In April, we mentioned a new bike-sharing program in Washington, DC that was supposed to start in May. Judging from this snapshot we took on the corner of 7th Street NW and F Street NW, that launch date has been pushed back.
Whenever it finally gets going, the Clear Channel-sponsored bike program will start small, with just 120 bikes at 10 rental kiosks throughout the city. (Here's map of the rental locations.)
We wonder, though, how useful the SmartBike DC program will be to visitors. So far, rentals are only available via a $40 yearly subscription.
If our previous biking suggestion didn't get your tires spinning, maybe something more challenging is in order? Canyonlands National Park is chopped up into a number of different sections, the least accessible of which is The Maze. A bike tour here is way more edgy than a ride around Paris.
But don't try it alone. If you're headed into The Maze, go with Escape Adventures. Their tour takes riders down Flint Trail and curves along the canyons to The Maze Overlook. You'll then hop off your bike for a bit as you and the group hike through the heart of this deserted outback. The journey ends at Lake Powell, where your tour guides will get you back to base with a flight over the country you just crossed.
Last year, Escape Adventures started using vegetable oil-powered support vehicles, but we don't think the flight back is powered by Crisco. The tour will set you back about $1,200 and includes just about everything.
Yes, Velib bikes will get you around Paris, but unless you're familiar with the city, you may be too distracted by trying to read rue signs to see the sights. Before you know it your 30 Velib minutes are up and you're racing to find the nearest bike rack.
Enter Fat Tire Bike Tours, the best four hours (and $37) you might spend in Paris. Run by a group of young, in-the-know Americans, they've got a laid back attitude and effortless cool that makes for a surprisingly refreshing guided tour experience.
You've seen the crazy bike messengers racing through your city ten times faster than cars, effortlessly dodging people, taxis and anything else that gets in their way. Now imagine them all getting together, meeting up with the daredevil messengers from every other city in the world and holding one giant, rules-free race. That's the concept behind the 16th Annual Cycle Messenger World Championships, taking off in Toronto June 13-16.
The three-hour, fast-paced road race replicates the route of an urban bike messenger, while additional events include bike polo (with wheels instead of horses), the bunnyhop (high-jumping with bikes), and skids (bikers race to high speeds, then lock their rear wheels to see how far they can skid). Hundreds of competitors are expected, and if watching isn't your thing, all events are open to anyone crazy enough to try.
The championships will be held on Toronto Island, the urban park near Toronto City Centre Airport, so if you get bored you can wander over to Hanlan's Point Beach to check out the local nudist colony. Oh and if you need to rent a bike, Toronto Island Bicycle Rental has you covered.
We already credit the Swiss with being quite good at a range of things: Army knives, watches, chocolate and banks. Turns out we can add something else to the list: an impressive network of hiking, cycling, skating and canoeing paths perfectly signposted for us to use, as part of the SwitzerlandMobility project.
Apparently all of these trails and paths have been around for ages, but now that they've got them properly interconnected and have standardized the signage, there's no stopping us, whichever method of getting around we choose.
Hikers can choose from almost 4,000 miles of paths, cyclists from nearly 5,300 miles and even mountain-bikers get over 2,000 miles of signposted Swiss beauty. Those clever Swiss have even tied in public transport routes to help us get to and from these trails. No excuse for staying still in Switzerland now.
Yeah, pedals, not petals. Something about this super nice weather has us wanting to rent a bike and ride around some parks. Picnicking and day drinking are, of course, optional.
In Paris, those Velib bikes are the way to go, and other European cities have similar bike-sharing programs. Stateside, Washington, DC is launching a similar program next month, starting with a fleet of 120 bikes. The initiative is called SmartBike DC, though its set-up seems a little less tourist-friendly than some other programs. (Something about a $40 annual fee...)
At NYC's Central Park, you can go official and rent bikes at The Boathouse or just grab one from a tout in Columbus Circle. Oh, and if you shoot a crazy video while biking, do send it our way.
After a particular post on Monday, some people accused us of being heartless. As evidence to the contrary, allow us to present Davy and Daryl Vogel, two youngsters planning to bike from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. These kids are cute!
OK, yes, they'll also be biking with their parents, two schoolteachers who will help Davy and Daryl make it to Argentina. Along the way, the twin brothers hope to educate other, less fortunate kids about geography and set a world record as the youngest duo to bike the Pan-American Highway.
Obviously, there's a blog involved. We'll be watching for updates from the road, boys.
Unless you're traveling in bike-friendly metros like Portland, Oregon or Minneapolis, finding detailed cycling maps can be tough--which is a bummer if you're trying to travel green, or just want to get a ride in on your next trip. But worry not, Bikely has the answer.
The equivalent of a cyclist's del.icio.us, Bikely lets riders all over the world share their favorite routes. And for a site that's still growing, it's got a lot of destinations covered: from five-mile daily commutes in Seattle to 100-mile tours in the French alps to 15-mile cruises around Beijing's must-see attractions.
Bikely integrates Google Maps so cyclists can visually chart their routes but also leaves room for detailed text instructions, and users can print out condensed cue sheets to take with them on rides. Each route is tagged by location, type and difficulty.
Perhaps the best feature on Bikely is the forums, which lets cyclists comment on rides, sharing suggestions and criticisms. For travelers looking to tackle an unfamiliar city on two wheels, it can sometimes be nice to know the road you're on has been ridden before.
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by pbb
