July 2023

8 of the Most Bike-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

From EcoWatch.com

By: Linnea Harris

Copenhagen and Amsterdam are famous for their sprawling bike paths and hoards of cyclists, but some U.S. cities are also on the biking bandwagon.

Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and it’s clear that if we don’t curb our car usage, runaway climate change will only worsen. The World Health Organization finds that investments in policies that promote bicycling and walking are crucial for mitigating climate change and protecting the environment. By choosing to bike over riding in the car just once a day, the average person can reduce their transportation-related carbon emissions by 67%.

These U.S. cities are setting an example for how people-powered transportation can look. PeopleforBikes evaluates cities for their bikeability based on how many people ride bikes, the ease and safety of biking, the breadth of neighborhoods serviced by bike infrastructure, and how quickly the bike network is expanding. These ratings change a bit every year, but there are a few that consistently jostle for top positions.

If you’re looking to plan a vacation somewhere where you can see the sights via bike, or choosing your next dwelling place based on bikeability, here are a few of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States.

Boulder, Colorado

Take in views of the Rocky Mountains from a bicycle in Boulder. This city of over 100,000 took first place in PeopleForBikes’s 2019 ratings of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., and riding down its 300 miles of bikeway, it’s easy to see why — not to mention that Boulder sees 300 days of sunshine a year. Across the city you’ll see multi-use paths that are separate from car traffic, and designated underpasses for cyclists and pedestrians. People in Boulder are 20 times more likely to bike to workthan the average American, but if you get caught in the rain and need to hop on a local bus, the whole fleet is equipped with bike racks. Dozens of self-service kiosks across the city rent out bikes, courtesy of Boulder Bcycle.

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Experiencing Mexico City by Bicycle

From TravelPulse.com

by Juan Antonio (Oso) Oseguera

Here we recommend some of the best places to enjoy a day out of the ordinary, so hop on your bike and ride through this vibrant metropolis.

Floating Causeway

The first site on the list is the Calzada Flotante; this impressive pedestrian bridge is in the Chapultepec: Nature and Culture project, which begins at the Molino del Rey and extends to the Avenida de los Compositores.

The Calzada Flotante is more than a bridge; it is a sustainable facility that respects the area’s ecosystem, unifies the forest’s four sections, and improves access to all its attractions.

And as you pedal through Chapultepec Forest, you’ll see beautiful monuments, tranquil lakes, and a variety of museums to explore. One recently opened museum is the new Amphibium, a museum and conservation center for the salamander. Among Mexico’s extraordinary endemic fauna is the endangered salamander, an endangered species that has always been sought to be cared for. This museum has the task of protecting but also sharing the knowledge of these “water monsters” and their meaning from the Nahuatl axolotl.

The Chapultepec Forest, 100 years after its creation, continues to modernize to offer visitors more attractions and better experiences. Escape to see what’s new in Chapultepec and celebrate its first century.

Paseo de la Reforma

Paseo de la Reforma is one of the iconic avenues of the city; it is a model road and tourist center. Cars, buses, tourist buses, and, of course, bicycles circulate along this avenue in a bike lane away from the other vehicles. It is one of the most emblematic places in Mexico City. It also has beautiful parks and incredible views of the city’s heart.

Photo by Carlos Aguilar on Unsplash

 

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Venice Boulevard! Presented by LADOT – July 23

✌️enice Boulevard!

Join us on Sunday, July 23rd to ride, bike, skate, and experience the new protected bike lanes and safety features on Venice Boulevard. This event will feature a series of guided group bike rides and walks along Venice Boulevard, between National and Sepulveda, as well as routes through the surrounding neighborhoods, highlighting the recent transportation safety improvements.

The street will remain open to cars and we encourage participants to explore the area safely. You can also jog, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the afternoon along the sidewalks in your own way. This event is welcoming to people of all ages and abilities!

There will be a Hub at Venice and Bagley with music, street games and other activities. Be sure to join our email listand check back here soon so you don’t miss any event news and updates. Use this CicLAvia digital map to plan which businesses and activities to check out along the corridor during the event on July 23!

 

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Tour De France Climbing Speed: Is 7W/kg The New 6W/kg?

Climbing speeds at the Tour de France are higher than ever with Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar putting out mind-boggling numbers on the climbs. Has 7W/kg become the new 6W/kg? Si and Conor discuss why they are so fast! We also look at other news from the world of cycling and a whole lot more!

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Eyes on the Street: Culver City’s New Higuera Street Bridge

From LA.Streetsblog.org

Culver’s Higuera Street Bridge replacement project widened the bridge including widened sidewalks, plus added a new access ramp to the Ballona Creek path below, new protected bike lanes, and a new mid-bridge belvedere

By Joe Linton

Culver City recently opened the newly reconstructed Higuera Street Bridge over Ballona Creek. The project widened the bridge, adding one new travel lane for drivers, plus widened existing sidewalks and added a new access ramp to the creek path, new protected bike lanes, and a new mid-bridge belvedere (overlook).

Construction on the new bridge began in 2021, and the completed bridge re-opened in mid-May.

