Sydney Body Art Ride

Super Sick Trick by VANMOOF

2011-12-05T13:32:00.000+11:00

How free is your parking?

2011-11-29T11:19:00.000+11:00

The Bicycle Animation

2011-11-29T08:30:00.000+11:00

Two Nuns bicycle

2011-11-21T10:18:00.001+11:00

Ultra specific bike lanes

2011-11-13T19:30:00.001+11:00

Tarapcsák Miklós

2011-11-10T09:05:00.003+11:00

The legendary hungarian frame builder, Tarapcsák Miklós aka Pajti Bácsi has built his last frame.

Old bicycle photos

2011-10-26T09:26:00.003+11:00

Via Shorpy

Death star head badge

2011-10-21T10:02:00.001+11:00

www.headbadges.com

Postman vs Cycling Team Rabobank

2011-10-21T00:47:00.000+11:00

"Baiser Blottot" 1950

2011-10-21T00:01:00.001+11:00

Sydney rides festival

2011-10-19T22:43:00.000+11:00

Ballerina Project - New York

2011-10-17T11:27:00.004+11:00

Mountain Biker gets taken out by BUCK - CRAZY Footage - Only in Africa

2011-10-14T12:57:00.000+11:00

Car manufacturer backpedals on anti cycling ad campaign

2011-10-14T09:29:00.004+11:00

American auto manufacturer General Motors (only recently bailed out with $25 billion in US taxpayer funds) has had to pull a remarkably ill conceived advertising campaign after it backfired spectacularly. The campaign has made GM a laughing stock on social media sites around the world. It's astonishing that any modern company could be so completely out of touch with the market it is trying to sell products to.

For a while now, GM has been pushing an ad campaign aimed at college students called "Reality Sucks." One of the ads (pictured) tries to imply that bicycling is some sort of shameful act, saying students should "stop pedaling... start driving." It sort of floated under the radar until Bike Portland got a hold of it, and now GM is under fire. As the League of American Bicyclists put it:

If you are a student looking to add tens of thousands of dollars of long term debt, care little about the environment, and want to lump two tons of steel around campus while paying through the nose for insurance, gas, and parking...General Motors has got a perfect deal for you. Bonus: it'll make you fat and unhealthy! All you have to do is give up that dorky bicycle that's easy to use, practically free, gets you some exercise and is actually fun to ride.

To call this ad tone-deaf to the way the Igeneration thinks might be the understatement of the year. The people this ad was aimed at love cycling. They are buying less and less cars every year and for them cycling is not only cool and fashionable but an important political and environmental statement. Igen is also quick to note, enjoy (and promote widely) these kind of corporate blunders, especially when it's from a megacorp like GM which is a virtual poster child for the anti corporate backlash that is currently occurring in the United States.

Giant bicycles were quick to respond with their own clever twist on the ad:

I couldn't help thinking that the smile the young woman is directing at the cyclist might be based on something other than pity. After all the cyclist is going to be fitter and richer than a car driver and anyone who rides in traffic is obviously more courageous and tougher than some McDonalds eating slob who spends his travel time watching his fuel gauge run down while he pollutes the atmosphere. I reckon she's probably wishing she was on a bike herself.

No Handed Bike Moves // "Golden Tree" by Martin Brooks

2011-10-08T09:44:00.000+11:00

Try a bike

2011-10-04T01:57:00.000+11:00

Bicycle Mechanics Showdown

2011-09-30T21:21:00.000+10:00

Quicksilver Movie Trailer with Kevin Bacon

2011-09-06T13:08:00.000+10:00

Sydney by Bike

2011-08-16T11:43:00.000+10:00

Could this be the BEST way to spend a winter's day in Sydney? We come across some great videos on Youtube, but this absolutely delightful video by a couple of Sydney locals is sure to put a smile on your face...

4th of July Message from Hipster Shore

2011-07-02T13:09:00.000+10:00

The 3-way street

2011-06-10T14:06:00.001+10:00

3-Way Street from ronconcocacola on Vimeo.

bike lanes

2011-06-09T10:05:00.000+10:00

MAKING A PERFECT ATHLETE

2011-06-01T12:17:00.004+10:00

HUNGRY BEAST:
MAKING A PERFECT ATHLETE
Episode 11, Hungry Beast - Wednesday 1 June 9.30pm ABC1
In the second last episode of Hungry Beast, which explores the theme of Speed, we
look at what it takes to make the perfect athlete.
24 year old Australian cyclist Shane Perkins became the world’s fastest man on two
wheels in March this year, when he won the Keirin sprint at the Cycling World
Championships in the Netherlands.
Hard work and determination got him over the line first, but he didn’t do it on his own.
It takes a whole team to build an athlete who can push enough energy through his
pedals to power 12 flat screen televisions. A veritable pit crew of mechanics services
Shane’s nutrition, preparation and recovery.
All that backup helps the cyclist push himself to, and through, his limits...
“It’s quite a bit of pain. You feel like you need to go to the toilet, number twos, Like
you need to throw up, sometimes you black out, someone tries to talk to you, you
can’t understand. Yeah it’s fairly intense,” says Shane Perkins.
Kirk Docker and Scott Mitchell investigate the science, technology and team-work
that go into making a world champion like Shane Perkins.
Plus other stories on the theme of SPEED and regular Hungry Beast segments: The
Beast File, Vox Pops, Follow The Money and Stuff Said.
Hungry Beast is presented by Monique Schafter, Dan Ilic, Kirsten Drysdale and
Nick Hayden.
Repeats Thursdays, 10.15pm ABC2. Available on ABC iview.
HUNGRY BEAST: The World Remixed.

2011-05-24T15:16:00.000+10:00

Bike vs Bus - East London from jssjmsvckry on Vimeo.

YikeBike - Urban Freedom

2011-05-23T12:36:00.000+10:00

2011-05-17T00:09:00.000+10:00

Planet Bike from Planet Bike on Vimeo.

Bikes Make Life Better -- Projection Art

2011-05-14T22:28:00.000+10:00

The joy of cycling

2011-05-09T22:48:00.004+10:00

Via:http://fuckyouverymuch.dk/

Via:

WOOP! Rolling Festival

2011-05-04T09:14:00.005+10:00

Sunday, May 15 · 11:00am - 3:00pm

Christen the new Bourke Street Cycle Way in style with the official bike ride celebration which extends from Waterloo to Woolloomooloo. The WOOP! is a rolling festival along the bike path on the Sunday the 15th of May & will include live entertainment, stalls, a vintage bike exhibition and great activities by businesses all the way along the cycle way. Lord Mayor Clover Moore will be in attendance. Plus there will be a mega bike... raffle to raise money for Cancer Council NSW initiative called "Do Your Thing."

