Scuderi Air Hybrid

These video illustrate what and how a Scuderi Air Hybrid engine works. And how it may be applied as a power source for a moving vehicle or an electricity generator. It also clarifies it's ability to be powered by biodiesel, ethynol, and other biofuels(bio-fuel).



Scudari engine promo video


Scuderi engine overview


Interview with Scudari


Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

Eco-Air

"Eco-Air"... a pneumatic and/or water compressor design.



Part 2



Video description:
The Inventor Wolfhart Willimczik shows his inventions, how they are created and how they are destroyed by the SSD/STASI and KGB.
www.Wolfhart.us

Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

No Gas!

This video shows ideas on how to transport groceries or other things you want to keep dry... while riding in the rain.

The cyclist also has some innovative ideas on using lights for bicycles... such as wide turn signal lights.

Also, in honor of the recent report of the escaped tiger in the San Francisco Zoo, it is a reminder to us all... remember to feed your kitty.

Military Bikes

This is an interesting video demonstrating the process a soldier goes through when they jump from a plane with a military spec folding bicycle.

Talk about adreneline rush! first you dive out of a plane, free fall, then fly on your steerable parachute, then hit the ground, unpack your mil spec folding bike for some hard core mountain bike riding.

Wait! That description seems like an X-treme sport adventure!

Street Surfer

This bicycle is kind of a hybrid bike and skate. It is called the "Street Surfer". It is made in Western Australia (WA), Australia.

The report states that it will be available in the USA by April 2008.

Electric Eel

This video news story prompts the thought of imagining if humans could generate electricity, kind of like they apparently did in the movie "The Matrix". Perhaps in the future, humans genes will be blended with electric eel genes (the parts that generate electricity) to give humans the ability to generate electricity. Perhaps these will be real "X-Men" of the future.

Or perhaps this bio mechanical technology will be used for robots that to give them a power source, generated from eating food. It may also be used for creating a power source for bionic prosthetic limbs. It may even give humans the ability to generate visiable light. hmmm..

Dec 13 - A new Christmas installation is taking centre stage at a Japanese aquarium involving an electric eel and Christmas tree lights.

The electric eel discharges up to 800 watts of power and every time the creature moves it lights up the Christmas tree.

The eel and the tree has been a crowd puller, with hundreds coming to watch the eel move and the lights twinkle.

Basmah Fahim reports.

Santa Monica Bike Valet

Back in April 2007, CBS news did a video news piece that included coverage of the Santa Monica Farmer's Market bicycle valet (LINK)
(link to Video only)

They also included a bit from the AP and what they had to say on the topic:

Valet Parking Now Offered For Santa Monica Bikes
Apr 25, 2007
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) ―

Valet parking in Southern California is routine.

But a new kind of service is catering to people who need to park their bikes.

Santa Monica officials are hiring parkers to handle up to 350 bikes at the Sunday market.

Long Beach is offering full service parking for cyclists, including attendants who fill up the tires and repair bikes.

Santa Barbara plans to open a bike center May First, with hot showers and locker rooms where bike-riding commuters can freshen up before work.

Bike Lanes

Last week, the City of Santa Monica painted some new bicycle lanes along Ocean Park Blvd.(Santa Monica, California)(MAP). See Google maps "Street View", what Ocean Park Blvd looked like before the bike lanes were installed.(LINK). Or take a look at the AltCar Expo Rally video to see much of that section of Ocean Park blvd, and what it looked like before the bike lanes were added(video link)

There has not been any reports from the city that I am aware of on this project. It is unclear how far they will be painting these lanes. It appears they are painted as far west on Ocean Park blvd as about 25th street. And they maybe painted as far east as Lincoln, to connect up with the bike lanes west of Lincoln. The bike lanes are so fresh there still is not any bike lane labeling or graphics in the segments seen thus far.

If anyone has more info on this bike lane project or links regarding it on the city's website let me know. Thanks!


Related Posts:
- Santa Monica Bicycle Workshop (audio file - Feb. 2005)
- Sharing Roads

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

SaMoHi Bikes 2

(click on image to enlarge)

Two Santa Monica High School Students Ride in AidsRide 2002
Santa Monica, California (June 17, 2002)

Mark Hunter - a junior at Santa Monica High School (SaMoHi)(Samohi Online Newspaper), resident of Santa Monica, and newly elected vice president of his high school student body - learned to ride a bike a year and half ago. Just last week he completed the 575-mile-week-long AidsRide California. He and another junior at Samohi were the only high school students from Samohi and among only 5 high school students to ride in the event. Mark believes that the reason more kids aren't riding bikes is because of society's notion that cars are best. As the vice president(Samohi), he would like to work on changing that. One idea he has is to give special credit to those students that bicycle to school. For the full story about him and Max Dean Goldstein(Santa Monica Resident, junior Samohi) riding for AIDS, see: Full Article

Links to other youth bicycling programs and resources:
(if you know of any other great links to add please send them to cyclesantamonica@yahoo.com)

*
Jefferson High School, Portland Oregon
*
b.i.k.e. (Bicycles and Ideas for Kids' Enpowerment)
*
Community Cycling Center, Portland, OR
*
Hartland High School Bicycle Club
*
Bloomington South High School Solar Bicycle Team
*
Bloomington High School Girls Win the Wold Solar Bike Race Again!
*
Bellaire High School (Texas) has a student parking problem similar to Samohi
*
Monte Vista High School (Cupertino, Calif) parking blues
*
Go For the Green (Safe Routes to Schoo Program)
*
Groundwork (London, UK) (good info)
*
Safe Routes to School (New Zealand) (good info)
*
Safe Routes to School (UK)
*
Safe Routes To School
*
Safe Routes Network
*
Citizens for Safe Cycling (Ottawa, Canada)
*
Green Teacher (February-March 1993 promoting bicycling in your school)

Samohi Bikes

(click on images to enlarge)

Was a big news day for bikes today, Thursday, December 6, 2007. There was a front page story report about the "Bike To School Day" (at SAMOHI) in the Santa Monica Daily Press, titled "Bike to School day pedals off"(article-PDF). Side note, I noticed that neither the Bike Coalition, nor the Solar Alliance were listed on the SaMoHi Website Club listings(link).

