IS LONDON THE NEW COPENHAGEN?

Ok, we know that might be stretching it a little. But in a recent article, it is said that London is slated to start a project to encourage people to ride bicycles as their main form of transportation. Why the push for cycling? London is purportedly aiming for the “greenest Olympics ever” and this is just one of the strategies is to promote “London Week”. London Week will provide citizens with more bicycles to rent, and faster cycling routes to ride their bikes on. Along with the push for bicycles, London is also encouraging people to use electric and hybrid vehicles. Even larger than London’s goal to have the greenest Olympics ever is their lofty goal of reducing their carbon footprint by 60% by 2025. So, let’s hope London Week has kicked off to a great start today, and we encourage Londoners to embrace their country’s goal and help out future Olympic athletes. But this isn’t limited to the English- everyone should embrace their inner Brit and kick their driving habit- if just for a week!

INTEGRATED HEADSETS

From time to time, the question comes up about the use of the integrated headset (IH) design, and if it will damage the frame. Here’s a link to a Chris King piece on the subject that states the position against the IH design. While it’s plausible from a pure engineering standpoint, it may be making a lot of noise about nothing.

If you were to use a loose ball design, and the frame headtube ends were essentially the cups, then yes, that would be a poor design. But given the use of the cartridge bearing sets as used in the Wabi Classic and Lightning, as long as you keep the headset properly adjusted, the likelihood is that the frame will outlast the rider. One of my customers who has a Classic inquired about this to Cane Creek Cycling, who wrote back:

“That is absolute nonsense.  Frames have been using the integrated designs for some number of years now without any issues.  Just like any headset the key is that it is properly adjusted.  If it’s kept clean and tight, you should be trouble free for years to come.”

If you have any questions about the IH design, let us know.

MOTORIST VS CYCLIST

Musings from a recent ride here in LA….

It’s always amazed me how people who ostensibly hate each other, when taken away from the context of the confrontation, would actually probably find that they have much in common and could get along without any big problems. Having a car in the mix changes the relationship dramatically, from a psychological standpoint.

At the bottom of this conflict is power (seems to be a common denominator in most conflicts), the cyclist obviously having very little, and the car driver having the option to exercise that power imbalance in many ways, and generally anonymously, from within their cocoon. Given this setup, it seems counter productive for the cyclist to react with anger- it only refortifies the position of the offending driver, making them even more anti-cyclist, and endangers the cyclist.

So, what to do? One very obvious thing that’s needed is a way to integrate bicycles into the transportation plan in such a way as to minimize conflicts, but also there’s a real need to educate, on both sides of the discussion. I’ve been riding since 1971 and consequently understand the position of the cyclist as well as the driver. However, IMHO, we cyclists lose when we are confrontational, preachy, or sanctimonious. The challenge of trying to get municipalities to integrate cycling into the transportation mix might be easier if we cyclists can present a rationale that’s not just what we as cyclists want and feel we deserve, but also show how it benefits everyone if it’s done right, meaning well designed routes (shared with cars), sufficient signage and markings, and a way to minimize the impact on drivers (heck, if it’s a successful venture, it will clear up some of the traffic jam mess). Most people would agree that having lots of people outside and active, whether walking, running, cycling, or any other self powered mode of transport, is a good sign of a healthy community. If it’s all asphalt, traffic jams and no parking, there’s not much to recommend itself. Add in the lack of stress on the infrastructure, easing of stress on the individual and our health care system, reduction of the various pollutants and reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and you start painting a pretty nice picture of a livable city and excellent benefits beyond just the cycling.

I may catch some flack for this, but I’ll throw it out there anyway. Be a good citizen when on the bike. Yield right of way, obey traffic rules, be visible and predictable when you ride, and even be considerate of drivers! In any interaction that you have with a motorist, good or bad, you’re speaking for all cyclists, whether you like it or not. So, when you flip off a driver, or show flagrant disregard for the traffic laws that impact a driver negatively, remember that there’s another cyclist just down the road that this guy will encounter, and perhaps look at differently. Same can be said for positive behavior- it breeds a positive relationship. Bottom line- respect your fellow road users if you expect to be shown respect.

Recently I have seen a few references to a cyclist hating Facebook page (here is one article on it). We need to work toward cooperation and understanding of mutual benefits to try to get past this type of thinking.

MAKING THE SWITCH TO BICYCLES

It is clear that something needs to be done in Los Angeles to promote cycling as an effective and regular mode of transportation. Other cities have been able to encourage their citizens to rely on bicycles rather than automobiles, so how can Los Angeles follow this trend? In an article from the LA Times, one columnist offers a few suggestions. He compares LA to cities such as Copenhagen, Portland, and New York and tries to figure out why those cities have been successful in bicycle advocacy. One major trend that he thinks should be promoted more is using bicycles for short distances. Many people jump in their cars only to drive for five minutes, so if these short trips were on a bike instead of a car, pollution would be lowered and climate conditions would improve. It isn’t just the responsibility of the people- it’s also the responsibility of governments to lead the way. More events, like ciclovias (as mentioned in a previous post) could help the streets become bicycle friendly and encourage people to ride their bikes more often. Finally, those who consider themselves not so good at bicycling, or who think that cycling is not for them should be encouraged to ride their bikes- cycling is for everyone!

I was just talking to a neighbor of mine yesterday that typifies a lot of people- she would prefer to ride a bike to work, but it’s either Olympic or Wilshire corridors, and neither of these are the least bit bike friendly for the average person. I know the die hards and long time cyclists feel confident that they can ride most anywhere, but what’s needed is to make the streets available for ANYONE who wants to ride. No one should feel like they have to risk their lives when they take to the streets on a bike. If anything, given the times (pollution, global warming, obesity, depression, road rage, etc), bicycling should be moved to the top of the agenda in transportation planning.

In order for these ideas to become a reality, we need innovative people to provide creative solutions to the problem. So, all of you forward-thinkers out there, help out Los Angeles (maybe you could send us a new government?) !

Full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gottlieb14-2009dec14,0,6204235.story

JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY MORNING…

There’s a certain magic to an early Sunday morning ride through downtown LA. For just a few hours, the streets are yours, and the early morning sun provies a light show as it reflects off of the building windows, sometimes through the morning fog. From here it’s a nice cruise through some of LA’s cool neighborhoods- Angelino Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and into the largest city park in the US, LA’s Griffith Park. You’ll see walkers, runners, cyclists, kids and picnickers of all shapes and sizes at Griffith Park- a microcosm of the diversity that is LA. One of the nicest ways into the park is off of the west end of Los Feliz Blvd., a long gradual climb up towards the observatory. From there, it’s either continue climbing up Mt. Hollywood Rd., which is closed to cars, or a descent into the Los Feliz area. And then on to Burbank, where you can hook up with the bike path through the San Fernando valley which will take you all the way to Van Nuys (and beyond), and the Sepulveda Basin, a park and natural area located, ironically enough, at the junction of the very busy 101 and 405 Freeways.
Another great route is via the LA River Trail bike path that runs from the northern end of downtown up to Griffith Park, with minimal interaction with cars. They are currently doing construction to complete this section of the Trail, which should be ready to be used by April, 2010. It will be a great car-free corridor from downtown to the valley when it is completed. On the way back, it’s nice to stop in Burbank, in the equestrian area, at a great little breakfast place, Riverside Cafe. From there, it’s back via the River Trail (when it reopens), or through a variety of LA’s neighborhoods, back into downtown, which may not be so quiet anymore! And yes, I’m doing this on a Wabi fixed gear, usually the Classic prototype frame, or the Special proto. There’s something about the fixed, once you get used to it, that is mentally relaxing. It really does connect you more with the area you’re riding through- your thoughts are on where you are, not so much on the bike (the only thing you have to do, really, is pedal, which becomes pretty automatic) . It does simplify the ride considerably, and you get a great workout as a bonus.
Does anyone else have a nice ride that they would like to share or thoughts on longer rides on fixed gears?

CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, REVERSED

If you’re living in a big, automobile-filled city, odds are you’ve noticed a fairly recent increase in cyclists. Mayors and other city officials in large cities are encouraging their citizens to rely more on alternate modes of transportation, namely bicycles. Considering a large portion of the trips that people make in cars are under 2 miles, there’s really no reason to join the traffic and hop in your car to run your next errand. In this article by the Huffington Post, the author notes how bicycles are a city’s “indicator species.” The article goes on to describe what the number of bicycles can say about a city- how safe it is, how healthy it is, how eco-friendly it is, etc. It’s definitely interesting to think about, and Wabi Cycles encourages you to take a look around your city and notice how many cyclists you see on a day to day basis…who knows, maybe you’re one of them!

RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK WEEK

Wabi Cycles could not be happier to announce that not only is it national Bike Month, but this week it is Ride Your Bike to Work Week! Cities all over the country, big and small, have been encouraging their residents to ditch their cars and start riding their bicycles in to work. In Wabi Cycles’ hometown of Los Angeles, the city is doing several things to celebrate this important week. First, riders of the Metro will ride for free on Thursday with the presentation of a helmet or a bicycle. On the 19th, the second annual Downtown Bike Ride will be held, giving riders a tour of the downtown area and showcasing different venues that can be accessed with just two wheels! In addition to this, there will be other events held throughout the week, including giveaways. For more details, read the full article here. Wabi Cycles supports Ride Your Bike to Work Week and not only will we be cycling to work this week (along with 51 other weeks), but we have also just recently started supporting a young out-of-state college student who has vouched to ride his bicycle to and from his summer internship everyday. Stories from his cycling adventures will be coming soon!

THE LEAGUE OF BICYCLING VOTERS LA

So, we’ve been writing a lot about all of the changes happening to Los Angeles and how a slow, but still progressing cycling movement is happening in the city. This organization, the League of Bicycling Voters LA is just another piece of the puzzle, and could potentially expedite the (too) slow process as of now. The group is unofficial and is pending official status, along with many more details, but their mission is to serve the cycling community of Los Angeles through political involvement, community action, and other cycling events. Read this article to find out more about the league and their upcoming event on May 15. Hope to see some of you there!

NYC DOT COMMISSIONER SPEAKS TO LOS ANGELES

On Thursday, March 18, the NYC DOT commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, addressed residents of Los Angeles at the L.A. StreetSummit. Sadik-Khan was extremely well-received, and was given encouragement from the audience when she spoke about the improvements seen by New York City in terms of transportation. The audience was supportive of the efforts in NYC but also disappointed in the lack of improvements made in Los Angeles. This article gives more details about what was said at the meeting, but the overall feeling was that NYC has really made a difference in terms of car-free transportation and that L.A. should take some hints from the NYC DOT. Also posted below is a short video of her speech. Enjoy!

GOOGLE MAPS TAKES ON BICYCLING

Google Maps lets users navigate cities by different modes of transportation (walking, public transportation, automobile, etc) and now they’ve added bicycles to that list! Bike friendly routes are now available for 150 U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Portland, and Washington D.C. Among the various options for choosing a bike route, one can choose to avoid hilly areas, or see an overview of bicycle accessibility for a certain town. Since this was just released yesterday, we aren’t sure how well the service does in terms of practical application, however we are most definitely in support of the idea. The introduction of this application gives further evidence that cyclists are finally being taken seriously, and can only help in the process of reaching out to even more future cyclists! Check out the video below for more information…