Catastrophe Strikes New Orleans Again

This Time, The Stakes Reach Far Beyond The Big Easy
by Larry Lagarde

Almost 5 years after Katrina, the New Orleans region is again ground zero for a man-made catastrophe of mind boggling proportions: the destruction of the Mississippi delta ecosystem and the killing of untold numbers of wildlife from shrimp to whales.

Experts are predicting that within 2 months, the oil spewing from the damaged seafloor wellhead of the Deepwater Horizon will exceed the oil released by the Exxon Valdez. Additionally, it is expected that stopping the oil flow will call for measures that will take even more months to finish.

When will America wake up? 
Eleven men lost their lives on this rig pursuing the oil our nation craves. The growing oil slick will kill the grasses holding together 1000's of football fields worth of marsh, causing the sea to encroach ever faster towards New Orleans. Wildlife of all kinds will die in large numbers. Fisherman will loose their livelihoods indefinitely. With hurricane season around the corner, pristine, sugar sands from South Padre Island to Destin and even Key West could be turned black.

The Deepwater Horizon tragedy puts America at a crossroads. Either we give lip service to the consequences of reliance on fossil fuels for our energy needs (such as destroying ecosystems and funding our enemies) and simply continue on the same trajectory of self destruction OR we fund a Manhattan Project style program to aggressively research and develop sustainable & non-hazardous energy sources such as solar or wind.

For the sake of our children and planet, we need energy independence sooner, not later. Please urge your elected representatives in the US Senate and House to fast track development of sustainable, non-hazardous energy technologies.

Volkswagen Unveils 44 lb Folding Electric Scooter

Fits In The Spare Tire Well Of Most Cars
by Larry Lagarde

Earlier this week at the Auto China 2010 convention, Volkswagen unveiled the Bik.e, a self propelled electric folding scooter with looks similar to a bicycle. Fold the Bik.e and it will fit into the spare tire hold of most cars (if the spare is removed).

Volkswagen envisions commuters driving part way to work in their VW's, then pulling out the Bik.e to ride up to the last 12 miles to the destination, avoiding traffic congestion in urban areas as well as the cost and time typically taken to park in most downtown areas.

Although the Bik.e looks cool, it's heavy for a scooter (44 lbs), has a short range (@ 12 mph), cannot be pedaled when the batteries run out, does not have a hot swappable battery pack and appears not to roll when folded. Besides these major drawbacks, availability or pricing info has yet to be made available.

My guess is that the Bik.e will retail for @ $2500 with some sort of discount if you buy it along with a new VW. For that kind of money, I'd prefer to have an IF Reach DC folding electric bike, which is similar in size when folded but has a much further range, cruising speed and hot swappable battery. And if some problem arises with the IF Reach DC's electric drive, you can always pedal.

RideTHISbike Opens French Quarter Store

by Larry Lagarde

GREAT NEWS:
RideTHISbike will soon have a bike store in the New Orleans French Quarter!

After looking at locations for over a year, I am very excited to announce that RideTHISbike.com will soon have a store in the French Quarter. Located at 317 Burgundy St, the store is a few minutes' walk from Bourbon St (2 blocks), Canal St (3 blocks) and a quick streetcar or taxi ride from most New Orleans hotels, lodging accommodations and neighborhoods like the CBD, Warehouse District, Uptown, Mid City, etc.

Most of the folding bicycles currently on the folding bike page at RideTHISbike.com (as well as some other models) will be available at the store. Bikes will be offered for sale and for rent. Hotel delivery as well as helmets, water and bike locks will be available.

Why The French Quarter
The Quarter is the heart and soul of New Orleans. Designed for horses, buggies and walking, the Quarter's grid of narrow streets (where multi-story buildings stand shoulder to shoulder) is well suited for bicycling via folding bike. New Orleans is flat so a small folding bicycle with just a few gears is fine. Plus, Quarter residents, workers and visitors can fold their bike and take it with them inside where the bike's out of sight of vandals and thieves.

