New York City all about Cycling these Days…

Julia — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:26:59 -0400

It’s about time for New Yorkers to get with the program. I was in Portland last week and their streets are devoted to the cyclers!

As of right now, an average of about 112,000 people bike everyday in the Big Apple. That’s actually an increase of about 10 percent over the past decade, but that ain’t enough!

The Department of Transportation wants to make it 20 percent by 2015. Helping them is Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit group that is largely to thank for some of the current improvements in NYC’s streets.

There are some separate lanes for the bikers, but this new initiative is hoping to create 200 more miles of bicycle lanes between now and 2009. In addition to that, they are creating 15 more miles of protected on-street bike lanes by 2010, and 30 miles from 2011 to 2015.

The lanes are important for safety reasons, and it gives bikers a bit more assurance on the road, just knowing that they have their own area. That being said, it is important that drivers are educated about their interaction with cyclists, as they are inevitably on the road together. More bike lanes is a newer concept for city drivers, so it’s certainly an adjustment to be made.

The proposal will also install 37 bike shelters and 5,000 bike parking tracks by 2011! These are really exciting plans, and to get things really moving, the Transportation Dept. is holding a competition to find the most bike-friendly employers in New York City. (http://bikemonthnyc.org/bfb)

Lest you forget, the New York City Five-Borough Bike Tour on April 4 had to stop accepting entries because it reached its maximum capacity of 30,000 riders. Perhaps New Yorkers are feelin’ these wheel. More power to them! Join in the excitement, wherever you live!

Quick Trips Call for the E-Bike

jplatt — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Do you really need a car for every trip you take? What about that quick drive to the Post Office, or to visit your neighbor a few streets over? Do you have to burn fossil fuels to get there by car?

No, you don't. You could walk, you could ride a bike, or you could turn heads by trying an electric bicycle.

E-bikes (as they are often called) are just like normal bicycles, but they come equipped with rechargable batteries that can keep them going on their own power for around 10-20 miles, depending on the model you're riding. You can switch at any time between battery power and good old-fashioned pedal power, so you can also get your exercise while you're zipping around town.

E-bikes are growing in popularity around the world as more and more people try free themselves from high oil prices. It's been said that there are more than 10 million e-bikes on the road, and some say sales are expected to double this year.

The bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and with a wide variety of features. Depending on what you want out of an e-bike, you can pay as little as $300 and all the way up to $2,000 or more. If you already have a bike, you can even purchase a conversion kit to electrify it.

A few tips: First, look for a bike using NiMh or Lithium Ion batteries. They cost more, but they weigh less, last longer, and can be recharged many more times. Second, try to keep the total weight of your bike under 50 pounds, so you get the most out of your battery. Third, check the laws in your local community. Most states treat e-bikes the same as bicycles, but California has its own rules (doesn't it always), and you don't want to get in trouble when you're trying to do the right thing for the environment.