“the Practical Pedal is a magazine, a website, and a blog or two for anyone who thinks bikes make great transportation.”

While checking out the latest offerings from Cetma Cargo the other morning I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a link to the Practical Pedal. How I am just now finding out about this publication I do not know but I highly recommend checking it out. Started by Wiley Davis the Practical Pedal addresses a variety of topics all stemming from the promotion of the bicycle as a practical and viable mode of transportation. Unique in this budding era of online only publications and zines Davis provides his offering to readers either via PDF through Issuu or in an actual newspaper format (yes it still exists). Readers can subscribe to the print edition at any of five nominal fee levels: free, $3, $7, 9$ or any amount. But why offer a print edition? Davis addresses this question here in the most recent issue. He talks about the inherent benefits of the printed page in presenting analytical content vs. news. Getting the publication and the resulting “cycling goodness” into the hands of someone who would not necessarily seek it out on the web is another reason behind the print edition. The Practical Pedal even gives supporters the option to receive a bulk shipment of the newspapers for only the cost of shipping for personal distribution in their area.

Another unique and interesting aspect of the Practical Pedal is what Davis calls the “Incubator“. Through this process The Practical Pedal presents topics for articles to appear in the upcoming issue.  Followers of the site are then invited to post their thoughts and comments on the subject at hand.   This provides a multi perspective discussion which eventually culminates in a published article.  A pretty cool idea if you ask me.

Certainly check out the site if you have not already.  The current issue contains an entertaining and cleverly written review of the Surly Big Dummy and the Madsen cargo bikes as well as a cool little piece of fiction.  Keep up the good fight Practical Pedal and may your readership grow.  Anyone who feels the need to publish a review of Paul Thumbies is obviously on the same page as VeloExploration!