Bike fashion for temperate climes

You won't find me in this rig, but it's a mighty good video. Can you identify the music?

Cyclist alert: Venetian bridge closing

The eastern bridge on the Venetian Causeway will be closed to bicycles and all other traffic for a month starting Friday, May 1. All 12 bridges on the causeway are facing repairs that Miami-Dade Public Works says are needed because of weather damage.

In case a rider gets out to the bridge and can't get across, there's to be a shuttle bus on each side -- on the beach side serving the Lincoln Road bus terminal and on the west side serving the Omni terminal. At either terminal, you can catch a regular bus across the bay -- the C, M, S, K or Night Owl -- and resume your ride on the other side. I'm told that regular fares will apply on the cross-bay buses.

Riders may be tempted to just take the MacArthur Causeway across. I don't recommend it, at least not before the Florida Department of Transportation finishes the repaving that's to start this summer. They're planning to restripe the pavement then and include bicycle lanes. Perhaps then I'll be comfortable with that route, though the speed of motorists still is a concern.

Leaving the bike saddle for a seat of power

Nobel laureate Steven Chu is a longtime bicycle commuter totally persuaded of the motto: Bike to work, live longer. As the new U.S. energy secretary, though, he's now in the awkward position of being ferried to work in a government SUV -- in the name of protecting his health. The irony is deftly laid out by Charles Komanoff in Grist.

Enforce for safety, not traffic flow

Andrew, at the Commute Orlando Blog, shares an important insight he had over the weekend about why traffic law enforcement seems so out of sync with what we're trying to do as bicyclists.

Today we have an auto-centric view of traffic that supports the notion that the auto drivers come first and much further down the line are cyclists and pedestrians. That’s completely backwards from a safety perspective.

His discussion, broadened a bit by Mighk Wilson, is clear and worthwhile. You may see it by clicking here.

Grove's Bike Miami Day

I'm sorry to say I missed Bike Miami Day in Coconut Grove. It couldn't be helped, but from all I hear the party was great without me. It's wonderful news. Check out the photos and comments at the Coconut Grove Grapevine.

Cool rides: Anywhere on a train

Some of the most enthusiastic bicyclists I know are motivated by their wish for car-free transportation. They want to save oil, avoid polluting the air, or improve the quality of life in their city. The same wishes are widely shared among the people who will observe National Train Day on May 9, the 140th anniversary of the day that U.S. transcontinental rail travel became possible. On that Saturday, what do you say, let's fill up Florida's trains and take a ride? I'll bet there are bike trails out there not far from any station you choose. Care to share your plans?

Did you know there's a Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers? They're cooking up a party at Tampa's Union Station.

We want bicycle parking

Updated April 28
Inspired by the recent dedication of a sculptor's colorful bicycle rack in Peacock Park, Grove resident Harry Gottlieb wrote to The Miami Herald to call for more bike racks, and more utilitarian ones, throughout the neighborhood. I agree with him, that part of Miami needs more racks -- but so does the whole city. They would be a real help to residents who try to save gasoline by not driving, and especially to those who can't afford a car to begin with.

Add Bookstore in the Grove to that small but growing number of Miami-area shops that do have convenient parking for bicyclists. Green Mobility's Hank Resnik spotted their artistic new rack on the sidewalk at Virginia Street and Grand Avenue.

Bike activist now an entrepreneur

Let's all wish smooth rolling to urban planner and bicycle activist Mike Lydon as he starts up The Street Plans Collaborative in Miami Beach. He came to South Florida to work with Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., where he was much-engaged in the Miami 21 project. More recently he got a contract with the City of Miami to begin the city's bicycle master plan.

Bicycling the Tamiami Trail

A visitor from Arkansas writes an interesting travelogue about his bicycle ride on the Tamiami Trail, the highway through the Everglades from Miami to Naples. I'm not comfortable with that two-lane road as a bicycle route, given the prevailing speeds and often narrow shoulders. But as Christopher Johnson notes on Associated Content, the shoulders have been improved. Good reading, whether you ride it or not.

Cycling with a smile

Slicker way to find a bike trail

If you've got the wanderlust and hometown bike trails can't satisfy, take a look at the new and improved Trail Link site created by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. While there are notable gaps in their South Florida listings, you should find better choices upstate and outside Florida. There are links on-site for adding your own favorites, so what say, Miami riders, shall we help 'em out?

