Jim Bacon, over at Bacon’s Rebellion, continues the discussion of how to make biking more accessible in Richmond, and particularly in Henrico’s Near West End.  Creating bike paths is what we need to do to move into the 21st century. I can’t think of any one change that would make Richmond  a more appealing place for me and my family to live.  And, I guess it doesn’t hurt that my 7-year-old just learned how to ride without training wheels yesterday — so this is for you babe!

Hmm. Maybe we can get the Sports Backers in on this one? Or at the very least Richmond Area Bicycling Association member (and Gov’ner) Tim Kaine.  If you ask me, it’s a no brainer.

 It’s a great post, check it out:

But every innovation helps, even if it comes from the people who design bicycles rather than communities. According to the Cycling for Boomers blog, Wisconsin-based Trek, the largest U.S.-based bike manufacturer, this year is introducing two chainless models that replace the clunky, maintenance-intensive chain with a greaseless, rust-proof carbon fiber belt.

The lighter, longer-lasting carbon-fiber composite belts can’t be cut, won’t stretch or slip and won’t leave grease marks around your ankles, says Eric Bjorling, Trek’s lifestyle brand manager. There is one drawback: One of these bad boys retails for $990.

Price aside, I doubt we’ll see many of these in Richmond. The city has some super-cool mountain biking trails around the river, but only a handful of bicycle lanes that could be used for commuting. Henrico County, where I live, has no useful bicycle lanes at all — despite the existence of several potential routes. One bike path could run along the James River (either on the old canal tow-path or a railroad right of way; I’m embarrassed to say, I can’t recall which, but I have it on good authority). Another path conceivably could run underneath a Dominion electric transmission line — not bad, if you don’t mind a little static cling in your hair. A county bike path network also could tie into bike-friendly University of Richmond. And that’s just in my neck of the woods.