Cycle Santa Monica!

Sunday, September 10, 2006

CSM! Reader Comment

Greg wrote:

"I have a speedy electric recumbent that I'd like to bring to the event I just heard about at the Santa Monica pier. I believe that the event will include alternatively powered vehicles and will take place some time this year at the SM pier. Please provide information about the event, such as date and time."

It would be great to have a speedy electric recumbent at the event.

It's my understanding, that the alternative powered vehicle show is be coordinated the City of Santa Monica. According to a representative of the city that is coordinating this event, it is going to take place sometime around the end of November or early December. There have been other reports from other people, whom don't work for the city, that it will be sometime in September.

Keep posted to the Cycle Santa Monica! Community forum and/or the Cycle Santa Monica! blog for updates on this event.

If you have the time, you might also call the City of Santa Monica to get more information about this event. If you find any more info please let me know what you find out and/or post it to the community forum or the CSM! blog.

It any other readers have any news, reports, or more information about this event, such as date, time, contact or information phone numbers, emails, and/or website addresses, please send that info to me. Thanks.

BTW, you might like to know that today is the last day of the "ALTERNATIVE POWER: Propulstion After Petroleum" (via Upcoming.org ) (Map/Address/Phone) exhibit at the Peterson Automotive Museum. That exhibit includes what might be one of the first hybrid vehicles, the "1917 Woods Dual Power" on display.

The Peterson Automotive website give two different ending dates for this show, one being September 10th and the other being October 15th. To be on the safe side you might want to catch it today. Or you might call them to get the end date confirmed.

If you find out any more info about the end date, please let me know.

And if you go to see the show please let me know what you thought of it. And if you got any great pictures, please share them. Thanks.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Reader Questions

Steve wrote:

"Thanks for the postings on the electric bikes. I have not looked at them for a long time, a few years ago the Currie seemed like the best bet. Do you know what brands are the best now?"

Hi Steve. That is a good question.

I think the answer depends on what purpose you have for the bike, and what your preferences are.

For example, if you like the whisper quiet of a hub motor, then there are several kits that you can use to retrofit a conventional bike. Crystalite, Wilderness Energy, and Heinzmann hub motor kits have been getting some good reviews in terms of quality, with a few negative comments about the Wilderness Energy in terms of faulting. But apparently they are good about replacing defective products.

There are also friction style and chain driven styles that can offer more torque, but can wear out your tire from the friction(with the friction style) or can be fairly noisy, as the friction style and the chain driven types can be.

I do know of some belt drives styles that are almost as quiet as a hub motor style. But I am not aware of any that are commercially available. I only know of some DIY creations, of which I am working on myself.

I hope to share the findings of my DIY belt drive kit.

Valley Ebiker

New article in the Encino Sun (www.encinosun.com), "Salon owner embraces 'green' living with electric bike"(download PDF) came out today (September 9, 2006). See below.

Encino is a suburb of the City of Los Angeles, located in the San Fernando Valley. It is one of those places in Los Angeles County that an ebike, electric bicycle, can really flourish in.

The San Fernando Valley, also known as the "valley", is car country, where getting around there by anything other than car is problematic. People living there may have to go 2-8 miles just to get to a store. Public transit is very limited, sometime running only once every hour or two, during the day, and shutting down completely after about 8pm and on weekends, in some cases.

An ebike makes it possible for many valley folk to make commuting by bicycle a viable, sweat-free, option, allowing people to go longer distances than they may be able to go by conventional bike alone.

And at the same time, by going ebike, they are able to incorporate some human muscle into the trip, if they choose, at at there physical capacity, if they choose. And they still can get to the places they want to go, and make at a 20 mile per hour pace, which can be pretty tough, even for the most fit cyclists, riding titanium, carbon fiber, feather weight bicycles.

And although ebikes are not feather weight bikes, they can weigh under 50 pounds, with it's electric motor and battery packs, etc. A full ebike retrofit can add as little as 30 pounds to the bicycle's weight. And that small amount of added weight is the equivalent to far more, pound for pound, than having Lance Armstrong pedaling with you.