Biscayne to Overtown -- a greenway in the making?

In the world of bicycle planning, some dreamers only dream and others dig in to bring dreams to concrete reality. Here's one who put his sweat and money into a gamble that a neglected piece of Miami real estate could be cleaned up and given a new, useful life. Charles Rabin tells the story in The Miami Herald.

Dutch go green with orange bike parade

If you've got orange, why not wear it Sunday for the Dutch-sponsored bike parade that's part of Bike Miami Days in Coconut Grove? The fun starts at 9 a.m. and the parade at 10:30 a.m., out of Peacock Park. To learn more, consult the Bike Miami Blog.

Civilized Riding

Kathryn Moore has been talking up the Dutch role in Bike Miami Days in the Grove on April 26. Here from the New York Times is a nifty slide show about how the Dutch bikes work just fine for style-conscious urban Netherlanders.

Greenways office saved -- for now

A note from Ken Bryan of the Rails to Trails Conservancy:

Thank you to everyone who took action to help save the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT)!

Due primarily to your hard work, the Senate General Government Appropriations Committee has reinstated OGT’s staff and removed language that would limit citizen input by eliminating the Florida Greenways and Trails Council. OGT’s budget was reduced, but we understand this is a time of belt-tightening.

State Sen. Al Lawson (D-6th) deserves special thanks for submitting an amendment on behalf of OGT, as does Sen. Carey Baker (R-20th) for supporting an innovative solution that was at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

The trail movement depends on its supporters to speak up in times of need and I am proud of the vigorous response that came from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy members. This is an outstanding example of an advocacy effort having a real-world impact.

A glance at the Tampa criterium

Florida has a number of criterium races, a form of bicycle competition that I hear is especially popular in European cities. One of Florida's newest criteriums was run last month in Tampa. I found this video about it at the Spoke-N-Word.



I love the idea of putting on one of these downtown or possibly in Bicentennial Park. What do you think? Click "comments" below and let us know.

Cyclist's "rolling stop" gains favor

Thanks to Gary Mendenhall for spotting this excellent video that explains the "Idaho Stop Law" being considered now in the Oregon legislature.

Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

Would you like to see something like this adopted in Florida? Your comments, please. Just click below to share your thoughts.

A book for your downtime: Pedaling Revolution

I just got word of the book that Portland newspaper writer Jeff Mapes did about the expanding U.S. bicycle culture. His book is called Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities. I'll be looking for a copy and will give you my impressions as soon as I've had a chance to read it. Meanwhile, the publisher describes it thus:

From traffic-dodging bike messengers to tattooed teenagers on battered bikes, from riders in spandex to well-dressed executives, ordinary citizens are becoming transportation revolutionaries. Jeff Mapes traces the growth of bicycle advocacy and explores the environmental, safety, and health aspects of bicycling. He rides with bicycle advocates who are taming the streets of New York City, joins the street circus that is Critical Mass in San Francisco, and gets inspired by the everyday folk pedaling in Amsterdam, the nirvana of American bike activists. Chapters focused on big cities, college towns, and America’s most successful bike city, Portland, show how cyclists, with the encouragement of local officials, are claiming a share of the valuable streetscape.

There's more at Oregon State University Press.

Whose road is it?

In the course of a broader conversation, a bicyclist shared this:

As a casual rider and commuter - not a distance rider - I ride on sidewalks when possible even though there are some obstructions.

My wife has said that the 3-foot clearance is difficult to achieve when there is opposite direction traffic on a 2-lane road. She thinks bike riders should not be allowed to ride on the road.

Many riders have heard the same views, or seen them acted out with wheel and finger along the public roads. I put the question up to my consultant, Your Spokes-man.

Spokes-man responds:

The driver and the bicyclist have the same right to use the road. Both are vehicle operators under Florida law. Neither, however, has a right to PASS the other at danger or inconvenience to the other. When a motor vehicle is overtaking a cyclist on the street, and there is not room to safely go around the cyclist, the motorist must slow down and wait until the way is clear. A courteous cyclist will pull aside from time to time – but courtesy does not require leaving the road for every car that comes along.

Anyone choosing to ride on the sidewalk should remember that a motorist at an intersection or driveway is less likely to see him than if he were on the road.

