Fort Wayne Bike Commuters

Bike shelf

2012-02-16T14:33:00.000-05:00

I know its not here, but great points

2012-02-15T16:20:00.001-05:00

Cycling Infrastructure That Everyone Can Use - Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn, VA Patch

Pennsylvania passes 4 foot passing law.

2012-02-14T12:41:00.001-05:00

PennLive : Gov. Corbett signs bicycle safe passing measure into law
Here in Indiana our Senators can't pass a 3 foot passing law out of committee for like the 4th time. We have a long way to go people! We need your help in this.
Congratulations to Pennsylvania's leaders for doing something that is not that hard! 4 feet to boot!

All things bike news worthy from around the globe

2012-02-13T15:11:00.001-05:00

A fresh new batch of hot bike links to start your week | BikingInLA

Pretty amazing

2012-02-13T14:59:00.001-05:00

Bike Commute Calculator | Bike to Work Day
Last year I burned 87,000 calories riding to and from work. How about you?

How to get and keep Women commuting by bike

2012-02-10T15:43:00.001-05:00

your-bike-love-videos from womenonbikessocal.org - StumbleUpon

Time to rethink how streets are designed

2012-02-10T12:01:00.001-05:00

Levels of Service and Travel Projections: The Wrong Tools for Planning Our Streets? « Project for Public Spaces

Contact you Representatives!

2012-02-09T16:12:00.001-05:00

http://americancity.org/buzz/entry/3331/

I know. I'm worn down too. I am tired of having to continually call my senators and reps. To tell them not to kill bike/ped infrastructure and transit. They don't have very good memories though and as soon as they have a Chance to do it again, they do! Take a few minutes please.

Let me put it another way, without these types of funding, Fort Wayne Trails would never expand. Get it?

Thanks.

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Man this would be sweet!

2012-02-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

Dutch Kids Pedal Their Own Bus To School | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

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Spring is gone, winter returns

2012-02-04T15:20:00.001-05:00

Well it has been a little while since it felt like winter. But don't worry. It probably won't last. Sure its cold outside compared to May, but this winter has been terrific for commuting by bike!

If you have ever thought about what it's like to ride you bike in the winter in NE Indiana, this is not how I remember the last few years. We haven't had any sub zero days, no -30 windchills, no small hills of ice for weeks at a time. In a word, it has been glorious.

Think about pulling your bike a little earlier than usual and getting it to your local shop for a tune up. Beat the rush. Once you get out on a crisp 40 degree day you'll understand.

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Advocate!

2012-02-01T20:13:00.001-05:00

America Bikes | Transportation 2012

It seems as though lately We as cyclists have to continually fight for the small piece of the transportation pie that is allocated for biking infrastructure. This will probably become the norm as budgets continue to tighten. Please follow the link above and reach out to those who represent You asking them to stop taking money from bicycle/pedestrian funding sources. Thank you.

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the man who lived on his bike

2012-02-01T12:10:00.002-05:00

THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

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From Streetfilms

2012-01-31T10:15:00.000-05:00

The “Cities for Cycling” Roadshow Rocks Chicago
by Elizabeth Press on January 25, 2012 | 1,185 Plays
Email Share

"Cities for Cycling" is a project of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) to document, promote and implement the world’s best bicycle transportation practices in American cities. As part of the Cities for Cycling program, bikeway design experts take their show on the road, using the streets of different U.S. cities as their classroom and the new NACTO design book as their guide.

"The NACTO Guide is a really important step for cities to say it is okay to be different then a rural area. We are not better…we are just different and we would like to apply these different principles," says Chicago Commissioner of Transportation Gabe Klein.

Streetfilms brings you these highlights of the Chicago stop on the tour, where representatives from the transportation departments of NYC, Portland and San Francisco shared lessons from developing bike infrastructure in their hometowns.

Winter bike to work day! nice job all.

2012-01-27T07:38:00.001-05:00

What? It was fun.

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Winter bike to work day

2012-01-24T13:07:00.002-05:00

We are going to meet at Dash In on Calhoun before work. Testing the waters to see what kind of response we get. It's supposed to be pleasant (not unbearable) but we will see. So grab your bike and ride this Friday.

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some Fort Wayne cycling history

2012-01-24T12:11:00.001-05:00

History Center Notes & Queries: Fort Wayne Cycling

Thanks @bikeftwayne for tweeting this the other day.

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1 year in the life...

2012-01-24T09:03:00.002-05:00

Bicycle highway planned (in Sweden, Dangit)

2012-01-18T13:38:00.001-05:00

Swedish cities could connect via bike superhighway | Grist

So it would be like between FW and Huntertown. That would be sweet.

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Go Long Beach!

2012-01-17T10:10:00.001-05:00

Cycles and cents: One city sets out to prove that bikes are good for business | Grist

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No neeed to fear the beard or as my wife calls it, the Neard

2012-01-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

I wish!

2012-01-12T08:47:00.001-05:00

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Fort Wayne Trails unveils new website

2012-01-11T15:00:00.001-05:00

Check it out!

www.fwtrails.org

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The Fort Wayne Bike Commuter bike highlights for 2011

2011-12-30T18:30:00.002-05:00

Well, it seems that everyone has to have a year in review. Whether it be movies or fashion or politics or what. So I thought that it might be kind of fun to do a year in review for biking (as I know it)in Fort Wayne.