And In the LA Times "Guide" section there was an article about the Midnight Ridazz titled "Midnight Ridazz are bound to keep on riding In the heart of car culture, massive bike rides are hitting the streets. Should you admire them? Scorn them? Or join the pack?"(article).

For those interested, you might want to read about two other SAMOHI students who got covered in the local media for their exploits on two Wheels(article)

If anyone has web links or other contact info for the Solar Alliance or the Bike Coalition(mentioned in the "Bike To School Day Pedals Off"), send to me or post the info in the comments so people who are interested in those groups can connect with them.

It might be alot of fun to have a solar powered electric assist bicycle at one of the future "Bike To School Days". It would show the possibilities of a bicycle that can use human power and power from the sun.

Bike to School day pedals off
BY Melody Hanatani
Santa Monica Daily Press
December 6, 2007

CITY STREETS Throughout his more than three full years of high school, Austin Draper’s mode of transportation to school has slowly evolved from walking to skateboarding to bicycling.

While it seems as though the natural transition in his senior year would be to get behind the wheel of a car, the bicycling enthusiast has no plans of relinquishing the old faithful handlebars.

“It’s funny, because when I do get a ride to school, I’m always late ... because of traffic,” the Samohi student said en route to school Wednesday morning.

Draper was among the approximately 85 students that ditched car rides in favor of a healthy bicycle commute to school on Wednesday as part of Samohi’s first “Bike Day” event, hosted by two student organizations
— the Samohi Solar Alliance and the Bike Coalition.

The purpose of the event was to showcase the feasibility of commuting to school via bicycle, a transportation method that event organizers believe most students don’t see as an option because of the extra
time it could take to beat the bell.

“It’s something (many students) think would take too long to do in the morning,”
said senior Owen Gorman, the president and founder of the Bike Coalition. “They would have to wake up too early and sleep is really important for kids our age.” But the showing of support on Wednesday

BRAKE TIME: The first Bike to School Day attracted more than 80 students to ride their bikes.

could be an indicator that some students might be thinking two wheels are better than four.
The high school’s bike rack area, which normally contains about 30 bicycles on any given day, was packed with more than 90 two-wheelers by the time school started on Wednesday morning.

A handful of those bicycles belonged to faculty, estimated Rachel Horn, one of the co-presidents of the Samohi Solar Alliance.

“It’s daunting until you do it,” said Lulu Mickelson, a co-president of the Samohi Solar Alliance along with Mara McKevitt.

Many of the students involved with the two organizations are avid bike riders, commuting on two wheels almost every day of the week.

Draper, who is a member of both organizations, has been riding his bike to school every day since his junior year, favoring bike ridding because of the environmental and health benefits.

The commute from his house in the Wil-Mont area of town to Samohi — about two miles — takes about 15 to 20 minutes,
depending on the traffic along California Avenue near Lincoln Middle School.

Draper’s daily route to school presents different challenges, from the lack of bike lanes on Lincoln Boulevard, forcing the Samohi student onto the sidewalk, to the absence of traffic signals at the intersections
of Ninth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard, keeping the student waiting until the coast is clear to dash down the southbound street.

SHARING THE ROAD?

Still, Draper’s biggest challenge is the occasional honk and scream by impatient motorists that believe the student shouldn’t be acting as a motorist on the road, yelling at him to get off his bike.

“Some people will honk for no reason,” Draper said as he steered onto California Avenue. His determination to ride the bike to school every day seemed to unnerve his parents, who were concerned about their son getting
to and from school safely. After Draper was hit by a motorist at Lincoln Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard about two months ago, he succumbed to his mother’s wishes and finally donned a helmet. Draper
didn’t sustain any injuries in the accident.

But on Wednesday morning, he didn’t have his helmet handy, having left it in his girlfriend’s car the day before. The student opted for a head scarf and seemed to take more precaution in his ride, coming to complete stops at four-way stop signs, even if there weren’t any cars at the intersection. Draper said he now always tries to wear a helmet.

“I’ll be the cool one when my head is protected (in an accident),” he said as he slowed down near Lincoln Middle School.

To Draper, bicycle riding fosters community more than driving, which can be a solitary activity, especially in car-centric Southern California. Draper himself occasionally rides with several of his friends to school.
One of his riding buddies is Gorman, who lives just a few blocks away. Gorman, who founded the Bike Coalition this year, has been riding his bike to school since he was a student at Lincoln Middle School. The ride
from Gorman’s house north of Montana Avenue to Samohi takes about 15 minutes.

Gorman was also involved in two minor car-versus-bicycle accidents, neither of which resulted in injuries. He doesn’t believe the students at Samohi are reluctant to ride their bikes to school because of the
potential dangers. The students just don’t even think of hopping on a bike, he said. “We need events like Bike to School Day to get kids to try it and, hopefully, it will lead to a lifelong positive attitude
toward biking,” Gorman said.

The two organizations hope to make the Bike Day a biannual event, planning to
sponsor another one next semester.

“It’s a promotional day advertising bicycles as an alternative form of transportation that’s not combustion engine,”Horn said.