Cool ride / causeway alert -- EarthFest

Look for heavy traffic on the Rickenbacker Causeway on Sunday for the 3rd Annual Earth Fest, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Crandon Park. It's a good outing for walkers and bicyclists, who don't have to pay Crandon's $5 parking fee. There were about 1,000 cars last year and more than 2,000 are expected this time.

Try again, bike advocates

If you tried to use the link in my March 26 article to register for the Winning Campaigns (c) Training, you may have run into a dead end. The Alliance for Biking and Walking is rebuilding their website. Sorry about that! Here's a good link.

Miami's bike scene being noticed

Miami may not match Portland's famed bike scene, yet, but GOOD magazine takes note that something is stirring in the Big Orange. To take a look, click here. To share your thoughts, click "comments," below.

GOOD is Livable Streets

Thanks to David Henderson for spotting this fine article about the street of the future -- the Livable Street. It's from a magazine called GOOD.

Drivers, cyclists have plenty to learn

There's a good piece out of Spokane, Wash., about what bicyclists and motorists are entitled to expect of each other. You can read it in the Spokesman-Review.

Bicycle safety course for Miami

Here's a chance to take the acclaimed Riding in Traffic (Road 1) course to brush up your bicycle savvy and make yourself safer and more comfortable on the road. Collin Worth, the City of Miami's bicycle coordinator, will host the day-long class taught by David Henderson, the Miami-Dade County bike-pedestrian coordinator, on Saturday, April 18. You have to register with the Miami Critical Mass Meetup Group to take the course. It's advertised as costing $35. Plan to bring your bike.

Will we see you at Bike Miami Days in the Grove?

Don't forget to circle April 26 on your calendar and plan to pedal down to Coconut Grove for the first Bike Miami Day held outside downtown Miami. With Peacock Park at the center of things, lots of new ideas are being tried that Sunday for this edition of Miami's monthly street fair. It's all about community -- as bicyclists, skaters, skateboarders and walkers Explore the City in A New Way. Read up on all the happenings at the Bike Miami Blog.

Cool rides: Miami Riverday

Miami loves its outdoor festivals, and one with special charm is Miami Riverday, happening tomorrow at the city's Jose Marti Park, SW 4th Street and 4th Avenue (click for map). You should be able to bike to that riverside neighborhood from wherever you start. Look for the Green Mobility Network bike valet, where you can park your wheels while you soak up the music, take a boat ride or sample the food and environmental exhibits. (Click the image at right to learn more about it.) This annual event -- from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- is put on by the Miami River Commission.

Florida bike summit wet but real

Bicyclists held more than 30 meetings with legislators yesterday following the Capitol steps rally billed as the first Florida Bicycle Summit. That's pretty good, considering the rainy day that sent many of the summit attendees home early from their week-long ride through the Florida Panhandle.

The Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) organized this because of several things we need for lawmakers to pay attention to.

One of the major issues is protecting a Florida law which mandates that the Florida Department of Transportation provide bicyclists and pedestrians with proper accommodations on roadways.

"For me it's equal treatment, making sure that complete streets are built so that all users have full usage of the roadways," said David Henderson [of Coral Gables], FBA president.

The rest of that report is in the Tallahassee Democrat.

Ron Cunningham also writes about the soggy outing, at Gainesville.com.

City cries last call to bicycle pub crawl

An annual bicycling pub crawl in Cocoa Beach was canceled by city officials this week on grounds of safety. The pub-to-pub ride drew 300 cyclists last year and raised $1,600 for St. Jude Children's Hospital. More about it at Florida Today.

Park planning bicycle entrance

Robert Yero, the manager at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, on Key Biscayne, reports that a bicycle-friendly entrance gate will soon be in operation. This will save cyclists from having to stand in front of motor traffic to hand their $1 admission fee to a park ranger. Instead, there will be a separate bike lane with an honor box, a so-called "Iron Ranger," to accept the fees.

Yero said that riders who visit the park often -- as some do on their daily training rides -- may want to get the $40 annual pass and simply flash it as they ride through. The pass is good at any Florida state park.

Cyclists to rally at Florida Capitol

Leaders of the Florida Bicycle Association, and enthusiasts from Miami and across the state, are on their way to Tallahassee to visibly make our presence known. Read more at the FBA Blog.