I will state here that I know that there are many things that I will overlook during this first stab at it. I try to hit some high points. If you care to become involved, please feel free to throw our some stuff in the comment section! Hint, hint.

Infrastructure

1. The Wabash and Erie Canal Towpath Trail was completed! This significant investment in infrastructure by the City of Fort Wayne has further connected all of the Aboite trails to the river greenway trails. This section is 5.5 miles. I have not had a chance to ride it yet, but everyone tells me that it is sweet.

2. A 1.5 mile long section of 37 (Stellhorn Rd) was repaved with a much wider shoulder giving cyclists a larger riding area. This section is marked as a Bike Route.

3. Over 200 bike racks have been installed all over the City of Fort Wayne. Most of them are in and around the core. Let’s hope that this program can continue because bike parking continues to help encourage cycling!

Advocacy

1. Bicycle Indiana has taken up the cause again to try and push a three feet passing law! Let your legislators know that this is important to you! Go HERE. Editorial Comment: Passing a low like this does not mean that we expect police to enforce this law. You cannot expect police to ticket for this…unless a driver hits a cyclist! This law is meant to protect cyclist’s rights! If I get run over then a ticket would be issued. If a ticket is issued then the driver is shown to be at fault. Then we won’t here any more of this, “It was an accident!”

Events

1. The Bike Corral was out in full force this year at 5 different community events like: Taste of the Arts and the Johnny Appleseed Festival. It should be noted that this is a purely volunteer effort! These fine folks parked over 800 bikes at the various events downtown making it easier to ride! Hello! Awesome.

2. Bike Month and Bike to Work continues to get better every year. I do not know specific numbers for businesses that were involved but I have heard more about it every year so that is a plus. I have some friends that work over at Lincoln and they said there were over 25 people that rode their bikes to work! I loved how they brought the in the Library in partnership with Cinema Center and showed one of my family’s favorite movies, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

3. The Bicycle Indiana Commuter Challenge took place between July1 and September 30. Teams were set up and you logged number of trips by bike and miles travelled. Fort Wayne fielded 3 teams. They were the Fort Wayne Bike Commuters, Summit City, and Three Rivers Velo Sports. Combined, these three Fort Wayne teams made 1,789 trips by bicycle and logged over 11,000 miles. I am proud to say the FWBC logged the most trips and most miles for the entire state! Great job to everyone!

4. Courteous Mass Critical Manners continued through most of the year. I am debating continuing to lead this ride or not although some months it is very successful but some are real lightly attended. I kind of feel that we should be riding on main streets to get the point across but also feel that by doing that I am liable should anything happen so I am torn. Ah, screw it. We'll do it again in the spring if you all are into it.

5. Ride of Silence. This year's ride of silence was awesome. I was so glad that Brian Clissold stepped up to help organize it and that the FWPD offered to give us a Police Escort! You can read more about that HERE

Tragedy

1. 15 year old Brian A. Craig of Fort Wayne was hit and killed on Clinton Street at around 6PM on Friday, November 11th. Read more about that HERE

Anecdotally, I see a lot more folks on bikes then I ever have and that gets me stoked! Help to encourage your friends and neighbors to get out there and bike.

Is this list too short? What can you do to help? Whatever you want! We all need to work together to to make Fort Wayne a better place to ride. Got some ideas? Give me a shout and I will help or find someone who can.

Happy New Year everyone.

I want an Xtracycle Free Radical (next year maybe)

2011-12-28T18:17:00.002-05:00

The Original Longtail | Xtracycle from Xtracycle on Vimeo.

These are some doozies.

2011-12-27T12:18:00.001-05:00

2011's Biggest Transportation Failures - Commute - The Atlantic Cities

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It would save lives even if you think that it is against your personal freedom!

2011-12-21T11:55:00.000-05:00

Published: December 21, 2011 3:00 a.m.
Ban a demonstrated lifesaver
Washington Post editorial

Personal electronic devices have dramatically changed the way most people go about their lives – largely for the better. But irresponsible use has also introduced serious hazards.

Last year, about eight people died each day in vehicle accidents linked to distracted driving and the use of electronic devices. These 3,029 avoidable tragedies were a catalyst for the National Transportation Safety Board’s groundbreaking and potentially life-saving “no call, no text, no update” proposal last week. The board unanimously urged states to pass legislation banning the use of personal electronic devices while driving. The board proposed a narrow exception for emergencies. It also called on the CTIA, The Wireless Association and the Consumer Electronics Association to encourage development of technology that would dis-able portable devices within reach of the driver when a vehicle is in motion but could be overridden in emergency situations.

The dangers of texting while driving have been thoroughly documented, including in a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which showed that texting renders drivers 23 times more likely to have an accident or a close call. Thirty-five states (including Indiana) and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving.

States have been slower to prohibit cellphone conversations. Yet studies show that speaking on a cellphone while driving distracts a driver more than listening to music or speaking with a passenger. D.C. and 10 states prohibit talking on a hand-held device while driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The use of a hands-free device does not appear to diminish the risks and in some cases may increase them. Research has shown that drivers who speak on hand-held devices at least tend to compensate by slowing down, while those on hand-free devices tend not to display more caution.

The American Insurance Association, which supports a total ban, calls the use of mobile devices by drivers “a major epidemic.” Public awareness, legislation and enforcement are key to weaning drivers off of these devices. It should not take another 3,000 deaths.

I hope someone in charge reads this.