Hopefully, the sight of folding bikes zipping around the French Quarter will help more Americans recognize that bicycles are practical, sustainable and fun transportation.

By the way, if you're in New Orleans for a convention, cruise or something else that limits your time, a folding bike is a great way to quickly discover the city's main sights.

Thriv Natural Performance

Raising the bar in casual & sport apparel
by Larry Lagarde

Just as recent innovations in folding bikes are raising the bar in the cycling industry, the same holds true in the apparel industry. One example of this is Speedo's introduction 2 years ago of the revolutionary LZR swimsuit. Another example is the Thriv line of sport and casual apparel.

Thriv has come up with a way to fabricate clothes with a fabric content that's 95% cotton and bamboo. The result is a fabric that's incredibly soft, flexible, light, breathable, uv resistant, fade resistant, odor resistant, durable, sustainable and reasonably priced. I know. I've been testing Thriv clothing since December.

On December 11, 2009, the local newspaper here in New Orleans (the Times Picayune) ran a story on Thriv. Titled "Tough Workouts Soft Fabrics", the story described Thriv as downy soft & light active wear that was superior in every way to polypropylene apparel.

An even bigger surprise was that Thriv was headquartered here in the New Orleans area. Hungry for more info, I called Thriv's office and they invited me to stop by to look around. I went over the following day.

When I arrived, the owner of the company greeted me, invited me into his office and sat down with me for over an hour. Rather than me interviewing him for a story on sustainable products (which was my intention), it was more like him interviewing me. I found this puzzling until near the end of the meeting when he offered me a variety of clothing to try out free of charge. I think he wanted to be sure I would put the product through it's paces. Boy did I.

So here are the facts.
I have been wearing Thriv fitness clothes (tees, long sleeve shirts & pants) at least once a week since December on hot days and cold, in extremely humid weather and on picture perfect days. I've worn Thriv on long bike rides exceeding 50 miles. Several times, while looking for a Thriv shirt to wear during a long ride, I'll find my wife wearing it while taking a nap or playing games on the computer. Her excuse: "it's just so comfortable honey."

I have yet to adhere to (or read) any care instructions for the clothing. The Thriv clothes have been washed on hot and dried on high heat. There has been no noticeable fade or shrinkage. The clothes have been smudged with peanut butter, jelly, syrup, mustard and coffee; yet, all the stains have come out (granted, the Thriv clothes I have all are black in color).

When I work out in Thriv, the sweat wicks from my body. You can see the shirt's wet; however, it's more damp than soaked and the wetness evaporates fairly quickly. Even if I don't shower immediately after the workout, the Thriv clothes remain odor free.

Thriv Better Than Any Other Clothing Material
I've worn a variety of other unusual, natural fabrics (including alpaca, cashmere and silk) but NOTHING comes close to the comfort of Thriv. As to synthetics, the difference is even more dramatic because polypro balls up, smells, scratches the skin, stains and shrinks whereas Thriv does not.

One last point; Thriv clothes are durable.
Several months ago, while test riding a new recumbent bike, the lower right pant leg of my Thriv Inglewood pants got caught between the chain and the front chain ring. The teeth in the chain ring cut through the pants like a cookie cutter. Rather than repair them, I took this opportunity to see what would happen if I did nothing. I continued to wear & wash the pants as normal. The holes did not grow and I'm still wearing the pants.

Thriv is a great example how product innovation can lead to more enjoyable experiences. I've felt more refreshed after riding in Thriv than when riding in synthetics. So now the question is what do I do with all those polypropylene pants and tops I'm no longer wearing.

It's moments like this that make me glad I don't own stock in Nike.

