Make a difference in a child's life this holiday season by donating a bicycle.

Let’s face it. Regardless of how old we are, we’d all like to find a new bicycle under the Christmas tree. Or at least next to it.

We all remember the Christmas when we received our first bike. Now many of us have had the chance to watch our children or grandchildren enjoy the same thrill.

Not much has changed for children when it comes to new bikes.

Eventually, though, new bikes become old bikes, and old bikes end up in the back of the garage, gathering dust, or on the curb with a “FREE” sign.

Remember other families in need this holiday season when you plan to dispose of your old bike.

The Southern Tier Bicycle League, a group of riders who promote riding year-round, is looking for bikes that your children have outgrown or stopped using. The donated bikes will be refurbished and given to children who will really love them!

Click here to read more about the League’s Bike Renewal Program.

Or to learn more, call or write Bill Fischer at 607-731-2737 or bfischerny@gmail.com, or Jack Chaney at 607-483-4418 or jackchaney@alum.mit.edu.

For riders from Elmira and Corning, Waverly and Sayre, and Wellsboro and Mansfield, now is the time to become a member of the Southern Tier Bicycle League.

You can become a member for $10 in annual dues, or qualify by volunteering four hours of your time at STBL events.

Your membership will introduce you to bicycling events in the area and benefit various charities.

And it will help make old bikes new again and put them in the hands of people of all ages who will love them.

In the spirit of the holiday season, isn’t that enough reason to join right now?

Thanks for reading!

Thanks, Jim.

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

The Friends Bike Clinic is Sunday in Ithaca.

What better way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon than with other bicyclists!

Here is an event that will be informative AND fun for the whole family. It’s worth the drive to Tompkins County!

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will hold a Free Bicycle Clinic from 1 t0 3 p.m. Sunday at the Quaker Meetinghouse at Third and Madison Avenues in Ithaca.

The clinic is open to everyone and is totally free.

There will be a 15-minute presentation on basic bike repair at 1 p.m., then members and visitors will fix their bicycles!  Larry Clarkberg is the moving force behind the Clinic and he’s a guy who is devoted to the cause of getting more people out on bikes for both recreational and commuting purposes.

Bikes of all sizes will be welcome Sunday!

If you’re planning to go, check out the Friends’ website and RSVP so they know how many people are coming. They want to be sure they have enough tools on hand for everyone!

The weather looks good on Sunday. Why waste the day raking leaves or watching football when it’s a great time for bicycling!

They plan to hold these bike clinics on the fourth Sunday of each month, so keep an eye on the website for future clinics if you can’t make this one!

Also while you’re there, check out their new bicycling forum.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

A Parkinson's disease researcher made a remarkable discovery after a ride on a tandem bicycle with a patient.

One of my Oregon bicycling buddies forwarded me a link to this interesting article in The New York Times about preliminary research that suggests that tandem bicycle riding could be one of the exercises that minimizes the devastating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Jay L. Alberts, a Parkinson’s disease researcher at Emory University in Atlanta, participated in a bike tour across Iowa with a patient to raise awareness about the disease, according to the Times.

After the first day of riding, though, something unexpected happened. One of the patient’s symptoms, handwriting that could become unreadable, improved dramatically.

After that, Dr. Alberts started a series of experiments with patients on tandem bicycles. The early results focus on whether exercise can help combat the disease and also — more importantly — whether intense, forced workouts affect brains differently than slower, easier workouts.

Studies have shown that forced exercise is typically more beneficial for the brains of animals. Continuing research is analyzing how forced exercise, rather than voluntary exercise, may have a beneficial impact on the physical and mental health of people.

After eight weeks of hourlong sessions of forced riding, most of the patients in Dr. Alberts’ study showed significant lessening of tremors and better body control, improvements that continued for up to four weeks after they stopped riding, according to the Times.

The tool of choice for these experiments is a tandem bicycle, which is also my tool of choice for a great deal of my own cycling.  My patient (and strong!) wife can readily attest to the fact that our tandem riding often turns into forced exercise when one of us prefers to ride easier or shorter while the other prefers to go longer or harder — now I can tell her that this forced exercise is GOOD for us!  :-)

Thanks for reading!

