to do in the coming weeks. But, ironically, most often my mind wanders to remembering other times on my bike.
One of the most cherished memories I have on my bike is a trip I did while working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal after graduating from college. It was a time of great freedom, fun, and growth. My bike was my primary mode of transportation during these years and so many times my mind drifts back to these years and the many bike trips I had throughout the beautiful country. One trip often comes to mind first.
That’s me on the right
This epic bike trip was over a decade ago but I still remember it quite clearly — over the mountains of Kedegou, Senegal across the border into Maliville, Guinea and into the heart of West Africa. I traveled with two of my friends, also in Peace Corps at the time, and had five awesome, grueling, bloody, and happiest days of pedaling in my life. A friend once told me “your 20s are for yourself, live them as fully as possible.” I was living these days fully, with plenty to spill over.
My friends and I had mapped our route with the resources we had; no computer at our fingertips only a map in a pocket and the confidence of encountering cow herders and other people along the way to point us in the right direction. We knew there would be Pulaar-speaking villages at which to stop and seek shelter. By this time I was two years into my service and had a decent handle on the prevalent West African language along with the culture, customs and traditions. Greetings are an important part of any culture, but even more so in the slower paced life of rural Sub-Saharan Africa.
If you know how to arrive in peace and are considerate enough to ask about one’s health, family, work, children, and other aspects, you are a friend and will be treated as family. After a proper greeting and being accepted into a home, the bags of Koala nuts we carried were enough to express our gratitude to our unexpecting hosts. In exchange we would be given dinner, water, a bed to sleep, and water to bath. This made our travels very light. Three young women on bikes – we had it covered.
We were all very comfortable on our Trek 820s – mountain bikes that we were each issued at the start of our service. That bike was a critical component of the agriculture work I did as a Seed Extension Agent. I remember it like a cozy pair of slippers. I had worn it on so many trips that I could hop on and immediately feel at home. It was my transportation to the local market, my connection to socialize with friends, and it was my easiest way to collect mail. My bike transported me not only to destinations but to mental well-being. I had spent the previous two years putting more miles on that bike than any other I’d had before. This was my first real connection to cycling — my first true love of a bike.
One of the things I like most about riding my bike is the connections it creates. When pedaling I become more connected with nature, more connected with the weather, and more connected to the people I encounter. Unfortunately, during this trip I also became connected with swarms of Tsetse flies (think horse flies). I would end a day with bloody wrists due to those miserable pests. Why they chose to just nibble at my wrists, I’ll never know. Maybe it was the shallow veins or the stillness of my wrists while I peddled. Riding over loose gravel, tall grass, and often time large boulders, my pace didn’t allow me out-race these blood-thirsty flies. We hardly stopped until the cooler hours of the afternoon because of the painful bites. Shade would sometimes be enough to elude them, but not often enough.
We stopped and chatted with women carrying water from the streams or wells and were always able to stay hydrated in the hot African sun by simply asking to fill our Nalgene bottles. We made it to Maliville, Guinea, tired but energized that we traveled the 60 kilometers over mountains, across rivers and through fields to make it. Three women off the beaten path, hundreds of miles from a true road, with more freedom on a bike than any other mode of transport could have provided.
While I know I still have a lot of years on my bike, I don’t think I will ever again have the freedom to experience such an adventure again. I partly live for others now — my kids, my husband — and the reality of jumping on a bike and heading off into an unknown like I did in my 20s is difficult to imagine. I’d like to think I’ll have the opportunity again. But if not, I am confident knowing that if such an adventure happens only once in a lifetime, I lived it to the fullest when I could.
Alison Dewey League Program Manager, BFB & BFU
Dewey joined the League in 2008. For four years prior to that, Dewey worked for Massachusetts- based Landry’s Bicycles and served on the board of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Dewey has a MA in International Relations and Communications from Boston University and is a graduate of St. Olaf College. She spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.
I love football. And, as a University of Florida alum, I’m always happy to see the SEC setting the standard this time of year. But, inspired by a recent USA Today cover story, I took a timeout from the bowl game action and did a quick analysis of where the League’s Bicycle Friendly Universities stack up by conference. It’s not a headline you’re likely to see in the Sports section but, when it comes to bike-friendliness, the Big West dominates.
