Two-wheeled takeover

Please, nobody tell Stu Bykofsky, but in various ways, things are looking up for bicycles in Philly.

First the latest Green Jobs Philly News (AAAH!! It's here!) names Philadelphia "#1 Among Big Cities For Bicycle Commuting" based on its rate doubling here since 2006. "Philadelphia's bicyclists are 1.6% of all commuters, nearly three times the national average." So there's that.

Also,Google Maps for Philadelphia now has a "Bike to There" feature for directions, which should make getting around town on a bike even easier than before.

But nothing says bike ascendancy better than wacky bike races, and two upcoming ones certainly deserve mention.

The soonest, coming up next Saturday, March 20, is the Brompton U.S. Championship, pitting various competitors against each other around the area of the Schuykill River, all of them on Brompton folding bikes - contestants even have to start the race by unfolding their rides!

They also have to master the course in "business attire," which is one of the things that makes the race wacky. (Check out Dave Maialetti's video for more of a visual sense.) Also wacky, from a green perspective, is that the prize, as Treehugger notes, is "unlikely to do much for your carbon footprint": Winners will be flown across the ocean to compete in the International Championships in jolly old England.

For more of a home-grown competition, and one that's even wackier - and greener - the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby will be coming up in May.

You may remember this from Earth to Philly last year - or you may have innocently encountered a bunch of crazy human-powered vehicles whil wandering the streets during last year's Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. The derby, which is part race and part parade, consists of vehicles that are entirely human-powered in one way or another (and that way usually involves a bicycle or two) and that can surmount obstacles like mud, cobblestones and people wandering the streets during the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. And since there are prizes based on the aesthetics of these "sculptures" some people really get creative with them.

If you're thinking of entering, or want to see who is, there is a "Meet & Greet" event tomorrow, March 13th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Philadelphia Brewing Co 2439 Amber St (enter on Martha St). The event is FREE and open to the public, and yes, refreshments will be served. Come on over and get inspired! But please, don't drink and bike, and for god's sake, stay off the freakin' sidewalk!