bikes

Stateside Cycling Stories

Photo by swanksalot (yes, that's correct)

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 game to try next.

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

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

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

Hopefully this approximation doesn't cross the river.

South Carolina passed extended awaited laws related to cycling. It's now illegal to exasperate a cyclist. I guess it's even more illegal than it used 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 land when it comes to cycling fatalities, a horrible record. It saddened me when my county paper, the Post & Courier, printed this version on Monday and many hateful comments from readers were posted.

Washington DC's bike allotment program is getting attention from the Wall Avenue Journal

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

Read more...