TRAFFIX is an alternative transportation promotion service from Hampton Roads Transit in Virginia. They have a series of cute TV and radio spots about Single Occupant Vehicle Disorder. I like the second TV ad the best.
Via Urban Places.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Remote control bike brakes
The Bike Stoppa is billed as a safety device to enable parents to apply brakes to their children's bicycle. All I can see are some wonderful practical joke applications, but that's just me. It's Monday, so I'll avoid ranting about the ridiculous safety concerns about this device and let you have at it instead.
Hat's off to Carlton, who said he would mention it on today's edition of The Spokesmen Cycling podcast. Carlton will also mention the 20th birthday of Mountain Biking UK this month. Carlton has written for Mountain Biking UK since issue #2. In the fat anniversary issue there's a big Hall of Fame article where luminaries such Gary Fisher, Mike Sinyard, John Tomac, and a load of Brits -- including Carlton -- are mentioned. A big congrats to Carlton!
You can see a boyish Carlton as he was in 1994 in this video demonstrating leg waxing.
Back to those bike brakes: What do you think of them? Useful? A lawsuit waiting to happen? A product only for overly protective parents? Or a fantastic practical joke?
Hat's off to Carlton, who said he would mention it on today's edition of The Spokesmen Cycling podcast. Carlton will also mention the 20th birthday of Mountain Biking UK this month. Carlton has written for Mountain Biking UK since issue #2. In the fat anniversary issue there's a big Hall of Fame article where luminaries such Gary Fisher, Mike Sinyard, John Tomac, and a load of Brits -- including Carlton -- are mentioned. A big congrats to Carlton!
You can see a boyish Carlton as he was in 1994 in this video demonstrating leg waxing.
Back to those bike brakes: What do you think of them? Useful? A lawsuit waiting to happen? A product only for overly protective parents? Or a fantastic practical joke?
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thien's DIY tire patch kit
See detailed step by step instructions with even more photographs over at Spare Cycles. Writes Ken, "I plan on undercutting him by offering a $1 kit -- $2 for double strength."
To Ken and Thien -- I won't be able to make next Tuesday. I have something to do with my wife that evening. I blew off last Tuesday; if I do it again she will shoot me.
Friday, May 30, 2008
San Francisco bicyclist survey
If you're an involved cyclist in San Francisco, you no doubt already know of this survey.
The San Francisco Senior Action Network is conducting a survey to understand why cyclists ride on the sidewalk in San Francisco. Sidewalk cyclists who have taken the survey so far say they would avoid the sidewalk if more bike lanes were available, if traffic laws were better enforced, and if there were a separate set of traffic laws for cyclists. In a pedestrian survey, 10% of pedestrians answering the survey indicate they have been hit by a cyclist on the sidewalk in the last two years.
If you're a cyclist in San Francisco, you can take the sidewalk cyclist survey here.
The San Francisco Senior Action Network is conducting a survey to understand why cyclists ride on the sidewalk in San Francisco. Sidewalk cyclists who have taken the survey so far say they would avoid the sidewalk if more bike lanes were available, if traffic laws were better enforced, and if there were a separate set of traffic laws for cyclists. In a pedestrian survey, 10% of pedestrians answering the survey indicate they have been hit by a cyclist on the sidewalk in the last two years.
If you're a cyclist in San Francisco, you can take the sidewalk cyclist survey here.
The annual car vs bike vs transit challenge
Transportation Alternatives in New York City held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge yesterday. Streetfilms had cameras on each of the car driver, cyclist and public transit user and Elizabeth Press stayed up all night to create the video of the challenge in less than 24 hours!
More here.
More here.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Export Land Model
The Wall Street Journal does a good job covering the big reason that oil prices have risen so dramatically over the past year: exports fell 2.5% last year in spite of a 57% increase in prices. The conventional wisdom is that higher prices always lead to technological improvements and more investment. This drop in exports "defies traditional market logic," according to the article.
One of the big factors in decreased exports mentioned in the WSJ article is what geologist Jeffrey Brown calls the "Export Land Model." Picture an oil producing country -- "ExportLand" -- that produces two millions barrels of oil per day. It keeps one million for domestic use and exports the remaining one million to the United States at $50 per barrel. As prices rise to $100 per barrel and more, all of that American cash flowing in to ExportLand leads to more consumption, bigger houses, more roads, more SUVs to drive on those roads, suburbs, big box outlet stores, yachts and private jets. This results in more domestic consumption in Exportland, which in turn results in a drop off in exports.