Midnight Ridazz are bound to keep on riding - In the heart of car culture, massive bike rides are hitting the streets. Should you admire them? Scorn them? Or join the pack?
By Liam Gowing
Los Angeles Times
December 6, 2007

10 p.m. on a dreary, drizzly Friday, and it looks as if it's turning into one of those gridlock-filled evenings for which our city has become sadly infamous.

Traffic along Echo Park Avenue is backed up from the Echo Lake boathouse all the way to the 101. And along this serpentine stretch of road sits an improbable number of idling vehicles -- first dozens, then perhaps 200 or 300 -- all waiting for the light at Sunset Boulevard to offer release. Finally, with a flash of green, they come to life in a synchronized swell, inertia overcome not by petrochemical combustion but by mitochondria and muscle.

It's no ordinary traffic jam, of course. It's Midnight Ridazz, the loose network of bicycle enthusiasts, rogues and hipsters who have helped foment a cultural revolution in L.A. since 2004. Along with Critical Mass -- a multi-city bicycle "event" founded in San Francisco in 1992 to promote cyclists' rights by taking the streets once a month at rush hour -- Midnight Ridazz and its growing diaspora of bicycle clubs have been pushing the envelope of what it means to be traffic, to the delight and fury of residents and officials.

Calling Midnight Ridazz "a reflection of the growing frustration people have with L.A.'s car-only culture," Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti welcomes the challenge of incorporating its constituents onto city streets as a way to reduce car traffic and pollution. He also sees deep sociological significance in the group.

"There's this myth in Los Angeles that we lead solitary lives, but I think that Midnight Ridazz and the other bike groups run counter to that. Los Angeles is a place where you certainly need to be in the know to find out where things are, but once you do, you see as strong and deep a community as anywhere in the United States."

Considering the origins of Midnight Ridazz, the assessment couldn't be more apt.

Conceived by 30-year-old graphic designer Kim Jensen -- known by her outlaw-affecting Ridazz handle, Skull -- during a late-night ride in Cambodia, Midnight Ridazz was inaugurated in L.A. on Feb. 27, 2004, when the Echo Park resident led five like-minded friends on bikes and two on skateboards on a rolling tour of downtown's fountains. A sense of community and an almost liturgical fellowship was immediate, says Jensen, as was a consensus on where to take the nascent bicycle club: "We were all anti-establishment, creative and feeling a need for speed in a nonconformist format. We were really set on keeping it free and totally noncommercial."

In addition to wanting to keep Ridazz events free-spirited, Jensen and company wanted them to be fun. So, in diametrical distinction to the politically charged but leaderless Critical Mass, Jensen set the precedent of promoting festively themed outings late Friday nights, when auto traffic is svelte and mellow, along routes mapped out ahead of time to avoid narrow streets, freeway exits and left turns.

From the get-go, the group's well-planned approach and laid-back execution were a success. Perhaps too much so: "The first ride was planned very well," says one of the original eight Ridazz, a strapping 6-foot-7 30-year-old who goes by the alias Roadblock (he refused to reveal his real name). "It was like, 'Wow, I didn't even know these places existed.' By the third ride, it became a phenomenon."

That's no exaggeration. Although a few dozen cyclists had joined the core group for that third event, the Belmont Tunnel "Mural Ride," hundreds began appearing thereafter. Within a year, the group was regularly pushing 1,000. To accommodate the swelling horde, which could no longer pedal through a single light cycle en masse, Midnight Ridazz felt compelled to adopt an extralegal practice popularized by Critical Mass -- "corking" -- whereby a few lead riders block an intersection so that cyclists who miss the green can stay with the pack.

"When we obey the lights," says Roadblock of the namesake move, "it's even more chaotic because the traffic is just insane for blocks and blocks. I've talked to police officers about it, and they say, 'Yeah, keep it together and just get through.' So that's what we go on."

If the practice was tacitly accepted and even occasionally assisted by the LAPD, it became increasingly unpopular with motorists caught trying to cross the ever-growing throng of cyclists -- or, worse, having to follow it. By summer 2006, things reached a truly critical mass.

"The last ride that I led had 1,400 people," says 32-year-old group leader Monica Howe (a.k.a. Muff). "And it was just an unmanageable mob. There were police incidents. There were fights between bicyclists and motorists. There were guns drawn by civilians.

"It was getting a little scary because people started to suggest that some [stuff] was going to go down eventually and that if anybody needed to be held responsible it was going to be the people organizing. Kim, MaBell [another of the original octet] and I, by that time, were the ones in charge, and we decided to step down and let other people take it where they wanted it to go."

This might well have been nowhere if it weren't for the towering figure of Roadblock, who devised a new approach for Ridazz: No more e-mails or fliers promoting the original second-Friday-of-the-month ride; a wiki-style website on which any member could post his or her own ride theme and itinerary; and an open call for remote Ridazz to start new, smaller franchises in their own neighborhoods.

With a more democratic support base, Midnight Ridazz grew down and out. Dozens of new clubs and rides popped up on the site, including Roadblock's own Wolfpack Hustle, a fast Monday night ride that recently celebrated its first anniversary with a 100-mile "Century Ride" around L.A. And though most of the remaining vanguards left to focus on new ventures, several stayed active in the cycling community, including Jensen and Howe, who became outreach coordinator of the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition.

It's a role that's kept her busy of late, as the proliferation of clubs and group rides in the Southland has led to new conflicts with motorists, municipal officials and law enforcement. Just last month, these issues came to a head in Santa Monica, where police detained and ticketed or arrested dozens of Critical Mass riders for corking intersections as well as a host of minor infractions such as having reflector lights affixed to backpacks rather than fenders.

