pelago

They city of New York is currently on track to have 1 mile of bike path for every 10 miles of roadway, which will bring it close to San Francisco’s 1:7 ratio. This distinction is enough for the city to be honored recently by the League of American Bicyclists for bike friendliness

And it’s interesting to note that workers are turning to bicycle commuting in record numbers because it’s become a faster mode of transportation than the car:

“It’s the fastest mode of transportation,” said Sarinya Srisakul, vice president of the New York Bike Messenger Association, noting that it can take half an hour to traverse 10 midtown blocks by car but just five minutes on a bike.

Read the rest of the article here.

Wired reports on the shift in cycling toward the urban biker. It makes sense, considering the increases in gas prices, traffic, and the overall decline in health across america.

http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/news/2007/09/interbike_urbanbikers

From the article:

At Interbike 2007, the bicycle industry’s giant annual trade show, the shift toward the urban rider is loudly evident. Fancy road and mountain bikes are clearly no longer king of the roost — or road. It’s the scads of fixed-gear, town, single-speed and other urban bicycles that are drawing the crowds.

Living in California means living with increasing traffic congestion and diminishing air quality. As we grow and “progress”, these things just get worse. Paris has implemented a bike station program that has proven to be a success. Here are some ideas on how we can adopt a similar program and make our communities a better place for everyone.

For those of us fortunate enough to live on the left coast, bicycle commuting is an option for those wanting to do more for the planet and their own health. Here is a basic introduction to ditching two wheels and pedaling to work.

Being the resident bicycle commuter at Pelago, i’ve been searching for new ways to reinvent the 3.2 mile crosstown ride. So I took an old Centurion road bike from the early 80s and converted it to a fixed gear.

Biking to work. Wednesday, May 16th, is Bike to Work Day. If you are in the Santa Barbara area, head over to State Street and De La Guerra Street between 7am and 9am.

The City of Santa Barbara Downtown Parking and Bikestation is having the Grand Opening of Bikestation Santa Barbara, May 1st, at the Granada Garage. Cyclists are invited to enjoy a free breakfast and tours of the facility from 7 am to 9 am. A press event will follow at 9 am with speakers, a ribbon cutting ceremony and media tours of the Bikestation.

What is a Bikestation?
Bikestation Santa Barbara is available to members twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Members choose from a number of affordable payment options ranging from a daily entrance fee of $1 to an annual membership fee of $96. To enter the facility, members simply swipe their automated access key located near the front entrance. The facility has over 70 bike racks, which also accommodate personal bike locks for added security. Members have access to a shower, restroom and personal lockers as well as to a work stand, vending machine and basic tools to perform minor bicycle repairs.

Amenities

• Open 24/7
• Round-the-clock bicycle parking access for members
• Free air available on-site
• Shower/Lockers
• Private shower and personal, day-use lockers for members
• Changing Room/Restroom
• A place to change out of your riding clothes
• Basic gear and accessories available for purchase
• Green Bike Program
• Don’t have a bike? Use one of the fleet of shared bikes coming soon to the Bikestation
• Work stand and tools
• Self-repair stand and tools for quick fixes
• Transit and Bicycling Information
• Get maps and information on area bike routes, transit, destinations, clinics and more

For more information about the Bikestation Grand Opening event on May 1st or to tour the facility at another time, please contact Dru van Hengel at 564-5544 or dvanhengel at santabarbaraca.gov

As a bicycle commuter, I appreciate any city or community addressing the issue of people getting around on bikes and foot. Check out the Project for Public Spaces web site to see what communities are doing.

Santa Barbara already has a decent network of bike routes, which were elegantly designed by our neighbor to the north, and fellow Cal Poly supporter, Jack Biesek. But I sure would love to see more.