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

Smart gas station owners in the U.S. should consider offering Bicycle Care Stations. (Courtesy of copenhagenize.com)

I love this idea! Some gas stations in Copenhagen actually cater to cyclists by offering them a place to fix their bikes and pump up their tires.

Norway’s Statoil, a major oil company in Scandinavia with gas stations in Denmark, has earned the respect of bicyclists worldwide for welcoming bicyclists. Statoil, according to copenhagenize.com, has installed Bicycle Care Stations. In the photo at right is a station in Copenhagen, the City of Cyclists!

Statoil has created a special place for bicyclists to fix, tune-up or pump their bicycles. The sign reads:

“Dear Cyclist,
You can care for your bicycle here. You can pump and wash your bicycle and, inside the shop, you’re welcome to borrow a free bicycle care kit with oil, tire levers, allen keys, etc. 
Enjoy.
Statoil”

In the center of the bike diagram is a rack that folds down so you can hang your bicycle up for repairs, cleaning or whatever. There is an air hose on the right and paper towels and plastic gloves on the left.

As the writer says on the website: “A modest investment, and in a flash, this station is bicycle friendly.”

Another blogger, at treehugger.com, cheers the move by Statoil and makes a great point: “It’s not as important as primary infrastructure like safe bike lanes and bike storage, but support infrastructure like this helps, if only to increase the visibility of biking as a legitimate way to get around.”

What a great, cheap idea that U.S. gas stations could easily embrace to differentiate themselves from every other gas station.

And it would make great business sense, because even though a bicyclist might not be buying gas while out riding their bike, they need a different kind of “fuel” and that is the food and drinks cyclists consume in huge quantities!

Not to mention, most cyclists also drive, and given the fact that cyclists tend to be loyal customers to those rare businesses that actually support their cycling, I suspect cyclists would flock to bike-friendly gas stations to fuel their thirsty cars.

Sure seems like a Win/Win for both the gas station and the cycling community! I hope we’ll soon see some in Elmira, Corning and across the Twin Tiers!

Thanks for reading and remember to ride safely!

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

The Southern Tier Bicycle League would like your unused children's bikes.

Calling all local cyclists in the Elmira, Corning, Horseheads, Waverly, Sayre and Ithaca areas!

Do you have an old children’s bike in your garage that is just gathering dust and hasn’t been ridden in years? Would you like to feel good about donating that bike to a great cause?

Then please consider donating the bicycle to the Southern Tier Bicycle League.

The League is looking for old bikes to refurbish and provide to area children in need.

To help, call Bill Fischer at (607) 731-2737, send email to bfischerny@gmail.com or go to www.stblhelps.org.

The mission of the League is to promote year-round bicycling in the area through educational and recreational cycling activities for people of all ages.

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

A new YouTube video makes a funny but smart point about bike lane safety,

I am a bike rider. I am a lawyer. I encourage EVERYONE, bike riders AND motorists, to obey the law.

But as a bike rider who knows NY and PA bicycling laws, I can tell you that there are MANY laws on the books that make absolutely no sense.

And I can also tell you that there are many people, including some police officers and judges, who simply do NOT know the law as it applies to NY bicyclists.

I know from painful personal experience how frustrating it is for cyclists to encounter motorists or police who mistakenly tell them they are “breaking the law” when in fact they are not.

The video below is awesome because it portrays in a VERY comical fashion what happens when you strictly comply with what a police officer has told you is the law. Sometimes humor is the best revenge.

Here is what happened, according to The Associated Press: filmmaker Casey Niestat was issued a $50 ticket for not riding his bicycle in a Manhattan bicycle lane. Niestat told the officer he was riding on Second Avenue to avoid potential hazards in the bicycle lane.

In a video posted online this week, Niestat plows his  bike into various obstacles in bike lanes, including barrels, delivery trucks and even a police car. He told the AP that none of the obstacles were placed there for the video.

The AP noted that bicyclists must stay in the bike lanes, when they are available, except when conditions are not safe! And tickets are at the discretion of all officers!

P.S.:  The lawyer in me feels compelled to note that I do NOT endorse riding without a helmet (EVER!) and I sure as heck don’t recommend intentionally crashing your bike into anything but the biker in me sure did find this funny….. 

