This street in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (aka Den Bosch) in the south of the Netherlands was recently updated to include cycle lanes. You can see the street in both directions as we do a 360 degree turn on the roundabout on one end of the street. 
It is obvious that cycling in this street is now more convenient than before.
The red color of the cycle path is not paint. It is a different color asphalt so it will not wear off.

via A view from the cycle path

This battle is about so much more than a few city clerks on Bromptons — or whatever the stereotype of the London cyclist is this week — having to deal with more hostile traffic on the way to the office from Waterloo. Blackfriars represents a battle over the very basics of what sort of a place we want London (and Britain) to be. By driving these great roads and massive junctions through the centre of our cities we are not just sacrificing — sometimes literally — cyclists and mass cycling. We are destroying a chance to step towards a fairer, more pleasant and more liveable city. And with that we are falling behind the progress of the rest of the world and sacrificing London’s future as a competitive world city. And all to avoid inconveniencing the pampered powerful few, and to accommodate a bunch of wasteful business practices.

”

— Once more unto the bridge, dear friends, once more 

If you look at the public comments section ANY news story discussing cycling, you will find overwhelming criticism of scofflaw cyclists. It doesn’t matter what the story is about, if it mentions bicycles you will find people in droves calling for us to be run off the road – legally or physically – until we start following the rules of the road.

”

— Stop Signs - Not Just for Cars Anymore

Ghost Bike memorials – Can they help cycle safety campaigns? »

Still a relatively new phenomenon it struck me to be one that has the potential to really aid a cycle road safety campaign.

It’s widely believed that motorists either have little respect for cyclists, do not understand the workings of cycling on our roads, or are simply not expecting to see cyclists. The problems that we cyclists find is often a combination of all three to some extent.

So, if the Ghost Bike phenomenon was to really take off in the UK would it serve to provide that constant reminder to motorists that cyclists are the most vulnerable of road users?

Would it serve to galvanise cycle campaign groups either formally or by way of social media, combining the voice of the cyclist?

More importantly, would it serve to gather further support from the wider road safety groups and charities, so that they too enter more forcefully into the cycle safety debates?

October 25, 2010:

Dia de los Muertos celebrations at the Domenici Education Building in Albuquerque, New Mexico: an ofrenda for cyclists was created by artist Jacobo de la Serna. Jennifer Buntz and Steve Mathias of the Duke City Wheelmen furnished the ghost bikes.

Each orange card has the name of a New Mexico bicyclist killed in crashes with motor vehicles. Some as young as 6 years old.

(photos and info via facebook pages of Jennifer Buntz and friends)

Chicago Ghost Bikes Ride: November 7th »

via The Chainlink and ghostbikes.org:

Simple 13 mile ride passing all 10 Chicago area Ghost Bikes, taking a moment at each to give attention, tell stories, and leave a few white plastic flowers.

We’ll start at the South end in Washington Park (near Chicago Ave RedLine stop), and end in about 2 hours at the North end near Montrose/Ashland.

Not to be confused with the great Ride of Silence which visits some on a spring evening, this is a casual fall daytime ride, intended simply to tour them all.

This is an updated version of the same ride this time last year which was quite pleasant.

See bedno.com/ghosts for photos of all and current Google map of planned route (and cross your fingers that there’s no last minute additions!)

Time: November 7, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm
Location: Washington Park
Street: 881 N Clark
City/Town: Chicago IL

BikeABQ »

About BikeABQ

The mission of BikeABQ is to increase the number of bicyclists in Albuquerque for transportation, health, and recreation. We provide education, advocate for the rights of cyclists, and work to create and preserve safe biking environments.

The current advocacy work of BikeABQ falls into three general categories: education, encouragement, and engineering/enforcement.

Education

In February 2004 BikeABQ, NM Bicycle Coalition, and Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department collaborate to train and certify 13 League Certified Instructors (LCI) in New Mexico. These instructors are licensed to teach League of American Bicyclist courses. The most popular of these courses are Bicycling 101 (Road I for adults) and Bike Rodeos (for children). Since February 2004 every one of the LCI’s have taught courses, given presentations, written articles or incorporated bicycle education in their places of work.

Throughout the year and especially prior to Bike to Work Day, BikeABQ offers Bicycling 101. Bicycling 101 is a comprehensive class concerning commuter cycling. Topics covered include basic bicycle mechanics, traffic laws, and how to ride safely on the road. Participants that successfully complete Bicycling 101 receive a certificate from the League of American Bicyclists. This certificate carries weight that the recipient is a safe, competent bicyclist.

In summer 2006, BikeABQ received a grant from REI to hold Family Bicycle Seminars. In this seminar Bicycling 101 curriculum is tailored for children ages 9-13 and an accompanying adult. In cooperation with Rio Abajo Bicycle Alliance, BikeABQ is working on bringing a Family Bicycle Seminar to Valencia County.

In fall 2006, BikeABQ worked with the Institute of Public Law at UNM Law School to update driver’s education curriculum to relating to sharing the road with bicycles and pedestrians.

Encouragement

BikeABQ holds four regular events per year to encourage others to get out and bike and to raise awareness in general of bicycling as a means of transportation.

May is Bike Month with BikeABQ’s two largest events, the Bike Swap and Bike to Work Day. The annual Bike Swap pulls together people of all ages, interests and skill levels to buy and sell bikes, bicycling related gear. Bike to Work day is a collaborative effort between BikeABQ, City of Albuquerque and New Mexico Rail Runner. At Bike to Work day commuters are encouraged to try out alternative forms of transportation with several food stops around Albuquerque. In addition, Bike to Work Day incorporates city and county planners at the event to talk to cyclist about projects concerning bicyclists.

For the past several years, BikeABQ has experimented holding other events related to encouraging people to get out and try riding or raising awareness of bicycle advocacy. These events include Bike to School events, Film Festivals and most recently, Bike-A-Palooza.

Engineering and Enforcement

Representatives from BikeABQ participate in city and regional planning and advisory groups to ensure that construction projects take into consideration facilities (trails, lanes, signs, shoulders, etc.) for bicyclists. The Greater Albuquerque Advisory Committee (GABAC) focuses on issues related to the city. In the Walking and Bicycling Advisory Group (WABAG) under the Mid-Region Council of governments BikeABQ participates in the development of the Long Range Bicycle Plan and the 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

check out St. Louis BicycleWORKS »

Mission Statement:

The primary objective of BicycleWORKS is to increase the probability of positive life outcomes for “at-risk” youths in the Saint Louis area. This is accomplished by providing them the incentive and opportunity to develop their academic, vocational, and social skills through our Earn-A-Bike Program.

The Organization:

Saint Louis BicycleWORKS is an entirely volunteer-run 501(3)c not-for-profit organization. A Shaw Neighborhood resident founded BicycleWORKS in 1988 to give area “at-risk” youths a place to develop skills, interact with peers and caring adults, and safely challenge the limits of their abilities. In 1996, the BicycleWORKS’ board of directors decided to increase the scope of its mission by expanding beyond the bicycle. Computers were introduced as a new teaching tool and ByteWORKS was created based on the BicycleWORKS model. This year we added BookWORKS, a literacy enhancement program where kids improve their reading and writing skills by creating books. The collection of all these programs is known as BWORKS. We share basic organizational infrastructure, such as a board of directors, insurance, finances, bookkeeping, and physical location. Otherwise, we operate independently towards the common goal of improving lives of Saint Louis youth.