How Green Is My Bike Ride?

1. When my bicycle gets a flat tire...

   Fixing a flat tire is something most cyclists can learn to do for themselves. And most inner tubes can be patched many times before they need to be tossed out or (better) recycled. If you don't know how to fix a flat, ask about classes at your local bike shop or cycling club. As for CO2 cartridges, they may be convenient but they're nobody's idea of green. Take the time to use a pump. You'll find it easiest to keep your tires at the correct pressure by using a floor pump with a gauge at home, but you can get enough air in to make it home with a portable pump, too.

2. Most of my bicyle rides...

   The green benefits of biking are somewhat blunted if you have to burn up a lot of gasoline every time you take a ride. And, while France and Italy are excellent cycling destinations, it takes quite a bit of fuel to get there.

3. When it starts to get dark I...

   Riding at dusk or night doesn't have to be dangerous if you and your bike are properly lit up, and if you only ride in the bright daylight, you're seriously limiting your use of the bike as personal transportation for much of the year. Any light is better than no light, but a generator light or rechargeable-battery light, while expensive, means you won't have to deal with recycling batteries. Today's hub-based generators are (pardon the expression) light-years ahead of the old bottle type. In general, lights of all kinds have improved tremendously in recent years.

4. My bicycle frame is made out of...

   Too many people choose a bike frame based on what the pros ride. But do they buy Formula One cars to drive to the grocery? Aluminum and steel are both fine frame materials and recyclable. Steel has the additional advantage of being easily repairable, which means a well-cared for steel frame can last indefinitely. Bamboo frames have been around forever and, though you don't see many of them (Calfee makes some rather pricey ones), can you imagine anything more green?

5. My favorite cycling outfits are...

   Dressing like a bike racer is often more about fashion than function, and there's an environmental cost associated with all those fancy synthetic fabrics. Someone who's using a bike as everyday transport is more likely to opt for something a bit more practical. Wool, believe it or not, is still one of the greatest fabrics around for riding. Bonus: You don't have to wash it as often (see How Green is My Laundry)." But don't feel obliged to wear only natural fabrics -- anything that keeps you riding is good. And if you're doing long rides, you're going to want a good pair of (probably synthetic) shorts designed for that purpose.

6. You'll usually find me riding...

   If you're serious about being a green cyclist, you'll do most of your riding in your own neighborhood -- replacing trips you might otherwise have taken by car. But there's nothing wrong with riding just about anywhere that's legal (and that doesn't damage sensitive landscapes like damp mountain meadows). As for spinning class -- hey, at least you're staying in shape.

7. When my bicycle chain gets dirty...

   Bike chains do get dirty, and if you don't keep them clean (and occassionally replace them) you'll end up needing to replace the entire drive train -- a needless waste of resources. You can get a cleaning kit and a more environmentally friendly solvent at your bike shop, but be sure to dispose of the waste responsibly. Even if your solvent is "green," the gunk you're cleaning off of your chain probably isn't.

8. My bicycle weighs...

   Cyclists are often weight-obsessed, but unless you're only racing your bike, it makes a lot more sense to worry about your own weight and not the bike's. You won't wee items like fenders, racks, lights, and baskets on the Tour de France, but they make your bike a lot more useful as personal transportation, which is the greenest way you can use it. One way to have your cake and eat it, too, -- have two bikes -- one for utility riding and one for racing up hills.

9. I like to fill my water bottles with...

   Most of the time, tap water is perfectly fine for riding -- though you can filter it yourself if you want to improve the taste. Most people who opt for sports drinks probably don't need them, though if you're doing a long ride on a hot day, some electrolyte replacement is necessary. You can buy electrolyte tablets (flavored even) and use those with regular water.

10. If I get hungry while I'm riding...

    Energy bars are very convenient, but don't fall into the trap of thinking that "athletic" food makes you athletic. Simpler foods will serve you just as well and there's no packaging to worry about. Still, the occasional energy bar or gel won't destroy the planet if you're careful to dispose of (or even recycle) the wrapper. And, yes, we've heard of someone who toured thousands of miles fueled largely by wild figs. But he probably had a bamboo bike, too.

More Schools Join the Pay-You-to-Bike Bandwagon

Cars & Transportation (bikes)

Image via: LA Citystreets

Clark U, Rice University, U Minnesota are all launching bike-sharing programs, along with the City of Minneapolis. Towson University has launched several green transportation programs - sadly no bike sharing, yet. Many of the schools include financial incentives to get out there and try biking for a change.

Clark U students earned their bikes (6 in total) for the bike sharing program. Students in the cycling club on campus, Cycles of Change, volunteered at a local "Earn-A-Bike" center where they learned to build and maintain bikes. The new bikes will be available for the day, along with helmets and locks, for students with a campus ID.

Rice University is actually giving Giant Boulder bikes (that's right, not loaning but actually owning) to students that agree not to register a car on campus for a minimum of 12 months. The off-campus graduate housing apartment complex has a shortage of parking spaces so the school created an incentive (carrot) program to reward those who agree to brave Houston on two wheels instead of four. Three bikes will be available as loaners for students with cars, and a special storage unit on the complex will house all the bikes.
More power to ya - literally and figuratively. We hear those Houston summers can be brutal, but what do we know?

Bike Walk Twin Cities, a federally funded program in Minnesota, recently gave bike-sharing a major jump start. 1,000 bikes will be available at over 75 different locations in Minneapolis for citizens, tourists, anyone in need of wheels around town. Also as part of the program, the University of Minneapolis, established a U of M Bike Center to establish a biking presence on campus. Part of the program includes a new Radio Frequency ID on each bike, which keeps track of mileage for the user.

Towson University is rolling out a smorgasbord of green transportation options as part of the campus sustainability plan. If enough students can get on board, school officials hope, then they won't have to raise fees for parking permits and build more parking spaces in the campus garage. Instead, officials are promoting car sharing and are even developing a rental car program for students living on campus. A "rental fee" would include insurance, gas and maintenance and the cars would be loaned out on an hourly basis. All cars will be hybrids or electrics, and officials estimate that by taking advantage of this program, students can save up to $500 a month. For students living further away, additional shuttle routes will be added to encourage students to not drive to campus.

But that's not all. Students at Towson still get discounted MTA (public transportation) bus/rail passes and for those that agree to carpool, the school will give them four free parking passes that they can use at the local Towson Center. Worried you might be stranded if you don't bring your car to campus? Don't be - the campus offers a "Guaranteed Ride Home" program - where the school will reimburse up to $40 for cab expenses, a one day car rental with Enterprise or a car-sharing vehicle will be available. Sounds like a win-win to us.

:Clark U :U M News : The Towson Towerlight
More on Bike-Sharing Programs
Bike-Sharing Programs Become Increasingly Popular on College Campuses
DC Bike Sharing Program Launches Today: First in the US
B-Cycle Bike Sharing Has Plans for Denver...and A US City Near You?
Next Stop for Bike Sharing Programs: Capitol Hill