Woop! is put on by the community for the community, your contribution can help the day be even more special, please contact us to get involved if you are:

* A business along the cycle way
* A Sydney bike shop who would like to sponsor the raffle
* A cycling group that would like to contribute to the day

Please contact your event coordinator Carolyn Birley on
Email woop@circul8.com.au
Phone 0467 717 607

The event will raise money for Cancer treatment & prevention through a Cancer Council NSW initiative called, “Do Your Thing” the program allows people from all over NSW to create any experience they want and turn it into a fundraising activity.

a bike about town

2011-05-03T10:07:00.000+10:00

Via Sydney Cycle Chic

Bike riding booms around Sydney’s new cycleways

2011-05-02T13:54:00.004+10:00

Sydney's new bicycle network is experiencing a boom, with a 60 per cent increase in bike trips in the morning period, Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said today.

The most recent bike count released today shows a 60 per cent average increase in the AM period and an average 48 per cent increase during the PM period over the past year.*

"Cyclists are voting with their feet - more and more of them are using our cycleways as we build them and join up the links," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

"The figures confirm that most riders use our cycleways to commute to and from work, so during peak hours in the morning and evening they are used heavily. Congestion on our roads is heaviest across the state during peak hours so the more people who ride during those times, the bigger the impact on reducing traffic and congestion.

"Critics who complain about the cycleway network need to realise that we need to build it in stages, and that the stages then need to be linked. It's a bit like building a bridge and getting halfway through and then wondering why no one is using it yet. This is about the future and building a viable network that will become a normal part of city life in the years ahead.

"We worked closely with relevant authorities, the local community and cycling groups in planning the routes and have so far managed to build them without taking out any lanes of traffic."

Bike count figures at key intersections include:

- King Street /Kent Street intersection where bike rider numbers have more than doubled from 228 in March 2010 to 771 in March 2011 in the PM period, or a 238 per cent increase;

- College Street/Oxford Street intersection, where bike rider numbers have risen from 278 to 862 in the PM period, or a 210 per cent increase.

- Bourke Road/Gardeners Road (Alexandria), where bike rider numbers have risen from 51 to 178 in the AM period, or a 249 per cent increase.

- Bourke Street/Phelps Street (Surry Hills), where bike rider numbers have risen from 99 to 262 in the PM period, or a 165 per cent increase.

Ten kilometres of separated cycleways have been built in inner Sydney so far - and no traffic lanes have been lost in their construction.

Kirribilli resident, 71 year old Les Baker, is a huge fan of the bicycle network and often rides with his wife Judy to the fish markets in Pyrmont. He said: "Judy and I are using the bike paths around Sydney more and more. It's safer and more enjoyable getting around. They are also great for getting visitors on our spare bikes so they can see the best of Sydney."

Kids from Crown Street and Bourke Street Public Schools use the Bourke Street cycleway to ride safely to school.

Businesses are also benefitting from increased bike traffic on inner Sydney routes.

Jeremy Havlin, co-owner of Remy & Lees café on Bourke Street, Surry Hills said: "There is a definite increase in the number of bike riders in the area. It's great to see whole families out and about on the weekend on their bicycles."

With the increase in bike riding across inner Sydney, the City of Sydney is also ramping up its education program to ensure everyone has a safe and pleasant journey on the roads, cycleways and shared paths.

Staff are stationed at key shared paths in the City talking to educate people about bike safety. Honker horns and reflectors are being offered for good behaviour, and Bikewise mechanics offer free and speedy bike checks.

The City also offers free cycling confidence and bike maintenance courses. More than 400 people have learned how to ride safely in Sydney traffic over the past year and 71 per cent of surveyed participants say they now ride more often.

Before the course only 2 per cent rode "most or all days". After completing the confidence building course, 30 per cent of participants reported cycling most days - up from just two per cent beforehand.

More than two thirds of those taking the courses are women and most are aged between 25 and 44.

One participant, Chloe Evans, said: "Shortly after buying my first bike, I did the City of Sydney confidence course and it was brilliant - it really boosted my road confidence. I ride so that motorists can see me, by being predictable, sticking to the road rules and making clear signals.

Pedestrians and bike riders have been using the city's shared paths in parks and on footpaths for many years with few problems. Council is stepping up its educational program due to the cycling boom and increase in shared paths.

In the past six months, more than 65,000 cycling maps with safety information have been also distributed.

Photos from bicyclegirls.pl

Extreme Mormons

2011-04-25T12:47:00.000+10:00

Vancouver Bike Lane Nazi.wmv

2011-04-21T11:01:00.000+10:00

Utopia is possible

2011-04-21T10:55:00.001+10:00

What do you listen to when you ride?

2011-04-20T14:21:00.001+10:00

Tomorrow - My White Bicycle (1967)

2011-04-20T01:00:00.000+10:00

Happy Bicycle Day!

2011-04-19T22:23:00.005+10:00

Bicycle Day is April 19, commemorating April 19, 1943, when Dr. Albert Hofmann first took LSD intentionally. Three days earlier, he had absorbed a small amount of the drug either through his fingertips or by accidentally ingesting it. On Bicycle Day, he took 250 µg of LSD intentionally and, fearing he had made himself ill, cycled home from his lab. On the way, Hofmann’s condition rapidly deteriorated as he struggled with feelings of anxiety, alternatingly believing the next-door neighbor was a malevolent witch, that he was going insane, and that the LSD had poisoned him.

Here is a short film made to celebrate Albert's 100th birthday. He died at the age of 102.

jo jeeta wohi sikandar final race

2011-04-18T23:56:00.000+10:00

* ARTcycle opening this thursday At The Vanishing Point

2011-04-18T22:49:00.006+10:00

ARTcycle will be launching itself with a party and fundraiser this Thursday evening at ATVP gallery, 565 King St Newtown. Nibbles, beer, wine, music, Cycle Maximus rickshaw rides, a ‘collective visions’ map for people to record their memories or desires, and more.

7pm – 10pm. Thursday 21 April.

565 King St Newtown, between Dickson and Wells Sts.

All welcome. Free entry!

ARTcycle is an artist run cycling initiative, a social club that promotes the arts and environment friendly transport.

ARTcycle

http://www.artcyclesydney.com/

At The Vanishing Point, PH: 9519 2340

http://www.atthevanishingpoint.com.au

Worst ever case of helmet hair

2011-04-13T16:24:00.001+10:00

We'll all be riding these soon...

2011-04-13T14:30:00.003+10:00

The Street Flyer is a hang-glider for the streets. It’s like an oversized tricycle, but instead of sitting on top to pilot it, you hang beneath. To propel the vehicle, you run and then just drop into the harness and cruise. This obviously works better on a downhill stretch, and uphill runs are probably best avoided altogether, unless M.C. Escher designed your city’s streets.

overdrive 21 1/3

2011-04-09T21:47:00.000+10:00

Chocolate Ride

2011-04-09T13:56:00.004+10:00

This morning we went on Fiona's fabulous Chocolate Ride around the Inner West. It was lots of fun, very informative and safe. Met some nice cyclists too.
Full set of photos is here:
This is our pile of bounty, doesn't include a lot of stuff we ate on the way.

