Prague Garage Race 2013
The third annual Garage Race happened recently in Prague, with this video documenting the party and racing of the evening. Nice shooting and riding, looks like some classic sketchball fun.
Earth Policy Institute Bike Share Report
The future of bike sharing is now, with cities across the country and around the world embracing bike share programs as part of a healthy, multi-modal transport system. The Earth Policy Institute recently published a report on the worldwide uptake in bike share programs, worth a look for anyone still skeptical of bike share being a successful model.
Today more than 500 cities in 49 countries host advanced bike-sharing programs, with a combined fleet of over 500,000 bicycles. Urban transport advisor Peter Midgley notes that “bike sharing has experienced the fastest growth of any mode of transport in the history of the planet.”
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In the Americas, where the car has long been king, the first big third-generation bike-sharing program opened in Montreal in 2009. It now has 5,120 bicycles and over 400 stations, facilitating use of the city’s robust network of bike lanes and paths. Toronto plans to expand its 1,000-bike scheme, and Vancouver and Calgary, along with several other Canadian cities, are expecting to start programs in the next couple of years.When Mexico City launched its Ecobici program with some 1,000 bikes in 2010, it quickly reached its limit of 30,000 annual members and started a waiting list of eager would-be cyclists. The program has since quadrupled in size and remains the largest of Latin America’s dozen or so programs.
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In early 2013, China was home to 79 bike-sharing programs, with a whopping combined fleet of some 358,000 bicycles. According to a paper prepared in late 2012 for the Transportation Research Board’s 92nd Annual Meeting by Yang Tang and colleagues at Tongji University, expansions and new projects could soon balloon China’s public bike fleet to just under 1 million cycles.The world’s largest bike-sharing program is in Wuhan, China’s sixth largest city, with 9 million people and 90,000 shared bikes.
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Read the entire report at www.earth-policy.org
FestiBal con B de Bici, Madrid
May 18th bring about the 3rd annual FestiBal con b de Bici in Madrid, a one-day, family-friendly festival, which celebrates the use of bicycles in the urban context, with special emphasis on urban sustainability. Activities include workshops, music, talks, art, fashion, competitions, food and a market area. See more at the Matadero Madrid host website.
Eau Claire Valleycat 7
The 7th annual Eau Claire Valleycat is scheduled for May 11th in Eau Claire WI. Classic scavenger hunt format, with a pizza and beer fueled DJ-spun afterparty to refuel post-ride. See more and RSVP at the Valleycat Facebook event page.
ADK Packworks Grocer Bag
Sometimes you don’t need a fancy messenger bag or backpack for a grocery run, a simple reusable tote bag will do the trick. ADK Packworks has introduced the $25 Grocer Bag as an upgrade to the low-tech tote bags out there, featuring an internal wire frame to prevent crushing your food cargo and reconfigurable straps so you can carry it by your side, over your shoulder or on your back for the ride home. Approximately the same size as a traditional paper bag, unlike paper the Grocer can hold as much weight as you can stuff inside. An optional insulated liner will run you another $6. Available in green, red or grey from www.adkpackworks.com