2011-12-21T10:39:00.001-05:00

Shareable: How to Boost Biking and Walking Even Further in Your City

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How can we continue to afford to not ride a bike!

2011-12-20T11:57:00.001-05:00

JournalGazette.net - National | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN

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from the infrastructurist...

2011-12-19T14:15:00.001-05:00

The Daily Dig: Can Americans Make the Switch from Driving to Biking to Work? | INFRASTRUCTURIST

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Roads sure are expensive

2011-12-14T12:25:00.001-05:00

Streetsblog Capitol Hill » Transit’s Not Bleeding the Taxpayer Dry — Roads Are

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Imagine riding your bike in this

2011-12-13T12:52:00.000-05:00

I have mine going too!

2011-12-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

Winter Perks | Bikeyface

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Fort Wayne Trails Survey

2011-12-08T13:48:00.001-05:00

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DGWX3MN

Gotta tell you all, I love trails. I use the trails almost everyday. I think trails make our City better and get more people on bikes which is what we all want right?

I think that the only way to get trails near everyone though is by utilizing on street trails like: bike boulevards or protected bike lanes. This is mentioned in one of the questions and my suggestion is that you vote for it. Trails can cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars per mile of trail. This is not sustainable. I ask that you consider it. We need more infrastructure and do not have the luxury of not considering other means.

FWBC

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3 foot law in Indiana! Please follow link and contact Representatives

2011-12-08T13:24:00.003-05:00

Bicycle Indiana needs your support for a statewide three-foot passing law!

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This is fantastic

2011-12-05T13:22:00.001-05:00

Salon.com » Are urban bicyclists just elite snobs? Mobile

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If it isn't enforced is it against the law?

2011-12-05T13:21:00.001-05:00

The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Bikes and Red Lights - Commute - The Atlantic Cities

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Complete Streets

2011-11-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Full Story HERE

Indiana Code alert!

2011-11-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

IC 9-21-8-59
Use of telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle
Sec. 59. (a) A person may not use a telecommunications device to:
(1) type a text message or an electronic mail message;
(2) transmit a text message or an electronic mail message; or
(3) read a text message or an electronic mail message;
while operating a moving motor vehicle unless the device is used in conjunction with hands free or voice operated technology, or unless the device is used to call 911 to report a bona fide emergency.
(b) A police officer may not confiscate a telecommunications device for the purpose of determining compliance with this section or confiscate a telecommunications device and retain it as evidence pending trial for a violation of this section.
As added by P.L.185-2011, SEC.4.

Worlds first back flip

2011-11-16T10:30:00.001-05:00

Thanks Mr. C!

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Bike for life

2011-11-14T15:36:00.001-05:00

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Editorial

2011-11-13T16:40:00.002-05:00

Regarding the boy who was killed on Friday night on Clinton
Original story can be found HERE

I was watching the news last night and the comment was made that Clinton is a busy street and is dark. That is very true. It is busy and is not well lit and the 35 MPH speed limit is not adhered to by most drivers making this area very unsafe for vulnerable road users.

The link above to the article in Saturday's Journal Gazette made a point of stating that the boys did have dark clothing on, no helmets on, and very few reflectors.

Honestly, would it have made a difference? We might never know. What is my point here you ask? The kid was 15 years old. Judging by the hour, he was probably on the way home for dinner with his buddies from the neighborhood. There is no safe place to cross that road! Is that his fault? No. People come screaming down that hill toward the downtown. It that his fault? No. Kids are not going to travel a half mile or more to an intersection to cross and then ride their bikes all the way back. It won't happen.

Sure they could have planned ahead at 3 pm or whenever they went out on their bikes and thought, "Gee, it might be dark when I come home so I should wear white." 15 yr old boy? Yeah right.

This freeway through the middle of town is dark and is unsafe for those who are on bikes or are walking. But that doesn't mean that they still won't be there. They will! Like those who use cars for transportation, they still have places to go (even if it is unsafe).

I am so sorry that this young man had to lose his life because cars are more important than those who use bikes or walk. It is time that the most vulnerable road users are taken into consideration.

Could this tragedy have been avoided somehow. Yes. Who is at fault here? The Driver of the car? Partially. The boy riding the bike? Partially. The engineers who designed the road? Partially.

Could this have been avoided with an educational campaign in the schools that help kids understand the dangers and consequences of not thinking about all of those dangers? Perhaps. But since when does a 15 year old boy listen to anything?

Could it have been avoided if this freeway's speed limits were enforced on a regular basis? Perhaps.

Could this have been avoided if the road was illuminated better? Maybe.

Could it have been avoided if the most vulnerable road users were always considered within traffic engineering design? Maybe.

I hope that people will not just point the blame at this poor kid for not wearing the right colored clothing or having the correct number of reflectors though. There are a lot of folks who need to share the blame for his early death. RIP.

Cyclist killed on Clinton

2011-11-12T08:42:00.001-05:00

Teen cyclist dies struck on Clinton | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN

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Don't Text and Drive

2011-11-08T07:55:00.002-05:00

It is against the law in Indiana!

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Life without a car

2011-11-04T08:29:00.001-04:00

Choosing to live without wheels | FortWayne.com - Fort Wayne IN

It is so nice to hear about people living life without cars and knowing that it is do able, even in Car-centric Fort Wayne. I thank the News Sentinel for printing it because it is news and good news at that!