According to Culver City Senior Civil Engineer Sammy Romo, the overall project cost was $11 million, which included the $8.3 million bridge replacement, the $1.36 million bike ramp (Ballona Creek Bike Path Connectivity Project at Higuera Street), and $1.4 million for combined construction management for both projects.

New bike lanes on the bridge extend past the bridge abutments to span the entire long block from Jefferson Boulevard to Eastham Drive.

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The Lost Boys: Simmons and Evenepoel, a tale of two prodigies

From Velo.com

Ever since Quinn Simmons won the 2019 world junior road championship in Yorkshire, England—taking over the under-19s rainbow jersey won by Remco Evenepoel the previous year—the American prodigy has promised more than he has produced.

It was a partial surprise when Evenepoel turned pro at age 19, but he overcame that seeming premature step-up by soon winning classics and one-week stage races and clocking up more than 30 victories in his first three pro seasons. Perhaps his example was one that Simmons hoped to repeat.

But now, midway through his fourth season in the UCI ProTour, the American has won just four times, at lesser races, and his hopes of winning a stage at this Tour de France ended on Sunday when his Lidl-Trek team decided he should not start stage 9. Simmons sustained extensive wounds to his left shoulder and hip in a heavy crash 30 kilometers into the first Pyrenean stage, stage 5.

After he finished with the gruppetto for the following three days, he said online: “Together with my doctor, coaches and team, we have made the decision not to start today. Disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling. I built my whole season around arriving here in peak form but I guess that’s how the sport goes.”

At just over 6 feet tall and just under 160 pounds, Simmons is much bigger than the average Tour rider; but his power numbers are also bigger than the average. That’s why the Trek team first became interested in his capabilities four years ago.

“I had signed the contract with Trek-Segafredo before Yorkshire, so I knew I had a future in the sport,” he said. “I knew I was the best junior that year, and Yorkshire was just the way to prove it.”

 

Image Courtesy of Hoebele, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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Tour De France Bikes Ranked Cheapest To Most Expensive!

The Tour de France is the pinnacle of road cycling, a grueling 3-week-long stage race where the best of the best riders cover 3,404KM to finish in Paris. It’s the biggest sporting event in the world, BUT what about the bikes they race on, how much do they cost? We are going to RANK the bikes from the 2023 edition of Le Tour from cheapest to most expensive!

 

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10 Cities Embracing Bicycles in their Urban Planning

From ArchDaily.com

Written by

What does the future of cities and transportation look like? It looks like the future will run on two wheels and a handle bar. Many explain the rise of cyclists as a shift towards a healthier and more economical lifestyle. But while that may be true, why would individuals feel inclined to ride bicycles if the roads don’t support it, or if there weren’t adequate spaces to park?

Architecture plays an important role in promoting the use of bicycles. Cities equipped with safe bicyclelanes, parking lots, and public bike facilities encourage citizens to refrain from using their cars, and opt for a much more sustainable means of transportation. Many have already began reshaping their urban infrastructure in a way that caters to bicycles, whether it is through bicycle bridges, widened cycling lanes, or permanent parking lots.

To celebrate World Bicycle Day, we are sharing 10 of the most bike-friendly cities across the world, and how they have adapted their urban spaces to fit the needs of cyclists.

Photo by Jamshed Khedri on Unsplash

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The best electric bikes in 2023 for every type of rider

From TechCrunch.com

By Rebecca Bellan

Commuter, mountain lover, delivery worker? There’s an e-bike for you.

With summer well underway and a federal e-bike incentiveback on the Congress floor, it’s time to start thinking about electric bikes — and what might be the best one for you and your lifestyle.

We’ve rounded up the best e-bikes for your specific needs, whether you’re commuting to work and need to keep your cool, toting around children, delivering pizzas or traversing mountains. How did we make our picks? Our recommendations are based on a combination of our own experience on the bikes, industry research and talking with experts and our readers about what they love to ride.

Our guide is broken up into several categories, starting with the diverse array of cargo bikes. From there we provide recommendations for commuters, seniors, folks looking to scale mountains, people living in small spaces and those who are on a budget.

Best cargo e-bikes

Electric cargo bikes are taking off as people look for ways to carry kids, gear and groceries. At the same time, the rise in e-commerce and fast delivery has led to an uptick in urban couriers delivering everything from pizzas and groceries to headphones and alcohol.

There are two main types of e-cargo bikes: front loaders and rear loaders. Each has its own strengths. Front loaders, for example, are often better if you’re carrying small children or large, bulky items. However, some people might be initially put off by the larger turning circle and the size — they are much longer and require more storage space.

Rear loaders feel more like a normal bike and allow you to stack cargo behind you. When it comes to transporting kids, rear loaders are better for older children who can be trusted to keep their seats.

We’ll break down some of the best cargo bikes we’ve found for different demographics.

Image courtesy of Trek

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Fit ANY Difficult Bike Tire With This Easy Trick!

Some bicycle tires never seem to want to fit on the wheel rim, no matter how hard you try. It can be so frustrating, but Alex is here to help with a simple solution which will enable you to fit any tricky bike tire with minimum hassle. With tire levers, some lubrication and correct technique, all that tire stress will be gone in no time!

 

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