But none of these issues is on the minds of participants in Midnight Ridazz's aforementioned slog out of bike-friendly Echo Park -- the "Heavy Metal II" ride. Even in the pouring rain, riders are exultant. Pedestrians raise their voices in sympathetic celebration while drivers forced to wait at blocked intersections honk their horns in the funky rhythms of solidarity. Clearly overwhelmed by this onslaught of positive energy, one driver jumps out of her Corvette to express herself in a more personal manner: removing her topto reveal two tokens of support.

As one instructive night with Midnight Ridazz shows, there are plenty of ways to achieve critical mass.

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

iZip Ebike

This is a video from Alt Car Expo. interview with a rep from Currie Technologies


In the interview, it was disclosed that the currie bike was being ridden from Santa Monica over the Santa Monica pass to the San Fernando Valley by the owner of Currie.
That bike is prices at $2000. The other Izip bike is priced at $1600.

In the video below is an expose on the Izip bike. However, the description give on the type of motor, I believe, is incorrect. The Izip is using an electric hub motor, not a motor attached to the crank, as he stated.

Pacific Blue

In this clip from "Pacific Blue", SMPD bike patrol officer does a fancy bike trick. NICE!



Bike chase from Pacific Blue.



Intro to Pacific Blue.

Mobylette Electrique

This is a video from France of a guy and his Mobylette gas moped that was retrofitted to be a fully electric powered moped.

If you know of others like this send me the info, or post the info in the comments. Thanks!



Video description:

Ouf ! Pépé est là pour sauvegarder les campagnes, sa nouvelle mobylette est très écologique. Pourvu que ça dure !

Related Posted:
- Ebike Public Charging Stations
- Moped Trailers

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Sharing Roads

This is one of the most comprehensive, educational, "Share The Road" video I have seen. They discuss what it means to "Share the Road", How motorists and bicyclists are expected to use the roads, including roads with bicycle lanes.



Related Posts:
- Santa Monica Bicycle Workshop(audio file)

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

Bike Happenning

In SLO (AKA San Luis Obispo, CA), they have a critical mass of sorts. It could even be called a "midnight ridazz" of sorts.

What may appear to be a crowd of crazed, out of control cyclists is actually an organized group of law abiding bike enthusiasts.

However, up in SLO, what I consider the current reigning champ in bicycle friendliness in California, they call it their monthly "Bike Happening".


In this video taken from the winter holiday "Bike Happenning", you see two, three, and four wheel (I think), human powered bikes all decked out with color, twinkly

"We're not a protest, we're a seduction. We want you to have some fun and come and join us. We obey the laws and we stay in close touch with the police and we do whatever they ask for all these years and we just have a really good time," said SLO Bike Happening Founder Mark Grayson.

lights, and festive mood of a wonderland. And this wonderland, in addition to being an opportunity to experience some holiday cheer on these two wheeled human powered contraptions, it was an opportunity for the spectating public to have a sensous helping watching them go by.



This kind of ride could be alot of fun for the December Mass ride in Santa Monica (smile). Perhaps could end up at some place in downtown Santa Monica for some Hot Apple Cider, Egg Nogg, and other delicious things.

Bike Happening: Hundreds of crazed cyclists cruise Farmer's Market streets
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Reported by: Stacy Daniel
SAN LUIS OBISPO

If you've been to the San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market you may have noticed an eccentric group of bicyclists cruising around town.

Have you ever wondered what they are doing or where they are going?

Those riders are people taking part in what is called a Bike Happening.

And it happens here the first Thursday of every month.
We caught up with some of the riders to see what it is all about.

What may appear to be a crowd of crazed, out of control cyclists is actually an organized group of law abiding bike enthusiasts.

They are all part of the San Luis Obispo Bike Happening.

It started in June of 2000, as a small group of friends going out for a fun bike ride through downtown San Luis Obispo.

Seven years later, organizers said it is still just a group of friends riding their bikes through downtown. It is just that the number of friends along for the ride has more than doubled.

Anywhere from 300 to 600 people show up to be part of the Bike Happening.

Every month they have a theme. This month's is orange.

Riders are encouraged to dress up, the crazier the costume the better.

Riders want people to know, it is more of a party than a protest.

"We're not a protest, we're a seduction. We want you to have some fun and come and join us. We obey the laws and we stay in close touch with the police and we do whatever they ask for all these years and we just have a really good time," said SLO Bike Happening Founder Mark Grayson.

The happening is not an organized event, it is just people getting together the first Thursday of the month to go for a ride.

If you can't find a bike or don't have one, one will be provided for you.

Organizers hope that by showing people that riding is fun, more people will leave their cars behind and hop on a bike.

Sharing The Road

SLO has put their "Share The Road" public awareness videos on Youtube.

In this first one, it was video taped back in February and March 2007. It has several clips from their, then new, first "Bicycle Blvd" in San Luis Obispo, CA.



These other two are interesting examples of politeness that I have experienced by both cyclists and motorists in SLO.

In this video, the cyclists is the then current director of the SLO Bicycle Coalition.



This video shows how cyclists riding two abreast provide room to a passing motorist. In the video it show the cyclist having a rear view mirror. It might be interesting if cars came with a horn variation which makes the sound of a bicycle bell, which can be more pleasent (less jarring for cyclists), to indicate that they are behind and are wanting to pass.

Why Critical Mass?

Why ride in critical mass? Why indeed.
(WARNING! this video is of mature gaphic nature. Showing the remains of a man run over by a truck)

Video description:

in this video you can see blood and flesh splattered down the asphalt of a man that was run over by a truck. In the end you can see the truck had virtually severed him in two, leaving his body mangled with guts, a yellowish red jello like substance, oozing out along the wheel of the truck.

