Photocredit: DFB (http://downtownfrombehind.tumblr.com)

For bicycle commuters, continuing to pedal through the winter months can be a daunting task, especially if one lives in a northern city. Often the decision for winter bicycle commuting comes down to perspective: Is cycling a sport or a viable form of transportation that offers a multitude of advantages such as saving money and improving the health of the cyclist and the environment? In order for bicycling to be respected as sustainable transportation, the surrounding community must be supportive of cyclists year-round. This includes city maintenance of bike lanes and paths during winter as well as supportive bicycle initiatives. It can be done. In Copenhagen, where dedicated snow plows clear the bike lanes, 80% of cyclists continue through the winter. Here are five cities in the U.S. that are supporting bicycle commuting through the winter.

Boulder, Colorado

What makes Boulder one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country is partly due to the city’s commitment to winter bike commuters. While Boulder is no stranger to bike commuting it’s also no stranger to snowy weather, which makes most Coloradans dedicated to maintaining an active lifestyle despite weather challenges. Last January, Boulder held its’ third annual Winter Bike to Work Day. The over-60 miles of paved multi-use paths get plowed before more than an inch of snow accumulates using separate snow removal crews, while the on-road bike lanes are plowed right along with the streets. Many Boulder cyclists say their bicycles are faster than getting across town in a car held up by winter weather and traffic. Though Boulder does not have commuter rail, bike racks are available on the city bus at a first come first serve basis.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Heralded by Bicycling Magazine as America’s most bike-friendly city, Minneapolis has seen success for its’ initiative in reducing car dependence. While the number of bicycle commuters do decline in the frigid winter months, the city estimates that 36 percent of bike commuters still pedal on clear winter days and a bold 20 percent brave the harsher conditions that tend to plague the area. Perhaps it’s the inspiration cyclists get from seeing others riding in the winter that will keep these numbers rising.

With over 60 miles of off-road trails, the city is speedy at removing snow from these areas, typically withing 24 hours. According to Minneapolis cyclists, the 46 miles of on-road bike lanes become a bit more challenging to keep clear of the piling snow as well as parked cars during the winter months. Cyclists can take advantage of Minneapolis’ Metro Transit System incorporating light rail, commuter rail, and bus service all equipped with bike racks. For commuters who travel by bike 3 or more days a week, the transit system offers a free Guaranteed Ride Home Program good for use up to 4 times a year for emergencies such as snowstorms.

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison’s successful bicycle infrastructure has made getting around town by bike such a feasible venture that many Madison bike commuters continue on through the winter months. Currently, the town boasts 87 miles of bike lanes and 43 miles of off-road bike paths which are quickly cleared of snow by the parks department. Many Madison cyclists claim the bike paths are often cleared before the streets. Bike Madison, the city’s website devoted exclusively for bicycling, is a great resource and support for year-round bike commuters.  All Madison Metro buses are equipped with bike racks available on a first come first serve basis. Bike Winter is a volunteer organization that hosts winter cycling events in Madison in an effort to inspire and educate.

New York, New York

The New York City Parks Department does such a expeditious job of clearing the growing number of bike paths and greenways that last winter it added to the already contentious bike lane controversy when many of the bike paths were cleared of snow and ice before the roads. For New York to compete with world-class bicycling cities like Copenhagen, this support of winter cycling will need to continue as the more cyclists are out there in the winter, the more citizens will be aware of cyclists on the road. The New York City Department of Transportation has done an excellent job of adding bicycle parking, including the famous David Byrne bike racks, and is in the process of building 36 sheltered bike racks that hold 8 bikes each. Their website includes a helpful map showing where these bike racks are located. With NYC gearing up to unleash its’ New York City Bike Share in 2012, winter cycling in New York could see a surge as the program is slated to run 365 days a year.

Burlington, Vermont

Recently awarded the silver status as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, Burlington, Vermont can be buried in snow from October to April as the winds whip off Lake Champlain. This doesn’t stop the tenacious souls who choose a bicycle as their primary mode of transportation through the harsh winters of Burlington. Many University of Vermont students find it easier and much less expensive to get around town sporting fat tires and extra layers as they pedal through the elements. With Burlington devoted to building a strong bicycle network as well as encouraging residents to lead a sustainable lifestyle, winter cycling isn’t such a crazy notion.

