Monday, June 27, 2011

U BC makes a bikability index


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bike-friendliness-of-vancouver-neighbourhoods-mapped-by-ubc/article2077929/

-surveyed 2,100 people about factors that influence their cycling behaviour, Ms. Winters said. Most answered they are concerned about biking next to cars, biking up and down hills, the availability of racks to lock up their bikes, and the connectivity of bike-friendly streets.

The maps can be viewed at www.cher.ubc/ca/cyclingincities/tools.html. Cyclists can also search for routes based on preferred distances, air pollution levels and elevation gain. Future renderings will also allow users to click and zoom on the maps.

D: I don't consider cycling very practical without a good infrastructure.
Given the potential of bike tourism, you'd think city halls would recognize the opportunity it presents.

Friday, June 24, 2011

bikes to solve gridlock

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/road-sage/motorcycles-the-cure-for-bad-driving-and-grid-lock/article2072993/

“When was the last time you saw a guy speed by you on a Harley texting?” Motorcyclists are careful drivers because they have to be.

from Clark’s autobiography, You’re Welcome: “I watched that biker snake through the gridlock and the solution appeared in a flash. As a columnist, the bulk of my time was spent looking for bad driving; looking for stupidity and laziness. It was never hard to find. There was only one group that seemed to be above the usual flaws – motorcyclists. They often seemed to obey the law. They did shoulder checks. They signalled. When it came to accelerating, braking, and cornering, motorcyclists were solid. Once in a while, you’d see some yahoo speeding through highway traffic pretending he was Miguel Duhamel, but that was it.”