Free Republic

Let’s face it, bicyclists are becoming unlikable, even to other bicyclists. And if you think there are more important issues, you’re right — homelessness, political corruption, pet laws or ISIL. But there are good articles about those issues already. As a man who enjoys Netflix like any other guy, eats cheap Chinese food with chopsticks and just spent $40 on premium decaffeinated coffee, I feel I’m qualified to talk about The Breakdown of the Family Bike Trail. I’ve compiled a checklist, a self-intervention of sorts, that the average bicyclist can use to determine if he or she is indeed, a...

My favorite response was from a woman with a funny name -- one of those names where the alphabet got tossed up in the air -- who told me that she bicycles to and from work, to any event, social or otherwise, to the store, what have you. Really? You ride your bike to social events? Don't you get sweaty? I'm wondering what would constitute a social event that you could ride your bike to. Let's say you're going to an art museum charity fundraiser. Do you wear a dress? Valet park? I'm not buying that, any more than I...

"I think the reason these anti-bike policies are being proposed is it’s a red-meat issue for a lot of Republicans," Bike Fed executive director Dave Cieslewicz told Madison.com. "They have stereotypes about what cyclists are and they don’t see them as their voters. They see attacks on cycling as politically beneficial." WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle's president, John Burke, is urging Wisconsin cyclists to contact their state lawmakers in support of the state's Complete Streets Law, which Gov. Scott Walker has proposed eliminating. Burke, in an email sent this week, also urged them to oppose a $25 state bicycle...

The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are asking lawmakers to put a new tool in their toolbox, so to speak: a parking surcharge that could eventually fund downtown amenities like pedestrian walkways and bike paths. Proposed legislation would allow the Twin Cities to impose a tax on non-metered parking, including stalls in public and private ramps and surface lots, within a defined area of their respective downtowns.

New York Citi Bike riders are at risk according to a new audit exposing spotty maintenance checks, poor cleanliness and defective docking stations. Comptroller Scott Stringer released his report Thursday looking at if New York City Bike Share, which manages the scheme, is in compliance with its Department of Transport contract. According to maintenance data, only 28per cent of the 6,000 two-wheelers in Manhattan and Brooklyn were inspected in November 2013, 34per cent in December 2013 and 38per cent in January 2014.

More than 40 bicycles belonging to Baltimore's Recreation and Parks department for a bike-share program were stolen this week, and the activity has been suspended indefinitely, city officials said. The bikes, which included children's bikes and adult-size blue beach cruisers, were stolen on Monday during the city's Ride Around the Reservoir program in Druid Hill Park. Recreation and Parks spokeswoman Gwendolyn Chambers said staff had set up the bikes to lend out when a large group of youths began stealing them. One staffer was kicked by a youth, though the injury was not serious, Chambers said. "We don't want our...

Citibike is a success. Unqualified. Raving. Success. “Citigroup, who was the recipient of over $476 billion dollars of taxpayer bailout money,” wrote Alex Garcia on Townhall Finance in 2012, “has joined forces with the City of New York to sponsor a $41 million dollar bike share program.” That program became Citibike. The goal wasn’t quite as ambitious as Obama’s target of a million electric cars on the roads in eight years. But still the program aimed at putting 10,000 bikes in 600 locations around New York City for commuters to share in the name of environmentalism, health and being hip....

Houston police are considering a plan to charge the Critical Mass bicycle group as safety concerns draw officers away from their regular duties. The event, which sees thousands of riders take to the streets on the last Friday of every month, has operated in cities across the world for over 20 years..... Four officers in two police cars help riders through intersections, with officers driving ahead and behind to clear the path. Houston police say they are now exploring the possibility of riders footing the bill for those services, as happens now for big funeral processions and for some busy...

This is a story of raw power, collusion and government corruption. A story that is taking place in countless towns all over America. A story of “reinvented” government, where self-proclaimed private “stakeholders” and pressure groups set the rules, local elected officials rubber stamp them, and non-elected regional governments enforce them, sometimes with an iron fist – all with no input from citizens, and apparently no rights for private citizens and property owners to stop them or even have a say.

Maybe the DOT can write their bosses a late note. Commuters using the city’s bike-share program on its first workday ran into a slew of technical problems — and confusion — that made them tardy for their jobs. There were issues across the system, from Columbus Circle to Brooklyn Heights.

