America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

America is a land of long distances, of thousands of virtually empty square miles of prairie, farmland and baking desert and frozen tundra.

US cities sprawl on a level unseen in Europe, Canada, and Australia, a consequence of transport priorities that have long favoured motor vehicles. And in all but a handful of US cities, it is virtually impossible to get by without a car.

But in recent years, amid widespread concern about US dependence on foreign oil, high petrol prices, signs of global warming and an obesity epidemic, a number of US cities have taken steps to increase bicycle usage.

These cities hope that by adding relatively low-cost bicycle lanes, bike parking and bike sharing programmes and making other city plan adjustments, they can lessen traffic congestion, reduce the strain on public transport, and promote healthier citizens.

Jim Sebastian, head of Washington DC’s bicycle and pedestrian programme, says his goal is to make the nation’s capital “one of the most bike friendly cities in the country”.

Portland – 5.96% Minneapolis – 4.27% Seattle – 2.94% Sacramento – 2.72% San Francisco – 2.72% Washington – 2.33% Oakland – 2.15% Tucson – 2.04% Albuquerque – 1.75% US – 0.55% Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

If you’ve ever paid to have your bicycle serviced or repaired, you know a bicycle is worth more than the sum of its parts. Over the eight years I had my last bicycle, I probably paid for it three times over in tune-ups, tires and, most recently, a new drive train and other service that set me back significantly, even after my discount for being a member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

If you have ever felt inadequate when taking your bike in for repairs, you are not alone. Fortunately, San Francisco has a wealth of resources for people looking to learn bicycle maintenance skills. Between sporting goods stores and your neighborhood bike shop, it’s easy to find classes and seminars that fit your schedule – for free or on the cheap – including:

This nonprofit storefront provides employment and job training for at-risk youth and offers free in-store clinics – including a lecture and demonstration – geared to the experience and needs of the participants. Clinics cover basic topics such as flat repair, bike maintenance, bearing adjustment and wheel repair. 3085 21st St. (415) 641-1264, www.pedalrevolution.org.

The Bike Kitchen is a do-it-yourself bicycle resource run by volunteers. On the second and fourth Fridays each month from 6-9 p.m., the group offers classes for “women, trans/gender queer folks, femmes, or anybody else that has had gender be a barrier to learning mechanics.” No one is turned away. The Bike Kitchen also has basic and advanced classes for nominal fees. 650H Florida St., (415) 647-2453, www.bikekitchen.org. Read more at www.sfgate.com

LONDON — The city is launching a bicycle rental program in hopes of easing congestion in a European capital once known for its gridlock. London Mayor Boris Johnson, an avid cycling enthusiast, put 4,700 out of a planned 6,000 bikes on the road Friday. Under the program, cyclists will be able to borrow bikes from 400 docking stations throughout the city. At the start, only those who sign up for membership in advance will be eligible to take part. Membership costs 45 pounds a year, or about $70. Tourists or other casual users will not be eligible for at least a month. Read more at www.washingtonpost.com