While the Big Ten conference still leads in total number of awarded schools at eight, the conference is also the standout in quality, with four California universities at the Silver or Gold award level: UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara (Gold), UC Irvine and CSU Long Beach (Silver). The University of California at Davis has been prioritizing bicycling and walking since the 1960s (documented in 1966 by Ansel Adams). For example, on the core of the UC Davis campus is closed to auto traffic, leaving beautifully open boulevards for people bicycling and walking to class. When I visited the university a few years back, I was absolutely blown away by the great bicycling culture and accommodations, like bicycle roundabouts filled with people daily. A survey conducted by the university showed that 39% of those traveling to campus on an average weekday do so by bike (45% of students and 22% of faculty and staff).
UC Davis in action. Photo credit: UC Davis
Like UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara has been working hard at this since the 1960s and has built a great campus for getting around by bike and foot (and skateboard!). UCSB is said to have the highest percentage of human-powered commuters of any suburban national university in the U.S. Policies like the Parking Permit Ban, for those living within two miles of campus, the excellent cycling network and convenient bike parking make going by bike on campus the easiest option.
UC Santa Barbara – picking up recycling by bicycle. Photo: UCSB
It has to also be noted that the PAC-12 is a close second with the only Platinum-level BFU, Stanford, and six other universities across the West. Stanford is a standout for its biking network, educational outreach and promotion of cycling on campus for students, faculty and staff. The return on investment is clear with the university’s bike commuter data showing 22% of people bike commuting and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey showing a five-year average bike commuter rate of 40% between 2005-2010. Impressive stuff!
And it all goes to show what college football has proved for decades: Investment pays off. As the USA Today story explained, the SEC’s domination on the green is no surprise: “(It’s) the commitment they’ve made, financial support-wise, to be one of the best, if not the best,” said coach Chris Ault, whose Nevada team plays in the Mountain West. “To the Southern teams, football is just a different animal than most places in the country. Not that it isn’t important in all other places, but down there it truly is a way of life.”
It’s great to see universities across the country stepping up and making cycling a way of life, too! Read more about the BFU program here.
Bill Nesper League Vice President of Programs
Nesper directs the Bicycle Friendly America Program, which includes the Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly University and Bicycle Friendly Business recognition programs. Bill first joined the League as a Membership Assistant in 2002 and moved in 2005 to manage the League education programs and Bicycle Friendly Community Program.
This holiday season, the League wanted to give back to our community here in the nation’s capital. So before our office festivities on Monday, we packed our panniers, messenger bags and baskets full of necessities for Miriam’s Kitchen, a resource for the homeless in Washington, D.C.
On our way to Miriam’s Kitchen
When we got to Miriam’s Kitchen, I went into their office to let them know we were there to drop off our donation.
“Did you drive here?” the receptionist asked.
“Of course, not! We’re the League of American Bicyclists!” I replied.
When she came out, she was shocked to see how much you can transport with some friends and some bicycles!
We rode down into their garage to the storage area, and unloaded all the goodies. Biking back to the office, about 30lbs lighter, I thought: “Biking around town with friends is always fun, but it’s even better when you’re doing it for a good cause!”
Are you helping to spread holiday cheer on your bike? Tell us about it in the comments!
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
Help the League this month by simply doing what you love: Riding your bike!
In December, the League is the beneficiary of CLIF Bar’s 2 Mile Challenge, an online initiative to get folks to leave their cars in the driveway and use their bikes, instead.
Every time you log a trip, the League gets $2 toward a possible $10,000 grant. Our goal is 5,000 trips and, thanks to your pedal power, we’re already more than halfway there!
As of last night we had racked up:
3,535 trips logged
29,580 miles traveled
27,213 pounds of carbon dioxide saved
2,958 hours spent outdoors
the equivalent of 2 cars taken off the roads for a full year
Give a gift to the League this season by helping us take advantage of this great opportunity from CLIF Bar. Help us get to the $10,000 finish line; sign up for the Challenge today!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
You know the rules of the road when you’re out riding. Maybe you even teach bike skills as a League Cycling Instructor. But do you know all the bicycling laws in your state?
Since coming to the League in August, I’ve reviewed more than 2,000 laws related to bicycling. From planning and taxation to funding and traffic, I dusted off and dug in to statutes and administrative codes in each and every state. By researching those primary sources and tapping into great resources compiled by bicycling organizations and agencies, I was able to pull together a comprehensive database of laws. Click here to view bike laws in your state.
So, while we’re all fans of the Bikeyface cartoon, I was particularly excited to see a recent post that does a great job of giving context to traffic laws.
