Bike Commuting in Columbus

Helmet-Cams: Got One?

2011-09-13T13:12:00.002-04:00

I've been contacted by a major Columbus news outlet asking questions about helmet-cams and whether a lot of people use them while they ride in town.

And, to be frank, I have no clue! I don't use one, and it's never really come up for me, but that doesn't mean that others aren't putting tech to work for them as they negotiate the Central Ohio roadways.

So...do you use one? Has it come in handy? How do you use it? Are you interested in being interviewed?

Drop me a line either here in the comments, or via my email address. Or feel free to get hold of me on Facebook or Twitter.

Hope to hear from you if you're rocking a helmet-cam!

People, not speed.

Ticketed for Riding Outside A Bike Lane? Not in Ohio.

2011-07-29T14:48:00.000-04:00

Here's a humorous but poignant video from a New York rider who was ticketed for not riding in the bike lane when it was available.

First, I'm impressed at his mad stunt-man skills.

Second, this isn't even an issue in Ohio - where it remains illegal for any municipality to make a law that states bikes can't use the road or must ride on a bike-specific path or lane, as long as it's not a limited-access highway.

Still, it makes for a fun, though somewhat frustrating viewing. The problems we have with the few bike lanes here in Columbus (trash build-up, lack of knowledge about how to operate in or near them from both cyclists AND motorists) don't even compare to the problems they have in the Big Apple.

People, not speed.

Accidents While Sidewalk Riding: Who's At Fault?

2011-07-26T12:07:00.002-04:00

Riding on the sidewalk - never a good idea.

I got an interesting question from David today - unfortunately I was away from my computer when he asked the question so I couldn't respond to him personally. But it's a situation that I think deserves a post, so here goes.

David's question (and it was in Google Chat so it was informal):

Hey Jamie my names David, I had a bit of a situation about a month ago and now its coming back on me pretty hard, and I was wondering if you had any insight. I was getting off of the olentangy bike trail onto third ave up near grandview and stayed on the sidewalk for a block before I got out into the road (traffic was flowing at a solid pace) I know now that I'm not supposed to ride on the sidewalk ever, but as I was pulling into the road a woman pulled out of the OSU Cancer research center and COMPLETELY blocked the crosswalk. having now where to go i t-boned her, and now, long story short, I'm being pursued to pay some ludicrous amount to fix her door.

Is there anything you can think of that might be of some help to me? they told me i was going to have to shell out $1000 and now it seems like they want me to pay the whole thing! (almost $2500!) I'm a college student and i'm already just getting by as it is. As far as everything else goes, i was following the law. i had reflectors and lights. it just seems like she was just as at fault, considering the fact that she was all the way out past where she was supposed to stop.

Interesting question, and I'm going to restate it as I understand what was going on here:

David was on the sidewalk to begin with, but was pulling out onto the road.
A motorist pulled their car out too far, and blocked the crosswalk. This leads me to understand that David was in the crosswalk and was trying to pull onto 3rd Avenue.

As much as I hate to say it, David was in the wrong here for his part. Although it's enforced about as much as texting while driving, sidewalk riding is illegal, and David admittedly was doing that.

However, what I don't know is whether he should be held responsible for the entire amount as the driver in this case was blocking the crosswalk, which, if I understand correctly is legally considered an extension of the sidewalk. It seems to me, as a strictly non-lawyer type, that both parties are at fault here. I don't know how that applies to financial responsibility for a collision, though.

If anyone with legal experience has an idea of how this should be handled, I'd love to hear it!

Note: along with the comments here, we've got an interesting conversation going with this on Google+.

People, not speed.

Yehuda Moon Added for Your Reading Pleasure

2011-05-24T08:04:00.001-04:00

{EAV_BLOG_VER:5700f32fc7acc2ed}

Rick Smith and Brian Griggs of Yehuda Moon fame have created a widget that allows me to bring you their fantastic comic on a daily basis. Keep checking back for the latest episodes in the ongoing series about this hilariously passionate cycling advocate and his group of cycling friends.

People, not speed.

College Student Cycling Resources from OnlineUniversities.com

2011-04-15T10:58:00.001-04:00

Got a message from the folks at OnlineUniversities.com and they've put together a great list of resources for college students on cycling and using your bike on campus. You've got a full gamut of articles available, from forums to avoiding bike theft, from general "surviving without a car in college" to Park Tool maintenance articles. Truly a great resource!