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The always insightful, Richard Florida

2011-11-04T07:46:00.001-04:00

Creative Class » Blog Archive » The Geography of How We Get to Work - Creative Class

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Follow up to previous post on cost savings

2011-11-02T10:47:00.001-04:00

The True Cost of Commuting: Save Hundreds Every Year for Each Mile You Move Closer to Work

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Great neighborhood program

2011-11-02T08:50:00.000-04:00

Could something like this happen in Fort Wayne?

How much can your family save by commuting by bike you ask?

2011-10-28T16:30:00.001-04:00

The True Cost of Commuting | Mr. Money Mustache

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Don't get hit and killed by a driver, it'll be your fault

2011-10-28T15:34:00.001-04:00

Streetsblog New York City » Jury Applies No Penalty to Speeding Driver For Killing Cyclist Jake McDonaugh

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Halloween for the cyclist

2011-10-27T12:57:00.000-04:00

So you are a cyclist, and you want to dress up for Halloween, what should you do?
A Cutter? Being in Indiana that is probably the one I would go for but check HERE for some other ideas.

3/4 of the time, car and truck drivers at fault for accidents

2011-10-27T11:31:00.001-04:00

Australian helmet cam study reveals motorists to blame in vast majority of cycling crashes (+ videos) | road.cc | The website for pedal powered people: Road cycling, commuting, leisure cycling and racing. Voted the UK's number 1 cycling website at the 2010 & 2011 BikeBiz awards.

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Newsflash! Congress wants to eliminate bike funding...again.

2011-10-26T16:56:00.001-04:00

League of American Bicyclists -- Transportation Enhancements under Attack Again

Follow the link to send email to senators.

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Go Wisconsin!

2011-10-25T07:37:00.001-04:00

Wis. lawmakers to consider bicycle passing rules - chicagotribune.com

If you make it safer for cyclists, or at least give them perceived sense of safety, more people will ride! If you want more people to ride, this must occur.

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imagine this....

2011-10-24T15:53:00.001-04:00

Road three lanes wide, 10 cars on the road , me in the right lane. I get honked at and literally forced to the curb. I yell, but just as I do that the lady in the car behind me follows the previous car's lead and does the same thing to me, again! All this as another car rolls down the window to yell at me to get on the sidewalk.
Was it rush hour? No. 340 pm.
So, was I at fault? Is the City at fault? Are the drivers at fault? Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Me for bowing to the pressure and being bullied by a driver. I should never have moved over. TAKE YOUR LANE, DO NOT DEVIATE!
The City and Bicycle Indiana for not funding an Educational campaign for drivers.
The drivers for thinking that they are more important than I am and that the road is there strictly for their use.
Three lanes wide! 10 cars in that space! But not enough room for a bicycle.
I am angriest at myself.

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I want one!

2011-10-24T11:13:00.001-04:00

http://www.thegearcaster.com/.a/6a01156f7533eb970c0162fbde2f33970d-pi

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once again, it's the cyclist's fault

2011-10-20T08:40:00.001-04:00

Bicyclist serious after DeKalb crash with SUV | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN

So was the cyclist riding on the wrong side of the road and decided to cross the entire road just as a vehicle was approaching? Sounds a little fishy.

Granted I am making this observation from a news release

Let's hope that Mr. Schwark recovers.

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How Bike Projects Save Money & Make Life Better for Everyone (in Minneapolis)

2011-10-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

Mayor R.T. Rybak stressed that in these lean economic times, cities across the country need to be creative about how they spend transportation dollars. Big-ticket road engineering projects to move ever more cars must give way to more efficient projects that move people by a variety of means—including foot, bike, transit. "We need to get more use from all the streets we already have," Rybak said. "It really is the idea that bikes belong."

This is so true. Time to look forward!
The Whole story is HERE

From Minneapolis, good stuff

2011-10-18T08:35:00.000-04:00

Minneapolis' Midtown Greenway: Good for Biz, Good for Bikes. from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Yeah, it is even colder there.

A classic

2011-10-13T14:19:00.000-04:00

Critical Manners Courteous Mass

2011-10-13T13:51:00.001-04:00

Due to high winds and the probability of rain, there will be no ride tomorrow evening. Maybe next month.

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Katrina leaves behind a wonderful legacy

2011-10-13T13:49:00.002-04:00

News from The Associated Press

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From one of our readers

2011-10-11T09:12:00.001-04:00

Enjoy.

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Be careful out there!

2011-10-11T08:21:00.001-04:00

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Bike counting

2011-10-05T13:18:00.001-04:00

City of Fort Wayne will be conducting their first ever bike counts on Thursday, October 6th! It promises to be a gorgeous day. Staff will be counting bikes, logging direction of travel, identifying gender and whether or not the riders are wearing helmets at 3 locations between 6:30 am and 3 pm. Staff will be stationed at Wayne/Calhoun, Berry/Calhoun, and Anthony/Niagra (trail).
I'll be at Wayne/Calhoun from 9:30-12:30. Ride by and say hello!

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Towpath Trail opens

2011-09-30T16:04:00.001-04:00

New trail follows old canal | FortWayne.com - Fort Wayne IN

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The future is Utility Bikes

2011-09-30T12:15:00.000-04:00

From a recently held contest in Oregon.
The Rest of the Story is HERE
Thanks to Lucas for the enlightenment.

Avoid the door zone at all costs and think twice about a bike lane that puts you in the door zone

2011-09-27T12:09:00.000-04:00

This was extremely eye opening for me and I hope that everyone takes this to heart. I never thought about how you fall when "doored". Now we know.

