The SunBreak » bikes

The B.C. in Victoria, B.C., Stands for Bike Canada

Michael van Baker — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:38:14 +0000

Your four basic options are these: The Seaside touring route, where you follow mostly quiet roads along the water (you'll be tempted to take that beachside multi-use path, but it's for foot traffic, no bikes), the Galloping Goose (which forks off into the Lochside Trail) and the Interurban Trail.

The Greenways are Coming! (to Beacon Hill and Ballard)

Michael van Baker — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:51:56 +0000

Wallingford had its greenway grand opening in mid-June, and now Beacon Hill and Ballard get to learn what all the traffic-calming excitement is about. Beacon Hill's open house is tonight, July 19, at Jefferson Community Center (3801 Beacon Avenue S) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Ballard's greenway-curious population will gather next Thursday, July 26, at Adams Elementary School (6110 28th Avenue NW), in the cafeteria.

Suddenly, E-Bikes are Everywhere You Look

Michael van Baker — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:55:22 +0000

Here in Seattle, most of your new-bike options are in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. Besides Electric Bikes Northwest, there's also Greenwood's Seattle Electric Bike, who sell OHM electric bicycles; Pioneer Square's Seattle E-Bike, who sell Prodeco when they're in stock; and Laurelhurst's Bicycle Center of Seattle, who have an electric bike department with a variety of brands.

The Surprising Truth About Bicycling in Seattle

Michael van Baker — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:00:12 +0000

Guess what the weather was like when 71 percent of all car-bicycle collisions took place? Clear or partly cloudy. Fourteen percent of collisions occurred when it was overcast. Only twelve percent when it was rainy. You just assume that the weather is bad, it's slippery, there'll be more accidents. But no. In Seattle, looking at the absolute numbers, high season for bicycle-related accidents for the past five years are the months May through September, with April and October as the shoulders.

The Real Meaning of Bike to Work Day

Michael van Baker — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:40:11 +0000

Still, to answer Westneat's question about the bitterness, read Tom Fucoloro on how much fun it is to ride a bike. I think Fucoloro's attitude is spot on--he highlights the individual pleasures (and sense of accomplishment) that making this decision brings, and leaves the social benefits to the side. Very few people ride a bike, really, primarily to fight traffic congestion. They ride because it makes sense to them, because it's faster and more convenient, because it's fun, because they've figured out a safe way to commute, because they like the exercise, because their friends ride...and on and on.