Cycle Driven

Seven Things Bike Commuting Has Taught MeA 10K (6 mile) bike commute doesn’t take that much longer than a car.One of the first things I discovered last year when I started bike commuting was that it only took about 25 minutes of riding time to get down to work from home. When I drive into work, it generally takes 15-20 minutes depending on traffic and the route I choose. A few months into the summer after finding better routes and getting into decent shape I actually managed to get my riding time below 19 minutes a few times. Nowadays I consistently make the ride into work in the 22 minute range without riding too hard. Considering I don’t have to find a parking spot and can ride almost all the way to my office, it’s only marginally slower than driving into work.

Seven Things Bike Commuting Has Taught Me - 100 KM

Great article out of http://commutebybike.com. Read it.

Commuting 101: Make Eye Contact
July 29th, 2008 by Tim Grahl

A huge issue for bike commuters is being seen by drivers on the road. Lot’s of times since they’ve trained themselves only to look for big metal boxes, they can look right at you and not even have it register that you’re there.

Making eye contact with a driver is essential in keeping you safe on the road. It let’s you know that the driver realizes you are there and that you can pass safely.

While I’m sure there are more, here are a couple situations that it’s imperative that you make eye contact with drivers:

* Left turns across your lane - When you see a car in oncoming traffic slowing down to make a left turn across your path.
* Pulling out of driveways, parking lots and side streets - This is the most necessary place to make sure you have eye contact. In to many cases the drivers are in a hurry and merely do a quick glance for other cars and then pull swiftly into traffic.

And here’s some tips on how to get the driver’s attention and make eye contact:

* Slow down - Assume the driver is not going to see you and slow down. Don’t cross their path until you have eye contact. This saved my ass one time.
* Go around - If you’re on the sidewalk, you can slow down and circle around behind the car in most cases.
* Stare - You know how you can be in a big, crowded room but easily realize if somebody is staring at you from a distance? This works on the road as well. Stare a hole through the driver and many cases, as they scan for cars, they’ll notice you and make eye contact.
* Wave your hands - Similar to staring, this will easily get a drivers a attention. If you’re going at a pretty good clip and are hoping you won’t have to slow down, try waving your hands long before to make sure the driver sees you. I’ve tried this by waving wildly and merely waving as if I’m saying ‘hello’ to the driver, and both work really well.

Making eye contact with drivers is an essential part of staying safe on the road.

Do you have any other tips for making eye contact on your bike commute?

I just got an email from a Kali over at http//www.gorillagozilla.com who wanted to let everyone at cycle driven to know the following…

I wanted to let you and the crew at Cycle Driven know about an exciting new bike-art show at GO,RILLA! Gallery in Santa Ana on Fri. Aug. 1^st from 7-10PM.

Bike Curious? is a group art show that explores the many facets of bicycles and the curious cultures surrounding them.

The exhibit is sponsored by Fat Tire Beer and will feature new works by Paul Nagel, Chad Eaton, Leslie Caldera and many more.

Guests should remember to bring their bikes for free bike check-ups provided by Bicycle Tree and group ride through classic old town Santa Ana to a celebration at the Crosby, the OC’s innovative new restaurant/bar.

I thought this OC event would be perfect to feature on Cycle Driven! I have attached a press release with more info. on the event.  We are updating www.gorillagozilla.com so check it out for the latest news on Bike Curious?  We hope to see all of Orange County’s bicycle enthusiasts there!!

Cheers!

From what I understand there will also be a ride through Historic Santa Ana to wind up at a local drinking establishment to talk and mingle.

I’ll be there for sure.

Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery - Bicycle Comics | Help Wanted

What is your local bicycle shop doing to help and sustain a good ridding environment in your area ?

Portland, Oregon, just displaced Copenhagen as the #2 most bike-friendly city in the world. Exhibit B: In Davis, California, more people cycle to work than drive. Exhibit C: A growing number of Minneapolis residents continue to commute by bike through the winter.It’s official—more and more Americans and Canadians are choosing to pedal around over pushing the pedal to the metal. And, considering that the sales of upright urban cruisers continue to outpace all other bikes, city biking is here to stay.

North America’s Most Bike-Friendly Cities - ForbesTraveler.com

How To Choose A Bicycle

Britain Invests Hundreds of Millions to Encourage CyclingLONDON, UK, June 23, 2008 (ENS) - Persuading people to climb out of their cars and onto bicycles is a key part of the British government’s plan to meet its commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. To further this effort, British Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has named Bristol as the UK’s first official Cycling City, and announced a further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns across England.Bristol and the 11 other towns have each won a share of the record £100 million (US$197.4 million) investment package to pioneer innovative ways to increase cycling in their areas.Proposals include improving cycling infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes, increasing bike parking, cycle training for children, and promoting the benefits of cycling.”The UK’s first ever Cycling City and 11 new Cycling Demonstration Towns will pioneer new ways of encouraging people to get on their bikes, Kelly said.”A quarter of journeys made every day by car are less than two miles,” she said. “Cycling is an alternative that could bring real health benefits to millions of adults and children, as well as helping them save money and beat congestion.”

Britain Invests Hundreds of Millions to Encourage Cycling