The Cycling Cap Giveaway Heard Round The World!
As part of a Bike Law cap giveaway for the holidays, Peter posted a fill-in-the-blank statement on Bike Law’s Facebook page.
“My local bicycle culture is _________________.” (And identify your city.)
We have been overwhelmed by the responses we received – literally from around the world, including France, Denmark and Canada – and we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. Thanks to everyone who participated! Winners will be announced soon.
Culture Club Riders
Several posters took the opportunity to share the growth of biking communities in their cities.
Amy S: My local bike culture in Albany, California is growing. Albany Strollers & Rollers has co-funded 29 of these awesome “Bike Bike Racks” (so far!) with local businesses, advocated for many infrastructure improvements, coordinated family cycling clinics and bike rides, and done lots of things to get people off all ages & abilities on their bikes & riding more safely!
Catina P: My local bike culture in Birmingham, has produced the first ever Alabama chapter of Black Girls Do Bike. We are supportive as cyclists and friends. We bike the trails and city streets as well as break bread together. We welcome other ethnicities and enjoy biking up 8 floors of a parking deck … trampling with old and young, different races and genders. I love my cycling family. We conquer hills, freezing temps and the naysayers together. Thanks tons to the local bike stores, Cahaba Cycles, Bike Link, Redemptive Cycle, Bob’s Bikes and #WD40BIKE.
Brian K: My local bike culture is KIDICAL MASS. Monthly bike rides for parents and their kids. Everything from infant seats, to cargo bikes, to balance bikes to regular kids bikes. This weekend is our annual Christmas lights ride where we do a 1.5 mile ride around South Philadelphia where the best lights displays are.
Cargobike Lovers
We recently did a blog post on our love for cargo bikes, and we were delighted to see them show up in this contest.
Paul N: Blue Blaze brewery is preparing to open and will be using cargo bikes for keg deliveries. I say that bodes well for culture in Charlotte NC.
Gerard M: My local bike culture in Nice (France), Riding the French Riviera with my Bullitts, the smile maker machine. Cargobikers have more fun!!
Lars B: Growing, as my son Simon age 11 is building and selling cargobikes to people in our local community. In one year we have gone from 1 cargobiking family to 9… Still a lot of lost souls out there, but he is only 11 and has plenty of time to be the game changer.
Making Biking Better
Some posters highlighted the latest improvements in biking facilities in their cities.
John K: Growing every day. This bridge just opened up as part of one of the best urban networks in the country. Philadelphia.
Christapha L: Getting better and better every day. We still have a long way to go but with progressive urban planning, design, and implementation New Orleans is becoming more bike friendly. As a Civil/Transportation Engineering Student I am excited to be a part of the transformation of this great city!
Charles A: Not bad and getting better in Lowell, Massachusetts. We’ve got a major, progressive university pushing for sustainable transportation options between its campuses, a new city Complete Streets policy, largely driven by cyclists, and city planners and engineers committed to making our city more bikable and walkable.
Joe K: My local bicycle culture is pedaling! New bike boxes in downtown Kansas City MO! I rode my bike down to the World Series parade with no concerns and less hassle than driving! Kansas City!!
Jess R: My local bike culture in and around Des Moines, Iowa, is incredible. I am blessed to ride (and live) in Central Iowa, where we have nearly 1,000 miles of interconnected trails. I am glad for the infrastructure we have – but I am even more grateful for the awesome people who fill those trails. Our biking community is phenomenal and I cannot imagine a more supportive group of people to be part of.
Bikes and Biking Buddies
Some posters used their response to give a shout-out to the camaraderie of their local cycling community.
Laura R: My local bike culture is SUPPORTIVE! Through cycling I’ve made friends, built relationships, pushed limits, and discovered a community of people who care not only about others but a better life as a whole. Proud to be in Hendersonville, NC and surrounded by so many great cyclists!
Timothy James B: My local bicycle culture is full of love and support for other riders; full of amazing adventures and never a dull moment!! Portland Oregon, USA.
Vannevar B: My local bicycle culture is growing, accelerating, welcoming, affirming, inclusive, organic, successful and embraced by local government!” Pittsburgh PA.
Chuck Robert E: Supportive of developing riders, friendly and the best. Littleton, CO.
Matt F: getting better with each new butt on a saddle. Milford MI
Hey, It’s the holidays!
We kicked off the cap contest with a nod to the holidays, so it’s fitting that we end with a holiday-themed post. A tip of the cycling cap to this entry!
Anna B: The local bike culture in Charlotte, Charlotte NC is dynamic and learning to be better every day. Also uniquely festive.
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From Winner to Advocate: One Cyclist’s E-Bike Journey
Two years ago, on a family trip to Switzerland, my wife and I rented two electric-assisted mountain bikes, or e-MTBs, to tackle some steep trails near the Matterhorn. The salesperson said, in no uncertain terms, that the new e-MTBs were the way of the future, and we should give them a try. So we did.
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A Comprehensive Guide to E-Bikes in Louisiana: Laws, Tips, and Choosing the Best E-Bike
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The Lisa Torry Smith Act: A Win for Cycling Safety in Texas?
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Far Right?! I was taking a LEFT!
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E-BIKES ARE LEGAL IN NC (WELL, SOME OF THEM)
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BIKES & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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Another Successful Road Defect Case, This Time a $750,000 Settlement in Georgia
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One Million Dollars for Texas Road Defect
The Texas Department of Transportation had offered cyclist Mike Bagg $0. Recently, attorneys with the Bike Law network took a case to a trial against a titan of a defendant: the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT was represented by the Attorney General’s Office, one of Texas’ largest legal teams. We had a great client, but it was
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More Roads = Better Transportation, And Other Myths
2023 got off to a rough start for Charlotte, North Carolina, particularly in the context of road safety. Within about a week, we lost a young woman who was riding her bicycle, a pedestrian killed in the same area of town, and four people were killed in a car wreck on I-85 in the University
