Bike Culture on Huffington Posttag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/tag/bike-cultureHuffington PostTim Blumenthal: National Bike Month Might Last All Yearhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-blumenthal/national-bike-month-might_b_866566.htmlTim Blumenthalhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-blumenthal/
May is National Bike Month -- the perfect time to celebrate bicycling's many benefits for individuals, communities, our nation and our world. More hours of daylight, warmer temperatures and the approach of summer will inspire at least 11 million Americans to pedal each day.<br />
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Some will ride on pavement, others on dirt. A few will pedal 100 miles, while others will roll maybe three blocks. Some rides will be unforgettable: particularly children's wonderful first adventures in the park when a parent lets go and they enjoy a first taste of two-wheel freedom.<br />
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I work for a national non-profit bike organization whose mission is to get more people riding bikes more often. We like to say, "When people ride bikes, great things happen." Bike riding not only cuts obesity, but also road congestion and air pollution. In this era of high gasoline prices, bicycling can ease the burden on families' budgets. Economic pain at the pump, which so many people are feeling now, may be the factor that pushes bicycling to a new level of popularity.<br />
We're thinking (quite unofficially) that 2011 could become The Year of the Bike.<br />
So many factors are aligned to make it so:<br />
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<strong>High Gas Prices </strong>-- The rising price of gas is a painful development for the millions of American who have little choice but to drive to work every day. The average U.S. work commute is a lengthy 14 miles, and doesn't yet offer a parallel bike route of any kind. But most Americans do have the option of riding, at least some of the time, for other short trips, and high gas costs may inspire them to do it more often. The good news: 50 percent of all trips Americans make are less than three miles. And every two miles you pedal instead of drive will save you at least a buck.<br />
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<strong>Safer Places to Ride</strong> -- Federal, state and local governments have been investing in new bike paths, lanes and trails. Last year, federal funding for bicycling and walking topped $1 billion -- just 1.5 percent of transportation spending -- and supported more than 3,000 bike projects in all 50 states. If all this money were allocated to new roads, it would pay for roughly eight miles of multi-lane highway in a single city. What this investment means is that you and your family are more likely to find safe and appealing places to ride close to where you live and work.<br />
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<strong>Popular Support </strong>-- Mayors of cities, big and small, are fully committed to bicycling. They appreciate how bike riding helps save governments money on road repairs and parking construction costs, and they now realize that making a city bike-friendly doesn't cost much. They've made the infrastructure improvements. The result? In many large U.S. cities, bike riding has nearly doubled in the last decade.<br />
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One of the best things about bicycling is it's something you can do today that will make a difference. Bicycling to work or the store means not only taking responsibility for improving your health and saving money, but also helping your community and your nation. Americans will continue to debate how we pay for health care, but if more of us ride bicycles, we'll need less of it. The same is true for imported petroleum.<br />
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We know that more Americans will bike if seamless, safe bikeway networks become widely available. We are determined to help make this happen. That's why we created a new national campaign called Peopleforbikes.org<http://Peopleforbikes.org>. Our goal is to inspire at least one million Americans to affirm their interest in better bicycling conditions by signing a simple online pledge. So far, 225,000 people have jumped on board. They're giving bicycling a new, unified voice and greater political clout. We will welcome your signature, and your help in making bicycling something that we can celebrate every day of the year.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-friendly">Bike Friendly</a>, <a href="/tag/bikes-friendly-cities">Bikes Friendly Cities</a>, <a href="/tag/commuting-on-bike">Commuting on Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-commuting">Bike Commuting</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-cities">Bike Cities</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-commute">Bike Commute</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-commuting-movement">Bike Commuting Movement</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
11 Tips For Bike To Work Dayhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/bike-to-work-2011-commuting-tips_n_864307.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
<em><a href="http://www.bicycling.com/" target="_hplink">From Bicycling Magazine:</a></em><br />
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From fatter wallets to smaller waistlines, more Americans than ever are discovering the benefits of cycling to work: According to the League of American Bicyclists, bike commuting in the U.S. increased 44 percent from 2000 to 2009. <br />
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Thinking of joining the pack? Get started with the following tips, excerpted from Bicycling Magazine's <a href="http://www.rodaleinc.com/products/books/big-book-bicycling" target="_hplink"><em>Big Book of Bicycling</em></a>, just in time for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike-to-Work_Day" target="_hplink">Bike To Work Day</a>. <br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-day-2011">Bike to Work Day 2011</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/big-book-of-bicycling">Big Book of Bicycling</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-week">Bike to Work Week</a>, <a href="/tag/biking">Biking</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-month">Bike to Work Month</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-day">Bike to Work Day</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-tips">Bike Tips</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-commuting">Bike Commuting</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work">Bike to Work</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycling">Bicycling</a>, <a href="/tag/biking-tips">Biking Tips</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-commuting-tips">Bike Commuting Tips</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-week-2011">Bike to Work Week 2011</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
The Health Benefits Of Cycling (Plus A Chance To Win A Bike!)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/bike-to-work-week_n_863152.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
The average American spends just over 45 minutes a day commuting to and from work, according to one survey -- but instead of the road-rage fueled car trips or shoulder-to-shoulder public transportation commute, what if you started your day off on a better, healthier note?<br />
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The League of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month -- and this week, May 16-20 is the official <a href="http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/" target="_hplink">Bike to Work Week</a>. Biking to work can be a cheaper (no gas, tolls or public transportation fees), greener and, yes, healthier option.<br />
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A recent Harvard university study found that biking -- even for as little as five minute each day -- can stave off weight gain for middle aged women, <a href="http://news.health.com/2010/06/28/biking-weight-gain/" target="_hplink">according to Health.com</a>. The researchers followed more than 19,000 women and found that those who started a five-minute-a-day bike ride routine gained 1.5 fewer pounds than their non-cycling peers over a 16-year period. Those who rode for 30 minutes a day kept off 3.5 more pounds than those who didn’t bike. “Bicycling is an answer to weight control,” lead author Anne Lusk, Ph.D., told Health.com. <br />
