Bicyclists in Copenhagen will soon be able to take part in a project that will allow them to track the roads they've traveled, get a boost up tough hills, and maybe even improve their social lives.

The Smart Biking Project is being developed by the SENSEable City Laboratory, an MIT research group focused on technology and cities, part of MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

Using a Facebook application called "I Crossed Your Path," cyclists will be able to make connections with each other by exchanging information - online or through a smartphone - about which routes they took that day. The program, which formally gets underway in 2009, will work through a smart tag that functions a lot like RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The tag, which they expect to be the size of a USB flash drive, can be installed under a bike seat, inside the frame, or on a headlight

"MIT's smart tags will have low power consumption, low bandwidth, and will be affordable at under $30 per tag," said Christine Outram, project leader and a graduate student in the Master of Science in Architecture Studies program.

"If I ride past a particular point, and a friend from Facebook or another social networking site rides past, I can get a little ping on my bike, or a text message on my cellphone, or a message that will appear on my social networking site," Outram said.

The application will also allow individuals or groups to monitor the distance they travel as part of a citywide green-mileage initiative, similar to a frequent-flyer program, where points are awarded and prizes earned for those reducing their carbon footprint through biking.

"You can interpolate the data for a variety of things, like monitor how ...Read More

Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, says "Drill baby, drill!" Environmentalists are aghast. Who is right? I can talk all day about organic brussels sprouts and green decor, but even a green editor can feel hapless in a sea of energy information. As it turns out, father really does know best - my dad has been closely following energy issues since I was ...Read More

How do you find out whether a rental car company is being eco-responsible or not?

You can check the website, of course - any rental company worth considering is going to have a page like this one for Avis UK. But how do you choose between them? One way is by doing a lot of ...Read More

Now that my city, San Francisco, has been given one of the highest walkability rates in the nation - surpassing NY and Boston - I am thrilled to know that the rise in fuel costs and deepening energy crisis has spurred more people onto the streets into walking or ...Read More

Do you have romantic daydreams of transporting your farm-fresh groceries home in a wicker basket attached to your bike’s handlebars? How about laughing at the stressed-out commuters as you whiz past them on your speedy road bike? If you answered yes, you might be bike-curious.

There are plenty of excuses not to ride, but ...Read More

You separate aluminum, glass and plastic. You bring your own bags to the market and you use non-toxic cleaning products in your home. Recycling has become as much a part of your life as checking your email and going to the gym. Maybe there isn’t a hybrid parked in your garage, but you're all about a hybrid rental when the need arises!

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Unfortunately, my hometown of Los Angeles is best known for Hollywood, Malibu, Beverly Hills…and traffic. Most of us own cars out of necessity, because it’s virtually impossible to get around without one.

As a result, there’s a car wash on almost every corner and you dare not drive if your car isn't glossy. Just look! We Angelenos ...Read More

Another week, another webful of useful green resources we are happy to share with you. Thanks to the following sites for great tips and finds:

1. The Daily Telegraph (via ...Read More

Biking just got more attractive. The Biddeford campus of the University of New England has created a new program to provide free bikes (complete with lock and helmet) or Zipcar usage to Freshmen who leave their cars at home. Because of recent campus construction, many parking ...Read More

I’m a firm believer that many of our problems will be solved with bicycles. Let me get that out in the open.

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