Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Tour de B-cycle...B-there or B-square!


Bonjour! The Tour de France starts this weekend and we have decided to put on a little tour of our own. Join us at our Pearl Station on Saturday morning for a tour of b-cycle with our resident b-tour guide, Benny, and our system's #1 rider, Paul Young. It will start at 8am (before it gets to hot) and will last about an hour, ending at Pearl in time for the Farmer's Market!

If you are a first-time b-cycler, you can sign up online or that morning at the kiosk for a $10 pass. If you decide you want to join for the year, you will get $10 off your annual membership. Annual memberships can only be purchased online on our website. If you are already an annual member, come enjoy the tour for free!


For more info on the program, visit our website. / Any questions, email us!

PS- Don't forget your helmet!



B-fit, B-green, B-cycle

Friday, June 22, 2012

Happy Friday!


"When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle." ~Elizabeth West [from our Commuter Guru/Blogger Pal in Washington, Lindsay]



B-fit, B-green, B-cycle

Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Contest...

We have had this blog going for several months now. And, we only have 9 followers. And, we think like at least a third of them are b-cyle employees. Pathetic. So in order to boost our number of followers, we are going to have a contest. Whoever can get the most number of family members, friends, co-workers, whoever, to start following our blog, will win a sweet b-cycle shirt. Brand new, hot off the press, limited edition. The contest in going to run until next Friday, June 29th. All they have to do is visit our blog and click on the "Follow" link on the right side and then comment under this post that you sent them... We would love to get more followers and to make this blog more interactive.


B-fit, B-green, B-cycle

Monday, June 18, 2012

Same Road, Same Rules, Same Rights




It is always important to know what your rights are and what the laws are, no matter what you are dealing with, especially if you are a new cyclist/b-cyclist. Bike Texas' website has awesome resources on all things biking in Texas. It is a great resource on everything from bike related events, good routes, organized rides, advocacy, education, and everything in-between. Do yourself a favor a go and check out the website through the link below. We promise you will learn something new.


Texas Bicycle Laws
These "rules of the road" are based on Texas Transportation Code statutes. Find the complete bicycle code at the bottom of the page. Laws are designed to improve the safety of everyone who uses the roadways. Don't become a statistic! Remember to always use hand signals and body actions to communicate with motorists and other bicyclists.
Bicyclists have the rights and duties of other vehicle operators: (551.101)
Yes, this means you have to stop at stop signs and red lights, but cars are required to yield right-of-way to a bicycle when appropriate, just as to any other vehicle.
Ride near the curb and go in the same direction as other traffic: (551.103)
Near the curb is subjective (we recommend leaving a cushion of about three feet) but the law gives a cyclist the right to take the lane when necessary for safety.
At least one hand on the handlebars (two are safer): (551.102c)
One when signaling but two when turning works well.
Use hand and arm signals: (545.107)
Point the way you are going, let the other operators know what you want to do.
One rider per saddle: (551.102a)
Don't let your friends share your bike while riding unless you're both on a tandem.
You may ride two abreast as long as you don't impede traffic: (551.103c)
Racing and taking the lane are special cases.
Must have a white light on the front and a red reflector or red light on the rear (for riding at night): (551.104b)
The light is primarily so people can see you coming from the side, where their headlights do not shine on your reflectors. The law, effective as of Sept. 2001, states that a red light can replace a red reflector.
Brakes capable of making the braked wheel skid: (551.104a)
Don't test that front brake to see if the wheel will skid while riding, especially down hill.

Texas Transportation Code
Sec. 545.107. Method of Giving Hand and Arm Signals
An operator who is permitted to give a hand and arm signal shall give the signal from the left side of the vehicle as follows:
to make a left turn signal, extend hand and arm horizontally;
to make a right turn signal, extend hand and arm upward, except that a bicycle operator may signal from the right side of the vehicle with the hand and arm extended horizontally; and
to stop or decrease speed, extend hand and arm downward.
Chapter 551
Operation of Bicycles, Mopeds, and Play Vehicles

SUBCHAPTER A. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER
Sec. 551.001. Persons Affected
This chapter applies only to a person operating a bicycle on:
a highway; or
a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
Sec. 551.002. Moped Included
A provision of this subtitle applicable to a bicycle also applies to a moped, other than a provision that by its nature cannot apply to a moped.
SUBCHAPTER B. REGULATION OF OPERATION
Sec. 551.101. Rights and Duties
(a) A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle, unless:
a provision of this chapter alters a right or duty; or
a right or duty applicable to a driver operating a vehicle cannot by its nature apply to a person operating a bicycle.
(b) A parent of a child or a guardian of a ward may not knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this subtitle.
Sec. 551.102. General Operation
(a) A person operating a bicycle shall ride only on or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle.
(b) A person may not use a bicycle to carry more persons than the bicycle is designed or equipped to carry.
(c) A person operating a bicycle may not use the bicycle to carry an object that prevents the person from operating the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars of the bicycle.
(d) A person operating a bicycle, coaster, sled, or toy vehicle or using roller skates may not attach either the person or the bicycle, coaster, sled, toy vehicle, or roller skates to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway.
551.103. Operation on Roadway
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:
(1) the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction;
(2) the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway;
(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway; or
(4) the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:
(A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or
(B) too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.
(b) A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway.
(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
(d) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, §§ 10, 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Sec. 551.104. Safety Equipment
(a) A person may not operate a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a brake capable of making a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle is equipped with:

(1). A lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a white light visible fro ma distance of a least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and
(2). on the rear of the bicyle:
(A) A red reflector that is:
(i) of a type approved by the department; and
(ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or
(B) lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
(C) In addition to the reflector required by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle at nighttime may use a lamp on the rear of the bicycle that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
Sec. 551.105. Competitive Racing
(a) In this section, "bicycle" means a non-motorized vehicle propelled by human power.
(b) A sponsoring organization may hold a competitive bicycle race on a public road only with the approval of the appropriate local law enforcement agencies.
(c) The local law enforcement agencies and the sponsoring organization may agree on safety regulations governing the movement of bicycles during a competitive race or during training for a competitive race, including the permission for bicycle operators to ride abreast.


B-fit, B-green, B-cycle

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Thursday, June 7, 2012

A Guest Post by an AWESOME Commuter

Meet Lindsay. She lives in College Place, Washington. She rocks. Her horn on her bike is an air horn she duck taped to her handlebars. She made a child's seat out of an old crate. At the beginning of this year, she made the brave and ambitious decision to ditch the car and only go by bike. EVERYWHERE. WITH A 2-YEAR OLD IN TOW. Yes, she and her 2 year-old do EVERYTHING by bike now. From grocery shopping to jaunts to the park, she does it all by bike. Did we mention that she is a NEW bicyclist? She was not some roadie that decided to start riding more. She made the daring decision to get on a bike and use it for her primary transportation. We came across her blog through Facebook, of course, and we were instantly intrigued, in awe, and INSPIRED.
Jack on the bike after a grocery run. Yes, she rigged up a stroller hood onto her bike to block the sun for Jack. 

Seriously. Look at all of that. And, there is a 2-year old on there too.


Since many of our b-cyclers here in town are new riders/commuters, we thought we would share some of Lindsay's insights on being a new cyclist. Here you go:

[[[ NEW - Epiphanies of a new cyclist

Little epiphanies can happen at the oddest times, I always think "oh I must include that in my next post," but alas, I usually forget. Sometimes it is such a random piece of nonsense it hardly deserves a mention. Other times, it's a little tidbit that a more experienced rider would have figured out long ago. Either way these "little epiphanies" are odd bits of information that have helped me on my way, I share them in the hope that they my aid your journey too.


I will be adding to this page as ideas come to me, so check back!
#1 The cycling community has provided me with priceless information, advice and expertise. I live in a small town and my local bike shop always seems too busy to answer questions. Thank goodness for the online community that has helped me along the way. If you are new to this too, get some support!

#2 Raise your saddle for less achy knees and more powerful rotations. Raising my saddle alleviated 95% of my knee pain and when it has occasionally come back, I usually notice my saddle has slipped. Of course you can have your saddle too high, so experiment to find what works for you.

#3 Take snacks (just learning this one myself). One would think a mum with a toddler would always have plenty of these on hand...but I'm not talking cheerios or goldfish. I have found whole fruit and raw nuts to be great snacks to stop me from getting energy lows. I think when you are a new cyclist you get used to feeling exhausted and sometimes it's hard to know if it's due to low fuel or actually being "done".

#4 Assume every other vehicle on the road has not seen you. I read somewhere that new cyclists are far more likely to be involved in an accident than seasoned ones. I was hit by a car when cycling through an intersection years ago. I had just gotten a bike and was extremely nervous about getting hit, and sure enough it happened (I never rode that bike again). I was fine, but if that same accident happened now, with Jack on the back it would be another story. I dread the idea of getting hit by a car and literally go over scenarios in my mind of how I could get the best possible outcome in all situations. I never take unnecessary risks and if in doubt I stop or drastically slow down until I know for sure I've been seen and acknowledged. I find most drivers are very courteous, and generally speaking no one wants to hurt anyone else- but people are distracted and impatient.

#5 Don't put up with an uncomfortable bike, if its not a good fit you won't want to ride it. Don't give up tweaking your position until you are 100% satisfied. I'm still making changes to mine and it keeps getting better and better, and therefore my rides are better and I look forward to them more.

#6 Experiment to find what motivates you to ride. I've found that trips with a destination or a specific purpose are far more enjoyable and fulfilling, buying groceries via bike gives me a sense of accomplishment that a joy ride can never provide (joy rides are great too).

#7 If you are seeking to decrease your car time gradually and replace it with trips by bike, try this- Find a map and draw a circle around your house that fits your cycling ability, complete all errands within that circle by bike and gradually increase the diameter to match your progress.

#8 If your saddle hurts, give it some time. If it still hurts get a new one.  ]]]


Do your self a favor and check out her blog. She really does rock. We could not possibly fit everything we wanted to in this post, but we do hope she will come back and enlighten us again and let us know how everything is going.

Visit Lindsay's Blog: You Ain't Got Jack


Lindsay, you are so awesome. No wonder Washington is the most bike friendly state in America. Thanks for sharing with us San Antonians and inspiring us to pedal it forward.



B-fit, B-green, B-cycle (and B-like Lindsay!)