Archibald Finalists

2011-04-08T17:16:00.002+10:00

McKenzie, Alexander

Richard Roxburgh

Cop Nearly Doors Cyclist, Then Chases And Arrests Her

2011-04-08T10:03:00.002+10:00

On Monday, cyclist message boards lit up with outrage over the story of a woman who was arrested after supposedly running a red light on her bicycle on Amsterdam Avenue. But it turns out the truth is actually more outrageous: Christina Thede, the cyclist in question, tells us she didn't run a red light at all. Her crime? Criticizing a plainclothes cop who nearly doored her.

Thede, a 28-year-old theater technician on the Upper West Side, tells us she was biking home on Sunday around 6 p.m. when the driver's side door of a double parked black car popped open suddenly on Amsterdam between 76th and 77th Streets. "I had to brake so abruptly that a delivery biker behind me ran into me," says Thede. "I had a verbal exchange with the driver in which I told him to watch what he was doing." Then she rode on, but soon realized that the guy had gotten back into his car and was zooming up behind her. She still had no idea this man was an officer of the law, and the situation devolved from there:

He was driving after me and I was scared. He kept slowing down alongside me, so I cut all the way over to the left lane. But he angrily skidded to a stop in front of me, pulling his car perpendicular to traffic in the left lane. Then I got off my bike and tried to walk my bike onto the sidewalk because I wasn't going to run out into traffic. That's when he grabbed the back of my bike and started pulling it.
He didn't say he was a cop and I thought, 'This guy's crazy, he's attacking me!' I screamed for help and he started restraining my arms and holding me so I couldn't move. People on the street stopped and started asking him what he was doing. I did not hear him say he was a police officer or see any indication he was a police officer, so I was terrified. Then an NYPD squad car arrived and my initial thought was that they were going to save me from this guy; I figured the bystanders had called 911.

But instead of handcuffing her assailant, they slapped the cuffs on Thede, and that's when she realized that it was a policeman who had chased her. "I asked one of the police officers who was telling me to calm down if this guy and the passenger in his car were really cops," Thede recalls. "And she confirmed that they were from the Central Park precinct. I overheard a bystander say, 'I think she ran a red light.' But that's not true. "He was hotheaded and couldn't take someone telling him what he did was wrong so he needed to come after me and teach me a lesson."

Thede was charged with reckless operation of a bicycle and disorderly conduct, and spent about an hour at the local precinct station house. During that time, the cop who arrested her, one "Sgt. Santiago" according to the summons, tried to justify the arrest. Thede says, "He told me that when I went around the door of his car to continue, that that was reckless because I was going into traffic. He maintained that I wasn't allowed to swerve around. But I came to a complete stop, exchanged words with him, then rode around his still-opened door. He said he arrested me because he was concerned for his safety."

We're waiting to hear back from the NYPD on this, but Thede's lawyer believes the tickets will be dismissed, and she's considering suing the city.

Life cycle of a cyclist

2011-03-31T16:37:00.000+11:00

Cycling Tour winners

2011-03-29T13:07:00.000+11:00

"for the equivalent cost of a single mile of freeway, we have a bike infrastructure"

2011-03-29T09:57:00.004+11:00

Could someone show this article to Barry please?

Portland Mayor Sam Adams says Portland’s spent on its bike infrastructure what it would normally spend on a single mile of highway.Portland’s biking infrastructure is the stuff of legends. The city boasts the USA's highest bike commuter rate. You’d think, then, given the strong feelings, that Portland has made significant investments to get a significant infrastructure. But according to Mayor Sam Adams they built their bike network for about the same amount of cash that a mile of highway would set us back.

"You know in 1993 we weren't the bicycling capital of America," he says. "Seventeen years later, for the equivalent cost of a single mile of freeway, we have a bike infrastructure."

Roger Geller is Portland's bike coordinator. Geller said that in 2009, the staff set out to put together an estimated total cost for the city’s bike infrastructure in 2008 dollars.

When all was said and done, they came up with an estimated value of $52 million and adjusted it up to $60 million to be safe. Here’s how they arrived at that figure:

"We assumed that all elements that contributed to the city's bikeway system were reasonable costs to include, even if they were not built for the express purpose of creating a bikeway. For example, we included the cost of pedestrian half-signals and bicycle-pedestrian bridges across I-5, among others. These signals and bridges facilitate crossings for existing bicycle boulevards, even though they were in place before the bicycle boulevards were constructed.

"For multi-use trails we split the construction cost of the trail in half and assigned half the cost to pedestrians. For the Eastbank Esplanade I believe we divided the cost into thirds and assigned one-third of the cost to park development, as much of the construction of that pathway was not about transportation but was also about creating a parklike environment."

To be clear, he added, the network did not actually cost $60 million. It was probably less than that: "The $60 million figure is essentially the replacement value of our network as it existed in 2008 in 2008 dollars. In other words, if the bikeway network disappeared overnight -- and all the elements that contribute to its functionality, whether built by the city's bikeway program or not -- $60 million is approximately what it would cost to replace it all."

The one thing Geller said it didn’t include was city programs that deal with bicycles -- Oregon Safe Routes to School, for example. Even so, the cost of those activities, stretching back to 2004, could be absorbed in the rounding up from $52 million to $60 million, Geller said.

Awesome Cycling Trophy

2011-03-25T14:33:00.000+11:00

...and yes that IS Cadel's happy face.
via:

Meanwhile in Australia

2011-03-25T11:00:00.002+11:00

Don't vote for the religious right

2011-03-25T09:16:00.002+11:00

Moore hits back at O'Farrell on cycleways

March 20, 2011

Sydney mayor Clover Moore has hit back at NSW Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell over his promise not to put more "crazy" bike lanes on Sydney's main roads.

"I am sure his statements will be alarming to the thousands of bike riders who support and use our cycleways every day - freeing up space on roads and public transport for others," Ms Moore said.

Her comments come after the Opposition leader claimed she had "deliberately set out to inconvenience motorists" with the city's 200km bike network.

"Whether you want to come into the city by pogo stick, cycle, jog or whatever, we should encourage everyone to leave their cars at home or use public transport - but that's not real life for people," he said.

"You can't ride your bike to the city each day if you live at Penrith. I think we can deliver better bike access to the city without getting in the way of cars."

But Ms Moore said no traffic lanes have been taken out for cycleways or shared paths and that the numbers of bike riders has doubled and tripled in areas where links have been built.

"The cycleways are there to provide another transport option for those who live close to the city centre," she said.

"Once the network has been built it will take 300,000 car trips daily of the road - easing congestion and freeing up valuable road space for those who do need to drive."

Le Cyclists de freak 1899

2011-03-23T16:03:00.003+11:00

these images are drawn from the pages of an 1899 French Sports Newspaper ("Le Sport Universel Illustré"), this incredible gang of Music-Hall "freaks" riding their bicycles all appeared in a show in a live show in London.

