National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated nationwide in May, is a great time to learn about the many benefits of bicycling.
In Pittsburgh, May is a perfect time to get out and welcome the return of the sun! Even if you haven’t been on a bike in years, this month is full of activities that offer endless possibilities to build biking into your day, from Bike to Work Day on May 19 to ongoing Open Streets events on Sundays throughout the summer.
Have you wanted to try biking instead of driving or busing, but don’t know where to start? The library offers many titles to inspire you to try biking as transportation safely, confidently, and in style. Check out the Zine Library on the First Floor of CLP-Main in Oakland. We have an entire section devoted to bicycling zines, both practical and artful.
This revolutionary treatise provides context for some of the economic reasons many cities are rethinking streets for better pedestrian and bike transportation. With enjoyable stories and understandable economic examples, Elly Blue questions the assumptions that streets are for cars, people on bikes are intruders, and cars make good economic sense.
Including a chapter on the adoption, care, and feeding of your trusty two-wheeled friend, this slim but extremely comprehensive guide is a non-intimidating look at how you can replace short car trips with a simple and fun bike ride. Blue provides a friendly and fact-based approach to riding a bike for transportation with practical tips to get you going.
A no-nonsense, strongly opinionated guide to equipment, health, safety, maintenance, and attitude on two wheels. If you’re concerned about getting everything “right” for your bike ride, this book will ease your nerves so you can just ride with a smile and a sense of humor.
Riding a bike is good for your health, but it’s also an efficient and cheap way to get around and really see your city. This thorough guide will help you select the type of bike that’s best for your commute, and accessories that can take the challenges of big hills and sporadic summer storms. From riding predictably to selecting the most delightful bell, Urban Cycling will have you on the way to work in no time.
Biking in the city can be crazy, but Yvonne Bambrick’s illustrated guide will give you practical tips and confidence to get where you’re going safely and with grace. It covers what to do when there is bike infrastructure, and includes best practices for when things aren’t so clear for drivers. Bambrick provides an entire chapter on the finer details of multi-modal trips, and also provides tips for basic maintenance, age-specific biking, and even how to get your pet and your groceries around by bike securely.