Cycling News
Cycling News
Overview
A roundup of world cycling news.
Jakarta Bike Only Days (November 2010)
Jakarta, Indonesia, is one of the least bike-friendly cities in the world. However, the city has recently initiated two car-free Sundays a month in the downtown area as a way of giving bikers a fighting chance.
Fines for Cycling While Using Earphones (October 2010)
34 of Japan's prefectures now ban the use of earphones while cycling. Except for Kyoto Prefecture, there are in addition to the ban fines for violators.
New York to Build 2900 km of Bike Lanes by 2030 (October 2010)
To date, New York City has built 320 kilometers of bike lanes. According to the city's Department of Transportation, the city's goal is to increase that to 2,900 km by 2030.
Kyoto To Rent 400 Bikes with Front and Back Child Seats, Japan (August 2010)
Last July, after a mini-revolt from the mothers of Kyoto, the city revoked its ban on riding a child on both front and back at the same time.
A common sight in Japan, mothers can be seen pedaling the old mama-chari bikes with a child seated on a seat on the handlebars and then another seated above the rear wheel. (They often have grocery bags dangling from whatever free space remains.)
However, fitting out a three-person bike isn't cheap.
To help the mothers, the city is offering to rent one bike for 5500 yen for six months.
"Boris Bikes" Hit London Streets, UK (July 2010)
London Mayor Boris Johnson has pushed for and passed a scheme that will generate "up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day in central London."
The intent is to reduce car trips, ease congestion on public transportation, and get Londoners into shape.
It is not cheap though. There is an initial £3 to join. That gives one an electronic key. Thereafter, membership costs £1 for 24 hours, £5 for seven days, or £45 for a year. The first thirty minutes of any trip are free, but from there on it costs from £1 for the first hour to £50 for a maximum of 24 hours.
Gambling City Bans Bicycles, USA (June 2010)
Black Hawk, Colorado, has banned the riding of bicycles in the casino town. The town began enforcing the ban on June 5th, and those caught riding face a $68 fine. Bike advocacy groups are planning to take the town to court.
E-Rickshaw, India (June 2010)
The old Indian rickshaw may be going the way of the dinosaurs. In many places, it has been replaced by a gas-spewing, traffic jam inducing tuk tuk like taxi. Well, Delhi is now in the process of introducing an "E-Rick," an electric, environmentally friendly rickshaw for the 21st century.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) hopes to have 4,000 on the streets in time for the Commonwealth Games.
Tour of Japan (May 2010)
The 14th Tour of Japan race took place from May 16 to May 23. It was a series of races held in various but not contiguous cities: Sakai, Nara, Mino, Minami Shinshu, Fujisan, Izu, Tokyo.
Mexico City (May 2010)
The Mexican capital has introduced a bike sharing plan in an effort to reduce air pollution.
The "Eco-bici" program has installed 1,100 bikes at 85 stations throughout the city.
Sakyo Ward Office, Kyoto, Reducing Automobile Parking (April 2010)
In an attempt at reducing illegal parking, Kyoto's Sakyo Ward has replaced its car parking lot with space for bike parking.