Seats

Stateside Cycling Stories

Photo by swanksalot (yes, that's hand)

It's Independence Day in the USA, so let's have a look at what cyclists down there are doing. Looking south once in a while (at least once a year) can give hints as to what ideas our politicians might be acquiescent to try next.

Detroit is going to start licensing bikes (not the cyclists)

Bicycle owners will pay a $1 fee per bike, to welcome a registration number, which can be placed on the bike. The license will be valid for five years.

Officials said enforcement will carry on relaxed until Aug. 4, to allow bicycle owners the moment to register their bikes without penalty.

Hopefully this reason doesn't cross the river.

South Carolina passed yearn awaited laws related to cycling. It's now illicit to harass a cyclist. I guess it's even more illegal than it toughened to be. There are now details in the law about throwing things at a cyclist or yelling at a cyclist. Explaining why these laws are needed is Dave Moulton's Bike Blog:

South Carolina is unfortunately seventh in the domain when it comes to cycling fatalities, a horrible document. It saddened me when my local paper, the Post & Courier, printed this information on Monday and many hateful comments from readers were posted.

Washington DC's bike stake program is getting attention from the Wall Roadway Journal

The idea is simple: Cities set up lots of “stations” with hundreds or thousands of touchstone-issue, three-speed bikes around a city. Registered users catch hold of a bike, swipe a card, dodge traffic jams and spiraling gas prices, and rusticate off the bike at another station—all for a modest fee. Outdoor advertising deals with third-social gathering companies help finance the whole project.

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