Enjoy!

40 Incredibly Cool Biking Tools for College Students

People, not speed.

What's the biggest misconception about transportation cycling?

2011-03-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

In light of the Dispatch article today on bikes and cars mixing on the road, I thought that I'd open things up to a little different tact today. I already wrote up a critique of the article on Examiner, but over here we can get a bit more personal and less formal.

The article brought up a lot of great points about cyclists and motorists not knowing the traffic laws (and looking at the comments on the web version of the article, that condition is rampant from the motorists' side) and I agree wholeheartedly with all that. And I was a bit distressed at some of the lack of detail given to certain points - like controlling the lane and getting the two-abreast law completely wrong.

But to bring up the notion of minimum speed limit was great. That was a big plus - and hopefully it'll open the eyes of a few people.

So let's discuss it: what are the biggest misconceptions YOU think both cyclists and motorists have about operating on the road?

People, not speed.

The Lazy Randonneur Won't Dress Like a Traffic Cone, But I Will

2011-03-14T13:45:00.001-04:00

A new (to me) blogger called the Lazy Randonneur wrote an excellent article today (that was reposted by the People For Bikes Facebook page) about the author's refusal to "dress like a traffic cone" while he rides. And it's an article that I totally agree with, but I will admit that I do dress like a traffic cone.

The standpoint is that the author, who we'll call LR for the purposes of the article, does not wear reflective clothing for his riding. The standpoint is one that I've ranted about many times: that cycling is just transportation, and he wants to get where he's going with the absolute minimum of fuss. And that's a standpoint that I agree with, wholeheartedly. I make recommendations on bikes and equipment that will make your bike transportation easier and more convenient, in my opinion. We're not going to get more people to ride unless we do that very thing - make it easy as (or easier than) driving a car.

That being said, I wear a fluorescent green jacket when I ride my commute each day. Would wearing a dark jacket, which is what I do wear when I ride the bus or for most of my local rides when I'm not commuting, be sufficient? Yes. I am of the strong opinion that most problems cyclists encounter with traffic are alleviated when they ride properly - out in the middle of the lane, away from the curb, and controlling the traffic around them by taking up the space that they're legally allowed (at least in Ohio). And if you're riding at night, using proper bike lighting on the front and back of your bike helps with nighttime visibility issues.

So why do I wear a fluorescent jacket when I'm riding, if I agree entirely with LR?

Because it's worked for me so far. I've been riding regularly for around five years now, and I have yet to be involved in any sort of accident. I rarely even have close calls (granted, after five years, my definition of a close call and a new rider's definition might be two different things) because I ride conspicuously and look conspicuous.

Other than that, I try to do as little as possible to change clothes from my riding clothes to my work clothes. And I ride in such a way (slow!) that makes that easier since I'm not sweating as much.

But if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I have a lot riding on my regular daily safety. And if I'm going to ride every day I should do what I can to remove as much of the risk as possible. And though my riding style ensures that drivers are going to see me, wearing a fluorescent jacket or vest makes that even more clear. That's not to say that people who don't partake in traffic cone chic are risking too much. It's just my preference to do what's worked for me.

People, not speed.

Bike OSU Hosting Winter Bicycle Show

2011-02-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

We've mentioned Bike OSU before, the great group of transportation cyclists that have organized at Ohio State to promote bicycling and work for bike acceptance and awareness.

The great folks over there are hosting a Winter Bicycle Show on Feb. 24th, with free safety checks, maintenance demonstrations, food, vendors such as :roll bicycle shop, and so much more!

If you've been thinking about getting out of the car, improving congestion around campus, giving your health a super boost, and save some money, then this is the chance for you to get on your bike and GO!

People, not speed.

League of American Bicyclists Wary of Bike Funding Cuts in Congress

2011-02-14T10:20:00.002-05:00

The League of American Bicyclists sent out a post today warning people of the following. If you're not a member of the League's Action List, you can join here:

Potential Attack on funding for bicycling could happen this week
We are on "Amendment Watch"

Dear Friends:

Working with our partners at America Bikes, we have been monitoring and preparing for possible federal budget cuts that could attack biking and walking. This is a “pre-alert” to give you the heads up that if biking and walking funding and programs are attacked, we will have a very short window in which to take action.

