Green Travel / Transportation - The Fun Times Guide to Living Green

3 Tips for Enjoying Your Next Bike Ride

Bike rides don't have to be just exercise, they can be fun too.

Bicycling is actually really hard not to enjoy, and it comes with a ton of benefits, which is why it’s one of the most popular recreational activities in the U.S. (and why some folks bike into their 100s). But a lot of people still have trouble believing they can bicycle for transportation purposes, or have fears about doing so. The percentage of utilitarian bikers is clearly growing across the U.S., though. Perhaps you’re thinking about joining the green transport trend? If so, or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: cycling

Nature in a Rail Car…Literally

As part of this month’s Art on Track festival in Chicago, some greenies with an artistic twinge (or artists with a green twinge) turned the inside of a rail car into a nature wonderland. The rail car “circled Chicago’s elevated downtown loop for five hours with several additional cars decorated with numerous other art installations,” This Is Colossal writes. Art on Track was apparently the “world’s largest mobile art exhibition” and I imagine this is the biggest such … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: gardening, nature, public transit

Yike Bike: What Do You Think About This Bicycle Alternative?

What is a YikeBike? It’s a pretty interesting bike-like vehicle (actually, like a miniature version of an old Penny-farthing bicycle) that is not human-powered but battery-powered. Cycling is a great way to get around with almost no impact on the environment, but with a positive impact on your health. But does the Yike Bike detract from both of those often-touted points? Check out the video below for a lot more on how the bike works. The bike is an invention of Grant White of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: bicycles, cycling

The Man Who Cycled The Americas = Awesome

Mark Beaumont -- heard of him? I’m sorry to say that I hadn’t until recently (I think). Mark became the “fastest man to cycle around the world” in 2008. He did so in 194 days and 17 hours. BBC commissioned a film of this record-breaking journey and news agencies around the world picked up the story (I wasn’t quite the news addict then, so apparently missed it). Anyway, that was 2008. Since that time, he has also taken a 9-month bicycling trip down North and South America, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: books, cycling, movies

Get Your Crafty Cruise On With A Folding Swiss Army Knife Bike

Ever wish you had a bike that was sort of like a Swiss army knife? Well, some Swiss designers have developed a nifty, folding electric bike that seems to fit the bill. The Voltitude, as it is called, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this year and is supposed to be on the market worldwide sometime in 2011. Check out how easy it is to fold and unfold the bike in the video below. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: bicycles, concepts, cycling, electric vehicles

Give Your Kids a Green Jump Start at an Eco Summer Camp

Do you ever wish that you would have learned the cool “green” stuff that you know now, a few years earlier? If so, why not give your kids, or kids you know, a chance to do just that...a jumpstart on learning, if you will. How you might ask? Summer camp of course! Don’t get me wrong, there’s always the option of giving a green book to read, but eco-friendly camp just sounds WAY more fun. Read on to check out a list of several great ones. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: green kids, hiking, nature, summer, yoga

Soon You Will Be Able to Rent a Nissan LEAF From Enterprise

Let's be honest...cars are pretty cool.They allow us to travel from one place to another in a short amount of time and when we so choose. But what happens when you travel out-of-town and have to rent a car that isn't as comfortable, high-tech, or fuel-efficient as your car at home?Enterprise, the company that “picks you up”, is out electric rental cars this month to 8 different markets equipped with adequate charging stations. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: cars, electric vehicles, green business

The Bond Bike: Cycling for Badasses

Now, here’s a cool one. Who doesn’t want to be like James Bond? One way you can be a little more like this super agent someday (if you have the right connections) is with a “Bond bike.” This is not actually a new bike but a kit to use on your existing bike that will give it the cool ability to easily ride on snow, shoot flames out of your handlebars, and more. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: bicycles, cycling, funny, gadgets

Why The U.S. Desperately Needs a Vast High Speed Rail System

High-speed rail is one of the greenest ways to travel. It uses 1/3 the energy flying uses (per passenger) and 1/5 the energy driving uses (per passenger). It is also super cool, in my humble opinion. High-speed rail (HSR) is moving forward all across the world, but at different... speeds. I just recently received and ran across a couple of new videos on HSR in California and China and thought it would be fun to show both of these here. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: carbon footprint, cars, energy-efficient, public transit

Cannondale Rolls Out Recycled Bike Apparel

Calling all bicycle riders, lovers, and fanatics. Bike companies are now making apparel that is made anywhere from 42% to 100% out of recycled materials. Whether you are new to the cycling world or have been an avid cyclist for many years you have probably heard of the bike company Cannondale. Cannondale is one of the few companies that have begun producing this green bike apparel. Their product line that is made with these recycled materials is called Re-Spun, and they're doing some pretty cool … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Green Travel / Transportation, Home & Garden Tagged With: bamboo, charcoal, clothing and fashion, cycling, recycling, shopping