Earth Equity News

Urban Cycling in L.A. Spawns its Own Peddlers. By Cyndia Zwahlen, LATimes, August 30, 2010. "Carol Agay loved the retro-style wire bike basket that came with her new yellow cruiser, except that her keys and cellphone kept falling through its holes. So the Costa Mesa resident came up with a fashionable but practical solution: a basket liner that kept her items secure while she was riding. And she included drawstring handles so that off the bike, the liner could be transformed into a handy tote. So many female bicyclists stopped her to ask about the invention that Agay transformed it, again, into something else: a business… The liners… appeal to cyclists looking for fashionable and functional gear for casual commuting, shopping trips and social rides. This movement, dubbed urban cycling by some, is in contrast to hard-core road cycling, with its spandex outfits, and rugged mountain biking, with its own gear and garb. Urban cycling has gained in popularity as a practical, more social alternative to more sport-centric bicycling… The attire looks like everyday clothing, with some alterations… to make it more bike friendly… Los Angeles clothing companies, Swrve and Shifty, cater to urban cyclists... online as well as at [urban bike stores like] the Flying Pigeon and Orange 20 Bikes... Last month, Los Angeles released a draft bicycle plan that would increase the city's bikeways - including designated paths and lanes - to more than 1,630 miles in the next five years from the existing 339 miles."