Posts about 'Video'

Wheels for Wellbeing

Posted on 24. Apr, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

This video has been sitting in my inbox for a few months, and I just had the chance to look at it, but it is most definitely a good one to share here at Utility Cycling.  The video focuses on a charity called Wheels for Wellbeing in the U.K., which works to find ways to help disable people ride bicycles for transportation, health, community building, and more.  Wheels for Wellbeing has a number of different programs, which all work to help disabled people find efficient ways to use bicycles for getting around and getting healthy.  It’s a very cool program and one that will hopefully expand.  Enjoy!

Continue Reading

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Road Diet

Posted on 13. Apr, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The latest installment of the Moving Beyond the Automobile series by Streetfilms focuses on the idea of a road diet.  Essentially, a road diet is just what it sounds like – strategies to help bulging roads thin out a bit.  A road diet refers to redesigning roads in a way that involves removing a lane that was dedicated to automobiles and replacing it with bike lanes, medians, sidewalks, and other features that help to slow traffic down, encourage other modes, and generally improve the aesthetic value of the street.

Are there any streets where you live or ride that have recently been put on a road diet?  Here in Tucson, one of the major bike corridors to the University of AZ campus recently underwent a bit of a road diet, and it’s now a much nicer road to both drive and ride.  I’d say road diets work!

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Road Diets from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Traffic Calming

Posted on 06. Apr, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The most recent video in the Streetfilms series called Moving Beyond the Automobile is all about traffic calming.  Traffic calming involves a variety of methods for slowing down traffic to improve safety for all transportation mode users.  Traffic calming methods include changing infrastructure to force changes on the road (ie. slowing traffic down, increasing visibility of other mode users, etc.).  As one interviewee in the video points out, “Signs don’t do the job,” so traffic calming methods are an important way to increase safety and visibility for everyone.

MBA: Traffic Calming from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

The Bicycle City Trailer

Posted on 02. Apr, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

Here’s an inspirational trailer for your weekend viewing pleasure.  The Bicycle City is a new documentary coming out by Greg Sucharew about how bicycles have helped to transform the city of Rivas, Nicaragua after war had left the town impoverished and the people in need of better mobility.  The trailer speaks to the ability of the bicycle to have a profound effect on people’s lives, and the documentary will definitely be a must-see.

The Bicycle City. Trailer from Greg Sucharew on Vimeo.

Via Bike Portland.

Continue Reading

National Bike Summit Ride

Posted on 24. Mar, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The National Bike Summit wrapped up in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago, and Commute by Bike writer Ted Johnson was on hand attending sessions, networking with other bike advocates, and writing up some good reports. I recommend you check out Part 1 and Part 2 of his reports, as well as the wrap up.  Ted was among three advocates from from Arizona, one of which included Ann Chaneka of Tucson.  One of the highlights of the National Bike Summit is the Congressional Bike Ride.  In the video below, the Congressional Bike Ride of 2011 honored Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Tucson, who was injured in a shooting in Tucson earlier this year.  Chaneka is highlighted in the video below from Streetfilms.  As a Tucsonan myself, it is pretty powerful to see so many people out on bicycles in honor of Giffords and in support of bicycles in general.  I’d like to get myself to the National Bike Summit in 2012, that’s for sure!

National Bike Summit 2011: Congressional Bike Ride (for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Congestion Pricing

Posted on 21. Mar, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The fifth post in the Streetfilms series Moving Beyond the Automobile is focused on congestion pricing.  Congestion pricing is a strategy whereby driving an automobile at peak hours is priced.  People who want to pay the fees may continue to drive their cars at peak hours and enjoy faster moving traffic.  People who prefer not to pay the fees are encouraged to take alternative modes of transportation such as public transit or bicycles.  The fees are then used to pay for transportation infrastructure improvements.  All-in-all it is a very effective way to place value on commuting in new and interesting ways.  What the video doesn’t speak to however, is any sort of environmental justice issue this might create for people with low income and limited means.  However, for the most part, it is probably beneficial to all, as it generally improves the flow of traffic and commuting.

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Congestion Pricing from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Bus Rapid Transit

Posted on 17. Mar, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The fourth film in the Moving Beyond the Automobile series by Streetfilms is dedicated to bus rapid transit.  Bus rapid transit is an innovative way to use existing infrastructure to encourage the use of public transportation systems.  Bus rapid transit systems prioritize the bus in street lanes, intersections, and more in order to make it an efficient way to get around.  It can also be quite effective to combine bicycles and public transportation for getting around a city.

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Bus Rapid Transit from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

Floating Parking & Bike Buffer Zones

Posted on 15. Mar, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

This video from Streetfilms explains the concept of “floating parking” and how it creates buffer zones for cyclists to ride in between the parking and the sidewalk.  Floating parking can be safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike.  Gary Toth narrates the film, and at the end, he expresses an interesting idea of how popular notions of what is acceptable in terms of transportation change over time and slowly become accepted by the general population.  I think that his comment is pretty “right-on”, and I would expand it to say that  over time, as more and more people ride their bicycles for transportation, it will become more and more “accepted” by the general public.  The same goes for bicycle infrastructure, etc.  So the message here: keep on riding!

“Floating Parking” & Bike Buffer Zone in Separated Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Continue Reading

Tips for Riding in the Rain

Posted on 06. Mar, 2011 by Melanie Colavito.

The folks at Velo Vogue put up a very useful video this past week with tips for riding in the rain.  The film will be part of the larger Mind the Gap documentary.  The film follows three different cyclists as they get ready for a rainy ride, and it’s useful to see that there are many options for what to wear, how to carry your stuff, and how to outfit your bike when it’s raining.  I personally wear rain pants and a rain jacket over my regular clothing.  They aren’t terribly “fashionable” per say, but they sure work well!  What do you wear for your bike commute when it’s raining?

MIND THE GAP – URBAN BIKING: Tips for Biking in the Rain from Laura J. Lukitsch on Vimeo.

Continue Reading