Columbus Rides Bikes!

The first month of classes was riddled with bicycle-related accidents on and around campus, and as the leaves begin to fall, bikers will have even more obstacles to dodge. Bicyclists face various challenges to safety when riding in the fall and winter, including wet or slick roads, ice, snow or wet leaves on the roads, potholes and less daylight. Meredith Joy, executive director and founder of  Yay  Bikes!, a nonprofit organization that promotes bicycling as an alternative to driving in Columbus, said there are several factors that cyclists should be aware of when riding in the winter. “Wet leaves can be really slippery, wet leaves can also obscure things underneath on the road, and potholes can all lead to crashes,” Joy said. “Reducing the air pressure in your tires a little bit can be helpful in accommodating for the road conditions.” Despite the additional obstacles with the change of seasons, Nick Chenoweth , a third-year in mechanical engineering, said he expects the number of b

Representatives from YAY Bikes! giving a quick overview on bicycle safety. From 11am to 1:30pm, The Center will hold its 2nd design:ROLLS, an architectural bike tour in and around downtown Columbus. Our first tour, a sellout, was a 9-mile loop held this Spring with stops in German Village, The Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Franklinton, the Arena District and the Short North. Look for the fall Design Rolls to surpass the spring event. You can see some great photos from our last ride on The Center’s website. $30 Lunch Provided by Cafe Brioso Instructors provided by YB! More details here http://columbuscfad.org/designweek/calendar-of-events/

Researcher Kelly Clifton at a presentation at City Hall today. (Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Portland State University researcher  Kelly Clifton  has shared more detailed data on her research into how mode choice impacts spending behaviors. After  talking to Clifton at the outset of her research and then  sharing some initial findings back in July , I learned more about her findings at the Bureau of Transportation's monthly Bicycle Brown Bag discussion series  held at City Hall today. According to data from 1,884 surveys taken outside various establishments, non-driving customers — those who show up by bike, on foot, or via transit — are often more valuable in terms of dollars spent than customers who arrive in a car. This data flies in the face of the often heard perspective that automobile access should be the highest priority to ensure business success. [Keep reading at Bike Portland]

This post is drawn from a presentation I developed for the first-ever  National Women’s Bicycling Summit  in September, 2012. As the influence of women grows across all types of bicycling, there has been quite a bit of debate  about the representation of gender in everything from ads to advocacy campaigns, race tracks to board meetings. Is that photo of a sexy woman on a bike sexist, or is it empowering? Objectifying, or compelling? Tokenizing, or inclusive? Is it different if the photo was taken by a woman? What if the woman depicted is an avowed feminist? Does this mean we are never allowed to depict women wearing skirts and heels? These discussions tend to get frustrating, in part, I think, because we don’t always have a shared idea of what these terms mean. I saw the need for an analytical tool that could be used by both media creators and consumers to evaluate images of women in bicycling. So, inspired by the Bechdel Test  for women in movies (still as relevant today as it w

Students and bicycle lovers of all ages are invited to join us downtown at the Space for our Fall Bike Show: a unique experience to see and show off fun and crazy bikes. Bikes of all kinds are welcome, from fancy and sleek to homely and well-used... show off your own style! Register your bike for a chance to win best in show, as well as in special categories including best paint job, best theme bike, best classic bike, "best loved" bike, and best pieced-together bike. Register your bike here: http://uas.os u.edu/program/ fall-bike-show-bike-osu ....Prizes for registered bikes - Free food and drink courtesy of Cafe Brioso and Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches - Free bike tune-ups - Raffle prizes.... OSU Student? Grab your bicycle and join Yay Bikes! on a complimentary tour from campus to downtown, and learn how easy it is to navigate the roads safely. Students can reserve a bike tour here: bit.ly/register2roll and enter the code URBANART1006 Don’t have a bike? No problem

Velopresso  is a celebratory fusion of human power, sensory pleasures and technology -- old tech with hi-tech, bicycles and coffee, their engineering and aesthetics.The result is an innovative pedal-powered mobile coffee-making machine for off-grid selling of quality espresso and its derivatives with a compact footprint and near silent ultra-low carbon human-powered operation -- fine coffee, no electricity, no motors, no noise. ----- Awards Deutsche Bank Award 2012 (Design) , winners Pininfarina Design Contest 2012 , 2nd place