Prediction: Coming Soon To New Orleans

Multi-Modal Transportation By Necessity
by Larry Lagarde

Hurricane Katrina has turned New Orleans into a virtual petri dish of experiments in urban living and sustainability (examples include Brad Pitt's trend setting "Make It Right" housing project, local musician Andreas Hoffman's amazing distribution & installation of 200,000+ compact flourescent light bulbs via Green Light New Orleans and the help of literally tousands of volunteers from across the nation). As the 5th anniversary of Katrina fast approaches, the 2010 census is being tabulated and major Katrina rebuilding efforts wind down, where this leaves New Orleans is uncertain. There is one sure thing though; New Orleans will continue to function as an experiment in urban renewal and/or survival out of sheer necessity. As an example, look at what's happening with mass transit.

In 2004, New Orleans Regional Transit Agency (NORTA) was one of the most successful transit agencies in the nation (in regards to revenue earned by passenger boardings). Hurricane Katrina decimated NORTA's fleet and facilities. Former riders were shipped out of New Orleans to destinations unknown, ending up in almost every state in the union.

While NORTA dealt with how to rebuild their transit fleet and facilities, many Katrina evacuees had their own problems. Without resources to return to New Orleans, evacuees simply remained in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis and elsewhere where they built their lives anew. As a result, NORTA's boardings went from a pre-Katrina high in 2004 of 130,000/day to almost 0/day in fiscal year 2006. By fiscal year 2009, with the help of special Section 70-25 subsidies from the Federal Transit Administration, boardings had climbed back to 40,000/day and were on track for continual growth but the money was running out.

This week, transit agencies in the New Orleans area were notified that 33% reductions in transit funding should be expected to take place as of FY 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011). Today, NORTA announced that the Lil Easy transit shuttle (a service initiated in 2009 in the 9th Ward and later expanded to other depopulated neighborhoods) was being terminated. The timing of these 2 announcements cannot be coincidental.

With NORTA routes and timetables already reduced to the bone, additional cuts in service will place NORTA and Veolia (NORTA's private partner) in a disturbing position. The city's streetcar light rail lines are great revenue generators as tourists love to ride them; however, the streetcars are of limited use to locals. Thus, cutting streetcars means substantial, additional revenue cuts. On the other hand, cutting bus routes and/or schedules will have a lesser impact on revenues but will severely restrict local ridership. Transfers between routes will take longer. Minimum wage earners at local grocery stores, big box stores, hotels, etc. could loose their jobs due to excessive tardiness.

So while coping with budget shortfalls will not be easy, I predict that the streetcars will be saved due to their historic, iconic and touristic appeal, leaving locals to work out their own options. And one option that will be used more is a multi-modal transportation approach involving bicycles to cover the longer "first & last mile" distances to get to or from the transit stop.

NORTA's entire bus fleet has bike racks for 2 full size bikes so at least 2 cyclists/bus can be accommodated; but a more practical approach would be to ride a bike that folds compactly so it can be brought aboard the bus. This way, the bike/transit rider will not be refused from boarding if the bike rack is full. And if the transit bus has a mechanical problem, the cyclist can simply ride their bike the rest of the way.

NORTA just scheduled a news conference for 6pm this evening. The details of the conference have not been announced but if it's to announce future service reductions, you read about it here first!

Proposed 500-2500% Bike Registration Fee Hike

State and local governments must be getting really desperate for revenues.
by Larry Lagarde

Case in point:
An attempt to raise bicycle registration fees 500-2500%.

That's right. At a time when cities such as Cleveland & Milwaukee as well as states like Minnesota have eliminated bicycle registration requirements and fees, other cities and states are looking or have looked at bicycle registration fees as a possible revenue stream.

Over the last 3 years, cities like Seattle, Detroit and (most recently) New Orleans (plus states like Oregon & Washington) have attempted to substantially raise bicycle fees. Typically, the stated reasons behind such fee hikes are attempts to reduce bike theft or to provide more funding for bicycle facilities. The sad truth is that such attempts fail miserably, turning the law into a mockery. Look at what happened in the Motor City (Detroit, Michigan).

In the summer of 2008, just as gasoline prices were reaching their all time historic crest, the Detroit City Council passed an ordinance mandating that police would begin fining all bicycles without a license tag. Although the tag fee was set at $1, bicycle owners were furious. Like the cops had nothing better to do.