If an amendment attacking biking and walking is proposed we will let you know right away and ask that you do your part as a citizen to raise your voice for biking and walking. If such action is required we will provide specific information and directions.

There is no action to take at this moment – this is just a heads up that we need everyone to stand-by for action.

Thank you in advance.

People, not speed.

"Share the Road" Signs Taken On By Ohio Bike Lawyer Steve Magas

2010-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

They've been in the consciousness of a lot of people in the Columbus bike community recently: those "Share the Road" signs on High Street. Lots of people look at them as sort of a nice reminder that bikes might be around and, please, to be nice motorists and give those poor cyclists a little bit of your room on the road.

Ohio Bike Lawyer Steve Magas, on the other hand, lays the legal smack down on the concept of Share the Road. Magas, you may remember, is the lawyer who got the positive judgment in the Trotwood vs. Selz case that led to the great bike law reforms that we're enjoying now in the State of Ohio.

Let's take a look at bike law, for starters. No, let's not.

Let's go back to vehicle law. A bicycle is a vehicle. And as a vehicle, it is subject to the same rights and responsibilities as any vehicle on the road. Read that again - rights and responsibilities. And one of those rights is the right of way. Bikes have the right of way when they're traveling on the road, just like any other vehicle does - they have a right to that section of the road that they're currently taking up.

And the reason for this? The law doesn't tell a car or a bike that they have to obey the law, it tells a person - the driver. So the right of way belongs to a person - not a vehicle. If there was no right of way for people, then pedestrians couldn't be assumed to have a right of way, right?

So there's no need to tell anyone to Share the Road. Cyclists have the same rights to that section of the road that cars do - period. And the language of Share the Road is so ambiguous to be scary. For cyclists, it's telling motorists to share the road with them. But to motorists, it's telling cyclists to move over and quit hogging the road - even though cyclists have the right to it.

As Columbus continues to invest in "Share the Road" signs and thinks that it's doing all of us cyclists a big favor to improve things, perhaps they need to step back and look at what those signs are really saying.

People, not speed.

The Floodgates are Open...

2010-09-28T09:35:00.001-04:00

Over on our Facebook page, we've started a discussion on the pros and cons of ALL bike-related infrastructure: bike lanes, sharrows, separated bike lanes, etc.

Do you think they're a good thing? Are they right for Columbus? Come on over and chime in with your opinion.

People, not speed.

Tweaking Shall Continue...

2010-09-23T11:16:00.001-04:00

Hey, cyclerati of Columbus. Hope you'll bear with me while I tweak the format of this page a bit. Blogger's made it so easy to do now that I can't keep my hands off it while I work to get just the format I want.

And let me know if you find anything you think could be changed for the better here!

People, not speed.

Should Cyclists Be Protected from Themselves?

2010-09-22T09:08:00.000-04:00

I wrote a quick news article today on Examiner.com about Upper Arlington's examination of State bicycle law and a loophole that says cyclists can only be charged if they're on a street or bike path. That wasn't something I was aware of. Here's the article.

Upper Arlington re-examining bike laws - Columbus alternative transportation | Examiner.com

So the situation here is that the guy was drunk. REALLY drunk - three times the legal limit. And he was riding his bike to the ATM (in a shopping plaza's parking lot) because he was trying to be safe by not driving his car.

Seems a pretty noble thing to do, right? He avoided being unsafe to other people by getting where he needed to go via a safer form of transportation. But he was still stopped for DUI. Granted, the charge was reduced because of the loophole mentioned in the article but that's really not the point here.

The point is that I'm concerned about laws that are designed to protect people from their own stupidity. I can totally understand automobile-related laws of this nature. Let's face it - cars kill. And the number one cause of car-related killings is irresponsibility. Using a cell phone or texting while driving, DUI, etc. are all forms of this. Groups like MADD have all sorts of statistics for DUI, and obviously there are plenty of laws going on the books about distracted driving related to cell phone, texting, etc.

But what about cyclists? One can make the argument that a cyclist who takes to the streets and doesn't pay attention, talks on a phone, or is even mind-numbingly schnockered is endangering other folks on the road - drivers may swerve to miss a cyclist who's riding a bit wobbly for whatever reason and hit someone else.

