Monday, November 30, 2009
Winter Break
If you are a patron who needs to return a bike during that time, please email us at iowacitybikelibrary at gmail dot com to make arrangements.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Rv for bicyclists
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Sharrows & Bike Lanes in IC
Johnson County residents and bicycling enthusiasts are invited to join Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey on Thursday, July 2nd at 5:15 p.m. in College Green Park to see the most recent improvements to the local bicycle network – shared lane arrows, or “sharrows.”
In an effort to become more bicycle-friendly, some Johnson County communities are installing new sharrow pavement markings and bike lanes on streets this summer. The sharrows, which are an alternative to bike lanes, can be found on 5th Street in Coralville, and on Market, Jefferson, and College Streets in Iowa City, beginning this week. Bike lanes will be painted on segments of Market and Jefferson Streets.
A sharrow does not demarcate a separate bicycle lane, but it does direct the bicyclist to travel in the proper lane position to avoid being hit by opening doors of parked cars. The sharrow markings also remind roadway users where the travel lane is too narrow to be safely shared side-by-side by cyclists and passing motorists.
Many cyclists know that when there is no bike lane present, cyclists are expected to ride on the right. Some sharrows and bike lanes, however, are located in the left lane. Why? In a word, safety:
- Bicycle lanes and sharrows on the left side of some one-way streets are gaining popularity to help reduce the number of bicyclists being struck by opening car doors;
- This location removes bicyclists from the path of buses pulling into bus stops;
- The left curb lane is most clear of snow on streets where vehicles park along the right curb; and
- The design helps increase visibility, as the rear-right blind spot is eliminated and drivers can more easily see a bicyclist in the driver’s side mirror.
For more information on sharrows and bike lanes or other improvements to the local bicycling network, contact Kristopher Ackerson, JCCOG Assistant Transportation Planner, at 319.356.5247.
*All content above reposted from JCCOG press release vis Kris Ackerson
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Bike Library Volunteers in the News
The latest issue of The Iowan Magazine features an article about the Bike Library. You can read it online here.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Bike Way: May 10th
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
We Need a Bridge Like This!
See more:http://cityofomaha.org/departments/mayor/EconDev/PedestrianBridgePictures.htm
Monday, March 02, 2009
Rental Bench is back
For $5 an hour you can use the bike library's tools, books, and equipment to tune up or repair your bike. Rental bench is free for Environmental Advocates, Bicyclists of Iowa City, or Bike Library volunteers.
One caveat: volunteers on hand may or may not help you with your wrenching, so the risk is yours!
Rental Bench will be held from 1pm to 3pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Iowa Senate Passes Bike Safety Bill
A portion of the debate focused on bicyclist fatalities. It made me think of my old friend and cycling companion, Kevin Joyce. Kevin was killed by a motorist in June of 1995 while riding to West Branch. RIP Kevin.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Senate File 34 Introduced
Iowa Senators Joe Bolkcom, William Dotzler, and Matt McCoy introduced the Iowa Bike Safety Bill. Senate File 34 is a bill for an act relating to the operation of bicycles on a street or highway, providing requirements for motor vehicle operators encountering other vehicles or bicycles, and providing penalties.
The legislation changes the Code of Iowa to reflect basic changes in bicycle operation, like using your right arm pointing right for a right turn signal and stopping the requirement to honk at pedestrians. The bill also clarifies bicycle access by prohibiting locals laws that dangerously force cyclists onto the sidewalks and if a cyclists uses a crosswalk motorists are required to yield. The bill amends Iowa Code to require a five foot passing distance, safe following distance for bicycles. Additional laws require drivers to check for conflicts before opening a door in a traffic lane and drivers cannot interfere with bikes taking the lane if the lane is too narrow for safe passing.
Senate File 34 was assigned to the Transportation Committee. Within the Senate Transportation Committee, the bill was assigned to the subcommittee:
Senator Matt McCoy
Senate District 31
Des Moines
matt.mccoy@legis.state.ia.us
Senator Kim Reynolds
Senate District 48
Osceola
kim.reynolds@legis.state.ia.us
Senator Daryl Beall
Senate District 25
Fort Dodge
daryl.beall@legis.state.ia.us
Find your legislator and contact them.
Personal letters are always appreciated. Remember to stick to only one or two issues at a time, provide real-life personal examples, and be polite. Also, don't forget to carefully proofread your letter. Send your letter, addressed simply to: "Dear Rep." (fill in the name) or "Dear Sen." (fill in the name), Iowa Senate or Iowa House of Representatives, State Capitol Building, Des Moines, IA 50319.
Every lawmaker now has an e-mail address and many even prefer this method of communication. Keep in mind, however, that most legislators prefer to use e-mail for quick and simple messages. If you have a detailed message, it's probably best to send it via regular mail.
When speed is of the essence, you can always phone a quick message in to your legislator by calling 515-281-3371 (Senate) or 515-281-3221 (House).
Friday, January 23, 2009
Back At It!!! BL Resumes Retail Hours
Monday, January 19, 2009
Winter Bike to Work Day
Bike for Patriotism with Chicago's Winter Bike to Work Day
Heather Sperling, Chicago, IL
Mon Jan 19 10:00:00 EST 2009
Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
Bicycles | Biking | Chicago | Commuting | Eco-Friendly Travel | Electric Bicycles | Planet Green | Transportation
Do you love America? Then you’ll bike to work on January 20th. And if you’re in Chicago, you won’t be alone. On Tuesday the 20th—Election Day, mind you—Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance is sponsoring its annual celebration of trading four wheels for two, and cutting out CO2 emissions in the process. A car with a solo driver releases over a pound of CO2 per mile. An SUV releases over 1.6 pounds. A bike releases zero—and with the recent increase in carbon emissions, that’s what our country needs right now. Ft. Collins, Colorado hosts a winter bike day of their own. Last year participants rode 1,654 miles—that’s nearly two tons of CO2 that didn’t get shot into the air that day.
Most major cities across the country host a bike to work day in May, National Bike Month (google “your city + bike to work day” for more information). San Francisco is gearing up, if you will, for a May 14th ride, and Washington DC’s should be around the same time. But Chicago, Ft. Collins and Boulder up the ante with their winter date. And since Chicago’s been loaded with snow, it may call for some snow tires.
The Active Trans Alliance will be thanking participants with coffee and hot cocoa from 6:30-9am at Chicago’s Daley Plaza on Dearborn and Washington. And while you’re there, give them some thanks as well—their mission is right-on: “…to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel.”
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Notice of Agenda: JCCOG Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee
The next meeting of the Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOG) Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library.
The agenda is available at www.jccog.org/resources/agendas.asp