Cargo Bikes; Big in New York (and Toronto too!)

Watch the New York Times video “The Family Car(go) Bike” here.

BikingToronto blogger Claire is no stranger to the benefits of carting her family around in a bicycle built for four. Read her blog, The Fletcher Five here.

How to Lock Your Bike Properly – Do You Make the Grade?

I cringe every time I see an expensive u-lock only holding a front wheel (with a quick release) to a bike rack. I cringe every time I see a thin coil lock being used as the only barrier between a beautiful commuter bike and a thief. If you’re not sure how to properly lock your bike (trust me, it’s simple when you know what to do) then here’s a fantastic video to help show you the best way to lock a bicycle. Do you make the grade?

Be Ye Not a Salmon for Thar Be Pirates!

A “salmon” is a person on a bicycle riding upstream, or simply, the wrong way.

BikingRules.org recently held a PSA competition, asking for short videos that help promote safe cycling. One entry, seen below, shows ye… sorry, shows you what could happen when you “salmon.”

Pirates of the Broadway: Salmon from Laura on Vimeo.

And here’s more of the Pirates:

Pirates of the Broadway: Part Deux from Laura on Vimeo.

Watch more of the PSAs on YouTube.

These Kids Biked to School in Brooklyn, You Should Bike to Work

This is fantastic. Now, they didn’t just set these kids loose on the streets of Brooklyn. Prior to this event the school ran programs instructing them on how to safely cycle in traffic.

And Matthew Modine was there!

On Monday, May 31, 2010 it’s Bike to Work and the Toronto Group Commute to kick off Bike Month. Take some inspiration from these kids and leave the car at home.

There’s more over on Streetfilms.org.

The Ethical Implications of How You Bike

Streetfilms consistently put out informative and entertaining videos. Here’s a bike ride through NYC with Randy Cohen, New York Times “Ethicist”:

More with Randy Cohen and Streetfilms here.

In New York…

My girlfriend just returned from a weekend in NYC. It rained just as intense there as it did in Toronto over this past weekend. Knowing I’m all nutty for anything bike related, she took a few photos of the new bicycle infrastructure throughout Manhattan:

Also, Being Erica is a really great show that is shot in and proudly declares itself of Toronto. It’s been picked up by the SOAP Network in the US and they are promoting it in Times Square:

Looks like they are promoting it down south with an Alice in Wonderland feel… can’t wait for Season 3… c’mon CBC, break the news already!

It’s Your Ride

I’m at odds over fixie culture. Sure, it’s great that bicycles are receiving so much attention from young trend setters (or followers, be that as it may). But, laying a big skid mark isn’t really a “trick” or “cool.” Maybe, when I was 5, sure, skids were cool. But now, when I know that skid just significantly reduced the lifespan of a $50 or more tire… well, waste isn’t “cool” in my books.

And, when it comes to racing through traffic and ignoring all rules of the road… give me a break. As someone who has been involved in “extreme” sports for more than 15 years, I can tell you that if what you’re doing poses major risks to people who are not involved with you… then your behaviour is simply reckless and irresponsible. I may have put my life on the line for a stunt or two and been kicked out of more spaces than I can remember, but not once was anyone other than myself at risk of serious injury. When you blow between cars and act like the road is your own personal obstacle course this isn’t “sport,” it’s foolish.

That said, this commercial for Hutchinson tires is really pretty:

It’s Your Ride from Cinecycle on Vimeo.

What Happened to Bike Boxes in Toronto?

The above photo by Martin Reis is of a bike box that briefly existed at Harbord and Bathurst in 2008. I’m not sure what happened, but I certainly have not seen a bike box at this intersection this year. (Turns out this was a project by the Urban Repair Squad and not the City of Toronto)

While a previous video explained the NYC bike boxes along one-way streets, this newer video explains how a bike box works on a two-way street:

NYC Commuter Helmet – Let’s see a YYZ version

Bicycle helmets can be really ugly. And personally, I think the super-vent, NASCAR colour versions that are saturating the market all sit too high on my head. While I’m using a skate-style helmet now, I’m not too sure how my ears are going to hold up once the temperature drops.

A project commissioned by the City of New York has set out to encourage the average commuter to wear a functional, and in my opinion, pretty good looking helmet.

Designed by fuseproject, cyclists can customize the look and function of their helmets by adding and removing visors and full covers depending on the weather.

This looks like something that could really take off outside of NYC.
What do you think of the NYC Helmet?

Via Greenwala