Bike Boom 2008

[skijoring]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike_boom

Though this brief article talks about the bike boom of the 1970's, I think we're in the midst of a nascent bike boom in the U.S. Europe, of course, is far and away ahead of us and poorer countries have long embraced the bike for transportation and utility.

http://www.google.com/search?q=bike+...en-US:official

EJ mentioned that he rides, perhaps more for pleasure than a commute or utility. Anyone else seeing MORE BIKES?

[CanuckinTX]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Certainly is a good time for someone to open a bike shop with a focus on commuting, especially if they're quite famous from biking. I wonder who in Austin, TX would be a good candidate???

Mellow Johnny's

I also found this blogpost which tries to formulate why the bike boom is happening. Of course HGP (high gas prices) is part of the equation.

[GRG55]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Certainly is a good time for someone to open a bike shop with a focus on commuting, especially if they're quite famous from biking. I wonder who in Austin, TX would be a good candidate???

Mellow Johnny's

635 kilometres (that's nearly 400 miles for you non-metric types) of bike paths in the city. In the summer the Calgary Police force have some cops on cycles in the downtown area instead of patrol cars (I guess it burns off the donut calories faster :p).

In the snow and ice-bound winter the really dedicated Calgary cyclists use studded tires. Seriously... :cool:

Pathways and Bikeways Map
Displays Bicycle Routes within the City of Calgary along with pathway information. Explore the more than 635 km of pathways and 290km of on street bike routes. The Complete 2006 Calgary Pathways and Bikeways Map (2.68 MB) http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....eways+Map+.htm

[dbarberic]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

I've been seeing some increase in bicycle activity in my area.

As an advid road and mountain biker, I actually bought a city cruising bike that can ridden with regular street clothing, a rack for the back, and a set of grocery bag holders from Performance Bicycle. I have a number of shops and grocery stores within a five minute bike ride from my house and I've been using my bike for weekend trips.

My wife cycled up to the grocery store today and found another person with a similar grocery bag set up on their bike and we've never seen that before in my town.

I few weeks ago I ran into a mom using her kids trailer that connects to the bike to fill with grocery bags.

I think people are begining to make a change, but I'm not sure if its because the summer weather finally arrived, or if it is a decision based on the price of gasoline.

[Ant]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Anyone else seeing MORE BIKES?

In a big way - though for reasons that are sort of non-responsive to your question... This is a topic that's been on my mind recently, though, so I am going to answer anyway... ;)

I relocated to PDX recently, and I am a little blown away by how bike-friendly this place is. If you're interested, check out this video (it's kind of long, first 5 minutes will communicate most of what you need to know about bikes and mass transit here.) Between light rail and my mountain bike I've used my car a total of two times, I think, in the last month.

It's an odd town, but they even have a Peak Oil task force... I think this region's crunchy/eco-hippie roots may end up serving it very well in the near future. Color me impressed.

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Go to Amsterdam. Go in the middle of the winter. Wait 'til the temperature drops into the 20's and the wind is howling and the snow is falling sideways. Then go outside and marvel at the thousands of people riding bikes.

[Wild Style]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Go to Amsterdam. Go in the middle of the winter. Wait 'til the temperature drops into the 20's and the wind is howling and the snow is falling sideways. Then go outside and marvel at the thousands of people riding bikes.

whoa,

wait, there are thousands of people out on bike in those conditions? That is amazing

*I need pictures*

[jimmygu3]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

I've been seeing some increase in bicycle activity in my area.

As an advid road and mountain biker, I actually bought a city cruising bike that can ridden with regular street clothing, a rack for the back, and a set of grocery bag holders from Performance Bicycle. I have a number of shops and grocery stores within a five minute bike ride from my house and I've been using my bike for weekend trips.

My wife cycled up to the grocery store today and found another person with a similar grocery bag set up on their bike and we've never seen that before in my town.

I few weeks ago I ran into a mom using her kids trailer that connects to the bike to fill with grocery bags.

I think people are begining to make a change, but I'm not sure if its because the summer weather finally arrived, or if it is a decision based on the price of gasoline.

I have been a bike commuter for 3 years here in Atlanta. My place of work has gone from 2 bike racks to 5 over that time due to volume. Most of the increase has been in the last year. My employer and the city offer perks for "clean air commuters" but in general it's not a bike friendly town.

[GRG55]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

whoa,

wait, there are thousands of people out on bike in those conditions? That is amazing

*I need pictures*

Don't have any pictures in the really cold weather, but was in Amsterdam in winter a few years back [weather conditions not quite that severe] and the place was packed with bicycles. I made the mistake of stepping off the curb without looking a couple of times and just about got run down. By cyclists, not cars.

