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Patrick Croasdaile: Funding Bike Projects

Posted April 29, 2013 By Frank

Crowd Supply's Patrick Croasdaile

Crowd Supply’s Patrick Croasdaile

I guess it takes a cyclocross enthusiast to get behind a new way of funding the next great cyclocross bike. Meet Patrick Croasdaile, he describes himself as a curator at Crowd Supply.

Crowd Supply is a new company in Portland, OR that’s working to create a renaissance in consumer products — how they’re designed, funded and delivered.

Two of the first few projects: an ultra-reflective bike tire and a cyclocross bike that’s branded by the folks at Rogue Ales.

 

 

 

 

Play

Show #49 Listen: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

the Asylum Meuse Cyclocross Bike

the Asylum Meuse Cyclocross Bike, Rogue Team Edition

the LIT Ultra-reflective Bike Tire

the LIT Ultra-reflective Bike Tire

Disclaimer: I’m an investor in the company, a small one.

The story is huge though.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed in Audio-Video | Tagged: ,

From the National Women’s Bicycling Forum

Posted March 8, 2013 By Frank

I knew this one-day event had the potential to steal the buzz from the entire week of the National Bike Summit.

The National Women’s Bicycling Forum had a super turnout, inspiring speakers, and great buzz. I met people from across the country and internationally, some new friends and some I’ve spoken to but never met in person.

I keep asking myself, “Why did I want to sponsor this event?” Lots of reasons, like many of my best interview guests are women, and women are under represented on bikes, I have 3 sisters…

But I keep coming back to Carolyn Szczepanski, the Communications Director for the League of American Bicyclists that hosted the week; she’s an amazing person. Who wouldn’t want to support her?

As I wandered out of the conference, heading out early to return home for a Coastal Commission meeting, I bumped into Carolyn. “I want to sponsor again next year, too.”

Watch the video.

Filed in Audio-Video | Tagged:

Peter Gerrard, The Examiner

Posted February 5, 2013 By Frank
Peter Gerrard and April Morris

Peter Gerrard and April Morris

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The Memorial Ride is well in the past. The Bike Safety Improvement Fund has attracted a lot of money for eventual improvements. Where do we go from here?

Today, the tables are turned. The Examiner’s Peter Gerrard writes of bike safety issues, so when he reached out to me and April Morris I suggested we complement his article with this audio interview. So today you enjoy a multimedia twofer: find Peter’s article here.

Show #48 Listen: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video, City planning | Tagged: ,

Robin Bylenga, PedalChic

Posted January 14, 2013 By Frank

PedalChic's Robin Bylenga

PedalChic‘s Robin Bylenga


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in Greenville, SC

in Greenville, SC

Today the story’s about an entrepreneur who suffered through the humiliations of getting laid off and worked her way back up.

Along the way she came upon the idea of catering to women cyclists.

Meet Robin at the National Women’s Bicycling Forum in Washington, DC Monday March 4th.

Show #47 Listen to Robin: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video, Nat'l Bike Summit | Tagged:

Advocate of the Year, April Morris

Posted December 26, 2012 By Frank
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April Morris

April Morris

She doesn’t even live here, but like many others, she rides these streets.

This Anaheim cyclist decided to get very involved in Newport Beach bike advocacy when she proposed a Memorial Ride after the deaths of two women cyclists in September.

Meet April Morris, cdmCyclist’s Advocate of the Year.

Then Mayor Nancy Gardner called her back the day after a crowd of 160 angry, grieving cyclists appeared at a Bike Safety Meeting — the City was interested in her suggestion for a Memorial Ride.

Apparently, that’s all April had to hear. In no time she created a website with details of the ride and besides registering, interested cyclists could buy a t-shirt in support of the cause. Who would’ve guessed she would eventually raise $76,000? That’s a lot of t-shirts and combined with individual and corporate donations then a 3 to 1 match by the City — today the Bike Safety Improvement Fund sits with over $300,000.

I guess if you knew April Morris and her co-organizer Joan Littauer, you might not be surprised, but everyone else involved in bike advocacy is amazed at what she’s accomplished.

The Memorial Ride

An overflow crowd assembles for the Memorial Ride

I’ve been on the phone with new friends back east. They want to know: can this fundraising success be duplicated elsewhere? And what were the key factors leading to such an overwhelming outcome?

First you have to start with the deaths of two women cyclists in a single 24-hour period — that’s what galvanized the cycling community and got people to demand safer conditions. Add to this mix, a City Council that thoughtfully listened, that endorsed the Memorial Ride, provided the Police escorts for the surprisingly large crowd that turned out, and most importantly, offered the 3:1 match for donations to the fund.

All that was left was to get out of April’s way.

What’s ahead for April in the New Year?

