The Cycling Dude

Is Audi Anti-Bicycle in its Latest Commercial?

Automobile Manufacturer Audi has come out with a new commercial for one of its new cars, called Audi A3 TDI - Do Your Part, and it takes a slap at Bicyclists that is far from funny, and is rather insulting, and offensive.

I have a peculiar sense of humor, and write humor, and poetry, about bicycling, and plan to include humor in my own future efforts on YouTube, but this commerical is not funny at all.

The commercial doesn't have a specific target audience, to me, anyway, unless you consider the piece to be an attempt to coax people to quit riding their bikes, and "get back in the damn car, already!".

And they are supposed to do this why? The new car is powered by Vegetable Oil!

They just insulted not just Cyclists, but Environmentalists, too.

 The commercial has an anouncer condescendingly intoning that "Many people are trying to do their part. . ."  as we see some unhappy Bike Commuter getting jostled by strangers on a crowded bus; a frightend cyclist in a suit trying to avoid a car as rain pours down around him; and some goofball on a Segway trying to remember the ineffective lessons he must have just been given, as he rides a sidewalk.

The Commuter is obviously an Immigrant, possibly of Middle Eastern Descent.

Talk about stereotype! Yes, minorities combine bus, and bike, to commute, but so do I, and other Middle Class people, and as well as people who make far more than we do!

And, besides riding the bus is not the horror they try to make it out to be.

As for the guy in the rain...No-one I know is that stupid, or desperate.

With all sorts of clothing to wear in the rain available, there is no excuse to do so if you simply MUST ride in the rain (Hell, even I've pedaled my bike with one hand steering, and one holding an Umbrella!).

Of course the smart thing when it rains, or snows, as everyone knows, is to leave the bike at home, and take the bus, or commuter train! ;-D

I WILL concede, though, that some Segway users are just like this one, and should be given plenty of space...hee, hee! ;-D

People like David Fiedler, of the About Bicycles site, are not amused by this commercial.

As he writes:

"Har har, Audi. That's rich. Guess what? You just insulted the groups of people most likely to be concerned about the environment and respond to a clean diesel ad by factoring it into their car buying decision.

I ride my bike to work daily, endorse mass transit AND have two cars that will need replacing in the next two years. Audi is not going to be a choice for either new vehicle,thanks to this terrible commercial."

I agree with him that it makes it seem like Bicycle Commuting is weird, unpleasant, dorky, and dangerous.

What a bunch of ignorant BS!

Watch the video.

Columbia, Missouri Becoming More Bicycle Friendly

Parade Magazine has a great article on cycling improvements in Columbia, led by the town’s 76 year old mayor, a survivor of both esophageal and prostate cancer.

It seems that the Federal Highway Administration has launched a pilot program aiming to make roads safer and more enjoyable, and $22.5 million each, has been allocated to Columbia, and 3 other cities across the country, to make them more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.

Among the things this wide-ranging article on cycling improvement efforts across the country mentions about Columbia:

1. The mayor recently ordered concrete bike paths alongside Columbia’s streets, rejiggered major intersections for bike safety, and turned existing residential streets into “bike boulevards” with painted bike lanes and obstacles to slow down cars.

2. A city-sponsored cycling-safety class.

3. Hindman’s next goal is to connect every neighborhood to a bike path.

The guy rides his bike 60 miles a week! 

Read the whole article: A Free-Wheeling City.

Google Search Proves Schrader vs. Presta Cycling Debate DOES Rage On

Recently David Fiedler, of David's Bicycling Blog, on About.com: Bicycling, declared that the title of his post was a joke because "there's no huge debate that I'm aware of between fanatical factions of Presta patriots and Schrader supporters" whle at the same time advising his readers that "it's good for you to know the difference in case you haven't been exposed to one kind or another."

His short piece then explains the difference, and suggesting several great online resources about the valves, and about Bicycle tires.

Read: Schrader vs. Presta: The Debate Rages On.

I decided to test his claim with a series of simple Google Searches. ;-D

schrader vs presta = 2,610,000 results.

presta vs schrader = 65,000 results.

schrader vs presta valves = 399,000 results.

presta vs schrader valves = 32,000 results.

schrader vs presta tubes = 637,000 results

presta vs schrader tubes = 31,800 results.

schrader vs presta tires = 409,000 results.

presta vs schrader tires = 42,500 results.

Raging Debate, no Raging Debate, or just a minor disagreement, and half-hearted debate, and discussion?

The Cycling Dude reports...you decide! ;-D 

It's a Hot Time on the Old Bike Commute

Anyone know when Summer will officially end?

I do 5 miles a day as part of my commute to work, from Santa Ana to Long Beach, all of it in LB, in 100 degree afternoon heat.

The late night return 5 miles, is in 85 degree heat.

What's the old saying?

