Check out this book

Bicycle: The History
by David V. Herlihy

YEAR OF THE BICYCLE?

For Release Sunday, March 2, 2008
© 2008 Washington Post Writers Group

YEAR OF THE BICYCLE?
By Neal Peirce

Bicycling’s best year since the start of the auto age?  That’s the argument likely to be made March 4-6 as hundreds of cyclists from across the nation gather in Washington for the National Bike Summit sponsored of the League of American Bicyclists.

A crescendo of trends and developments makes the case.

First the trends: oil costs are surpassing $100 a barrel, global warming alarm calls are mounting, polluting autos and trucks increasingly clog city streets, and health concerns about a sedentary and fattening society are mounting.

And now the developments: Handy bike-for-hire stations are proving instant hits in Paris and other European cities and seem poised to invade urban America.  Moves to add painted bike lanes along city roadways are being eclipsed by proposals for entire networks of “bike boulevards” — roadways altered radically to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. And a companion “Complete Streets” movement — making roadway space for cyclists and pedestrians, not just cars and trucks — is gaining traction
nationwide.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), founder of the Congressional Bike caucus (now 160-bipartisan members strong), claims a new pro-bike politics is forming, that it can mobilize a 1-million-plus national constituency and force clear recognition of the role of bicycles in the next (2009) federal transportation bill.  He and the Bike Summit will be pushing a sense of Congress resolution recognizing the potential of bikes to undergird a greener, healthier and more efficient national future. Continue reading YEAR OF THE BICYCLE?…

Dirt Kids #2 was Wonderful, #3 is on May 10th

Our 2nd “Dirt Kids” was fantastic. We had a few new faces. The group rode about 5 miles over about 3 hours. We practiced log crossing, stream crossing, eating & paddy-cake.

We are scheduling the next one for Saturday, May 10th. Send an email to mj@biowheels.com subject “Dirt Kids” to be added the Dirt Kids list. All kids that can ride confidently on 2 wheels are welcome.

Pisgah Area SORBA ‘Save the Trails’ fundraiser

PAS will be hosting a charity ride at  DuPont April 12th; all funds go to local trail work.  Please consider participating.  Entry form is attached. 

Thanks!- Mike Brown

What will Asheville do with its mandate from the people?; ‘Bike Petition’ closed.

Where do we go from here? The “Bike Petition” has an ambitious goal of putting people back to the center of urban planning decisions. The recent Bike Plan speaks to many of the concerns addressed in city councils recent show of support for ‘people-centered planning’. Thanks to everybody that helped get this petition into the right hands. Here is the video of it being turned in at the City Council Meeting on 2/26/08. 

Below is the final list of signatures by zip code. These are your servers, your doctors, your painters, your accountants, your attorneys, your babysitters, your teachers, your stockbrokers, your carpenters, your nurses & your neighbors. Here is the Finalized Asheville Bike Petition representing as many as 7300 people. (Originals are on file at Asheville City Hall.)

Considering that some of our leaders may never actually see all the hand signatures, or fully grasp it’s vision, here is a reminder of our mutual realization, as set forth by the “Asheville Bike Petition” Continue reading What will Asheville do with its mandate from the people?; ‘Bike Petition’ closed….