Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Ah, exciting times...Bike Month is just around the corner!

First off, On Sunday, I saw this bike in Park Slope on 5th Ave. Who's bike is that? Seriously tall, nice work.



Ok, May is almost here and that means:


Lots of great bike events including this thing called Critical Mass, that the D.O.T. seems to sponsor, because once again its in the Bike Month Calender.

So this month when you're on critical mass and the scooter cop is giving you a hassle about needing permits, just quote them this blurb from the bike month website:

"Bike Month celebrates the fun, convenience and ease of cycling in NYC. Cycling is good for you, good for the environment and good for New York City. Whether you are one of the city's 120,000 everyday cyclists, a weekend cyclist or just thinking about bicycling to work, Bike Month has an event for you."

All kidding aside, lets really try and make the MAY "Bike-Month" Critical Mass a Big one!

So I have some good news and some bad news...The good news is that it looks like a city in America is going to kick off a bike sharing program starting in May. (did I mention that was bike month) Washington DC is the spot and you can read about it here in this NY times article which came out in Sunday's paper, written by Bernie Becker.

Photo by Ed Alcock for the New York Times.


The bad news is, much like the very successful bike sharing program in France, which the DC one is modeled after...someone has to pay for this and that generally means through advertising of a major corporation.

The even worse news is in DC, its sponsored by: Clear Channel, who monopolizes our airwaves with watered down top 40 and supports Right-Wing politicians...Oh yeah and they banned the Dixie Chicks when they spoke out against the war. But somehow they like bicycles...or is it money! Clear Channel, just so happens to own 90% of our outdoor advertising. Hopefully you see where I am going with this. Here is a simple equasion. They like A and they control what you see...they don't like B, therefore you don't see B.

Why can't this be sponsored by the city who believes in something like this: Cycling is good for you, good for the environment and good for "Fill-in-the-Blank" City.

Here is a blog that has been doing a lot of work covering Bike sharing around the world and what is starting to happen here in America.

bikesharing.blogspot.com

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2 Comments:

Blogger Ron George said...

Interesting first picture. Either a monkey rides the bike or I wonder how the rider will mount on and off the it. Perhaps get off a 2 storey high window?

9:10 PM  
Blogger Nick Johnson said...

the bike belongs to my friend Hillel (sp?). He built it at 123 Tompkins

8:00 PM  

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