In the video below, another form of critical mass, a celebratory wedding procession idriving down the street. A frustrated motorist, not part of the procession, tries to over take them. And this ends in that car ramming another car with her car. Can you imagine what would happen if the car she hit was a person riding a bicycle? Or maaybe even the car was a mother or father riding a bicycle with two of their kids in a bicycle trailer?





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

Council Ponders 'Mass Ride

On November 13, 2007, several dozen bicyclists attended and spoke to the Santa Monica City council, under agenda item "14". That agenda item allows council to hear public comment on things that are not on the agenda (see: 11/13/2007 agenda). The city council can not act on act on any issues presented that are not officially part of the agenda for the meeting. However, they are allows, individually to ask questions of those making comment, are able to direct staff to provide more information on various things spoken of. And the item may later be be included on the council meeting agenda for possible council action.

This is an audio excerpt from the Santa Monica City Council meeting (November 13, 2007). It is 72 minutes long. In includes public comment from 31 people and comments from the city council members, mayor, and city attorney, regarding the Santa Monica Police handling of critical mass bicycle ride participants, such as ticketing for riding more than two abreast, not having head or tail lights, leaving the bike lane to pass a vehicle, running red lights, and other vehicle code or traffic infractions.

LISTEN NOW (Santa Monica City Council meeting 11/13/2007 - excerpt)

(72 Minutes, 16mb, MP3 - DOWNLOAD)

or you can watch a video excerpt of the the critical mass speakers below:


Here are the names of the people that spoke on this issue(in order - not sure of spelling):

1. Michael.Car
2. Box.Wexler
3. Jay.Marvin.Campbell
4. Jerry.Rubin
5. Natasha.Vackshori
6. Ryan.Mallory
7. Alex.Contrero
8. Caro.Mendez
9. Hanako.Moondance
10. Cadina.Sadilla
11. Alex.Thomson
12. Roger.Swanson
13. Richie.Thomison
14. Gern.Shobridge
15. Russel.Buchanan
16. Susan.Hartley
17. Michael.Gardial
18. Jack.Ford
19. Jackie.Martin.Creole
20. Mark.Peterson
21. Kyle.Hurdler
22. Jennifer.Armstrong
23. Austin.Draper
24. David.Feurur
25. Steven.Burtz
26. Philip.Wild
27. Elizabeth.Hunter
28. Paul.Rongetto
29. John.Corbin
30. Gregory.Vogel
31. Enci
32. Steven.Vox
33. Colin.Bogart
34. Josh.Liekall
35. David.Bogell

Council members and staff that spoke on this issue:

1. Richard.Bloom (Mayor/council member)
2. Marsha Jones Moutrie (City Attorney)
3. Kevin McKeown (council member)
4. Ken.Genser (council member)
5. Bob.Holbrook (council member)
6. Herb.Katz (Mayor Pro Tempore/council member)

[Santa Monica City Council members directory (includes email addresses contact other info)]

the spelling on some of the names of the speakers is unclear. If you know the correct spelling, you may post the corrections in the comments or email them directly to me.

For more background on this topic see

1. "Riders Of the Storm - Increased Police action at Critical Mass has bicyclists crying foul"(Nov.9,2007-SMDP-PDF),
2. "Peace On Wheels - Cops and cyclists try to coexist"Aug.3,2007 ( CSM! or SMDP-PDF)
3. "Ride Or Die - Locals Reaching 'critical mass' in opposition to popular monthly bike ride"(Feb.2,2007-SMDP-PDF)
4. "Cyclist Reach A Critical Mass"(Jul.7,2005-SMDP-PDF)
5. "Santa Monica Bicycle Workshop"(Feb.2, 2005-Ken Edwards Center)(audio-45 minutes)
   
6. "Planned nude cycling event foiled by police"(Jun.14,2004-SMDP-PDF)
7. "Car-Free Venice/Santa-Monica monthly ride/skate"
8. "Green Wheel'n Peace Feel'n ride/skate - September 7, 2002"(Santa Monica, CA)

If you have more info on this, post in the comments or email direcly to me. Thanks!

Related Posts:
- Santa Monica Bicycle Workshop(community meeting 2/2005)
- Friday Nite Skates (Santa Monica, CA)(video link)

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

Gravity Plane

Hunt Aviation promotional video on a passenger/cargo plane that uses physics and alternative energy for flight. It is also referred to as a "fuel less" aircraft.
See solar airplane on youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oNHD4

For those interested in further discussion on "Air Powered Vehicles" visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airpoweredvehicles



It uses bouancy from helium and aerodynamic lift to rise. And it uses aerodynamics and bouancy to move forward, through and up and downward motion through the sky, like a submarine, whales and dolphins. Thus it requires very little energy. And what energy it does need it derives from wind turbine air compressors, solar photovoltaic electricity collectors. And it stores energy in high pressure air storage tanks and batteries.

Recommended links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

Kickbike Mass

This is like a kind of critical mass for kickbike riders spotted in (Barcelona, Spain?).



Recommended Links:
- Santa-Monica/West-L.A./Venice critical mass community forum

E-Velocabs

"Velocabs" spotted in Sacramento ("Old Sac"), California. They are ones like seen in europe (see: Trixi.com ). These three weeled vehicles also have electric assist hub motors. See the fron wheels.

A creative movie about a girl, her cell phone, and a ride on a velocab. An E-velocab.

VelcoTaxi in Germany promo video. Brings new meaning to the idea of "door to door" taxi service.


This is the Trixi Bici Velocab used in Spain, in particular Madrid and Barcelona. See promo video below.

