It was a glorious, crisp morning for Bike to Work/School Day in Ithaca. We got the breakfast station set up between Floral, Elm, and Hector Street just about 7:30 and bicyclists began to appear almost immediately. In all, we served some two dozen people, and quite a few kept pedaling past indicating they were late for something. During the two-hour period, we continually had some people lingering to talk about bike issues, bikes, the weather, and — everything. The word from the other stations around town is that it was a great success everywhere. I can hardly wait for next year, when we can mount an even better Bike to Work/School Day!

A group of volunteers from various parts of our community has coordinated to put together a special Bike to Work Day event in Ithaca on Friday, May 18. It’s our local implementation of the national Bike Month promoted by the American League of Bicyclists. The day will begin with eight “breakfast stations” at which anyone going to work or school (or anywhere else, for that matter) by non-motorized means will be able to stop for some food and coffee. Exact offerings at each station are still TBA, but we’ll definitely have something to reward the morning travelers between 7:30 and 9:30 am. Below is a map showing the locations of the breakfast stations.  All participants in the proceedings will be entered to win a cool tandem bicycle!

View Bike to Work Breakfasts in a larger map

Local biking advocates are encouraging community participation by hosting Bike to Work Breakfast Stations around Ithaca on National Bike to Work Day, Friday May 18. Stop by any Read the rest of this entry »

It’s unmistakeable that the menu of transportation options has gained a whole new genre — electric powered vehicles. While cars seem to fall under existing regulations without tinkering, it seems that there is a lot of uncertainty as to their legal and regulatory status. Local electric bike enthusiast Larry Clarkberg has created a petition asking the state to clarify matters.

To read more and sign the petition, go to Friends Bike Clinic. Ithaca is a place where help from a motor would be a welcome option to lots of people. Larry’s website has a great collection of information about electric bikes — friendsbikeclinic.org

My wife and I spent last week, the city schools’ spring break, visiting a small town in Germany. The purpose was for me to get a look at a place I lived as a child some 62 years ago and we spent the week staying in a small nearby town. Unlike Holland and Denmark, Portland and Amsterdam, or other bicycle Meccas, this was a place that is off the list of dazzlers and wonders. Virtually nobody, not even Germans, has heard of the village and we found life there wonderfully isolated from world trends. No Starbucks or McDonalds and even such modernities as credit cards are avoided or absent. Read the rest of this entry »

A new student organization forming at Cornell, the Cornell Bike Collective. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday April 26, 4:30-5:30 pm at the Cornell Outdoor Ed. Classroom (Bartels Hall)

Our mission: promote utility biking on campus and beyond. Possible projects include:

• maintaining a student-run bike shop on campus. Members can get help repairing and maintaining their bike and they can purchase parts at dealer prices. Read the rest of this entry »

Hope you can join us.

We saw their inspiring work at the Ithaca Livable Streets Film Festival in September 2011. Now they’re coming to Ithaca.  Mark your calendar and spread the word – all are invited.

 Monday, April 9th — workshop at 4:15, movies at 7:00

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Another Earth Hour has been successfully and thoughtfully observed in Ithaca with an Earth Hour Night Ride.

The group was very small this year — insufficient publicity, no doubt, as well as cold temps on a drizzly day? But, no matter. The group included two bikes with generator lights, so the path was bright for everyone as we circled Cass Park along the Waterfront Trail. We rode briskly and, by the time we had finished the loop, everyone was warm enough to stop for a bit and plan where to go.

We decided to take the suggestion I had brought — ride the few short blocks to Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, where — so I had been told– they put out the lights for Earth Hour and navigate by candlelight. With us was a youngster, and we wondered how the proprietors would take to his presence; but our concerns were in vain. We sat in the comfortable furniture on the side of the room away from the bar where it was clear that the young person wasn’t involved in illegal beverages. The waitress even came over to make sure that he had something to drink.

Promptly at 8:30 pm (we bikers had observed EH as 8:00, but the official website put it at 8:30) the electric lights were put out and a small number of candles were lit. The place remained in deep shadows for the rest of the time we were there, chatting about Ithaca, parades, and celebrations while drinking legal beverages.

Our group left before the official Earth Hour had expired. Outside, we all exclaimed what a nice occasion it had been, made our good-byes, and rode off. I rode back to Cass Park with the contingent that had started the journey from their cars. A wonderful evening.

I spent most of last week in Washington, DC, at the League of American Bicyclists’ “Bike Summit 2012.” It was two days of workshops on what to say and, then, a day to say it to our Congressman and two Senators.

Riding Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol

I didn’t want to have a car in the city but I couldn’t find a practical alternative to get there. So, after contacting some local people to find out where you’re allowed to park a car for several days, I drove to Gaithersburg, MD, parked my car, and rode my folding bike to the Metro station. A half hour later, I was in downtown Washington with a bike, ready to reach all the interesting places without being hampered by a car. My hostel was only a few blocks from the conference venue and both those places were only a 10 minute ride from the Capitol and all the office buildings we meant to visit. Read the rest of this entry »

The issue of New York State’s rumble strip policy was thought by many to be permanently silenced but, sure enough, it has reemerged with all the threats to bicycling that were in the original semi-official version a couple years ago. Brian Kehoe, the head of the New York Bicycling Coalition, announces the resumption of these hostilities in the current  newsletter from NYBC. In a letter to NYSDOT, Brian outlines the bicycling community’s problems with the DOT policy as written — apparently all the corrections and protests from cycling advocates made no impression on the policy makers. (See the letter, NYBC re: Rumble Strips)

In the charade of courtesy that official communications are required to follow, the NYBC is presenting a case in terms of research and principles and standards. Read the rest of this entry »

I haven’t been up to much cycling lately, but the warm weather yesterday was irresistible, so I thought I’d do the little city ride we did for New Year’s, when the weather was equally mild.

I was heading from West Hill across toward the South Side and found myself on Malone, waiting for the light at Meadow St. This is the corner where Wegman’s traffic comes and goes. There are two lanes in eastbound Malone at the intersection, one for left turn and straight Read the rest of this entry »