What doesn't kill you, is good for you? ;-D

Shaolin Warrior Sighted on Ventura Bicycle Trails

Stefan Verstappen  is a writer, artist, world traveler, martial artist, and martial arts instructor.

2 of his books are:

Little Warriors, about Children's Street Safety.

 

Blind Zen =  A Case Study of Sensory Enhancement for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

He's also an avid bicyclist.

In 2007 he made a wonderful 8+ min. video about bicycling in the Ventura area, and also took some great photos as well.

As readers of this blog know Ventura has miles of cycling trails.

Stefans video travels along the Ventura Beach Trail, Ventura River Trail, Emma Wood Beach Single Track, and on the beach sand itself.

His Essay on riding the Ventura River Trail, to Foster Park, includes 15 beautiful photos.

Read the story, and watch the video: Shaolin Mountain Bike Warrior

 

Blog Posts About Segways, and the Smell of Apathy Bring Great Comments

A couple of weeks ago I wrote two stories that reader Randy Eady found a way to connect together with his comments:

In an earlier Cycling Dude Post on Segways in Huntington Beach I mentioned one community/urban mobility planning tool called the Green Transportation Hierarchy. (A graphic depiction of the priority of consideration in governmental planning for various modes of transportation, walking first as the most green form, followed by cycling, transit, delivery vehicles, taxis, and finally SOV (single-occupant vehicles).

This tool consistently rubs against a cultural imperative that relates to automobile-reliant urban transportation and the challenge of incorporating eco-sustainable lifestyle choices.

Read the complete comments:

Segways in Downtown Huntington Beach? (As of this writing no word any new decisions about this issue.)

Does Apathy Smell, and What Does That Have to Do With Bicycling?

So Easy A 3 year Old Can Do It!

I first wrote about Randy Eady, and the wonderful Glider Rider Bike for 3 to 5 year old kids, back in December 2006.

Randy has now sent me link 2 videos from a very satisfied American Father, and son. ;-D

Meet 3 yr. old Jefferson!

Video 1

Video 2

4 yr. old Jefferson graduates to a bike with Pedals, and not a training wheel in sight! = A quick learner indeed! ;-D

According to the Father... thanks to the Glider Rider, the pair ride now 5 miles together regularly, and really enjoy the shared experience.

In the 60's, when I was 3, I was still on a Tricycle, and by age 5, or 6, was on a bike with Training Wheels.

My, how the times, technology, and thinking, have changed. ;-D

Honoring the Victims of 9/11 by Keeping Their Memory Alive Through Cycling Events

The Tour de Force's dual mission is to honor the victims of 9/11 by keeping their memory alive through cycling events and to raise funds, to benefit the families of police officers, who were killed in the line of duty, each year, nationwide, making the ultimate sacrifice.

Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride, and website...Since 2002.

George, George, George on Your Bicycle, Look Out for That...Ohhh!... Door!

BU Bikes, the Cycling Advocacy Blog at Boston University, has a photo of the aftermath of a Dooring, and a link to an excellent Back to School Bike Guide, by Boston Biker.

Read: Watch out for those doors!

Clearly the Motorist, in this case was wrong, but Bike Lanes to the left of where cars ARE allowed to park are not my favorite places to ride.

I despise painted Bike Lanes to the left of where parked cars are allowed because the open car door enters completely in the path of a cyclist in that lane.

In Long Beach, Ca., where i commute, everyday, everyone is oh so proud of 2 stretches of Bike Lanes on 2nd Street, and one on 1st, that I travel on with extreme caution.

The 1st part of the 2nd St. route is painted green, through a business district where cars park along the curb.

The 2nd 2nd St. section, and the 1st St. section, go thru a residential area where the parked cars are parked diagonally, and the drivers have to back-up to leave their space, and thus enter the bike lane.

On those 2 sections the cyclist also has to deal with the occasional cyclist riding the wrong way, ignoring the arrows, and the fact that the streets are one-way streets for all users!

Sharing the Road in Iowa Leads to Competing Initiatives, and Heated Debate

1. A program dubbed "complete streets" that aims to focus on cyclists and pedestrians rather than only motorists is being considered in Des Moines, and has not been fully embraced by the public.

2. Leaders of something called the Metro Advisory Council are exploring approval of a regional ordinance that could include elements of certain protections for cyclists that failed to pass in the Iowa Legislature earlier this year. 

It was a bill that would have expanded required passing and following distances..

3. A group called Citizens for Safety Coalition of Iowa wants to prohibit bicycles on farm-to-market roads, which include paved county roads and some of the more heavily traveled gravel roads.

Read more here: Des Moines' bike talks echo Iowa's

Doing a Google for Citizens for Safety Coalition of Iowa will bring up some interesting news stories, and Blog postings, on the whole debate. ;-D