Good Ideas

There are a number of recent bicycling posts/news that I found interesting. But not just interesting in passing - this is a snapshot of the state of cycling in the US (and the world). For most of us, the bicycle is in transition - part transportation, part hobby, part trend, part sustainability strategy - and all riddle. So many questions to be solved! How do you integrate it into the existing transportation system? How do you help new bicyclists ride comfortably and safely? How do you talk to critics? What are the children going to think? What are the implications for society or the environment? Can bicycles become part of everyday life for the average American? Is cycling practical, cool, or both?

In Savannah, GA, bloggers wonder why officials don't take responsible motoring as seriously as responsible cycling. A new bicycle facility is tagged as an occasion to warn riders to obey traffic laws and practice safety tips. But the recent opening of a new "parkway" (actually the conversion of a street into a pseudo-freeway and making bicycle travel much more dangerous in the area) did not elicit the same discussion about unsafe driving practices.

Meanwhile, Streetsblog highlighted some of the debate over bicyclist behavior, particularly people who ride the wrong way in a bicycle lane or general purpose lane. While the dangers are well documented, the fact is that many people don't know the traffic laws for cycling and have misperceptions about safe and unsafe behavior. Is it time to develop universal cyclist education?

From Let's Go Ride a Bike (Chicago and Nashville), we got basic tips for riding to work in a suit. The post is notable not only for the good advice, but also for the amount of attention and range of questions it attracted from potential or new bicycle commuters.

Finally, from the global perspective, there was an article on the fixie movement in China. In this country where Dutch-style bicycles are a utilitarian but unglamorous form of transport, and thousands of new cars are added to the road each day, can bicycle culture ever take off?

And finally, in Atlanta, a promising sign...carrying your pizza home by bicycle! A lovely Bianchi, by the way.