Commuting

In praise of the humble beater bike for city commuting

From MomentumMag.com

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In bustling bicycle-friendly cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam and many other cities worldwide, cycling is not just a mode of transportation; it’s a way of life. However, with the convenience, quality of life and health benefits of cycling come unique challenges, chief among them being the prevalence of theft, wear and tear, and inadequate bike parking facilities. In such environments, investing in an inexpensive “beater” bike for commuting emerges as a pragmatic solution to safeguarding against potential losses and inconveniences. And, really, seems a natural to help people from stressing too much about their bicycles while at work or play.

The Peril of Theft

One of the foremost concerns for cyclists in urban areas is the rampant theft of bicycles. Amsterdam, often hailed as a cycling paradise, like many urban centres around the world, also grapples with a high rate of bike theft. Despite the presence of large bike parking facilities that leave cyclists around the world in awe, security measures are just as lax as other areas, leaving bikes vulnerable to theft. The sad truth is that even the most robust locks cannot guarantee the safety of a valuable bike in such environments.

But that’s just the thing that Amsterdam and Copenhagen residents know but North Americans for the most part are still figuring out, many commuters opt for inexpensive “beater” bikes – sturdy, functional bicycles that serve their purpose without breaking the bank.

The whole idea of the “Dutch bike” isn’t something fancy and made special for Dutch bicyclists. It’s the idea of it being a simple utilitarian bicycles that looks like every other bicycle, is easy to operate and makes thieves basically keep on walking when they see it.

These bikes are less attractive targets for thieves due to their lower resale value, providing cyclists with a degree of peace of mind on two levels as they navigate the city streets. First, it is unlikely to get stolen compared to other more expensive models, and, second, if it does it is easily replaced.

Perhaps the name “beater bike” needs to change? Certainly, Dutch bike has a nicer ring to it.
Photo by Dovile Ramoskaite on Unsplash

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How to choose the right bike for cycling to work — what’s the best bike for commuting duties?

From Road.cc

by EMILY TILLETT

With the current cost of fuel and the omnipresent risk of wasting time sitting in rush hour traffic, you might be considering commuting to work by bike. We’ll presume you’ve already got the job to commute to, so now you need the bike for the job! That can be a bit of a minefield, so with the help of Trek’s FX range(link is external), here’s a look at some typical steeds that are ideal for the commute, and some top tips to get you on your way.

For many of us, with the right preparation commuting by bike is not only pretty easy, but also a more enjoyable and sustainable way to travel to work. It offers numerous benefits for your health and finances, and may even mean you can stay in bed a little bit longer.

Commuting by bike is a great way to get out in the fresh air and maybe even contribute to maintaining your fitness. Another positive of commuting by bike is that you can generally get closer to the office than in a car. There’s not many people who like sitting in traffic and trying to find parking spaces in tight town centre car parks, not to mention that parking isn’t free for most of us.

The growing network of cycling infrastructure that’s popping up in cities is also making it easier than ever to commute by bike. To help you find the best bike for your commuting duties, we’ve got our hands on Trek’s FX range. This also happens to be the American brand’s best-selling range.

Photo by Mark Stosberg on Unsplash

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13 helpful tips for a worry-free first-time bike commuting experience

From MomentumMag.com

Written by:

Are you ready to embark on a two-wheeled adventure through the city? It’s easy to forget those initial butterflies in your stomach when you first set out on a bicycle, but fear not! We’ve got your back with some tips to make your bike commuting journey a breeze, whether you’re a newbie or just need a refresher.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Before you hit the bustling city streets, take some time to rekindle your romance with your trusty bike. Find a quiet spot, be it your driveway, a serene park, or a calm side street, and brush up on your cycling skills. From cruising with one hand to quick stops and even standing up to pedal, practice makes perfect.

2. Bike Check-Up Time

Give your bike some love. Clean the chain, pump up those tires, and ensure your brakes are in tip-top shape. If you’re not a bike mechanic pro, don’t worry! Pop by a local bike shop or co-op for a tune-up, and you’ll be riding in style, while there get them to show you how to change a flat!