Bike riders gathered at Justin Herman Plaza in preparation for the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass. Police and organizers' estimates ranged from 3,000 to 5,000 riders for the 2002 event. Photo: Mike Kepka, SFC / SF The bicycle party known as Critical Mass turns 20 on Friday. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of riders in all manner of dress and - if recent history holds true, no dress at all - will band together for a commemorative, congestion-causing cruise through downtown San Francisco. The event comes at a time of enormous growth in the number of people who are engaging in what 20 years ago was still considered rebellious behavior - commuting by bicycle. Chris Carlsson , the Critical Mass spokesman, said he expects 5,000 to 10,000 riders on Friday, more than 10 times the number of riders who routinely participate. "It's going to be a gigantic mess, but it is going to be fun," Carlsson said. Read more:  http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Critical-Mass

The GearJunkie crew is back from five days of bike-centric living at the Interbike Expo trade show in Las Vegas. We rode, demo’d equipment, watched a race, and saw loads of great new bike gear that will be coming to market later this year and early in 2013. As a bonafide bike junkie, here are my top 10 picks from the show.  —T.C. Worley #1 —  SRAM  XX1 Group.  A first of its kind, this group uses a 1×11 system (one front chainring, an 11-speed rear cassette) that offers similar gearing range as a double chainring setup. You cut weight, lose a front derailleur, and end up with a more simplified system for cross-country and all-mountain riding. The SRAM  XX1 Group  will be sold in several configurations when it comes to market next month. Less is More:  SRAM  1×11 Mtb Groupo #2 — Salsa Warbird Ti.  Just when you thought you’d seen every bike genre,  Salsa adds another. The Warbird model is specific to road racing on gravel. (Think the  Almanzo 100 , as one example.) Before y

It’s the height of bike riding season here in New York — it’s no longer so hot that you can’t do more than duck from air conditioned shop to air conditioned shop, but it’s still beautiful, and as the air continues to crisp, the cyclist will be out in numbers. And hey, in another life, one of them might have been Leo Tolstoy. We spotted this delightful photo of Leo Tolstoy and his bicycle — he learned to ride at 67! — over at  Open Culture , and we were intrigued. Bike riding seems like an appropriate pastime for authors (all those  bike-powered book tours  and long lazy afternoons), so we thought we’d hunt around to see how many other famous writers liked to zoom about on two wheels. Click through to check out our gallery, and let us know if we missed your favorite snap of a writer on a bike in the comments. Leo Tolstoy, c. 1895. [ via ] [See more at Flavorwire]

The Inverted Bike Shop from Show Love on Vimeo . Synopsis Amongst the multitude of bike shops across Manhattan and Brooklyn, 718 Cyclery ( 718c.com ) stands out for their unique approach to the business. This is the "inverted bike shop". June 2012 Update: We were honored to have our film selected in the official line up of the 2012 Bicycle Film Festival ( bicyclefilmfestival.com ) in New York. Created by Show Love ( showloveworld.com ). For more you can find us on Facebook ( facebook.com/showloveworld ) or you can contact Peter or Chauncey at  showlove@showloveworld.com Music by The Album Leaf

Model No.3 Honey Edition is our ultimate all-around city bicycle with an elegant makeover, including a Brooks titanium-rail honey-leather saddle, matching honey grips, and German-made creme tires. Titanium seatpost, badges, and handlebars. Paul Budnitz conceived of No.3 as a very fast bicycle that would be ideal for urban riding, with two big 29-inch wheels and wide tires that comfortably fly over rough roads. Model No.3’s frame geometry is aggressive enough so that the rider has real power behind the pedals but does not sacrifice elegance or comfort. Two 29-inch wheels with 2.0” tires roll over bumps, gravel, jump curbs — just about anything you’ll encounter on a city street. The lightweight cro-moly steel No.3 cantilever frame is gorgeous, absorbs road shock, and handles magnificently as a good steel frame should. Optional titanium stem and a specially made titanium Chris King headset. Carbon belt drive is lightweight, silent, and requires no grease — so you won’t get you