For those of you who do not "parle vous Francais" "Le Pédaleur à la tête de veau" ("calf-head cyclist"), "Le cycliste à la tête de chien" ("dog-head cyclist"), "Le pédaleur-squelette" ("skeletton-cyclist"), "La cycliste barbue" ("bearded-woman cyclist"), "Le cycliste cul-de-jatte" (it's explicit...), "Le cycliste manchot" ("no-armed cyclist").

via

Print me a bike!

2011-03-21T14:07:00.000+11:00

This bicycle is the first in the world to be created simply by printing it out on a computer, using groundbreaking new technology.

The fully-working cycle, which is made of nylon, is the result of an extraordinary project and is as strong as steel and aluminium but weighs 65 per cent less.

Scientists in Bristol designed the bike on a computer and sent it to a printer, which placed layers of melted nylon powder on top of each other to build-up the machine.

World's most energy efficient transport starved of funding

2011-03-21T10:33:00.004+11:00

photo by Adam Thompson

The humble bicycle is the most energy efficient transport ever devised, yet government funds to support it in Australia are running dry. ABC

Motorists at fault in majority of cycling accidents

2011-03-17T14:11:00.004+11:00

New research from Monash University* has shed light on the causes of collisions and near misses involving cycle commuters. 13 adult cyclists in Melbourne were given helmet-mounted video cameras and asked to film 12 hours of commuting each over a four-week period.

In total, 127 hours and 38 minutes of usable footage was obtained. 54 'events' were captured on film – two collisions, six near-collisions (where rapid evasive action by the cyclist was needed) and 46 other incidents (where some collision avoidance was required).

The cameras also recorded the road position and behaviour of the cyclists – including head checks, reactions and manoeuvres. The aim was to identify risk factors for both cyclists and motorists.

In 88.9% of cases, the cyclist had been travelling in a safe/legal manner prior to the collision/near miss. Most happened at or near a junction (70.3%) and most were caused by sudden lane changes by the motorist, with sideswipe the most frequent cause (40.7%).

The motorist was judged at fault in the majority of events (87%), and 83.3% of drivers didn't realise the danger they had put the cyclist in – or at least didn't show any reaction. Riders who frequently looked over their shoulders to check for other traffic were the most successful at avoiding collisions.

While they both happened in cross traffic, the two collisions were very different. One was deemed to be the fault of a motorist, while in the other case the rider was cycling unsafely. In both cases the driver didn't see the cyclist.

Three of the six near-collisions involved trucks, at least five of the drivers didn't see the cyclist, and at least four of the incidents were deemed to be the motorist's fault. The vast majority of all types of incident (87%) happened where there was no traffic control, such as traffic lights or signage. 4x4 drivers were particularly likely not to see the cyclist (85.7%).

The authors of the study concluded that there was a need to improve driver awareness of cyclists and other road users, and to encourage motorists to use their indicators for longer. They also called for greater consistency in cycling facility design. In addition, they highlighted some things cyclists could do to improve their safety on the roads.

These include checking to the left more often (in countries where you ride/drive on the left, the tendency is to look right more often than left because vehicles in left-hand side roads should give way and are thus seen as a lesser threat), riding more defensively around cars and being particularly vigilant when it comes to drivers turning left at junctions, especially if they're in a large vehicle like a 4x4 or lorry.

* 'Naturalistic Cycling Study: Identifying risk factors for on-road commuter cyclists' by Marilyn Johnson, Judith Charlton, Jennifer Oxley and Stuart Newstead at Monash University Accident Research Centre in Melbourne (54th AAAM Annual Conference, Annals of Advances in Automotive Medicine, October 17-20, 2010)

Via Bike Radar

The extreme commuter

2011-03-17T13:54:00.002+11:00

This is a great article about the perils of bicycle commuting, the psychology of motorists and more. It's long but well worth the read.

Police unveil pedal-powered patrol car

2011-03-17T09:53:00.001+11:00

Officers believe building their new five-gear vehicle, which has a top speed of 20 miles per hour, will help combat anti-social behaviour.

The white car cost over £1,000, has full Hampshire Constabulary livery and a roll bar to protect the driver in the event of a crash.

However, police admit that even if they are pedalling furiously they are unlikely to be able to apprehend anyone other than "those with a zimmer frame".

The car will be entered into the British Pedal Car Grand Prix on July 11 in Ringwood, Hants.

PC Keith Waller, who will pilot the vehicle, spent 40 hours painstakingly building the replica car with children aged 13 to 16 at Ringwood Comprehensive School.

He insisted that getting involved with the project allowed police to show their "fun side" and made them look "cooler" and "more approachable".

But he also admitted it had made him a laughing stock as people drew comparisons with him and Mr Plod from cartoon series Noddy from Toytown.

PC Waller, a 51-year-old father of two, said: "The pedal car grand prix is a fantastic event which brings the community together.

"Getting youngsters involved gives them something to focus on at lunch and after school, so they are not out there committing anti-social behaviour.

"I have been able to reach out to the students and make the police more approachable. It makes me look cooler, we all have fun and the children can come and talk to me.

"There have been a few students who have viewed the project with suspicion but, generally, the response has been tremendous.

Source : Telegraph.co.uk

Collisions Video Installation

2011-03-17T09:41:00.000+11:00

Cities in Focus | New York City

2010-12-09T14:08:00.000+11:00

Pole climbing bike lock

2010-11-30T10:59:00.000+11:00

Sure you wanna do this?

2010-11-28T14:20:00.000+11:00

This is Bikeland

2010-11-28T11:08:00.000+11:00

From Humon

Cycle ball on Trans World Sport

2010-11-17T11:36:00.000+11:00

Scrubs - Hairmet

2010-11-15T10:18:00.000+11:00

VIDEOCLIP 'FIETSEN' VAN MEIDENBAND PEP

2010-10-10T00:08:00.000+11:00

Bicycle Anthem!! (play on your iPhone all summer long)

2010-10-08T12:56:00.000+11:00

People For Bikes: If I Ride

2010-09-30T22:44:00.000+10:00

BOND bicycle with ejector seat and flamethrower

2010-09-30T15:09:00.000+10:00

Mystery bicycle art

2010-09-10T14:52:00.002+10:00

I was just wandering through some back alleys in Ultimo and happened to glance through the open doors of an old warehouse. Imagine my astonishment when I saw two guys building some sort of huge bicycle caterpillar!

Its Your Ride Fixed Gear vs Cruiser Hutchinson Tires Promo

2010-09-09T23:05:00.001+10:00

I don't know anything about these tyres but this is a great ad for cycling. It beats the hell out of any car ad that I've ever seen. It's worth turning up the volume for the slick music. Do the guy and the girl meet up in the end and find True Love? You'll just have to watch it and see...

The Bike Song

2010-09-09T22:55:00.001+10:00

The Bike Song
Uploaded by rockohoward. - Explore more music videos.

Bicycle Art

2010-09-09T09:48:00.002+10:00

Northern California artists Mark Grieve and Ilana Spector built a 65-foot-tall, 10,000-pound obelisk out of around 340 bicycles, and one tricycle. Called "Cyclisk ". It was installed on a streetcorner in Santa Rosa, California. Grieve and Spector collected the hundreds of bicycles they needed for the project from community donations.