3. Buddy Up

Feeling a bit jittery about your first ride? Don’t fret! Find a seasoned cycling friend, family member, or coworker and join them on a city adventure. Let them lead the way while you soak in the joy of the ride.

4. Plan for Success

Create a master plan by scouting out bike lanes and pathways in your community. Opt for routes with protected bike lanes or traffic-calmed roads, ensuring your ride is as smooth and safe as possible. If you can’t find a map online, consult a local cycling organization or bike shop for some expert guidance.

Photo by Noralí Nayla on Unsplash

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HUB Cycling: Switching to bike commuting could save you $9,200 a year

From BurnabyNow.com

By Lisa Storey

As people around the region continue to grapple with rising housing costs and the growing challenge of affordability, it’s essential to find innovative ways to address these issues.

One such solution lies right under our noses — cycling. At the end of August, gas prices in Vancouver soared to the highest they have been at $2.13 per litre at many stations.

British Columbia’s consumer price index (CPI), representing changes in prices as experienced by consumers, was 3.8 per cent higher (unadjusted) in August 2023 than in August 2022, with the most significant inflationary increases being:

  • Food: an increase of 6.3 per cent
  • Health and personal: an increase of 5.9 per cent
  • Shelter: an increase of 5.1 per cent

As many people look for unique ways to cut costs, non-profit organization HUB Cycling suggests a sometimes overlooked solution to easing the blow of Metro Vancouver’s affordability crisis: bike commuting.HUB Cycling’s recent Pedaling Towards Equity report finds that people can save up to $9,200/year by switching their main mode of transportation to commuting by bike.

Photo by Eduardo Alemán on Unsplash

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Ebike Tips For Commuting, Last-Mile Trips, Errands

From CleanTechnica.com

Photo by KBO Bike on Unsplash

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We Cycled To Work Every Day For A Month & This Is What Happened!

For the last month, six GCN employees, and many of you viewers, have been taking on a commuter challenge. The idea: ride to and from work every day for a month, to see if they could save money, get fitter and happier. Si and Manon caught up with our star volunteers Harriet, Steve, Alice, Harry, Allie & Kai to see how their month of commuting went!

Here’s What You Need to Start E-Bike Commuting

From Bicycling.com

By Laura McCamy

My family has been car-free for 15 years, and during that time, my Bay Area commute has never been more than a couple of miles. Riding to work is my morning cup of coffee, but in recent years, I’ve found myself taking the bus or asking for a ride more often. I realized an e-bike was the solution to keep me rolling on two wheels.

An electric bike, like a classic bike, is a fabulous tool. It makes biking a viable choice for people who have long commutes, need to transport kids or cargo, or live in hilly places that might otherwise be hard to bike around. And, when you feel that extra boost from the electric motor, you might just get hooked.

One of my favorite things about getting around by e-bike is that, other than charging the battery, there’s not much to worry about. Instead of clipless-ready cycling shoes, I can ride in my favorite platform sandals without sacrificing speed or performance, and I don’t have to worry about sweating through my work clothes. My bike, like most e-bikes, has built-in lights powered by the battery, so I never ride home in the dark because I forgot to charge my lights.

All you really need to start e-bike commuting is the bike itself. However, there are a few essential considerations that can make your transition easier.

First, get an e-bike with a built-in motor rather than adding after-market power to your current ride. The performance and safety of a bike designed to be electric far surpasses a DIY add-on. To help offset the cost, check whether you qualify for a local rebate or purchase incentive. Government agencies are slowly waking up to the fact that e-bikes are an excellent way to replace car trips and protect the environment, so they deserve subsidies similar to what’s already available for electric vehicles.

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10 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Started Commuting By Bike

10 years ago our own Simon Richardson got his first proper job in an office, and has since learnt a great deal about cycling to work. He believes it’s the ultimate way to get into the office, and thinks that with a little knowledge it can be very achievable for many commuters! In this video, Si gives you his nuggets of wisdom that he wished he knew when he started commuting by bike.

