Hey Everyone,
I know we all love getting free stuff so here’s one. The people over at BikeCommuters.com are giving away free t-shirts. All you have to do is send them an e-mail saying what your favorite bike site is. (Hint: BikeCommuters.com)
Win a BikeCommuters.com T-Shirt
Filed under Article
Here at ABC we we would be remiss if we did not share with you news from outside the capital district. That is why we are proud to congratulate PeopleForBikes.org on reaching their goal of one-hundred fifty thousand signatures on their pledge to make bicycling fun, safe, and viable in America. What can you do to help? PeopleForBikes.org is here to provide some direction:
1. Ask (at least) one family member or friend to sign the Peopleforbikes.org pledge. If everyone on the list does this–and remember, the process is quick, easy and free–the number of Americans who have unified behind bicycling will immediately double to 300,000. Now that’s a group with significant clout!2. Visit the Peopleforbikes.org website and spend a couple minutes reading the blog, some of the thousands of great personal stories stories and photos, and our advice on getting involved locally to improve bicyclingin your community. Our website includes lots of simple, inspirational ideas.
3. Be ready to write a short email to your U.S. Representative that supports bicycling, and expresses your interest in seeing better bicycling conditions. We’ll tell you when you need to send it and don’t worry; we’ll help you compose a simple, effective message.
There is also a short video that explains their whole process by the director of PeopleForBikes.org Tim Blumenthal.
Filed under Activism, Article, Support the Cause, Videos
With shortening days and the end of Daylight Savings Time, your chances of being seen on your bicycle are diminished.
What can you do?
For starters, you need lighting – both in the early morning and at night. You can pick up a usable light for anywhere from $15-30 at the Downtube (Downtube Cycle Shop, (518) 434-1711, 466 Madison Ave.) or at any other local cycle shop. It’s a good idea to select lights that take AA or AAA batteries rather than wafer style batteries. (You can pick up replacement AA or AAAs at drug, convenience, or grocery stores while wafer style batteries might take a bit of searching and some more cash.) Preferably, get both front and read lights that use the same battery so that you will automatically have a spare battery for the critical rear light). By the way, New York State Law requires a front light for night riding.
Is one light enough? Many riders sport two or three rear “blinky” lights as well as a front light – ranging from a white blinker to a high-powered spotlight with a battery pack. One way to test for yourself is to observe other cyclists’ lighting choices under similar conditions of darkness to your own riding.
Next comes clothing – remember the adage “wear white at night”? Well, it’s still good advice. An alternative is a garish green or yellow “day-glo” vest or jacket ($60-70) – but shop around. Most “official” cycling clothes (including helmets) have embedded reflective material. According to a recent Bicycling article (pg. 34, 12/10 issue), a driver’s nighttime recognition distance is 75 feet for a cyclist in dark clothes versus up to 560 feet for one wearing “florescent” clothes.
What else can you do? Obeying traffic laws (traffic control devices, one-way streets, signaling) will give drives a better chance to see you. You want to be extra cautious when weather conditions (rain, wind, snow) compound the adverse affects of darkness.
One more thing – don’t be caught out with your lighting back home. Try to carry at least a rear “blinky” whenever there’s a chance you’ll be returning late!
Edit (by Ken): For anyone looking for some quality winter lights, Amazon has the amazing Planet Bike Superflash tail light on sale for $18.
Filed under Article
I was reading an article from bicycling.about.com recently and I came accross a great quote from Paul Vinyard of the St. Louis Bike Federation that explains why we do what we do:
Personally, in every situation where I was called upon to advocate for bicycling, I kept in mind the image of a smart, quick 12-year-old girl who takes a piano lesson two miles from her house. It was my fervent desire to see that she could independently don a backpack carrying her music books, hop on her bike, and take herself to that lesson using her own intelligence and strength, and utilizing our well-designed, well-executed transportation network.
Written by Chris Belsole
Filed under Article
I think we all probably know this, but it never hurts to hear it again. Here I an article from Medical Daily that talks about the health benefits of cycling. In a country that needs it I am and am not surprised that more people don’t hop on a bike.
Filed under Article
Albany Bicycle Coalition 