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For more information on safe cycling routes, find your local cycling resources.
Google's New "Bike There" Map!
Cycling: For Your Physical Health
Cycling for a few minutes a day, a few times a week will help you live happier, live healthier, and live longer:
• Active commuting that incorporates cycling and walking is associated with an overall 11% reduction in cardiovascular risk.
• Women who walk or bike 30+ minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.
• 82% of bicycle commuters believe their health has improved since they started bicycle commuting.
• Lifestyle physical activity [like biking for transportation] is as effective as a structured exercise program in improving physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood pressure in previously sedentary healthy adults.
• Men and women who bicycle or walk to work are significantly less likely to be overweight and obese.
• Children who ride a bike two or more times a week are less likely to be overweight.
• Adolescents who participate in bicycling, in-line skating, or skateboarding more than four times a week are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults.
• Youths who regularly bike or walk to leisure-time activities have better low back strength, low back extension, hip flexion, and exension than those who ride a school bus.
Sources:
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Hamer, M., and Y. Chida, 2007, Active commuting and cardiovascular risk: A meta-analytic review, Preventive Medicine, 46, 9-13
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Luoto, R., et al., 2000, The effect of physical activity on breast cancer risk: A cohort study of 30,548 women, European Journal of Epidemiology, 16, 973-80
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Moritz, W., 1997, Survey of North American bicycle commuters: Design and aggregate results, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1578, 91-10
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Dunn, A., et al., 1999, Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trial, JAMA, 281, 327-34
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Lindstrom, M., 2007, Means of transportation to work and overweight and obesity: A population-based study in southern Sweden, Preventive Medicine, 46, 22-28
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Dudas, R., and M. Crocetti, 2008, Association of bicycling and childhood overweight status, Ambulatory Pediatrics, 8, 392-395
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Menschik, D., et al., 2008, Adolescent physical activities as predictors of young adult weight, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162, 23-28
-Sjolie, A., 2000, Access to pedestrian roads, daily activities, and physical performance of adolescents, Spine, 25, 1965-72
Essential Bike-Curious Commuter Gear
When you hit the road make sure you are prepared. Pump those tires up, clean off those reflectors, and make sure you’re carrying this important gear with you:
1. Helmet: It’s the law. A helmet can be the difference between a minor cycling accident and a catastrophic one. You only have one head, so treat it well.
2. Headlight and Taillight: In Earl’s district, cyclists are required to have both a working head and taillight when riding in the dark. Elsewhere they may be optional, but having working lights is a vital part of riding safely at night. Get a white light for your front handlebars so you can see the road ahead, and a red light that clips onto your bag or your seat post so that cars and cyclists coming up behind you know you’re there.
3. Bike rack: If you don’t like carrying your belongings on your back, you can get a rack that sits over the back wheel of your bike. Depending on your preference, you can get a quick-release rack, or something more permanent. The rack allows you to strap down an extra jacket, or your lunch, or even a bag of groceries. Depending on your load, you can also attach extra bags (called “panniers” in the cycling world) to the side of the bike.
4. Fenders: If you plan on riding in all sorts of weather, fenders can be good to have over the tires so that your clothing does not become water and mud-spattered. Even if you don’t plan on riding in inclement weather, you may want fenders; Mother Nature can always take you by surprise.
5. Spare tube and basic bike tools: You never know when you’re going to get a flat, so just like you carry a spare tire in your car, it’s important to carry a spare tube on your bike. Also be sure to carry basic bike tools, including bicycle tire irons and a frame pump. Many local bike shops offer maintenance clinics where you can learn how to change a flat tire.
6. Allen wrench: An allen wrench allows you to adjust your seat and your handlebars on the road, ensuring that you will have a comfortable ride. Many bike stores sell cycling multi-tools that have all of the wrenches you will need.
Still More Bike-Curious?
For More Information:
Rules of the Road
- Follow the Law: You may feel special because you’re on a bike instead of inside a car, but cyclists are subject to the same traffic laws that cars are. So don’t speed through those red lights, and go with the flow of traffic.
- Be Predictable, Be Polite: True, it takes six bicycles to fill in the same space as one car, but that doesn’t mean its ok to ride six-wide down the street. When riding in a group, ride in a straight line. Always signal before making a turn, and don’t make any sudden movements.
- Be Safe: Always wear a helmet. And dress to be seen; fluorescent colors and reflective gear are hip when you’re on a bicycle. When drivers can see you, they’re much less likely to cut you off.
- Be Aware: Even though you are aware of the cars clogging the road, they may not be aware of you. Always keep an eye on the traffic and be sure to ride defensively.
- Ride Ready: Make sure your tires are pumped up, and make sure your breaks are in working order. If you choose to adapt a Bike-Curious lifestyle, then you may want to take a class at a local bike shop to learn how to maintain your bicycle.
What kind of Bike-Curious Are You?
If you’re just starting to experiment with your Bike-Curiousness, you may be curious as to which bike is right for you. Depending on your budget and what you want to use your bicycle for, there are different bike you might be interested in.
Read more ...Oregon's Grassroots at the White House
by Congressman Earl Blumenauer
The Oregon political grassroots spread deep and far beyond the borders of our state. It's great fun encountering people who had been part of the Obama campaign popping up in the new administration in Washington DC or people that are taking higher profile leadership roles in their communities around the country. But nothing gives me greater satisfaction than watching the effects of the network in Oregon. I recently had a delightful illustration of the impact of one dedicated, concerned, and focused individual who is committed to grassroots change: Sue Stinson.
Read more ...Are You Bike-Curious?