Bicycles are generally vehicles that travel at a lower speed than other traffic and are required to ride as far to the right of the road as practicable. This cartoon illustrates some of the many exceptions to this general requirement:
40 states + Washington, D.C. have an exception for a left turn
49 states + D.C. have an exception for passing
36 states have an exception for avoiding obstacles, hazards or other road conditions (such as the door zone, mythical sea monsters, and slightly less than grand canyons)
Bike lanes can complicate the rules for sharing the road. Bicycles are generally not required to use bike lanes where they are provided and there are usually limitations when they are required. Only eight states require bicyclists to use bike lanes:
3 of those states do not allow any exceptions to the rule
4 of those states allow exceptions for all of the reasons mentioned above
1 state only allows an exception to avoid hazards
Cars generally must not stop in roadways and often are specifically prohibited from parking on the roadway side of parked vehicles or parking in a bicycle lane.
49 states + D.C. have a law that prohibits stopping in roadways
The one state that lacks a statewide law enables local jurisdictions to make such laws
All states have some version of a safe passing law, requiring bicycles to be passed at a safe distance. In 21 states, a minimum distance of three feet is defined to be at least presumptively safe. Just because a state does not define a minimum safe passing distance does not change what is safe and all road users should share the road accordingly.
In addition to the general rule to ride right and the exceptions mentioned in the previous cartoon, in 28 states a bicyclist can use the full lane when the lane is too narrow to accommodate both a car and a bicycle. Regardless of whether a bicyclist is entitled to take the lane a car will still be governed by a safe passing law, preventing passes on narrow lanes as shown above.
These are great cartoons for spreading awareness about the traffic laws that affect bicyclists and drivers of motor vehicles. For better or worse, there is a great variety amongst states in the laws that govern this relationship as both parties attempt to share the road, which can lead to confusion and conflict. Greater awareness of the law by both parties should alleviate some of those issues and creative presentations like Bikeyface are shedding light on what can be a confusing issue.
Ken McLeod Legal Specialist, Advocacy Advance
Ken joined the League in 2012 after graduating from William & Mary School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Virginia. During law school he worked for a private law firm in Cambodia and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Prior to that, Ken worked at a law firm in Orange County and a legal services provider in Seattle. He graduated from Pomona College in 2007 with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He began using his bike regularly after college and has been car-free since February 2012.
Whether you bomb down hills on a sleek road bike or cruise to work on a sturdy Dutch commuter, all stripes of cyclists can probably all agree: The bike is simply one of the most brilliant inventions of the past 150 years. And today is the birthday of the man who created the modern cloth from which all bikes are cut.
In 1885, John Kemp Starley invented the “Rover Safety Bicycle,” debuting a revolutionary ride that had two similar-sized wheels. In contrast to the previous high wheeler designs, the Rover was far more stable, spreading quickly from England to the rest of the world. Not only did it kickstart a boom in bicycling, but, even 120 years later, we’re all still riding bikes that are based on the Rover.
“How can you begin to capture and describe the impact of the man who’s inventive genius resulted in a product that is effectively the same today as it was more than a century and a quarter ago,” League president Andy Clarke says. “Sure, some of the materials used to build bikes have changed, but JK Starley could walk into a bike shop today and ride away on a very familiar machine! That’s a pretty remarkable testimonial to the enduring utility and value of the humble — yet utterly revolutionary — ‘safety’ bicycle.”
The Bicycle Association of Great Britain is leading today’s celebrations; click here to read all about Starley and the impact of the Rover.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
One of the reasons CLIF Bar created the 2 Mile Challenge was to highlight a particularly interesting trend in American transportation: While 40 percent of trips in the U.S. are two miles or more than 90 percent of those trips are taken by car. For short distances like that, why drive when you can ride?
The aim of the aptly named 2 Mile Challenge is to encourage folks to leave their cars at home and give biking a try.
Here at the League, we all ride for many reasons: to get to work, to shuttle kids to school, to celebrate happy hour at our favorite dive bar. And many of our most frequent — and even favorite — trips are just two miles or less, too.
For me, one of the most important trips of the day is to my yoga studio — which just happens to be 0.7 miles from the office. Thanks to my bike, I can leave my desk at 12:25 p.m. and be on my mat for a lunchtime class at 12:30. I asked my fellow League staffers about their favorite, short trips and they had some great responses…
Andy Clarke: Riding up to Capitol Hill and back — not because of the destination, but the inspirational views and buildings you see along the way. Pedaling along Pennsylvania Avenue gives one of the most stunning views of the Capitol. Riding back along the National Mall, toward the Washington Monument, past the Smithsonian museums, is just awesome, especially on a lovely spring or fall evening. The monumental core of Washington D.C. is an international treasure best seen from the seat of bicycle!
