Renovations... Bring On The New Decade!

We've been hard at work at the Bike Library during our shutdown. We've added a third workbench and much additional storage for wheels, parts, handlebars, forks and such. We had a wonderful donation yesterday of a typeset cabinet that will be perfect for sorting and storing small parts and bits. A big thanks to everyone that pitched in to remake the space.

Special thanks to Nathan Shepherd and Brad Parsons for bringing the Funk!

Here are a couple of pictures. The first is from yesterday and the second is from when we first moved into the space (2005).

Winter Break

The Bike Library will be closed for Winter Break from December 20 until January 23, 2010

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.

Bike Library Garage Sale

Saturday, September 26 10:00-1:00
Frames, project bikes, parts...
Come check it out.

Rv for bicyclists

Just because you don't own a gasoline powered vehicle does not mean you can't have and RV. Check it out here.

Sharrows & Bike Lanes in IC

Johnson County residents and bicycling enthusiasts are invited to join Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey on Thursday, July 2^nd 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 5^th 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:

1. 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;
2. This location removes bicyclists from the path of buses pulling into bus stops;
3. The left curb lane is most clear of snow on streets where vehicles park along the right curb; and
4. 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

Bike Library Volunteers in the News

The Press-Citizen is featuring some great writing from Bike Library volunteers this week! Check out Brian's fact-filled editorial On the Advantages of Biking here and Erin's essay about being a bike commuter here.

The latest issue of The Iowan Magazine features an article about the Bike Library. You can read it online here.

The Bike Way: May 10th

The purpose of the College Street Bike Way event is two-fold: 1) to provide a direct route to downtown along a common bike route with reduced traffic; and 2) to provide an introduction to on-street riding for people interested in participating in Bike to Work Week.

Event organizers will install "Local Access Only" signs at College St. intersections with Gilbert, Dodge, Governor, and Muscatine to reduce motor-vehicle traffic and make College St. more bike-friendly. Access to College St. will remain at all other streets.

Bike Parade from City High to College Green Park departs at 12:30 p.m.

College Green Park will serve as the hub of The Bike Way event, providing the following services:

* A Bike Prep Station: People can get their bikes ready for B2WW. Volunteers will be on-hand to check tire pressure and pump tires, adjust seat/handlebar height, attach racks/baskets, or install lights or other needs for commuting

* A Mapping Station: People can ask advice about the most bike-friendly route to to get from their house to their workplace. Volunteers familiar with biking in Iowa City will help people plan a route to work, taking into account the availability of city biking facilities and the level of skill/comfort of the rider. Maps will be provided.

* Practice Rides: Volunteers will lead small groups on practice commuter rides to help people get familiar and comfortable with the idea of commuting to work on bike.

* Commuting 101 Clinic: From 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. the Iowa City Bike Library will host a beginning bicycle commuter class. This class will focus on the very basics of bike commuting: riding with traffic, safety issues, signaling, gear, etc. The goal of this class is to make commuting more accessible to more people more of the time. Everyone is welcome; women and GLBTQ folks are encouraged to attend. This class will be taught by Erin Fleck, a long time Bike Library volunteer who commutes year round.

* A Bike Contest: Prizes will be awarded for the most unique bikes. Be creative!

* Bike and Gear Swap Meet: Clean out your shops, garages, basements and give your unused bikes and bike-related gear a new home. Buy, sell, trade. Bring your own tables. No registration required.For more info, go to www.cicbikeweek.org

We Need a Bridge Like This!

Omaha to Council Bluffs-9/28/08

See more:http://cityofomaha.org/departments/mayor/EconDev/PedestrianBridgePictures.htm

Bike Library on Twitter

The bike library is now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/icbikelibrary

Rental Bench is back

Rental Bench is back. The first bench of 2009 will be this Saturday, March 7th from 1 pm to 3 pm.

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.