Salon owner embraces "green" living with electric bike
BY AMY LYONS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2006
PAGE 5

Every morning, Sherry Katz turns the ignition key of her Tres Terra electric bike, cranks the throttle and rides from Chatsworth to Encino Â– pedaling optional.

The 55-year-old owner of Fantastic Sam'’s Encino salon hits speeds around 20 mph, making her 25-mile round trip commute not only petroleum free, but surprisingly speedy.

"It's like having Lance Armstrong as your co-pilot,"” said Katz, who bought the bike a month ago to reduce car travel and get a daily dose of exhaustion- free exercise. "“When I get to work, I'’ve usually pedaled all the way, but I'’m not dripping in sweat."”

Katz, a former environmental lawyer who relocated from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles in 1987, is no stranger to cycling as a form of commuting.

She used to ride her bike from West Los Angeles to the downtown area, but dangerous traffic patterns presented a challenge.

In the wake of the Los Angeles riots, Katz gave up cycling to the office to preserve her safety.

But earlier this year, Katz bought Fantastic Sam'’s Encino, changing her career path and her commuter route.

"I started to think a lot about riding my bike from Chatsworth to Encino,"” Katz recalled, despite having some initial concerns about the daily trip. "“I'’m at a different level of physical conditioning now," she said, noting that she takes blood pressure medication and recently suffered dehydration while riding a standard, non-electric bike.

Searching for a safe transportation alternative that would also be petroleum-free, she began researching electric bikes. It was a no-brainer.

"You are not trying to replace what a bike does, you'’re trying to replace car trips," said Katz, who chose an electric bike over a scooter because she wanted the option of exercise without the paperwork that accompanies motor vehicle ownership.

"“I can ride in the bike lanes,"” said Katz. "“There is a federal law that says an electric cycle that doesn't go faster than 20 mph is a bicycle, so it doesn'’t have to be registered, it doesn't need a license plate, it doesn'’t need insurance,"” she said.

Sherry spent $1,500 on the Tres Terra Europa, an electric bike designed as an out-of the box commuting solution.

"“It has the rack, the lights, everything you need. If you go to the bike shop and buy this, you don't need to buy anything else with it,"” said Katz, who shopped at Cycle World on Reseda Boulevard, one of many San Fernando Valley electric bicycle retailers.

Errands to pick up supplies for her shop still necessitate occasional car trips for Katz, but she tries to transport as many supplies as possible with each trip.

"“It'’s difficult for people because cars are convenient"– they'’re powerful, they'’re fun, we'’re addicted to them. I'’m as addicted to the use of petroleum as anybody,"” she admitted.

"Research shows that the majority of car trips people make are five miles or less. [An electric bike] is a totally feasible way to travel a few miles. The footprint that we make in terms of energy consumption is too big. Taking a 3,000 pound car to move a 150 pound person for a mile just doesn'’t make sense."

Katz stressed her belief that if she can commute to work every day on an electric bike, "“anyone can."” Those disinclined to cycling may want to take her advice on making a smaller commitment to energy conservation.

"“Even if you just reduce your one-mile car trips to the grocery store, you are doing something,"” said Katz.

Check out Katz'’s blog diary about her commute at
http://kenehora.blogspot.com

Related Posts:
- Hybrid Bike news report
- Electric Bikes China news report
- Ebikes Public Parking/Charging Stations
- Touring Beijing by Electric Bicycle
- Ebikes Vietnam video news report
- Electric Bikes Vancouver video news report
- CarLess Santa Monica video news report

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum
- Santa-Monica/West-L.A./Venice critical mass community forum
- Air-Power-Vehicles community forum

Friday, September 08, 2006

Batman on Ebikes 3

In the last episode, Batman and Robin were discussing the start of a plan on how to help the mayor of the Metropolis Santa Monica with city's ebike shortage and the looming threat of Catwoman's implementation of the free ebikes for the people of Santa Cruz.

Batman returned to to the Bat Cave after riding in the Santa Monica Critical Mass and finds Robin continuing his research on the Bat Computer.(see prior episode)

Batman:

Robin, how is the research coming along.