A Health Care Town Hall with Gov. Howard Dean
Congressman Earl Blumenauer and former Vermonth Governor Dr. Howard Dean, M.D. discussed health care reform with Portland residents at a Town Hall meeting on June 5, 2009. The two explained the different health reform options on the table. They also talked about why they, as well as President Barack Obama, support a public health option. The public health option, Dean said, was vital to ensuring that every American had access to affordable health insurance.
Video of the event will be available in the coming days.
Earl on KINK FM's Les Arnoff
Earl on the passing of KINK FM's Les Arnoff.
Health Care and Jumpstarting the Economy: It's Time to Use All the Gears We Got
As health care costs have spiraled upward, small business owners have been forced to choose between taking on the rate increases or cutting benefits for their employees. It doesn't have to be that way, say Jim Houser and Liz Dally, co-owners of the Hawthorne Auto Clinic in Portland, Oregon. A public option for health insurance would allow for more people to spread out more risk, lowering costs and helping employers to free up more money for paying employees.
by Liz Dally and Jim Houser, Hawthorne Auto Clinic, Inc.
Health care is a major issue for small business owners like us, especially in the auto repair business. We’re in a high-skill field where being able to offer good benefits to keep good people is very important. Plus, we’re an aging profession (have you noticed recently that your mechanic isn’t quite as young as she/he used to be?). These factors make health care critically important for us.
Read more ...Three Reasons for the Choice of a Public Health Insurance Plan
Sure, some people are satisfied with their current health insurance. But the millions of Americans who are tired of increasing costs and decreasing benefits should have the chance to opt into a program that will offer affordable, quality care, says Health Care for America Now's Richard Kirsch.
by Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager for Health Care for America Now!
As a candidate, President Obama promised Americans a choice. He promised that if you can keep your health insurance if you like it. Or choose a public health insurance option that would always be there if we needed it. Now that Congress is taking up health reform, they will have to make their own choice about whether to include this promise in their reform proposals.
What Congress decides will determine whether health care reform will make your life better. The public health insurance option is the key to making reform work for you for three reasons.
Choice
Read more ...A Lovely Day for a Parade
Earl handed out bicycle pins and encouraged people to be “bike partisan” at the 47th annual St. Johns Parade in Portland on Saturday.
Looking Back on a Historic Week
by Earl Blumenauer
As I try to reconstruct the events of the last week, I realize it was perhaps the most momentous of a year that is passing in a blur. Swine flu, the President's first 100 days in office, passing a budget, hate crimes legislation and credit card reform came in the midst of almost nonstop meetings on key priorities of climate change and health care reform. And then there was the Portland Streetcar! After 20 years of work and four years of stonewalling by George W. Bush's Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget, the Obama Administration figured out how to administer my Small Start legislation (passed in 2005) and get the Portland streetcar the federal dollars it needed to start construction.
Read more ...As Government Moves forward on Global Warming, Citizens Must Help
The solutions for curbing global warming and saving our economy are right here in America, League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski says. But now that Congress is finally going to address the issue of climate change, it's more important than ever for voters to push elected officials to embrace the changes that need to be made to wean the country off of foreign oil.
As Congressman Blumenauer knows, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, currently being examined by the Energy and Environment sub-committee, is not only a key step towards reigning in the threat of global warming, it is also a vital part of President Obama's plan to reinvigorate our economy with clean, renewable energy.
Read more ...Earl responds to Bachmann's dismissive view on carbon
Earl takes on Rep. Michelle Bachmann's dismissive attitude toward carbon.
Five Tips for Investors Who Care About Global Warming
The coming green economy will mean green tech, green jobs, and green investing. Ceres President, former EPA Regional Administrator, and green financial expert Mindy Lubber helps investors chart Wall Street's troubled waters to find investing opportunities with companies that are embracing the challenges of global warming.
Read more ...On the Future of Transportation
Earl, Bob Peck of Jones Lane LaSalle and Chris Leinberger of the Brookings Institution discussed the future of Transportation Infrastructure at the beginning of the 111th Congress at an NDN Forum.
What Congress Must Do by the End of 2009 to Create Jobs, Reduce Oil Use and Cut Pollution
New industries. New jobs. Lower energy bills. Oh, and less global warming. This is why the Center for American Progress' Daniel Weiss says Congress must pass legislation dealing with climate change. And here's what he says they should do.
Read more ...Welcome to the New EarlBlumenauer.com
Greetings,
This is not your typical campaign website. Most campaign websites focus on one candidate, one district, and a couple issues. Campaign websites are simply meant to introduce a candidate; they focus on the person, not the ideas.
Read more ..."Right of way is a precious resource," Blumenauer tells Time Magazine
Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s ideas for using the nation’s highways to transform transportation and energy production were featured in a Time Magazine article released on Monday.
The article, titled “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” touts the “right of way” policies that Blumenauer has been pushing for years. The idea is to use the federal highway grid already in place to expand transportation alternatives to rail, lay broadband cable, and expand on the opportunities to use alternative energies for transportation.
"Right of way is a precious resource," Blumenauer told Time’s Richard Lacayo. "It's been developed over centuries at great cost. It's strategically located and immediately available."
Read more ...Government is not About Waiting
Recently I've been musing about a line of debate on government priorities that was used against our legislation banning the interstate transport of captive primates, chimpanzees in particular. Although it passed by about a four to one margin and came immediately on the heels of the horrific chimpanzee attack in Connecticut, where a pet chimpanzee ripped a neighbor woman's face off, it was interesting to follow the line of argument that Congress should not be dealing with such issues when there are much larger topics to address. This argument has been picked up and used in other contexts as a favorite of the right wing and particularly our Republican minority in the House. When the minority was in the majority, they used the argument repeatedly that this wasn't the most important thing in the world and we couldn't be bothered.
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In almost four decades of public service, Earl Blumenauer's innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs and public participation have helped Portland, Oregon earn an international reputation as one of America's most livable cities.