Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Great news from Mobile...

Great news from Mobile, Alabama.


Mobile's first on-street bike racks installed

Published: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 6:32 AM Updated: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 7:43 AM

Bike Parking Downtown MobileView full sizeTwo of Mobile's first ever on-street parking facilities for bicycles are seen in this photo taken Monday Nov. 21, 2011 on the north side of Bienville Square in Mobile, Ala. (Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)

MOBILE, Alabama -- The first on-street parking facility for bicycles in Mobile’s modern era has been installed downtown, and the city is already eyeing space for more, said Jennifer White, the city’s traffic engineer.

The new racks reflect an increase in the number of people cycling in Mobile, White said.

As the cyclists participated in the creation of the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization’s bicycle and pedestrian plan, they raised the issue of a lack of cycling infrastructure, including a place to park on the street, White said.

When the city recently restriped the parking spaces on Bienville Square, it had one stub-space that was not quite large enough for an extra car, White said, so the city set it aside for a potential bike parking space.

The city did not have money set aside in its budget for the racks, so it partnered with the Downtown Mobile Alliance, which selected the design and supplied the money, White said.

Each of the two inverted-U shaped racks cost $400, said Carol Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Alliance. “If they are as popular as we hope, and people use them, we’d like to add more,” she said.

“I think it’s a positive move in the right direction,” said Niklas Hallberg, a member of Mobilians on Bikes, a group of cycling enthusiasts who advocate for cycling as a means of transportation.

Hallberg said that the city may also need to shore up the ones it installed on Bienville Square last week, as the concrete seemed to be


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sadandmad
sadandmad November 22, 2011 at 6:47AM

Good deal Mobile.

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Foxh
Fox November 22, 2011 at 7:20AM

My problem is not finding someplace to secure my trike, rather it's the fear of vandalism if left unattended (Google "Greenspeed Trike" and you'll see how it draws attention). Hooligans and thugs are what needs addressing.

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kindablondie
kindablondie November 22, 2011 at 7:39AM

Is a GPS a consideration? Isn't there an app to track your property if stolen? Doesn't it suck we have to think like this just to be able to keep our property?!! I agree with your post Fox.

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myalcondo
myalcondo November 22, 2011 at 7:29AM

Positive step. Now we need to encourage bikers by thinking about bike lanes, educating the public about bike safety (drivers).

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Friday, November 11, 2011

New Bike Cars on Trains in LA

Ted Chan of Alison Viejo, rides his bicycle up to a northbound Metrolink train wrapped with a bicycle graphic at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station early Thursday morning. Chan was on his way to Fullerton Community College. Metrolink launched the system's new bike cars into service for weekday trains on Thursday.

New Metrolink cars add bike capacity

The 12 added cars can hold up to 18 bikes each on the lower level.


By ALEJANDRA MOLINA
/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

As more commuters opt to use their bicycles to get to work, Metrolink officials say a new set of weekday cars with added bike storage will help with the increasing demand.

On Thursday, Metrolink and Orange County Transportation Authority officials unveiled the new bicycle cars at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station.

Article Tab: Alice Rogan of OCTA waits her turn to load her bike on the northbound Metrolink train wrapped with a bicycle graphic at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station early Thursday morning. Metrolink launched the system's new bike cars into service for weekday trains on Thursday.
Alice Rogan of OCTA waits her turn to load her bike on the northbound Metrolink train wrapped with a bicycle graphic at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station early Thursday morning. Metrolink launched the system's new bike cars into service for weekday trains on Thursday.
MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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With the added storage, Metrolink spokeswoman Sherita Coffelt said, it will be easier for commuters to, "ride to the station, take the train, and use their bicycle to complete their commute to their job or wherever they're going."

The 12 added cars – which can hold up to 18 bikes on the lower level - will now be on 34 trains throughout the five-county system during the week. Bicycles are allowed on all train cars, but only hold up to three bikes.

Coffelt said it cost about $20,000 to modify each of the 12 passenger cars to allow for the bike capacity. The funds came from the Metrolink operational budget, Coffelt said.

Metrolink crews removed 30 seats [...]

Thursday, July 28, 2011


Nice Ride MN: Minnesota’s Bike Share Expands

Nice Ride MN is a hit. The Twin Cities bike share recently celebrated its one year anniversary in June. And in July they started an expansion by adding more stations and bicycles to the network.

We talked with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak who told us about how [...more...]


Young People Like Bike Lanes

Transportation Nation has a summary of a new BTS report that shows what Americans think about how transportation options figure in to quality of life. Despite the aging populace, more than a quarter of senior citizens don't believe sidewalks are important.


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

It's big, it's green and everyone wants one

It's big, it's green and everyone wants one

A US Congressman was on Newsnight talking about the debt crisis, but all eyes were on the bright green bicycle he was wearing on his lapel. What could it mean?

Earl Blumenauer and his bike badge
Earl Blumenauer's bow tie and bike badge. Photograph: BBC

On Monday night, viewers of BBC2's Newsnight were served an undoubtedly vital, but rather dry discussion between two US politicians about their [...more...]

Bike Sharing Rapidly Expanding Across U.S.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Happy Lookin' bunch, don't ya think?


Click on the image to see a larger version.

Friday, July 22, 2011

A backlash to bike infrastucture in Copenhagen?

http://bikeportland.org/2011/07/22/a-backlash-to-bike-infrastucture-in-copenhagen-56711#more-56711

A backlash to bike infrastucture in Copenhagen?

Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on July 22nd, 2011 at 11:00 am

Screenshot of The Copenhagen Post

Among planners and bike advocates, Copenhagen is often held up as the apotheosis of a cycling city; a place that "gets it" when it comes to bicycling more than any other city in the world.

But, if an article in The Copenhagen Post (an English-language newspaper), is any indication, there are cracks forming in Copenhagen's bike-first foundation.

In Dissidents in the City of Cyclists (published last month), the Post reporters paints the picture of a growing backlash against [...more...]

Need some Tour de France oddity viewing today?

Not for the faint of heart...

Laurens ten DamKoen van Weel/AFP/Getty ImagesDutch rider Laurens ten Dam got right back into the fray after wiping out on Saturday's 14th stage.

Random thoughts on the Tour de France while wondering whether my wife would get creeped out if I shave my legs before my next ride ... more...