ZappaWheels
  • Blog
  • Community
    • Submit Your Story
  • Advice
  • Store
  • Bike Shops
  • Support
  • About

Discover the joy of bike commuting
​

Safety in Numbers: More Riders Means Safer Streets.

1/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Bike Commuters
Bike to Work Day in San Francisco (photo courtesy of San Francisco Bike Coalition)
Although it sounds contradictory, the greater the number of people biking the safer the environment. 

This concept of "Safety in Numbers" is not new. It was first observed in 1949 by Rueben Smeed, a British statistician and transport researcher. Using auto traffic data from 20 different countries, he developed Smeed's law which states that an increase in traffic would lead to a decrease in fatalities per vehicle. Since his death in 1976, the data set has been increased and validated in 62 countries. 

The same inverse relationship has also been observed in biking and walking with data from 68 cities in California (Jacobsen). The researcher concluded a motorist is less likely to collide with a person walking and bicycling if more people walk or bicycle. How is this possible and how do different cities compare? 

Read More
0 Comments

Stories on the Move - A Slice of Life on the Bike

1/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Last night I attended the inaugural kick-off of Stories on the Move. Sponsored by the Active Transportation Alliance (ATA), the event was part whimsy, part inspiration and whole lot of fun. Over 50 people packed the house at Township bar on N.California Avenue in Logan Square, many of whom arrived via bike. 

A sort of two-wheeled version of NPR's Moth Radio Hour, the event included invited speakers as well as several brave individuals from the audience who shared their personal bike experiences. The stories were amazing and entertaining. You couldn't make up the adventures they shared. 

Read More
0 Comments

Baby It's Cold Outside!

1/13/2016

3 Comments

 
Picture
Nike winter sports pavillion on Chicago River
It was 0 degrees during the ride this past Monday morning and again today. Add in the wind chill and it felt like -15 below zero. Perhaps I spoke too soon last week when I said You Don't Have to be Fearless to Bike Commute. 

People are always amazed when they learn I ride in this type of weather. Usually they say "you are brave" and act as if it's some great feat. (Or maybe some other, unspoken adjectives come to their mind.) For me, it's how I get to work. And while it is challenging, there are actually some unexpected pleasures to bike commuting in the winter.

Read More
3 Comments

You Don't Have to be Fearless to Bike to Work

1/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Bike Commuters in New York
Commuters in New York. Photo by Julian Alexander.
Over half of Americans (ages 18 and over) would like to bicycle more often and perceive bicycling as a convenient mode of transportation. While safety is still a primary concern, more Americans are biking to work with over 800,000 bike commuters in 2013 alone. (US Census Bureau). That number has grown steadily over the past 10 years as cities improve biking infrastructure and road-safety policies. In Chicago the number of bike commuters increased 175% from 2000-2013 (American Community Survey) with even greater growth in many US Cities. 

As we start a new year, now is the time to consider how you can join the growing numbers of people who bike to work or use the bicycle as a form of transportation. Here are five easy steps to help you start bike commuting. 

Read More
0 Comments

    Our Mission 

    To help bike commuters ride better, smarter, safer.... and of course have fun!

    Picture
    Stay current with articles and advice
    Subscribe

    Categories

    All
    Advocacy
    Bicycle Economy
    Bike Philosophy
    Bike Sharing
    Bike Shops
    Cold Weather Riding
    Community
    Fun Stuff
    Practical Advice
    Product Reviews
    Safety
    Security
    Stories
    Sustainability

    Take the
    ​Rider Survey

    Archives

    June 2020
    February 2019
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious, IQRemix, VeloBusDriver, Maria Eklind, kasio69
  • Blog
  • Community
    • Submit Your Story
  • Advice
  • Store
  • Bike Shops
  • Support
  • About