On the second Friday of the month, Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee leads a "bike pool" along Queens Boulevard. By riding together in a group each month, the bike pool works not only to educate drivers that bikes are on the street and to make a statement about the need for a bike lane, but it give the borough's bike commuters a safe, escorted ride home.
Archive for the ‘Bicycling’ Category
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Queens Boulevard Bike Pool
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Tour De Brooklyn 2009
Transportation Alternatives' 5th Annual Tour de Brooklyn was held yesterday. The 23-mile ride started and finished in Coney Island. Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz was there to see the ride off. As he spoke, Transportation Alternatives Executive Director, Paul Steely White pedaled to power the microphone. Check out this years video to see footage of [...]
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Matthew Modine rallies support for “Bicycle For A Day”
Matthew Modine founder of the advocacy group "Bicycle for a Day" held a fundraising party for this project last night at Solar One, the City’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center.” Modine plan's to recycle New York City's junk bikes and distribute them around the world so more people will be able to [...]
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Commuting with the Commissioner on NYC’s Bike to Work Day
Between 2007 and 2008 bicycling in NYC leapt an amazing 35%. And looking at the streets it's easy to see why: bike lanes, racks & other amenities are popping up everywhere; it's practically a renaissance. There are now 185,000 daily riders on the streets.
Today, NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan was one of them, leading a commuter ride from [...] -
Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning!
It's Bike Month - which means there are scads of neophytes out there nationwide giving cycling a try. Oh goody! But, oh baddy - it also means more improper locking - and we all know there are predators just licking their chops at the thought of stealing all or part of your bike. So we [...]
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Portland: Bike Rush Hour on the Hawthorne Bridge
The first time you visit Portland, Oregon, the gaggles of cyclists streaming over the Hawthorne Bridge during rush hour is a sight you will never forget. It's something other cities need to see and be inspired by.
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L.A.’s Orange Line: Bus Rapid Transit (plus bike path!)
Who would have thought that one of the best Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in the U.S. would be in its most crowded, congested, sprawling city? Well check this out. It's really fabulous.
In October 2005, the Los Angeles County Metro Authority (or Metro) debuted a new 14-mile BRT system in the San Fernando Valley [...] -
Making a Better Market Street
Just about everyone who visits San Francisco's grand Market Street is awed by its hustle and bustle, the myriad modes of transportation, and some of the most beautiful architecture in the city. But just about everyone also agrees that Market Street has much bigger potential as a space that accommodates its users in more [...]
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L.A.’s East Hollywood ArtCycle & Block Party
The bike scene in Los Angeles is alive and well - and growing every day.
Streetfilms rode along with one of two ArtCycle tours of local studio spaces sponsored by the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council. Afterwards, we joined a block party in progress, arriving just in time to hear solid words of encouragement and promises [...] -
Earl Blumenauer talks transit, stimulus, bikes and Obama
Moments after he delivered the keynote address to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Oregon's Rep. Earl Blumenauer, head of the Congressional Bike Caucus, met with us for this exclusive one-on-one chat.
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Accomodating bike speeds by re-timing signals on Valencia Street
Streetfilms talked with bike commuters on Valencia Street about how re-timing traffic lights to a bike pace would greatly improve their trips.
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Streetsblog Comes to San Francisco
While on the West Coast in October for the Railvolution Conference, the announcement went out that San Francisco would become the third chapter in the Streetsblog sisterhood. Hip Hip Hooray!
On Halloween morning, yours truly was invited out to do the person-on-the-street gig at the final Gas-Free Friday event being held by the San Francisco [...] -
Rush Hour Bike Traffic on SF’s Market Street
I just scratched my head in amazement as I read of plans that the MTA board in San Francisco voted to eliminate a bike lane for cyclists along Market Street. Obviously those on the board need a video reminder to demo just how busy Market is with cyclists, so I decided to post some rush [...]
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Boulder Goes Bike Platinum
Add Boulder, Colorado to the League of American Bicyclists' cities to achieve Platinum Bike Status. This Fall, they were bestowed the nation's highest rank for U.S. cities and joined Portland, Oregon and Davis, California as the only three cities to have that honor.
I spent five days on a bike in Boulder in October and can [...] -
Cooking Up Bike Co-Ops in Los Angeles
I don't know if there is an official stat chart on bike co-ops/collectives in the United States, but certainly Los Angeles boasts more in one city then any I am immediately aware of.