For over 2 decades, Detroit had repeatedly made the top spot as America's most dangerous city. Detroit's murder rate was off the charts; even the mayor was about to become a convicted felon. So the city was going to criminalize riding a bicycle without a license plate... After a month of being the butt of jokes around the nation, the Detroit City Council repealed the law.

Fast forward to earlier this month and another port city plagued by crime & blight - New Orleans.

On March 11, 2010, New Orleans City Councilman James Carter presented an ordinance to the city council mandating the registration and tagging of bikes being ridden in the city by local residents. Councilman Carter proposed that registration fees be increased from a flat $3 to anywhere from $15 -75 (depending on how the bike's used). That's an increase of 500-2500%. But it gets better.

New Orleans abandoned bicycle registrations when the city was flooded in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. The records from before the storm were lost to the floodwaters (as were countless bicycles).

Besides, the Big Easy had much bigger problems to face (like addressing rampant corruption, a murder rate far surpassing every other North American city and how to repopulate & rebuild the city).

Yet here is the strangest part of all.

Councilman Carter represents the most historic and touristic part of New Orleans - the French Quarter. The Quarter is a compact grid of streets designed for horse and buggy traffic, not modern automobiles. It is also home to an abnormally high number of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. As a result, traffic congestion is an ever present problem (which is why local Quarter residents have to pay to park on the street).

So why would an elected official risk alienating himself with so many voters? (Photo: Councilman Carter speaking with riverboat behind)

Granted, the city council is scrambling to find revenue; yet, the new, incoming mayor has repeatedly asked the city administration to refrain from enacting new steps that could hamstring the new administration. How strange that the councilman proposed for the ordinance to take affect after the new mayor is in place.

Of course, there are other questions to ask. Is the ordinance enforceable? What's the purpose for the increase? How are any potential revenues to be disbursed? How to tell local resident from tourist or surburban riders commuting? And lastly, if city bike shops must collect the fee, what's to stop residents from shopping in the suburbs rather than the city, depriving the city of yet more sales tax revenue?

Slideshow: Strida LT folding bike

by Larry Lagarde

Here's a slideshow I created today of the new Strida LT folding bike.

Basically, the bike is a Strida 5.0 folding bicycle with a few different parts. The most noticeable difference is the new combination resin & brushed aluminum rims. Very good looking and much more durable than the plastic rims Strida used previously on the Strida 3 (the old plastic rims would over heat in the sun, causing premature tube failures). In fact, Strida claims these rims to be superior to the wheels with stainless steel spokes because the spokes never need adjusting... And at just $599, this is the most reasonably priced Strida today (there are some  Strida 3.2's still around but the manufacturer is discontinuing that line).

New Montague & Strida Bikes Coming

by Larry Lagarde

For everyone that's been asking, the new, full size folding bikes from Montague as well as the new Strida LT folding bicycles will be here by sometime next week.

Montague's new Pavement series of full size bikes that fold are a modified version of their dual, parallel top tube design (the dual top tubes have a gentle arc to accommodate the 700c wheels). Since the 700c tires are skinnier and slicker than the knobby tires supplied on Montague's full size, folding mountain bikes (like the Paratrooper or new SwissBike X50), the folding bicycles in Montague's Pavement series (the Crosstown, Boston, Navigator & FIT) have less rolling resistance, making them better suited for road touring or city riding.

The new Strida LT folding bike is essentially a Strida 5.0 type but with with an alternate component set and availability in fewer colors (either black, red, silver or neon green). The alternate components are said to be as sturdy and light as those on the 5.0 but less costly to produce. Combine that with larger production runs and the Strida LT comes in $200 less than the Strida 5.0. Not bad.

Folding Bike Fly & Ride Program

by Larry Lagarde

Planning a trip to Europe this year?

If you could buy, lease or rent a folding bike from a US retailer and have the bike ready & waiting for you at your destination (such as London), would you?

