Category Archives: Article

You have heard about the occupy wall street movement from everyone and on every from of communication. Necessity being the mother of invention and the movement existing in today’s modern age of cell phones and computers there is a need for electricity. What they are planning to do, and why it’s relevant to talk about here, is to build eleven bikes to be peddled and bring the power to the masses. They say it will cost them eight thousand dollars to do and are looking for donations now to do it.

If you would like to donate here is a link to their donation page.

Edit:

During the time of writing this post they have reached their goal. Although they say that any additional money will go to sending these bikes to other occupy movements.

Written by Chris Belsole

[Photo by colleeniebikini]

Ken sent this one to me, and I’ve got to say, this is just beautiful. Sometimes we have to slow down and enjoy life. At least now we don’t have to stop to smell the roses. Just watch out for the thorns.

Written by Chris Belsole

Following the first snow we had yesterday I have to do my duty and remind you to stay warm. I love the winter time because it gives me the chance to wear my ninjaclava. After getting my feet soaked through yesterday I might also don some shoe covers to keep my toes from falling off.

After a hard day’s riding, working, etc. what could be better than a nice hot cup of coffee or tea? The Hudson River Coffee House, previously mentioned on this blog is here to help. What’s that? Anton put a bike rack in front of the place? Yes, now you can not only enjoy an excellent cup of coffee, but now you can drink said coffee with the peace of mind knowing that your bicycle is safe and secure outside while you are warm on the inside.

Also don’t forget the Halloween Critical Mass ride going on today at Washington Park Soldiers and Sailors’ memorial at 5:30. Come in Costume.

So I hope you had a good day yesterday and another one today. Enjoy the sunshine!

Written by Chris Belsole

Chicago, home of  the deep dish pizza and bad cyclists. Why do I say this? Apparently the legislature is throwing around a law that would prevent bicyclists from effectively texting while moving. As Ald. Margaret Laurino, 39th, chairman of the committee and sponsor of the measure puts it, “Like drivers, bicyclists will not be able to text while moving. Nor will bicyclists be able to use their cell phones unless they utilize a hands-free device.”

Ken brought up an interesting point when we were discussing this. If this law was for bicyclists “like drivers” why did it not apply to bikes as well. Admittedly I am not up on the bicycling laws of Chicago but if they are anything like New York’s bicyclists would have to follow all of the rules of motorists. So the law in New York about texting while driving would also affect bicycles. This law could present a nice opportunity to append the laws for measures that are particular to bicycles.

Also the wording about this confuses me a little. The phrase “while moving” could raise a few questions. Does that mean that that bicyclist and drivers alike can stop at a light or a stop sign and pull out their phone to start texting?

Whether or not to follow car laws or making special considerations for bicyclists is an issue of great debate in the bicycling community. Here at ABC we follow the rules of the road as long as it is safe to do so, or at least that is our official stance. *wink

Written by Chris Belsole

I am not a native of Albany, Albanean Albinen. So I get news some times about what is happening in good old Westchester New York twenty minuets outside of New York City; the burbs as they say. Apparently the are considering putting bike racks on their buses for people to store their bikes on for going long distances. This is something I can confidently say that Albany does very well.

After a statement from the Westchester county administration said that “bike racks fastened to the front of the bus presented problems because they collectively took up space at bus storage facilities.” Which is unequivocally true because adding metal on the front of the bus would add more space no matter if they folded up or not. What I love about this was the “solution” they came up with for this problem.

So if not hang the bikes on the front of the bus than where? Their solution was for double wide buses only to put racks up in the back of the buses for people to use. Since you are currently not able to enter from the back door on any of the Bee Line buses that means people would have to get their bikes on the buses, walk them through the entire bus, packed or otherwise, to get access to a rack. Not only is this a terrible idea… No wait, that is just a terrible idea. You are not only inconveniencing the cyclist but also the passengers that have to sit there while a bike moves through them. This would not foster a positive relationship from anyone.

Granted Donna Greene from the county administration said, “[this] did not seem like a good idea,” but it is kind of funny that an idea like that even gets entertained as a viable option. If I am being completely honest I feel a little sense of pride for how Albany handled the bus rack situation. I see all the time how other cities have so many features when it comes to bicycling that we don’t. It is nice one time to see that we are not as bad as we could be even if it is a little Schadenfreudeish.

Written by Chris Belsole