Category Archives: Uncategorized
Beyond Spandex: Where is the traditional cyclist in this movement?
The League of American Bicyclists posted a recent entry titled “Beyond Spandex, Toward Social Justice: Women Redefining the Movement“. Men, who have made up the statistical vanguard of ridership in the past, are relegated to an acronym, MAMIL, i.e., Middle … Continue reading
It’s a racket
If you build it, they will confine you to it. Have you ever heard of General Smedley Butler? He was a major public figure in the 1930’s. He was disgusted by the corrupt profiteering he witnessed during WWI, and stumped … Continue reading
Is Cycling about to die?
There is some pretty dire prose over at the League web site about saving cycling. While I share the concern with the Federal transportation bill being ludicrously auto-centric and energy-intensive, and I personally worry that the House Republicans are attacking … Continue reading
Bicycle Facilities and the “Cargo Cult”
American bicycle facility advocates typically believe they can achieve the same bicycling safety and modal share as the Netherlands by blindly imitating Dutch facility designs. They assume the facility is what makes the difference when in reality it’s a complex … Continue reading
What is the purpose of a bicycle lane?
Andy Cline has some thoughtful questions in his article Please Be Careful. Here’s some excepts: Please be careful what you ask for; please re-think asking for more bicycle lanes. Four inches of paint cannot think for you. Four inches of … Continue reading
On Hazards, Warnings and Luring into Danger
Standard safety practice requires warning about hazards that cannot be eliminated. One of the greatest hazards of cycling in the city is a suddenly-opened car door. Doors can poise a hazard for pedestrians too. In the top photo at right, … Continue reading
Why does a bicycle-friendly community need door zone bike lanes?
We recently took our tandem to Durango, CO to escape the thick smoke of the Wallow, AZ wildfire. I like the Durango area and have tossed a bike in the car on our trips there. Durango is a Silver-level bicycle … Continue reading
On Being Refused Service
For lunch today I stopped at the local “Scottish Cuisine” fast food restaurant for a sandwich to take home. I wheeled my touring bike up to the order station, wondering whether the vehicle detector would pick up my wheels. It … Continue reading
Voting With My Feet — and My Wallet
My LAB membership expired recently. I did not renew because I am reluctant to send the League any more money, knowing it would be used to harm the interests of responsible cyclists. I also prefer to belong to organizations that … Continue reading
Tools, options and doctrine
I was once conversing with a person who was annoyed with my cataloging the known dangers of various bicycle facilities. He fumed, “You only want people to ride a bike if they ride like you do.” And then he stormed … Continue reading