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And cycling may be good for your community’s health, as well. Another study, published last year in the <em>American Journal of Public Health</em>, found that “communities with more walkers and cyclists are healthier than those where people must rely on cars to get around,” reports <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100819162633.htm" target="_hplink">Science Daily</a>. <br />
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Don’t have a bike yet? Not to worry: In honor of Bike to Work Week, <a href="http://www.performancebike.com" target="_hplink">Performance Bicycle</a> is giving away one <a href="http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1095472_-1_20000__400316" target="_hplink">2011 Scattante F-330 Fitness Road Bike</a> (valued at $749) to a lucky Healthy Living reader. (You can find the company on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/performancebike" target="_hplink">here</a>).<br />
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<strong>To Enter:</strong><br />
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Tell us why you love biking by either:<br />
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1. Tweeting <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/HuffPostHealth" target="_hplink">@HuffPostHealth</a> with your answer<br />
2. Leaving a comment in the comment fields below<br />
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A couple rules...<br />
The comment or tweet must be left between 3 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 and 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, May 20, 2011.<br />
Open to legal resident of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. You may enter one time. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. Please enter only once. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/bike-week-giveaway-rules_n_863162.html" target="_hplink">Click here</a> for complete Official Rules.<br />
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<center><img alt="2011-05-17-bikegiveaway.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2011-05-17-bikegiveaway.jpg" width="600" height="375" /></center><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-giveaway">Bike Giveaway</a>, <a href="/tag/healthy-living">Healthy Living</a>, <a href="/tag/health-benefits-of-biking">Health Benefits of Biking</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work-week">Bike to Work Week</a>, <a href="/tag/healthy-living-news">Healthy Living News</a>, <a href="/tag/bicylcing">Bicylcing</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work">Bike to Work</a>, <a href="/tag/fitness">Fitness</a>, <a href="/tag/bike">Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/performance-bike">Performance Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/free-bike">Free Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/biking-health-benefits">Biking Health Benefits</a>, <a href="/healthy-living">Healthy Living News</a></p>
WATCH: Swiss Army Knife-Inspired Electric Bikehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/the-voltitude-swiss-army-bike_n_847975.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
<em>From <a href="http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/04/new-electric-bike-swiss-army-knife-inspired/" target="_hplink">EarthTechling's</a> Aaron Colter:</em><br />
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A new <a href="http://www.earthtechling.com/tag/electric-bicycles/" target="_hplink">electric bicycle</a> is set to enter the market later this year; called The Voltitude, the beautifully designed product comes out of Switzerland and was recently hailed by the <a href="http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/03/31/volt-attitude-voltitude/" target="_hplink">Yanko Design Blog</a>. The foldable bike is heavily inspired by the famous style of the Swiss Army Knife, and is elegantly minimal in its overall look.<br />
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55 inches long, from wheel to wheel, and almost 40 inches tall when unfolded, the bike contracts to 24 inches wide and 35 inches tall when compacted for storage. While the vehicle does have pedal assistance, it’s really more of an <a href="http://www.earthtechling.com/tag/electric-scooters/" target="_hplink">electric scooter</a> than a bicycle.<br />
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Weighing around 50 pounds and coming equipped with a 250 watt, integrated motor powered by a 36 volt lithium-ion battery, the Voltitude has a top speed of just over 15 miles per hour, and a range of almost 25 miles on a full charge and under ideal conditions. The battery can be plugged into a 110 or 240 volt socket, and takes roughly four hours to reach 100%.<br />
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The bike is currently only available to purchase in Switzerland, and only in limited quantities. The company has yet to release a public price for the bike, but expects to have a final price and <a href="http://www.voltitude.com/buy/" target="_hplink">online, worldwide shipping</a> available at the end of this year.<br />
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<strong>WATCH:</strong><br />
<object width="560" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vAoI78p2p1M?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vAoI78p2p1M?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="349"></embed></object>
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/swiss-army-knife-bicycle">Swiss Army Knife Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/the-voltitude">The Voltitude</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/electric-bike">Electric Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/folding-bicycle">Folding Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/swiss-army-knife-bike">Swiss Army Knife Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/green-technology">Green Technology</a>, <a href="/tag/swiss-army-bike">Swiss Army Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/swiss-army-bicycle">Swiss Army Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/folding-bike">Folding Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/electric-bicycle">Electric Bicycle</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
In Brooklyn, A Tour of Ghosts http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/in-brooklyn-a-tour-of-gho_n_835316.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
Cyclists took to the streets Sunday afternoon, honoring not the balmy spring weather, but instead the lives of cyclists who died in motor vehicle accidents since the start of 2010.<br />
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Every year since 2005, the NYC Street Memorial Project has held the Annual Memorial Ride and Walk. On Sunday, dozens of pedestrians and cyclists gathered to visit sites in all five boroughs where cyclists were killed.<br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/memorial-bike-ride">Memorial Bike Ride</a>, <a href="/tag/ny-around">Ny Around</a>, <a href="/tag/carroll-gardens-patch">Carroll Gardens Patch</a>, <a href="/tag/carroll-gardens">Carroll Gardens</a>, <a href="/tag/bikers">Bikers</a>, <a href="/tag/bike">Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-lanes">Bike Lanes</a>, <a href="/tag/patch">Patch</a>, <a href="/new-york">New York News</a></p>
Eco-Friendly Boards & Bikes For Springhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/10/ecofriendly-skateboards-bikes_n_833693.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
Spring is in the air (finally!), and we're almost ready to break out of hibernation and get back outside. And since the warmer weather is a great excuse to opt for greener transportation, we've rounded up 5 of our fave eco-friendly bikes and boards to have you cruising around in green style. Read on to see our picks!<br />
