Industrialized Cyclist Notepad


Citi Bike hotter than Bieber

The NYC bike share saga has been interesting and is still unfolding. No doubt there are myriad individuals and groups working to undermine it and exerting pressure in various ways. Sure ‘bike sharing’ sounds swell to you and me, but how does it sound to the Transit Authority? The taxi companies and drivers? The tour bus operators? The rich, elderly, politically-connected pedestrians who hate bicyclists with a passion? And when it’s all said and done Citibank, of all zombie institutions, holds the keys. So …

Don’t count your NY bike share chickens before they hatch.

In a sign of excitement about the city’s new bike share program, which is set to launch next month, Citi Bike sold out of its first 5,000 memberships in less than 30 hours.

via Citi Bike sells out 'founding' keys in 30 hours | Crain's New York Business.



NYC Bike Sharing system supposedly starting next month

Maybe. Previous launch was delayed for rather mysterious reasons. Keep an eye on it.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the first 293 docking stations have begun to appear. Most of them will at first be in Manhattan.

The DOT hopes to eventually expand the program to include 600 stations and 10,000 bikes.

via Sadik-Khan: NYC Bike Sharing System Set To Launch Next Month « CBS New York.

“Most of them will at first be in Manhattan.” — a sentence published by a major news organization.



NYC Energy Benchmarking Report for Non-Residential Properties

As part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, Finance is required to publish a benchmarking report that shows the Energy Utilization Index (EUI) and Energy Star ratings of city government buildings.

via NYC Energy Benchmarking Reports.

The Seagram Building (1958) scored a 3. Out of 100. I wrote a paragraph about this influential building in Art of Cycling.



More Bike Rental Headline Scaremongering

Whereas, if you look at the actual facts presented in this USA Today article, the bike share program in question is incredibly safe.

Washington’s Capital Bikeshare program began in September 2010, has grown to include more than 1,500 bicycles and recently recorded its 2 millionth ride. At the same time, bicycle-related accidents have increased on city D.C. roads.

Bicycle-related accidents have increased from 312 in 2009 to 601 in 2011, according to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Pedestrian-related accidents also rose from 657 in 2009 to 935 in 2011.

Chris Holben , a bicycle program specialist for the District Department of Transportation, says Washington has actually become safer since the number of people riding their bikes has increased. He said only 24 Bikeshare crashes have been reported to police since the program stated.

So that’s roughly 1 reported crash per 100,000 trips! And even those are likely to be minor crashes. Oooh, danger. Hope they’re all wearing their helmets…

Now check out the headline:

via Bike sharing stokes conflict between drivers, cyclists – USATODAY.com.



Bikepocalypse imminent
June 21, 2012, 20:40
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

I enjoyed the weirdly negative headline on this Bloomberg article, and the way they got the ‘rental’ part right for once.

NYC Risks ‘Bikelash’ as 10,000 Rental Cycles Hit Streets – Bloomberg.



NYC Bike Map
April 12, 2012, 05:02
Filed under: maps | Tags: , , , , , ,

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012_nyc-cycling-map.pdf




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