Robin:

It's been good Batman. I have alot of new information.
To start, there is a fairly new store in Santa Monica called Trans-Port-Station. It's run by a guy named John. He has been trying to get people to "think outside the car" and to consider riding electric bicycles.
also, got special message from the National Security Agency through our encrypted Top Secret communication port, that, in fact, Cat Woman was spotted in Europe, talking to the sceintists at the EuroBike event. A day later, she vanished and so did the one of a kind experimental Jet bike on display. This jet bike has the capacticity to ridden like a conventional bike. And with the flip of a swith, it's twin turbo jet packs fire up, burning biodiesel. And within a few seconds the bike is flying down the road at over 100 miles per hour. Also, with the flip of another switch, it's folding wings unfold and it can take flight like an airplane.
What did you find out at the Santa Monica Critical Mass ride?.

Batman:

It went well. Didn't see any ebikes there. But some people said that there have been ebikers attending in previous 'mass rides.
Also, learned that there will be a Midnight Ridazz ride, they call the "Swarm The Pier" ride. They plan to arrive at the Santa Monica Pier this Friday(September 8th) at midnight. They are starting the ride at various meeting spots around Los Angeles. Also, on Friday there is going to be a Free community screening of "Power of Community - How Cuba Survived the Oil Crisis" at Cafe Bolivar at 7pm. These two events may be worth attending to continue our investigation.
We'll have to monitor the situation with the disappearing Jet bike. We don't want that bike falling into the wrong hands.

Robin:

Right Batman. That's great news Cuba screening. Cuba seems to be a hotbed for Power-Assist bicycles. And we may learn some valuable information by attending. Do you want me to attend that too?

Batman:

Yes, and I want you to check out the Midnight Ridazz ride. Keep an eye out for Catwoman.
Some of the people attending the critical mass ride said that the theme for this Midnight Ridazz is going to be anything insect related to go along with the idea of "swarming".

Robin:

Great. I got a great bee costume from Halloween last year that should be perfect for the ride. And by going in costume we can hide our true identities as Batman and Robin.
What will you dress as Batman?

Batman:

Not sure yet. But I'll think of something.
We have to be at Cafe Bolivar by 7p. We'll take our bikes so as to fit in with the crowd. And then we will have be be at the Culver City meeting point for the "Swarm the Pier Ride" by 10-10:30
, in a Trader Joe's parking lot to join the swarm as they ride by.

Robin:

Batman, do you think Catwoman will be on the ride? If she is, there could be trouble.

Batman:

I know.

(To be Continued...)

Related Posts:
- Santa Monica Critical Mass(video)
- Midnight Ridazz

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum
- Santa Monica Pier Web Cam

Kraftwerk Mashup

I dont care it's more fun: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Santa Monica Energy Independent

The Press Release below highlights the reputation Santa Monica and Santa Monicans are proud of.

Energy indepedence is the right direction for Santa Monica. And perhaps in addition to encouraging developers to build in energy eficient buildings in the city, the city of Santa Monica may explore the creation of an energy commission to pursue the creation of an electricity Department of Power, which may develop a city owned power generation company. That company may include the construction and placement of a couple high power wind turbine generators in Santa Monica bay or on the Santa Monica mountain, or at the Santa Monica Airport. Or perhaps Santa Monica may join forces with the City of Malibu and form a joint power company to supply electricity for our residents and businesses which comes from wind and solar energy, saving our cities and residents a lot of money. (see wind turbine video)

Check out the Magenn Power Floating Wind Turbines. These make work well in Santa Monica, and be attractive too.

SANTA MONICA PROMOTES ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Santa MonicaÂ’s green building program is highlighted in New Energy for Cities, a report released today by the Apollo Alliance. Mayors from across the nation are pioneering new clean energy solutions that could help end our nationÂ’s oil addiction and create good jobs, according to the report.

"It's an honor for Santa Monica to be recognized for our work on green building." said Mayor Bob Holbrook. "We now have the highest number of LEED certified green buildings per capita in the country."

