June 16, 2009Leave a Comment
One Missouri college town that takes pride in its bike-friendly status is threatening jail time for motorists who aren’t so friendly.
The Columbia City Council heard from a steady succession of cyclists who’ve been victims of road rage — including a bike shop owner who was pistol-whipped — before unanimously approving a new ordinance Monday night. It makes harassing cyclists a misdemeanor, punishable by stiff fines or a year in jail.
June 16, 2009Leave a Comment
The 15 stage Penitentiary Tour de France finishes this Friday in Paris, France. Some 200 French prisoners (of whom only a few are attempting the complete Tour), closely accompanied by more than 100 cycling guards, prison sports instructors and magistrates have set off on their own Tour de France.
Unlike the usual snarky coverage seen here and elsewhere, NPR does a pretty good job discussing the whys and wherefores of this cycling event for convicts. Listen at NPR Morning Edition.
Remember, the Tour de France 2009 begins in just two and half weeks with a 15 km individual time trial in Monaco.
More bicycle news…
URBAN VELO: Specialized Globe launches as a brand separate from Specialized. More yummy photos at Bike Hugger.
WIRED: Scary concept bicycle
MAKE: Portable tallbike.
BICYCLE DESIGN: Bicycles from the Embacher Collection.
COFFEE: Laceration hazard!
Travel tips: I just learned the U.S. Transportation Security Adminstration (they’re the people who handle security at airports) has a blog. It’s even enjoyable to read. Via Schneier on Security.
Humor: Mansoap. I use Ajax for my personal hygiene.
June 16, 20094 Comments on A TV show about me!
I’ve recently learned there’s a new TV show on the FOX network that’s all about me! Chris Vance plays Dr. Jack Gallagher in “Mental.” Gallagher runs the psychiatric ward at a hospital in Los Angeles and he gets around almost exclusively by BICYCLE. When he’s in a car it’s because he took a cab.
The show creators took some creative license with my true story, so here’s a guide to the differences between the real life Dr. Jack Gallagher (me) and the fictional me (Dr. Jack Gallagher).
| Gallagher commutes to work on one of many bicycles. | I commute to work on one of many bicycles. |
| Gallagher owns several bikes that he hangs inside of his loft | I own several bikes that are parked outside on the porch. |
| One of Gallagher’s bikes is a repainted GMC Yukon road bike. | I wouldn’t be caught dead on a GMC Yukon road bike |
| His twin sister Becky calls him but never says what she’s doing | My brothers IM me late at night when I’m asleep |
| Gallagher runs a psychiatric ward | I was once admitted to a psych ward. The doctors there were very kind. |
| Gallagher works with young, attractive oversexed colleagues who wear tight sweaters. | I work with middle aged guys named “Sanjay” who wear sweater vests and talk about their favorite cricket teams. |
I hope you enjoy Fox’s “Mental” — I have a lot of myself invested into it!
June 16, 20094 Comments on DIY bicycle projects
Amber Lee at Givers Blog has a couple of DIY bike projects:
June 15, 2009Leave a Comment
Starting today Inhabitat and Areaware are giving away an awesome folding bike by Strida, worth $950! They’re asking readers to submit pictures of their old clunker or evidence that they need a new ride. One lucky winner who is in most need or just has the most creative reason for wanting a slick new folding bike will win.
Entering the contest is easy. Readers just need to sign up for the Inhabitat newsletter and submit photographic evidence of why they need a new bike. Photos should be less than 100k and 537 pixels wide.
The Deadline for submissions is Friday, June 19th at midnight EST.
Learn the details here.
June 15, 2009Leave a Comment
It’s going to be a super busy week for me, so here’s a shotgun blast of bike news.
Chicago’s Bicycling Ambassadors seen in Urbana, Illinois.
Team Abu Dhabi? Ina Reinders poses for a photo during a press conference announcing the creation of this Triathlon team created by the emirate’s tourism authority. More here.
Bicycle Design: Bikes for the non-enthusiast.
MAKE: Classy bike trailer.
WEND: Free bikes in New York City. H/T Unbreakable.
Missouri Bike Fed: Common bike collisions and how to avoid them.
Interbike Times: Cycling as the great American pastime.
Sets: The intersection of gnats and cycling.
Sarah Goodyear: Cycling in Fort Worth, Texas. I lived on the outskirts of Fort Worth for three years and bike commuted daily across the Mid Cities and DFW Airport to my job in Irving.
San Francisco Bicycle Music Festival SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2009.
New Hampshire Supreme Court rules town must clear snow from sidewalks.
Iceland Winter Bike Expedition 2010.
Blast from the past: Did I really write this in 1984?