Elizabeth Kiker: The ride to Union Station is a pleasure because I ride on the big, lovely, strong-feeling Capitol Bikeshare bikes, and it’s so much faster than walking, Metro-ing, or cabbing.
Nicole Wynands: My favorite 2 mile trip is to the farmers market at Lake Anne in Reston every Saturday morning during the warm months to pick up fresh produce and flowers.
Katie Omberg: The .9 mile ride from my house to the Red Derby, my favorite dive bar in D.C. Monday is half-price burger night, and riding there saves valuable eating time.
Caron Whitaker: Biking to Eastern Market and surrounding restaurants and shops. There are three bike share stations nearby so its a great way to introduce guests to the neighborhood.
Ken McLeod: The 1.1 mile trip to Target and Giant – thanks to my bike, it’s easy to run errands without a car.
Darren Flusche: My favorite short trip is from my apartment in Capitol Hill to anywhere in Northwest D.C. The trip takes me down East Capitol Street, one of the most beautiful streets in the city, with broad, well-designed bike lanes, bicycle-friendly traffic light signal timing — and a perfect view of the U.S. Capitol the whole way. After, I ride right past the Capitol, I connect to the centerline buffered bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, which take me all the way to the White House, where I wave to the president and continue on my way to points north and west. For a politics nerd like me, it’s a pretty tough ride to beat.
Alison Dewey: My 1.5 mile ride to and home from the metro saves me $1300 a year in parking costs. It also gets me home a lot quicker than a car!
Hamzat Sani: I look forward to the 1.2 mile ride to my old high school to watch my sister’s basketball games from my parent’s place.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Each day, my commute to work takes me down the National Mall and through the ellipse in front of the White House (yeah, I can’t complain). Lo and behold, this morning there was a group of carolers clad in Dickensian costumes at the wrought iron gates, harmonizing their dawn rendition of Deck the Halls.
Yep, it’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays.
And thanks to Rebecca Brookson, you can deck your halls with a bright little gift that benefits the League.
Brookson is the founder of Bicyclette, a company that features a collection of bikes, apparel and home decor geared toward “discerning, stylish women” who love to ride. This season, Brookson and the artisans at MAME Soy Candles created a signature candle — the Path Less Traveled — and all the proceeds will benefit the League.
“As I started to explore the idea of launching my own business, there were two things that were a requirement for me,” Brookson says. “First, it must make a positive impact and, second, I needed to spotlight and donate to an organization that tied in with the mission of my company. Bicyclette was born out of a desire to encourage more women to just have fun and get out and ride – and it was a natural fit to turn to the League as the organization I wanted to support.”
“The women I talk to (as well as mysefl!) love riding a bike — but have safety concerns,” she adds. “They want more paths, better bicycling communities! This is a big part of the League’s mission and I am so excited that, in my own small way, I can help get the word out about the organization and Women Bike!”
Scented with Gardenia + Grass, the eight-ounce candles are made from 100 percent soy wax, pure essential oils and cotton wicks. Order yours today!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
You already bike to work or ride to the store. Why not use those trips to help the League win a $10,000 grant?
Many of you were among the 30,000 bicyclists who saddled up for the National Bike Challenge this summer and, thanks to CLIF Bar, we’ve all got a new Challenge to keep our wheels turning next month! CLIF Bar has chosen the League to be the beneficiary of the 2 Mile Challenge for December — and we need your pedal power to get us to that $10,000 grant.
The 2 Mile Challenge is CLIF Bar’s online effort to fight climate change by encouraging bicycle travel for short trips. In the U.S., 40 percent of all urban trips are two miles or less, but 90 percent of those short distances are made by automobile. Supporting a number of League member organizations — like the East Bay Bicycle Coalition in November — this initiative has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to bike advocacy over the past several years.
That sure makes your CLIF Bar taste a little bit sweeter, huh?
Plus, participating in the 2 Mile Challenge couldn’t be easier — or more fun. You simply sign up and log each time you take a trip by bicycle. Ride to work? That’s a trip. Pedal to a meeting or lunch with friends? That’s two trips (well, assuming you go back to the office)! All we need is 5,000 trips to earn $10,000 for our programming in 2013.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Yesterday, Bill Nesper and I rode our bikes down the Mount Vernon Trail to congratulate BikeArlington for their stand-out performance as a first place finisher in the “Micro Business” category of the 2012 National Bike Challenge.