Trixi Velocabs seen on a Japanese TV show:



Related Posts:
- Electric Hybrid Bike Trike video
- Kyoto Trike video
- Wike Wicycle (folding e-car) video
- KMX powered By BionX video
- Solar Electric Trike video
- ebike E-Trike on Snow video clip
- AltCar Expo caravan video
- Electric Trike video
- E-Trike with Cyclone kit video
- Solar Trikes video
- Trike Taxi video
- TWike Extender video
- TWike Tours video
- America's Wheels

1924 Flivver Trike

(click on image to enlarge.)

In the October 1924 issue of Modern Mechanix, there is an article about a three wheel "automobile" that looks like a three wheeled recumbent bicycle/velomobile. This one is made in Germany and has a small motor which burns very little fuel. I suppose this could also be designed to run on electric hub motors powered by electricity stored in Lithium Magnesium battery packs.

This is what the article says:

Three-Wheeled Auto Makes Speed with Low Fuel Cost - Resembling a tiny model, a three-wheeled automobile design in Germany has a closed top and doors like bigger cars. Although the vehicle does not sonsume much fuel, it is said to attain a speed of ten miles an hour on good roads. Its size enables it to be operated where more cumbersome machines might find difficult traveling. It is claimed that, owing to the small size of the car, the government places not tax on it and permits its use without a driver's licens. - Three-Wheeled "Flivver" That Burns Little Fuel and Can Easily Operate in Crowded Streets.

Related Posts:
- Electric Hybrid Bike Trike video
- Kyoto Trike video
- Wike Wicycle (folding e-car) video
- KMX powered By BionX video
- Solar Electric Trike video
- ebike E-Trike on Snow video clip
- AltCar Expo caravan video
- Electric Trike video
- E-Trike with Cyclone kit video
- Solar Trikes video
- Trike Taxi video
- TWike Extender video
- TWike Tours video
- America's Wheels

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Air Powered LA

(click on image to enlarge)

The January 1932 issue of Modern Mechanix had an article and pictures of a car powered by compressed air that was being driven around the streets of Los Angeles.

I wonder if this car exists anymore. And what more info is available on it. If anyone has more info on it, please send to me. Thanks

Below is an scale model of a similar design air powered rotory(rotary) engine. note the balanced operation. The motor can also be mouned in line with the wheels, allowing for the elimination of drive train parts and connections.



Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

Hub Motor Repair

This is an informative video on how to safely remove the cover plate on an electric hub motor, what tools you will need, and tips and tricks to do the job.

Next step would be to have a video which shows people how to do the connector wire repair and troubleshooting, and putting the cover back on, and properly screw/attach everything back together.

Electric Planes

Imagine flying electric planes out of Santa Monica airport. And imagine electric planes lying in the sky about Santa Monica and the Westside.. see videos of these invations in flying humans by electricity. see: www.electraflyer.com

BionX Humanoid

Humanoid Android with BionX appendages/Limbs. Look Out Bionic Woman! We are stronger and faster than you!


video description:

My KMX-BionX Electric Trike. Just a quick and dirty job I did with some media I have from my KMX-BionX conversion. And as you will see, there's even room for more to come later .....

Trailer for new Bionic Woman tv series.


Six Million Dollar Man Intro. "We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man... better, stronger, faster."


Related Posts:
- BionX... A Dominent Player

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Fastest Ebike

The videographer says this ebike can go 60 miles per hour.

Video Description:

An E-bike we built in 2 weeks. Top speed is 60 MPH. The acceleration is unmatched. I am often challenged by cars for a race and never been beat. 15 horsepower max Briggs and Stratton motor running at 48V. In this video we compare it to a performance moped. We can not use it to its full potential, for risks of another broken chain. We have been through 5 chains, and 2 derailleurs.

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Ebike Awareness

There have been several Ebike (electric assist bicycle) awareness ride/tours over the last year or so. Here is another one that took place from Calgary to Baniff. The mission was to ride 130 kilometers in 3 hours. That is about 47 kilometers an hour for 3 hours, including up hills.


There have been other awareness building rides. Another example was an ebike commuter tour in Australia by "Sustainable Transport". Here is a video they put up on Youtube that illustrates the advantages of riding an electric assist bicycle over a car, whether gas, hybrid or full electric EV. They take up less space, faster parking, and can take advantage of more short cuts which a car can not do.



And I am sure we will continue to see more and more. And we will see new affinity clubs/groups sprout in various places around North America, Canada, and USA, in which ebike enthusiasts will meet, share tips and knowledge with each, and have some fun rides and other fun activities together.

If you know of any past or future ebike tours/rides/clubs, post what you know in the comments so we all can know. Include links if you have them. Thanks.

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Ebike Building

Instructions on how to build an electric bicycle in Spanish.

Video Description:

Convierte tu mountainbike en una bicicleta electrica. Kit de conversion para bicicletas mountainbike. Convierte tu bicicleta en un vehiculo economico, silencioso , rápido y limpio (CERO EMISION!).

How to install a controller that can drive two electric hub motors siumltaneously.

Video Description:

Dual Motors controller www.ItsElectric.ca
This is a dual motors controller. It allow single controller to control two motors at the same time. This setup will be use on a special custom build quad bike project. It will be use during Burning Man event in 2007. Updated video of the final project will be publish later on.

Bionx Dominates

It seems that Bionx electric assist power drive systems for bicycles are becoming a major player in North America. More bicycle builders are using Bionx power systems for their bicycles. I believe some of the attraction to the Bionx system includes high quality, being made in North America, silent operation, and the possiblity of access to parts without having to transport from overseas. And the momentum for Bionx continues to build as more bicycles have these systems installed. These two video illustrate some of these points.





BionX engineer talking about the Bionx Battery pack(informative!)