Fort Wayne Bike Commuters and pounds of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere

2011-09-27T11:56:00.001-04:00

From fueleconomy.gov

It seems impossible that a gallon of gasoline, which weighs about 6.3 pounds, could produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. However, most of the weight of the CO2 doesn't come from the gasoline itself, but the oxygen in the air.

When gasoline burns, the carbon and hydrogen separate. The hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H2O), and carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2).

A carbon atom has a weight of 12, and each oxygen atom has a weight of 16, giving each single molecule of CO2 an atomic weight of 44 (12 from carbon and 32 from oxygen).

Therefore, to calculate the amount of CO2 produced from a gallon of gasoline, the weight of the carbon in the gasoline is multiplied by 44/12 or 3.7.

Since gasoline is about 87% carbon and 13% hydrogen by weight, the carbon in a gallon of gasoline weighs 5.5 pounds (6.3 lbs. x .87).

We can then multiply the weight of the carbon (5.5 pounds) by 3.7, which equals 20 pounds of CO2!

According to this data, since the Fort Wayne Bike Commuters have biked 7,522 miles as of 9/26/2011 (assuming each of us would have been driving cars that get 20 miles per gallon, this keeps the math easy)as a team we have kept 7,522 pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere! (7,522 miles/20 miles per gallon = 376.1 gallons of gas and 1 gallon of gas = 20 pounds of CO2)

With that 7,522 miles traveled we are leading in the miles traveled category and we are also leading the trips category with 1,339 trips by bike!

See all the stats of the 2011 Bicycle Indiana Commuter Challenge HERE.

Way to go everyone! Hats off to the other Fort Wayne teams as well (Summit City Bicycles and Three Rivers Velo Sports)!!

Just a few more days, keep up the good work!

Good stuff from the League of American Bicyclists

2011-09-27T11:35:00.001-04:00

http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Assets/Images/BikeSafety9HiRes.jpg

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Morning coffee

2011-09-27T07:09:00.001-04:00

Fall rain. Early morning for a meeting. I didn't melt. Nice ride downtown.

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Northeastern Indiana Sustainable living fair

2011-09-25T19:57:00.000-04:00

It is in Grabill on September 30 and October First.
Here is the Link
Maybe we'll see you there!

Google trends for Bikes. Indiana is number 9.

2011-09-23T15:21:00.001-04:00

Google Trends: bicycles, bike, cycling, sustainable

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Protection of cyclists law in DC introduced

2011-09-22T19:15:00.001-04:00

WABA Quick Release » Blog Archive » Protection of Cyclists Law Introduced In DC

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Uni(cycle) Vision

2011-09-22T16:04:00.000-04:00

Max Schulze Spring 2011 from Max Schulze on Vimeo.

Commuter Challenge results as of 9/19/2011

2011-09-22T15:32:00.002-04:00

Bicycle Indiana (Click to see results)

We are still #1 in trips!
We gotta keep the pedal to the floor though people! There is some guy named John Lynn who made 250 some odd trips in the last two weeks! I don't know what team he is on but its not ours.
We are still second in miles behind indycog but gaining.
Great work! 8 days to go! Would love to see us rack up 1200 trips! Go FWBCs!

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Separate and Safe Cycling in Amsterdam (Video) - Learning from the Dutch

2011-09-21T12:24:00.002-04:00

Separate and Safe: Cycling in Amsterdam from Ted Sweeney on Vimeo.

Lessons from Amsterdam: How SF Can Bicycle Toward Greatness

2011-09-20T11:19:00.000-04:00

Lessons from Amsterdam: How SF Can Bicycle Toward Greatness

Care to get involved?

2011-09-20T11:07:00.000-04:00

Once again, I need your help with recruiting volunteers for Bike Valet.

Together with Fort Wayne Trails the city is providing free bike parking for the Regional Maker Faire on Oct. 1 &2. The event is at Headwaters Park East and I need to cover several 2 hr. spots from 8:30 to 6:30. Bike valet is increasingly popular with local cyclists. The service has been provided at Parkview Field, River Fest (IPFW), Taste of the Arts, and Johnny Appleseed Festival. So far, we have parked nearly 700 bikes at these events. That represents a 100% increase over last year... it's catching on. The Regional Maker Faire is the last event of the season for Bike Valet. Please consider helping us finish strong! If you are willing to spend a couple hours interacting with grateful cyclists, parking their bikes and supervising them while they enjoy the event, please give me a call or send me an email with your preferred shift. paul.spoelhof@cityoffortwayne.org

thank you,

Paul Spoelhof
City of Fort Wayne
Senior Planner

Cars allowed in bike lanes, lanes identified as advisory

2011-09-20T07:36:00.001-04:00

After reading this over a number of times I have some opinions (surprise) on the subject.
I would appreciate some comments though to get your opinions as well.

