Where are these international NolaCycle.com visitors coming from?

So I've noticed in the last couple of days there have been a lot of visitors from Europe and some from South America on my blog. The "FEEDJIT" blog traffic widget I had on there didn't tell me where you all were coming from (as in what website you visited before you visited here) because I thought that was a little silly and stalkerish, but now I'm curious. I mean, shoot, my project isn't even done yet! I should be working on the map right now, but instead I'm being a lazy before I have to drive 4 hours to Detroit to pick up a sweeeet mountain bike (I'll post pictures when I bring it home! Pictures of me tearin' the horse trails at Mom & Dad's).

So I upgraded to the fancier FEEDJIT blog traffic widget that will tell me what hip Europian bike blog is leading you to me. I think I'll e-mail that blog author a virtual high-five for promoting my project!

Anyway, I'm really super super flattered that people around the world have now heard about NolaCycle!!!! A couple of month's a ago a coworker told me he overheard someone mention my project at a wedding reception in Houston. I thought that was really awesome. I mean, Houston, shoot, that's like 5 hours from New Orleans! But France, Peru, Sweden - that's a way bigger deal than Texas (sorry Texas, but you're really not exotic). Keep those international visits coming!

And if you're planning a trip to New Orleans and were hoping my map was finished, you can still e-mail any of the team members - Lauren@nolacycle.com, Dan@nolacycle.com, Tom@nolacycle.com - and ask us for advice on getting around by bike.

Bicycle Rolling Stop Animation - Idaho Stop Law

Check out Urban Velo's post about a new proposed bike law in Oregon based on a law that now exists in Idaho. It allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, so they don't have to loose momentum by coming to a complete stop when the intersection is clear. But it does continue to make "flying through a stop sign" illegal and increases the fine.

In New Orleans, I'm pretty sure 95% of us already treat stop signs as yield signs, but there are a good 5% or so percent that don't stop or yield - they just fly right through causing dangerous situations for themselves, drivers, and pedestrians. Perhaps legalizing rolling stops for cyclists and taking on a strong public advertising campaign to explain the law would help with the situation. Apparently, the rolling stop law has worked really well in Idaho and the state overall has a very good bike safety record.

Bicycle Rolling Stop Animation - Idaho Stop Law


Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

Tour de Lis ride raise money for cancer research/support - Saturday on the Lakefront

This Saturday, April 18th, the Tour de Lis ride is taking place on the New Orleans lakefront. If you haven't heard about this ride before, it happens every year and is open to cyclists of all ages and ability levels. It's not a race, but ride to raise money and awareness. Last year they raised $165,000 that went to organizations helping cancer victims and their families with treatment, fiancial assistance, support, education, and research.

Pre-registration closed today at 1 (sorry I didn't post this sooner), but if you show up before the ride on Saturday, you can donate $50 to participate. Ride begins at 8 am and ends at noon.

Event Features

• A ten-mile loop on picturesque New Orleans Lakeshore Drive
• Police support
• Food, snacks and beverages
• Free bike support
• Goody bags for riders
• A New Orleans party atmosphere
• Fundraising awards

Ride one loop, one hour, or the whole day-- solo or on a team! Individual and team participation is encouraged as participants can ride the entire time, part of the time or recruit and have a team relay. It’s a ride for a cause – not a race.

Please Note:

• No minimum fundraising required.
• All donations are greatly appreciated.
• All cyclists must be at least 12 years of age
• All cyclists must wear a bike helmet
• Baby seats and child carriers attached to bikes are not permitted
• Tour de Lis begins and ends at 8000 Lakeshore Drive near Landry's Restaurant

New Metro Bike Coalition Website - I'm super late updating our link!

If you haven't checked it out yet, Metro Bike Coalition has a new website with a new website address - http://www.mbcnola.org

It's all pretty, shiny, and new! Check it out and update your links/bookmarks!

Transport for NOLA - new transit advocacy group getting started in New Orleans

Straight from my e-mail inbox to your computer screen - It's finally happening! People have come together to make a multi-modal transportation advocacy group for New Orleans! We're talking bikes, buses, light rail, streetcars, pedestrians, unicycles, hovercrafts, mules & horses (alright, maybe not too many horses because biking through poo is no fun).

But seriously, folks, Transportation Alternative in NYC has made a huge impact on improving mass transit and bicycle and pedestrian amenities and advocating for the people of the city who decide not to drive. Transport NOLA is bringing that multi-modal, "we're all in this together," model of advocacy to New Orleans. Transport NOLA is starting their campaign by focusing on rail improvements, especially pushing for a light rail system that will serve the entire city and just not a handful of neighborhoods like our current streetcar system. Check out the "Where" section and you'll see where bike and pedestrian facilities come into play too. (I'm not too crazy about this "bike lane in the middle of streetcar tracks" idea in the Tulane Station model, but maybe with modern streetcars, you and do it up so wheels don't get caught. I'll look into this and make sure a bunch of poorly designed bike lanes don't end up all over the city.)

I knew this was brewin', but I was really surprised to see how quickly this has come together. The website looks great and they already have some concept designs online!

The kick-off event is THIS FRIDAY at the Rusty Nail (1100 Constance St in the Warehouse District a few blocks south of Lee Circle) from 6-9 pm.

I, of course, will not be there due to this "you have to be in Cincinnati to take classes"/"you're too close to graduation to transfer" situation, but you should really go and get involved. This will be an excellent opportunity to create a forum in which all of us (advocates and users are various non-personal motor vehicle transportation modes) can come together, and work together, to improve the city and region.