Recently, I had the pleasure of conducting a video interview with the head of Bigfish. After the interview, I asked R. Logie (a Bigfish rep from the UK) whether we could arrange a Fly n'Bike program for RideTHISbike.com customers visiting London that want to go cycling there via a Bigfish folding bike. Although the details have yet to be fleshed out, I was told it could be possible and we're working on this now.

Is Senator David Vitter's Stimulus Criticism Valid

by Larry Lagarde

Today, I received an interesting email from U.S. Senator David Vitter (the Republican senator representing Southeast Louisiana). Titled "Happy Stimulus Anniversary Taxpayers!", the letter was a cynical stab at the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was passed last year by Congress to stimulate the economy.

Two things made the letter stand out. First, Senator Vitter selected to focus on $56-57 million of ARRA spending that he considered wasteful (rather than the other $1 trillion+). Second was the timing of the letter. Just the day before, the US Dept of Transportation awarded a $45 million stimulus fund grant to a transportation project in Senator Vitter's district (complete details on page 35 of this pdf).

As one of Senator Vitter's constituents (and a registered, active voter), I decided to contact Sen. Vitter so I could have a clearer understanding of his views. Here's the email I sent him this evening:

Senator Vitter,

As one of your constituents, I'd like a clarification on your position concerning the $45 million TIGER award grant that the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority received yesterday via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Specifically, since you characterize certain allotments of the ARRA or "stimulus" funds as wasteful, does that mean you were against awarding the New Orleans RTA with a grant that fully funds the building of the Union Passenger Terminal - Loyola Loop streetcar line?

Additionally, are you in favor of federal funding of flood control levees in your district but against building levees outside your district?

I ask because the $54 million award you referenced today in your email titled "Happy Stimulus Anniversary Taxpayers!" was designated for the construction of a flood wall and related improvements for the Napa River Flood Control Project, not the Wine Train.

I hope you are in favor of the $45 million award to the RTA. Running from New Orleans' Amtrak/Greyhound terminal to Canal Street, the new streetcar line will connect with the existing, historic Canal St & St. Charles Ave (as well as the Riverfront) streetcar lines. Since the grant requires the RTA to complete the streetcar line within 2 years, this vital & new transit link will soon be transporting locals and tourists to work and play, spurring faster redevelopment of vacant high rise properties downtown such as the old Hyatt Regency Hotel, Plaza Towers, Charity Hospital and a variety of other large structures in the Central Business District that are still vacant almost 5 years after Katrina.

Regards,

Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Practical & Fun Bicycles That Fold For Storage, Travel & Convenience

If you'd like to read the original email from Senator Vitter, I've posted it below. Additionally, I will post here any response I receive from the Senator.

Happy Stimulus Anniversary Taxpayers!

Dear Friend,
One year ago, over my strong opposition, President Obama and liberals in Congress passed the $1.1 trillion "stimulus" for our economy.  At the time unemployment was at 7.7 percent, and a year later it has unfortunately increased to 9.7 percent.
The stimulus was packed full of wasteful pork barrel spending that has nothing to do with stimulating our economy. 
Here are just a few small examples of egregious waste that our money was spent on:

1. $250 stimulus checks went to thousands of convicted felons while still being held in prison.
2. $390,000 to study people who consume malt liquor and marijuana went to The State University Of New York At Buffalo.
3. $1 million to renovate Sunset Boulevard, or "the Sunset Strip" was given to the City of West Hollywood Council.
4. $54 million went to the Napa Valley wine train.

These projects are hardly the type of stimulus we were promised and are typical of the waste and government growth we've seen this past year.  That is why I offered an amendment to the stimulus to cut $40 billion in waste like this and why I joined a majority of our Congressional delegation in voting against the stimulus.
We need to change the focus away from bloated federal spending and away from borrowing or issuing new debt for which the next generation is responsible.
I've introduced the No Cost Stimulus with the specific goal of stimulating the economy by creating jobs, freeing up domestic resources for U.S. citizens, and streamlining regulatory review processes that have choked U.S. business and development.  My bill would increase our oil and gas production and create two million long-term, sustainable and well paying jobs.
I'll keep fighting for commonsense proposals like this and to turn the corner to control exploding federal spending and debt.
 

