Bikes, Biking, and Bicycles
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | May 5, 2009
It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything bike-related, so here are a few fun tidbits for the two-wheelin’ folks out there:
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Bike Lift in Trondheim, NorwayI know, it seems strange and bizarre– but Trondheim, Norway has encouraged cycling by installing a simple lift on BBrubakken, one of its steepest hills. (As an aside, where else would you find a hill name including two Bs and two Ks?)
“Hilly cities normally have a low share of cycling. How come that Trondheim, the third largest city of Norway, has the highest share of cycling compared to all the other Norwegian cities?
One of the most important infrastructure elements is the bicycle lift Trampe. Since the opening in 1993, it’s pushed more than 220 000 cyclist up the very steep hill BBrubakken in the historical heritage part of the city center
There is no doubt that Trampe has inspired students as well as other people living in Trondheim to take to their bicycles. In a user survey, 41 % of the lift users claim they’re using the bicycle more often due to the installation of Trampe.”
And, check out the awesome video– interesting facts: the lift moves at 3-4 miles per hour (faster than I would have expected), and there have been no accidents since the lift was installed in 1993.
[Image via Trampe.no]
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May is Bike Month in NYC!
Bike commuting is going strong in the Big Apple, seeing a whopping 35% increase in 2008, and the city is inching closer to becoming truly bike-friendly by building new bike lanes (some actually separated from traffic) and introducing legislation requiring buildings to provide indoor bike parking for workers, among other things. So, Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) has teamed up with the Dept of Transportation to bring us a whole monthfull of fun activities!
Celebrate National Bike to Work Day on May 15, from 7-10:30 am:
“Meet us at the bridge or the park for your “Thank You for Riding to Work” snack. T.A. will be at the East River Bridges (Queensboro, Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge) plus Madison Square Park, City Hall Park. Stop by for some hot coffee, quality reading material and your extreme commuter bag!”
Commuter Race, May 21st
“8th annual New York City Commuter Race between the Automobile, Subway and Bicycle. Call it crazy but yes the bicycle has won the past 7 years. Here’s a video of last year’s winner.” (guess who wins? :)
Here’s the whole calendar of events and some handy bike tips.
[Image via BikeMonthNYC.org]
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A continuation of the eternal debate of whether bike helmet laws do more good than harm, or more harm than good. My opinion is that in places where drivers and pedestrians aren’t trained in how to interact with cyclists, helmets are an absolute necessity. But in places where everyone has been trained in how to deal with each other, and where cycling is an integrated part of the culture, then helmets can be forgone. As a side note, I hope to one day live in such a dreamworld.
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An absolutely magical look at Barcelona in 1908, from the vantagepoint of a trolley-mounted camera:
Topics: Transportation, Yoga & Fitness | 1 Comment »
it looks like it must have been nerve wracking to be a trolley driver there and then. that film reminds me of the one taken at the paris expo(?) with the moving sidewalks. i would LOVE to have a moving sidewalk.