Volume 1, Issue 14 – October 23, 2002

Volume 1, Issue 14 – October 23, 2002

“A Newsletter Published by Bike Pittsburgh to Promote Bicycle Safety and Awareness.”

In This Issue:

* Critical Masquerade
* Film Student Needed!
* Big Hopes for Commuting by Bike
* Become A Full Member!

CRITICAL MASQUERADE

Looking for a great Halloween-themed ride? Pittsburgh Critical Mass’ monthly ride will feature cyclists in costumes! Critical Mass rides occur on the last Friday of every month. Meeting place is at the dinosaur outside of the Carnegie Science Museum in Oakland. Meeting time is 5:30.

If you plan to ride in costume, please remember to keep all loose clothing from becoming caught in your chain. If you’re wearing a mask, be sure that you can adequately see the road and move your head to see all directions. For more information about Pittsburgh Critical Mass, see the link in the Events & Activities section of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

Event Day: Friday, October 25th
Event Location: Carniegie Science Museum, Oakland – By the Dinosaur
Event Time: 5:30pm
Cost: $FREE

FILM STUDENT NEEDED!

Bike Pittsburgh is looking for a Film Student that can help produce a video that will be made available to people who are interested in commuting to work. If you know someone who would be willing to donate their time and equipment (Bike Pittsburgh would cover any expenses) to this project, please contact David Hoffman (david@Bike-Pgh.org). Please forward this request to anyone that might be interested.

BIG HOPES FOR COMMUTING BY BIKE

By JOHN MARKOFF, (originally published in the New York Times)

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 7 – For decades the bicycle industry has drawn its inspiration from the racing world. But this year the stars of the industry’s annual trade show, the International Bicycle Expo held here this week, were closer in spirit to Volkswagens than Ferraris.

Seeking to ignite growth with products appealing to more than the athletic and aggressively outdoorsy, the nation’s bicycle makers are exploring the commuter bike. The idea is to provide an inexpensive and comfortable bicycle that comes with all the essentials – lights, locks, suspension, fenders and even a bell – necessary for getting to work and back.

The $4.2 billion American bicycle industry also senses a market opportunity in the continued sluggish, travel-compromised economy. “People aren’t traveling by airplanes and they’re staying closer to home, and that’s probably good for the bicycle industry,” said Marc Sani, publisher of Bicycle Retailer.

Already, bicycles that are designed to be more accessible to non-skilled riders are the industry’s fastest-growing category. These so-called “comfort” bicycles grew to 20.8 percent of the estimated 17 million bicycles sold in the United States last year. That was up from 13.6 percent in 2000, according to statistics from the National Bicycle Dealers Association.

Now the industry is hoping that the market is ready for a true everyday transportation or commuting bicycle. “I think support for this kind of bike is growing,” said Mike Sinyard, founder and owner of Specialized, one of the nation’s largest bicycle manufacturers.

Several years ago Specialized tested the commuter-bike idea in the United States with a European-inspired Globe Voyager, a bike that came with a rack, chain guards, lights and fenders – the sorts of accessories that racing cyclists abhor as encumbrances. Specialized plans to introduce a production-line bike similar in concept to the test model, according to several industry executives.

Joe Breeze, one of the inventors of the recreational mountain bike during the 1970’s that is now the industry’s most popular product, demonstrated a new line of bikes, the Breezer, at this year’s show. The response, he said, is an indication the bicycle industry is reawakening to cycling as basic transportation.

“It feels similar to the way the mountain bike was received 20 years ago,” he said. The Breezer is produced by the SimpliCity Cycle Company, based in Fairfax, Calif., which Mr. Breeze co-founded in an effort to help cycling gain the kind of acceptance it has long had in Europe and Asia, but not in the automobile-oriented United States. “The bike has been more like a recreational thing in the United States and not tied to daily life,” he said.

Mr. Breeze said Americans were still far from the European view of the bicycle as basic transportation. But he said he was optimistic because the bicycle industry has begun to act more effectively as a lobbying force. Much of the industry lobbying focus is on the renewal of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21, which is expected to come up for a vote next year. The industry’s wish list includes financing for bike routes and for roadway renovations to make commuting by bicycle more practical.

