If so, there is an interesting new product that utilizes air channels so you’re able to hear ambient sounds while still listening to music with a promise of no distortion. It helps give citizens and athletes have an ability to hear ambient sound while still enjoying their playlist.

Visit the AIRbudz Kickstarter website to learn more about these earbud enhancers.

It looks like the team did take its time working with design experts seriously, and this product could prove to be most useful.

The AIRbudz alone will cost $10, or you can pay $20 for the AIRbudz and some headphones. The Kickstarter AIRbudz promotion requires a minimum $10 donation, though additional funds can be contributed.

The SafeSound AIRudz seem interesting enough, and I’ll be curious to hear what people think about the product. I’ve seen runners and cyclists become oblivious to their surroundings while jamming out — which might be okay in the gym or on the tread mill — but can be extremely dangerous out in the world.

The newest study being marketed shouldn’t be a big surprise to any of us: jogging is a healthy activity that extends your life expectancy.

Running helps add 6.2 years to male life expectancy, and 5.6 years to female life expectancy. The research still must be peer-reviewed, but it’s definitely interesting to hear that all those hours of effort and sweat have a positive long-term impact.

“The results of our reasearch allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your healthy,” said Dr. Peter Schnohr, a cardiologist involved in the running research. “We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don’t actually need to do that much to reap the benefits.”

If you’re in it to stay healthy, it’s recommended to work towards being breathless, but coherent enough to be aware and have a conversation.

During the 2012 Bike to Work Day on May 10, more than 17,500 bike riders were counted at 143 energizer stations across the Bay Area, East Bay Bicycle Coalition numbers report.

Of note, the City of Alameda saw an impressive 29% rider increase over 2011, and Bike Alameda and East Bay Bicycle Coalition should be complemented for their efforts.

“Exercise is the prescription to a better life,” noted Dr. Todd Weizenberg, Kaiser Permanente (Santa Rose) Director of Sports Medicine, said in a press release. “Exercise on a regular basis can increase your mood, allow you to sleep better, improve your memory and concentration and decrease the chances of developing a chronic disease. Essentially, if you exercise more, and cycling is a great way to do it, you will live longer and have a better quality of life.”

It was great to see Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, and other elected officials out and about on their bikes during Bike to Work Day.

Public awareness needs to continue — and Alameda is no different — with several notable incidents between vehicles and pedestrians in Alameda.

For those looking to receive more knowledge, the EBBC and Bike Alameda offer bike skills training classes for citizens.

Image courtesy of Twitter // @EBBC

More than 150 participants will ride from Oakland to Sacramento, protesting extremely reckless school spending.

For those not looking to make the full journey, there are 45-mile and 65-mile routes also available.

Proceeds will be directed to Oakland Technical High School, Oakland International High School, Claremont Middle School and Emerson Elementary School. Event organizers want to generate $60,000 for the ride — and depending on the success of the 2012 ride, additional cities may be added in the future.

If you want to learn more about the ride, please feel free to visit the official website.

The Windsor Bicycle Center has a special day of events planned to celebrate Bike to Work Day, which is on Thursday, May 10.

Here is the full schedule of events:

THURSDAY, MAY 10TH AT WINDSOR BICYCLE CENTER!

6am – Open early for Bike to Work Day

5-8pm – Ride Home Happy Hour energizer sampling

6:30pm – Rabobank Pro Cycling Team is here for poster signing and Q & A Session

It’s fun to be able to interact with such high-level riders, as they have experiences no one else can relate to.  If you’re in the area, it’s probably worth the chance to ask a question to the pros.

A couple of college cross-country runners launched Janji, a performance clothing company aimed towards bringing attention to humanitarian rights in Haiti and Kenya.

“Janji’s shirts and shorts are both made out of 100 percent polyester fabric,” Janji told Competitor Magazine. “Although the feel of the fabrics are very different, they’re all moisture-wicking and incredibly light. We’re working with a producer, located in China, which has shown a commitment to fair wages, proper working conditions and ethical labor practices.”

Thanks to both runners from Washington University, a portion of the proceeds will aid starving families in Haiti and Kenya. Incorporating the national flags of each country, food, water, and medical supplies will be purchased using revenue generated by Janji sales.

A few dozen retailers are interested in offering Janji products, and that number will surely grow as they receive even more press.

Image courtesy of Alameda Patch // Mona Lisa Macalino

I like to support businesses that promote bike riding and alternative forms of transportation.