So fresh from the oven we cooked up this dish of a Streetfilm from our West Coast swing. We were able to [...] -
SF Critical Mass Halloween 2008
On my recent West Coast Streetfilms swing, I got to jump into the San Francisco Critical Mass dressed as a "bee" (ironically my childhood nickname!) Although we don't often cover alot of critical mass here on our pages, I thought this one would be apropos since it promised to have up to [...]
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P.S. 76 Bike Rodeo
A Bronx elementary school implements a bike safety curriculum and celebrates its culmination with a good old-fashioned bike rodeo.
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Tour de Bronx 2008
An extremely frosty morning couldn't keep over 4,000 riders from taking in the Bronx alfresco in the 14th Annual version of the original classic. Despite being under the weather I was able to file a short report. As usual, it is one of the best things to look forward to yearly in NYC, [...]
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HOP, SKIP, and JUMP aboard a Boulder Bus
Welcome to an innovative way of thinking about transit: ask your passengers to design routes, let them name them, and decide the frequency in which they operate. That's what Boulder, Colorado does and they sure seem to have discovered the right way to make bus riding fun and enticing!
Boulder boasts seven high-frequency bus lines [...] -
Bike-Thru Window Banking – Boulder, Colorado
How's this for customer service? The Pueblo Bank & Trust in Boulder, Colorado has been providing bicycle customers a bike drive-thru window for some time now, complete with a bike rack and H2O for thirsty travelers!
Although this is the first bank I've heard about, in Portland, Oregon there are a number of cafes and [...] -
Contra-flow Bike Lane – Boulder, CO
Boulder, Colorado recently achieved the creme de la creme - Platinum bike status from the League of American Bicyclists so Streetfilms decided to pay the city a visit to get the scoop. Among the many bicycle amenities the city can boast, none spoke to us more than the contra-flow bicycle lane that runs three city [...]
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Summer Streets 2008 (NYC)
Feeling remarkably similar to Bogota's Ciclovia, the New York City Department of Transportation held its first Summer Streets event on Saturday by opening 7 miles of city streets to pedestrians and bike traffic only. From 7 AM to 1 PM, roads were car-free from 72nd Street to the Brooklyn Bridge along Park Avenue. It was splendiferous.
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Bike The Falls
Olaf Eliasson's "New York City Waterfalls" is installed along the East River in Lower Manhattan until mid-October. The fastest and most fun way to see all four waterfalls is by bike. The NYC DOT has produced a "Bike the Falls" guide, featuring a map of viewing points and written directions to ensure that seeing the [...]
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Queens Boulevard: Complete Street Campaign Rally
Last February, 22-year-old Asif Rahman was hit and killed by a truck while riding his bicycle on Queens Boulevard. Though the infamous "Boulevard of Death" is a lot safer than it used to be, it still produces far too many injuries. According to the chart below from crashstat.org before Queens Boulevard underwent some street redesign [...]
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How Bike Share Might Be?
It is a big week in Bike Share. Paris' velib program is turning one. The NYC DOT says it will test the bike sharing waters. And yesterday, the New York Bike-Share Project launched a five day bike share demonstration. It will wrap up Monday evening with a reception at City Bakery featuring DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan (and my Velib video will [...]
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Portland (Green) Bike Box!
Earlier this year, Portland's Office of Transportation installed many high visibility bike boxes that are colored lime green to help cyclist avoid right hook collisions. So while in Portland for the World Car-free Conference, we decided to have a little fun and publish a sequel to our very popular "How to Use a Bike Box".
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Portland’s Sunday Parkways
Despite a very dreary and damp first half of the day, Portland's first Ciclovia-style street closure, Sunday Parkways, was a smashing success with countless thousands of city residents participating. It was like a giant community block party with walkers, bikers, joggers, bladers, families, and pets filling the 6 mile course.
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Ciclovia (Express Version)
Since many cities around the world are now flirting with the idea of doing their own Ciclovia-style street closures, we have been asked by a few individuals and advocates for a shorter version of our Ciclovia film, which is helping push the debate from idea to reality in some places. And so we have [...]
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Tour de Queens 2008
Not even the heat and humidity of a 96 degree day could keep nearly 500 people from pedaling the inaugural Tour de Queens. The beautiful course - which hugged much of the northwest perimeter of the borough was put together by the Queens T.A. Committee and featured "lots of smiles per hour."