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/green-board">Green Board</a>, <a href="/tag/ecofriendly-bike">Eco-Friendly Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/green-living">Green Living</a>, <a href="/tag/ecofriendly-skateboard">Eco-Friendly Skateboard</a>, <a href="/tag/green-bike">Green Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/green-skateboard">Green Skateboard</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Paul LaRosa: Does Park Slope Have the Bike Lane From Hell?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-larosa/does-park-slope-have-the-_b_832782.htmlPaul LaRosahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-larosa/
It's incredible to think of all the chatter surrounding the Prospect Park West bike lane in Park Slope. Yet again today, it's on the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/nyregion/08bike.html?hp" target="_hplink">front page of the <em>NY Times</em></a> because a group of influential New Yorkers is suing the city to get it removed. I mean, it's just a bike lane, but opponents and supporters sometimes act as though it's a world war.<br />
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I live half a block from the bike lane so I have observed it closely for the entire time it's been there, which is about a year by my estimation. (Please don't sue me if that's wrong.) I also own a car and park it on the street AND I own two bikes and sometimes use the bike lane. All in all, I feel I know about as much about this lane as anyone.<br />
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As background, the bike lane allegedly was put there for two reasons: to provide a safe path for bikers (the path is separated from the car lanes by a row of parked cars), and to slow down the notorious speedway that was Prospect Park West.<br />
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What seems to anger a lot of people is that the bike lane is two-way so, after crossing the one-way street and watching out for cars, you need to look both ways before crossing the bike lane so you don't get plowed into by a bike. As a result, Prospect Park West now resembles that old video game<a href="http://www.maniacworld.com/frogger-arcade-game.html" target="_hplink"> Frogger</a> where you need to keep looking and back and forth to avoid getting splattered by a car or a bike. It is a bit disconcerting, and it's probably doubly so for the parents of small children going to a playground inside the park. Let go of their hand for a moment and, well, let's just say the resulting accident won't be pretty.<br />
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The bike lane has certainly slowed down car traffic on Prospect Park West. I don't think anyone can argue that seriously and that is a good thing. It's slowed it down so much that when one car tries to park on either side of the street, there is only one lane of traffic open and things get backed up. Forget about double-parking on the street -- you'd be a fool to try that.<br />
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So the lane has achieved its major goal of slowing down traffic and it seems to be a fairly safe area for bikers to ride in. The ones complaining now are the pedestrians who say crossing has become an adventure, especially for seniors and this too may be true. You can't cross Prospect Park West anymore with a <em>la di dah </em>attitude. You need to be on your guard for cars, and bikes going both ways. It takes a little more attention but I think it's worth it and not brain surgery after all.<br />
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My objection to the bike lane (though if I had to vote, I'd probably vote for it) is aesthetic. Prospect Park West used to a big beautiful thoroughfare and looked very much like a low-rise version of Central Park West. Now, ironically enough, it seems as though it's all about cars, cars, cars mainly because the left-hand parking lane is practically in the middle of the street and that ain't pretty.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-lanes-new-york-traffic">Bike Lanes New York Traffic</a>, <a href="/tag/traffic-new-york">Traffic New York</a>, <a href="/tag/park-slope">Park Slope</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-lanes">Bike Lanes</a>, <a href="/tag/brooklyn-bike-lane">Brooklyn Bike Lane</a>, <a href="/new-york">New York News</a></p>
The Future Of Transportation?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/yikebike-foldable-bicycle_n_830818.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
The YikeBike was given its name because, according to the creator, people react to this new mode of transportation by exclaiming, "Yikes!"<br />
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The YikeBike is an electric, foldable bike that resembles a Segway mashed into a unicycle. According to a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/tech/2011/03/03/simon.yike.bike.cnn" target="_hplink">CNN report</a>, the bike weighs 20 pounds, travels at 14 mph, lasts six miles on one charge, and fits into the trunk of a car. <br />
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Grant Ryan, the creator, was inspired by the Segway, although the YikeBike is faster and cheaper. The $3600 price tag is still prohibitively expensive for most people, though. <a href="http://www.yikebike.com/blog/yikebike-cover-time-magazine" target="_hplink">Time Magazine</a> ranked it one of 2009's top inventions, and now it is available to the public. <br />
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The YikeBike runs on electricity and is generally considered more eco-friendly than most cars, but a bike that runs on human pedaling is presumably still better for the environment and human health. That said, an <a href="http://www.ebikes.ca/sustainability/Ebike_Energy.pdf" target="_hplink">unusual study</a> suggests that compared to regular bicyclists, electric bike users may have a lower environmental impact because regular cyclists consume more food, which increases their energy consumption. Of course, cyclists require more food for <em>exercising</em>, which tends to be considered a good thing, but the YikeBike still <a href="http://www.yikebike.com/blog/save-planet-%E2%80%93-dump-your-bike-and-use-yikebike" target="_hplink">references</a> this argument. <br />
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Like the YikeBike or not, it's certainly "yikes"-worthy.<br />
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<strong>WATCH the YikeBike in action.</strong><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/electric-bike">Electric Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/yikebike">Yikebike</a>, <a href="/tag/green-transportation">Green Transportation</a>, <a href="/tag/green-energy">Green Energy</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/foldable-bike">Foldable Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/yike-bike">Yike Bike</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Driver Accused Of Hitting Over 40 Brazil Bicyclists Jailedhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/ricardo-jose-neis-driver-_n_830341.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
SAO PAULO — The motorist accused of running down dozens of bike-riding activists in southern Brazil, injuring at least 40 people, has been detained, police said Wednesday.<br />
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A police statement says Ricardo Jose Neis was arrested in the city of Porto Alegre after a judge ordered his preventive detention. Prosecutors say they are considering charges of attempted homicide.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/brazil-bicyclists">Brazil Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/ricardo-jose-neis">Ricardo Jose Neis</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/car-hits-bicyclists">Car Hits Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/bicyclists-hit">Bicyclists Hit</a>, <a href="/tag/brazil-cyclists">Brazil Cyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/brazil-bikers">Brazil Bikers</a>, <a href="/tag/brazil">Brazil</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
GRAPHIC VIDEO: Car Runs Down 40 Bicyclists In Brazilhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/28/car-runs-down-bicyclists-brazil_n_829425.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
<strong>(Scroll down for video)</strong><br />