Bike sharing programs are sprouting up in cities across the globe. From Dublin to Minneapolis, Barcelona to Tulsa, and Washington D.C. to Hangzhou, China bike sharing has become a viable transportation alternative. After seeing the success of other U.S. cities, New York City is set to have a bike sharing up and running in April of 2012. However, one place you won’t find bike sharing is in Seattle. In fact, the only bike share program in the entire state is on the campus of Washington State University. Wait a minute, isn’t Seattle one of the most bike friendly cities in the U.S.? Of course, but they also face one of the biggest hurdles in bringing a successful bike share program to fruition: mandatory helmet laws. Just ask Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia. These cities have mandatory helmet laws and their bike share programs are failing.

Maintaining a helmet law with a bike sharing initiative has been shown impractical. Bike sharing by its very nature attracts the casual cyclist who may not own a helmet, while the thought of carrying one around town may deter others. A potential bike commuter coming upon a bike share kiosk for the first time will be more inclined to give the program a go if there’s no mandatory helmet involved. It defeats the efficiency of hopping on a bike and getting where you need to go. Providing helmets along with the bikes is not a solution due to size (an ill-fitting bike helmet is of no use) and hygiene (well, ewww).

There’s no question that wearing a bike helmet keeps one’s noggin protected. The question is, should it be mandated or a matter of  personal choice? Bike share programs have now been proven to increase safety on city streets. There’s truth to the old adage of “safety in numbers”. More cyclists on the roads means more awareness from motorists. A recent health impact study of Barcelona’s bike share program was recently published in the British Medical Journal with the conclusion that their bike share saves 12 lives each year.

Public bicycle sharing initiatives such as Bicing in Barcelona have greater benefits than risks to health and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Should a distinction be made between riding that carbon fiber road bike down the road at 30 miles an hour without a helmet and tooling around town on a bike share bike (most of which are Dutch style) in a city accustomed to seeing bikes on the road? Perhaps current helmet laws could make an exception for bike share users as is the case for pedicabs. After all, bike share programs aren’t advocating the non-use of helmets. As a matter of fact, Capital Bikeshare in Washington D.C. is giving away 500 helmets to users of the program and most bike sharing programs offer helmet discounts at local retailers. So while helmet use is encouraged, the choice is ultimately left in the hands, or head, of the adult cyclist. The majority of states in the U.S. have mandatory helmet laws for around age 16-18 and under.

Via: Grist

Swap and Share Sites

Remember the 20th century when we were in a consumption frenzy? Terms like swap and share weren’t even on our radar. The economic downturn combined with our fundamental need to connect with others has started a swap and share movement that has been defined as Collaborative Consumption. Businesses are now using the efficiency of the internet and mobile technology to connect people with goods and services through peer-to-peer swap and share sites. The success of share sites such as eBay and etsy proves that, yes, people can be trustworthy and those that aren’t are exposed. If you’re a member of Netflix then you share movies with people across North America and you can even share movie ratings with friends. After seeing the progress of bike share programs in Europe, major cities in the United States are now developing their own bike share programs. Washington D.C. recently launched Capital Bike Share. In a way we are on the verge of returning to the simplistic ideals of community that prevailed in our history. Our colonial ancestors built a community by pooling resources. Now we can do it on a much larger scale.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This video was made by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers, authors of the book What’s Mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption,  in which they explore how companies and organizations are redefining the ways in which goods and services are exchanged, giving consumers more options and more power over how they spend their money. They explain how the movement to swap and share is reaching every facet of consumerism from travel to finance to agriculture. You can read more about collaborative consumption on their website.

Another groundbreaking book on this topic is titled The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing in which author Lisa Gansky explains how Mesh companies use mobile web and social media to provide people with the goods and services they need at the moment they need them. By encouraging people to build relationships through the sharing of resources, businesses and communities alike can grow in new and more efficient ways. Visit Gansky’s website here, which includes and extensive directory of Mesh companies.

If you’re ready to save some money, get rid of some stuff, and take control of your spending and consuming habits, then get in on the swap and share action. These sites are growing at an exponential rate with many to choose from. Here are 7 swap and share sites that we think are swaptastic.