Via

KontechDesign rowing bicycle

2010-09-05T16:42:00.000+10:00

More Hipster than you

2010-08-31T16:36:00.001+10:00

First bike tricks ever

2010-08-28T17:58:00.000+10:00

Active Transport could save 16 000 lives

2010-08-28T17:42:00.002+10:00

Major political parties have been urged to embrace active transport as part of the policy cure for the challenges of chronic disease, climate change, congestion and pollution.

In a unique partnership, five groups have come together with An Australian Vision for Active Transport and are calling on the next Australian Government to make a major commitment to driving active transport in Australia. Active transport has health, economic and tourism benefits for Australia and improves quality of life in our cities facing problems of congestion and pollution.

The Australian Local Government Association, Bus Industry Confederation, Cycling Promotion Fund, National Heart Foundation of Australia and International Association of Public Transport have developed a 9-Point Plan to promote active transport – walking, cycling and using public transport.

The Vice-President of the Australian Local Government Association, Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis, the CEO of the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Dr Lyn Roberts, and Stephen Hodge from the Cycling Promotion Fund explained an action plan for active transport in Australia at the launch and showed how 16,000 premature deaths a year due to physical inactivity could be easily averted.

Helmet debate

2010-08-28T17:24:00.004+10:00

IN 46 years of bike riding, Sue Abbott has never worn a helmet. So when the highway patrol pulled her over in country Scone and fined her for a no-helmet offence, she decided to fight.

The 50-year old mother of four has never been in trouble with the law, has never fallen from her bike, and thought it ridiculous she could not ride at 15km/h on a dedicated cycleway with an uncovered head. A police video of the incident last year records the sergeant surmising ''it's a hair thing'', a view shared by many people when they first meet her.

But Ms Abbott says it's nothing to do with her exuberant hair. Her objections are based on her belief that wearing a helmet increases the risk of brain damage - and that forcing her to wear one is a breach of her civil liberties. When she tried that argument in the Scone local court, the magistrate would have none of it. He fined her $50 plus costs.

But when she appealed and laid out her view in the District Court in March, she went a long way to persuading the judge that, 19 years after the laws came into force, there is still no clear evidence of their benefit. Ms Abbott argued that if she fell from her bike while wearing a helmet she would be at greater risk of brain damage from ''diffuse external injury'', an injury similar to shaken baby syndrome, than if she fell on her bare head.

It may seem ridiculous to suggest helmets could do anything other than improve one's chances in an accident and reduce the number of brain injuries, but there is a serious debate under way on the subject in international medical and transport safety journals - and Judge Roy Ellis happily admitted his own doubts about the laws.

''Having read all the material, I think I would fall down on your side of the ledger,'' the judge told Ms Abbott after she had spelt out her case against the laws that exist in few countries other than Australia and New Zealand.

''I frankly don't think there is anything advantageous and there may well be a disadvantage in situations to have a helmet - and it seems to me that it's one of those areas where it ought to be a matter of choice.''

He found Ms Abbott had ''an honestly held and not unreasonable belief as to the danger associated with the use of a helmet by cyclists'', and quashed her conviction, although he still found her offence proven.

Now Scone police ignore Ms Abbott as she cycles to town, although one yelled at her ''you're not in Paris now'' - a remark which prompted her to send police a photograph of herself bareheaded on a bike on the Champs-Elysees marked ''Greetings from Paris''.

Ms Abbott's success in court delighted Bill Curnow of the Cyclists Rights Action Group. In several peer-reviewed publications he has argued there has been no reduction in brain injury levels due to helmet laws.

Why force cyclists to wear helmets when politicians ignored a 1998 report from the Federal Office of Road Safety that showed brain injury rates among motorists would be cut by up to 25 per cent, even where airbags were fitted, if drivers wore bicycle helmets, he said.

Associate Professor Chris Rissel and his colleague Dr Alexander Voukelatos of the University of Sydney's school of public health fuelled debate on the issue with a recent paper saying we would be better off without the laws.

Ms Abbott said ''I should be entitled to make this call about whether I can wear a helmet."

''You can still smoke, we are eating and drinking ourselves into early graves, but you can't ride a bicycle without a helmet,'' she said.

TWIST LOGIC

SUE ABBOTT told the court a helmet can ''increase angular acceleration which an oblique impulse imparts to the head, increasing the risk of damage to the brain, especially diffuse axonal injury''.

In other words, the helmet grips the road, twisting the head more quickly than if the skull were unprotected.

Evidence from Bill Curnow cited a report from the National Health and Medical Research Council that warns ''the wearing of helmets may result in greater rotational forces and increased diffuse brain injury''.

From Crikey:

A new research article documents the rate of head injuries among cyclists from 1988 to 2008. It concludes that: “It is likely that factors other than the mandatory helmet legislation reduced head injuries among cyclists.”

The article was published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety

The main reasons that mandatory helmet legislation is a problem are:

There is minimal evidence of helmet legislation actually reducing cyclist head injuries
It reduces the number of people cycling, making it less safe for the remaining cyclists (the well known safety in numbers phenomena)
It inhibits spontaneous riding (eg just hopping on a bike for a short ride), and is a massive problem for public bike hire schemes
It adds to the image of cycling as a “dangerous” activity
It is a victim-blaming approach (the vulnerable road user has to wear protection…) if it does not also address the road environment and behaviours and attitudes of drivers
Other factors are very much more important for cycling safety (eg cycling infrastructure, vehicle speed and driver behaviours)

Good ideas tend to travel. Australia and New Zealand are still the only two countries in the world with mandatory helmet legislation for adults. If it was such a good idea why hasn’t everyone else done it? Mexico and Israel have recently repealed their bicycle helmet laws, largely because of the difficulties mandatory helmets create for public bicycle rent schemes. If people want to wear a helmet, they should. If someone wants to go down the street to get some milk, or go on a social ride with friends, they should have the choice about wearing a helmet. Anti-helmet legislation advocacy is about choice.

The complaints and debate about helmet legislation have not gone away because there is no clear evidence that helmet legislation achieved the desired reduction in head injuries that it should have. Helmets may offer some minor protection in some circumstances, but the negatives far outweigh any positives. I think there needs to be a research study where the legislation is repealed in one jurisdiction (say Newcastle, or Wollongong) and the effects carefully studied over a couple of years.

This would add some valuable evidence to this whole issue.”

Deals on Wheels at Erskineville Public School

2010-08-25T15:43:00.003+10:00

Deals on Wheels hits Erskineville on Saturday 18 September 2010, and its shaping up to be the biggest cycling event of the year!

Put it on the calendar - you don't want to miss out on a great deal and a lot of fun.

So what is Deals on Wheels???

Deals on Wheels is your opportunity to donate the old bikes that you no longer ride or that your children have grown out of and that have been cluttering up the backyard for ages, see them cleaned up and on-sold to someone who can make good use of them. What could be better? - cycling and recycling all wrapped up in one fun-filled day.