Attached is a picture of the multi-level bicycle "parkade" at the Amsterdam main train station. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else I have travelled.

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

whoa,

wait, there are thousands of people out on bike in those conditions? That is amazing

*I need pictures*

I will try to dig up some pictures. Throughout Japan, bike parking lots surrounding train stations are similar to the picture posted by GRG55. Only about 50% of Japanese households owned cars when I was there.

There were two main reasons not to stay out too late: The trains quit running around midnight (taxi home = 80 $). And if you took a taxi you were left with the arduous task of retrieving your bike the next morning. Along about 2 AM when 8,000 bikes had been claimed but 1,000 were left, attendants packed the delinquent ones into the far corner. "Like sardines," doesn't come close. Handle bars and pedals poking through spokes. By 7 AM the lot was full again with bikes of people commuting to work. Never walked on water, but I've walked on bikes.

[FRED]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

I will try to dig up some pictures. Throughout Japan, bike parking lots surrounding train stations are similar to the picture posted by GRG55. Only about 50% of Japanese households owned cars when I was there.

There were two main reasons not to stay out too late: The trains quit running around midnight (taxi home = 80 $). And if you took a taxi you were left with the arduous task of retrieving your bike the next morning. Along about 2 AM when 8,000 bikes had been claimed but 1,000 were left, attendants packed the delinquent ones into the far corner. "Like sardines," doesn't come close. Handle bars and pedals poking through spokes. By 7 AM the lots was full again with people commuting to work. Never walked on water, but I've walked on bikes.

Your description evokes images. Thanks! Please post pictures here if you locate any.

[zoog]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

In a big way - though for reasons that are sort of non-responsive to your question... This is a topic that's been on my mind recently, though, so I am going to answer anyway... ;)

I relocated to PDX recently, and I am a little blown away by how bike-friendly this place is. If you're interested, check out this video (it's kind of long, first 5 minutes will communicate most of what you need to know about bikes and mass transit here.) Between light rail and my mountain bike I've used my car a total of two times, I think, in the last month.

It's an odd town, but they even have a Peak Oil task force... I think this region's crunchy/eco-hippie roots may end up serving it very well in the near future. Color me impressed.

I was going to reply to the original post but saw yours.

As you say, this is a very pro-biking city so it's a little hard to tell, but my coworker friends who bike to work say they are seeing a lot more bikes on the road these days. I've made the same observation as I glide along via light rail. Some of it is seasonal build-up, as we're only a month away from the first day of summer in Oregon (the 5th of July, when it finally stops raining).

I may not be as optimistic as you are about Portland's future in what many forsee as difficult times (my primary concerns are with the local economy), but as oil becomes more expensive and alternatives must be engaged, I think we will be well-served by living in a relatively compact city with a mature and extensive public transit system and a culture and infrastructure that supports biking and walking.

A couple things to add:

Rajiv posted that video once before some months ago and I commented on it.

Also around that time I posted a thread about walkscore.com. Back then the score for my place was 52. My current location is 80.:cool:


Personally, I am a little embarrassed to say that I have not been on a bicycle in about fifteen years. However, I am planning to buy one soon for weekend recreation. Hope the old adage is true and I don't faceplant on my first attempt to ride it.:eek:

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Getting on an airplane in 10 hours. Sorry they are not original

Amsterdam

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblac...large&bg=black

Japan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadragebunny/128875042/

[phirang]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

My ancestors spent too much time in viking ships to make it suitable for me to exert myself in hot weather.

I would bike more, but I would have to shower at my destination! What we need are bikes AND lower standards for hygeine/dress... think of the energy we'd save if we all wore military-spec wicking clothes(no more cotton) and gave up on starched collars, etc.

[GRG55]

Re: Bike Boom 2008

Getting on an airplane in 10 hours. Sorry they are not original

Amsterdam

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblac...large&bg=black

Japan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadragebunny/128875042/

Great pic!

The Amsterdam pic shows a bike with a child carrier in the front. I saw these all over Amsterdam, with multiple children, groceries, whatever being carted around in the carriers. Even saw one person carrying some flat-pack furniture (IKEA type) presumably on their way home.

One other thing I noticed when I was there (a few years ago, so may have changed since) is that nobody, absolutely nobody, uses a bike helmet. Not even on kids in the carriers. Not sure what that says actually. Maybe bikes are so widespread (they are!) that collisions with cars are very rare?