Staff Pick
This entire book makes so much sense. Why wouldn't a business want a bike rack with room for a dozen bikes in front of it instead of a single parking spot? Bike paths and trails may cost a lot (nothing compared to roads for cars), but the benefits will almost always far outweigh the costs. These are a few of the many points Elly Blue makes in her fantastic, entertaining, and succinct book about how bikes can transform the economics of a community while also cleaning it up and making it healthier. Pick up Bikenomics and join the bike revolution! Recommended By Jeffrey J., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Making the case for adopting more sustainable modes of transportation, this engaging reference explores the economic benefits of bicycling. It starts with an analysis of the real costs incurred by individuals and families in existing transportation systems and goes on to examine the current civic expenses of these systems. With critiques of modern societys deep-rooted attachment to car culture, this book tells the stories of people, businesses, organizations, and cities who are investing in two-wheeled transportation. Offering a fresh and compelling perspective on how people get from place to place, this book reveals the multifaceted North American bicycle movement with its contradictions, challenges, successes, and visions for the future.
Review
“It's a call to action, pointing out multiple ways that dollars currently spent in the service of the car can better better spent to serve people. She makes her case clearly and both passion and data inform the book. [...] This small book is an inspiration to step away from the automobile and to bicycle forward into a quieter, brighter, better world.” —Kent Peterson, Kents Bike Blog
Review
“Blues approach is down-to-earth, practical, and kind.” —Sarah Goodyear, The Atlantic Cities
Review
"Blue's book is rational, fully footnoted--and, in the main, persuasive." —Ben Schiller, Fast Company
Review
"Blue's book helped me better frame my own reasons for riding, and got me thinking a lot about what a more bike-centered future could look like. It's a future, I realized, I'd really like to see." —Dick VanderHart, Portland Mercury
Review
"Blue isn't talking about 'fixing' the economy we have right now. Instead, she's talking about looking to a different future." —A.K. Streeter, treehugger.com
Synopsis
Bikenomics provides a surprising and compelling new perspective on the way we get around and on how we spend our money, as families and as a society. The book starts with a look at Americans' real transportation costs, and moves on to examine the current civic costs of our transportation system. Blue tells the stories of people, businesses, organizations, and cities who are investing in two-wheeled transportation. The multifaceted North American bicycle movement is revealed, with its contradictions, challenges, successes, and visions.
About the Author
Elly Blue is the author of Everyday Bicycling and her work has appeared on Bicycling.com and in BikePortland, Bitch Magazine, Grist Magazine, Momentum magazine, and Reclaim Magazine. She has been featured on Democracy Now!, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and in the Oregonian, and she blogs about bicycling and empowerment at www.TakingTheLane.com. She lives in Portland, Oregon.