by | April 11, 2011 · 12:00 pm

A Look At North American Cities

You can all thank Bert for this one.

In a study recently published by the University Transportation Research Center entitled an “Analysis of Bicycling Trends and Policies in Large North American Cities: Lessons for New York” they take a look at what strides different cities have made in terms of cycling infrastructure and how it has effected each respective population. In contrast to these cities they compare what NYC has done and the quirks that it has due to factors outside of bicycling infrastructure. Here is an excerpt from the study, and I encourage everyone to read the summary if not the entire study:

We analyze aggregate national data as well as cityspecificcase study data for nine large cities (Chicago, Minneapolis, Montréal, New York,Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington). The number of bike commutersin the USA rose by 64% from 1990 to 2009, and the bike share of commuters rose from 0.4% to0.6%. Over the shorter period from 1996 to 2006, the number of bike commuters in Canada roseby 42%, and the bike share of commuters rose from 1.1% to 1.3%. From 1988 to 2008, cyclingfatalities fell by 66% in Canada and by 21% in the USA; serious injuries fell by 40% in Canadaand by 31% in the USA.

…

New York is a special case. Not only is New York by far the largest of the case studycities, but it has the most mixed record on cycling policies and accomplishments. Althoughcycling has almost doubled in New York City since 1990, it lags far behind the other case studycities in almost every respect.

Written by Chris Belsole

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by | April 8, 2011 · 1:00 pm

Spring Events Calendar

SPRING EVENT CALENDAR
April 8, 2011

On Going: March, April, May – Every Tuesday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. –
Tune Up Your Bike Night and Repair Clinic at Albany Bike Rescue, 15 Trinity Place, Albany, NY 12202. Call 518-489-0393 or use contact form at https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/albanybikerescue/

April 1, 2011 Friday, 6 pm – 8 pm –
1st Friday Gallery Spin Bike Ride, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, Washington Park, Albany. Urban ride around Albany, stopping at various galleries, especially those outside of the typical Lark St. cluster. For directions, see: http://bit.ly/9trvx9 https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/

April 8-10 and May 13-15 –
L.L.Bean’s Spring Sports Weekend, Visit any of retail stores for an event that outdoor enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy. L.L.Bean experts will host free clinics and demonstrations on paddling, hiking, camping, and other spring sports. Special discounts on springtime gear throughout the weekend.

April 13, Wednesday, 6 pm – 9 pm –
Traffic Skills 101 Refresher. This three-hour class is for graduates of TS 101 who plan to take the LCI Training in May. Both the Refresher and the LCI Training at Draper Hall, UA Downtown Campus. Contact Claire – 518-209-6477, cbnolou@yahoo.com or go to the League of American Bicyclists website.

April 14, Thursday, 11 am to 2 pm –
Spring Awakening event at the University of Albany. Be Green, Be Healthy, and Be Well. Contact Mary Ellen Mallia, Director of Environmental Sustainability UA 518-956-8120

April 22, Friday – 12 pm –
Earth Day Bike/Walk/Bus to Work Day, Lunch Hour Bicycle Parade Academy Park (in front of City Hall) Mayor’s Office of Energy and Sustainability http://www.albanysustainability.orgChris Franklin 518-522-2127 http://ualbanyplanners.org/christopherfranklin.as. Lunch Hour Bicycle Parade, contact Sandra Steubing at ssteub@yahoo.com.

April 28, Thursday –
NYBC Bike Summit –Bicycle advocates, coalition partners, and allies to gather in the State Capital to show that bicycling is important for human health, the environment, our economy, and our communities. We want investment to enable people of all ages and skill levels to ride safely on the road. Well of the Legislative Office Building, State St. Calling for passage of “Complete Streets Bill”. Contact Brian Kehoe, Program Manager to participate, brian@nybc.net, 518-436-0889, http://www.nybc.net/

April 29, Friday – 5:15 pm – 9:00 pm –
Friday Critical Mass (Community Bicycle Ride) – Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, Washington Park, Albany. Join an urban bike ride around the city of Albany in a group to help promote biking in our city. Riders of all skill levels are welcome. https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/

May 1, Sunday, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm –
Bike Expo 2011 – Corning Preserve, Albany NY Three Rides –10 mi (casual), 25 mi (casual), 50 mi (quick). John Vendetti, hardworkinjohn@aol.com, 225-4209, https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/

May 18, Wednesday, 6:00PM –
Ride of Silence – Start locations: 6:00 pm – Corning Preserve boat launch parking under I-787, and 6:30 pm – State Education Building, Washington Ave. Distance – 12 miles. Claire Nolan cbnolou@yahoo.com, http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php?s=NY#NY.

May 20-22, Friday-Sunday –
LCI Training – Pre-requisite Traffic Skills 101. Draper Hall, Downtown UA Campus. Claire Nolan cbnolou@yahoo.com or League of American Bicyclists website: https://members.bikeleague.org/members_online/members/findit.asp?action=search

Written by Lorenz Warden

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by | April 6, 2011 · 1:04 pm

Self-Sealing Tube For Quick Work Of Flats

So here’s an interesting piece of bike tech. Michelin cam out with a self sealing tube. I am told that this is nothing new in the bike world. What is new is that instead of pressure going outward instead it is pushing inward causing the hole to seal up quicker since the rubber pinches in on itself. Is this the next evolutionary leap in bike tube technology? What do you think?

New Michelin bike inner tube squeezes punctures closed

Written by Chris Belsole

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by | April 5, 2011 · 2:09 pm

Fuller Road Follow-up

I know I am breaking my rule of one post a day, but this info is so hot I just can’t hold on to it.

I just got done talking to a great guy named Bill Anslow who is the Project Manager for Albany County. He filled me in on the current construction going on on Fuller Rd.

Currently we are in Phase 2 of the construction project which spans the length between I-90 and Central Ave. This phase is going to last 15 weeks and should be done by the end of September. Going north there are going to be two lanes and going south there is going to be one lane with a turning lane in between them.

When I asked about the bike lanes he said that they were not putting them in. Rather they are opting for a situation much like on Western where the lanes are just a bit wider to accommodated both bikes and cars at the same time. He called it “Shared Travel.” Weather this option is better or not is for you to decide, and maybe for a future article, right now it is just good to be informed.

Thanks again to Bill Anslow for the information and for returning my call so swiftly.

Written by Chris Belsole

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by | April 5, 2011 · 1:45 pm

Fuller Road Construction Started

You can’t get anything past me. Okay so maybe you can, but as soon as traffic cones it the pavement I am on it.

Check out this video and then come back.

I know right! They are finally starting construction on the pothole filled, broken pavement riddled, flip your bike over monster that is Fuller Rd. Also did you notice in the video that the words “bike lane” came up. I can’t confirm any of this, and I put a call into the Department of Public Works and the news organization that ran the story for more info since I checked their website and it has not been updated in a while. In fact it says that construction was not to begin until November. So keep your fingers crossed that we come out on top with this one. If anything I am glad that they are going to fix the potholes.

Written by Chris Belsole

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