2007 archive

Seattle Bicycle Master Plan is online

The Seattle Bicycle Master Plan seeks to double the miles of bicycle lanes and marked bike routes in the city within the next two years and begin work on the “final mile” of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard.

The document was posted online at the city's transportation department website in conjunction with Mayor Greg Nickel's press conference Wednesday morning.

The document calls for adding 136 miles of bicycle lanes and marked bike routes to the city's existing 67-mile network in the next two years. Most of this work will be accomplished as part of street upgrades funded by last fall's transportation levy.

Within the next 10 years, Seattle plans to add 452 miles of marked or separated bicycle routes criss-crossing the city. These too will be added while other street upgrades are underway. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/04/seattle-bicycle-master-plan-is-online/

Bicycling is one way to fight childhood obesity

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says it will spend $500 million in the next five years to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity.

I hope the philanthropic organization considers the benefits of bicycling and how to make it easier and safer for children to use their bikes for exercise.

The foundation estimates that about one-third of the US population of children 17 and younger are overweight or obese; that's equal to the rate of the adult population. If the trend isn't reversed, foundation president Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey told the NY Times, “The younger generation is going to live sicker and die younger than their parents because of obesity.” …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/04/bicycling-is-one-way-to-fight-childhood-obesity/

Kicking the tires at the virtual used bicycle lot

After perusing hundreds of bicycles for sale online, I've concluded that an amazing number of people buy bicycles that they don't ride. OK, maybe once or twice.

My son has outgrown his mountain bike and is interested in getting a road bike for a summer bike tour. At the rate he's growing, I'm a little reluctant to buy something brand new. So I'm looking for something used on Craigslist

I'm surprised at how many low mileage bikes are out there. Here are some of the unusual ads I've come across:

Fixed Gear: “Although 2 years old it has never been ridden. Complete except for pedals (not included). I bought it before my wife got pregnant, and, well you know how it goes.” …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/03/kicking-the-tires-at-the-virtual-used-bicycle-lot/

Used bikes for sale

So many low mileage bikes for sale

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/03/used-bikes-for-sale/

New bicycling routes in France this year

More than 700 miles of bicycle trails and signed bicycling routes will be open in the Loire Valley and Burgundy regions of France this summer.

Those areas have discovered the benefits of bicycle touring to the local economies. They're promoting cycling in their regions by extending bike routes — 350 miles have been added in the past year — and promoting the trails on websites geared to bicyclists.

The Loire Valley in western France has about 250 miles of bike paths and routes ready this year, with another 250 miles planned for the near future. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/03/new-bicycling-routes-in-france-this-year/

Bike route sigs in France

More than 500 miles of signed bicycle routes have been added in France this year, mainly in the Loire Valley. See La Loire a Velo website in English.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/03/bike-route-sigs-in-france/

Should US cities follow Mexico City's lead?

If you're a top-level bureaucrat for the Mexico City government, you get to ride a bicycle to work the first Monday of every month. Actually, you must. It's an order.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard issued the order in February to prove that bicycles are a workable option for commuting in the city and to promote the use of bike paths.

Something's got to be done to solve traffic, pollution and congestion problems in Mexico's capital city of 18 million people. Some 4 million cars use the streets everyday, making it one of the most crowded and polluted cities in the world. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/03/should-us-cities-follow-mexico-citys-lead/

Tale of the tape for March

My quest for 4,000 miles in 2007 is not quite on track, but I'm closer to hitting the monthly mileage I need to accomplish that goal.

Once again 14 rides in March. The weather must be improving, as only 5 of those rides were in what I described as “occasional drizzle” to “constant rain.” I even mentioned “sun” three times in my log.

The longest ride was 41 miles. I picked my way through Renton to Tukwilla (about 10 miles from home) where I jumped onto the Green River Trail and headed south. The bronze statue — Slipstream (at left) — is located along the trail in the vicinity of Kent. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/02/tale-of-the-tape-for-march/

Bicyclist passing Slipstream statue

The Slipstream bronze statue on the Green Valley Bike Trail in Kent, Washington.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/02/bicyclist-passing-slipstream-statue/

7 bicycling violations that will earn a ticket in Topeka (and other places, too)

When we bicyclists fight for the right to be on the road and to hold all the entitlements as a motor vehicle, we've also committed ourselves to following the rules of the road.

A blogger at the Citizen-Journal Online asked a Topeka, Kansas, police spokesman what traffic laws bicyclists most commonly break.

How many moving violations would you have committed in Topeka on your weekend ride? I'll admit to doing a slow roll through most stop signs unless there's a car in the intersection.

1. Failing to stop completely at a stop sign or red light. (A “bump and run” isn't adequate to see a car coming, police say.) …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/04/02/7-bicycling-violations-that-will-earn-a-ticket-in-topeka-and-other-places-too/