News

Bicycling Is Good for the Economy

Bicycling brings in big bucks for Wisconsin – $1.5 billion USD a year – according to a new study by University of Wisconsin graduate students. This comprehensive report examines both the consumer end (purchase of trail passes, bicycle maintenance, etc.) and the impact of the bicycle industry in the state (a number of major bicycling companies including Planet Bike, SRAM and Trek are based in Wisconsin). The total economic impact is far greater than previously estimated by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and even exceeds the impact of the deer hunting industry in the state.

TIGER Grants Add Bike Routes to US Cities

Bicycling received a hefty boost in several communities thanks to the recently awarded Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants issued by the US Department of Transportation; 24 of the 51 grants include bicycling and walking components. Philadelphia and Indianapolis were among the biggest winners, receiving more than $43 million USD to complete their non-motorized networks. TIGER grant funding is part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which has contributed $405 million USD to job-creating green infrastructure projects. Learn more at americabikes.org.

Toronto Still Waiting on Public Bike Program

Toronto citizens looking forward to a new public bike share system will have to wait. According to the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, recent media reports indicate the proposed spring 2010 launch of the Public Bicycle System Company (BIXI) bicycle sharing is now stalled. The bike sharing system, authorized by Toronto City Council in May 2009, would station hundreds of bikes throughout the downtown core for public use. To help get this program back on track, visit the Toronto Cyclists Union.

From Parking Spots to Parks

San Francisco is making every day PARK(ing) Day. The popular event that temporarily transforms car parking spaces into public plazas is gaining ground and becoming permanent in some places. Earlier this year, Mayor Gavin Newsom celebrated the official opening of the “Showplace Triangle” street plaza at 8th and 16th streets, and announced the city will complete 12 more trial “parklets” by the end of 2010. The new street plazas are part of the city’s Pavement to Parks Program, which the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition calls “a wonderful incubator initiative for trialing innovative street reprogramming on a shoe string budget.” For more info see sfbike.org.

Google Unveils Biking Maps

A widely circulated petition to Google to include biking routes as part of their map application has paid off. The innovative technology company recently unveiled the new biking directions feature for Google Maps. The new application recommends the best biking route using an algorithm developed by Google. The formula results in turn-by-turn directions that help cyclists avoid places, such as steep hills, and puts them on trails and bike lanes whenever possible. The beta version includes detailed map data for 150 cities and 12,000 miles (19,312 kilometers) of trail data supplied by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Check out the new mapping tools and map your next bike ride.