New York City Department of Transportation’s Post

Floating bus stops have been in the news recently because of cycling behaviour in their proximity, but we wouldn’t ban a zebra crossing just because some cars don’t stop at it… When speeds are a problem with vehicles we use traffic calming. There is nothing wrong in using design details to slow cyclists down. I really like the design of this floating bus stop in Leeds. The design is far from perfect, as there is not enough room for bus users, but I think the idea is great and the designer did the best they could using the right design principles. There was not enough room so the cycle lane shrinks to 1m. All guidance might find it outrageous, but I think the horizontal deflection and the narrowing works really well in slowing cyclists down not to mention that the crossing for pedestrians is really short and they can get across with a couple of steps. I am a firm believer in contestual design for cars and for bicycles. Designing is about solving problems. Applying guidance without thinking about the context does not always give the best and safest solution. Banning a design should be done very carefully and alternative options need to be provided.

Pedestrians and cyclists sharing space is based on the idea of everyone being socially responsible. It’s expected that whoever is present in the space will politely negotiate the right of way. That’s because there are few, if any traffic controls, barriers or road markings. But that has to change. See link for this research on shared space and user preferences. Also an article on whether bike lanes actually slow traffic or whether it's a myth. A modelling technique on retrofitting bike lanes says probably not. See link for my synopsis of both.

I had the privilege of working for, and learning from, one of the greatest bike designers of all time, Benno Baenziger. At New Pedal we spend much of our time developing new channels to reach new riders. In our travels we have ample discussions about infrastructure, vehicle features, policy, and incentives. These are all important ingredients to generate true mode shift, but one piece of the puzzle is often overlooked: designing to captivate the human psyche. As the “sales guy” at Benno Bikes, it drove me crazy waiting weeks for Benno to finish something as “simple” as a single line in a decal. I’d think to myself: come on Benno, what are we doing, let’s get this into production! But that attention to design detail made all the difference, and is what I believe will be required to make #micromobility truly mainstream in the US. The proof goes all the way back to Benno’s original bike brand, Electra, a simple cruiser bike. This was not a cutting edge piece of technology, or even a new concept; however Benno was able to rip away the stigma associated with cycling in the US, and make riding a bike cool again. I didn’t know Benno at the time (we wouldn’t meet until 10 years later), but I remember working at a local bicycle dealer and scratching my head at the phenomenon unfolding in front of me. Our mechanics couldn’t build Electra Townies fast enough. Everyone had to have one! The car industry understands this very well, and has spent billions of dollars to tug at our emotions. You have to give them credit. To compete we absolutely need better cycling infrastructure, legislation, and the continued hard work of the entire industry (more to come as we spotlight many of our other amazing bike/scooter partners), but hopefully we can all incorporate a bit of Benno’s creative thinking into our own; no matter if you are designing the next great vehicle, a bike parking facility, or hosting a #tdm webinar. If you have a few minutes to spare, I encourage you to watch this interview with Benno where he shares his design philosophy. Enjoy!

A nice article in ASCE to support cycling and bike friendly communities. Give it a read!

This is an interesting and thorough article about wheel size choice. It reminds me of the hot topic 750d size design for gravel riding.

Check this article "Loading and structural stiffness of tandem bicycle frames" #cycling #tandembikes #cyclingdesign #sportstech #sportsengineering #sportstech

The exact origin of #wavebikeracks is not well-documented, but they gained popularity in the late 20th century as a creative and functional solution to #bicycle #parking challenges in #urban environments. They were designed to address the following issues: ➡ Space Efficiency； ➡Aesthetic Appea； ➡Security。 https://lnkd.in/ggThRPkt #wave #bike #racks #bicycle #parking #cycle

Why wouldn't you drive, if this is the kind of uninviting environment you have to contend with on foot? "Do you think that the absence of road markings will be sufficient warning for drivers that there are no road markings?" "Unfortunately not 😞... if only! We'll also need to place a very large warning sign in the middle of the adjacent pedestrian space, for several weeks. So there can be no doubt whatsoever that there are, indeed, no road markings." 🙃🤡🙃🤡🙃 In this picture, a roadworks sign and a parked car work together to block the pavement. We're supposed to be making walking and cycling in our local communities safer and more attractive, but so often we are reminded of the current modal hierarchy, in which car is very much still king. The perceived needs of drivers are placed above all other needs. If you're a walker, wheeler, wheelchair user, pushchair pusher, etc... then you are an afterthought. #walking #wheeling #wheelchairs #cycling #pedestrians #drivers #barriers #localcommunities #carculture #why

Every Mile, a Memory: Create Moments That Last a Lifetime with Zoom Car Rentals. 🚗💭 #milesofmemories #car #rentcar #rentcars #zoomcaradventures #zoomcar #ad #addesign #design #design2024 #creative #creative2024 #creativedesign #creativeads #creativeagency #adagency

“Inspired by the distinctive protrusions of humpback whale fins, researchers integrated AeroNodes into the Pinarello bicycle’s seat post. This design feature effectively mitigates air resistance generated during pedaling, thereby enhancing the bicycle’s overall aerodynamics… The AirFoil bottom bracket sections and wheel hubs are longer and thinner in the new versions, reducing frontal area and minimizing air resistance. Although innovative aerodynamic frame developments tend to favor forks and seat tubes, Pinarello has opted for narrower forks and seat tubes. This allows the frame weight to be minimized which translates into faster results. The handlebars have also been redesigned and lengthened to determine the athlete’s precise position for aerodynamic advantages.” #additivemanufacturing #3dprinting #sports #sportsdesign #engineering #sportsengineering #racing #paris2024 #cycling #summerolympics #olympics #olympiccycling