Sincerely,

David Vitter
U.S. Senator

US Senator David Vitter's contact form online

Cycling improving in Manhattan + L.A.

by Larry Lagarde

For years, New Yorkers have been pushing for transportation alternatives that will make it safer & easier to get around NYC without a car. Recent projects (like turning a portion of Broadway into a bike/pedestrian corridor) and initiatives (such as the push for congestion pricing as a means to decrease auto use/congestion in Manhattan) show that residents are serious about making New York more sustainable. So to those in the know, the following news from bike group Transportation Alternatives should come as no surprise...

The East Side Revolution

Manhattan's East Side will soon see some transformative transportation changes.

First and Second Avenues are about to get a whole lot better for bikers, walkers and transit takers.

In response to T.A.'s East Side campaign, the Department of Transportation has committed to building better bus, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure from South Ferry to 125th Street. Included in the agency's plans are bike lanes, bus lanes and improved pedestrian crossings that will not only make these notoriously congested avenues safer, but also better-performing.

Though the DOT has yet to identify the exact configurations it will use when construction begins this June, all of the possibilities are huge improvements over the order-less mess that now rules the roads in this part of Manhattan, and we commend them, as well as the Volunteer Committee members, community stakeholders, local politicians and countless activists who helped the plan come together.

To ensure that this wave of street reform doesn't simply splash on to two avenues and wash away, Transportation Alternatives is organizing an East Side Streets Coalition to help spread these changes. With the support of T.A.'s Volunteer Committees, citizens and civic organizations from East Harlem to Chinatown, the East Side Coalition plans to push for streets that reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities from vehicle crashes by 50% in the next decade.

While this is great news for those on the East Side, it's notable that city planners and residents across the USA are finally recognizing the need for safer opportunities for biking and walking. Just yesterday, a story noted that car centric Los Angeles is creating a major bikeway network to decrease congestion and pollution.

Though the weather in L.A. is more conducive to cycling year round, L.A.'s population density of 1 family/acre makes travel distances longer than in New York City. Nevertheless, the fact that Los Angeles is taking serious steps to improve multi-modal commuting (via bikeway networks integrated with mass transit) holds hope that any community can have more sustainable transportation.

Are electric bikes practical

by Larry Lagarde

Electric bikes are becoming a recurring topic online.

Take 3 random stories from today for example.

1. Ecological Urban Living mentioned a variety of electric bikes (including the promising CMYK light weight/short distance city commuter).

2. There was an RV forum discussion concerning the Yike (a $5000, extremely short range electric scooter masquerading as a bicycle - no pedal drive option at all).

3. Build Your Own Electric Vehicle posted an advertorial from Go Green Electric Bicycle that would be somewhat informative for newbies.

What all the above (and most posts in general) fail to address are the underlying issues electric bikes have concerning practicality.

For example, I have been evaluating the IF Reach DC, a new, high performance, folding bike with passive electric assist. As electric bikes go, the DC has just about everything going for it - great performance, range, cruising speed, lightweight, quick, on demand foldability, compact folded size and the ability to roll when folded. In fact, the DC performs so much better than other electrics that I now sell it. Nevertheless, as much as I love the DC, with a $2500 purchase price, chances are that the bikes' true value will only be appreciated by first adopters, green thinkers and bike fanatics - at least for now.

When can we expect to see the perfect electric bike (or simply the perfect bicycle)?

As demand for practical, personal transportation increases, more resources will be put towards addressing this issue and a bicycle will be available with all the right features (sub $500 price, light weight, compact for transporting or storage & strong performance/durability). Any date I give would be an educated guess but I expect this to happen by 2020.