Bring your wheels and get a deal!

We will take donations of bikes (all sizes and configurations) scooters, skateboards and roller blades; in fact just about anything with wheels that you can break an arm falling off. Donated items will be cleaned and serviced and sold on the day at extremely competitive prices. Any bike that isn't sold will be donated to the Waterloo Bike Club (AKA the Nunnery) for restoration/recycling.

But wait there's more..

There will be a Unicycle Hockey demonstration, a Bicycle Polo demonstration, possibly some Penny-Farthings to try out (and an ex-Australian Penny Farthing Champ to show us how its done), and live music.

Other events are planned including a slow-race, unicycle try-outs and anything else we can think of in the next 6 weeks.

We will also have the City of Sydney mobile bicycle mechanics in attendance.

Finally what would an Erskineville Public School event be without a BBQ and cake stall.

MORE INFO HERE:

Meanwhile at the Tour Down Under

2010-08-25T12:07:00.003+10:00

Deceitful campaign against cycleways exposed

2010-08-25T12:07:00.001+10:00

Businesses along Bourke Road, Alexandria have been misused in a deceitful campaign to attack the City of Sydney cycleway program.

CEO of the City of Sydney, Monica Barone, said a legal letter from Mahoney Dominic lawyers to the City of Sydney had falsely claimed 102 companies and businesses were joined in a class action against the Council's cycleway.

"The alarm bells began ringing when the lawyer's letter arrived with a list of the companies supposedly against the cycleways.

"I was surprised to see the names of companies the City had worked closely with and who had long been supportive of cycleways and cycling.

"There is significant support for cycleways, as was indicated by the extensive research and process of consultation the City engaged in before beginning construction of the cycle network.

"I responded by contacting representatives of four organisations on the list. They included Fairfax, Westpac and the Australian Museum. They were completely unaware that they had been included on a list of alleged claimants.

"No-one had consulted them to be on the list and the legal letter in which John Mahony claimed he acted for them was utterly false.

"I have been informed that a further five companies have contacted Mr Mahony to require him to remove their names from the list and that John Mahony has written to Council advising that in fact he only acts for one person who owns a business on Bourke Street and not 102 people."

Ms Barone said the level of environmental assessment undertaken by the Council in relation to the Bourke Road cycleway, prior to the construction of the cycleway, was appropriate and in compliance with the relevant requirements of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act.

Should a legal action be mounted, the Council would strenuously defend its position and would argue not only that its actions have been lawful they have been made in accordance with the Act.

Bike Rack Design Comp

2010-08-12T13:22:00.001+10:00

Elevate the humble bike rack into a glorious work of urban art!

This Australia-wide design competition invites creative, street-savvy designers to design a cutting edge public bike rack that can be seen as a beautiful item of street art as well as a long-lasting, easy-to-use, functional device.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and their bike rack will be manufactured and installed, to be viewed and used by thousands of people at selected locations in the Western Sydney River Cities of Parramatta, Liverpool and Penrith. Second and third place entries will receive $5,000 and $2,000 respectively.

The competition judging panel will include well known artist, designer and architect, Richard Goodwin; Diana Lorentz, the Design Manager at the Powerhouse Museum; Greg Chalberg the Marketing Manager of Shimano Australia; Matt Faber, RTA Sustainable Transport Section; and Myfanwy Lawrence, representing Liverpool, Penrith and Parramatta Councils.

Key dates
18 October 2010
All completed applications must be submitted.

22 November 2010
Selected finalists will be notified by email.

Week beginning 10 December 2010
Winners announced

Ride on dinner comes to Sydney

2010-08-12T10:27:00.005+10:00

Dinner is served!

Following on from successful events held in Melbourne, ride-on-dinner will partner with Object: Australia Centre for Craft and Design to host their first Sydney event. Anthony Hamilton-Smith (Design Now 2009 winner and member of the Cultural Transports Collective) will lead a swarm of cyclists on an urban meal adventure.

BYO bike and join your hosts in a tour that takes you around the inner-city, experiencing a world of food, history, transport and architecture through storytelling and skills sharing.

The audience become participants in this mobile, pedal-powered kitchen, sharing a meal along the way.

Join your neighbours in an event to remember: inspired, local, shared and sustainable.

when - Saturday 14 August, from 4pm

where - Inner city cycling tour beginning at Object Gallery, 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

cost - $20 including dinner

Buy tickets here.

Sydney’s bike economy booms

2010-08-09T15:31:00.003+10:00

Bike shops in the inner city have almost doubled in the past five years as Sydney's bike economy continues to boom.

A City of Sydney survey of 23 bike businesses within a 10km radius of the CBD found 10 new bike shops opened in the past five years. Together the 23 bike stores employ 214 people.

Sydney's increasing demand for cheap, efficient two-wheeled transport has fuelled the growth with the bike stores reporting a 30% increase in sales of commuter bikes in the past five years.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said; "Bike shop growth and increased sales shows just how popular cycling is in Sydney. These businesses have done their research, observed increased bike traffic, and have forecast the growth of cycling in this city."

Jeremy Scrivener, co-owner of Bicycle Garage and Coffee Shop in Lilyfield said: "We'd never owned a bike store before but our instincts and research showed it would work. We chose our location carefully and since opening the bicycle traffic has doubled."

The bike businesses reported a variety of factors underlying the growth in sales: a perception that bike riding is now safer, that it is more 'doable' in terms of fitness and length of the ride, and that it is a cheap transport option in times when the cost of living is high.

Morgan's Bicycles of Alexandria opened in 2008 selling Velorbis bikes that are highly popular in Europe. Last month Japanese cycle store Tokyo Bike opened its first store outside of Japan in Surry Hills, near the Bourke Street cycleway.

One shop, Ashfield Cycles, said that 5-10 years ago they couldn't sell commuter style bikes, but now they represent 75% of sales.

Mike Shaw of Clarence Street Cyclery said: "In the last five years, people who are cyclists have come in looking for a hybrid bike for commuting. In the last two and half years a lot of non-cyclists have come in looking for a bike to commute to work."

Industry associated with bike sales is also growing. Renegade Cycles of Lane Cove has taken on an apprentice bicycle mechanic to help service the bikes they sell. Israel Leichterman also saw a need for more bike mechanics and after doing his own research opened his repair store, Bicycology, in Pyrmont earlier this year.

The popularity of cycling is evident in BRW's top 100 growing companies with Cell Bikes of Stanmore making the list.

The increased availability of hybrid and commuter bikes has also underpinned the growth in bicycle sales.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore concluded: "We are just seeing the beginnings of a cycling boom in Sydney as more and more people come to appreciate the health, cost and travel benefits of riding a bike.

"Alongside an integrated public transport system, this upward cycling trend will help ease Sydney's congestion problems in years to come."

