The 2008 New York City Bicycle Screenline count shows a dramatic 35% increase in cyclists [PDF] over a year ago. Streetsblog reports that advocates credit facilities for the big increase in bicyclists. The bicycling modal share in New York City was 0.4% in 2004 and has nearly doubled since then to almost 1%.

On the other side of the United States, 8% of Portlanders say they commute by bike, with preliminary reports showing a 28% increase in bike commuters over the previous year.

San Francisco, which is banned from providing any new bike facilities by a court injunction, showed a 24% year-on-year increase in bicyclists during that city’s last bicycle count.

From my inbox tonight…

Dear Fritz,

I wear my messenger bag high and tight and empty just like the cool kids I see in the videos, but the other cyclists in my city just laugh at my sense of style. What am I doing wrong?

Signed,

Confused in Cleveland

Dear Confused,

Just like politics and good organic produce, cyclist style is local. Chrome is king in San Francisco, but Lycra still leads in much of the Midwest.

Ditch the steel SE Lager fixed gear bike, those ridiculously tight Swrve pants, hemp belt and your home sewn bag and replace it all with roadie gear. A good starter ensemble might include the Look 595, ridiculously tight Assos “kit”, and Rudy Project eyeglasses. You can still wear your Sidi shoes, though you need to learn how to use clipless pedals. The roadies will still mock your piercings, PBR and smoking, but they’ll let you ride with them — probably in the “C” group — if you can hang with the peloton.

Love, Fritz

Click on the photo to view large. It looks like you steer this by moving the broom handle around!

Caltrain northbound #101 — the first train of the morning — struck a pickup truck before 5:30 this morning as the train approached the San Mateo station. The train hit the truck on the tracks at 9th Street in San Mateo, dragging it all the way to 5th Street before the train came to a stop. The driver was killed, unfortunately.

Southbound trains were delayed, with limited southbound service from San Francisco resuming about 8 AM and northbound service beginning about 9 AM. As of 9:15, trains are operating past San Mateo in both directions. Caltrain expects to be back on schedule at noon today.

Mercury News story includes photos of the truck, which is peeled open like a sardine can. 🙁

I got news of the crash early this morning on my phone via Twitter/Caltrain, so I rode my bicycle from San Jose to work this morning.

Bike Miami, Sunday, November 9

A portion of downtown Miami, Florida will be closed to Cars on Sunday, November 9 from 10 AM to 3 PM during Bike Miami. East Flagler Street, Southeast 1st Avenue to 4th Street and South Miami Avenue, over the bridge to 10th Street and Mary Brickell Village will be closed to motor vehicle traffic, with some “soft closures” across 1st, 2nd, and 6th through 9th Streets.

Bike Miami is organized by the office of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Kathyrn Moore from the Mayor’s office met with the former mayor of Bogota, Columbia, Enrique Penalosa, to get his perspective on the popular Bogota Ciclovia. To ensure a great turnout and the success of Bike Miami, organizers have arranged for cyclists to ride free on Miami Metrorail and Metrobus. Area vendors have been encouraged to participate and public exhibitions will help draw people to the area.

For more information, visit Bike Miami.