New York Declares War On Traffic
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Maddy Novich
The use of cargo bikes has been increasing over the last years. Even in countries so pro-car as the USA, this kind of bicycles remains a clear alternative to cars. Maddy Novich, Criminal Law teacher at Manhattan University, knows it in deep. This mother of three has five cargo bikes and uses them to carry couches or big wardrobe, and also her three children. The children enjoy the rides while playing, eating, or chatting in the box. Moreover, she is always open to answer questions in relation to bikes and particularly cargo bikes to others moms who want to gain independence and take care of their health and environment. Maddy advises about issues like what cargo bike model to choose or how to drive a cargo bike.
She has also visited several European countries and appreciates specially those who offer good, physically separated bike lines from car lines. Indeed, Maddy started using cargo bikes in Amsterdam back in 2019. Moreover, she highlights the difference mentality of European and American car drivers. She affirms that in general European car drives respect bikers more in the sense that they reduce speed and keep more safety distance when they see a bicycle.
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Alternative ways to promote biking
When you think about how to promote the use of bicycles, you surely come across with ideas such as connected bike lines, use physical separators between bike lines and car lines, or the creation of bike parking. While these points are completely accepted, there are others which are being put into practice in some European countries.
Employees can deduct about €0.30 per kilometer when pedaling to work in their Personal Income Tax. Moreover, bike leasing offers an attractive issue. A long-term bicycle renting, without Personal Income Tax and included maintenance is what some companies are offering. It is the same concept as the company car, but as company bike. Regarding bikes cargo, there is also the leasing option which can include insurance, road assistance and repairs. Indeed, if you want to buy it after three years, you can do it by the remainder of the payment, or change for a new bike cargo with the same fee.
Alternatively, governments can give money to citizens who practice sustainable mobility (including biking). Forcing companies to pay at least 50% of the public transport cost for their employees is other realistic idea.
Now, imagine a large facility firm location. Would not it be marvelous if government paid for bicycles for employees? This is something that is being made in some European countries as well as offering important tax deductions to bike messenger service companies when buying bicycles.
Finally, the reduction of bicycle VAT constitutes another economic action to promote the use of bikes.
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Cicloffice
Imagine that you are riding your bike without the essential tools on an inhabited, unknown place and it suddenly suffers a fault such as a tube puncture or a spoke break. Imagine also that there is not a bike store or a bicycle workshop. Some bikers would ask for help whoever they see in the street. Some others would try to solve the problem with whatever they have in hand. Finally, some other people would ask for a cicloffice.
A cicloffice is an informal place in which you can find a myriad of tools to repair your bike. Moreover, there use to be bicycle parts so that you can use them to substitute yours. And even you can find a bike technician who will teach you how to hone your bicycle, but the person who will do it is you. He will give you the theory and you will put into practice it. Thus, you will learn some handy tricks for the future.
Furthermore, you can carry to a cicloffice whatever bike or part of bike which you no longer use. This way others can take advantage of it. And guess what, it is free, you do not have to pay anything when using a cicloffice, neither for the master class of the technician. This is a clear example of a collaboration for a better future.
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Miguel Soro
Bicycles are much more than a way of transport and artists around the world have demonstrated it through sculptures, songs, books, poems, paintings you name it. Today, you will know Miguel Soro, a former bike professional who rode in Italy, Spain and Portugal. His important point is that he shares his moments, suffering and happinness on bicycle on his pictures due to the fact that he experienced them.
He painted Miguel Indurain, Luis Ocaña, Bernard Hinault, Nairo QuintanaPerico Delgado, Primo Roglic, José Manuel Fuente, Alejandro Valverde, Eddy Merckx among others. As it should be, some of his clients are professional cyclists such as Giamondi or Pogacar. As an ex-sprinter, he also paints fast his collages. He did not go to any art school, rather he is self-taught and only learned from the painter Roberto Martínez Leña.
What is more, if he feels a painting is not enough good, he redoes it or turns it over to create for instance a landscape.