Turns from bike lane legal
Benjamin Lanka | The Journal Gazette
FORT WAYNE – An increase of bicycle use in Fort Wayne means drivers and cyclists alike must be more alert when on the streets.
Q. Can we remind people at the corner of East Wayne and Clinton streets the right hand lane is designated as a bike lane only? We have attempted to turn right from the correct lane and see a driver trying to turn right ahead of us using the bike lane. – Sandra Barleben, Fort Wayne
A. Hopefully, we can do a bit of teaching, Sandra, and the answer may surprise you and many other city drivers. It is actually OK to use the bike lane, if just for a short moment.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said with more bike lanes being installed in the city, it is important for both drivers and cyclists to know how to use them.
Drivers wanting to turn right from a road with bike lanes and no right-turn-only lane should line up behind each other and use signals to make their intentions known.
Gunawardena said a good way to alleviate the potential for conflict with cyclists and other drivers is to line up as close to the right curb as possible, even if that means crossing into the bike lane while waiting to turn. This may seem counterintuitive to drive on the bike lane, but he can explain his reasoning.
Marty Bender, deputy Fort Wayne police chief, agreed with Gunawardena that drivers should use the bike lane as a turn lane after first checking to ensure no cyclists are present. Bender, who said the bike lanes are more advisory than anything, said this is a much safer method than having drivers turning from the through lane with bikes or even other drivers trying to get by on the right.
“By all means yield to bicycles,” he said. “If they aren’t there, feel free to use that as a turn lane.”
Using the lane makes it clear the driver intends to turn and prevents other cars from trying to squeeze by on the right. It also makes the road safer for cyclists by eliminating the potential for a “right hook.” This happens when a driver turns right from the travel lane when the signal is green while a cyclists moves through the intersection.
While a cyclist has the right of way in this scenario, that fact won’t help him if the driver doesn’t see him.
This may add some delays to people on bikes downtown, as they should then wait behind the turning vehicle, but that is a worthy sacrifice to ensure everyone remains safe. Of course, drivers making such a maneuver should always check to make sure their path is clear of cyclists.

One of my major concerns is why this wasn't sorted out prior to the bike lanes being installed. Could there been engineered improvements that would make these areas safer to the cyclists? Obviously drivers are going to yield to cyclists in front of them, Right? But what happens when there is a cyclist riding in the bike lane (that according to this article, which are Advisory more than anything? Wait...What???)and a driver remembers that they are allowed in the bike lane, dives into the bike lane and sideswipes me or you.
If the drivers are allowed to be in the lanes then why do we even have them?
I thought that the bike lanes were to protect the cyclists, make them more comfortable, and increase transportation by bike? Wrong again. Won't be the last time.
Lastly, this policy is just that, a policy. There is not a state or local ordinance that governs this policy. If I get hit and killed in a bike lane by someone who remembers reading in the Journal Gazette that the Bike lane isn't just for bikes, watch out for the wrath of my Red Headed Wife!

Good Stuff

2011-09-19T10:30:00.001-04:00

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Janette Sadik-Khan, Transportation Geniousity at work

2011-09-14T15:25:00.000-04:00

By FRANK BRUNI
Published: September 10, 2011
From the New York Times

SOMETHING lovely and all too rare happened to Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City’s frequently demonized transportation commissioner, as she and I rode our bikes down Park Avenue South one morning last month: Sadik-Khan got unsolicited, unfettered praise.

It came from a young cyclist who happened to pull up beside us, glanced over at her and suddenly beamed.

“Oh, it’s you!” he stammered, then mentioned that he owned a bicycle shop and had recently placed a newspaper ad publicly thanking her for her cycling advocacy. “You’re going to leave a legacy, you know.”

He’s right. Sadik-Khan and Mayor Bloomberg both. And it’s past time that more than just a passer-by trumpeted it.

Since the mayor appointed her in 2007 and she began to bring her agency’s work more closely in line with his vision of a greener New York, the city has roughly doubled its miles of bike lanes, to about 500. If you did any biking at all in Manhattan or Brooklyn this summer, you may well have noticed the improvements, including protected bike lanes (ones that separate cyclists entirely from street traffic) on such major arteries as Columbus and First Avenues in Manhattan.

The Rest of The Story

Letter to the Journal Gazette editor

2011-09-13T12:17:00.000-04:00

This letter appeared in the Sunday paper.
I just love how positive it is!

City’s bike friendliness a welcome change
People are riding bicycles more and more these days.
The ad for Citilink’s “action day” to reduce the ozone really gets one thinking about the earth’s warming and the greenhouse effect. I choose to ride my bicycle and leave a smaller carbon footprint as often as I can. It is so impressive to see how the city has changed and that more folks are using a self-powered mode of transportation.
The city government is supportive in big way. Boulevards with bike lanes are now open. Bike racks placed strategically throughout the city and sidewalks sloped to street levels make it so convenient to cycle. The Rivergeenway can take a cyclist into other neighborhoods to visit family and friends.
Every day there seem to be more bicycles around town as people get used to the changes and think of ways to move around the city. One can get to downtown for dinner, baseball and the theater (you’ve got to love downtown dining, Parkview Field, the Embassy, Civic, Arena, Cinema Center, museums and the library).
Motorists are getting used to the increase in bicycle traffic and have found the bike lanes make them more aware of “sharing the road.” The cyclists find they are much safer on these city streets.
Bicycles and foot traffic have all increased, which shows how much “greener” Fort Wayne is thinking. We’re catching up to places such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and even Europe. We’re smarter than just a generation ago. Let’s keep the changes coming.
THOMAS A. MAY Fort Wayne

Commuter Challenge results as of 9/12/2011

2011-09-13T09:58:00.001-04:00

http://bicycleindiana.org/images/2011%20BICC_Results_09122011.pdf

We are ruling in trips!
Runner up in miles!
Keep it up.

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Friday Funny

2011-09-09T15:05:00.002-04:00

I bike. I vote.

