Utility Cycling | Use Your Bicycle.

Are Google Maps’ Bicycling Directions a Game Changer?

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by josh.

Last night Google made a “game changing” announcement at the national bike summit in Washington DC. The long awaited “Bike There” option has been added to their options for route types. The dropdown next to Google Maps “Get Directions” button now has “Bicycling” as the fourth option following “By car”, “By public transit” and”Walking”.

We are very excited to hear this long awaited announcement. The implication of Google’s map update to the world of cycling are enormous. UtilityCycling.org has long been advocates of bicycle mapping as a way to improve cyclists knowledge and access to routes. With Google now fully entrenched in supporting cyclists through Google Maps, we now have very high hopes for a continued growth in bike commuting and bike touring in the US.

Continue Reading

Retail & Commercial Services by Bike

Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

Bicycles are an excellent way to do business. Whether you are advertising your business by bike (aka bikevertising), transporting customers around town in a pedicab, moving your business or vending station around town by bike, picking up trash by bike, or any other range of services, bicycles provide a unique, cost-effective, and eye-catching way to [...]

Continue Reading

Bike Weddings

Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

When we set out to define utility cycling, we did not list every single type of utility cycling activity we could think of at the time. Fortunately, the concept of utility cycling is quite vast, so we found ourselves creating general categories and subcategories of the practice, which if you have been following this site, [...]

Continue Reading

Bicycle Land Services

Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

It’s been quite some time since we wrote about cycling services here at Utility Cycling.org. When we set out to define utility cycling, we came up with three subcategories related to the topic of cycling services, including retail and commercial services, emergency and patrol services, and land services. We did a four-part series in late [...]

Continue Reading

Bike Sharing Systems

Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

Bicycle sharing systems have been appearing in more and more cities around the world in the last few years. According to the Bike Sharing Blog, there were approximately 160 or so bike sharing systems globally at the end of 2009, which is up nearly 74% from 92 bike sharing systems at the end of 2008. [...]

Continue Reading

Cycling As Statement

Posted on 09. Feb, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

One of the main themes of Utility Cycling.org is an emphasis on the diversity and vast possibilities of the idea of utility cycling. When we first set out to define utility cycling, we came up with a big long list of categories and subcategories. Many of the categories are quite tangible – transportation, bicycle delivery, [...]

Continue Reading

Ride for Haiti

Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

Talk about cycling for a cause! In light of the recent earthquake on January 12 in Haiti, young Charlie Simpson, a 7-year old boy from the UK, was inspired to organize a charity bike ride, with help from his parents, in benefit of UNICEF’s work in Haiti. Originally hoping to raise £500, Charlie’s efforts have [...]

Continue Reading

A Utility Cycling Trailer Interview

Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

One of the main purposes of Utility Cycling.org is to celebrate the many ways in which a bicycle can be used to accomplish a wide range of tasks. In fact, the potential for utility cycling is so vast, in our Year in Review, it became apparent that we really haven’t even yet begun to scrape [...]

Continue Reading

Winter Cycling

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by Melanie Meyers.

I must admit I don’t have to deal with extreme winter cycling conditions all too often. There are some advantages to living in the desert, after all. However, I am endlessly impressed by those who do ride all winter through the snow, freezing temperatures, and other runny-nose-inducing weather conditions. Hence, I have decided to write [...]