advocacy

http://tinyurl.com/ydz4ern 

 There is a very good and thought-provoking article at the link above, from Bike Portland.

Well worth a read.   Some may lament the notion of bikes as primarily a 'utility' or 'appliance' but where cycling is 'normal' that is perhaps the reality.

This was brought home to me when I asked an Amsterdam bike shop owner where I might find a cycling map for the city.  His response was that there just wasn't such a thing.  Cyclists ride comfortably everywhere and on all streets in the city.   A total difference in world (or at least city) view from what is the norm for North America.

Read the article, and I would welcome your comments on it.

Dahon, the world leader in folding bicycles, will provide free membership to Transportation Alternatives for the first 350 consumers who buy a Dahon folding bike in New York City between June 1 and October 31, 2009.

 Transportation Alternatives is New York City’s leading advocacy group for cyclists, pedestrians and pubic transit. New members receive a NYC cycling map, discounts at local bike shops, a subscription to T.A.’s Reclaim magazine, $10 off registration for the NYC Century Bike Tour, and more.

B:C:Clettes 08Streetsblog, associated with the Liveable Streets Network originating from New York, has awarded the B:C:Clettes a "Streetsie"  for:

Sexiest Streetfilm: Vancouver, British Columbia's "B:C:Clettes vs. Sexy Back."

Video is at   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCPhv0uAgkw

Not a bad video presentation of safe night and wet weather riding.  Some basic tips that will help you avoid becoming an accident statistic.

Done by the San Francisco Cycling Coalition.  I have heard that it rains there too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Derm0w9viac

Speed/Safety graph

For 'Pedestrian', include cyclist.

Really not much more to say.  There is a simple way to drastically reduce fatalities on our neighbourhood roads.  We just have to do it.

Well worth downloading - this is an excellent resource.  Loaded with useful information and goes well beyond the basic physical aspects of bike parking.

http://www.fussverkehr.ch/en/film.php

As well as the occasional blog post here on the MOMENTUM site, I also circulate advocacy information on a variety of email lists.  The problem with that is that once the email has completed its cycle, the information is essentially gone, except for those who read or downloaded it.

So I thought that I would, over time, post some of the more interesting and useful items on this blog so that it can be accessed by anyone, anytime.  After all, advocacy information is only really useful if it is shared.

I hope that you find these advocacy posts worthwhile.  And if you do, by all means pass the information on to others.

So with that by way of intro, on to the real stuff.

Crashes vs Congestion

Interesting study because of the direction it points to if we really want to use transportation investments to the best effect.  There is far more to be gained by working to reduce crashes than reducing congestion -- and this certainly has significant implications for cyclists.