2011-09-09T08:30:00.001-04:00

From the league of American Bicyclists

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Tour De Fashion

2011-09-07T16:20:00.000-04:00

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Bike by designer Lela Rose Credit: Tour de Fashion

Twice a year, dozens of stone-faced models march down the runways of New York Fashion Week wearing marvelous clothes that very few of us can even begin to afford. Fewer still will be invited to grace the front row seats of the runway spectacles themselves (hint: be rich, powerful, or a Real Housewife). Regular folks need not apply, though there’s usually enough media coverage to tide over most casual observers. Trends may come and go, but Fashion Week remains a high-visibility, low-access affair.

During this year’s Fashion Week, however, all New Yorkers get a front-row seat - a bicycle seat, that is. From September 8 - 15, the Fashion Center Business Improvement District (BID) is sponsoring Tour de Fashion, a limited-time bike share program that makes a fleet of 30 bicycles available to the public for free 90-minute rides around town. The bicycles have been creatively (and in some cases outrageously) customized by some of New York City’s best fashion designers, including industry superstars like Diane Von Furstenburg, Isaac Mizrahi, Betsy Johnson and Elie Tahari as well as up-and-comers like Prabal Gurung and Project Runway winner Gretchen Jones.

The Rest of the Story

Critical Manners Courteous Mass for September 2011

2011-09-07T15:25:00.000-04:00

Hey Gang.
Here is the drill.
All parties are welcome to join and help bring common courtesy back to the streets. For those who need a refresher on what Critical Manners/Courteous Mass is, here is the deal:
• The ride will respect and abide the city’s traffic laws.
• Rides will be on the slow side to ensure no one is dropped and that the Mass stays a mass.
• The Mass will only take up one lane, two when necessary for safety.
• The ride will stop at red lights and stop signs. If a light turns red mid-mass, the riders who made the light should safely pull over to wait for those who were caught by the light.
• Riders are asked to signal turns, call out danger, and communicate their intentions to other riders.

The goal of these rides is to be a visible and positive example of the cooperation that can exist between cars and bicycles when people respect the laws and each other. So join the Mass and help make Fort Wayne a better place for bicycles.This Friday at Lawton Park by the Softball Field. We meet at 6:15 and ride at 6:30

Hope to see you there.

Number 1 in trips and #2 in miles

2011-09-06T17:27:00.000-04:00

You know when this thing started, I would have never thought that the Fort Wayne Bike Commuters could put in 1000 trips in 3 months. That is not going to be a problem, we might be there next week. Thanks to all of you for logging all of the trips and miles! It shows that there is a huge bicycling commuter population here in the Fort.

Congrats to the Summit City and Three Rivers Velo Sports teams as well. They didn't want to be on our team but they are a part of our City so kudos to all of the participants that they have recruited.

Between the 3 Fort Wayne teams we have logged 1,145 trips by bike for a total of 7,200 miles. Ginormous!

From Bicycle Indiana
2011 Bicycle Indiana Commute Challenge
Ride Your Drive and Win
Individual and Team Results as of September 6, 2011

Top 20 Individual Results - High Mileage
Mary Craighead 1351
James Lynn 1322
Chuck Reidy 1191
Rick Cox 1018
Nate Gernert 966
Doreen Crenshaw 964
Dan Atkinson 995
Jeffrey Kenny 951
Doug Wengerd 904
John Marshall 886
Tyler Stambaugh 881
Angel Campos 798
Aaron Hawkins 756
Don Golden 679
John Cook 581
Sam Callaway 542
cam starnes 532
Kurt Weisner 531
James Walter 530
Tom McCain 517

Team Results - High Mileage
INDYCOG Total 5662
Fort Wayne Bike Commuters Total 4860
Bike Richmond Total 2411
CIBA Total 1998
Summit City Bicycles Total 1722
Bike Michiana Total 1419
Lonely Boys Total 1026
Three Rivers Velo Sport Total 798
Bicycle Indiana Total 756
BF&S Total 662
Jeff Kolp State Farm Total 420
Dude, Where's My Car? Total 358
Madison Area Bicycling Club Total 316
Evansville Bicycle Club Total 280
Machismo Cyclismo Total 33
KCV Cycling Club Total 30

Top 30 Individual Results – Most Trips
Wendy Reed Total 196
Alexander Saldivar Total 187
tom mcCain Total 180
Mark Stosberg Total 168
Mary Craighead Total 165
Jeffrey Kenny Total 153
PJ Thuringer Total 140
Tyler Stambaugh Total 120
Doreen Crenshaw Total 117
James Lynn Total 106
Kevin Whited Total 106
Aaron Hawkins Total 102
Matt McKimmy Total 98
Elizabeth Bonney Total 95
Becky McKimmy Total 92
Amy Hartzog Total 87
Jeremy McElroy Total 87
Doug Wengerd Total 85
Angel Campos Total 83
Kyle Baker Total 83
John Dockery Total 81
Paul Taylor Total 78
Dan Atkinson Total 75
John Lynn Total 111
Brian Meeker Total 74
Matt Reed Total 67
Rick Cox Total 60
Don Golden Total 59
Kurt Whited Total 55
Mark Berry Total 55

Fort Wayne Bike Commuters Total 906
INDYCOG Total 792
Bike Richmond Total 753
Dude, Where's My Car? Total 291
CIBA Total 221
Summit City Bicycles Total 156
Bike Michiana Total 144
Bicycle Indiana Total 92
BF&S Total 90
Three Rivers Velo Sport Total 83
Jeff Kolp State Farm Total 38
Lonely Boys Total 31
Madison Area Bicycling Club Total 24
Evansville Bicycle Club Total 13
Machismo Cyclismo Total 4
KCV Cycling Club Total 3

there are good arguments

2011-09-03T15:01:00.001-04:00

PubliCola » We All Pay For The Roads

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Used bikes

2011-09-03T08:01:00.001-04:00

High-Value Rust on Wheels - WSJ.com

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Choose to bike.