Groupon

Groupon

If you haven’t yet got your Groupon, you need to. With Groupon you share group discounts with others. Groupon calls it collective buying power. Groupon offers incredible discounts, typically 50-90% off, on all kinds of goods and services including local restaurants and attractions. There are new deals available everyday for businesses in the city in which you live. You can check the site every day or have the daily deals e-mailed to you. When you see a Groupon you want to use you click on it. There needs to be a minimum number of people interested for the deal to activate. But hurry because there is a time limit- usually 2-3 days. Businesses love it because it guarantees a certain amount of customers. People love it because they get incredible savings. You can print your Groupon or have it show up on your mobile device if you’re out and about. You can share Groupon on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks to spread the word about the great savings.

Get your Groupon here.

Freecycle

Freecycle

The idea behind Freecycle can be summed up in their mission statement: “Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” The beauty of Freecycle is in its’ simplicity. Started by Deron Beal in 2003 as a grassroots operation to provide recycling to local business in Tucson, Freecycle now has thousands of groups all over the world. You just join your local chapter which is moderated by a local volunteer through a Yahoo group. If you have something you need taken off your hands, you post it. See something you need? Contact the person who listed it. No money is exchanged. And no swaps. To keep the crazies away, Freecycle has a 2 strikes and you’re out policy. Though there are no strings attached to taking something, the concept is to share and share alike, so don’t use Freecycle to constantly take and never give. Besides, how much easier can it get to rid yourself of that old couch or giant screen TV than to just have somebody come pick it up?

Find your local Freecycle here.

BookMooch

BookMooch

Browsing a used book store used to be a favorite Saturday afternoon pastime. Part of the charm was imagining who owned the books before you. With online book swaps you can have that charm again and even communicate with the person who owned the book before you. BookMooch is a free book swap site based upon a points system. You gain points by adding books you no longer want to your inventory. You gain more points when you ship the book to a fellow moocher. You can then use your points to get books you want. What’s great about the system is that you don’t have to be matched up with someone to make a swap. BookMooch also supports charities such as libraries and childrens’ organizations. You can help out your favorite charity on BookMooch by contributing your points so they can get books. The only cost is you pay for the shipping of the books you send out. This is typically inexpensive if you ship by USPS media mail. You can also use recycled brown paper grocery bags to wrap your books. The BookMooch site has tips for shipping that save money and materials.

Mooch some books here.

Swap.com

Swap.com

On Swap you can swap books, music, movies, and video games. By listing the items you have along with the items you want, Swap.com then hooks you up with the right people. Many times the swap you’re involved with is a 3-way swap. There is a small fee involved based upon 2 swap fee levels: low value and high value. High value items cost one dollar and include video games for the most recent platforms such as Wii and PS3 and multi-disc movie and music sets. Everything else is a low value item and costs 50 cents. You also pay for shipping. A rating and feedback system helps keep people honest. Swap offers what they call Safe Swap. If after 27 days you still don’t have your item and your swap partner can’t provide proof of shipment, Swap will purchase the item for you and charge your swap partner’s account. The site also offers an online community where you can meet other Swap members, attend swap events, or organize your own swap meet.

Read more about Swap.com here.

thredUP

thredUP

Would you like to get a box of clothes for your kids for 5 bucks? A clothes swap site, thredUP has been designed to accommodate the hectic lives of parents all while saving money at the same time. The cost is 5 dollars plus shipping to receive a box of clothes. In order to receive a box, you must prepare a box. Put together a box of your child’s outgrown, gently used clothing based on size and gender, then list the contents on the site. The recipient pays the shipping. You can even have the post office drop off the box for you, print out the mailing label on the site, then have the post office pick it up for you. You don’t even have to take pictures, which is a plus when you’re giving something away- like thredUP says, it’s really time consuming for busy parents. However, this can be a downside if you’re the recipient of the swap. But thredUP’s golden rule is to only give what you yourself would be willing to receive- no stains, tears, or holes. And if you receive damaged items, you can report it and a staff member will contact you. Once you receive the box you review your swap partner online using stars based on the quality of the items. For an extra 5 bucks a month you can become a Pro member which will give you added perks such as first dibs on boxes and chances to win brand new clothes from sponsored retail stores. thredUP also swaps toys, costumes, and sports and formal wear.