BionX batery connector


BionX electric hub motor assist drive system installed on a Go-One velomobile. The hub motor is in the rear wheel hub and the battery back and controller are in the black bag on the rear rack above the rear wheel.


Bionx kit installed on a Go-One velomobile.


I am looking for video tutorials on changing BionX codes for performance modification and tweaking. If you got some, send me the info.

Build Ebike

This reminds of "Old Yankee Workshop", except the project for this host is how to build an electric bicycle out of an old beach cruiser. Anyone seen the whole DVD and want to offer some reviews for the rest of us? Thanks. (smile)



Related Posts:
- Ebike Conversion

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum
- Power-Assist community forum

Sting Police

Sting and the other members of the band Police were spotted riding bicycles for a promo event, in France. The bikes appears to be part of the new mass bicycle program spreading through Paris and other cities in France.

Sting - Police en Velib

Video description:

We spotted the legendary band having fun while trying the brand new Velib' in Paris.
Vélib’ is a public bicycle rental programme in Paris, 20 000 bicycles are available for rental from 1,450 automated stations distributed across Paris.
France inducted The Police, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, into the Order of Arts and Letters today. The French culture ministry announced that the members of The Police are from now on knights of the Order of Arts and Letters...

Skating Tyson

Tyson, the skateboarding dog was spotted on the 3rd street promenade.





Hey, what happens if Tyson skates on the promenade? Do the police issue him a warning "hey buddy, you can't skate on the promenade, otherwise we gonna have to take you to the doghouse" (wink)(smile)

www.skateboardingbulldog.com

Tilting Bicycle

This is a video of a tilting bicycle/tricycle.


Video description:
Shows a short test of a new leaning (tilting) bicycle construction - collaboration for further development sought. www.hyperbike.cc

It may be interesting to add two hub electric motors to both front wheels.

Solar Bicycle

This video shows a chopper bicycle with a solar panel installed in the front. Ihe chopper is using an electric hub motor, super capaciters, and the solar panel for the power drive system. It appears that the bike is running only of electricity collect from the sun.



This video is labeled as a "solar bicycle". It was designed by engineering students at a University. It appears to have a few solar panels embedded in the top of it's skin.




Video description:

Come ride along on my helmet aboard a solarized P-38 recumbent bike.

TWike Extender

This is a range extender for a TWike, and electric hybrid bicycle/car.

video description:

A crew, around an member of the TWIKE core team, will drive trought the australian outback with a TWIKE. They will be participants of the Greenfleet category at the World Solar Challenge. For more Information visit www.twikeklub.ch
To realize that, they need an Range Extender.

Related Posts:
- TWike, "Coolest Bike in the World"
- TWike Tours
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Unicycling Lincoln

The other day I saw a few guys unicycling on Lincoln blvd. Be on the look out for the unicyclists on Lincoln Blvd, in Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Play Del Rey, and Westchester. And, if you can, get us some pictures and video clips these guys doing their one wheelin.

In this video, some guys unicycling in busy New York City traffic(NYC). Hey, what are the rules for riding a unicycle on the street, or even in the bike lane?


Video description:

Rider: Adam Cohen (www.justonewheel.com - US DVD sales)
Music: Ian James (www.ianjamesmusic.com)
Unicycling Videographer: Brian MacKenzie
Video Footage as seen in DVD: Inner Balance
Balance Productions(www.balanceproductions.ca)
Video Equipment: Glidecam Industries (www.glidecam.com)

Brian MacKenzie is an independent film maker seeking major corporate sponsorship for his next movie, a 90 minute high definition documentary featuring the 800km unicycle race up the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada - Summer 2008 called Ride The Lobster (www.ridethelobster.com) (www.balanceproductions.ca)

Adam is teaching Dr. Perry Gerard of (www.doctorballoon.com) a comprehensive course in the art of unicycling and Dr Gerard highlights the positive health effects of unicycling. Doctorballoon.com is the site of Creative Medical teaching and patient education.

Adam Cohen: "HEY, I'M ADAM & WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CRAZY-COOL
COMMENTS.SOMETHING SO SIMPLE CAN CHANGE SOMETHING SO FREAKING HUGE !THATS WHAT THE UNI-TRAINER DOES. I STARTED TRAINING PEOPLE & REALIZED ALL UNICYCLING NEEDED WAS TRAINING WHEELS! THE UNI-TRAINER, WOW,SO SIMPLE ,SO EASY TO LEARN, NOW I'M GOING TO TURN EVERYONE ONTO HOW EASY OUTRAGEOUS , HEALTHY & JUST PLAIN SICK IT IS TO RIDE WWWJUSTONEWHEEL.COM IS MY WEB SITE, IT ANSWER ?'S & TELLS YOU ABOUT ME & MY GROUP OF UNI HEADS! [...]"
THANKS,
Adam

"NO CYCLING - Extreme unicycling"


"Unicycle Insanity"


"Unicycle Dancing" Amazing!

Freeway Pedestrian

Perhaps this video could be described as "hybrid pedestrians on the freeway"

I suppose this is possible due to the sand on the freeway surface which allows for a kind of skating experience.


Film makers description:
"Saudi Road Skating". Freeway Skating in the Sandbox. Young Saudi men take roller blading on to the freeway for maximum thrills.

Wike Wicycle

This video is of what appears to be a micro electric car, dubbed the "Wike" or "Wicycle"(see www.wicycle.com ). It appears that they created this from the body/frame of a bicycle trailer. Kind of interesting concept. It appears to be powered by two electric hub motors mounted in the rear wheels.

What makes this even more interesting, is that you could actually tow this micro car with a bicycle. Hmmm.....

It also looks like the Moonbeam micro car



Video description:

A very small electric vehicle built by WIKE (makers of bicycle trailers). I am not sure if this is the "Electric Sun" model as profiled on the "Weird Wheels" TV program, but it certainly looks like it.

