Category Archives: Article

Two days ago Lorenz, you know the  big, burly, president material kind of guy, sent an e-mail out to the listserve notifying us of the permit by the City of Albany to install thirteen new bike racks between S. Main and Allen on Western and Madison Avenues. Here is the original e-mail:

“Cyclists,

Attached is the “permit” (and location descriptions at the end) form the City of Albany for installation of the 13 new racks between S. Main and Allen on Western and Madison Avenues. There will be a ribbon cutting after some or all of the installation is complete – hope you’ll come!

LW
(PS – Before you lock up your bicycle [here or anywhere else], have you recorded its serial number in a safe place?“

At first I was happy because I love when they put bike racks anywhere. The ones they put all over Lark St are a great improvement to the area and for making cycling a more accessible form of transportation. Because who is going to ride somewhere if they don’t have a safe place to lock up their bike. This being the area of Albany I am most familiar with, because that’s where I live, when I gave it more thought I was a little taken a back because we already have bike racks in the area. So I wrote this e-mail back to Lorenz:

“Why are they putting 13 bike racks so close together and in this area? The places they mentioned are not five feet from one another. Furthermore there are already ample bike racks on that entire stretch of road. You can go to the library, the police station, price chopper, CVS, Tiera (the coffee house), or the movie theater and find a rack right now. I know it’s already too late, but why not put them where they are needed; like on Delaware Ave. West Central Ave, New Scotland Ave. (past the hospital), at Walmart or BJ’s, at the Colonie Center, or any of the other locations around Albany that don’t have bike racks? I smell an article in this.”

This, I still think, is a valid point, but now because of Loren’s response to this email clarification was brought forth and understanding ensued:

“Chris,

Pine Hills NA through its “BUMP” effort – Beautify Upper Madison Project” requested the racks – so they naturally put them all in their area of concern.  That’s the explanation.

They did really need the racks however – esp. at Bruegers and the bars at Allen (currently no racks), at CVS (the CVS rack on Main is going), at Steamer 10 (currently no racks) and at all the business from the Tierra Coffee to Allen (currently no racks).

LW”

So what can we take out of this whole thing? For everyone in the area, that means you are going to have new places to park your bike. For all of the business owners that means bicyclists will be more inclined to visit your shops. For local blog writers it is a lesson to read more into a topic before responding to it.

Written by Chris Belsole 

Sick, tired, went to work anyway. Sorry I have been absent on my posts as of late, but let’s get through this one so I can get back to my tea.

So what is Albany 2030? Is it some kind of movie, terminator style, where human beings fight to survive in some sort of alternate dimension where gerbils rule over humans and orangutans rule the gerbils? Not quite as cool as that. Why don’t I let them tell you what it is:

“Albany 2030: Your City, Your Future is a process to create the City’s first Comprehensive Plan. The Albany Comprehensive Plan will include the City’s collective vision for the future, as well as maps, policies, and guidelines that describe how to achieve that vision (See FAQs: “What is a Comprehensive Plan” for more info). The City has many completed and ongoing planning initiatives, including neighborhood revitalization plans, redevelopment programs, economic development plans, housing initiatives and studies, and recreation and greenway plans.”

If you would like to get involved now (me) you are pretty late in the game (awww). Luckily for you (me) there is a meeting today from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at  the main branch of the  Albany Public Library (Yay!). This meeting is the second in a series of “Climate Conversation” meetings where “The Mayor’s Office of Energy and Sustainability invites you to enjoy light refreshments while you participate in a conversation about climate change as we prepare the City’s first Climate Action & Adaptation plans as part of Albany 2030.”

For a full list of scheduled events follow the link.

Also I would like to thank Bob for bringing this to our attention.

Written by Chris Belsole

In Shenzen, China people are apparently dying in numbers big enough to ban the electric bike. According to the New Yorker “sixty-four people died and two hundred and thirty-three were injured.” Why are people getting hurt? The theory is that these bikes are too quiet and since no one can hear them coming accidents occur. So what does the Chinese “post-modern” Government do? They ban them. Granted this is not to say that people’s lives are less important than a bicycle, but there are other avenues to explore before you get rid of them all together. Such as what Gizmodo colomist Casey Chan suggested about how “they could’ve implemented a digital sound in the bikes” to make them more noticeable.

Honestly after visiting China for a month and touring the major cities I can say that electric bikes are the least of their problems. I guarantee that cars get into more accidents and kill more people than electric bikes. The ability to own a car s fairly new to the citizens for China. Imagine a country of 16 year old drivers. No one completely knows the rules, and everyone thinks they have the right-of-way. As a pedestrian there it was honestly scary crossing the street. So where is the ban on hybrid cars? They are just as quiet as electric bikes, and they weight a hell of a lot more.

Also you have to think about what is happening to the people with all of the electric bikes. The average pay for someone in China is not the same as an American. Who’s to say that you are not taking their only mode of transportation away by making their bicycle illegal? Imagine you are the Chinese factory worker that needs that electric bike because cannot afford a car and does not have the endurance to ride a regular bicycle. “‘People buy the bicycles trusting that they will not be taken away,’ as Wang Zhenyu, of China University of Public Science and Law, told the Global Times.” I bet it would hurt a little less if they replaced all of the electric bicycles with regular ones for all of these people.

So consider this a loss for the people of China. The country that has relied on the bicycle for so long turns its back on it so quickly.

[New Yorker via Gizmodo]

Written by Chris Belsole

Let’s keep the funny going with a web comic that Ken introduced me to a while ago. Introducing Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery:

Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery follows the lives of two cyclists who work at a bike store. Yehuda, featured in the comic above, is the antithesis of the car free lifestyle to the point of insanity. Balancing him out is Joe King who is his friend and partner in the bike shop where they work and a little more grounded in reality. Together these two, along with other side characters, live out the trials and tribulations of bike riding and shop ownership. I highly recommend this comic to anyone that is interested in cycling. For people that commute this is a must read.

Written by Chris Belsole

Yesterday I wrote a post about failing to fix someone’s flat to which Ethan replied:

“The Albany Bicycle Coalition: the Boy Scouts of the Albany Bicycle community! Always prepared, always willing to lend a hand. This reminds me of that Monty Python skit with the supermen and the bike mechanic.

(I’m sure the people at EMS can change a flat.)”

So here it is for your viewing pleasure, Monthy Python’s: Bicycle Repair Man:

Written by Chris Belsole