As part of Bike to Work Day, the Alameda Theater has a unique offer for customers: on Sunday, May 15, BikeAlameda and the Alameda Theater are hosting Bike to the Movies Day.

If you visit the movie theater and pick a show time between 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., you’ll get a movie ticket discount of $1.75 per ticket. Of course, 3D movies aren’t included in the promotion. If you ride your bike and receive the discounted ticket, you can also get a free courtesy size soda with the purchase of medium or large size popcorn.

Thanks to the Alameda Sun for the published information

Without the coordinated effort of advocacy groups and local businesses, trying to get new bike commuters and families out on the trails tends to be extremely difficult.

It’s great to receive a large amount of reminders about the month, with this recent tidbit from the People for Bikes organization:

1). Go for a type of bike ride that you normally wouldn’t: If you’re a road rider, try a mountain bike ride. If you’ve never ridden your bike to work, give bike commuting a shot. If the ride to work isn’t something you can tackle this year, ride your bike to run an errand you would normally do by car, even if it’s just a trip to the coffee shop or ice cream parlor. Remember—forty percent of trips Americans take are two miles or less, an easy bicycling distance.

2). Introduce one other person to bicycling. Whether it’s your partner, a coworker, a family member, or just a friend, help someone find a bike and go for a fun ride. Bicycling is a pretty amazing thing, right? Why not encourage someone else to discover the activity that brings you so much happiness?

Participate in one or more National Bike Month events. A list of community rides can be found at the League of American Bicyclists and here are some key national events:

National Bike to School Day (May 9)
CycloFemme, the International Day of Women’s Bicycling (May 13)
National Bike to Work Week (May 14-18)
National Bike to Work Day (May 18)
National Bike Challenge (May 1-August 31)

Kudos to the People for Bikes for sharing additional information.

For those people living in the East Bay, Bike to Work Day is taking place on Thursday, May 10.

It’s a great privilege to be able to explore Alameda on two wheels, but there is an ever present danger of roadway incidents.

The paved path along the beach is designed for pedestrians, but it’s all-too-common to be buzzed by a reckless bike rider. Bikes should be on the road, especially when traveling at a high rate of speed, but speeding cars and other variables seem to push many riders onto the walking trail.

To counter these issues, the city is considering the use of dedicated bike lanes while reducing driving lanes down to one lane in each direction.
During a May 10 Alameda Public Works Department meeting, it’s possible Shoreline Drive will be under significant modification aimed at making it safer for bikers and pedestrians. In addition to bike racks installed on Shoreline and Westline, a bike lane would be added while limiting vehicle traffic to just one lane going each way.

The debate is on — offer your opinion over at the Patch. If you want to learn more about the proposal, visit the City of Alameda website and go to the bottom, where it reads: “Shoreline Drive/Westline Drive Proposed Bike Lane Project.”

The public meeting to discuss this bike lane effort will take place next Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Lum Elementary School (1801 Sandcreek Way / Otis Drive). If you are unable to make the meeting in-person, feel free to contact Gail Payne, Alameda Transportation Coordinator: gpayne@ci.alameda.ca.us.

BikeAlameda has been working on behalf of cyclists for more than 10 years. Through the offering of free bike-safety classes, hundreds of people are now riding safely and confidently on Alameda streets.

BikeAlameda promotes safe streets, convenient access, thriving accessible business districts, clean air, and active healthy residents.

BikeAlameda was directly involved with one of the most significant bike improvement projects in Alameda. The Fernside Bike Lane Project provides a physical barrier between vehicles and cyclists, most of whom are students from Lincoln Middle School.

All cyclists can now enjoy and benefit from a safe route between the main island, the Bay Farm Island Bike/Pedestrian Bridge, and the community of Harbor Bay.

BikeAlameda is funded entirely by memberships, donations, and grants. Please visit the website at www.bikealameda.org and learn more about our mission and activities. Your financial support through a membership or donation is essential to the continuing efforts of the organization.

The next time you ride along one of Alameda’s great tree lined streets in a marked bike lane or lock your bike to one of real bike racks along Park Street, in Alameda South Shore Center, or at the Alameda Theater, think about BikeAlameda and its efforts in promoting a bicycle friendly city.

If nothing else, appreciate the work that BikeAlameda and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition have done to make the streets of Alameda and the East Bay safer to ride on.