 

Is the U.S. becoming more bike friendly?

From NationalGeographic.com

In many cities, the pandemic has reinforced a trend: They’re building out the infrastructure needed to make cycling safe.

If you’ve noticed more people biking in town over the last year or two, it’s not just in your head. Biking has exploded during the pandemic, with millions of Americans mounting bicycles for the first time in years. Is it the start of a long-term trend?

There are good reasons to hope so. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse emissions in the U.S., and cars and light trucks account for 58 percent of transportation emissions. Switching from cars to bikes cuts emissions much faster than switching to electric cars.

And motor vehicle accidents still kill more than 39,000 Americans a year—including more than 700 cyclists.

Clearly the U.S. is not a bike-friendly country overall. Only one percent of all trips that Americans take—to work, to the store, on vacation—are by bike, compared with 87 percent by car or truck.

According to League of American Bicyclists (LAB), a nonprofit that collects data on biking in the U.S., the total number of bike rides Americans take each year had actually been falling in the years leading up to the pandemic. The number of people who ride their bikes to work fell from around 900,000 in 2014 to just over 800,000 in 2019—about .5 percent of all commuters.

“Commute to work rates have been down, bike fatalities have been up,” said Ken McLeod, policy director at the LAB.

Compare that to the Netherlands, say, where 27 percent of workers commute by bike. But Dutch cities didn’t used to be that bike friendly, said John Pucher, a professor emeritus of urban planning at Rutgers University who specializes in biking.

“Americans have this image, ‘Oh cycling is just paradise, and it’s always been paradise in Europe,’” Pucher told me when I interviewed him for Overheard, the National Geographic podcast. “Wrooong. Not true!”

If some European cities look heavenly to American cyclists today, he said, it’s because over the past few decades they’ve actively reclaimed space in the urban landscape from cars. And some American cities today have started on that same trend.

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Changing the future of bike commuting through art

From LADowntownNews.com

Cars define Los Angeles. The spaghetti highways, the luxury cars, the infamous traffic — automotive transport is the default way for people to navigate the sprawling metropolis centered around LA. 

Still, even with nearly 6 million registered vehicles in LA County alone, not everyone gets around on four wheels. Millions commute by the bus and train networks every year, especially on the subway Downtown. But Fabian Wagmister, a multimedia digital artist and UCLA professor who founded the first digital media lab at a film school, wants to promote a simpler kind of transport: biking. 

“About 10 years ago, I lived Downtown and I started commuting to UCLA by bike. When I started commuting by bike, it really changed my life,” said Wagmister. “It gave me a cognizance of the city. It made me realize I did not know Los Angeles. The Los Angeles you get to know from a car or even public transport is kind of a decontextualized fiction.

Wagmister’s love of bicycling — which he said changed his relationship with his body and his mental and physical health — inspired him to use his bike as more than just a means to get where he was going. Years ago, he looked to the artistic possibilities of his wheels and gears. That inspired numerous multimedia projects, including exhibitions in Ecuador and Wagmister’s native Argentina.

“I started making the bicycle my main tool for expression,” said Wagmister. “The bike became my brush, and the city became my canvas. Because I’m a digital media artist, I started outfitting my bike with sensors. It was first a personal transformation, then a transformation as an artist.”

Outside of his love of bicycling, Wagmister’s artistic career led him down a multidisciplinary professional path where he brought teams together to combine fine arts (from film and visuals to digital media) with both STEM fields and the social sciences (namely engineering, computer science, sociology and urban planning). Together with partner Jeff Burke, a dean at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, he directs the Center of Research in Engineering, Media and Performance (REMAP), which uses each of those disciplines to spearhead a diverse array of creative projects, including the recently National Science Foundation-backed initiative for “Civic Bicycle Commuting.”

“All of this — this bicycling life, this passion — led to this idea of a collective bike commuting system that is both a transportation solution for low-income people and a public art creation,” said Wagmister. “(It’ll be) almost like a bikepool. Like carpooling but bikepooling.”

Photo by Chris Kendall on Unsplash

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