The Fund has to be allocated to specific safety issues and April’s the best one to ask: What do contributors want to see done? it’s a subject for the Bike Safety Committee to take up as it reconvenes in 2013.

Everyone will be listening to April.

Show #46 Listen to April: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video, Opinion | Tagged: ,

Top Videos of 2012

Posted December 22, 2012 By Frank

Well, it’s that time of year and I’m poking around in the archives.

There are a few favorite videos; watch them again…

Big Corona Beach time lapse, Sunday August 26th.

The most-watched video of the year: Riding into Trouble

Newport Coast’s David Huntsman stars in: Blocked Bike Lane

Filed in Audio-Video

Melissa Balmer, Women On Bikes SoCal

Posted December 6, 2012 By Frank

Melissa Balmer

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Women on Bikes SoCal

“The media doesn’t quite understand the bike yet; it’s a style-darling — as a prop,” says Melissa Balmer of Women on Bikes SoCal.

She’s out to make a more meaningful connection with her blog focused on fashion, design, advocacy and fun stories of women on bikes. As Melissa puts it, “The beauty, benefits and joy of bicycling.”

Melissa agrees with me: men will enjoy visiting the site as well.

Happy anniversary wishes are due; WOBSC is one year old.

She’s on the advisory board for Women Bike, a one-day conference which precedes the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. in March. She earned her spot on this board by helping organize the first Women’s National Bike Summit in Long Beach in September as part of the Pro Place/Pro Bike conference. She’s an advocate with a media bent.

Show #45 Listen to Melissa: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video | Tagged: ,

Tom Godefrooij, Dutch Cycling Embassy

Posted November 30, 2012 By Frank

Tom Godefrooij


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Stephanie Noll at Oregon’s BTA referred me; I’d be in the Netherlands for a week and I was eager to interview local advocates. Her introduction opened the door for me to meet with Tom Godefrooij at the Dutch Cycling Embassy in Utrecht – all I had to do was get to Utrecht, but that turned out to be quite straightforward. Train service from Rotterdam was easy, something I’m not used to coming from Southern California where there’s so little public transportation.

Turns out my observations about transportation options at home is something I have in common with many who come to meet Tom. He arranges tours for mostly U.S. municipalities that have heard about the great cycling infrastructure in Holland and want to see it for themselves, with an eye towards improving bike safety back home. What a fun job!

For more on the cycling scene in the Netherlands, see my post at WomenOnBikesSoCal: Dutch Dames.

Show #44 Listen to Tom: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video | Tagged: ,

Carolyn Szczepanski, Women on Bikes

Posted November 6, 2012 By Frank
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Carolyn rides around Washington D.C.

She’s the Communications Director for the League of American Bicyclists, so you can imagine, she’s on message.

Carolyn shares the emphasis the League is placing on getting more women on bikes.

Why the special emphasis?

Can’t women handle this on their own?

Yes, but the percentage of women on bikes isn’t keeping up with men. There’s more of them, but in relation to men, their numbers have been dropping. In part that’s why she helped to host the National Womens Bicycle Summit in Long Beach in September.

When she’s not messaging for the League, she’s writing for Momentum magazine and Bicycle Times; two of my favorites.

We discuss so many issues, like high school in Houston, her home town today in Washington, D.C., and how much progress there’s been in building bicycle-friendly infrastructure. Of course, there’s Capital BikeShare operating in DC. She shares how that’s made a difference.

We cover so many topics, it takes me a moment to realize what many of you who already know her know: she’s fun to talk to, and she knows all about bike advocacy issues.

Show #43 Listen to Carolyn: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Filed in Audio-Video, Nat'l Bike Summit | Tagged: ,

Councilwoman Leslie Daigle

Posted October 8, 2012 By Frank

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Leslie Daigle

She’s the second term City Councilwoman for District 4 in Newport Beach; meet Leslie Daigle.

At 8am on Sunday October 28th she’ll lead a Memorial Ride around Fashion Island dedicated to the memory of Sarah Leaf, 29 and Dr. Campion, 57, who were killed in one 24 hour period in September.

Leslie’s well suited to lead the ride; she’s toured around the world on her bicycle.

What are the challenges cyclists face as we demand improved safety on our streets?

Is there a budget issue? Or is it a staffing challenge? What immediate steps is the City taking to improve conditions for bike riders?

The fund associated with the ride, why isn’t the City putting up all the money? Surely, the City has the money. What’s the condition of city finances and why is there a pledge with a matching contribution?

Leslie has answers to this and much more.

Tuesday October 9th the City Council meets at 7pm to decide on the details of the ride and the fund with its matching features; make plans now to attend.

Join us both on this Memorial Ride. Register now.

Show #42 Listen to Leslie: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

Leslie climbing Mont Ventoux
Lance Armstrong refers to Mont Ventoux as the “giant of Provence”

Filed in Audio-Video | Tagged:
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