Dykes-on-bike-cycles

Picked this up from our good friend Quinn over at Fixie postcard.

Juliet Elliot

We’ve written before that women being cautious around cycling often means they don’t get on a bicycle.  When safety improves more women tend to get out on the streets.  Safety is a very justifiable reason to be apprehensive about getting on a bicycle.  It’s a personal choice about how much you think you’re risking when you get on a bike in a busy city. For Muslim women in India, however, it is now also an issue of religion and decency.

Mufti Arshad Faruqui (Far00qui ?), chairman of the Darul Uloom fatwa department, has issued an edict forbidding women over the age of 13 from riding a bicycle.  Islamic culture states that the purdi (veil) are essential for women.  It seems bicycling conflicts with women’s ability to wear the veils thus justifying the ban of bicycles.

“When a grown-up girl goes cycling outside her house, it is bound to result in bepardagi [undue exposure]…Even medical science has given us evidence to believe that cycling is not good for adolescent girls, physically…”Apart from affecting their femininity, it is harmful for their body structure,” he said.

Some Indian women are reacting to what they think is a ridiculous idea.  Shaista Ambar, chairperson of All Indian Muslim Women Personal Law Board, argued that it would prevent a lot of girls from making it to school.

I’m not sure what medical science he’s referring to that says cycling is harmful to body “structure” (whatever structure means).

The seminary has previously forbid women to work in government, private sectors in addition to calling earrings and wearing jeans “un-islamic.”

Link

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If you support the Prospect Park Bike Lane and don’t want it to be removed sign this petition from Transportation Alternatives to keep it alive.

Biking in an urban setting makes certain things inevitable.  In a place like NYC there are things that are never given a second guess.  One of those things are and should be locking your bike up.  Our friends over at Brooklyn Bike and Board have endless blog postings about stolen bikes.  They, themselves, were the victim of some ambitious bike thieves.

Locks of all kinds are an essential part of biking here.  These accessories are a cumbersome necessity if you don’t want even the cheapest of bike disappearing into the night.

Kevin Scott, 21,  took it upon himself to address the lock situation (if you think there is one) by combining the bike and the lock.

Continue reading…

Hey Kids,

Sorry for the lack of posts.  We’ve been a bit busy planning this!:

Here are some cool videos to keep you occupied.

The first is a video is by Photographer Sean Stiegemeier. Shot on the Canon 5d.

Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull – May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.

The second was made by aquascript.

Solidarités International: Water talks from La Boite Concept on Vimeo.

Dear Drivers,

Yes cyclist can be dicks on the road but you’re still in a god damned hunk of metal that can do more damage. Try not to hit us on the road. Also try not to drive away when you do.

Meredith of Fucked in Park Slope witnessed a hit and run outside of her home. Luckily she and the guys outside with the cyclist manage to get the plates.

If you see a black pick-up truck with the plates 4028GT call the po po. I’m sure the cops can track this ass-hat down (if they care) Thanks

Much Love

Come join us for a ride to the Bohemian Beer Hall and Garden in Astoria.

Maybe it can be the one weekend you put sausage in your mouth…too much?

Naaaaah.

Date: April 25th, 2010

Time: 1 P.m

Place: Meet up at Grand Army Plaza under the arch

RSVP to dykesonbikecycles@gmail.com or on facebook here

Also, remember we want to touch every borough this year…and by borough we mean vag… no really every borough. So if you have destination ideas for a ride let us know and we’ll help you organize it.

Spoke & Art will ride again for Asbury Park’s Night of the Arts on April 17th meet@7pm on the corner of Mattison and Bond (Asbury Park).

http://www.spokeandart.com

***after-party***
Awesome Socks Dance Party with DJ’s Atom Worth, Rob None, Zero and Special Guests.
Dress your feet to impress on the dancefloor. (no shoes)
@asbury park dance and yoga
***Butt Spin and/or Headstand contests may occur

$3 suggested donation.

Dig it.

IMPORTANT: THE AFTERPARTY IS A CLOSED EVENT, YOU MUST RSVP VIA FB TO ATTEND. (there are some rules downtown that we have to follow, it is a formality, if you think you’ll show, just say you are attending here)

POTLUCK: bring a snack and/or beverage of your choice!!!
Night of the Arts ride Saturday April 17th 7pm on the corner of Mattison and Bond, Asbury Park, NJ. Afterwards, the Awesome Socks Dance Party! We will dance to the sounds of DJ’s Atom Worth, Rob None, and Zero at the Asbury Park Dance & Yoga Studio. RSVP via FACEBOOK or by emailing citizen@spokeandart.com .

Benefitting Transportation Alternatives Bicycle Advocacy

May 6th, 7pm
NYU’s Wasserman Center Auditorium, 133 E. 13th Street, 2nd floor

As urban cycling expands by leaps and bounds, how is bicycle culture changing? The image and ethos of commuters, racers proponents of “cycle chic” and outlaw cycling vie with each other to define what it means to be an urban cyclist. Transportation Alternatives brings together leading pundits of bicycle culture — David Herlihy, “Bike Snob” and Caroline Samponaro — to debate the critical bike culture controversies: Do cyclists need to rehabilitate their public persona? To what extent should safety trump convenience and style? Will protected bike lanes segregate cyclists? Is Critical Mass a boon or a liability for the bike movement? What can be done about sexism in the cycling community? Explore these topics at the Bike Culture Summit with our panelists:

• David Herlihy, author of “Bicycle” and “Lost Cyclist” (forthcoming, May 2010), is the foremost U.S. historian of bicycling.

• “Bike Snob,” the popular and elusive blogger, will make a rare public appearance at this event, following publication of his long-awaited book on bike culture in late April.

• Caroline Samponaro, Director of Bicycle Advocacy for Transportation Alternatives, is a longtime New York City cyclist and cycling activist, and is a co-founder of the Freewheels Bicycle Defense Fund.

This event has been generously sponsored by Kona Bikes, Nutcase Helmets, Brooklyn Bike and Board, Mod Squad Cycles, and Spokesman Cycles. Don’t just buy a ticket, support T.A. even more by choosing the ticket and book option. Choose either David Herlihy, author of “Bicycle” or Eben Weiss “Bike Snob: Systematically and Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling” when reserving your ticket. Books can be picked up at the event. All proceeds from the Bike Culture Summit will support Transportation Alternatives’ bicycle advocacy work.

Tickets are $15

has anyone used the new bike route feature that google maps released last wednesday?

Thoughts?

Studies have shown that when bike safety is questionable there is a disparity between the number of women cycling and men cycling.  The ration of men to women on U.S streets is 2:1 and it has been proven that when streets are safer the number of women biking increases.  For example, in the Netherlands, where urban cycling is commonplace, the percentage of women on the rode is 55%.

Jan Garrard, of Deakin University, says, “If you want to know if an urban environment supports cycling, you can forget about all the detailed ‘bikeability indexes’—just measure the proportion of cyclists who are female.”

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals are conducting a survey to determine why women cycle, why we don’t and what we need to get us and our younger counterparts on the road.     Please participate in the 15 minute survey to let NYC know how to get more of us out on the streets biking and at home fixing our bikes.

APBP will also be hosting a webinar on March 31st.  Writing Women Back into Bicycling is still open for registration.

We Can Own The Streets