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SAO PAULO (AP) — A motorist sped his car through a pack of more than 100 cycling activists in southern Brazil, sending bikes and screaming riders flying through the air and landing hard on the asphalt in a scene captured on amateur video and posted online.<br />
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At least 40 cyclists were injured, with most suffering cuts and broken bones, but nobody was killed, authorities said.<br />
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Police said the suspect, whose name they did not release, fled the scene of the incident Friday evening in Porto Alegre. He was brought in for questioning Monday after authorities found his abandoned car over the weekend.<br />
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The man claimed riders surrounded his vehicle and began beating on it, causing him to panic and fear for his life, police said.<br />
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But the lead investigator in the case called that version of events "fanciful," without giving other details.<br />
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Inspector Gilberto Montenegro told Globo TV network's G1 website that the man could face charges of attempted homicide. Under Brazilian law, prosecutors can decide whether to bring charges only after police close their investigation, which may take 30 days. The man is currently free.<br />
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Montenegro also said the number of people hit and injured rose to 40. Previously, police said 16 people were hurt.<br />
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Cyclists in the Critical Mass ride told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that no riders were threatening the motorist.<br />
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"He drove behind us for two blocks, and people were trying to stay calm. Then in the third block he ... floored it on top of everyone," Marcelo Guidoux Kalil told Folha. "It was a scene of war, with twisted bicycles and people bleeding on the ground."<br />
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In the video, thuds and sharp sounds of metal on metal are heard as the car accelerates directly through the pack of cyclists.<br />
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Scores of riders and eyewitnesses screamed and asked bystanders to call police and ambulances as they began administering first aid to the victims.<br />
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<div class="flash_video"><strong>WATCH:</strong><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/car-runs-over-bicyclists">Car Runs Over Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/car-hits-cyclists">Car Hits Cyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/car-hits-bicyclists">Car Hits Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/car-hits-bikers">Car Hits Bikers</a>, <a href="/tag/car-hits-40-bicyclists">Car Hits 40 Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/critical-mass-crash">Critical Mass Crash</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/car-bike-crash">Car Bike Crash</a>, <a href="/tag/car-runs-down-bikers">Car Runs Down Bikers</a>, <a href="/tag/critical-mass">Critical Mass</a>, <a href="/tag/car-bicycle-crash">Car Bicycle Crash</a>, <a href="/tag/critical-mass-brazil">Critical Mass Brazil</a>, <a href="/tag/car-runs-down-bicyclists">Car Runs Down Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/car-injures-40-bicyclists">Car Injures 40 Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/car-crashes-into-bicyclists">Car Crashes Into Bicyclists</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Teens From Kenyan Slums Make Award-Winning Hip-Hop Video About Bikeshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/21/wafalme-me-and-my-bike_n_824158.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
A group of teenagers from the slums of Nairobi have joined together to make a winning video on environmental protection. <br />
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The film competition "1 Minute To Save The World" challenged young filmmakers to create a one-minute video about climate change. The competition received films from around the globe, with submissions arriving everywhere from Mexico to Vietnam. Judges included Frank Oz ("The Muppet Show") and Bruce Parry ("Tribe"). "Me And My Bike" won the $8000 Passion Pictures Best Film and Artists Project Earth Youth Visions award. <br />
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<a href="http://www.1minutetosavetheworld.com/category/blog/" target="_hplink">"Me And My Bike"</a> is a video created by Wafalme, a group of inspired Kenyan teens who communicate various messages through hip-hop. They are also known for creating <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-jansen/trash-is-cash_b_797414.html" target="_hplink">"Trash Is Cash,"</a> a video offering recycling solutions for their neighborhood, which lacks trash collection - despite the fact that 1.5 tons of trash per day is dumped on their land from Nairobi.<br />
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In Wafalme's newest video on bicycling, the group offers the simple yet very real message that bicycles are an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation that can cut down on worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. One <a href="http://www.1minutetosavetheworld.com/2011/01/me-and-my-bike/" target="_hplink">lyric</a> states, "It's good for my health, because I need to exercise, it doesn't need any gas, just my feet and my eyes."<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/national-bike-to-work-day_n_583508.html#s92257&title=undefined" target="_hplink">Reports</a> show that if a person substitutes one day's worth of driving with biking per week, in one year he could reduce CO2 emissions by over 1,000 pounds, and save more than $800 on gas and maintenance. Not to mention the nearly 20 pounds he may lose.<br />
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According to winning participant <a href="http://www.1minutetosavetheworld.com/2011/01/me-and-my-bike/" target="_hplink">Dickson Oyugi</a>, "Most of us just sit and wait for the governments to take action about climate change... together we can, with small actions in our daily life, make a difference." Except that Wafalme has taken <em>big</em> actions to make a difference. <br />
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<strong>WATCH this winning video:</strong><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/climate-change-bike">Climate Change Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/one-minute-to-save-the-world">One Minute to Save the World</a>, <a href="/tag/africa">Africa</a>, <a href="/tag/environment">Environment</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-climate-change">Bike Climate Change</a>, <a href="/tag/environmental-video">Environmental Video</a>, <a href="/tag/green-living">Green Living</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-energy">Bike Energy</a>, <a href="/tag/wafalme">Wafalme</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
WATCH: Bamboo Bikes Ride Through One Of Dirtiest Capitals In The Worldhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/12/bamboo-bikes-in-philippin_n_822091.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
How can you make a green form of transportation even greener? Bryan McClelland may have the answer: bamboo bikes.<br />
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McClelland has created the BamBike, a bicycle made out of bamboo. The bicycles are made in Manila, Phillipines, which <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=185496402&videoChannel=74" target="_hplink">Reuters</a> reports is one of the most polluted capitals in the world. The bikes, costing around $500, are built by local skilled laborers, and the company <a href="http://bambike.com/about/" target="_hplink">advertises</a> that as "a company that is interested in helping out people and the planet," their bicycles are made with fair-trade labor. <br />
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The BamBike frame is made out of cut and dried bamboo lumber and wrapped with Manila hemp fibers. According to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=185496402&videoChannel=74" target="_hplink">McClelland</a>, bamboo is "one of the greenest building materials on earth, so bicycles built out of bamboo are, more or less, the greenest way to get around." <br />