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Bike vs. Car vs. Transit
Transportation Alternatives held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge pitting cyclist, driver, and transit rider in the ultimate showdown of speed. In the end, the bike proved swiftest over the 4.5 mile course which began in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and ended in Manhattan's Union Square.
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Tour de Brooklyn 2008
Always a diverse funfest of people, the 4th Annual Tour de Brooklyn from Transportation Alternatives was no different this year with over 2,000 joining the cycling fun. This year's event was moved a week early to coincide with the anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday and launched from DUMBO. Among the highlights [...]
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National Bike To Work Day
The League of American Bicyclists started Bike-to-Work Day in 1956 as a part of National Bike-to-Work Week, which in some cities has turned into Bike Month. We had cameras in many cities so check out how Bike-to-Work Day 2008 went in Austin, San Francisco, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
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RAB Ladies Repair
Every Tuesday evening after Recycle-A-Bicycle closes, Susan Lindell teaches bike mechanics 101 to women.
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Snackin’ & Schwag for Cyclists in Queens
If it's Bike Month, then Transportation Alternatives must be hosting their annual commuter pit stops with help from NYC DOT and the five Boro President's offices. Yesterday, it was a Queens afternoon snack and we thought we'd take the pulse of cyclists departing the QBB as they got some rehydration and filled their packs with literature (and mega safety schwag!)
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Kicking-Off Bike Month
City Commissioners & Transportation Alternatives kick off bike month with ride down the 9th Avenue's protected bike lane.
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Hal (and Kerri) Grade Your Bike Locking
In our follow up to "Hal Grades Your Bike Locking," two experienced mechanics offer advice and grades on the bike locking ability of New Yorkers.
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Roller Race for Queens
The first Tour de Queens will take place June 8, 2008 and to raise money the Queens Committee hosted a fundraising Roller Race. Watch this video and find out what a roller race is.
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Lessons from Bogotá
In Part 3 of our Bogotá trilogy we look at Cyclepaths, Parks, and some of the great initiatives undertaken to make it a more livable city.
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NYC Bike Move!
It's possible to move by bike in NYC with a little moxie and help from your friends.
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From Tragedy to Advocacy: Mary Beth Kelly
Mary Beth Kelly's husband, Dr. Carl Henry Nacht, was killed while riding a bike, but it hasn't stopped her from doing something she enjoys nor fighting for safer streets.
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How to use a Bike Box
There are dozens of Bike Boxes popping up all over NYC, wanna find out how to use them?
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2007 NYC Street Memorial Ride & Walk
In 2007, 23 bicyclists and over 100 pedestrians died on NYC streets. The Street Memorial Project honors them.
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The Street Memorial Project (NYC)
A memorial is placed at sites to remind passerby where pedestrians were killed by cars.
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Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia
In Part 1 of our Bogotá trilogy watch as every Sunday & holiday, every week, the City of Bogotá, Colombia closes down over 70 miles of roadways to cars and let people bike, walk, talk, exercise, picnic, sunbathe, I could go on and on. Just watch the video, it's amazing.
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Cyclist(s) of the Month: The Neistat Brothers
The Neistat Brothers offer up anecdotes about their bicycling films and views about transportation in NYC in general.
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Clowns Liberate Bike Lanes
Bicycling clowns use humor to enlighten motorists parked in bike lanes.
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Clarence: The Purple Traffic Calming Wizard
The Purple Traffic Calming Wizard chats with the hoi polloi to find out what peeps think about the physically separated bike path on 9th Ave.
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Photos of the Tour de Bronx 2007
Photo montage of the Tour de Bronx.
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Tykes Take the Streets: Kids Art Bike Parade
Kids and parents put their adorned bikes on display in a ride down 2nd Avenue.
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In Davis’ Platinum City Even the Munchkins Ride Bikes
Davis, California is the only Platinum bike city in the U.S. Come see why.
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David Byrne Celebrates NYC Bicycling in Style
Last night, I was one of 1200 lucky ticket holders attending "How New Yorkers Ride Bikes" a David Byrne presentation at Town Hall as part of the 2007 New Yorker Festival. Stuffed with laughs, entertainment, and bicycle inspiration, it was hard not to be psyched about the current state of cycling in NYC. In fact, [...]
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Ninth Avenue Gets a Physically Separated Bike Lane
NYC is getting a separated bike lane. Pinch us! Pinch us!!
