1870s, Global
Bicycles made from steel arrive on the scene. People are feeling liberated!
Post WWII
Bikes begin to be relegated to novelty or sport objects.
2006, Copenhagen
Mikael Colville-Anderson starts posting photos of fashionable cyclists going about their daily lives in the Bicycle Capital of the World. People love it – it’s inspirational. It sparks a worldwide movement bringing biking back to the mainstream as a legitimate form of transportation. Copenhagen Cycle Chic explicitly aims to “take back the bike culture by showing how the bicycle once again can be an integral, respectable and feasible transport form, free of sports clothes or gear, and how it can play a vital role in increasing the life quality in cities.”
2011, Global
Over 70 Cycle Chic organizations around the world have joined the cycle chic movement, including the growing Cycle Chic Sundays.
2011, Dallas
Dallas rolls up in style. Dallas Cycle Style is born, with a nod to the Cycle Chic movements and a penchant for the extraordinarily Texan style of cycling with your own independent flair. It takes all kinds – we simply celebrate cycling in style.
5 comments
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April 9, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Ben Ralston
Hi,
My name is Ben Ralston. I am a cycling enthusiast here in Dallas. I road bike as well as cruise on my beach cruiser. I would like to team up with you guys to do a billboard to promote cycling in Dallas; let me know who i can talk with. Shoot me an email!
P.S. Great article in today’s paper!
Thanks,
Ben
April 14, 2011 at 6:11 pm
UrbanPedal
That’d be sweet, Ben! I just shot you an email.
April 30, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Chris Phelan
This is a formal invite to Dallas Cycle Chic to The Ride Of Silence. It is for you, your friends, and all of Dallas Cycle Chic. I’ve written up the below statement to make it easier for you to post or send. You can get a logo from the web site, or just contact me, and I’ll send it to you. Thanks for keeping the ride in mind, and alive.
c
I’m inviting Dallas Cycle Chic to attend this year’s Ride Of Silence.
Hard to believe The Ride Of Silence started right here at White Rock Lake. Yup, it’s true. On May 21, 2003, the first Ride Of Silence took place to memorialize cyclists that have been killed on our roads. A ride such as this had never happened before. A silent ride where no one talks? And goes slow? Who would show up? A thousand cyclists, that’s who. So many, in fact, both Dallas police and local TV stations were called to the scene (since there’s nothing scarier than a bunch of cyclists gathered, wearing lycra).
Since then, it’s grown across the state, across the country, across both oceans, and across the world. It has done what other corporate giants such as Nike, Avon, and beer companies couldn’t do. Last year, The Ride Of Silence took place in 321 locations world wide, all 50 U.S. states, 26 countries, 17 Texas sites, and on all seven continents. And not a word was spoken, though a million powerful memories were made and recalled.
This will be 8th year for The Ride. This event is held annually, on the same day, at the same time, world-wide; a terrific undertaking for volunteers working without a budget. I have attached the logo for your convenience, in hopes that you might list it on your web site. Below you’ll find the web site and two youtube videos (one is a PSA, the other is me pleading). Please join us, May 18, 2011, 7 PM, at White Rock Lake in Dallas (Branchfield-Fisher Road parking lot).
If you have joined us in the past to remember those cyclists that have gone before us, thank you for being part of this world-wide event. It is appreciated.
Thank you for your passion. Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM.
18 Days to go!
Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
http://www.rideofsilence.org
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Ride-of-Silence/33924790161?ref=ts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7 PM
One day. One time. One world, world wide.
Let the silence roar.
The 2010 Ride Of Silence:
321 locations world wide
50 U.S. states
26 countries
17 Texas sites
7 continents
0 words spoken
A million powerful memories.
“I pledge allegiance, to the bicycle, in the United States, and to the righteousness, of every ride. One planet, Many bikes. Indubitable, with liberty and justice for all.” – Hawaii Ride Of Silence organizer, Georgette Yaindl
“Cost-effective investments in bicycling boost our economy, help individuals and government agencies save money, and directly address key societal challenges such as obesity and road congestion. In these tough economic times, our federal government can only afford to invest in solutions that solve multiple problems. Bicycling fits the bill!” – PeopleForBikes.org
April 27, 2012 at 8:26 pm
gunter
Yea – Having cycled thousands of miles myself, I know the dangers that come with it. BUT – a major problem is that a majority of cyclists appear to have a death wish as they do not respect traffic laws (e.g. stop at a stop sign, speeding through intersections at 30 mph or more etc, etc).
They also do not respect pedestrians where they have to share the trail. That is why we had a young lady die on the Katy trail, and I have had many close encounters. Pedestrians cannot hear a bicycle coming at 25 mph, and the riders do not announce themselves (e.g. passing on the left, etc). In Europe most town laws require bicycles to have a bell, horn or buzzer to alert pedestrians.
The basic problem is that roadways or trails with individuals moving at vastly different speeds (e. cars vs cyclists, cyclists vs pedestrians) are inviting accidents. Each speed category needs its own trail or lane.
Will there also be a walk of silence for pedestrians killed or injured by cyclists???
June 7, 2012 at 3:42 pm
chris phelan
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Gunter.
To answer your question, there could be a walk for pedestrians. Though I don’t see the number of lives lost as being equal, the lives lost would be.
However, back to the point, I don’t see your solution to the hundreds lost to motorists, or to being part of memorial to those that have been killed my motorists.
Response?