From his website (which has a really good streaming radio station by the way):

Since the early 1980s, David has been riding a bike as his principal means of transportation in New York City. Two decades ago, he discovered folding bikes and started taking them with him when travelling around the world. DB’s choice was initially made out of convenience rather than political motivation, but the more cities he saw from his bicycle, the more he became hooked on this mode of transport and the sense of liberation, exhilaration, and connection it provided. This point of view, from his bike seat, became his panoramic window on urban life, a magical way of opening one’s eyes to the inner workings and rhythms of a city’s geography and population.

I couldn’t agree more. Bikes do afford the opportunity to up the magic factor, which is why they are as good in new places and old. And it is nice to be reminded that bikes don’t always have to be a political statement, although they can definitely feel like one in this city at certain times. But for anyone who rides a bike, there is definitely a sense of cognitive restoration afforded to you when on two wheels. In another write up, Byrne said, “Your unconscious is free to kind of mull over what it is you’ve got to deal with that day or whatever creative stuff you’re working on or whatever problems,” he said. “Sometimes the problems get a little closer to being solved by the time you get to where you’re going.” Maybe we’d all be a bit more creative, a bit calmer, and a bit better if we rode our bikes more. My evidence is only anecdotal of course, but I think I think its true.

For a quick video of DB and his bike, visit the Times.

Photo Courtesy of Change Your Life, Ride a Bike

One thing that keeps me from riding my bike regularly is the effort usually involved with planning a bike route. In economics I think this time spent is called opportunity cost and it keeps undedicated bike riders like me from having a healthier commute. Growing up in the suburbs I never had this problem. As long as I had an idea of where I wanted to go I would jump on my bike and figure out a route as I went. In New York City, taking a wrong turn on your bike may mean a death wish as many roads were not designed to accommodate bicycles.

Ride The City is a Web-based application that allows a quick and easy search for the safest bike routes in the city. Routes are found by either entering a start and end location or by dragging two icons and placing them on a map. The result is an easy to read map along with information about each segment of the route indicating whether or not there is a bike lane or if an off-road trail is involved. There is also an option to adjust the level of safety to accommodate a variety of skill levels and risk tolerances.

Since planning a bike route is no longer a tedious task, I am more likely now to choose to ride my bike rather than take public transportation. Opportunity costs are powerful and affect many daily decisions leading people to continue to stick to a routine. Tools like Ride The City decrease these costs and encourage more wholesome lifestyles– the kind of solutions for sustainability that emerge in cities and hopefully become popular.

Sometimes things just make so much sense that you think to yourself, “Why did it take that long to come up with this? And why didn’t I invent it?” When I read about Puma’s Urban Mobility bike, that has night reflective paint and a wire lock system that essentially means the bike falls apart without the wire returned by its rightful owner, I felt like that. 
Fire Flies and Fire Bikes

The bike has an aluminum alloy frame and folds in half for easy storage or transport, in a cramped space. The foldable bike is generally scoffed at by serious bikers, but they certainly serve a purpose. If it means more people on bikes, we all win.

Beyond the actual bike, which might not be accessible to all, seeing as it costs $1600, the concept is brilliant and I hope we see some flattery by imitation here. Where can I get some glow in the dark paint?

In other bike news, not that we are surpised, but in TA’s 4th annual commuter race, the cyclist beat the driver, who beat the transit rider.

Today London launched its first large scale bike sharing program, modeled on the Paris “Velib” Program. The London project begins with 6000 available bikes and will eventually provide 15,000 of the Granny bikes-minimal theft and minimal hip-ness appeal. That is the point though, the bike should be seen as a tool, not as a must have fashion accessory. 
Just Imagine this is Houston Street.

The London program will be funded by tax payer monies rather than advertising as is the model of the Paris program. The bikes will be free for the first half hour and then will cost £1 for every half hour following. The stations which are planned to take up existing parking spaces will be placed every 300 meters! This in itself will be a huge push to get people on those bikes. If  one is en route to a destination and continues to pass one of these set ups on every block, odds are that at some point, one  might just say, “Hmmmm…perhaps I should get on one of these speedy affordable bikes instead of walking past them in a hurry.”

This assumes that common sense is common though. Where are we on this one New York?

Grab your picnic basket again and your bike this time too…
Ride the Island

Join us on Governors Island tomorrow for a talk by Tom Angotti, Director of the Center for Community Planning and Development here at Hunter College. His talk is entitled “Beyond Bike Lanes: Retrofitting the 21st Century Metropolis for Bicycles and Pedestrians. ”

After the talk, join us for a ride around the island!

This is the 2nd lecture in a series of 13. For more information on lectures, please visit the Institute’s homepage.