From CTC:
Who Should Read this Briefing?

This briefing is intended for anyone who is looking for one of the most convincing arguments to persuade people to cycle, to promote cycling or provide for cyclists. It should be equally useful for individuals and organisations concerned about physical inactivity and who need to know more about the health benefits of taking up cycling.

- by Charles Komanoff and Michael Smith
New York City just released its first-ever study of bicycle crashes. There's good news and bad news. The good news is that four City agencies -- health, transportation, parks and police -- admitted, finally, that bicycling is good for New York City, and pledged to expand the City's cycling infrastructure. The study also didn't indulge in the NYPD's habitual victim-blaming in cycling fatalities -- a significant though unacknowledged shift.

But here's the bad news: The study has many methodological flaws and misleading "findings," leading it to over-emphasize helmets and bike lanes and neglect the need for universal street safety. And the study completely neglects the fact that most fatal crashes are caused by aggressive, self-entitled drivers, and laissez-faire policing that allows motorists to literally get away with murder.

A collection of stupid and/or demented observations from drivers.

The fabulous Katherine Roberts was taking the lane as usual, when a car tailgated her, honked, and then angrily zoomed around her, passing much too close. She caught up with it at the next light (of course). The driver insisted that she didn't belong in the lane. And why? "Isn't it obvious? I'm in my car, and you're on your legs!" A friend later suggested the perfect rejoinder: "No, I'm on my feet and you're on your ass!"

Adrian Fenty just won the DC democratic primary for mayor, which in this city is tantamount to election. He is a cyclist himself (actually a tri-athlete) and this is what he had to say when asked about cycling-related policy:

Quote:
My campaign has brought me to every major intersection in the City. I see bicyclists "sharing" the road with aggressive drivers, many of whom are from Virginia and Maryland. Frankly, I've seen some pretty scary moments where drivers were careless, on cell phones or apparently unaware of the rights of bicyclists.

My administration will work with bicyclists to increase safety and the ease of bicycling. I believe there has to be consistable education of DC drivers, but particularly of Maryland and Virginia drivers who must understand that bicyclists have road rights in the District. My administration will enforce our laws and increase the security of bicyclists.

Celebrate Walk to School Day on October 4, 2006 or pick any day in October to participate in International Walk to School Month. Register at http://www.walktoschool.org/register/index.cfm and join millions of children and adults around the globe who participate in this annual event by walking or biking. All registered schools have the chance to win prizes in random drawings each week leading up to Walk to School Day. Grand prizes include pedometers for a classroom and 100 backpacks. For planning ideas, see http://www.walktoschool.org/eventideas/index.cfm.

Cerv

Not biking related but highly recommended.

The Society for the Preservation of Beers From the Wood

Presents

The 3rd Annual Chesapeake Real Ale Festival

October 21, 2006 1-6pm @ The Wharf Rat at Camden Yards

206 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Tickets are $25 in advance & $30 at the door

- By Bracha Kurzter

A few days ago I taught my 14-year-old cousin how to write a bicycle, and afterwards I was inspired, so I wrote 11 Ways Life is Like Riding a Bicycle, here it is:

11 Reasons Why Life is like riding a bicycle:

1. You need balance: if you lean too far to one side or the other, you'll fall off!

The Rambam writes (Hilchos De'os 1:4), regarding "all Midos," that a person should follow the golden "path of the middle" and not lean towards one extreme or the other.

Therefore in life, or while riding a bike, it is important that one always pays attention to where he is leaning!

2. You fall off, but in order to progress- you need to get back up!

There is a song that came out when i was in 3rd grade by Chumbawumba with lyrics like so, " i get knocked down, but i get up again, you're never gonna keep me down."

The point is, its not falling down that determines your worth- its if you get back up or not.

(I found this comment on the subject of walking to school.)

At one school my daughter walked to, traffic was a big issue. Most affluent parents who lived within walking distance of the school drove their kids to school. Some drove the kids just a few blocks. When I asked why their kids didn't walk they said "Too Dangerous, too many cars." Well the cars were from parents driving their kids to the school. The street had few cars at 8am during school breaks. All kids more than a mile from school got bussed. If all driving parents at that school participated and walked with their children to school on one day, it might open their eyes to the fact that the danger came from themselves. The parents might think they are doing their children a favor but my daughter liked walking to school until she became a teenager. When she grew up she confided to me that when she was getting bussed to school she and her friend would deliberately miss the bus so they could walk. Walking wasn't a burden for her it was an adventure.

(A) Aren't Cars Great??

"Cars are great! Fast! Convenient! Sexy! Freedom!"

Well, no, no, and no again.

First, cars aren't anywhere near as fast or convenient as they seem. Speed is, of course, the distance you go, divided by the time it takes. Problem is, the "time it takes" to get somewhere by car is not just the time spent driving. You also spend time