But in this case, it was 1:00 AM and the rider was in a parking lot. Was this traffic stop really needed? The police officer in question probably wouldn't even have noticed the cyclist if this had been daytime, and a normal number of cars was around to occupy his attention.

What do you think?

People, not speed.

With a Feminine Point of View

2010-08-18T14:43:00.000-04:00

My blog tends to have a male point of view, simply because... well... I'm male. I try to cover things in a way that I think will appeal to everyone, but let's face it, I can't do that as well as I'd like because I am coming from a specific point of view.

So let me share with you a blog that comes from another point of view, that of the female rider! That's not to say you should stop reading my stuff, but rather that this is another great blog with a different point of view! And here's an article that struck me as really interesting today.

My Evolution from Biking Girl to Biking Mom | Bike Shop Girl

People, not speed.

Top 7 Solar-Powered Bags for Back-to-School! — Life Scoop

2010-08-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

Here's an interesting idea for getting your devices charged during your commute: Solar Cells on backpacks and messenger bags! Smart stuff!

Top 7 Solar-Powered Bags for Back-to-School! — Life Scoop

People, not speed.

Should Cyclists vs. Motorists Be Repictured as Patient vs. Impatient?

2010-08-12T13:16:00.001-04:00

There's an interesting report today on Treehugger.com that states cyclists are not only likely to be car owners as well (which I think we all knew), but likely to have multiple cars (something that may surprise many of us). The article goes on to say that perhaps cyclists vs. motorists is the wrong attitude to have, as most cyclists are also motorists.

Photo by Menage a Moi

Given who most cyclists are in this country (recreational cyclists), this doesn't surprise me in the least - but it is a paradigm shift that we need to take.

I suppose this goes along with the idea of cycling being the "new golf" as we've heard so much in the past few years. Cycling is just about the ultimate techie sport - from the bikes themselves, to the clothes and riding gear to the ride recording gear such as computers and GPS receivers, there is absolutely no dearth of "stuff" to buy if you're a recreational cyclist. And like most industries, there's more stuff coming out every day.

And the folks who buy bikes like that are also more likely to buy multiple cars - because they can, and because there's something of a materialistic bent to many fitness riders that I know.

But that's neither here nor there - what it says to me is that the issue we need to be fighting isn't so much a bikes vs. cars battle, but rather a battle for patience. I'm willing to bet that many of those recreational cyclists who fight for cyclists' rights when they're riding turn around and road rage just as badly as any motorist when they get behind the wheel - including raging at cyclists who get in their way.

In fact, I've seen it. Blogs such as this one and online newspaper stories about cyclists' issues and bike-car collisions inevitably get comments from the guy who says "I ride my bike, but I drive, too, and those cyclists need to stay to the right all the time..." and so forth.

The real issue is patience and tolerance. Americans have such a heat-on for speed that they get downright irate if anything holds them up - and especially if it's another form of transportation than the one I'm operating. I'll be honest, I get annoyed when I'm behind a car at a red light turning green and the car doesn't take off - whether I'm driving or riding. And yelling at them doesn't really help too much.

When I'm out there riding, now, I try to take the advice of Paul Kyriazi, a personal improvement guru that I've been following for a couple years now. He suggests that when we're on the road, we should look at all the other vehicles out there as if they were part of a computer game, and forget entirely that there are other people behind those wheels. If it's just a game, there's no point in getting angry or upset, you just deal with the obstacles that the game is throwing at you and try to get to the end as quickly as possible while following the rules of the game.

So do you agree with these notions? Do you have tactics for keeping cool on the road? What say you?

People, not speed.

"It's Not the Heat..."

2010-07-29T08:28:00.000-04:00

"...it's the humidity!" When I was working at a convenience store when I was younger, I nearly came unhinged every time I heard someone utter this from the other side of the counter. But it's true.

And it's been a while since I did an update on what I'm wearing for my rides and what I do to clean up. A couple folks on Twitter have asked about this with all the nasty sticky weather we've been having recently, and this seems like a great time to discuss this topic again.

First, what I wear. We'll just go head-to-toe here.

Head: well, a helmet, right? And a pair of cycling glasses. They'll keep the wind and dust out of your eyes. TIP: When you get to a stop (you DO stop at stop signs and lights, right?), pull your glasses down to the end of your nose so that they don't fog up. Then as the light changes and you're pushing off, push them back up.

