A Threat to the Hegemony of Folders for Multi-Modal Commuting?
 

here's an article about Paris' effort to boost bicycling - http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0706/p01s06-woeu.html

my hope is that dramatically more bikes might mean significantly more accommodation by cardrivers, and therefore greater safety for bicyclists, and therefore more people biking (possibly with folders to avoid having to ride a 50 pound bike) in a limited but virtuous cycle.

i wonder how explicitly all these urban programs (like NYC's congestion pricing proposal) are connected to spreading local awareness of the approach of peak oil.

Paris, unfortunately, is not in the U.S. How's the Portland bike program going?

As far as folders everywhere, I like the fact that that is not the case around here. It's easier for me to bring mine to most places and not get hassled by anyone. If more were around, there'd be specific policies written about folding bikes, and that would make us lose our current advantage.

Uprights don't have to be 50lbs, just comfortable enough so that people will want to ride them. Electric motors would help some to ride, but battery technology has to get MUCH better than it is now in terms of battery life and weight, perhaps on par with the efficiency (minus the weight) of scooter engines (i.e. 150-200mpg). For others, stability is key, so upright trikes (and even tadpoles and deltas) need to be refined. Lastly, lock technology has to get better. Doesn't matter if you have a cool bike but are always scared it's going to get ripped off or molested if you take it anywhere. Did you see those recent pics in the Swift thread of someone's new Swift that has a purposely messed up paint job to make it look less desirable to thieves? One should never have to do anything like that.

Hah, your hope coincides with science ;) There's a strong statistical correlation between more cyclists on the road and lower rates of cyclist injury. As to what it takes to get a "virtuous cycle going" - I don't know. I recently read an article that suggested this might happen when 10% of all journeys are done by bike. If so, most places in the US have some way to go. I think that number might be somewhat pessimistic - here in San Francisco I believe bikes account for <4% of all trips, but it seems to me that there are more cyclists all the time and car drivers are fairly accommodating. But then the SF bike coalition has done a great job of raising awareness & putting political pressure on over the last several decades.

Anyway, I guess the implications are - join your local bike coalition, and get out and ride! 50% of journeys in the US are less than 3 miles, so that's really low hanging fruit...

I agree with spambait. I have an old fashioned 3 speed Euro-English made bike dating from the 1960s. Even that bike is in danger of being stolen since it is in ridable condition (has handlebars, saddle, wheels and pedals) and makes it very attractive to most type of bike thieves. I gave up with locks-that does not stop anyone from trying and damaging the bike. My folding bikes are more easy to slip into stores or anywhere else since there is no one else with one around here until a few months ago. Unfortunally for me, someone did purchased a cheap folder recently around here. Before that, I was able to pass the smaller wheeled bikes as "kid bikes." And I am suprised that you did not mentioned bike jacking thieves.

Ehh, I don't really see how the Paris program justifies the slightly histrionic title.

The biggest "threat" to people taking a bike of any sort on public transport is bulk and dirt. Even a Brompton, which pretty damned small and fairly clean, would not be welcome on a crowded subway / Metro train....

New Yorkers should definitely join Trans Alt to promote congestion pricing. http://www.transalt.org/

Sadly, it looks like our Governor is going to sink the legislation. What a dolt.