Possibilities: Moving by Bike

You can do (almost) anything by bicycle!

Next week my old roommate is moving from DC to Arizona. On his bicycle.

Photo of a “Move by Bike” by Flickr user theoelliot

He’s starting next week in a crowd of six dudes that are riding with him for various lengths of the trip. First they’ll be riding to visit me (!) in Pittsburgh and they’ll be able to ride nearly the entire trip on a car-free trail. Exciting progress has been made this week on the trail from Pittsburgh to DC:

When all is complete, it will be possible to bike about 335 continuous, mostly flat miles from Pittsburgh to the nation’s capital without interference from motorized traffic.

Hooray! Hard not to love that!

After Pittsburgh the traveling fellows will ride to Cleveland where the first rider will drop off and the group will travel north and west towards Madison and Minneapolis, then eventually in the direction of Arizona.

Maybe moving by bike is right for you

Another moving shot by theoelliot

Portland has an active “Move by Bike” community and people regularly move around town with the help of a few trailers, friends, and post-move beer.

Flickr user Mark Stosberg moves his new couch (and friend) by bicycle

Moving across country on bicycle is not for everyone, or even very many, but a move within your city is entirely possible with a little help from your friends, trailers, and imagination. The promise of a challenge and a post-move beer is often motivating enough for many people.

I haven’t moved by bike yet, but I’m excited to. Let me know if you’re going to try it soon, I’d love to help.

Especially if there will be a post-move beer.

We Need Free Public Transportation Now

Imagine you had the power to do anything to fix the transportation systems in this country.

What would you do?

A fellow named Tom Vanderbilt wrote a book called Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us). Lots of people have already read it. I’m not one of them but it’s on my list, moving closer to the top. He wants to know what you’d do, and so do I.

Tom Vanderbilt talks enthusiastically about transportation, is pretty cute in a Traditional Clean-Cut Sort of Way, and also writes a great column at Slate.

Now he’s started something that is mix between a project and a conversation called Nimble Cities that is looking to solve the great transportation problems of today by looking to the whole world for ideas.

Ideas are flowing in nearly as quickly as the BP oil catastrophe pumps gas into our oceans. Submit yours now.

This is your chance. What are your great ideas?

Our Transportation System is Bankrupting and Killing Us

As he says in his Request for Ideas:

Transportation is also costing us even more: At the turn of the 20th century, U.S. households spent about 2 percent of their income on transportation. That figure is now around 18 percent, and it’s also rising.

And then there are the other social costs, not just time lost in congestion but the larger cost in human lives: The World Bank estimates that by 2030, road deaths could become the fourth or fifth leading killer worldwide, a larger threat than malaria.

I suggest that we Fully Fund Public Transportation

I think the most effective method to change consumption patterns in the U.S. would be to fully fund public transportation with public money. If taking public transportation was free for the user, ridership would grow astronomically. It’s been demonstrated again and again.

Level the mobility playing field. Give everyone the right and the means to get to work, to school, to fun, to appointments, to recreation.

We should invest in excellent public transportation that is:

1. Fast
2. Free (to the user)
3. Predictable (schedules available at all stops and on phones)
4. Attractive / Beautiful
5. Clean
6. Frequent (always less than a ten minute wait)
7. Everywhere (less than a ten minute walk from most locations)
8. Efficient (Local and Express)
9. Resourceful (should maximize options of local terrain. Pittsburgh for example could use streetcars, along side ferries and the incline to take advantage of our rivers and hills)
10. and has the right of way against all other modes of travel.

(Thanks to the blog, Free Public Transit for their constant work on equitable transit for everyone.)

We Need Free Public Transit Now

Update: Bicycles Now Allowed in Allegheny Cemetery!

Several months ago I wrote this post “No Bikes Allowed in Allegheny Cemetery” and I am thrilled to tell you that the “No” part of the title has officially been removed.

Bicycles are now allowed in Allegheny Cemetery.

If you decide to take this beautiful circuitous route through the Lawrenceville and Garfield neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, please be respectful.  The cemetery is private property, not City of Pittsburgh property. The Allegheny Cemetery has been very generous to allow bike riders on their property, and we owe it to them to ride with caution, respect, and consideration.