"Our cities arenÂ’t holding their breath waiting for leadership from Washington, D.C.," said Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance. "They've declared energy independence by cutting oil use, investing in clean, homegrown power, and designing energy efficient buildings and communities. And theyÂ’re tying these programs to job quality standards, to ensure the benefits of the new energy economy are enjoyed by everyone. These investments are paying big dividends in healthier air and reduced dependence on foreign energy."

"Cities are setting a leadership standard that we hope Washington will one day follow," said Mayor Holbrook. "Santa Monica is encouraging the development of green buildings without burdening developers, building owners or occupants. WeÂ’re working on solutions that will protect our environment, create good jobs, and reduce our countryÂ’s dependence on foreign energy."

"Santa Monica has done a great job promoting clean energy," observed Carla Din, Western Regional field director of the Apollo Alliance. "The cityÂ’s comprehensive Green Building Design has helped to set a foundation for a more sustainable way of life. It enhances local resources, promotes energy efficiency and energy independence, helps to prevents harm to the natural environment, and strengthens the local economy."

New Energy for Cities highlights dozens of representative municipal programs that promote renewable power, reduce oil consumption, make buildings more efficient and promote smart growth.

The Apollo Alliance, whose member organizations represent more than 17 million Americans, is a broad coalition of labor, environmental, business and community organizations that are fighting for energy independence and good jobs. Apollo is pursuing a crash program for clean energy that will capitalize on American innovation and ingenuity, rebuild our cities, create good jobs for working families and ensure good stewardship of both the economy and our natural environment. For more information, visit www.apolloalliance.org.

LEDs for Cyclists...

This LumiLive cloth, which has super thin LEDs (light emitting diodes) embedded in it, could be a boom for bicyclists, skaters, and pedestrians.

Can you imagine, bike helmets covers could have this LED arrays in them. And they can be creating a light pattern such as blinking. Additionally, they could have switching which can be activated by pressing the bicycle breaks. Or it may be automatically activated based on speed reduction, with the "Slowing" or when the reduction in speed passes a set threshhold, it could say "Stopping". Or perhaps, It can tansition from green, to yellow, to red as speed drops, to signal drivers behind the cyclist of the rate of speed reduction. And with the colors being similar to crosswalk signal patterns, it would be familiar.

And by using speed reduction as the mechanism to create the light pattern, merely wearing the shirt or helmet cover, with an speedometer on bike, would be all that is needed.

LEDs virtually never burnout and they use very little electricity which is great for cycling use.

Check out the video with these LEDs in action.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

A-Bike Folding Bike

This is the smallest folding bicycle I have seent to date, that appears to have real bicycle functionality, high quality craftsmanship, and the virtual feel of riding a conventional upright bicycle. This bicycle, when folded up is small enough, virtually, to fit in a backpack.

NICE!

And you may have seen my many post touting electric power assist. A power assist on this bike would make it one amzing little bike.

Related Posts:

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Clean Air Rally

Hi Guys.

The "Right To Breathe Healthy Air" will be having their third rally this Saturday.

Here are the details:

EVENT: 3rd "Right To Breath Healthy Air Rally"
WHEN: Saturday, September 9, 2006 12-4pm
WHERE: N.W. lawn of the West L.A. Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd and Veteran Ave, LA 90024
BRING: Signs and wear gas/construction masks if possible
PARKING:
-Option 1: Lot #36. One block N. of Wilshire blvd and Veteran Ave $6/day
-Option 2: Kinross lot #32. Across street from Lot #36, on Kinross $8/day
-Option 3: Gayley lot. Enter on Kinross, adjacent to Gayley. 2 bl. from Fed. Bldg.
(Do not park at Federal Building parking lot)

For more information, call or send email to:
Kathy Ornstiein @
RIGHT TO BREATHE HEALTHY AIR
310-657-5174
kathyornstein@hotmail.com
and/or Google "chemtrails"

Donations appreciated for this cause
Please send to:
RIGHT TO BREATH HEALTHY AIR
C/O KAthy Ornstein
1916 S. Holt Avenue #3
LA, CA 90035-2026

Other transportation and parking options include taking one of the many buses that run along Wilshire blvd or Westwood and get off at the Federal bulding stop or the stop at Wilshire and Westwood. And/or you may consider riding your bicycle to the event. Parking for bicycles can be found at poles along many of the streets at the Federal building, in addition to some bike racks on the federal building grounds.