Torso: I always wear an UnderArmour or some other type of technical shirt. It's cool, loose, and breathes easily. Plus, it dries quickly during the day so that I'm not putting on a damp shirt to go home. Avoid pure cotton if you can - that'll just keep you soggy the entire ride and take forever to dry. No one likes to put on a damp t-shirt to go home in.

I also wear my Pearl Izumi Vagabond jacket with the sleeves pulled off to make it a vest (the sleeves come off as one of the features). It breathes pretty well, and the visibility is awesome. You could also just wear a reflective vest which would cost a lot less. And it's got some pockets for keys so that they're not jangling around in your shorts (if you're like me and already carry too much stuff in your pockets).

Below-The-Waist: Okay, to answer the question ladies have been asking for years, I'm a boxer-briefs man. And the boxer-briefs I like most are, once again, from UnderArmour. They keep their shape, dry quickly, and wick the sweat away from... yeah, those parts. I've recently tried out a pair of boxer-briefs from Slix as well with good results, we'll keep you posted on that. Once again, cotton is bad, for the same reasons it is in t-shirts. An added nasty bonus is that when it is dry it'll be stretched out and bunched up and uncomfortable.

Over that I just wear a pair of shorts - usually cargo shorts because I like the pockets. My bike has a pretty wide, padded saddle and I don't need padded shorts for my ride every day (about 11 miles round trip). If your bike DOES have a more racing-style saddle and you want the padding, I suggest something a little more like this - still has pockets for convenience but also has the padding to keep you comfortable. I wore a pair like this for the recent BikeColumbus Festival Mayor's Twilight Ride and they were great.

Feet: My bike does not have clipless pedals, so I just wear a pair of stiff-soled sandals (what my wife calls "Mandals."). Stiffer soles make riding more efficient, and these particular sandals help keep debris away from my feet as well as help me avoid stubbing toes, etc. And they're nice and cool.

And that's it. I have two panniers, one to hold my work clothes and extra gear I like to have along on my commute (a rain cape, small towel, and some extra tubes and the like) and one that doubles as a messenger bag/briefcase for my work stuff.

As far as cleaning up, I don't have a shower or locker rooms available where I work so I use Action Wipes. The link gives you my review of these gems, and they're well-worth it. Two things I'll add to the review: they also come in single-packs now if you just want to toss a couple into your saddle bag or keep them in your briefcase. Very convenient. And keep a couple used ones around in a baggie or something when you're done - because for my money, nothing gets bike grease off you as well as an Action Wipe.

And for the final step, have a small desk fan in your office/cube/whatever if possible. A few minutes sitting in front of that will cool you down nicely. Seriously - I perspire rather heavily and it gets me cool quickly.

So there you are - the update on what I'm wearing and how I'm getting clean and ready for work.

What tips do you have for new riders on what to wear and how to clean up? Share it in the comments!

People, not speed.

St. Louis Area County Bike Ban Proposal - What Can We Learn?

2010-07-15T10:04:00.000-04:00

A number of blogs and other cycling news outlets have reported on a proposed bicycling ban in St. Charles County in Missouri. Council member Joe Brazil has proposed this ban which will come up for a vote Monday in the county.

Yes, it's the wrong Band-Aid on the problem, and I'm not going to get into whether it's wrong, stupid, anti-progress, or what have you. It is all of those things.

But what can we learn from this? Fritz at Cyclelicious listed a number of talking points for this bill for those who might be calling their county representatives in Missouri to combat this bill, and this one struck home for me:

Brazil says he is addressing a common constituent complaint. “I get more complaints about this single issue than any other issue,” he says. Since Brazil is acting on constituent feedback, it’s time for St. Charles County cyclists to flood their representative inboxes with complaints about dangerous traffic on county roads and demand controls on the motor vehicles creating the hazards. Anybody driving 55 mph on a 2 lane road when the corn is more than knee high is driving too fast for safety.

St. Charles County is probably not the only county in America where people are complaining about more cyclists being on the roads. Whether they're riding for recreation or using their bikes to get from A to B, cyclists are becoming more prevalent as people get more conscious about health and how driving isn't the way to stay healthy. And people also want to avoid paying for gas - whether because of financial reasons or ethical reasons . There are plenty of other reasons.