Should you wait until that perfect bike is available?

Naturally, this is also a matter of personal opinion; however, I'd rather benefit from obtaining the best bike I can afford now rather than put off cycling until that ideal bike comes. Frankly, the health, environmental and financial benefits of cycling far outweigh the negatives already.

Motorized Gekko Folding Bike

By Larry Lagarde

Although I have been out of the Gekko folding bike for some time, customers still contact me regularly about this sturdy, steel folding bike. So for those of you that have asked whether an electric motor can be added to the Gekko, here's a video showing that the answer is yes. The user did have to cut and weld the Gekko's frame to add the electric motor though.

Video Interview: Bigfish folding bike CEO Sandi Cesko

by Larry Lagarde

On February 2nd, 2010, I had the honor of interviewing Sandi Cesko, the Bigfish behind the Bigfish folding bike. The interview covers how this folding bicycle came to be, explains some of the unique benefits the Bigfish offers as well as Sandi's hopes for the bike's future.

To watch the video, click on the image below.

Backstory - 2010 visit to Taiwan

by Larry Lagarde

Earlier today, a RideTHISbike.com reader asked what led to my trip to Taiwan. It's a rather interesting twist of events so I thought I'd post the story here.

For several years, Mark Sanders and I have been corresponding with one another (I finally met him at InterBike 2008). At some point, Mark had mentioned to me that Pacific Cycles had a private museum of bikes spanning 3 floors and that I must see it one day.

Fast forward to Interbike 2009.

Areaware sent me a new Birdy bike to evaluate, with the provision I get it back to them for display at the InterBike '09 convention. I rode the Birdy pretty hard at the Outdoor Demo (it was totally covered in dust) but I got it back to them the afternoon before the floor show.

When I arrived at Areaware's booth, Michael Lin of Pacific Cycles was there. Since Pacific Cycles makes the Birdy, IF Mode, IF Reach, CarryMe and other folding bikes, we talked quite a bit and ended up going to dinner. Before leaving Vegas, Michael invited me to visit the Pacific Cycles factory when I could.

Fast forward again to December 2009.

I had been testing a prototype IF Reach DC since the summer and sent an update to George Lin (owner of Pacific Cycles). George is intimately involved with Pacific's R&D, spending half of each work day in the R&D shop working on future products. So whether it was my feedback, enthusiasm or both, I don't know but George personally invited me to tour their facilities as well as stay free of charge at the dorm Pacific offers to reps of the 40+ bike brands they produce bikes for (such as the new Dreamslide from France).

How could I resist?

I knew this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity so I scheduled my departure for the soonest I could leave (January 13th). Since George had offered me bikes to ride and the weather in Taiwan is dicey that time of year, I gave myself about a week so I'd have at least one good day of riding. As it turned out, the weather was unusually mild and dry my entire stay (though extremely windy at times).

I'm still processing everything I experienced in Taiwan. Meeting and interacting with George Lin (a legend in the industry and a very humble, intelligent and pleasant individual in person), seeing future bikes in R&D as well as production of current bikes like the Birdy and CarryMe, bicycle rides with Michael Lin (George's son), pretty much having full and unrestricted access to the factory, being allowed to ride a variety of production and prototype bikes, browsing George's extensive library, discussing product development with designers like Ryan Carroll, examining Pacific's collection of bicycles (aka the bike museum) including many prototypes and simply being immersed in Asian culture for the first time - all these were just mind boggling.

Having said all the above, there is one more aspect to the back story of my Taiwan trip - Hurricane Katrina. Although Katrina has faded into the subconscious of America, I have been living through the effects of this storm for almost 5 years. With my wife pregnant, our home (and city) devastasted and most of my web design customers either on life support or gone, I found myself at a cross-roads.

It wasn't simply a matter of whether to rebuild in New Orleans or permanently move elsewhere. Like survivors of many other disasters, I wondered why my life had been spared when others I know had died or lost everything. This question left me with the feeling that I was being given a second chance - an opportunity to do more than to simply support my family.

