Posts about 'Video'

Mapping Bicycle

Posted on 08. Aug, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

A few months ago, I posted about a bike mapping project I did with some classmates of the University of Arizona campus.  We used a CatEye Inou, Google Maps, and our own cameras to develop the UA Campus Bicycle Geovisualization, which shows bicycle routes and infrastructure around campus to help improve decision-making about what routes to take by bicycle.

However, it’s too bad we didn’t have access to FridaV – A Mapping Bicycle.  In short:

The FRIDA V. (Free Ride Data Acquisition Vehicle) combines a normal bicycle with a tactical mapping toolkit that includes a compact computer, GPS receiver, wireless 802.11 transceiver, and an audiovisual recording unit. This makes the bike a perfect human-powered war driving vehicle and real-time mapping system.  (From MAKE)

MAKE posted this cool video of the FridaV design process a few months ago, and I thought it would appeal to the techier utility cycling enthusiasts.  I hope you enjoy!

Making of Frida V. for Futur en Seine Festival of the Digital City in Paris from Frida V. on Vimeo.

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Detroit Bike City

Posted on 11. Jul, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

There are plenty of videos about cities like Portland, New York, Los Angeles, and others that highlight all of the great new bicycle infrastructure improvements, community cycling events, and much more that are going on all of the time.  But what about a place like Detroit?  Cities like Detroit, which has little bicycle infrastructure, rarely get much screen time or press.  In fact, Detroit is well known as the “Motor City” of the United States, and it is now considered a city that is in horrible decline.

However, this awesome video by Alex Gallegos would suggest otherwise.  Detroit is very much alive and well, and it can say as much, in part, thanks to the bicycle and bicycling culture that is developing throughout the city.  Detroit is being re-imagined and re-invented as a vibrant, healthy city with strong community.  So “Ride On!” Detroit!

Detroit Bike City from Alex Gallegos on Vimeo.

Via Grist.

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Bin Feng Zheng’s NYC Biking Story

Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The latest NYC Biking Story from Streetfilms profiles Bin Feng Zheng, who enjoys riding his bicycle around NYC while also promoting safe, friendly cycling for all as a bike ambassador for Transportation Alternatives.  At the age of 23, he’s only been riding a bicycle for two years!  He plans to help bring more cycling opportunities to Chinatown and the Lower East Side where he grew up, as he said it would have been great to have cycling as a transportation option when he was growing up.  Check him out in the video below!

My NYC Biking Story: Bin Feng Zheng from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

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CETMA Cargo Bikes

Posted on 06. Jul, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Wow!  Is it Wednesday already?  Anyhow, here are two fun videos for your mid-week viewing pleasure via Tucson Velo.  They feature CETMA Cargo bikes in action, and it’s pretty cool how much cargo they can haul.  4 car tires?  Sure thing!  Your significant other?  Of course!  I always enjoy seeing cargo bikes in action, and these videos just go to show that you can do some pretty amazing things with a bicycle.

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Cyclists’ Special

Posted on 01. Jul, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Here’s a good one for the holiday weekend via Treehugger.  These videos from 1955, which were produced by British Transport Films, are worth the watch.  First of all, they are really quite entertaining, mostly due to the clever narration and witty use of similes.  However, they are also entertaining if you tend to drool over old-school bicycles and cycling culture.

Second, these videos definitely fall into the realm of utility cycling, as the narrator emphasizes how social gatherings by bicycle, like the countryside tour highlighted in the video, can bring people together in a positive way and help them “rediscover their common humanity in finding countryside, exercise and companionship, all in one.”

Perhaps a little countryside bicycle tour is a good idea for the long weekend!

Part 1:

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The True Cost of Gas

Posted on 30. Jun, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Although this video isn’t about utility cycling per say, it’s a good deconstruction of the price we pay for gas at the pump versus the “true” (or broader) cost of gas.  I like how it contextualizes the act of pumping gasoline into your car and puts that act into the bigger picture to show that even small acts can have a big impact.  So that being said, riding your bike now and again, whether it be to run errands, a daily commute, or even for socializing with friends or family, can also have a bigger impact than perhaps we might think.

Via Bike Blog NYC & Huffington Post.

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Steve O’Neill’s NYC Biking Story

Posted on 22. Jun, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Family cycling is definitely a great way to bond with your kids and spend some quality time together.  In fact, there are many great reasons to bike commute with your kids.  In the most recent NYC Biking Story from Streetfilms, Steve O’Neill shows us why he loves to bike commute with his son and just how much easier it can be for getting back and forth to school.

My NYC Biking Story: Steve O’Neill from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

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Lucette Gilbert’s NYC Biking Story

Posted on 20. Jun, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

She’s a real two-wheeler!  Check out Lucette Gilbert’s awesome NYC Biking Story on Streetfilms.  Lucette has been riding a bicycle for nearly 70 years, and she intends to keep doing so until her body disagrees.  It is definitely great to see how long the bicycle can be a great means of transportation for someone.  I plan to do the same as Lucette for as long as I can!

My NYC Biking Story: Lucette Gilbert from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

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Velopalooza Cargo Bike Ride

Posted on 16. Jun, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Check out this fun video from Velopalooza 2011 that highlights all of the amazing abilities of cargo bicycles and bicycle cargo trailers.  The video highlights Ron Richings (in the tie-dye) and was done by Randy Chatterjee.  It’s always cool to see how much cargo can be transported via bicycle!

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