The Piccadilly is a versatile knapsack that epitomizes simple timeless elegance and the freedom associated with arriving on two wheels under your own power. It may also be carried as a handbag, easily adapting to your modern way of living. [Brooks]

Cycling in New York City. Photograph: Alamy Walking just a mile from my apartment to my parent's house in Brooklyn, New York  on Monday evening, I witnessed three bicyclists riding in an alarmingly dangerous manner: one nearly ran me over as he turned on a red light while I crossed a street; one was going the wrong way on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn's busiest street; and one forced me to wait to cross on a green light because he ran a red without even slowing down, much less stopping. By the time I was safely indoors, I had decided that New York City ought to start much more aggressively enforcing the traffic laws on bicycles. So, imagine my surprise when I got to my parents house, opened the New York Times  Sunday Review, and saw that Randy Cohen, The New York Times Magazine's erstwhile "ethicist", had written  an op-ed in favor of these irresponsible behaviors . To be sure, Cohen did not endorse each of the foolish choices, but his distinctions between t

People called, "Good morning!" A little boy stuck his head out of the secondstory window of a ramshackle house and waved. Cops highfived the public. It was Detroit like you've never seen it. The Motor City may be on its knees, but on a late summer morning, the sun warm, the sky translucent, there was nothing more fascinating or fun than sailing along the streets in the Tour de Troit. Magnificent architecture - and burned-out shells. Resplendent parks and vacant, weed-filled lots. We saw it all on the annual bike ride last Saturday. The 30-mile (my husband and I did that one) and 62-mile rides started in Roosevelt Park at Michigan and Vernor, at the foot of the old Michigan Central Station. I'd never stood in front of the landmark; I'd only seen it from afar. Designed by the same two firms that did Grand Central Station in New York City, now a symbol of Detroit's ruin, it's breathtaking, grander - and more tragic - than I'd even imagined. One af

©  April Streeter Earlier this summer, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) used a bi-partisan polling team to  pose questions about transportation to 800 Americans . Those polled seemed to agree that our current transportation system needs change. According to NRDC, of those 800 polled: -59 percent feel the transportation system is “outdated, unreliable and inefficient” -55 percent prefer to drive less, but 74 percent say they have no choice -58 percent would like to use public transportation more often, but it is not convenient or available from their home or work -68 percent support more local investment in improvements to public transportation (including 63 percent of those who do not use transit), with 39 percent supporting it “strongly” [Keep reading at Treehugger]

Click here for animation on Orlando Commuter

CONTOUR+2 We took our most coveted features from the ContourROAM and the original Contour+ and created a camera that is not only easier to use, but brings an entirely new perspective to your adventures. Share beautiful 1080p HD video with speed, distance, and elevation across the social networks you use most. Featuring even better video quality, an Instant On-Record switch, and a 60-meter waterproof case for those underwater adventures, the Contour+2 will bring your stories to life like never before. YOUR DATA, EVERYWHERE Unique to Contour, a GPS receiver allows you to capture and share a different perspective. The Contour+2 provides beautiful HD video with overlays for speed, elevation, and distance, so what you share to Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo just got a lot more interesting. MOBILE CONNECTIVITY OUT OF THE BOX Use your mobile device to preview your shot before and while you’re recording, as a remote control, or to tweak your camera settings in the field.

David Rice Bikes are permitted on Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area GO Trains anytime on weekends and holidays, and on weekdays except during rush hour. Often, the quickest way to get somewhere in the city requires using more than one form of transportation. If your trip is longer, combining bicycling with other forms of transit is a great option. Here are a few things you can do to make your multi-modal commute a hassle-free experience. Research Transit Regulations in Your Area Check out your regional transit website. Not only can you look up bus, train and subway schedules, but you can find cycle specific transit information for your city. For instance, some cities permit bikes to travel on trains at any time, while some prohibit bikes from boarding during peak hours. To find out what regulations you need to be aware of, consult your city’s transit website. Get a Map A transit specific map, preferably one that incorporates bike routes as well as transi