Meeting up with BikeArlington on the Mount Vernon Trail. Check out their sweet ride!
It was a gorgeous day out on the trail, a fitting place to honor the riders who tallied 7,584 miles by bike over the three months of the Challenge this summer. With fewer than five employees (the definition of a “micro-business”), that mileage was no small feat!
We chatted with them about the 2013 Challenge, and how they plan to get more local businesses involved in the fun. We’ll see if anyone can catch up to this stellar workplace in 2013!
Zanna Worzella, Chris Eatough, and Tim Kelley of BikeArlington with their nifty award plaque!
Congratulations, BikeArlington!
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
… I can’t resist sharing this amazing picture I found.
Photo from http://www.culturecycles.com
Yesterday, we all be took some time to think of what we’re thankful for. What was on your list?
A riding club that keeps you pedaling in good company?
Communities where children can ride their bikes to school?
Amazing vintage cards of turkeys riding bikes that tote children?
Here at the League, we’re thankful for all the things that make our communities safe and fun, but we are thankful for one more thing, too: our members! Thanks to you, we’re able to continue to work to make roads safe for everyone who rides and create bicycle friendly communities across the country.
Thank you for your membership. And if you’re not a member (gasp!), you can join here.
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
Gathering with family, eating a good meal — Thanksgiving is about reflection and gratitude. Here at the League, bikes have benefited our lives in many different ways, but we all share an appreciation for how traveling on two wheels has taken us places we want to go.
So, in honor of the holiday, I asked my colleagues to finish the sentence “I’m grateful for my bike…” Here’s what they shared:
Alison Dewey:
I’m grateful for my bike because with three small kids, commuting to work is often my only chance to ride. My youngest will see a cyclist and say “Mama.” I am grateful they are growing up knowing bikes can be used for transportation and for fun.
Darren Flusche:
I’m grateful for my bike for being the most fun and efficient way to get around my city. There’s no better way to go.
Elizabeth Kiker:
I’m grateful for my bike for powering me from a soul-deadening job to one I love wholly and enjoy absolutely. Without the freedom and inspiration that my bike provided me, I would have never ended up working at the League of American Bicyclists. Thanks, beloved bike!
Ken McLeod:
I’m grateful for my bike because it helps me explore and be active.
Bill Nesper:
I am grateful for my bike giving me a way to get to where I want to go, exercise, save money and have quiet time all at once.
Hamzat Sani:
I’m grateful for my bike introducing me to new avenues of life both literally and figuratively. Without my bike I wouldn’t have the breadth and depth of relationships I’ve shared with people or know where to find the best vintage shop in Atlanta.
Nicole Wynands:
I’m grateful for my bike because it allows me to experience my community up close and to notice details and nuances along the way that I would otherwise miss.
Why are you grateful for your bike?
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Whether racing or just running to the grocery store, bicycling makes for dynamic and beautiful movies. Today, the Pro Walk Pro Bike: Pro Place conference brought together three talented, local filmmakers to screen snippets of their documentaries and share the stories of cyclists and bicycling progress here in Southern California.
A former Olympic cyclist, Tony Cruz is a well-known personality and bike ambassador here in Long Beach. But he doesn’t just pedal in SoCal. Scott Nguyen made a movie documenting Cruz’s challenging journey took through Vietnam.
Providing an in-depth (and humorous) look at cycling in two very different locations, Michael Bauch explores the long-standing bike culture in Amsterdam and the evolving bicycle-friendliness of Long Beach in Riding Bikes with the Dutch.
Enjoy!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
CNN gets the scoop from League President Andy Clarke and Jacob Wolf Barnett from Revolution Cycles about how more people are responding to high gas prices by hopping on their bikes.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Today is the last day of early bird registration for the National Bike Summit, and we want to make sure you know just why your voice is needed in Washington.
REASON 7: The Congressional Bike Ride! Enjoy the activity that brought you to Washington: riding your bike. Meet Congressional staffers, local activists, and decompress from a week well spent in the Nation’s Capitol.
Andy Clarke, League President, addresses the crowd before the ride
REASON 6: Learn from the Leaders! With 18 break-out sessions to choose from, keynotes, panels, etc., the National Bike Summit is the senior seminar for bicycling advocates and enthusiasts. Check out the agenda to see what all you can discover!
Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists, Jay Walljasper of the Project for Public Spaces, Caron Whitaker from America Bikes, Chris Kegel from Wheel & Sprocket, and John Burke of Trek
REASON 5: Get pinned! The eye-catching bike pins made famous by this fine sir are in abundance. Let people know you stand for cycling with style!
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) shows off his bike bling
REASON 4: Better connect with your members, clients, and Representatives! Luncheon Keynote Speaker Jason Ryan Dorsey is the expert at reaching Generation Y.
The're babies, I tell you!
REASON 3: Want to meet the person who designed your bike or funded your town’s bike lanes? They’re here! Come join them! From top-rate advocates to small shop owners, they’re at the National Bike Summit. See and be seen.
Gary Fisher. Need I say anything else?
REASON 2: You can help us in defeating the House Transportation Bill. You must be sick of hearing about just how terrible this bill is. And you know what? So are we! Let’s end this tragedy once and for all. Full post on this–including video–here.
(drumroll, please) REASON 1: Meeting your representatives in Congress. These personal relationships are what bring about change! Sitting down and having a conversation about bicycling can do amazing things.
Look at this personal relationship with Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R - OH)! He's now a huge bicycling supporter.
Now that you know why you need to come, let me tell you how to come! Register now for the final day of early bird pricing by clicking here. And once you’ve done that (or if you’ve already done that, wink wink) make sure to let your friends, colleagues, and grandmother on facebook know. Join the event, like us, and twitter #nbs12
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
Don’t forget to do something nice for your bike today.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
If you want to support the League and love to ride your bike, do we have a deal for you! We are a beneficiary of Climate Ride for the second year running! Last year, riders raised thousands of dollars for our mission to build a bicycle friendly America, and we hope to use that momentum to build our presence in 2012. You can choose to support us on either of the 5-day Climate Rides: choose the wonderful 5-day, fully supported bicycle ride from New York City to Washington DC this May 19-23, 2012 or set your sights on touring the California Coast this September 9-13, 2012. It is an amazing journey and ‘green conference on wheels’ where people who care about sustainability, renewable energy and bike advocacy pedal together to make a difference. Not only that, but the NYC to DC ride happens during National Bike Month! Click here to learn more about Team League!
If you choose to ride, you would provide much-needed financial support for the League, raise awareness of cycling across the country, engage with other riders, and help build a national network of supporters. While anyone who rides a bike hints at the strength of cycling to change the world, Climate Ride puts a bullhorn to our voice.
Are you in Washington, DC? If so, join us for a Meet and Greet on February 2nd, 2012 at 6pm!
Learn more about how you can support the League through Climate Ride. Talk with staff from the League, Climate Ride, and our friends at Green America starting at 6:00 pm at the Green America Offices; just one floor up from ours! Past Climate Riders and Climate Ride staff will provide an introduction to the Climate Ride including tips on fundraising and advice on training. This is an opportunity to have all of your questions answered. Light food (pizza) and drinks (beer) will be provided, so you have no excuse not to come!
Location: Green America Office, 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006
Please RSVP for the event by emailing Katie Omberg at katie@bikeleague.org (not mandatory, we just don’t want to run out of pizza)!
Learn more about the 2012 Climate Ride and Team League!
Can’t attend the Meet and Greet? Find out more about Climate Ride by visiting Climate Ride’s site. You can register for $75 (which includes a great jersey, road support, and more), and then you raise at least $2400 to participate in this all-inclusive 5-day bicycle tour. The ride is fully-supported by a team of talented leader-hosts, bike mechanics, medics, and massage therapists. Climate Ride is also one of the ‘greenest’ multi-day charity ride events in the world.
You can join many other people who want to do something to help create a better future for us all. Climate Ride is an exciting way to get involved and experience an amazing adventure, powered by your own energy. I would encourage you to sign up early not only so you have time to fundraise and train, but also because spots fill up!
We hope to see you on the road on Team League! Please visit our team’s page to sign up or make a donation!
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
Knowing that the Miami Marathon would cause a lot of traffic congestion, Miami Heat Forward LeBron James beat the traffic by getting on his bike and getting in a little workout before the game. “It was good to get out in the open field this morning and get a bike ride in to be prepared for the day’s game,” James told an on-court reporter after the game. When asked if he should do it every day, he said “I think so.”
Clearly, the ride did his legs some good, as he was able to do this:
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Thanks to StreetsBlog and Khal Spencer for drawing our attention to this Giant advertisement airing in Australia.
A good reminder that there is room for everybody in cycling. Let’s celebrate and support all of them.