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Not everyone has jumped on the bamboo bandwagon. Some locals are <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=185496402&videoChannel=74" target="_hplink">skeptical</a> of the bike's durability, although McClelland claims that compared to metal, bamboo has the same tensile strength and a higher strength to weight ratio. <br />
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What do you think? Would you ride a bamboo bike?<br />
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<strong>WATCH the building of a bamboo bike:</strong><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/philippines">Philippines</a>, <a href="/tag/bamboo-bike">Bamboo Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bambike">Bambike</a>, <a href="/tag/bamboo-bicycle">Bamboo Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/green-bike">Green Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/bryan-mcclelland">Bryan Mcclelland</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-made-of-bamboo">Bike Made of Bamboo</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Maria Rodale: BikeTown Africa: Transforming Rwandahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/biketown-africa-transform_b_804075.htmlMaria Rodalehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/
<em>By guest blogger Steve Madden, vice president of creative services and digital production development at Rodale.</em><br />
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I can't tell you his name, but I can tell you the circumstances of his birth. His father, a Hutu, raped his mother, a Tutsi, after killing her family. During the rape, she became infected with HIV/AIDS. And she became pregnant. She bore the child and has raised him these 15 years. But she has never loved him. They live in the outskirts of a village in rural Rwanda, outcasts in a country that still bears the scars of the 1994 genocide that left some 1 million Tutsis dead and left countless others to deal with the trauma.<br />
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<a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/biketown_africa/" target="_hplink">BikeTown Africa</a> has provided almost 3,000 bikes to people in nine African countries. As co-founder of the project, I've been to most of those countries, as well as Afghanistan, and have seen and heard of the kind of deprivation, sorrow, and hardship we in the First World have come to associate with Africa. But I've never heard the kind of horror I heard earlier this month when I spent a week on a BTA project in Rwanda. We had partnered with <a href="http://www.foundationrwanda.org/" target="_hplink">Foundation Rwanda</a>, an American charity that provides support to women who were raped during the genocide, and to the children they bore as a result of the rape. Many of them are HIV-positive, and all of them are outcasts in a society that is struggling to right the wrongs of the genocide while also trying to put it behind it as best it can.<br />
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The women receive some support from the government as victims, but the children, born after the genocide had officially ended, do not. The children are reminders both to mothers and society alike of the horror. The result: an untouchable caste.<br />
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We provided 120 BikeTown Africa bikes, generously donated by Canadian bike maker Kona, to the families supported by Foundation Rwanda. The mothers and their children gathered to help our small crew of Americans build the bikes, and we showed them how to maintain them. I worked with the boy, who is 15 but looks, because of malnourishment, like my 8-year-old children, for three days, and would hire him in a minute, such was his hustle, dedication, and attitude.<br />
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The Africa Bike was specially designed by Kona for women, since the vast majority of users of the bike are women in rural areas of Africa, who wear traditional dress of skirts. Hence the step-through, "girl's," frame; the chain case to keep the fabric away from the greasy chain; the basket, rack, fenders, and wide seat. The women told us they'd use the bikes to fetch water and firewood, as well as feed for their livestock. The kids said they'd use the bikes to get to school. We showed a few moms how to ride, and told kids whose moms couldn't get the hang of it that they needed to give their moms lifts to the counseling sessions that Foundation Rwanda organizes.<br />
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We also told them the bikes were theirs. Forever.<br />
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I'm not naïve enough to think these bikes are going to make everything right for these families. But in a season when we are surrounded by so much, by a superabundance of plenty of everything, it's good to know that a relatively modest investment of time and money can move someone whom the world has dealt a massively unfair hand from the have-not side of the ledger to the have side.<br />
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Please consider making a life-changing gift to BikeTown Africa. You can do so at <a href="http://www.biketownafrica.org/" target="_hplink">BiketownAfrica.org</a>, or at <a href="http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/biketownafrica" target="_hplink">RodaleInstitute.org/biketownafrica</a>.<br />
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<strong>Related Links:</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/this-writing-life/" target="_hplink">This Writing Life</a> - Maria's Farm Country Kitchen<br />
<a href="http://www.rodale.com/prostate-cancer-risk" target="_hplink">How To Give Prostate Cancer The Finger</a> - Rodale.com<br />
<a href="http://www.biketownafrica.org/" target="_hplink">BiketownAfrica</a><br />
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<strong>For more from Maria Rodale, go to <a href="http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/biketown-africa-transforming-rwanda/" target="_hplink">www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com</a>.</strong><br />
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/biketown">Biketown</a>, <a href="/tag/biking">Biking</a>, <a href="/tag/africa">Africa</a>, <a href="/tag/rwanda-genocide">Rwanda Genocide</a>, <a href="/tag/rwanda">Rwanda</a>, <a href="/impact">Impact News</a></p>
How New York City Became Walk, Bike And Transit Friendlyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/08/how-new-york-city-became-_n_756260.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
When I was growing up, I always thought of New York City as a sprawling, traffic-clogged mess. Yet from supporting bike to work day through greening Madison Square to getting serious about physically separated bike lanes, the planning authorities, citizen activists and even politicians of New York City seem to have put their weight behind pedestrian, bike and mass-transit friendly planning. The result is even good for motorists and businesses, as a new video shows.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/mass-transit">Mass Transit</a>, <a href="/tag/new-york-mass-transit">New York Mass Transit</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Lauren Elyse Matison: 13 Green Gifts That Give Back to the World (PHOTOS)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-elyse-matison/photos-13-green-gifts-tha_b_793197.htmlLauren Elyse Matisonhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-elyse-matison/
Still haven't found what you're looking for? Consider these 13 green gifts that are good for the environment and give back to local economies around the globe.<br />
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(And if you need even more ideas, consult offManhattan.com's gift guides <a href="http://offmanhattan.com/2010/12/02/best-travel-gifts/" target="_hplink">for adventurers</a> and <a href="http://offmanhattan.com/2010/11/29/gifts-for-new-yorkers/" target="_hplink">New Yorkers</a>.)<br />
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Visit <a href="http://offmanhattan.com/" target="_hplink">offManhattan.com</a> for car-free getaways near NYC<br />