I dove into RideTHISbike.com with the mission of sharing the simple pleasures of bicycling with as many people as possible. From the beginning, I have focused on folding bicycles because they are the most versatile and practical of all bikes, which makes folders the best choice as a true transportation alternative.

So to fully put the back story of my Taiwan trip in context, just as it has led to many other wonderful experiences, it was my response to Hurricane Katrina that ultimately led to this trip. No doubt, as I continue to share and advocate for the joys of bicycling, there will be more extraordinary moments and experiences to look forward to.

As time allows, I will be sharing more videos and info from my trip to Taiwan for your enjoyment. Thanks for visiting RideTHISbike.com and come back again soon.

Taipei Via IF Reach DC

by Larry Lagarde

Here's another video I shot in Taiwan. It's a ride in and around the city of Taipei on an IF Reach DC folding electric bike (a bicycle with pedal actuated, electric motor assist). This bike is agile, fast and folds quickly for storage or transport.



More about the IF Reach DC folding electric bicycle

Video: Taipei by CarryMe

by Larry Lagarde

Just posted a short video from my trip last month to Taiwan. The video demonstrates the advantages of having a bike that's as easy to take on light rail, escalators or up a flight of steps as it is to ride. At about 3 minutes in length, the clip is well worth viewing.



If you're curious, the bicycle in the video is a CarryMe folding bike from Pacific Cycles. I visited their factory while in Taiwan and was amazed. More on that later.

Video - Riding IF Reach DC in New Orleans

by Larry Lagarde

Here's a short video of a ride I did today through the New Orleans French Quarter on the IF Reach DC folding electric bicycle from Pacific Cycles. Riding this bike is pure pleasure.

Slideshow: CarryMe ride in downtown Taipei

by Larry Lagarde

Here's a slideshow of some photos from my recent trip to Taiwan. The photos are from a ride I did through downtown Taipei on a CarryMe folding bike from Pacific Cycles. Enjoy.

If you're curious, the light rail is Taipei's MRT. Most of the action photos were shot near the Taipei Exhibition Center. The group shots are at an open air street market near the Miramar shopping center (noted for it's large London Eye type Ferris Wheel which is situated on the roof of the shopping mall).

Most of the CarryMe folding bikes shown are single speed models. The lime green bike is a new 2 speed CarryMe DS.

Trends Integrating bicycling with public transit

by Larry Lagarde

Recently, 2 American academics specializing in research on transit usage and policies published a paper detailing what transit agencies are doing in 8 major North American cities to integrate bicycling with use of mass transit (see Integrating Bicycling and Public Transport in North America).

Noting that bicycle commuting and transit use are at record highs, the paper cites 5 trends in which transit agencies across America are working to promote bike+ride (better bike parking provisions at transit stops, bike stations in transit hubs, bike racks on buses, bikes on board commuter rail and bikeways connecting to transit). Surprisingly, the paper failed to fully identify a 6th trend: policy changes encouraging folding bikes on transit.

The paper made 6 isolated mentions of folding bikes, noting in each case that many transit agencies allow folders on mass transit lines or during peak hours when regular bike users are likely to be turned away. Although this was not identified as a trend, it should have been.

Transit agencies see a clear advantage in allowing folding bikes. Folders typically take up a fraction of the space of a standard bike so more transit users can bring folders aboard without significantly impacting ride capacity. Most folding bikes are designed for use over short distances and are well suited for use as first/last mile connectors on transit journeys. Transit agencies can easily accommodate increasing numbers of transit riders that use folding bikes because folders require little to no improvements in transit infrastructure (folders do not require stationary racks on transit or at transit stops).

Although the paper did not mention this, expect to see transit agencies in major metro areas using folding bikes to manage transit demand and increase transit ridership. In fact, the Los Angeles Metro is working now on a pilot project that will attract new transit users via a folding bike incentive and transit in Santa Cruz, CA has already done so.