Davis, California and the bicycle...twas not ever thus.
 

I've seen Davis mentioned at least twice here recently.

Here is a very interesting link to the history of biking as transportation
in Davis since about the 60's........from the Davis Wiki.

Lotsa photos.....:p

http://daviswiki.org/Bicycle_History_Presentation/Full

http://daviswiki.org/Bicycle_History...rue&file=1.JPG

Go and visit... see it for yourself.

Those of us who were there when it happened never thought to record what we had for posterity. Criminy, there aren't even any pictures around of what we had; we just took it for granted. Unfortunately, the few people who have tried to dig up a bit of what was going on have failed miserably. Just imagine looking down the street and seeing three thousand bikes being ridden and not a single car. Now walk or ride on over to a car parking lot; you will notice that it is nearly empty. Those were typical daily scenes when Davis was rightly called the bike capital of the world.

My heart broke as I watched Davis become just another car-town. Many days I would see more cyclists in West Sacramento on my commute than I saw in Davis during the dark days of the '90s. But, it is rising again. There are early signs that the darkness is passing as a few more folks get back on their bikes. I hope to live long enough to see a return to the glory days.

Is this addressed to me? If so, needless advice. I put this up
because a trip over there today for something else reminded me of it.

If addressed to others, it is difficult to envision fifty years of history
in a visit, don'tcha think ?

The greatest risks to advocacy are often success....i think maybe
he says that in the presentation. Certainly it worked that way with
anti -war stuff.

If you really want to hit bottom (and who doesn't:D), cruise around and
check out the Davis bike shops that remain. I was particularly amused
(and taken with) something called the Davis Bike Exchange in the strip
mall next to Aggie Liquors at 5th and L. As I wandered around in there
looking at row upon row of rusty Schwinns, i kept hearing "Dueling Banjos"
bouncing around in my head.:twitchy:

Wheelworks is, as closely as I can tell, 100% carbon fiber, low spoke,
speed racer bikes; and there was another place on 2nd, i think, that
sells some reasonably serviceable newer stuff. The used market, other
than the aforementioned "Deliverance" bike shop and the bike collective,
has migrated to Craigslist.......which I presume is the case everywhere
now.

But yeah, still many, many autos......mine included.:o Hey, at least
mine's electric.:lol: