Bicycle park at railway station by markhillary

If you haven’t heard yet, May is National Bike Month. It’s the perfect opportunity (or excuse) for you to dust off your bicycle and green up your transportation. Besides, Summer is coming soon and you’ll want to be in shape and ready to ride, right?!

Bike to Work week comes up next week, with National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 21st, so there’s no time like the present to map out and test your route to work. Even if you haven’t ridden a bike for awhile, just remember the old saying, “It’s just like riding a bike” and in this case it really is. You can also check out biking events in your area to meet up with other riding enthusiasts.

So, in celebration of bike month, let’s take a look at some of the bicycles we’ve seen through the ages:

The mid-1860s saw one of the first “riding machines” or bicycles, the Velocipede or Boneshaker. The Velocipede was actually created by taking a two-wheeled walking machine (which was kind of like a bicycle but without pedals) and adding the pedals. The pedals were placed on the front wheel and even though it was faster than walking, it got its nickname as it wasn’t exactly one of your more comfortable rides.

Next came high-wheeled bicycles, the first all metal bicycles. I’m sure you’ve seen these in photos. They too had the pedals on the front wheel.

These particular bicycles were a little more “high-end”. The front wheel was 58 inches or so and the larger the front wheel the faster the bicycle went. They were also very popular amongst well-to-do young men, the only major drawback on them gaining further popularity was the cost.  An average high-wheeler would set a working man back 6 month’s pay.

Image by Mild Mannered Photographer

After that came the high-wheeled safety bicycles. The main difference here was the large tire was in back and the smaller one in front. These were actually designed in an attempt to reduce the number of “headers” off the front of the bicycle.

The next round of bicycles were closer to both the original riding machines and the bicycles of today. Both tires were the same size but the pedals were put on gears, rather than being on the front tire. The metal provided a sturdy frame while at the same time being light enough to be human-powered.

Skip forward many years to the year you got your first Corvette…a Schwinn Corvette that is. Nothing could have been better, with its “super-speed” design and 3-speed gears, you were destined to be the cool kid on the block.

What about a bike with a banana seat? Did you ever have one of those? They were pretty popular when I was growing up. Mine wasn’t quite like this one equipped monkey bars, a banana seat and sissy bars, but it was still fun to ride.

Of course, nowadays if you are looking for a bike, you’re probably looking for one that’s not only comfortable and stylish but one that is green as well.

Here’s a bike that would fit right into those parameters…the Trek Belleville (tks Chris Baskind for the tip). The Trek Belleville is put together, from start to finish, with the environment in mind. They didn’t set out to simply design a new bike, they set out to ensure their bikes would be able to complete a full circle of birth, life and then recycling into an afterlife.

Here are some of the eco-friendly features it has:

- front and rear racks for carrying whatever you need (okay, well not anything you need, but they’ll definitely work for a trip to the Farmer’s Market),

- generator lights are powered as you pedal, thus removing the need for batteries,

- tires are made from reground and sustainable harvest rubber, and

- it has a recyclable steel frame, which also cuts down on vibrations to give you a more comfortable ride.

Image from TrekBikes.com

When it comes to the bicycle, we’ve come a long way. But one thing has stayed the same, it’s still a green way to get around. It’s faster than walking and better for the environment than driving. An extra bonus is riding your bike is a great way to exercise. So, what was your favorite bicycle growing up? What do you have now?

When you hear someone talk about biofriendly driving they aren’t just referring to lowering your emissions or saving money. Biofriendly driving is about doing what you can to lower the “footprint” you are leaving as a result of you driving in the first place.

Now, someone who drives to work is obviously going to emit more emissions than someone who rides their bike or car-pools to work. And, of course, someone who drives a hybrid is going to emit less emissions than a gas-guzzling co-worker. But what’s the difference in terms of environmental impact and are there specific driving tips that can help lower that impact?

1) First tip, before you buy a new vehicle, do a comparison. Take a look at key points including cost of the vehicle, MPG, cost of fuel, estimated fuel consumption (don’t forget to factor in savings if you use a good fuel additive), carbon footprint, EPA air pollution score and more.

Fueleconomy.gov has a great comparison tool where you can see all this information at a glance. Take a look at the difference between a 2010 Ford Fusion, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and a 2010 Ford Fusion FFV (Flex-fuel vehicle).

2) Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving actually wastes gas. Driving sensibly can improve your fuel economy between 5-30% on average. It also helps lower the wear and tear on your brakes and tires. There is no reason to rapidly accelerate if you know you are going to have to slam on the brakes a moment later.

3) Follow the rules of the road. Speeding, running red lights, not paying attention to pedestrians, texting while driving, etc are all things that will adversely affect not just you but people around you. This simple tip can save time, gas, money and lives.