Follow offManhattan on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/offManhattan" target="_hplink">@offManhattan</a><br />
Got questions? Contact oM's editor: lauren@offmanhattan.com
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/gift-guide">Gift Guide</a>, <a href="/tag/slidepollajax">Slidepollajax</a>, <a href="/tag/green-living">Green Living</a>, <a href="/tag/fashion">Fashion</a>, <a href="/tag/jewelry">Jewelry</a>, <a href="/tag/holiday-gifts">Holiday Gifts</a>, <a href="/tag/dogs">Dogs</a>, <a href="/tag/humanitarian">Humanitarian</a>, <a href="/tag/green-travel">Green Travel</a>, <a href="/tag/green">Green</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/luxury">Luxury</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
9 DIY Tips For Having The Best Bikehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/bikemaintenance-how-to-do_n_790414.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
<em>From<a href="http://www.bicycling.com/" target="_hplink"> Bicycling Magazine</a>:</em><br />
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Whether you ride a multi-thousand-dollar road machine or a 20-year-old beater bike from your basement, proper maintenance is essential to ensure a safe and comfortable ride. Complete this easy-to-follow checklist every one to two months to keep your bike running smooth.<br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/how-to-fix-bike">How to Fix Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-maintenance">Bike Maintenance</a>, <a href="/tag/fix-broken-bicycle">Fix Broken Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/how-to-fix-bicycle">How to Fix Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/slidepollajax">Slidepollajax</a>, <a href="/tag/diy-bikes">Diy Bikes</a>, <a href="/tag/fix-broken-bike">Fix Broken Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycle-maintenance">Bicycle Maintenance</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Biking To Work Surges In Popularityhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/biking-to-work-surges-in-_n_790490.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
You don't have to buy a Nissan Leaf to have an emissions-free ride to work. Instead of shelling out in excess of $20,000 for a fancy new electric vehicle, spend a few hundred and buy a bike. Cycling, in general, is getting popular in some of the nation's largest cities and this trend is spilling over into the daily commute.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/biking-to-work">Biking to Work</a>, <a href="/tag/cycle-to-work">Cycle to Work</a>, <a href="/tag/cycling-to-work">Cycling to Work</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-to-work">Bike to Work</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Buenos Aires To Launch Bike Share Programhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/buenos-aires-bike-share-b_n_789781.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
The Buenos Aires government sure is doing something right aggressively pushing bike use, even against complaining drivers or dumb press campaigns. After creating new bike paths and better conditions for bike parking, they are now officially launching the city's bike sharing system, announced more than two years ago but finally hitting the streets tomorrow.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/buenos-aires-bicycle-share">Buenos Aires Bicycle Share</a>, <a href="/tag/buenos-aires-bike-sharing">Buenos Aires Bike Sharing</a>, <a href="/tag/buenos-aires-bike-share">Buenos Aires Bike Share</a>, <a href="/tag/bicing">Bicing</a>, <a href="/tag/buenos-aires-bicing">Buenos Aires Bicing</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-share-buenos-aires">Bike Share Buenos Aires</a>, <a href="/tag/buenos-aires-bicycle-sharing">Buenos Aires Bicycle Sharing</a>, <a href="/tag/argentina-bike-share">Argentina Bike Share</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
David Kroodsma: Cancun vs. Copenhagen -- Biking VIDEOhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kroodsma/cancun-vs-copenhagen---bi_b_789199.htmlDavid Kroodsmahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kroodsma/
<a href="http://hubculture.com"><img height=73 width=249 style="float: right; margin:10px" src="http://cdn.hubculture.eu/1286287778/i/hc-front.gif"></a><em>Cross posted on <a href="http://hubculture.com" target="_hplink">Hub Culture</a></em>. <br />
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I attended last year's U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen as the "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/07/david-kroodsma-the-huffpo_n_382366.html" target="_hplink">Hopenhagen Ambassador</a>," pressed with the task of "spreading hope." I can't say that we were very successful--there is no similar "Yes we Cancun" effort for this year's conference. I am here nonetheless, at the U.N.'s climate conference as a journalist with <a href="http://hubculture.com" target="_hplink">Hub Culture</a>. <br />
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More analyses and interviews will be coming in this column--including some hopeful news from businesses--but for my first COP16 post I'd like to provide an unscientific comparison of Cancun and Copenhagen. <br />
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I flew to the airports in both Copenhagen and Cancun with a folding bike (a <a href="http://bikefriday.com" target="_hplink">Bike Friday</a> to be exact). The suitcase that carries the bike turns into a trailer that I can then put my belongings into. It is quite elegant: I can unfold the bike, load the trailer with my luggage, and then ride away from the airport. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgEX5A1o2jg" target="_hplink">Here is a sped up video</a> of me unpacking the bike. <br />
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Let me be clear: though I'm at a climate conference, <em>I am not riding my bike for environmental reasons</em>. I ride because it is fun and, more importantly, because entering a town by bike gives me a much better sense of a city's idiosyncrasies. If I took a taxi, I would have zoomed by the small stores and not spoken to the police officer along the roadside (who told me he was there for security for the conference). The fact that the bike happens to be more ecological is a bonus (although I should note that the emissions saved by biking instead of driving are dwarfed by the emissions that resulted from the flight to Mexico). <br />
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In Cancun, the route I followed from the airport to hotel was the safest I could find--Google street view was very useful. As you will see, the biking in Cancun is a bit scarier than in Copenhagen... It's no wonder I saw only three other cyclists. <br />
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<center><strong>Copenhagen 2009</strong></center><br />
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<center><strong>Cancun 2010</strong></center><br />
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More actual climate commentary in later days . . .<br />
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/copenhagen">Copenhagen</a>, <a href="/tag/cop16">cop16</a>, <a href="/tag/bike">Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/cancun">Cancun</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-friday">Bike Friday</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycling">Bicycling</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Anne Peterson: A Hamsterdam in Amsterdam (PHOTOS)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-peterson/a-hamsterdam-in-amsterdam_b_787377.htmlAnne Petersonhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-peterson/
I went to Amsterdam this week for their<a href="http://www.idfa.nl/industry.aspx" target="_hplink"> International Documentary Festival</a>. If you ever get the chance to catch it in late November, it is a delightful and incredibly well-organized event. My favorite was <a href="http://www.queenofthesun.com/" target="_hplink"><em>Queen of the Sun</em></a>, a gorgeously shot film about the disastrous agricultural effects of the bee colony collapse epidemic sweeping the Western world.<br />