Bike theft justice

2010-08-09T15:08:00.001+10:00

A heart warming tale from the USA.
http://www.whatever-whenever.net/blog/2010/08/justice-in-brooklyn/

Bicycle Art Happening

2010-08-01T09:48:00.004+10:00

Don't miss this one. Send us your photos!

Unleash the photographer within and capture a slice of Sydney on this cycling tour with a difference. Exploring the design precinct and some of the lesser-known parts of Surry Hills, you are provided with a LOMO camera, map and passport to aid in your self-guided tour, documenting your discoveries as you go along. The cycling tour starts and ends at Cloth and Metalab, meeting in the middle at I Ran The Wrong Way. These three venues will be showcasing the Designer Sushi exhibition – an exciting new project which challenges designers to re-imagine everyday objects.

During the bike tour, stories are to be collected from bespoke retailers, cafes and designers who, in turn, stamp passports for discounts on return visits. At the finish of each day, cyclists hand in their cameras and their bikes. Selected photographs will be used to create a large photographic installation which will develop over the three weeks of Sydney Design. A closing party at The Beresford Hotel showing off their work will celebrate the participants’ contribution to the stories that can be discovered amongst the creative backstreets of Surry Hills.

FU Alan Jones

2010-08-01T00:08:00.001+10:00

Now available at Three Point Turnz

Soup Cycle

2010-07-07T17:01:00.001+10:00

http://www.soupcycle.com/

Great Project

2010-07-07T14:35:00.002+10:00

Websites: www.bamboosero.com and www.calfeedesign.com

The Battle for Randwick City Council's Transport Soul

2010-06-19T11:23:00.006+10:00

It is being billed locally as the "The Battle for Randwick City Council's Transport Soul".
Next Tuesday night (22nd June) highly respected Greens Councillor Murray Matson will go head to head with the absurd No Parking Meters Party Councillor Charles Matthews over whether unregistered bike riders are a subsidised danger to the community.

Matthews is running for the NSW state upper house on a hard-line policy that bike riders represent both a safety threat and an economic burden on the state. As if yet another crack pot, right wing extremist in our Upper House wouldn't be an economic burden! His position flies in the face of the mountains of published evidence that cycling provides huge economic and environmental benefits. Matthews previous achievments include chairing a Randwick Council Committee that awarded a Community prize to himself! The Council has since had to institute new rules that Councillors cannot award themselves such honours.

Matson is a former Mayor of Randwick who helped pioneer the annual Sydney Body Art Ride, a "semi-naked bike ride" from The University of NSW to Maroubra beach on the grounds that it
would help save the planet and raise money for charity. The event subsequently raised over $60,000 for the Children's Cancer Institute while generating positive publicity world wide, attracting tourists and highlighting the progressive work of Randwick City Council.

Councillor Matthews describes Matson as his "worst enemy."

On Tuesday night Matthews will be attempting to force through a motion that other NSW Councils be lobbied to impose a $50 annual registration fee on bike riders. The votes of the various councillors will be watched with great interest by the local community.

Matson will oppose the motion on the grounds that it will act as a disincentive to New South Wales residents trying to adopt a low carbon foot print and who are already sacrificing a lot for the common good.

Matthews has attempted to justify his bizarre motion in a number of suburban newspapers with provocative comments designed to garner publicity for his bid to become a publicly subsidised crusader in our Upper House along side other ratbag extremists like Australians Against Further Immigration, the Citizens Electoral Council, the Shooters Party and Fred Nile's Call to Australia. The Country Party, a small rural party with no ties to the National Party, has the chauvinist slogan "Australia for Australians" on its campaign leaflet. The Riders' and Motorists' candidate, Piet Baird, is a former ASIO counter-terrorist agent. It is quite clear that the right is making a concerted effort to maximise its vote in the upper house by flooding the ballot paper with various front groups in order to support the Liberal-National Coalition or Nile's Call to Australia.

The Cumberland Courier reports that Matthews has even tried to establish a link between bicyclists and violent crime! Cr Matson will attempt to find a link between Cr Matthews and reality, although no-one expects him to succeed. (Thanks Moz) The same paper outlines Matthews crackpot economic "rationalist" analysis of the community cost of bike riders. He claims that although a lot of money was spent getting cyclists onto the roads, they paid nothing in return. Even the RTA has rejected Matthews ill informed proposal.

Thankfully Matson has countered by speaking up for the bike fraternity. He said today, "The NSW bike lobby has been thrown into emotional free fall by news of the No Parking Meters Party motion at Randwick. Up until now they were used to being regarded as lycra glad urban heroes who went out and tried to reduce road congestion by dodging death every day on un separated bike paths. Now suddenly its' they themselves who are being condemned as the potential killers! Matthews has also added insult to injury by insisting that they should be paying for the practically non-existent bike paths that are actually threatening their lives."

Cr Matthew's motion to Tuesday night's meeting reads as follows.

"That this Council submits a motion to the next Local Government Association Conference requesting all NSW Councils to adopt a state wide approach to introducing registration fees for bicycles in all Local Government areas, such motion to read as follows:

That all NSW Councils, as part of their respective transport plans, look at ways of introducing a registration fee for pushbikes in their Council area. This fee would be payable to the Council and would ensure that cyclists pay their fair share towards the upkeep of roadways and cycle ways in the Council area."

Cr Matson has slammed the wording of the motion as unthought through because bike riders already pay Councils their fair share to up keep roads and bike paths either directly through their own rates or indirectly via the rates that their land lords pay. The No Parking Meters Party has just declared that it stands for the economic persecution of bike riders.

Cr Matson has also called Cr Matthews political usage of the Eastlakes death as shameless. He said, "This will be an unfair rate slug on a section of the community that the No Parking Meters Party thinks it can intimidate into silence by shamelessly exploiting the death of that poor woman in Eastlakes."

Amazing stunt riding...on a carbon road bike

2010-06-17T14:21:00.000+10:00

Pedal power in Sydney

2010-06-16T12:24:00.002+10:00

by Kim Shaw in Central

Business is booming for Sydney’s bike shops, with the roll out of Sydney Council’s cycling network and State Government support for a regional network linking 164 Sydney suburbs.

Clarence St Cyclery opened the country’s first women’s bike shop in May and customers are rolling in, store manager Jenny Fay said.

The increase in custom was significant and many women were looking for bikes with baby carriers, she said.

“We have every type of female cyclist coming in from regular commuters to high performance athletes, to recreational and weekend cyclists to mothers who want to carry their child on the back of the bike. We have a lot of women coming in wanting to get a bike with a baby seat,’’ she said.

“Our commuter and recreational bikes have shot through the roof, as has the high visibility apparel for people riding at night. We know there are more people riding to work because they are buying the clothing for the darker evening journeys back home.’’

Ms Fay said the new bike paths were making cyclists feel safer. “They are alleviating that fear that you have no chance on the street with cars,’’ she said.

Sydney motorists have become more aware as well.

‘’Drivers are beginning to realise that bikes are part of life and that they are getting more popular, especially for shorter trips. It’s a nice feeling when you are passing cars stuck in traffic,’’ Ms Fay said.