Please follow these simple rules:

* Ride safely. The speed limit inside the cemetery is 20 mph.
* Ride only on paved roads. Please do not ride on the grass.
* Respect funeral processions. Allow them to pass and do not cut through the middle of them.
* Don’t ride when the cemetery is closed. You can see their hours HERE.

Hooray!

WIN!: Bicycles Allowed in…

Several months ago I wrote this post “No Bikes Allowed in Allegheny Cemetery” and I am thrilled to tell you that the “No” part of the title has officially been removed.

Bicycles are now allowed in Allegheny Cemetery.

If you decide to take this beautiful circuitous route through the Lawrenceville and Garfield neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, please be respectful.  The cemetery is private property, not City of Pittsburgh property. The Allegheny Cemetery has been very generous to allow bike riders on their property, and we owe it to them to ride with caution, respect, and consideration.

Please follow these simple rules:

* Ride safely. The speed limit inside the cemetery is 20 mph.
* Ride only on paved roads. Please do not ride on the grass.
* Respect funeral processions. Allow them to pass and do not cut through the middle of them.
* Don’t ride when the cemetery is closed. You can see their hours HERE.

Hooray!

Wed June 30: BikeFest Event Brainstorming Session & Bike-In Movie Night

from the Bike Pittsburgh blog: Wed June 30: BikeFest Event Brainstorming Session & Bike-In Movie Night

 

Join us for an evening at the BikePGH Office

With BikeFest on the way and event ideas brewing, we thought it might be helpful to hold a group brainstorming/Q&A session at the Bike Pittsburgh office (3410 Penn Ave, at Penn and Butler Sts, Lawrenceville) next Wednesday, June 30th at 7 pm.  If you have an event but aren’t sure how to organize it, or if you have an idea but not enough time to pull it off yourself, this is the time to get together, toss ideas around, and figure things out.   If you want to just come and hang out, that’s great too!  The more the merrier!

After, join us for a Bike-In Movie

Also following the brainstorming session, join us for our first movie screening at 8:30!  True Stories is the pick of the night by Bike Pittsburgh’s newest crew member, Lolly Walsh (that’s me!).  Talking Heads ringleader David Byrne’s directorial debut in this charming low-key musical montage about the mythical town of Virgil, Texas, where the lives of many of its eccentric citizens are exposed.  Come rain or shine, but if weather permits we will be screening it outdoors in the back!

Come to brainstorm, watch a movie, or both!  If you can’t make it but have event ideas or questions, check out our BikeFest Page or e-mail bikefestpgh@gmail.com.

The event is rain or shine.  If it’s nice out, the movie will be in our back patio.  If the weather is bad we’ll move it inside.  FREE and BYOB for the movie.

What: BikeFest Event Brainstorming and Bike-In Movie Night

Where: BikePGH Office, 3410 Penn Ave, at Penn and Butler Sts, Lawrenceville)

When: Wednesday, June 30th – 7:00pm meeting, 8:30pm for the movie

Why: Why not?

 

Pittsburgh Wins Bronze for Bicycle Friendly Community Today

Today Pittsburgh is receiving its first designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Come downtown to the County building at noon for a tear-jerking ceremony.

Bikes and Shoes

Where: City/County Building Portico, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219
When: 12:00 noon, Wed., June 16

Bridges and Bicycles

On another tear-jerking but otherwise unrelated note, today is my ten year anniversary of going to Moscow to study abroad back in my youth. Beautiful times, friends.

WIN!: Bicycle Friendly Communities

Today Pittsburgh is receiving its first designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Come downtown to the County building at noon for a tear-jerking ceremony.

Bikes and Shoes

Where: City/County Building Portico, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219
When: 12:00 noon, Wed., June 16

Bridges and Bicycles

On another tear-jerking but otherwise unrelated note, today is my ten year anniversary of going to Moscow to study abroad back in my youth. Beautiful times, friends.

Public Service Announcement: Look Before You Open Your Car Door

This neat video by Eric Arnstein & Jeff Ryan shows the perils of riding too close to car doors. While the bicycle rider is physically broken, the driver is emotionally devastated (!) when he unintentionally injures a bicycle rider. Be careful and pay attention out there!

Eric and Jeff also made this lovely video for my roommate’s band, Boca Chica.

I Want This Bicycle!

Check out this awesome bicycle / tricycle from WorkCycles. I want it!

Flower stand trike