January 21/10 18:30 pm - Cycling (in the) News

Posted by Editoress on 01/21/10
 

Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world. ~ Grant Petersen

Ryerson students win $3,000 for best design of new bicycle racks for Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Where does one of Toronto's most consumer-sensitive organizations look to for the design of a new series of bicycle racks? Toronto's 200 plus acre Mount Pleasant Cemetery approached the Ryerson University Department of Design and asked their students to come up with a look for the new bicycle racks, to be installed this coming summer, that was unique and appropriate to this most sensitive of urban environments.

Mount Pleasant provided the prize money for the top designs and Ryerson and its students set to work.
Newswire


More cyclists brave elements to commute year-round
Bike stores see jump in sales of winter gear
Through ice, wind, and snow, an increasing number of Ottawans are braving the elements and using an alternative mode of transportation: winter cycling.

Pete Hickey is one of those winter cyclists, and for the past 25 years, he has been commuting year-round on his bike from his home in Hull to the University of Ottawa.
Ottawa Citizen


Clearing the path to year-round cycling
Finally, after all these years, Westmount city council seems intent to seriously look at the possibility of keeping the bike path on de Maisonneuve open to cyclists year round - and possibly abolishing parking on the south side of the street between Atwater and Greene Avenue.
West Island Chronicle


Riding with a reason
It's pretty intense.”

That’s how Kamloopsian Ian Fillinger describes his training regimen.

His wife, Michelle, was diagnosed with MS eight years ago.

Fillinger is hoping his journey across the United States will raise $250,000 to help the fight against the crippling disease.
Kamloops This Week


Every Street is a Bike Route
Late last year I participated in the Crenshaw Crush ride which had riders of ages, from 4 to 64, participating. The route took us from major arterials like Crenshaw Boulevard to little neighborhood side streets, and through the Olympic Village.

At one point, when we were meandering through one of the neighborhoods, two of the teenagers started making jokes about the Bike Route sign that we just passed. "Oh, I'm feeling sooo much safer on this street than on the other parallel street just because of the Bike Route sign. NOT!" "How lame!" the other exclaimed. I thought that was funny to hear it from them because even though I thought that Bike Route designations were useless, I never really discussed it with others and don't hear or read much about what people think of them.
LA Streets Blog


The Thin Green Line
An architect's desire to improve the sustainability factor and general well-being of his city is noted.
Canadian Architect


Notes from the Toronto Cycling Committee Mtg January 18th

Biking Toronto


City of Toronto Survey shows Cycling is on the Rise!


New team, better Lance?
Lance Armstrong's band is truly back together now.

In the 16 months since the seven-time Tour de France winner announced his comeback, he has re-established his competitive credentials by finishing third in the sport's most prestigious event after three years away from racing, attracted a major new American sponsor to the game and reconstituted the team environment in which he was most successful. Armstrong is now freed from the distracting presence of a teammate, Alberto Contador, who could and did demonstrate he was the better rider this past summer.
ESPN


BTA launches “Build It” social media campaign
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has launched a new campaign to hasten progress on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030. The campaign is called “Build It,” and with an emphasis on social media and a new blog at PortlandBikeNetwork.org, the BTA hopes it will put pressure on city leaders to build out the bike plan once it’s adopted on February 4th.
Bike Portland


Protein Supplements Are Often Misused by Athletes, Study Finds
Protein supplements don't improve performance or recovery time and, according to a recent study, such supplements are inefficient for most athletes. "They are often poorly used or unnecessary by both high-level athletes and amateurs," says Martin Fréchette, a researcher and graduate of the Université de Montréal Department of Nutrition.
Science Daily


Would You Pay $800 For a Bike Power Generator?
That's what Pedal-A-Watt wants you to pay in order to generate 250 watts of pedaled energy. But unless you regularly hook up your bike to a stationary stand in order to get some exercise, this is not exactly an eco-friendly option for how to generate a little charge.

The idea of using a bike to charge your television is fun, but getting a little grating considering most people aren't going to use it as a solution to their energy issues. Still, Red Ferret directs us to this piece of rather expensive equipment that is unlikely to generate enough power to justify the price point - or even be considered really green.
Tree Hugger