ExportLand has a finite quantity of oil, so that two million barrels per day production is declining over time. In the real world example of Mexico, production dropped a dramatic 15% from 2006 to 2007 while domestic consumption increased. Similar things are happening in Norway, Russian, Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East.
Another real world example is the United Kingdom, which went from a major supplier to a net importer in only six years. One time exporter Indonesia became a net importer. Mexico is expected to become a net importer within five years. Even Iran -- the world's fourth largest oil producer -- is expected to become a net importer in a few years.
The question to ask yourself: When all of the large oil exporters become oil importers, who will they import the oil from?
"The sense in the market is that peak oil is here and that things will only get worse," says Lehman Brothers oil analyst Adam Robinson. He continues, "the verdict is still out on that," because of ultra deep water drilling planned off the coasts of Brazil, Australia, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Going for the difficult oil that's only profitable when oil is above $100 per barrel is, of course, part of the very definition of Peak Oil -- when the easy stuff is gone, you must spend more time, effort, resources and money in squeezing the last little bit that's left in the sponge.
Read more in the WSJ. The article explains things fairly well, IMO. Thanks to Jack in STL for the heads up on this.
One of the big factors in decreased exports mentioned in the WSJ article is what geologist Jeffrey Brown calls the "Export Land Model." Picture an oil producing country -- "ExportLand" -- that produces two millions barrels of oil per day. It keeps one million for domestic use and exports the remaining one million to the United States at $50 per barrel. As prices rise to $100 per barrel and more, all of that American cash flowing in to ExportLand leads to more consumption, bigger houses, more roads, more SUVs to drive on those roads, suburbs, big box outlet stores, yachts and private jets. This results in more domestic consumption in Exportland, which in turn results in a drop off in exports.
ExportLand has a finite quantity of oil, so that two million barrels per day production is declining over time. In the real world example of Mexico, production dropped a dramatic 15% from 2006 to 2007 while domestic consumption increased. Similar things are happening in Norway, Russian, Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East.
Another real world example is the United Kingdom, which went from a major supplier to a net importer in only six years. One time exporter Indonesia became a net importer. Mexico is expected to become a net importer within five years. Even Iran -- the world's fourth largest oil producer -- is expected to become a net importer in a few years.
The question to ask yourself: When all of the large oil exporters become oil importers, who will they import the oil from?
"The sense in the market is that peak oil is here and that things will only get worse," says Lehman Brothers oil analyst Adam Robinson. He continues, "the verdict is still out on that," because of ultra deep water drilling planned off the coasts of Brazil, Australia, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Going for the difficult oil that's only profitable when oil is above $100 per barrel is, of course, part of the very definition of Peak Oil -- when the easy stuff is gone, you must spend more time, effort, resources and money in squeezing the last little bit that's left in the sponge.
Read more in the WSJ. The article explains things fairly well, IMO. Thanks to Jack in STL for the heads up on this.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Orange bikes take Manhattan
Do you remember the DKNY orange bikes of fashion week? A short film by Kalim Armstrong documents the backlash to DKNY's ad campaign. "Orange Bikes Take Manhattan" screens this Friday at the Bicycle Film Festival in NYC. Here's the trailer.
Orange Bikes Take Manhattan - Bicycle Film Festival 2008
Friday May 30th 7pm
ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
32 2nd Ave. at 2nd St.
Orange bikes documents the reaction to a guerrilla marketing campaign during fashion week. Orange monochromatic bicycles appeared chained as part of DKNY's "Explore your city" campaign. The bikes were reminiscent of the Ghost Bike memorial project, white painted bikes that serve as markers where cyclists have died in traffic accidents. This film explores the backlash to the marketing campaign.
Orange Bikes Take Manhattan - Bicycle Film Festival 2008
Friday May 30th 7pm
ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
32 2nd Ave. at 2nd St.
Orange bikes documents the reaction to a guerrilla marketing campaign during fashion week. Orange monochromatic bicycles appeared chained as part of DKNY's "Explore your city" campaign. The bikes were reminiscent of the Ghost Bike memorial project, white painted bikes that serve as markers where cyclists have died in traffic accidents. This film explores the backlash to the marketing campaign.
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