With the rapidly approaching summer season, melting snow on mountain bike trails, and warming days, I figured it was high time to write a post dedicated to bike patrolling. Bike patrol, in the context of utility cycling, does not refer to police bikes or law enforcement by bicycle, rather it focuses on the use of…
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Probing the Fire Eye Helmet Light
It’s a busy Friday night in a college town. You see a man setting up a strange blinking apparatus right next to the train station–just as the Amtrak is loading and unloading passengers. The man quickly walks away. What do you do? I got some funny looks from a few bar hoppers as I walked…
Rapt Cycling Advocacy
Saturday came and went with no rapture to speak of. If you were aware of Harold Camping’s prediction, you fell into one of three broad categories: People completely convinced the rapture would happen, and bewildered when it didn’t, People who didn’t really expect the rapture but passed Saturday with your fingers crossed, hoping for the…
Bumps in Bike to Work Week: It's a conspiracy, I tell you!
The oil companies and the auto industry control the weather! Wake up people! That’s how I felt yesterday afternoon, riding into what felt like a relentless spray of icy buckshot. The day started out just a bit chilly and drizzly, but that didn’t keep more than 100 dedicated bike commuters from visiting a “Bike to…
Cyclist: You're Just a Number (Be Counted)
Our Josh Lipton was interviewed about Bike to Work Week yesterday on local radio by Steve Benning (our e-bike commuting Guinea Pig), along with Anthony Quintile from our local advocacy organization. I snuck in halfway through, and snuck out again before the interview was over. (My sneaking is in full view in the video below.)…
Pleading for Protection: A Transportation Bill Review
As headlines in the States are littered with concerns about the country's national debt, the ever increasing cost of oil, and the health and environmental repercussions of a largely inactive and auto-dependent population, the fate of federal funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure is uncertain. According to the League of American Bicyclists, the Senate Committee…
Bike to Work Week 2011 Begins
We kicked off Bike to Work Week by visiting and participating in a bike swap and parade held by our local bike advocacy organization. The bike swap was basically a bike-specific swap meet. Nirvana for DIY mechanics, bargain hunters, and bike nerds. I took some video and added some uplifting music to make it seem…
Commuter 'White Knuckle Moments'
Three weeks into life as a bike commuter, Steve Benning has encountered some of the challenges that even the most committed among us face from time to time. Unpleasant weather is one of the triggers for excuses to use the car. We had that kind of weather last week in the form of 40 to…
'Gearing Up' for Bike to Work Week (Get it?)
I was interviewed along with Josh Lipton and Anthony Quintile about the upcoming Bike to Work Week.
(Get Your) Car-Shaped Bike Racks on Route 66
I noticed these car-shaped bike racks next to a picnic area along the multi-use path that follows Route 66 through Flagstaff.
Purists, Cults, and Wheelies
As much as I get annoyed by the purists cults within cycling, this morning I was reminded of what that purist impulse feels like.
Two-Wheeled Navigation: Bicycle Paths, Routes & Lanes
According to a report prepared for the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation by a few people with PhDs, cycling infrastructure generally has a positive effect on cyclists without negatively impacting motorists. A survey of Portland, Oregon cycle track users found that 70% of respondents [thought] the cycle track made cycling safer and easier. Motorists…
Bicycle Map of the University of Arizona Campus
Those of you that have been reading Utility Cycling for a while have probably picked up on the fact that in addition to writing about all things utility cycling, I am also a student. In fact, I’m close to wrapping up my last semester of full coursework as a PhD student in the School of…
Imagine an Oprah-Apple 'oBike'
Look at those stupid motorist buying an oBike just to keep up with the stupid fad… Suddenly this tipping point looks not only desirable, but within reach.
Josh Lipton on The Outspoken Cyclist
Josh lords over a Web empire that includes Commute by Bike, and he was recently interviewed by Diane Lees on The Outspoken Cyclist.
Vaude Silk Road Plus Rack-Top Bag
I’ve had this Vaude Silk Road Plus Rack-Top Bag for several months, and has totally become my manbag. Clearly I’m not the guy you want to put in the spotlight to make cycling chic.
Art and Son and an Adams Trail-A-Bike
Riding my bike into work yesterday morning, I ran into my friend Art bringing in his 4 & and half year old son to pre-school. His son was riding a trusty Adam’s Trail-A-Bike. Being that we just started carrying Adams at BikeKidShop.com, I was curious how Art was liking this product. Art mentioned that the…
Back on the horse that throwed me
After two days of using that boat to get around, I can truly say, I really like riding a bike.
Ohm Electric Sport Bicycle in the Spring Snow
Last week I was getting familiar with an Ohm Electric Sport Bicycle. As Ted mentioned over at CommuteByBike.com a part of bike commuting often involves finding efficient short cuts. While a light weight/skinny tire commuter bike may be more efficient on smooth roads, in many areas a more off-road capable commuter will end up getting…
Am I The Bike Tester From Hell…
This is the second time in less than a month that I’ve wiped out a demo bike.
Sparks and Snow Flying
An interesting perspective through the shop window of Stuart grinding a railing, creating a bold plume of sparks.And our demo A2B Metro E-Bike poised for an electric bike commute in the slushy spring conditions we are having this week in Flagstaff. The A2B Metro handled well in the slippery conditions though with how wet the…
'Riding a bike can help to boost your bowels' (Roundup)
What? A crude American being more subtle than a Brit blogger? It won’t happen again.
Bicycle Hymn of the Republicans
Since posting my parts 1 and 2 of my experiences visiting my elected representatives, a few people have asked, once again, why cycling is perceived as a partisan issue.
NAHBS 2011 – Austin Day 1
Whether or not you can afford to work with a custom builder, the insight that they bring into the industry is invaluable.