Here’s a sampling of some of the stats we’ve recently posted on our [Bikes Belong] website:
* Participation: Less than 1% of all U.S. trips are made by bicycle, yet nearly 40% of all trips are two miles or less.
* Economic: The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is around $200, 1/70th that of an average car.
* Health: Men who cycle to work are significantly less likely to be overweight and obese (39.8%) than those who drive to work (60.8%).
* Facilities: From 1992-2005 Portland, Oregon, increased its bikeway network by 215%, and during that period bicycle commuting doubled.
* Environmental: Bicycling instead of driving 5 miles a day reduces individual CO2 emissions by 1,287 pounds annually, about 6% of the average American’s total emissions.
Continue reading “Facts & Stats”
Talk by "Earthship" architect Michael Reynolds November 6
On Thursday, November 6, the Neighborhood Design Center, in conjunction with the American Visionary Art Museum, is proud to present eco-architect Michael Reynolds, who will talk about his work over the past forty years to build self-sufficient, off-the-grid houses and communities. The talk kicks-off NDC’s 40th Anniversary celebration, which includes a Gala party after – featuring a silent auction and music by Groove Mammals.
Michael Reynolds has been challenging the status quo with his experimental approach to building ever since he graduated from Architecture School in 1968. One of his earliest efforts – a house made from beer can bricks – so upset the national bricklayers’ union that it forced him to halt construction. Undaunted, Mr. Reynolds went on to develop the concept of the "Earthship": an off the-grid solar-powered home built from used car tires, which recycles rainwater and sewage and costs next to nothing to run.
Mr. Reynolds will discuss the principles behind "Earthship Biotecture", the opportunities and challenges he has faced over the years to create his structures, and the relevance that his approach has for helping poor and underserved communities in the United States and abroad. To learn more about Michael Reynolds and his "Earthships" visit www.earthship.net.
When: November 6, 5:30pm – 7pm
Where: James Rouse Visionary Center at the American Vsionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Tickets: $15 Talk only; $40 Gala Party (7pm-10pm); and $50 for both (a savings of $5). You can purchase tickets at www.eventbrite.com/event/181983317 or visit www.ndc-md.org for more information about the Gala.
Continue reading “Talk by "Earthship" architect Michael Reynolds November 6”
Urban Bike trip for Families.
Saturday 18th at 9AM BIKE
Meet at Hall Springs Area (This is at the corner of Argonne Drive and Harford Road). We will go on the great Family Ride to the WAVERLY MARKET. Round trip it will be 4.4 miles. We will have two cars lead and follow the wild pack of bikes (and carry any kids that just are not ready). This is a great first Urban Bike trip for Families.
Continue reading “Urban Bike trip for Families.”
Conventions Bike-Sharing Effort Exceeds Expectations
When Bikes Belong teamed with Humana to bring 1,000 bikes to the Democratic and Republican national conventions, we had two goals:
1. To show convention delegates, media, volunteers, and residents the convenience of bicycling for short trips.
2. To highlight bicycling on a national stage and generate positive media coverage to inspire more people to ride.
On both fronts, the Freewheelin bike sharing effort was tremendously successful. During eight days of Freewheelin at the two conventions, people from all 50 states and 37 countries:
* Took 7,523 rides
* Pedaled 41,724 miles
* Burned 1,293,429 calories
* Reduced their carbon footprint by 14.6 metric tons
* Reported no accidents or injuries
Freewheelin was a mainstream media event, with stories appearing on CNN, ABC World News Tonight, and the CBS Evening News, in major newspapers such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and New York Daily News, as well as in Time and Newsweek. So far we’ve tallied:
* 2,304 clips in print, on television and radio, and online
* Nearly 180 million media impressions
* An equivalent of $10 million in advertising
These widespread and positive stories helped promote bicycling as easy, convenient, healthy, safe, and fun to a larger and wider audience than we’ve reached before.
To see some of the coverage, visit our website.
We thank Humana and all of the Bikes Belong member companies who generously supported this unprecedented project.