You can thredUP here.

Zipcar

Zipcar

Zipcar is heralded as the car for people who don’t want one. A car share site, Zipcar is currently located in over 50 cities across North America and the UK and can be found at over 100 colleges and universities. Zipcar is a great solution for college students, businesses who want to save money on rental costs, or others who only need a car once in a while. After you fill out the online application and are approved, you’ll receive your Zipcard and can reserve your car for a couple hours or an entire day. With over 30 models to choose from, you can pick the car you want depending on the availability in your city.  Use the Zipcard to unlock your car and return it to the same spot when you’re done. The membership fee varies depending on your city and the type of plan you choose. Gas is included in the membership- though you do need to fill it up when it gets down to a 1/4 tank.

Learn more about Zipcar here.

CabCorner

CabCorner

CabCorner has really- ahem- cornered the market on cab sharing. Using the mobile web, CabCorner connects commuters going in the same direction to share a cab ride in order to share the cost, ease congestion, and reduce the carbon footprint. Currently operating in major cities across the globe, CabCorner uses sponsored retailers and transportation hubs as “Hot Spots” or meet-up sites, such as Starbucks or department stores. These retailers then offer discounts to CabCorner users. This also provides safety as you are never picked up or dropped off at your home or destination- usually a block or two away. You enter in your pick-up and destination addresses and time you need the ride to create or find an existing route. Each portion of the fare is estimated ahead of time to minimize disagreements. You can cancel your ride at any time without penalty if something doesn’t seem right. CabCorner has other important safety tips on its’ web site. People share train and bus rides everyday. This is just another way to share public transportation. And you may even spark a friendship.

Share a cab ride here.

Honorable Mentions

Swapstyle- A free clothing swap site for fashionistas, Swapstyle has been going strong for 7 years.

Couchsurfing- Members share hospitality, connecting travelers with locals in 230 countries.

Kickstarter- Connects artists of various mediums who need funding for their projects with donors who wish to support them.

NeighborGoods- Share your stuff- lend and borrow items with people in your area, such as tools, electronics, lawn supplies, and sporting equipment.

SmartyPig- A free online savings program to save for a specific goal, SmartyPig partners with retailers to give you cash rewards and a competitive interest rate.

Bike sharing is an optimal method of transportation. American cities and universities, eager for greener solutions to urban congestion, are rushing to set up bicycle-sharing programs similar to those launched in Europe in recent years. Washington DC will likely be the first in the nation to offer two-wheeled transport at various locations for a nominal fee, under a deal with advertising giant Clear Channel Outdoor. About 120 bicycles will be deployed in the first phase of the Washington program at 10 locations around the city. Details such as costs for usage and membership have yet to be announced. The launch date has not yet been set but is likely to be in March or April of 2008.

San Francisco has reached a deal for a similar program with Clear Channel, while other cities including New York, Chicago and Portland, Oregon, are studying bike sharing options.

“There is a lot of interest in the US, and 2008 is going to be a very big year for bicycle programs,” said Paul DeMaio, a consultant to several municipalities on bike programs. DeMaio said the highly touted ‘Velib’ program launched in July in Paris — its name a contraction of the French words “velo” (bike) and “liberte” (freedom) — drew attention to bicycle programs and spawned interest around the globe, from Montreal to Beijing.

Martina Schmidt, president of Clear Channel unit Adshel, said the company is in the process of setting up programs in Washington and San Francisco modeled on similar ones it operates in Barcelona, Stockholm, Oslo, and Rennes, France.

As in most of the European programs, the costs of the bicycles are offset by revenues from advertising at bus shelters and other “outdoor furniture.”

Schmidt says this is a win-win proposition for most cities.

“Based on the experience in Europe, cities see that traffic is congested and everyone is looking for more environmentally friendly modes of transportation,” she said.

Schmidt said Clear Channel will be using a “sturdy” bike built for these purposes, which can be adapted to people of various heights. It has some special features including a small front wheel that makes it more maneuverable, but also quirky enough to discourage theft. They will also have automatic lighting for night riding.

Read more: AFP

Story found via the Bike-sharing Blog