Is This the World’s Most Sustainable Building? Arthur Huang and the EcoArk in Taipei
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Monthly Archives: March 2022
How to Let Kids Design Their Own Playgrounds – and Give Them Back the Streets
Bike bells
Bike bells were originally thought to prevent crashes with other actors in streets or roads. Moreover, you can heard the sound it produces when a biker says hello to a friend or relative without opening her mouth, or just when she wants to attract attention on whatever subject. In most cases, bikers use the traditional bike bell which consists on clinking a piece of metal or plastic and produces sound on an additional piece of metal.
A different version of bells is done when the biker pushes a small lever that activates the internal mechanism to produce the same target, but an easily appreciated, distinct, prolonged sound.
The above mentioned models have been used for ages and there is at least one more bike bell type. It consists in using the power of compressed air as a source to produce a more powerful sound. Some models overcome the impressive figure of 100 dB. Such compressed air can be provided by specific compressed air bottles or some models even allow you to produce it by using your bicycle pump. What is more, a biker can refill the compressed air bottle and thus protecting the environment. This last type of bike bells are quite more expensive than the traditional ones, but on the long run it can save money. Furthermore, the louder sound that it produces can be used to take advantage on other issues such as taking your noisy neighbor to task or alerting somebody, for instance whose bicycle is being stolen.
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Rail trail
In previous centuries, rails were used as a way to democratize transport of most people to long distances. This is specially true in the rural Spain. As a result, long infrastructures crossing forests and mountains were built. This intelligent idea lasted for decades, but ultimately the bad economic situation provoked a massive migration from villages to cities. Some stretches of railroad stopped being use and lack of support made the rest. Alternatively, the rise of alternative ways of transport, mainly the car, reduced the use of rails.
Under so dismal situation and thanks to open-minded people, these infrastructures which are the backbone of large rural areas have became a good boost to promote cycle tourism. Some EuroVelo are indeed rail trails. Of course, they set up them since some were deteriorated as time went by. There is an additional point which makes it possible: only bicycles and pedestrians are allowed to enjoy them, giving them extra safety. Moreover, the spectacular landscapes, the suitability of curves plotting, the environment, forests, mountains or even cheering, happy people you meet in rail trails constitute all points in favor.
At the time I am writing this post, you can find the sections Where to go, What to do, Plan your trip, Calendar of events and Travel safe with a lot of information in the Green Paths webpage.
There are also rail trails at least in Bermuda, Canada, US, Germany, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Thousands of kilometers are waiting for you and your bike.