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

It's time to salute our local bicycling "angels" since it's National Bike Month.

How about we salute our local bicycling “angels” this month since May is National Bike Month, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

In fact, Friday, May 20, is National Bike to Work Day, but given the recent rainy days in the Elmira area, riders may want to wait until we see the sun again.

We’ll make our next sunny day our National Bike to Work Day!

Although no list is ever complete, these are the folks who contribute to bicycling activities in the Elmira-Corning area on a daily basis:

Paul Kingsbury - Owner of Kingsbury’s Cyclery (http://kingsburyscyclery.com) in Elmira, an all-around great guy who supports local cycling in a million different ways.

Tom Trifoso and Carol Worden — founders of the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club.  Tom and Carol are breathing life into the local mountainbike scene by sponsoring cycling movies, beginner rides, clinics and a summer camp.

Kent Goben — the driving force behind the Wheels for Meals ride for the benefit of Meals on Wheels. Also the promoter of the Chemung Senior Games and Near Seniors Time Trial.

Randy Rhoads — organizer of the scenic Tour de Keuka, a great event for the benefit of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Bill Fischer — President of Big Horn Velo, a local recreational cycling club that hosts Tuesday and Thursday rides at 6 p.m. from Kingsbury’s Cyclery.

Tim Andrus — President of the Rogue Race Team. The Rogues are a new local team of cyclists, runners and multisport athletes whose motto is “Fun First” — a motto they take very seriously.

Brian Klotz — President of the Corning No Tubes Race Team and promoter of the popular Corning Circuit Race held at Watkins Glen International racetrack.

These are all great folks who individually and collectively improve the quality of cycling in our beautiful area of the Finger Lakes.  My personal thanks to each and every one of them!

Thanks, Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

The Southern Tier Bicycle Club is gearing up its new bike-sharing program.

My hat is off to the Southern Tier Bicycle League for its efforts in creating a free bike-sharing program in Watkins Glen and Chemung County.

This is a super program that will help those of us in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of the Southern Tier get out on the roads to enjoying biking.

Here is a news report on the bicycle-sharing program:

Bike Share Program Urges Neighbors to Get Out on Two Wheels

Reported by: Jenelle Tortorella

WETM-TV

Elmira, N.Y. – One Chemung County group is working to get you off the couch and out exploring your neighborhood.

The Southern Tier Bicycle League unveiled a new bicycle share program. It makes bikes available to neighbors and visitors in the Southern Tier for free.

The Southern Tier Bicycle League has opened a bike share in the City of Elmira. With four adult bikes and five children’s bikes, the program gives neighbors and visitors the chance to ride through the Southern Tier, free of charge.

“It’s cheaper, you’re using less gas, and you’re able to get out and enjoy yourself,” said Kent Goben, the Southern Tier Bicycle League President.

This is the second bike share to come to the Southern Tier; the League opened the first one at the Village Marina in Watkins Glen last fall. There are two adult bikes and four children’s bikes there.

The bike pool provides two wheels to anyone who is interested, all you need to do is sign out a bike, buckle up your helmet, and return the bicycle by dark.

The creators of the bike pool said this service isn’t just a way to encourage you to get out and about, but it provides visitors to the area an alternative way to explore the Southern Tier.

“We have transients come in by boat and their only means of getting downtown to check out what we have to offer is by foot,” said Village Marina General Manager Mike Schamel. “There are a lot of nice places to visit near here like Watkins Glen, and the Catherine Trail. That’s a long way to walk by foot, but if you had a bike, you could check [those places] out.”

“I’ll advertise [the bike share] on my website and Facebook, that we have the ability to give our guests free bikes to use to go through the Historic District. Many people come to this area just for that reason; this way, they can stop and look at the houses and really enjoy it,” said Butch Monroe, the owner of the Painted Lady in Elmira.

The business owners said having the bike share is an extra incentive they can offer their customers.

The program is a first come, first serve basis, but you can reserve the bikes ahead of time.

If you’re interested, you can call 607-733-6798 for the Elmira bike share, and 607-546-8505 for the Watkins Glen bike share.