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LOOKing to Make Cycling Safer in NYC
New public safety initiative from the NYC DOT.
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T.A. Century 2007
Hitch a ride along Transportation Alternatives annual Century ride, one of the most enjoyable and friendly rides in the nation. Here is the 2007 campaign.
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Portland: Celebrating America’s Most Livable City
StreetFilms' 30 minute film on Portland, OR showing just a few of the ways it is one of the most livable cities in the U.S.
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Photos from a Platinum Bike City: Davis, CA
That's a bus shelter ad from Davis, CA - which according to the League of American Bicyclists is the only Platinum Bicycle city in the U.S. I was there this weekend and in a whirlwind visit and tried to document as much of the city and bike amenities as possible in 36 hours. I [...]
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Brooklyn Critical Mass: Feel the Love
In Brooklyn there is a monthly Critical Mass that has had no arrests or tickets issued for three years!
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Take a Virtual Tour of NYC’s First Chartreuse Bike Lane
It's a lime green bike lane...and we love it.
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Cyclist of the Month: Petra Kirstein
Meet Petra Kirstein a life-long bike commuter who rides each day from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to the Random House building at Columbus Circle in Manhattan including a stop at her son Magnus' daycare.
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Tour de Brooklyn 2007
The third annual Tour de Brooklyn 2007 attracted over 2,000 riders including new, New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
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Bike to Shea
Let's go Mets! Let's go bikes!
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T.A. Rides with the Mayors of Sydney & Copenhagen
Lord Mayor Clover Moore of Sydney, Australia and Copenhagen’s Mayor of the Technical & Environmental Administration Klaus Bondam ride bikes with Transportation Alternatives in a symbolic loop around Central Park.
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Why I Ride
Why do people ride? Ask them, they'll tell you.
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Future Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway
In the next few years, much of a 15-mile, Hudson River-style greenway will finally become reality along Brooklyn's shores, thanks largely to Brooklyn Greenway Initiative.
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Tour de Brooklyn 2006
Highlights from the 2006 Transportation Alternatives' Tour de Brooklyn.
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Cyclist of the Month: Pete Wagner
Pete Wagner a furniture maker from Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn gave up his car, bought a bike trailer and uses it to shuttle tools and
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David Byrne’s Bike STOLEN!
Sad news to report...David Byrne's bike has been taken by a cowardly thief!! Dang!
You may ask yourself, "Who would do such a thing?" Unfortunately, those of us in NYC know it is all too common. In fact if you've only had one bike stolen, consider yourself lucky.
Click here [...] -
Bike Move!
Meet members of Portland's warm and innovative bike community where dozens of folks regularly help others move their belongings to a new abode using nothing but bike power.
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Room To Breathe: NYC
Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) gathered a gaggle of cyclists on 42nd Street in Manhattan to stage a dramatic visual that shows how much street space is gained if more people rode bicycles or took mass transit instead of driving personal cars.
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T.A. Rides with Peñalosa & David Byrne!
The staff of Transportation Alternatives rides with Enrique Peñalosa & David Byrne to the "Manhattan on the Move" transportation conference.
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Physically Separated Bike Lanes
Physically separated bicycle paths exist in cities worldwide. This video explains what they are, how they work, and asks: "Why not here?"
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Tribute to Eric Ng
A memorial ride for Eric Ng, who was killed by a drunk driver on the West Side Highway Bike Path.
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Berkeley Bike Boulevards
In Berkeley, Calif. a citywide network of traffic calmed streets called Bicycle Boulevards allows bicyclists to navigate safely. They are marked by wonderful purple signage and street stencils larger than a car!
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Interview with Enrique Peñalosa
Former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa discusses his amazing success transforming Bogotá into a livable city for cyclists and pedestrians.
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Portland, Ore. – Older Adults Bike Program
Seniors in Portland ride three-wheeled trikes thanks to a program by the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT).
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Portland, Ore. – Bicycle Boulevards
Who needs bike lanes on wonderful streets like these when you keep traffic to a minimum?
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Portland, Ore. – Safe Routes to School
This Portland institution emphasizes using non-motorized means to get to school.
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Portland, Ore. – Innovative Bicycle Signal
This unique bike signal gives Portland cyclists the right of way!
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Interview with Enrique Peñalosa (Short Version)
As mayor of Bogota, Colombia, Enrique Penalosa accomplished remarkable changes of monumental proportions for the people of his country in just three years.
