Archive for August, 2008

Universities offer loaner-bike programs to students

Posted by Erik on August 11th, 2008 filed in Joie de vivre, imminent death of car-based culture

Emory University’s “Bike Emory” program made CNN today. They offer free loaner bikes and discounts to students and faculty on bike purchases; the university is also implementing an aggressive bike-lane construction program. Many other universities–but as far as I know, not the U of A–are following suit.
I’ve always believed that universities offer good [...]

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AZ Star reporters go car-free for a week

Posted by Erik on August 11th, 2008 filed in imminent death of car-based culture

I know what you are thinking, but don’t. This is a great thing they are doing, writing about living without a car. Check out Andrea Kelly’s blog on the subject and follow her progress. She reports it took her 30-40 minutes longer to get to work today than she would have in [...]

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“Bicyclists Beware”

Posted by Erik on August 11th, 2008 filed in safety

The ominous above-the-fold headline on yesterday’s paper that warned Tucson bicyclists to “beware” led to a pretty good article about the most dangerous intersections for cyclists, along with a list. I’m not so sure about the overall message though, particularly given the odd choice of photos on the Star’s webpage.
The article also emphasizes how [...]

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Google today

Posted by Erik on August 9th, 2008 filed in Joie de vivre
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The Apocalypse Bike

Posted by Erik on August 6th, 2008 filed in Cool bikes, imminent death of car-based culture

Yesterday I included a link to www.peacesupplies.org but I got the url wrong so I wanted to give those folks a real link today. Dwight and crew churn out bike stickers, organic t-shirts, and hand-printed publications from his shop in the arts district in Tucson. He also welcomes suggestions for bike stickers. [...]

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Hey! You with the “Zero Gallons Per Mile” sticker!

Posted by Erik on August 5th, 2008 filed in imminent death of car-based culture

I’ve always sort of wondered about this, and somebody finally did the math.
It turns out you only get about 85 miles per gallon when you ride your bike. This because riding your bike burns calories, and those calories usually come from agro-business, which converts (putting it simplistically) sunlight, mined water, topsoil, genetically-modified seed, and [...]

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Los Angeles’s road raging doctor appears in court–with a lawyer and a publicist

Posted by Erik on August 5th, 2008 filed in Uncategorized

The Los Angeles doctor who badly injured two cyclists in a fit of road rage had his appearance in court last week. It looks as if the guy is spending a lot of money on this. He’s even hired a publicist.
We should not forget that this was at least his second road rage [...]

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Just because you don’t move over (and kill two cyclists) doesn’t make you a criminal

Posted by Erik on August 4th, 2008 filed in getting off easy again

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Jurors in Missouri proved it by acquitting a man who struck two cyclists from behind, killing both of them. His attorney successfully argued he had no duty to move aside when he saw them (he says they swerved into his path, but admitted he did not move aside for them). From [...]

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SF Driver who killed and injured 16 pedestrians and cyclists declared insane

Posted by Erik on August 1st, 2008 filed in I am in slack-jawed awe

I’ll say. From the SF Chronicle:
Authorities believe Popal began his attacks in Fremont by ramming 54-year-old Stephen Wilson with his SUV as Wilson walked in a bike lane on Fremont Boulevard. He died at the scene.
Popal then drove to San Francisco and, in the course of half an hour shortly after lunchtime, ran down [...]

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News from Lauren

Posted by Erik on August 1st, 2008 filed in Joie de vivre, Preapocalyptic technological dystopia

(Carswarm image from www.peacesupplies.org bike sticker.)
As most of you know, Lauren is on a bike tour right now. She began in Seattle and is riding down the coast. I just got a message that she has arrived in Portland and is staying with friends there.
I got a message from her when [...]

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