More women also were realising that commuting by bike not only saved time and money but also made gym fees redundant. Ms Fay quoted research commissioned by Sydney Council that predicted a 66 per cent increase in bike trips by 2016.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has pointed to sections of the research which found that an inner city regional bike network would deliver at least $506 million - or $3.88 for every dollar spent - in net economic benefits in 30 years.

Cr Moore said women made up 70 per cent of people taking part in the council’s free cycling courses, covering bike maintenance and responsible riding.

“More than eight out of 10 people say they would take up cycling or ride their bikes more often if there were a safer cycle network,’’ Cr Moore said.

Who to back in the Tour de France

2010-06-15T09:22:00.003+10:00

This is how they roll in Montreal

2010-06-14T13:31:00.002+10:00

world naked bike ride

montreal

The Bedroom Philosopher - Northcote (So Hungover)

2010-06-10T09:48:00.001+10:00

This is a new music video directed by my friend Craig Melville a couple of weeks ago. I gave him a hand organising the cameo rock star appearances. And yes it does include bicycles. What hipster music video would be complete without a fixie?

Melbourne - how to run a city

2010-06-09T22:36:00.008+10:00

I just got back from doing some filming in Melbourne. I'd never been to Melbourne so in my spare time I went exploring. I was very impressed. Melbourne is such a beautiful, liveable city. Everything seemed to be just a little bit cleverer. Street Art, trams, stylish people hanging out in lane-way cafes, beautiful, well planned architecture, heritage, parks but my personal favourite was the bicycle infrastructure. I took lots of photos which you can see here.

It was nice to come back to Sydney, it's so much warmer here! But I really do think we could learn a lot about city planning from our friends in Victoria.

Even the post is delivered by bicycle in Melbourne.

One of the crew told me the best coffee in town was at a place called Cafe Racer down on the promenade at St Kilda. It was a long walk and I was seriously missing my bike by the time I arrived but the coffee was worth it. Imagine my delight when I realised the whole cafe was dedicated to the service of cyclists!

The next day the crew dropped me off in Federation Square where I came across this.

Apparently it was only installed last week! I put my two bucks in and off I went. The bike was a bit heavy and cumbersome but there are no hills so it was pretty cool. I was able to explore the whole cbd in a couple of hours. Everywhere I went friendly people stopped me to ask how the bike was going and remind me that I should be wearing a helmet. (n.b. I soon learned not to admit to being from Sydney, the friendliness evaporates pretty quickly when you say that...)

Another problem was that I didn't have a lock or lights but I'm sure they will sort all that out soon enough. It was pretty awesome. The next day the crew told me that when they filmed the opening of the scheme for ABC news a young woman got fined $110 for not having a helmet after riding just 20 meters! The poor publicity officer probably had a nervous breakdown...

All the kids ride too. Instead of being delivered to school in a huge, child crushing 4wd, you see them wobbling along following Mum or Dad on their bike. They get upset when a car cuts them off but the parents just laugh and say "come on kid, you're alright"

Another funny thing was that I didn't see a single recumbent, even grumpy men with beards ride two wheelers in Melbourne!

And dogs do their own shopping!

Bike parking at the bakery

2010-06-09T22:31:00.003+10:00

Bourke Street Bakery has recently opened a new shop at 2 Mitchell St, Marrickville. While cycling and coffee have always gone together, presently there is nowhere to tie ones bike up when visiting the bakery – not even a street pole. The bakery is located in the area with the highest percentage of cycling trips in NSW and it should do more to encourage sensible transport options for local customers.

We the undersigned request that the Bourke Street Bakery Marrickville demonstrate their support for cycling, sustainability, and the Marrickville community by encouraging its customers to ride to the shop and provide them appropriate bicycle parking facilities.

Click on this link to sign the petition. It takes two minutes.

Monsterbike

2010-06-08T09:14:00.000+10:00

Choir / bike flashmob Central Station Brussels

2010-05-22T21:04:00.000+10:00

More people joining Sydney’s bike riding revolution

2010-05-20T22:07:00.004+10:00

More Sydneysiders than ever are embracing cycling, with one in three bike owners now leaving their cars at home and riding to work, school, university or TAFE.

The findings come from an independent study commissioned by the City of Sydney comparing responses from 2006 and 2009.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the findings show that using a bicycle can be an efficient, cheap and healthy transport option for those not wanting to be stuck in traffic.

"This research not only shows more people are using bicycles, but indicates rates would be even higher if there were separated from traffic and had end-of-trip facilities like bike parking, lockers and showers.

"Our cycle strategy, which will see $76 million invested over four years, recognises the importance of building cycleways separated from traffic and pedestrians where possible to make bicycle riding a viable transport alternative," Ms Moore said.

The Taverner research also found:

One in three City of Sydney riders ride more than 20 times per month;
80% say they'd be more inclined to cycle on safe separated cycleways and /or dedicated bike lanes;
2 in 3 potential bicycle riders would be more likely to ride regularly on separated bike paths or dedicated bike lanes;
64% of regular riders only started riding a bike in the last five years;
Just over half of regular riders polled ride to work, school, university or TAFE;
61% think they'll feel more comfortable on a bike as the number of bicycles on the road increase;

The research also found that more riders would take up cycling if the City and businesses provided the infrastructure to make cycling a preferred method of transport with:

68% of non-regular bike riders said they would be more inclined to ride more often if they had access to bike parking or lockers;
45% of non-regular riders would be more likely to ride to work if they could take part in bike hire schemes;
69% of occasional or non-riders would consider riding to work if there were shower facilities.

This research follows the latest Christie report which predicts a 23 per cent growth rate in traffic over the next 15 years, costing a staggering $7.8 billion per year, while the number of people walking and cycling is expected to skyrocket by 233 per cent.

"The City is doing all it can to create the infrastructure to make it easy for people to switch to cycling as a more sustainable transport option and help relieve pressure on our congested roads.

"Cycleways will actually make it easier for other road users travelling longer distances to get where they need to go faster.

"Cycling addresses three key issues afflicting our community - traffic congestion, global warming and obesity," Ms Moore said.

A bike count on the City's newest separated cycleway in Bourke Road showed 250 bike riders used the route in a six hour period, over one bike per minute in the peak - a 30 per cent increase in the past month.

Spoke & Spool

2010-05-10T20:41:00.003+10:00

Invitation from Spoke & Spool

We invite you to come down to Frasers' Studio on Saturday, May 15, for an afternoon of sewing amazingness.

Please bring some of your old clothes and leave with some transformed and amended clothes perfect for your bicycle.

We will provide sewing machines, gentle guidance, and fun attachments like map pockets, reflective cuffs and other DIY wonders.

It is going to be a truly spectacular afternoon where you can sew stuff, meet people, swap clothes, and have a celebratory beverage after all your hard work at the Clare Hotel from 6pm.

Drop on by, bring your bike, a friend, and a pair of your old favourites.

The event is free, however there will be Spoke + Spool attachments for sale.

x x spoke + spool