2011-09-01T15:20:00.002-04:00

Two Mornings from Sierra Club National on Vimeo.

Stuck on Earth: Going Where No Band Has Gone Before

2011-09-01T09:57:00.001-04:00

Here is the Link to the website.
Consider donating.

We are 2 months into the Commuter Challenge and looking great!

2011-08-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

2011 Bicycle Indiana Commuter Challenge
Ride your Drive and Win
Individual and Team results as of August 29, 2011

There are now 3 teams from Fort Wayne as Three Rivers Velo Sports has been added. We are making a great showing for the Fort. Keep up the good work everyone!

Top 20 Individual Results – High Mileage
1. Mary Craighead 1187
2. James Lynn 1132
3. Chuck Reidy 1026
4. Nate Gernert 966
5. Rick Cox 867
6. Daniel Atkinson 841
7. Doreen Crenshaw 839
8. Jefrey Kenny 802
9. Tyler Stambaugh 795
10. John Marshall 757
11. Don Golden 651
12. John Cook 573
13. Doug Wengerd 540
14. Sam Callaway 507
15. Cam Starnes 498
16. Kurt Weisner 424
17. Eric Nolan 420
18. John Taylor 406
19. Aaron Hawkins 390
20. Bob Burns 383

Team Results – High Mileage
1. Indycog 4527
2. Fort Wayne Bike Commuters 4103
3. Bike Richmond 2035
4. CIBA 1831
5. Summit City Bicycles 1356
6. Bike Michiana 1210
7. Lonely Boys 1026
8. Bicycle Indiana 666
9. BF&S 627
10. Jeff Kolp State Farm 420
11. Dude, Where’s My Car? 327
12. University Place Cycle Team 280
13. Madison Area Bicycling Club 263
14. Three Rivers Velo Sport 190
15. Machismo Cyclismo 33

Top 20 Individual Results – Most Trips
1. Alexander Saldivar 187
2. Wendy Reed 163
3. Mary Craighead 145
4. Jefrey Kenny 133
5. Mark Strosberg 130
6. PJ Thuringer 117
7. John Lynn 111
8. Doreen Crenshaw 106
9. Tom McCain 100
10. Tyler Stambaugh 100
11. Kevin Whited 91
12. James Lynn 90
13. Amy Hartzog 87
14. Jeremy McElroy 85
15. Matt McKimmy 84
16. John Dockery 81
17. Becky McKimmy 80
18. Elizabeth Bonney 74
19. Kyle Baker 73
20. Paul Taylor 68

Team Results – Most Trips
1. Fort Wayne Bike Commuters 764
2. Bike Richmond 639
3. Indycog 634
5. Dude, Where’s My Car? 258
6. CIBA 203
7. Mike Michiana 124
8. Summit City Bicycles 101
9. University Place Cycle Team 85
10. BF&S 83
11. Bicycle Indiana 74
12. Jeff Kolp State Farm 38
13. Three Rivers Velo Sport 35
14. Lonely Boys 31
15. Madison Area Bicycling Club 20
16. Machismo Cyclisimo 4

Transportation and Climate Change

2011-08-26T13:07:00.001-04:00

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Why the Post-Industrial Landscape Works as Places of Play

2011-08-26T12:34:00.000-04:00

25 August 2011

from Rust Wire

Recently I have written a lot about physical abandonment and loss, or how vacancy can be a dispiriting and anger-provoking bit of sightliness: a skull at the societal banquet. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. As in abandonment there is also an opportunity to play.

To play is to ultimately recreate. To recreate monotony into entertainment—to recreate passivity into a kinetic interchange with the physics around you—to recreate what otherwise is into what could be through an outside molding of one’s inside imagination. To that end, play is the perfect medium to be thrown into abandonment if only as an act asserting life.

This perhaps helps explain the more recent phenomena of turning the bones of the post-industrial landscape into the limbs that make up a killer recreational spot. See below, a few…

The Whole Story

Riding out of a recession: Bicycle commuters can power the economy

2011-08-26T09:24:00.000-04:00

By Neil H. Simon of The Oregonian
Cities across the world should follow Portland and Copenhagen's lead and adopt progressive urban planning and bike-friendly transportation policies, not just to lessen the environmental impact of cars, but as part of a wider strategy to climb out of recession and increase the economic impact of sustainable commuting policies.

The Whole Story

Build it and we will come (ride)

2011-08-25T15:52:00.001-04:00

Pretty self explanatory

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It isn't hard to do. You have to want to do it.

2011-08-25T11:29:00.001-04:00

Emanuel checks bike paths off the list | WBEZ
Go Chicago!

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Totally makes sense even though most won't agree

2011-08-25T09:40:00.001-04:00

Opinion - The Globe and Mail

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Sure it is not here but I know of no such study like this in the US.

2011-08-25T09:39:00.001-04:00

New Report: The British Cycling Economy | TheCityFix

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