Continue reading “Conventions Bike-Sharing Effort Exceeds Expectations”
Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper
The mission of Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper is to protect and restore Baltimore Harbor and the greater Patapsco River and its tributaries through enforcement, fieldwork, and citizen action in order to make the river suitable for recreation, including fishing and swimming, to improve public health, and to improve the health of the river ecosystem.
Report Pollution in your streets and waterways: 410-366-3038 or pollution"at"baltimorewaterkeeper.org.
Continue reading “Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper”
Biller’s Bikes Biketoberfestival Oct. 18 Celebrates Upcoming Move to Downtown Havre de Grace
Biller’s Bikes in Havre de Grace throws BIKETOBERFESTIVAL Oct 18 to celebrate Fall biking season and the upcoming move and expansion in downtown Havre de Grace.
Come to BIKETOBERFESTIVAL at Biller’s Bikes next Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1-8 pm! It’s the last big biking gig at the Juniata Street shop!
Walter and Mara, Mike and Ike (the new twin cats), invite friends and patrons to help us celebrate the Fall season and the upcoming move to downtown Havre de Grace.
BIKETOBERFESTIVAL means "Real Big Fun" in Havre de Grace bicycling!
Live Jazz/Rhythm and Blues
October BBQ and "Biker Beer Garden"
Contests, Games and Prizes
Great Benefit Raffle (for HdG Ambulance Corps)
Bikes, Bicyclists and Bold Bike Chat!
Come by and party, enjoy great food, drink great beer and beverages (hot cider, of course), win terrific prizes (including a brand new SUN 700c sports hybrid bicycle), and share your ideas and inspiration for our awesome new downtown shop location.
Continue reading “Biller’s Bikes Biketoberfestival Oct. 18 Celebrates Upcoming Move to Downtown Havre de Grace”
Please volunteer to help with Greenscape ’08!
We will have a table set up for the Transportation Working Group for kids to learn about the topics you discussed and add their ideas.
We need volunteers to help with the Transportation Work Group table.
Please let us know if you can help! Contact brett.buikema"at"baltimorecity.gov
Thanks!
Greenscape’08 is an environmental event for youth on Saturday, October 18th from 11:00am to 3:00pm at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
There will be free food, games, and prizes. Attendees will be given ‘passports’ to be stamped at different working group tables so the kids can learn about sustainability and provide comments about issues that concern them. The passports can then be turned in for a free T-Shirt and entrance into a raffle for larger prizes.
There will also be free performances by the following acts:
12:00 – Least Common Denominator
1:00 – For the People Entertainment
2:00 – Shodekeh and Max Beats
Come join the fun!
Continue reading “Please volunteer to help with Greenscape ’08!”
Final Charm City Bike and Brunch of the Year
Hi All,
This is the last of 6 successful Bike and Brunches of the year. Please join Tim Almaguer of the Friends of Patterson Park on this ride of the park and East Baltimore.
When: October 18th, 10 a.m.
What: Charm City Bike and Brunch
Cost: $15 per person
Where: Meet at the White House in Patterson Park, 27 South Patterson Park Avenue; brunch will be at Life of Reilly
Contact: Please RSVP (limited to 15 participants) with Friends of Patterson Park Office, 410-276-3676.. If you need a bike or helmet, let Tim know.
Warning: MDSHA is till trying to kill cyclists
What is it with Maryland road crews? Why can’t they post adequate warning about road surface irregularities?
Continue reading “Warning: MDSHA is till trying to kill cyclists”
For bicyclists, a ride focuses on cars
[What? No mention that our Mayor road the 40 mile route.]
Tour du Port raises money for a nonprofit that promotes alternatives to automobiles
By Stephanie Desmon – Baltimore Sun
Lisa Harbin hasn’t yet made the plunge and started bicycling from her home in Hampden to her job as a technical writer in Fells Point. But she’s seeing more people ditching their cars, devising commutes that don’t come with a price tag of more than $3.50 a gallon – and she admits she’s inspired.
"It’s getting a lot easier to ride through Baltimore," she said. "In the last few months I’ve seen way more people out on bikes than ever before. When people see more people out on bikes, it makes it seem more feasible and safer."
…
Continue reading “For bicyclists, a ride focuses on cars”