Google Maps “bike there” finally arrives!
WOOHOO!
Back in October of last year, Google made the big announcement they’d be adding a feature to their Google Maps application for bike navigation (to add to their list of other alternative means of transportation like walking and transit). What I love about Google is they consistently back up their talk and today, they’ve come through and made available a GIANT database of bike route data and the new ability to punch in addresses into Google Maps and have it route you the best way on a bike!!
Been playing with it and it has some great data for Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland and by the looks of things, has great data elsewhere too. This is big, really big. Go check it out 
Google’s official blog – Biking directions added to Google Maps
10.Mar.10 
Recumbent “bike pod” whisks cyclists along above traffic
…well at least it might some day. The video is mostly in Swedish but there’s some English in there too. Looks like crazy fun and maybe even a useful idea in the right place.
Spotted on Walk Oakland Bike Oakland
Dunlop valve key rack – another way to re-use
The list of ways to re-use bike tubes seems to grow endlessly. Just when I think I’ve seen them all…
Clever idea and easy to make yourself too
Found via Stilsucht & avail. in Germany at DaWanda (and no I don’t know what either of those names mean)
Update: These are not Presta valves as I originally mistok them for but rather Dunlop/Woods valve which are apparently much more common in Germany than they are in North America
Spring is coming!
Hooray! Our plum tree in the backyard just started flowering and my hardwood fig cuttings are now showing some life. Still waiting on our apple trees but they should follow suit soon. Time to start thinking about this years garden!
P.S I apologize to our East Coast snow bound readers 
Impressive tube ball
From the folks over at Box Dog Bikes in San Francisco, they’ve shown us their bundle of joy: a massive ball of innertubes
I was pretty excited when mine got to be fist sized, this is impressive (and yes I am impressed by such things)
Dream L.A. bike map
Found this droolworthy map-set of a potential bicycle network in the Los Angeles metro area. Being originally from LA maybe I find this extra exciting though…
Don’t be deceived though, this is purely conceptual (ie fantasy). The LA Bike Working Group is trying to draw attention to LA’s severe lack of a cohesive bike network
This network would rival the kind of connectivity that has only been available to drivers on the extensive freeway system. Keep on dreamin’
Click to see the complete set of maps
Found via Inhabitat
Dan’s interesting articles, February 23, 2010
- San Francisco Takes Parking Spaces for Trial Sidewalk Extensions
- How To Build a Vertical Bike Rack Using Spare Parts Home Hacks | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
- TIGER project comes with Portland’s first two-way cycle track
- Streetsblog San Francisco » San Francisco Takes Parking Spaces for Trial Sidewalk Extensions
- Blue Ribbon Bike Fender
Tour de Taco ride report
Report: fun! Was a huge turnout, although not the 400+ as RSVPs on Facebook, but still around a none too shabby 150. Despite the crowd, it was strangely orderly, not reminiscent of a critical mass ride at all. Groups were broken off of the main crowd, maps were provided, and everyone made the rounds to four different taco trucks in Oakland’s Hispanic dominated Fruitvale district. I hardly ever get down to East Oakland so it was nice to see a new side of my city
Cyrus from californiatacotrucks.com gives a pre-ride pep talk
Mass of bicycles crowds the Fruitvale BART station
East Bay Bicycle Coalition co-sponsored the even with Oaklandish
A taco truck owners dream; these guys were rolling in cash yesterday
“Hey man, what’s with the camera?? I’m here for tacos, not photos!”
My lovely girlfriend Kendra at taco stop numero dos. Check out her bike tube earrings
Bonus shot: riding home through Oakland’s Little Saigon we found this gem:
Well that’s it! Another successful taco truck ride, more to come I’m sure