Bicycle Sub-Committee Home COLUMBUS TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE July 25th, 2012 Sub-Committee Meeting Notes  (pdf) Sullivant Ave Corridor Presentation  (pdf) Cleveland Ave Presentation  (pdf) September 26th, 2012 Sub-Committee Agenda  (pdf) THE NEXT MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2012 NORMALLY MEETS THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 109 NORTH FRONT STREET, GROUND FLOOR, ROOM 100 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. http://publicservice.columbus.gov/BSC/

I've long been an admirer of Surly's Long Haul Trucker, so I was well pleased to have a chance to play with the disc equipped version. The downside is that I've got to give it back. The Trucker is one of those understated 'do-anything' bikes. It's happy hauling rider and luggage on anything from a commute to a round the world tour. The version we tested was the slightly more unusual 26" wheel version, which does make the frame look a little gappy, even in a medium 54cm size. I'll come to that later. Surly's marketing and branding may be a little too cutesy and hip for some, but the bikes have a good rep for being practical and unfussy. The Trucker amply demonstrates this, with a non-nonsense steel frame in humble 4130. It's tough, rides well and of course can be repaired by pretty much anyone with a welder. Build quality is excellent with nice tidy welds and the paint job is also very good, with little or no flaking. The graphics are l

[Photoset on Flickr]

In response the letter “ Drivers and cyclists must make peace ” (Sept. 24). I have a suggestion to at least make things better, as there is no perfect fix. I propose making it law that bicyclists be excluded from riding on streets during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. each weekday morning and from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. each weekday evening. While I realize this can be a burden to the cyclists, I believe there are more drivers than cyclists and we have a right to be able to get to work on time and to be able to get home in a timely manner after working hard for 8 to 10 hours a day. I know that my road rage knows no bounds after driving up Cornell Road and having to drive 10 miles an hour because cyclists can’t go any faster up hill and there is too much traffic to get around them and I am trying to get home after work. Felicia Duncan Blue Ash http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/09/24/ban-bicycles-during-rush-hour/

Regarding “Bicyclist run over and killed by a Metro bus” (Sept. 12): What do we do about this situation? The law is clear; bicycles are permitted to use pubic streets. What is also clear is that this system is not working. No one should die because of their transportation choice. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Vehicle traffic of all types will be increasing in and around the Cincinnati area in the coming years. The time for addressing the problem is now. All sides in this issue have to find a workable solution. The bicycles are not going away and neither are the motorized vehicles. George Corneliussen Montgomery http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/09/24/driver-and-cyclists-must-make-peace/

Hi Folks, We are 4 weeks away from the 2012 event and I wanted to give you a shout out and invite you out to what may be your last chance at an organized ride in 2012. We had 25 riders for the first event in 2010 and with their feedback we made significant changes for the following year. The 2011 route got rave reviews - so we didn't change much, only the start from Hocking College to the Square in Nelsonville to get started. I rode the route on Saturday, 70 miles and I was passed by less than 40 cars - I think that qualifies as a low traffic route despite spending about 30 miles on State highways. We also have a really nice 35 mile route that will give you some of the best parts of the longer route, but less hills (and miles) #1) No significant changes on the route - we are starting in the same location but using the bike path to Nelsonville. This takes you right to the light that crosses into the square and then straight onto the route out of Nelsonville. #2) 3 Rest stop

Partly because of jerks like me. But it’s mostly your own illogical mind. By  Jim Saksa | Posted Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at 3:39 AM ET Data from nine major North American cities showed that, despite the total number of bike trips tripling between 1977 and 2009, fatalities per 10 million bike trips fell by 65 percent Photograph by Val Goretsky/Hemera/Thinkstock. I'm an asshole cyclist. I'm that jerk weaving in and out of traffic, going the wrong way down a one-way street, and making a left on red. I'm truly a menace on the road. But it’s not because I’m on a bike—I'm an asshole on the road no matter what. I’m also a stereotypical Jersey driver, someone who treats speed limits as speed minimums and curses those who disagree. And I'm just as bad as a pedestrian, another jaywalking smartphone zombie oblivious to the world beyond my glowing screen. If I’m moving, I’m an accident waiting to happen. Biking is my primary means of transportation, so