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Other than the film festival, the highlight of my trip was eating Dutch split pea soup from a covered bowl and drinking tiny cups of coffee at <a href="http://www.bruincafe-centrum.nl/" target="_hplink">an outdoor cafe</a> every morning in the crisp fall weather. The waitresses at Bruincafé were total babes and made me feel at home. Thank you to Chelsea and the tall, hot blonde who gave me <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugbrød" target="_hplink">rugbrød</a> to take back with me!<br />
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I stayed at the <a href="http://www.edenhotelamsterdam.com/nl/overview.aspx" target="_hplink">Eden Hotel</a>, which was affordable, adorable and their restaurant had a damn fine cheese plate. I was all over that cheese plate like white on rice. Or like cheese on a cracker. BOOM goes the dynamite.<br />
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<center><img alt="2010-11-23-EdenHotel.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2010-11-23-EdenHotel.jpg" width="500" height="360" /></center><br />
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I learned that nothing waves the flag of tourism like the sound of a rolling suitcase on a brick path. Rolling Suitcase on a Brick Path is the soundtrack to every European adventure. <br />
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<a href="http://www.sexmuseumamsterdam.nl/" target="_hplink">The Sex Museum</a> was only €4 and had an interactive Marilyn Monroe exhibit available in four languages. The Monroe exhibit alone was worth four euros, but they also let you take pictures, which I thought was really awesome until I realized taking pictures in a sex museum is creepy and weird. Never the less, the extensive collection was housed in a fabulous vintage building with spiral staircases and skylights. Considering the economy is <a href="http://www.medindia.net/news/Danish-Erotic-Museum-Closes-for-Lack-of-Funds-48632-1.htm" target="_hplink">putting a dent in sex archives</a>, this is not to be missed.<br />
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<center><img alt="2010-11-23-SexMuseum.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2010-11-23-SexMuseum.jpg" width="550" height="360" /></center><br />
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The Diamant Diamond Museum is FREE, has a really cool exhibit of how diamonds are made and features a collection of miniature, historically accurate crown replications in the gift shop. It also uses this hilarious Persian Cat Wearing a Tiara as their mascot. For the cat mascot alone, I give the Diamond Museum an A+. <br />
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I went to the Red Light District but cannot tell you whether or not it was awesome because I spent the entire time awkwardly looking down at my feet. The Sex Museum I could handle, the Red Light District made me feel like a nine year old who discovered a Frederick's of Hollywood catalog too soon to understand what it means.<br />
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The shopping and dining districts were packed with people and it was harshing my mellow, so I spent most of my days biking and walking around the quiet residential neighborhoods and canals. A few areas enjoyed were around Reguliers-Gracht street or on the Southern outskirts of Vondelpark. I found them low key and relaxing with abundant green space and beautiful architecture. When I was hungry I'd grab herring from the street vendor. <br />
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The best thing about Amsterdam is how pedestrian and bike friendly it is. Bicyclists seemed to have the right of way in almost every situation. It was a refreshing departure coming from a city that yields to motorists. I wasn't always sure where the proper bike lane was, but I after a few days I got the idea it was where ever I damn well wanted it to be. <br />
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The best thing about a bike dominated transportation culture, is that the response of an angry cyclist is the pleasant ding of a bike bell. It's so much less assaulting than the violent blare of the horn. Passive Dutch drivers rarely honked, but cyclists dinged away with rabid persistence. Much like Rolling Suitcase on a Brick Path, the sound of a Polite-But-Mildly-Annoyed-Bike-Bell became part of Amsterdam's landscape. And that's OK with me, because a bike bell ding is just about the cutest way you can ever scold someone.<br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/tourism">Tourism</a>, <a href="/tag/amsterdam">Amsterdam</a>, <a href="/tag/museums">Museums</a>, <a href="/tag/slidepollajax">Slidepollajax</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycling">Bicycling</a>, <a href="/tag/documentary">Documentary</a>, <a href="/tag/red-light-districts">Red Light Districts</a>, <a href="/tag/vacation">Vacation</a>, <a href="/tag/film-festival">Film Festival</a>, <a href="/tag/coffee">Coffee</a>, <a href="/tag/pedestrians">Pedestrians</a>, <a href="/tag/europe">Europe</a>, <a href="/tag/film">Film</a>, <a href="/tag/dutch">Dutch</a>, <a href="/travel">Travel News</a></p>
WATCH: Would You Use An Inflatable Bike Helmet?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/20/the-invisible-helmet-inve_n_781575.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
Would you wear an invisible helmet? <a href="www.reuters.com" target="_hplink">Reuters</a> reports on a creative invention in bicycle safety, the Hövding, an inflatable collar that deploys like an airbag on impact, encircling the cyclist's head. <br />
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The idea was based on the premise that while cyclists are aware of the dangers of biking without a helmet, they still choose to not wear one due to appearance, bulkiness, discomfort, and of course, hair issues.<br />
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The Hövding's puffy collar contains a nylon airbag with a gas inflator, which is triggered by sensors upon collision. The airbag releases in .1 second, becoming a hood that encircles the head, providing shock absorption and pressure. The Hövding also offers shells in a variety of colors and patterns.<br />
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There are some drawbacks. The $450 price tag is prohibitively expensive for many cyclists. Also, once inflated, the Hövding cannot be used again. So if you fall off your bike, it better be a worthy fall!<br />
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Nonetheless, the Hövding is a fascinating example of designers searching for alternative ways to improve safety through creativity, and could lead to some amazing future technology. What do you think of it? <br />
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<strong>WATCH:</strong><br />
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<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/invisible-helmet">Invisible Helmet</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/video">Video</a>, <a href="/tag/hovding-bike-helmet">Hovding Bike Helmet</a>, <a href="/tag/invisible-bike-helmet">Invisible Bike Helmet</a>, <a href="/tag/hovding">Hovding</a>, <a href="/tag/inflatable-bike-helmet">Inflatable Bike Helmet</a>, <a href="/tag/inflatable-helmet">Inflatable Helmet</a>, <a href="/tag/hovding-helmet">Hovding Helmet</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
David Kroodsma: The Future of Travel: Bicycleshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kroodsma/the-future-of-travel-bicy_b_779117.htmlDavid Kroodsmahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kroodsma/
Travelers--the future is on bicycles! Don't believe it? Consider the following trends, all of which show a dramatic increase in vacationers traveling by bike. <br />
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This list comes courtesy of <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/" target="_hplink">Adventure Cycling</a>, the largest (and as they are quick to note, growing) cycling membership group in North America. For full disclosure, I will say that I am very biased: I spent two years traveling by bicycle, and I think bike travel is the best way to see a state, country, or continent. It appears that an increasing number of people agree. <br />
