CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

Are Millennials Encouraging Investments in Cycling?

USA Today recently named San Diego one of the best ten cities in the nation for cycling. The article based their decision on San Diego’s mild climate, good terrain (not too hilly or flat), distinct neighborhoods and beautiful beachfront bike trails. San Diego has worked hard to provide amenities for cyclists, but they are not alone. Across the nation, cities are using cycling to attract millennials and active commuters to their area. These days, millennials are “multimodal”, meaning they are more willing to ditch the car and find other ways to travel.  Factors like environmental awareness, limited finances and a commitment to fitness all play a part in the decision to make bicycles their primary mode of transportation. According to a member of the League of American Bicyclists, “States and cities are competing for the most mobile generation ever, so job creators… are really pushing for these amenities.” Less than…
Read More »

Is Bicycle Culture a Good Investment?

Numerous studies have demonstrated that a cycling lifestyle has a positive impact on your health. Regular bicycle riding can improve muscular and skeletal health, help combat the physical side effects of stress and reduce the risk of heart disease. San Diego and several other cities have encouraged bike riding as a way to reduce traffic and air pollution, promote fitness and discourage sedentary lifestyles. As these cities spend millions to introduce bike-sharing programs and invest in cycling-specific infrastructure, many skeptics still want to know: is cycling really worth the investment? Health and Societal Benefits of Cycling To find the answer, researchers developed several hypothetical cycling policies for Auckland, New Zealand, and calculated the estimated costs as well as the return on investment. In 2011, Auckland, New Zealand contained about 1.4 million people, making it comparable to cities like San Diego, California and San Antonio, Texas. Using this environment as the…
Read More »

Where Are San Diego Cyclists Most Vulnerable to Hit-and-Runs?

Between 2009 and June of this year, 57 pedestrians and bicyclists have died after a hit-and-run accident in San Diego County. This number does not include car accident fatalities, or the more than 6,000 victims who were injured in similar accidents but survived. So far in 2014, there have been 11 hit-and-run fatalities. That number may not seem like much but consider the fact that it is only June, and since 2009, the average number of fatalities has been 10 or less for the whole year. Pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable to hit-and-run accidents due to decreased visibility and fewer safety options than cars or even motorcycles. They are also more exposed to the road, and therefore, more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries. An enterprising researcher compiled a map of all San Diego hit-and-run locations, along with a short description of each case. Highway authorities hope that by combining the…
Read More »