Here’s an excerpt…

“Women today ride in dresses, pumps, hats, and all kinds of professional and casual attire. They are also more visible socially and politically. Women are opening bike stores around the country, manage and staff hip bicycle cafes, and design innovative and stylish cycling clothes and accessories. They also head up some of the most influential advocacy organizations in our country.”

So hop on over to the Digitel to read the full story and see the other numbers. And you can read an excerpt below.

“It’s probably safe to say that both sides aren’t happy where 2009 has left the state of bike accommodation and regulation in the Charleston area, but from the continued involvement of Charleston Moves, to the firm establishment of the Holy City Bike Co-op, to a ladies-only bike outing, we’ve seen that bikes have been placed in an an elevated social and political status.”

Here are some excerpts from the article!  Click here for the full text.

“Until recently, bikes were merely fashionable. Lately, it seems, they are fashion — and they don’t have to be ultraexpensive novelty items to qualify. As fashion companies start marketing bicycles and bike gear, Mr. Dutreil, a supporter of bicycle-advocacy programs in New York, said he wants to see more cyclists pedaling around in high style, just like that woman in the Randall photograph.

“An elegant lady or man,” he said, “on a bike that is elegant, that’s really the new art of living.”

In fact, bikes have become de rigueur in many boutique windows. It is no coincidence that fashion is having a bike moment at the same time that New York City, the capital of American fashion, has gone bicycle crazy. The number of daily cyclists in the city has jumped to an estimated 185,000, from 107,000 in 2005, according to Transportation Alternatives, a bicycle-advocacy organization. In addition, the city has installed more than 120 miles of bike lanes in the last two years, making it easier for new cyclists to take to the streets dressed to impress, not to duel with cars.

While some cyclists outside the fashion world expressed mixed feelings about seeing their trusty mode of transportation turned into the next gladiator sandal, others looked on the bright side. Even if new riders buy a bike only because they’re the cool new thing, they’re still buying a bike, wrote Matt Simonds, a cyclist who works at a nonprofit agency, in an e-mail message. In such cases, he wrote, “it’s kind of strange what happens when they got on a bike after a long period away from one — they remember how awesome it is to ride one.”

What does it take to make a city bike-friendly?  As I experienced so clearly on my recent trip to Boulder, CO – it’s about creating bike lanes that go from Important Point A to Important Point B.  It’s about having bike racks everywhere (here’s a link to ours).  It’s about businesses encouraging bike parking (like Charleston’s Downtown TacoBoy!), and educating drivers about what it means to share the roads.

But it’s also about having leadership that loves to ride.  Boston’s Mayor Menino recently discovered the biking lifestyle and realized just how important it is to a city’s sustainability and enjoyment and so quickly got to work.  He even started Hub on Wheels, a Citywide Ride and Festival.

So I get it.  As much grassroots moving as we can do, it still has to come from the top.  So Mayor Riley – here’s what I propose to you. Come ride with me around our beautiful city.  If you don’t have a bicycle, I’ll buy one for you.  That’s my commitment to you, to this city, and to this lifestyle.   Try it!  It just might change your life.

By the way, if you haven’t seen Treehugger.com before, they have a superb collection of posts on all things ‘green’ and progressive – from Design and Architecture to Food and Fashion and everything in between.  Check them out!

Article excerpt…

“Charleston Cycle Chic is making biking to work all the rage. Bonnie wrote about Cycle Chic in London last year and while it took a little longer to catch on here in South Carolina, the movement is gaining a foothold. In South Carolina and even in a more forward thinking Charleston, all too often you’ll see people hop in their cars to drive two feet and then have trouble finding a parking space which leads to them continually driving around the block…more

Here are the official ‘Rules’ – which are also hilarious.

This is a $3,420 Gucci honey. Look at all that red. It's smokin'!

A Fully-equipped Fendi for $9500. You get a fur pannier, leather encased lock and water bottle holder, a box and skirt guards. Whoa.

For a mere $4000 you can get an Hermes laquered stainless steel bike with signature orange leather

The Chanel starts at $12,000 and includes Chanel's signature quilted bag. Umm...

A $1200 Cynthia Rowley bike for a couple and their baby. I just love this one.

So ladies (and men they have male versions too) what do you think?  Ridiculous??  Awe-inspiring?   Tell me how you really feel.  

If after careful internal examination, you decide you must have one of these luscious bikes to flaunt your outer fashionista, the Gucci Store in Charleston Place will probably order one up for you, or you can get a Cynthia Rowley bike at 341 King St.  And I think some of them just went on sale for $299.  Now THAT’S a price I can do.

Go to Mike’s Bikes on Coleman Blvd or Folly Rd, or check out the Betty Basket Liner website.  Get your liner on!!