…oh, and Happy New Year!
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Everyone at the League would like to wish our members, bicycle advocates, Bike League Blog readers and all the cyclists out there a happy holiday and New Year! We have enjoyed working diligently for bicycling and bringing you the latest in bicycling news this year. Andy Clarke, president of the League, would also like to personally thank you and wish you a happy holiday.
Thank you for all your continued support, especially when we needed you the most. We survived repeated attacks on bicycle funding due to all of you responding to our alerts and e-mails. You wrote your state and national politicians, and we have held on to bicycle funding — for now. We even are faced with the possibility of losing our rights to the road on federal lands. We have a lot of work ahead of us but we will be raring to go in 2012. We’re looking forward to the National Bike Summit, National Bike Month, educating new and returning bicyclists nationwide and well, saving cycling again and again.
And if you are searching for that perfect gift for your favorite cyclists this year, make a donation in their name or buy them a League membership — it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Have a wonderful holiday!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is an infographic worth?
In an effort to spread the word about bicycling’s benefits and popularity, Bike Walk Twin Cities created this infographic as part of Bike Walk Move, a local campaign to encourage more biking and walking in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
“The infographic says, ‘Hey, look how many people are getting around on bikes,’” says Hilary Reeves, Communications Manager of Bike Walk Twin Cities. “We wanted to gather some local stats and put them in a bit of context. The stats get your attention; validate things.”
The Bike Walk Move campaign spreads the word about new bicycling options in the Twin Cities resulting from the federal Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program administered by Transit for Livable Communities. “We want people to know they can make their way all across the metro, and beyond, on a lot of new routes, including bicycle boulevards,” Reeves says. The Twin Cities, along with Columbia, MO, Marin County, CA, Sheboygan County, WI, received the pilot project funds to increase bicycling and walking as transportation.
The numbers show growth in bicycling and walking, suggesting a wider acceptance, generally, of the bike as a way to get around. The Twin Cities have a higher share of female cyclists than most places and, of course, their famously intrepid winter cyclists show up in the data – one in five cyclists ride throughout the winter. Overall, the data show the cost-effectiveness of bicycling investments. “As Minneapolis Mayor Rybak has noted, you get a lot of bang for the buck with these investments,” Reeves says.
The infographic is one piece of an ongoing effort under the Bike Walk Move moniker to expand audiences for bicycling. The campaign has tabled at farmers markets, partnered with the local Major Taylor Bicycling Club, and put ads on buses featuring local bicyclists and their reasons for choosing to bike or walk, such as “infinity miles to the gallon.” “The effort is really trying to be inclusive,” Reeves says, “To say, you can do this, too.”
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
It was great to see the turn-out on Friday when representatives from federal agencies, Maryland and the District of Columbia came together to celebrate the opening of a new section of the Anacostia River Trail at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, part of the Obama Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors program.
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley praises the new Anacostia River Trail as DC Mayor Vincent Gray, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Maryland's US Senator Ben Cardin look on.
Officials in attendance included:
Ken Salazar, Secretary of Interior
Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation
John D. Porcari, Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator, EPA
Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland
Ben Cardin, United States Senator for Maryland
Rushern L. Baker, III, Prince George’s County Executive
Vincent Gray, Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park Service
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar (green jacket) and Senator Ben Cardin (brown jacket) ride the new trail.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Last Saturday, we partnered with Bikes Belong for Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play at the White House. Nickelodeon encouraged cities across the globe to host events, and the channel shut off all programming for three hours to prove the point that kids need to go outside and play.
The D.C. event was a big success, with more than 600 kids biking through the bike course on the White House lawn. The participants were shown the proper way to fit a helmet, the parts of the bike and how to make sure they were working properly, how to obey the laws the of the street, and were encouraged to get out and ride more often. The kids all enjoyed the activities and were pumped for the bike zone on the lawn. Some kids were so excited to ride bikes that they wouldn’t listen to their parents when they were told it was time to stop riding — there were a few feet stomping episodes to convince their moms and dads to let them ride more. One little girl was so excited, she brought her own pink and white helmet adorned with glitter, just so she could ride. It was great to see the next generation so excited to ride. Hopefully, they’ll keep that up far into adulthood. To learn how to teach your child to bike, visit the League’s kids bike education info page on bikeleague.org.
Thanks to the the Washington Area Bicycling Association – we couldn’t have done it without you!