To learn more about the Southern Tier Bicycle League, click here.

The site includes some great information, including a local schedule of events, safety information and many great links. Check it out!

….

The app iWrecked has been called the original auto accident app for the iPhone.

OK, if you’re thinking “Why would I want an accident app?” I can tell you.

IWrecked is an invaluable tool for recording essential details after a crash. It’s absolutely FREE and from my perspective(s) – as a personal injury lawyer, an avid bicyclist and bike accident attorney and an everyday driver – this app is something everybody with an iPhone (or one of the new iPod Touch w/cameras) should have.

I’m using this app on my own iPhone and I thought it would be a good idea to spread the word on the NY Injury Law Blog and the NY Bike Accident Blog. I heard about this app via The Chicago Bicycle Advocate by Brendan Kevenides (“Cool iPhone App Can Help Bicyclists After A Crash”).

Basically, iWrecked can help in two ways – recording information about an accident and getting help after an accident. According to the description by iWrecked makers Vurgood Applications, the app is a resource for recording everything you need to after a wreck.

“Take unlimited photos of the damage and accident scene….generate a detailed, professional-looking PDF accident report with images, which you can send directly from the app to your insurance company.”

Wow, that’s two sentences describing would be a tremendous hassle without iWrecked to prompt you to get the information you need, then sort and store it, and make a report. Here are some more features:

• detailed accident log and history
• unlimited photos from the device camera or imported from photo library
• a PDF accident report with images to preview and send
• listings of nearby taxi and/or towing companies to assist you
• emergency numbers (911) with the press of a button
• unlimited vehicle information and photos in a log
• speed-dial call buttons to set for the insurance company, other driver and more

You can see a video of iWrecked in action on in this post (embedded above). Check it out.

No bicyclist expects to be in an accident, yet accidents happen every day. Why not be prepared – especially since it’s FREE!

Thanks for reading,

Jim

______________________________________
James B. Reed
NY & PA Bike Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com
Office: (607)733-8866
Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)
Web: www.zifflaw.com
Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and NYBikeAccidentBlog.com

Mountain biking is a fantastic activity for kids – it’s exciting, active, contributes to an appreciation of nature, and we can only hope! an ongoing interest in bicycling.

An upcoming local event presents the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the sport: Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 at Pirozzolo Park, by the Elmira Town Hall. For about 2 and a half hours, children will learn about mountain biking safety from experienced riders and then take a fun ride along the Chemung River.

The event is sponsored by the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club, and the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed.

The event was created by the International Mountain Biking Association to not only pass on a love of bicycling to a new generation, but to honor the memory of young mountain biker Jack Doub. The teenager from North Carolina was very passionate about the sport but tragically, he passed away in 2002. This event, now at the sixth annual mark, is one of the ways the IMBA encourages kids to have the same passion for the sport of mountain biking as young Jack did.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day stresses safety while the kids have a great time. Kids will learn about responsible riding habits, equipment, and good manners on the Chemung River Trails they’ll be riding.

Parents are welcome to join in, but chaperones and trail guides will be with the children at all times. After the ride, refreshments will be served at Pirozzolo Park while the kids and guides get to recap the experience.

What kids need to participate in Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day:

• An off-road capable bicycle
• A water bottle to get rehydrated along the way.
• A waiver signed by all participants and parents before the ride.
• A helmet. Helmets are mandatory to participate in this event.

If you don’t have a helmet, the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club may have one for you or your child to use. Just contact the club to find out.

Let me recap the details:

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 2
Pirozzolo Park, West Elmira Town Hall, 1208 W. Water St. Elmira, NY 14905

Bring a bike, Wear a helmet, and grab a water bottle.

Use this link to download an IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking registration form.

Thanks for reading, ride safely – and teach your kids to ride safely too!

- Jim

_________________________________

James B. Reed

NY & PA Bike Accident Lawyer

Ziff Law Firm, LLP

Mailto: jreed@zifflaw.com

Office: (607)733-8866

Toll-Free: 800-ZIFFLAW (943-3529)

Web: www.zifflaw.com

Blogs: NYInjuryLawBlog.com and

NYBikeAccidentBlog.com