Jet packs

In these two videos you see a jet pack(wiki) used for personal transport.

Apparently, this jet pack is powered by a stream of high velocity air resulting from the combination of two substances (hydrogen peroxide and another substance).

It seems that this means of energy storage could be applied with far greater efficiency for transportation in things such as a velomobile as a power assist. Or it may be suitable as a power assist for a moped as power assist.

Thoughts?





Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

Disappearing Racks

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Bicycle parking racks have been disappearing recently on the 3rd street promenade. And kind of like a frog that gets boiled alive, bicycle parking could be slowly getting killed off on the 3rd street promenade. Or is it?

The picture to the right is the place where one of missing bicycle parking racks was (adjacent to the Apple store on the 3rd street promenade).

• Note that in the wide angle picture of where the rack was that there are bicycles forced to either park their bicycle unsecured in front of the Apple store or to lock the fencing around the middle island. And this picture was taken during a low traffic time (mid afternoon, mid week day, late Autumn. During high traffic times the demand for places to park bicycles is far higher. And bicycles would fill up what little space is divvied out with the racks that existed)

• Note in other close up pictures you can the two sets of 2-4 holes which once secured the bicycle parking rack to the cement. The bolts appear to have been ground down to cement level. In some cases you can see the bare metal is fresh and un-rusted, showing this was a recent cut. In others, rust has began to form on the cut bolt.
  

Question: Where did the rack go? And who took it? And why? And will they bring it back? If any of you know more info about this and other bicycle racks that have been disappearing on the 3rd street promenade, post what you know or email me directly.

These additional pictures show another example of a place where a bicycle parking rack was located on the 3rd street promenade, but not is missing. And the other is an example of what the bicycle racks on the 3rd street promenade look like. It illustrates the pattern the bolts make when securing a bicycle rack to the cement.

Another, more optimistic, possibility is that the racks have been removed, so they can be repaired and repainted, and then put back. Let's hope that is the case. And perhaps we might want to verify that is true. Contact the Santa Monica City Council to find out. Also, it may be possible to get additional information from officials in the planning department and within the Planning commission.

Any other suggestions on what to do or who to contact?

Thanks.

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

Malcolm Bricklin

Malcolm Bricklin, probably most well known as the creator of one of the most safest cars ever built, called the "Bricklin SV1", is probably one of the most bicyclist friendly car builder's around. Here's why.

First, the "Bricklin SV1" had a plastic and rubber body and bumpers. The "gull wing" doors, instead of going out into traffic, they went, up, instead. Thus, a cyclist sould not run the risk of being "doored". And later, Bricklin was involved with the creation of the EV Warrior, arguably the very FIRST plug in hybrid vehicle ever officially sold at car dealerships. However, that plug in hybrid was actually an electric hybrid bicycle that suplemented the electric motor drive with a little human muscle.

It would be interesting if Mr. Bricklin created a new ebike using the latest technology, such as the efficient brushless electric hub motors and modern batteries.

Below is an interview with Malcolm Bricklin about the SV1 and his current ventures into plug in hybrid vehicle production, "at the right price".



This is a video on the technical features of the Bricklin SV1 (SV stands for "Safe Vehicle)



Note the pneumatic powered gull wing doors and that this vehicle does not have ash tray or cigarette lighter.

This is a trailer for a new documentary on Malcolm Bricklin by his son, titled "The Entrepreneur"



In this clip people are interviewed that saw the documentary "The Entrepreneur"

EV Warrior

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Here a classic ebike (electric assist) from the 1990's, the EV Warrior. It was designed and manufactured by a group of JPL engineers, collectively part of the "Electric Bicycle Company", in Burbank, California.

What is puzzling to me is why they were trying to market these electric bicycles through car dealerships. It seems that they would have been more successful by marketing them through motorcycle dealerships. It had all the typical street legal motorcycle features, such as full head and tail lights, brake lights, turn signals(LEDs embedded in each side view mirror, see picture on right, below), a full loud horn. It even had a place in the rear to mount a motorcycle licence plate with a licence plate light. It had left and right rear view mirrors, and a front disk brake.

If you have an owner's manual, wiring diagram, videos, or other info on this bike, let me know. I would like to put together a wiki page documenting this piece of classic ebike history from the 1990's. Thanks

Here is a quote:

EV Warrior Called the «EV Warrior», the electric bicycle uses a 12V electric motor powered by a lead acid battery. Speed control is via a thumb throttle switch on the handlebars. According to the Electric Bicycle Co, the new machine will go 30 miles between battery charges. The bikes will marketed in Portland and San Diego, the two test markets, soon, with price tags of $900 to $1,500. The electric bicycles will be sold through car dealerships.

Future models from the Electric Bicycle Company will have higher-powered batteries and composite frame construction, according to the company. Interest in electric vehicles is fuelled by California legislation that mandates 2% of vehicles sold in 1998 must be electric. The automotive industry is fighting the requirement, on the grounds that electric vehicles are incapable of replacing internal combustion engined cars. The automakers claim that battery storage is inadequate for the demands of commuters, charging technology is insufficiently advanced to maintain reliability, and the cost of producing electric cars will be uneconomic. The EV warrior is not expected to replace cars as a form of transportation in Los Angeles, but Currie and Bricklin are optimistic that the bicycle will be a way to introduce Americans to the concept of electric propulsion.

Here is some info on modification people have done using the EV Warrior bicycle as a base or by taking the power drive off the EV Warrior and applying it to other bikes. See the "Lil Warrior", the "EV Warrior III", Jim's custom ebike , "HeEV!" to the right.