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Why rich people are more likely to get on their bikes

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But official figures reveal the bike is in fact becoming the transport method of choice for the rich, rather than those further down the earning ladder.

And the richer people become, the further they cycle, according to the Department of Transport's National Travel Survey.

The poll shows that the richest fifth of the population cycle on average five times as far in a year as the poorest fifth.

It also found that those with less money are unlikely to consider cycling as a way of getting around, despite the fact they are less likely to have a car to use instead.

Poorer people appear more concerned about the stigma of riding a bike, fearing that others will view it as a sign of inferiority.

The rich, meanwhile, are likely to be more confident in their social standing so seem to worry less about how others might perceive them from their transport choice.

Those on higher incomes also tend to be better educated about the health benefits of cycling and more aware of the need to be healthy.
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Cycling groups believe a negative stereotyping of cyclists, coupled with a lack of education about its benefits, are deterring poorer people.
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Studies show that regular cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger and those cycling regularly beyond their mid-thirties add two years to their life expectancy.

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World clock

I ran across this interesting site with real time (so far this year) approximations of:
Deaths due to Cardiovascular Diseases (lack of exercise)2,397,519
Cars produced5,167,198
Bikes produced15,652,345

And I found Earth Clock:
CO2 emissions (tons)3,947,276,628(That is like everyone in the world produced a half a ton of CO2 so far this year and the year isn't over yet.)
Oil depletion timer15572 days
US Garbage production (tons)31,583,168

You can sit and watch the numbers spin (a bit scary.)

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Lance Armstrong unveils his new commuting bike shop

It's not about the bike sales.

That from Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, who plans in May to open a bike shop, commuting center, training facility and cafe in a 1950s-era building at the northwest corner of Fourth and Nueces streets.

"This city is exploding downtown. Are all these people in high rises going to drive everywhere? We have to promote (bike) commuting," Armstrong said Wednesday, gazing up at the towering 360 condos rising next to the site of his new shop. "This can be a hub for that."
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Armstrong said he'd like to see Austin evolve into a place like Portland, Ore., where biking is part of the culture and people pedal to work, to restaurants and to run errands. "Walk outside, and the streets are lined with bikes

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Scot smashes world cycle record

Mark Beaumont, from Fife, completed the journey in 195 days - beating the previous record of 276 days.

The 25-year-old crossed the finish line at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at 1430 GMT after an 18,000-mile journey which began on 5 August last year.

Mr Beaumont passed through 20 countries on his way, including Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
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He endured floods and road rage, and was knocked off his bike in the American state of Louisiana by an elderly motorist who drove through a red light.

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A day out cycling in 1955

A YouTube video (in two parts) about England's Cycling Touring Club. There are trains that accommodate bicycles and a running dialog that seems to touch on everything from bonking prevention to gear inches and beautiful country side to the diversity of the club members.

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Safe Pedestrians and a Walkable America

Each year pedestrian fatalities comprise about 11 percent of all traffic fatalities and there are approximately 4,600 pedestrian deaths. Another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in roadway crashes annually. Safety is important for all roadway users, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has established a goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries by 10 percent by the year 2008. Pedestrian safety improvements depend on an integrated approach that involves the 4 E

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National Commission Looks at Transportation for Tomorrow - when nobody bikes or walks???

As part of the $286.5 billion SAFETEA-LU federal transportation bill, Congress asked for the formation of a National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to develop recommendations for the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU. The 12-person Committee was charged with analyzing current and future needs for transportation; evaluating short term and long terms funding sources for the Highway Trust Fund; and framing policy recommendations for 15, 30 and 50 years.

The Commission included 12 individuals from throughout the Country, met for two years, and released its Transportation Tomorrow report in January 2008. Unfortunately, Safe Routes to School was not mentioned once, and walking and bicycling were generally left out of the 258 page document.

Deb Hubsmith, Director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership says, "With nearly 10 percent of trips in the United States already being on foot or by bicycle, it's alarming that non-motorized modes were completely ignored in the Transportation Tomorrow report. We're going to have to make our case directly to Congress and show how Safe Routes to School improves public health, decreases traffic congestion, increases safety, and is an important part of the national transportation agenda. Any discussion about 'Transportation Tomorrow' should absolutely include a focus on today's children and how they travel to and from school. Many studies have shown how the built environment affects public health, physical activity and obesity, so its surprising that this report failed to make that important connection."

The report called for a "new authorization" of the next transportation bill, urging Congress to do away with the current structure and to collapse 108 current programs (including Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements, Recreational Trails, CMAQ, etc) into 10 broad categories. It also called for performance-based decision making for investments, raising the gas tax by 25-40 cents/gallon, and for consideration of additional funding techniques such as measurement of VMT, congestion pricing, and public-private partnerships.

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