My bike goes hard, don't need no car!

Next Saturday the Scraper Bike crew will be leading a "healin from killin, bike ride for peace" called Bike 4 Life in Oakland. If I hadn't already paid to be in a conflicting event, I would be there for sure. Tyrone Stevenson and his cohorts are promoting riding and bicycle decorating as positive activities for the teens in his neighborhood. I had a chance to speak to Tyrone at Maker Faire this year and found him to be friendly and cheerful. He is a leader for cycling-enabled change in his tough community. MacArthur Fellowship nomination committee, consider Tyrone!

Check out the Trunk Boiz scraper bike video. Real gangstas gone ride!

immigrants boost cycling in Oakland

In the Chron today, an article by Christopher Heredia:

despite the car-oriented landscape, residents of the city's Latino community, for the most part, liked to get around on foot and bicycle and, as a result, were bending the neighborhood to their collective will. . . . The bicycle was a key mode of transportation even though there weren't dedicated bike lanes . . . . they like the cacophony of cars and bicycles because it reminds them of big-city life in China.

I'm biased since I am the descendent of relatively recent immigrants, but I think immigration is the key factor keeping America strong. The U.S. has a lot to learn from other nations, and immigration is the easiest way!