Bikes In Cuba!

Regardless of why or how people came to use bikes in Cuba, they do, and they use them for just about everything. Charlie sent in these beautiful photos of his recent trip to Cuba, and the awesome way in which bikes are part of the culture there.  If a relatively poor nation like Cuba can integrate bicycles into the fabric of commerce, we shouldn’t have any problems at all.

From Charlie:

I just got back from a two week trip to Cuba where I found that bikes play a
significant economic role in the country.
I have some pictures posted here:

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Detroit Dreamcyclers Hit Detroit Auto Show

19 art students walking around an auto show with imaginary bikes. I really liked this video, mostly because I think a lot about how automobiles are marketed to people, and how reality doesn’t match up very well with that marketing (see here and here and here and here and here for examples of my past thoughts on the subject).

The dada like absurdity of the imaginary bikes highlights the absurdity of Detroit continuing to put its eggs in the automobile industry basket. Plus it looked like fun.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Bikes Vital In Post Sandy Rebuilding And Aid Distribution

Once again bikes kick ass. I will say it again, add “bicycle” to your list of disaster preparedness items, you wont be sorry.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

Federal Funding For Bicycles In Danger!

Via MassBike Act now to keep these idiots from removing the tiny amount of federal money currently spent on bicycles.

———–

Last week, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released its proposed six-year transportation bill, which would cut funding to critical bicycle and pedestrian programs such as Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School.  These programs have been essential in improving bike safety around the state. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program has provided $2.4 million for bike and pedestrian infrastructure at schools since 2007, and over 1,200 students participated in SRTS bike safety courses in Spring 2011 alone. The second important funding source, Transportation Enhancements, has been used for multi-use paths, rail trails, and other improvements around the state – over $15 million in bike and pedestrian investments since 2005.

The current proposal would not only eliminate dedicated bike and pedestrian funding, but also cut overall federal transportation spending levels by 33% and reduce federal transit funding by 34%.  At a time when our roads are crumbling, trains and buses are breaking down, and communities struggling to build bike and pedestrian facilities, this proposal will erase decades of progress.  We need you to call your representative and senators and urge them to preserve dedicated bicycle funding.

When you call, you can use these talking points:

• Funding For Bicycling And Walking Is At Risk We are concerned that this proposal will lead to the elimination of funding for programs such as Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School.
• We Already Underinvest In Biking And Walking Just 1.5 percent of federal transportation dollars currently support bicycling and walking, although these two modes represent 12 percent of all trips in the United States. Bicycling and walking are growing in significance to our transportation system and yet only a tiny fraction of transportation funding is allocated to these essential and affordable modes.
• Bicyclists And Pedestrians Make Up A Disproportionate Number Of Roadway Fatalities 14 percent of roadway fatalities are bicyclists or pedestrians. Small investments in improving roadway safety not only make our roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians but also make drivers feel more comfortable and reduce conflicts among all road users.
• Biking And Walking Are Great Investments Bicycling and walking improvements are relatively inexpensive, highly cost-effective investments that produce more jobs per dollar than road repair and upgrades; they also boost local small businesses and increase real estate values.
• Biking And Walking Help Solve Many Problems In these tough economic times, we must invest in solutions that solve multiple problems: biking and walking are low-cost transportation options that improve safety, health and air quality; they reduce dependence on foreign oil.

All of our representatives and senators expressed support for bicycling when we visited them in Washington, DC, in March for the National Bike Summit. Now more than ever it is important to remind the Congressional delegation to step up and defend these programs and current funding levels. Please contact your Congressional Representative asking that they maintain dedicated bicycle and pedestrian funding in the transportation bill. Here are the phone numbers for all the U.S. Representatives for Massachusetts:

Don’t know who your U.S. Representative is? Click here and enter your address to find out.

And our two U.S. Senators:

Take action and stand up for bike/ped programs and restoration of funding to transportation!

Add to Reddit.

Tweet

The World Has Changed

Love it.

Add to Reddit.

Tweet