I believe their may be some speaking events, and special VIP appearances to this event. Call Kathy to confirm

Other Upcoming Events:
- September 8, 2006 - 7pm: FREE community screening with presentations and Q&A of "Power Of Community: How Cuba Survived The Oil Crisis"(More Info...)

Related Posts:
- Toxic Skies
- Clean Air Good Life
- Air Pollution video new report

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica community forum

Pedestrian Hell... OUCH!

Every thirty seconds a pedestrian is hit by a drunk driver.

This video presents the story in a humorous way. For more info see: www.every30.com

The ending is funny. (wink)(smile)

Related Posts:
- Revenge of The Ped
- Magical Two Feet
- Car-Free In L.A.(video)

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa MOnica! community forum
- Every Thirty Seconds

CarLess Santa Monica

This is an NBC TV News report about how one Santa Monican man, Chris Balish, is living in L.A. without a car. It was broadcast on August 29, 2006.

Chris Balish also wrote a book, "How To Live Well Without Owning A Car".

Watch the Video News Report

This is a very nice video report. And I would add that if he selected an ebike, an electric bicycle, he could do everything he is doing with his conventional bicycle, including taking it with him on public transit, and so much more. See the video news story "Man Motors on Hybrid Bike", which came out recently, to get a sense of how it can be done.

Also, a reminder, this Friday (August 8, 2006) will be a FREE community screening in Santa Monica of the documentary "Power of Community - How Cuba Survived The Oil Crisis (details)

How To Live Without A Car
August 29, 2006

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Could you get through the day without your car? Before you say, "no way," NBC4's Kelly Mack shows you one man who says it can be done -- even in Los Angeles.

Following is a verbatim script from the on-air report

Kelly Mack: Chris Balish puts on his helmet, mounts his bicycle and glides off on his two wheels onto the streets of Santa Monica. Three years ago, Chris decided to sell his car and live without one. Why? Well, he's not anti-big oil. He's not an environmental activist. Why then? In a word, money.

Chris Balish: Most people will spend from $500 to $800 every month on their car here in L.A. That is a lot of money to me. If you can cut that out of your monthly budget, that's huge.

Mack: For the past ten years, Chris worked as a reporter at a local TV station in St. Louis. It was there that he started thinking about how to live without a car. Chris did a little simple math and discovered that if he lived without car expenses for 30 years, he would pocket more than $1 million in savings. Furthermore, Chris says going without four wheels is not that difficult.

Balish: I think people would be really surprised when they combine a bicycle and mass transit how easy it is to get around the city and you don't have to sit in traffic.

Mack: Chris tells me that the first step to giving up your wheels is to figure out a reliable way of getting to work, with at least two backup plans. If you can do that, he insists, everything else falls into place.

Balish: If that involves car pooling, or using the metro bus, combining your bike with public transit -- whatever it is, that's your first step. Just take a look around your neighborhood for public transportation infrastructure. It's probably there, or it's probably pretty close and I will bet that most places, it's no more than a mile or two bike ride from your home. If that's the case, you've got a great shot a living car free and saving a lot of money.

Mack: Chris acknowledges that going totally car free in LA may be impossible for some. In those cases, he suggests going "Car-Lite."

Balish: Cut down to one car. A lot of couples have two cars. A lot of families with kids have three cars. One-car families are going to be the wave of the future, I think ... with gas prices as high as they are.

Mack: Indeed, since gas prices started to skyrocket last year, the number of customers using public transportation here in Southern California has also gone up, according to the MTA. And with the cost of gasoline expected to continue climbing, many more people may be forced to consider changing their transportation habits.

Chris has written a book, called "How to Live Well Without Owning a Car," to help people figure out how to do what he has done ... or some version of it.

There is no question that doing without a car takes significant thought, planning and some trial and error. But Chris insists that since he went "car-free" he is saving tons of money, breathing easier, and getting a lot more mileage out of life.