Main Network Emission Free Traffic

Many cities never use cycling and cycling planning as a means of regulating of emissions (CO2, NOx Noise). European policies now oblige cities to act. European measures now oblige cities to act. With the introduction of a Main Network for Emission Free Traffic, modes of transport that do not emit, like electric cars, bike taxis and bicycles, will get an improved and much wider space to move fast in the city. As a consequence car lanes will have to be taken out to allow for emission free lanes to be builtThis new type of thinking about infrastructure provides an attractive alternative to car drivers – who are disencouraged to enter city centers – to choose emission free modes rather than other motorized alternatives.
The Main Network for Emission Free Traffic stands in the tradition on the Main Network for cars, the Main Network for public transport and the Main Network for bicycles.
Velo Mondial promotes the implementation of these plans with many local actors in industry, business and universities.
Shimano has sponsored a nice film on cycling in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Bogotha. Also have a look at some images of cyling in Amsterdam and tips on how to behave as a cylclist:

Electric bicycles make the difference

Riding a bike takes an effort some people cannot afford due to health or age. Others are no longer allowed to use their car in the city, nor any other mode of Emission rich transport. And others again are just lazy.
The ideal solution for alln this is the electric bicycle.With this bike you preserve the advantages of riding a city bicycle:
- No traffic jams
- Healthy
- No parking problems
The silent electromotor in the front wheel gives you that push in the back, as if you are riding with the wind in your back. You can decide yourself how much effort you want to do. The more effort you put in, the faster you go and the further you ride on one battery.

Rome to be the next European Cycling City

Rome goes big time for bike-sharing, deploying 20.000 (!!!) bikes by 2008. They want to instantly match Paris.
Rome will start with a pilot of 250 bikes and then by mid-2008 have a public tender for service and rolling stock (20.000 bikes). All up and running before the end of the year.
Cemusa, Gruppo Formento Costrucciones y Contratas, take care of everything, at no costs for the city. Rome is the second Spicycles city after Barcelona to implement the public bicycle. Most major European cities have entered or are entering a competition that makes them the best cycling city around.

Virgin's 11 Best Bike Cities in the world

1. Amsterdam
2. Portland, Oregon
3. Copenhagen
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Davis, California
6. Sandnes, Norway
7. Tronheim, Norway
8. San Francisco, California
9. Berlin
10. Barcelona
11. Basel, Switzerland

The World According to Virgin

Virgin has put together a list of the top 11 friendliest cities for bikes in the world, based on criteria advanced by the League of American Bicyclists.
1. Engineering (bike parking, designated lanes, etc.)
2. Encouragement (events and campaigns)
3. Evaluation and Planning (ongoing political bodies that make changes to existing laws and plan for the future)
4. Education (bike maps and awareness campaigns)
5. Enforcement (making motorists heel)