Patrick from the Corsica, France chapter of Harley-Davidson poses in front of St. Peter's Basilica on June 16, 2013. Lauren Cater/CNA. Vatican City, Jun 16, 2013 / 09:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Harley-Davidson owners flocked to St. Peter’s Square today for a chance to greet Pope Francis, and they came away struck by his friendliness and closeness to the people. “To be here and see the Pope is absolutely amazing. He’s so friendly, he’s just so friendly,” said Bob from the Lakeside, England chapter as he spoke to CNA June 16. His fellow Lakeside member Harry agreed. “He’s so friendly,...

Gov. Rick Snyder recently fulfilled an obligation of his office by naming members of something called the "Complete Streets Advisory Council." This government board exists as a result of Public Acts 134 and 135 of 2010, which were signed into law by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Aug.1, 2010. The law mandates that those who design (or redesign) roads and transportation systems take more than just automobile traffic into account when they draw up their plans. It is to make sure pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. aren't forgotten by the designers and, if appropriate, are accommodated. Here's how the "Complete Streets" concept...

A swarm of relocating bees in southern Sweden chose to leave an overcrowded hive to squat on a bicycle parked on a central square in Kristianstad. Passers-by witnessed how bees were swarming around a bicycle at Kristianstad square Södertorg, reported local paper Kristianstadbladet. “Then the Queen arrived and they started to come in droves after that,” said Jan Ekdala, who became a witness to the event, to the paper. Ekdala watched as the bees started swarming over the bike, literally covering parts of it. “In only five minutes it was a gigantic bee-swarm,” Ekdala told the paper. He told the...

Where I live outside of Lansing, there are new bike paths sporting shiny asphalt, but the roads are crumbling. Motorists might be surprised to learn that of the 18.4 cents per gallon of federal gas tax they pay at the pump, only about 11 cents goes to maintain highways and bridges. According to federal law, about 10 percent of federal highway funds must be used for projects such as highway beautification and transportation museums. According to a new National Center for Policy Analysis report, “Paying for Pet Projects at the Pump,” the Federal Highway Administration also allocates gas tax revenues...

The residents, quaintly enough also known as taxpayers, don't want that island. They have formed their own ironic offspring known as Local Taxpayers for a Livable Community, distinguished from TLC by the fact that they are not funded but, in fact, are the funders. My hope for LTLC is that they are not too late in the sense that a wild horse has already left the barn. Let us understand our civics, shall we? The people who pay the bills, the taxpayers, watch, seemingly helplessly, as millions of dollars in federal funds - their money - is won by outfits...

A few months ago, I received a phone call from a cyclist with an incredible story about an incident in Lawrence County, Ohio. Because the cyclist-a guy named Tony Patrick-was in need of an attorney, I hooked him up with Steve Magas, a contributing author to Bicycling & the Law, and a well-known bicycling attorney in Ohio. After hearing Tony's story, Steve took his case. More about that later; first, let me tell you about Tony. Weekdays, Tony runs his small construction company in Huntington, West Virginia. Weeknights, and weekends, Tony, a Cat 2 racer, can often be found hanging...

Politicians will usually kick off an election campaign with a rousing speech, a meet-and-greet handshaking session or a nice photo opportunity kissing a baby. Unless, of course, they are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who joined a biker gang and led them on a testosterone-fuelled motorcade. Over-revving the engine as he sat astride a three-wheeled Harley Davidson, the former KGB tough man looked both ludicrous and very much at home in the latest of macho stunts that have punctuated his political career.

BANFF, Alta. - One of the most popular hiking and biking trails in Banff National Park is bringing in restrictions at the height of the summer tourist season due to fears of bear attacks. The Lake Minnewanka Trail has been a favourite haunt for hikers and mountain bikers for decades. There are over three million visitors to the park each year and many of them take to the 32-kilometre trail northeast of the Banff townsite.Until Sept. 15, it will be mandatory for hikers to travel in groups of at least four. At least one of the individuals will be required...

It was a typical early summer evening in Portland: cloudy skies threatening rain, temperatures in the mid-60s, and thousands of naked bicyclists gathered near the city's waterfront for a clothing-free night ride. The Portland version of the World Naked Bike Ride was about to begin. "It is the most liberating, natural feeling possible," said Brooklyn Jay, who came all the way from Phoenix for the ride. World Naked Bike Ride is a globally observed event among hard-core bikers designed, at least ostensibly, to promote the use of the bicycle for transportation. But Portland cyclists have been especially adamant about making...

Please excuse this shameless vanity. A family member is co-creator of a new "reality" show about NYC bike messengers -- "Triple Rush" debuts at 10 p.m. tonight on the Travel Channel. If you like bike riding, bike messengers, New York City, or just reality shows, this may be for you! Preview is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sslzevxwpg&feature=related