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<ol><li><strong>Major Cycling Events Continue to Grow: </strong>David Harrenstein, executive director of the National Bicycle Tour Directors Association (<a href="http://www.nbtda.com/default.php" target="_hplink">NBTDA</a>), told us that attendance at major recreational cycling events has been going up. According to a recent study by <a href="http://www.bikesbelong.org/resources/stats-and-research/research/road-riding-events-survey/" target="_hplink">Bikes Belong</a>, these events (such as Ride the Rockies or RAGBRAI) are a huge economic boon: in 2008, 1,700 road riding events in the U.S. drew more than one million participants, raised more than 200 million for charities, and generated an estimated 572 million in direct economic impact.</li><br />
<li><strong>Commercial Tours Surge:</strong> Despite the downturn, bike tour operators are doing great. "Our business has seen a 20 percent increase from 2009 to 2010 and we are off to a good start for the 2011 season," said Tania Worgull, president of <a href="http://www.trektravel.com/" target="_hplink">Trek Travel</a>, which operates tours in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. "We continue to add new destinations each year to accommodate the growing interest in bike tours."</li><br />
<a href="http://climateride.org"><img style="float: right; margin:10px" src="http://rideforclimate.com/images/HuffPost/CR-Photo.jpeg"></a><br />
<li><strong>The Economy is Noticing Bike Tourists: </strong>According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin, in 2010, out-of-state visitors traveling to Wisconsin for cycling opportunities generated <a href="http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/econdev/docs/impact-bicycling.pdf" target="_hplink">half a billion dollars in economic activity</a>.</li><br />
<li><strong>Accommodations are Being Offered Specifically for Cyclists:</strong> In the last couple of years, a number of smaller communities have created bike-only camp and hostel sites to attract riders and spur economic development. They include Twin Bridges, MT, Farmington, MO, Dalbo, MN, and Ordway, CO. These lodgings and their community impacts can be found in the <a href="http://blog.adventurecycling.org/search/label/GeoPoints%20Bulletin" target="_hplink">GeoPoints Bulletin</a>.</li><br />
<li><strong>Mountain Bike-Related Travel Expands:</strong> According to Ryan Schultz, director of field programs for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (<a href="http://www.imba.com/" target="_hplink">IMBA</a>), "2010 has been a banner year for mountain biking. We've seen growth in the IMBA Ride Center program, increased interest in destination quality trails, and the opening of several innovative new trail systems that cater to casual first-timers, experts, and everything in-between."</li><br />
<li><strong>New Bicycle-Travel Websites are Everywhere:</strong> Look no further than the information superhighway for signs that more people are riding and sharing their bike knowledge. Consider the <a href="http://rideoregonride.com/" target="_hplink">Ride Oregon</a> website, where thousands of users share tips on riding in the state. </li><br />
<li><strong>The Possibility of a U.S. Bicycle Route System:</strong> The U.S. is beginning to develop an official <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs" target="_hplink">U.S. Bicycle Route System</a> (USBRS) connecting states and cities from city to countryside. A plan was adopted in October 2008 and in the last year, 27 states and the District of Columbia have begun to implement routes to improve cycling transportation, travel, and economic development. In July, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood <a href="http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/07/us-bicycle-route-system-begins-connecting-america.html" target="_hplink">called the USBRS</a> "a win for states, a win for local communities, and a win for America."</li><br />
<li><strong>States Highlight Bicycle Travel:</strong> In tandem with a potential bike route system, states are promoting cycling in their tourism strategies. For example, in April 2010, the State of Minnesota hosted its <a href="http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/2010-bicycle-tourism-summit-schedule/" target="_hplink">first conference on bicycle tourism</a>. </li><br />
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Adventure Cycling also noted that with the addition of their new <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/sierracascades.cfm" target="_hplink">Sierra Cascades Route</a>, they have now mapped bike routes for more than 40,000 miles of road--a distance equal to one and a half times around the earth. <br />
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As I said earlier, my bias for bicycle travel is acute. I've biked across the U.S. twice (once using Adventure Cycling's maps, and once charting my own routes), and also across the entirety of Latin America. Not only are landscapes more vivid without a windshield, but it is easier to meet people if you are exposed and approachable on a bike. Bicycle travel is ecological, healthy, and most importantly, fun. <br />
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The increase in bicycle tourists does not surprise me. What would surprise me is if the popularity didn't continue to grow. <br />
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<center><img src="http://rideforclimate.com/images/HuffPost/Descending108.jpeg"></center><br />
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<em>First photo is of riders on the <a href="http://climateride.org" target="_hplink">Brita Climate Ride</a>, and comes courtesy of photographer <a href="http://www.kippierson.com/" target="_hplink">Kip Pierson</a>. Second photo is of the author riding down the eastern side of California's Sierra Nevada. <br />
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bicycle">Bicycle</a>, <a href="/tag/travel">Travel</a>, <a href="/tag/bike">Bike</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycles">Bicycles</a>, <a href="/tag/bicycle-travel">Bicycle Travel</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-touring">Bike Touring</a>, <a href="/travel">Travel News</a></p>
Why Bike Sharing Must Be Savedhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/02/why-bike-sharing-must-be-_n_703182.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
But after five years, something scary started to happen, in addition to the vandalism and abandonment that plagued Bicing and other big programs...ridership started to decline.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-sharing">Bike Sharing</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/bicing">Bicing</a>, <a href="/tag/bikes">Bikes</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
San Francisco To Launch Bike-Share Program Next Yearhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/28/san-francisco-bikeshare-p_n_775389.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
A thousand communal bicycles would be available for use in San Francisco and along the Peninsula in what Bay Area transportation officials are trumpeting as the nation's first regional bike-sharing program.
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-sharing-sf">Bike Sharing SF</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-share-sf">Bike Share SF</a>, <a href="/tag/san-francisco-bike-share">San Francisco Bike Share</a>, <a href="/tag/sf-bike-share">SF Bike Share</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-sharing-san-francisco">Bike Sharing San Francisco</a>, <a href="/tag/san-francisco-bikesharing">San Francisco Bike-Sharing</a>, <a href="/tag/bikeshare-san-francisco">Bike-Share San Francisco</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>
Awesome Dutch Bike Designers Build For The Global Citizenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/17/van-moof-dutch-bike-reinv_n_684521.htmlThe Huffington Post News Teamhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/
The company last year won the Eurobike 2009 newcomer award for the Van Moof No. 5, with its sleek aluminum frame and such highlights as a solar-powered front and rear lighting system. The bike is also light - easy to carry up the apartment stairs, even if you choose the built-in chain lock system (14.9 kilos with the lock).
<p>Read more: <a href="/tag/bike-culture">Bike Culture</a>, <a href="/tag/van-moof">Van Moof</a>, <a href="/tag/bike-design">Bike Design</a>, <a href="/tag/bikes">Bikes</a>, <a href="/tag/dutch-bikes">Dutch Bikes</a>, <a href="/green">Green News</a></p>