You don’t want to be a Mr. Wheeler…

4) I’ve said it many times before, but if you are going to drive please ensure you keep your vehicle properly maintained. Getting regular oil changes, rotating your tires and ensuring they are properly inflated, checking fluid levels, basic maintenance, etc. all help extend the life of your vehicle. Proper maintenance also cuts down on repair costs.

Using the correct oil can also help you save money and improve gas mileage. Did you know there are even “Energy Conserving” oils? But don’t be fooled, even though oils with that designation have passed tests showing the oil has the ability to conserve energy, the API states “…a particular vehicle operator may not experience a fuel savings as a result of using these oils.” Doesn’t say it won’t help, but you might want to check your owner’s manual.

5) When traveling long distances, try using your cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed can sometimes help save gas. Using your cruise control also can help keep your legs from getting sore on a long trip.

6) Drive less. It may sound like a funny way to drive, but driving less saves you money, gas and save on the harmful emissions your vehicle releases into the environment. I don’t mean you have to sit at home. Walk to your destinations. Ride your bike. Car-pool or ride-share. Take public transportation.

Try it….leave your vehicle at home one day a week and see what a difference it can make.

7) Tap into your GPS navigation. People who use their GPS to figure out where they are going ahead of time, typically spend less time on the road and less time looking for their intended destination. Saves time, money and frustration.

For those of you who are looking for more, you might want to check out a backseat smart driver:

Do you have any biofriendly driving tips that help you save? I’d love to hear them. Remember, drive safe and drive smart!

What’s the first thing you think when I say Las Vegas? Before you get too far, I can probably guarantee “environmental commitment” was not what you were thinking.  I know personally I don’t tend to think green or environmental when I think about Las Vegas. As a matter of fact I was just there over the weekend with my family and between all the new building construction, road repairs and renovations, plus everything being lit up all night long, the idea of much in Las Vegas being good for the environment didn’t enter my mind.

However, the new CityCenter™ wants us to start thinking differently about Las Vegas.  The CityCenter, which is part of the MGM Mirage™ group of properties, is looking to get fully LEED® certified.  Can you imagine any property on the Las Vegas Strip being that green or environmentally-aware?  Well, that’s what the plans are for the new CityCenter.  And let me tell you….this new property is HUGE.  We aren’t talking about one or even two buildings, there are six major buildings in the CityCenter complex (many of which are scheduled to open this week).  The CityCenter was reportedly designed and built all with the environment in mind…sort-of a sustainable community in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip where people could live, work and play all within one “center”.

As an example, their commitment to recycling started before construction even began.  When they removed the old Boardwalk hotel in preparation to build the new CityCenter, they didn’t just tear it down, they recycled or reused around 85% of the old building.  Why waste when you can reuse?  For future recycling, they are set up to recycle materials including paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metals, kitchen grease, etc.

Over 50% of the wood used in the Aria and Crystals was built using wood from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests. During construction a concrete production plant was set up on site to reduce transportation of concrete to and from the property.  I’m sure Las Vegas visitors and guests appreciated not having that extra traffic too!  Local manufacturers were used whenever possible – most within a 500-mile radius.

In terms of design, one very cool feature is their indoor airflow system – the Aria, in specific, was designed to have air flow from the floor to the ceiling in order to lift smoke up and off the casino floor.   Most casinos have air flow from the ceiling down to the floor…which is why the smoke seems to linger.  Aria’s design makes for a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment.

There are ENERGY STAR appliances in all the residence/condominium units, low watt lights in the parking garages and non-toxic cleaning supplies are used.   They use a combination of window glazing, blinds and light-colored rooftops to help cut down on the energy required to cool the buildings.  But that’s not all…they generate their own electricity on site.  That’s right – they have a centralized power plant that uses natural gas to create electricity.  The emitted heat is then captured and used to heat the water in the buildings, rooms and pools.

In terms of water, low-flow showers, sinks and toilet fixtures were installed to help save an estimated 50 million gallons of water per year at the CityCenter.   Native and/or desert plants were used in the landscaping design as they will require 60% less water than traditional landscaping.

Alternative fuel options (CNG) were put in place for the Aria limousine fleet, however they do encourage walking and/or biking especially since the CityCenter was designed to have most major amenities and services available within a 1/2 mile radius.  Buses and the monorail are also located within about 1/4 mile of the CityCenter.  Guests who bike to the CityCenter, they will have full use of valet services and residents will have bicycle storage facilities in their building.  Employees, guests and residents who drive hybrid or electric vehicles will be rewarded with preferred parking.  Employees and residents can also earn rewards through Club Ride (a program offered by RTC of Southern Nevada to help reduce congestion and improve air quality).

Now, as far as environmental commitment goes, I’d say the CityCenter has done and is set up to do a pretty good job of raising awareness about the environment and sustainable living in Las Vegas.  Did they need to build all those buildings and new hotels in the first place?  Well, that’s a different story – but I seriously applaud them for their actions towards making Las Vegas more environmentally-aware!