This week marked the first time many bike NYC folks hit the streets since winter. Our bit of good weather combined with Google Maps launch of bicycling directions has made for an exciting bicycle filled week. Add to it this little find of activists taking to the streets to mark potholes with onomatopoeia.
Toronto’s street artist and bike activist collective Urban Repair Squad, known for making radical interventions in on-street signage to promote cyclists’ safety, recently unveiled a project. Their Pothole Onomatopoeia series appeared on Toronto’s Harbord Street recently, pointing out irregularities in the pavement with arrows and old school-Batman-style words like “THUNK!,” “OUCH!” and “OOF!” stenciled onto the street with bright spray paint. [h/t @sheepdontswim via @L Magazine]
I personally hit a pothole pretty hard this morning, but luckily didn’t get a flat. Friends have not been so lucky. Apparently if you are motorist you can file a claim with the city should you hit a pothole, but what about the cyclists? Anyone know if there is something in place for us?
Stumbled upon this video with my namesake and had to post it up. According to the guy taking us over the Brooklyn bridge to Williamsburg (which doesn’t even take you there) you can find David Byrne’s bike rack called the “hipster.” Good for a laugh. Enjoy.
Found this fantastic gallery of photos from Brooks Saddle factory in Smethwick England.
Metal parts are stamped out and heat-treated, flat pieces of leather are soaked and then formed in molds and the parts are all assembled by hand. After seeing how much work goes into a single bike seat, these famously expensive saddles start to look cheap. [via Doobybrain via Wired]
A room full of messengers, cycling advocates, commuters and fans turned up for this past weekend’s Bike Short Films at Public Assembly. Out of the 17 films, there was a good mix of stuff from the stupid to the serious. It was fun to see the messengers go all silent when a Streetfilm went up and the advocates do the same for the trick videos but all in all there was a love of bicycles and mutual respect in the room. Hats off to the organizers for bringing everyone together. Scroll down for even more video love.
The winner: Shut Your Mouth – Fake Money feat. G. Nasty
One of my favorites: Pedal Away From Global Decay
Ghostbikes put out a hauntingly beautifully short, which will hopefully be online soon. In mean time, check out some of the other shorts:
Master-Piece, known for their high quality bags and luggage, has produced a new series of bike chain covers. As usual you can count on the brand’s quality and styling. The bike chain comes in a series of colorways and will be released soon. Via Warp via Highsnobiety.
Tonight! January 25: The Great Williamsburg Bike Wars: A Public Debate w/Caroline Samponaro, Heather Loop, Isaac Abraham @ Pete’s Candy Store – 709 Lorimer St Brooklyn NY, 7:30pm.
Just before Christmas, 2009, a war broke out on the bike lanes of Williamsburg. On one side: the Hasidic Jewish community of the Southside, who had advocated–successfully–for Mayor Bloomberg to remove the Bedford Ave Bike lane. On the other side: A coalition of bikesters, whose defiance led them to re-paint the bike lanes, and threaten a topless ride in protest (it was snowed out in the blizzard of ‘09). Moderating: Hasidic bike enthusiast Baruch Herzfeld.
Saturday January 30th: Haiti Benefit Race @ Tompkins Square Park followed by an after party w/goldsprints @ Bklyn Wrek Room – 940 Flushing Ave Brooklyn NY
Saturday January 30th: Transporation Alternatives Brooklyn Commitee hosts their monthly ride. Check the TA calendar for route and time closer to the date.
How many folks listen to headphones while riding in the city? I’ve got mixed feelings about the whole thing but feel like my morning commute isn’t the same without music. I’m just carefully with the volume and have always wondered why bicyclists don’t have helmets like motorcyclists – ones that project sound from inside. This little gadget is trying to change all that. Wonder what the sounds quality is like…
The Shake offers the ability to hear your ambient surroundings at the same time as your music and given that you’re presumably wearing a helmet for good reason, situational awareness in dangerous situations is an extraordinarily good idea, particularly at just US$120. [h/t @newamsterdamize via Gizmodo]
Can you imagine if they replaced that giant tree composed of many other trees in Rockefeller center with something a little more sustainable? London’s got the right idea.
Sarah Wigglesworth Architects has been commissioned by developers igloo to create a bespoke Christmas tree for Bermondsey Square, London, SE1. The Bermondsey Square Christmas tree is composed of 35 recycled bike wheels, set on a simple structure, in the recognisable shape of a Christmas Tree. [via Architects Journal h/t @rachelleraehouse for the find!]
