In 1897, a wealthy American businessman named Horace Dobbins began construction on a private, for-profit bicycle superhighway that would stretch from Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles. It may seem like a preposterous notion now—everyone knows Angelenos don’t get out of their cars—but at the time, amidst the height of a pre-automobile worldwide cycling boom, the idea attracted the attention of some hugely powerful players. And it almost got built.
Cycle on the Recycled: A $9 Cardboard Bike Set to Enter Production in Israel
The last time your purchased something made entirely from cardboard, chances are it was a box to pack up your belongings. While the sturdy material is perfect for moving your stuff, an inventor from Israel has figured out a way to make cardboard move you.
What Kind of Cyclist Are You? An Illustrated Guide
Do you bike for exercise? To earn street cred? Or just to get around? As our options for cycling expand, so have our reasons for doing it. Here are eight types of bikers you may recognize from the neighborhood.
In 2004, the FBI estimated that more than a quarter of a million bikes are stolen in the United States each year. Chances are that if you ride a bike—and you really should if you can—it will be taken from you at some point in your life. While having your bike stolen can suck, all hope is not lost. One of the simplest and cheapest ways to try to track it down is through Craigslist. We talked to Christian Brown, a freelance film and television designer in Los Angeles who in April found his heisted bike on Craigslist, to find out how he did it.
GOOD:How long did it take you to find your stolen bike on the site?
Brown: It was stolen on Tuesday, and on Sunday I was walking back from the corner store and saw it on my phone on Craigslist. (I pretty much tried to only search for it on my phone, while walking around, so I wouldn’t just refresh Craigslist on my computer over and over.) I wasn’t sure it was mine at first; there were a few photos of it, and most were close-ups of the chain and tires and whatnot showing it was in good shape. Oddly, three of the four photos showed it with a kickstand, which my bike definitely didn’t have. But the fourth was taken in a different location, and it was extremely recognizable as mine. It was the same color, and the posting mentioned it was the same model (a Quick Six). Also I’d added three things to it after I bought it: a rear rack, a water bottle holder, and a little under-the-seat Velcro bag. The rack and water bottle were on it, and while the bag was missing, so was the rear reflector I’d had to remove to install it. It’s hard to imagine the odds of the same color, model and add-ons all showing up within a week of my bike being stolen.
GOOD:How did it feel to see your bike on Craigslist?
Brown: I basically flipped my shit. My then-fiancée (now wife!) was out at a surprise bridal shower, so I was alone with the cats in my apartment frantically Googling “found stolen bike craigslist help.” Most of the results were useless, as they were about figuring out if the bike youbought on Craigslist was stolen. I was excited, but also, after my coworker’s experience with their laptop, extremely worried that it would get sold before I could get it.
I always wondered why it was so difficult for drivers to just pay attention and not be assholes. Then I moved to Los Angeles and got a car. Here, we do not operate our vehicles so much as we hang out in them. Hunkered in my sedan, I’m now comfortable juggling an iced coffee and the radio dial while “courtesy” honking the car in front of me. Only when I jump back on my bicycle do I become a little bit scared about the person that I become when I’m behind the wheel.
San Francisco is putting a new spin on car- and bike-sharing services. With federal backing, the city is partnering with a local car share service to offer members access to electric bikes, too.
Our contributing Business Editor Alex Goldmark found this protest-meets-Johnny Knoxville video about the laws and safety of bike lanes in New York City. He writes:
We love to bike here at GOOD, but know that it’s not always the first way most people think they can around town. That’s why we created this new GOOD Guide to Biking for the Planet. Find facts, tips, tricks and dispelled myths, all illustrated by the amazing Gavin Potenza.
These days there’s a lot of energy going into how to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering, and math—the so-called STEM subjects. Part of the challenge is image. The stereotype of the unattractive, withdrawn nerd proving geometric theories in her head isn’t the most attractive role model. That’s where examples like the above tricked-out bike constructed by UPENN engineering students could help out.
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