Although Republican administrations have not traditionally supported bicycle activists, the industry advocates point out that President Bush is friendly with Lance Armstrong, the star American cyclist who has won the Tour de France four consecutive times. Yet, even with federal support, bicycling would require more accessible bikes if wider segments of the public are to embrace them.

“It’s a chicken-and-egg thing,” said Ray Keener, a bicycle industry consultant who works with Bikes Belong, an industry lobbying group. “Until now the advocacy groups have been frustrated that the industry hasn’t been ready.”

The industry has been slow to recognize the commuter market because many of today’s executive decision makers and designers are former racers, according to Felix Magowan, president of Inside Communications, which publishes VeloNews, a cycling newspaper. “Racing bikes and mountain bikes are great,” he said. “But it’s like using your downhill skis to go to work.” That is why start-ups like Mr. Breeze’s are noteworthy. So is the new interest in adult-friendly bikes by large makers like Giant Bicycles, a Taiwanese manufacturer.

Giant coined the term sport utility bicycle, or SUB, last year to describe a new line of bikes that went beyond the comfort category, which had previously been aimed at baby boomers who shied away from mountain bikes and racing cycles. Now the category is expanding to those who consider themselves youthful at heart, if not necessarily young of seat.

At the expo, Giant introduced the Revive, a bicycle that features an adjustable wheelbase and a back support, and is a kindred spirit to th increasingly popular recumbent bicycles that the industry has been making in growing numbers in recent years.

“A lot of baby boomers want the ultimate in comfort if they’re going to get back on a bicycle,” said Dean Bradley, a Giant product manager. “People tell us, `My back hurts, my neck hurts, I’m too tall, or I don’t like swinging my leg over the bar,’ ” he said. “We’re trying to take away all the excuses.”

BECOME A FULL MEMBER!

Chances are, if you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve been out to the Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. site and liked what you saw. Please consider becoming a Full Member with Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. Your support will help us to achieve our goal of making Pittsburgh a better, safer place to bike.

Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. now offers two levels of Membership – Associate Membership, and Full Membership. The fact that you’re on our mailing list indicates that you’re already an Associate Member. Associate Members will continue to receive The Spokesman – Bike Pittsburgh’s email newsletter, and will have full access to the Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. website.

Full Membership tells us that you’re committed to our mission! Just like Public Television or Public Radio, Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. relies in part on your contributions to help us carry out programs designed to make Pittsburgh a better, safer place to bike. We ask that you consider making a contribution of $12 (renews annually) – this is the minimum amount required to become a Full Member. Of course, contributions smaller (or larger!) than $12 are gratefully accepted. (Contributions less than $12 are not eligible for Full Membership). In return for your contribution, Full Members will receive the following benefits in addition The Spokesman:

* The right to vote in Board elections and on decisions put out to the Membership by Bike Pittsburgh, Inc.’s Board of Directors.
* A Membership Card (we’re working with local merchants to offer extra perks for card-carrying Members). We’ll be publishing an initial list on the site and through The Spokesman, shortly.
* A letter acknowledging your gift to Bike Pittsburgh, Inc.
* The satisfaction of knowing that your contribution will be put to work.

Your contribution will go towards funding activities such as promoting “Share The Road” campaigns, distribution of free bicycle helmets, or purchase of public bike racks or bike lockers. Simply visit the www.Bike-Pgh.org website and click on the Become A Member! section for Membership Form and contribution instructions.

Bike Pittsburgh, Inc., a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, will be applying for recognition as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Recognition of 501(c)(3) status by the IRS is generally retroactive to the date the organization was formed, which means that contributions made prior to recognition of 501(c)(3) status will be considered tax deductible upon recognition of such status.

“The Spokesman” is an occasional newsletter of Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. does not rent, sell, or make available any personal information, including email addresses, that you may send to Bike Pittsburgh. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, simply email: remove@bike-pgh.org and request to be removed.payday hour 24 loan$2,600 personal loanloans acsagricultural loansloan 401kacs loanloan jumbo alaskarefinance mortgage alabama loan Map

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