Nickelodeon, World Wide Day of Play and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
Alissa Simcox League Director of Education
Simcox joined the League in July 2011. For the 5 years prior, she worked with the Congressional Youth Leadership Council and the National Association of Home Builders. She holds a BA in Education and Recreation and Leisure Administration from Florida State University.
The League was just added as a beneficiary of Climate Ride — but there are only 20 spots left. Register for Climate Ride to raise money to support the League and take the ride of your life for five days in Northern California!
You’re invited to join us on Climate Ride, an incredible 5-day bicycle ride in Northern California and the best part is that you can help the League of American Bicyclists while you’re doing it! For the first time, we’re recruiting members for our new Team Bike League on this year’s California ride, and you can be part of the fun and raise funds for the League of American Bicyclists at the same time.
Climate Ride is an amazing journey and ‘green conference on wheels’ where people who care about a clean and green future for our nation pedal the stunning California coast together to make a difference. The event is a 5-day, fully-supported bicycle ride from Fortuna to San Francisco under towering redwoods, through the Russian River Wine Country, and along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. Climate Ride also features nightly speakers who focus on bicycle advocacy, sustainability, and renewable energy.
Everyone who has participated in Climate Ride raves about the tour as a ‘life-changing’ and ‘eye-opening’ experience. What is even better is that you can enjoy this great event, while at the same time helping to support the League’s mission. Climate Ride has opened up the beneficiary choices so now you can choose to support the League specifically with your fundraising dollars. If you select us as your beneficiary when you register or join our Team Bike League, we will be the sole recipient of the funds you raise, which means our efforts will gain even more traction in the future.
Registration for Climate Ride California 2011 is $75 (which includes a beautiful jersey and more) and then you raise at least $2400 to participate for the all-inclusive event. The ride is fully-supported by a team of talented leader-hosts, bike mechanics, medics, and massage therapists. Climate Ride is also one of the ‘greenest’ multi-day charity ride events in the world. Riders are asked to bring no bottled water (recyclable water bottles will be used, and filtered water will be provided). There is no disposable plate ware or cups, the support vehicles are highly fuel efficient, and every effort is made to recycle and compost materials used on the ride.
When you sign up, you’ll be joining many other people who want to do something to help create a better future for us all. Climate Ride is a great way to get involved and experience an amazing adventure, powered by your own energy. The best bet is to sign up early not only so you have time to fundraise and train, but also because spots fill up!
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Cycling and fashion have hit an uptick in America thanks to many fashion designers getting on board with stylish bike commuter pieces and selling them online, including: bags, helmets and jeans — and this is in addition to some pretty sweet rides.
What influenced the recent interest in stateside Cycle Chic commuters? Perhaps it is how many fashion trends form — European inspiration. Men, women and children in many European countries are raised with bicycling. They bike everywhere, and they don’t wear special clothes to do it. They wear their fancy clothes, their going out clothes, their work clothes and their play clothes while bicycling. They save the bike shorts for the professionals.
Petria Lenehan is a Dublin fashion designer schooled in New York, Florence and London. She owns Dublin fashion boutique Dolls — a store for fashion lovers — and at the entrance stands a matte green Dutch bicycle. Petria primarily has that bike because it brings structure to her days. With a dual role as fashion designer and boutique owner, Petria’s life is hectic. Five years on from opening Dolls, she still finds herself sketching dresses in business hours – meaning she will have to do bookkeeping later that night. But now, with help of her bike, a change has come about.
*Petria Lenehan bikes to her studio and boutique.
Petria recently rented a studio, forcing herself to be business woman in her boutique and fashion designer in her studio. It does require Petria to frequently travel between studio and shop, though. She heavily relies on her bike, which has become the beacon of structure. Every day at her boutique, she loads shirts and skirts in her bicycle basket and cycles to her new studio. But Petria also has the bike for its style.
When the Irish Times recently wrote an article about Dolls, it said, ‘you don’t have to arrive (…) by Dutch bike, but if you do you will be among your tribe. This is Dublin 8, darling.’ And so Petria decided to display her handmade Dutch bike alongside dresses, hats, scarves, frocks, jumpers, socks and clogs.
So there you have it. The fashionable want a sensible way to get around town, and the bike is the answer. Plus, they get to show off their smart ensembles and chic bicycles while they cruise.
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Maybe it was love at first sight — a wayward glance on a crowded street. Maybe you met through a friend or a family member and the first date was awkward and off-balance. Maybe, it didn’t seem like the right fit, but, over the years, the ride took you places you never imagined.
What lies at the intersection of transportation and technology? In a word: 
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