So perhaps what needs to happen is for cyclists to go on the offensive. Perhaps cyclists need to badger their government representatives with complaints about road quality, speed limits being too high, dangerous drivers' habits, what have you. Take the momentum away from the motorists who are complaining about our presences and let our government officials know that we, as taxpayers who pay for roads, have a right to operate on the roads safely and completely, regardless of whether someone painted some lines and a picture of a bike on the road.

If we're able to flood our officials' offices with calls about what WE find dangerous about our roads, we can take the upper hand and let those officials know that 1) we're out there, 2) we have rights to the roads, too, 3) that we vote for our officials just like everyone else, and 4) that safety for everyone is more important than motorists being inconvenienced for whole seconds at a time! And we'll take some of the wind out of the sails of the motorists who are complaining about us by turning the tables on them, in a way that's likely to get things done.

Thoughts?

People, not speed.

BikeColumbus Festival extends registration deadline for events

2010-07-14T13:40:00.002-04:00

Looking to take part in the BikeColumbus Festival but haven't gotten your registration in for one or more of the events yet? Fear not - the online registration period has been EXTENDED to Thursday noon.

After that point, riders will need to register at the event (and pay $5.00 extra for the privilege of joining the rides!).

Plenty more information follows from Consider Biking:

BikeColumbus Pre-Registration Discount until noon Thursday!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow....the registrations for BikeColumbus events have been pouring in the last few days. The weather forecast looks great - We're gearing up for a great weekend!

We've extended the pre-registration discount until Thursday noon. We'll turn off the on-line registration at that point...and, you'll pay an extra $5 if you register on-site at the events on Friday or Saturday.

Pre-registering helps us plan the food, supply and volunteer needs. Plus...it saves you a few bucks. Won't you please register now?

If you register on-site, we'll only be able to accept cash and checks. No credit cards.

Both the Mayor's Twilight Ride and the Barbour Memorial Ride are fully supported events. Through the generous sponsorship of our partners....you'll have a wonderful experience that includes marked routes, course marshals, food, music, and tons of great goodies. You'll get MORE THAN YOUR MONEY'S WORTH....and you'll rest assured that the proceeds will support bicycling safety and awareness programs. 'bout time, eh?

And INEEDA Bike Swap is bursting at the seams with vendors and individsuals bringing their bikes, parts & accessories to sell. There's still a limited amount of selling space available...if you have stuff to sell....please register soon.

Read on below for a few last minute pieces of information. We look forward to your participation this weekend!

Last Minute Bike Festival Fact Sheet / FAQs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight Ride, Friday July 16th; 6-10 pm

Where is the event? Columbus Crew Stadium; 1 Black and Gold Blvd; Columbus, OH 43211

Where do I park? Parking is Free at Crew Stadium. For lot specifics, click here.

What time do we start?

Please join us for pre-ride festivities starting at 6 pm or come as early as 3 pm and enjoy the Ineedabike Swap activities.

Whether you choose the 20 mile route or the 9 mile neighborhood ride, both will get started at 8 pm.

We'll have the riders for the longer ride start first, then the 9 mile ride so we can assist riders along the route of their choosing.

Thanks to the Westerville Bike Club and others, we will have plenty of volunteers along the route to keep riders safe and to assure everyone makes the correct turns.

Where are the rest and food stops? Rest stop for 20 mile ride at McFerson Commons, 218 West Street at the Union Arch. Beverages, snacks. Light meal for both rides, Crew Stadium.

The fun of any ride is the Goody Bag, what SWAG can we expect? At the event...

Please visit the Crew table to pick up your hat and Crew Game Ticket which is free to registered riders. The game date is August 28 versus FC Dallas.

Get pumped for the Twilight ride by visiting the TREK table and get your cool bicycle blinkie tail light!

When you check in, we'll have you sign an emergency contact form and you'll receive a goody bag with a few more surprises.

Our Requests:

This is a ride at Twilight, so take steps to "Be Seen" like using a bike light, even a flashlight and duct tape works! Wear reflective clothing and maybe even get creative with glow sticks and such!

Adults and Youth must wear helmets. (If needed, loaner helmets will be available.) Let's demonstrate rider safety as we're Cranking it Up through the streets of Columbus!

Steve Barbour Memorial Tour, Saturday July 17th; 7 am - 5 pm

Where is the event? Downtown Columbus, McFerson Commons, 218 West St, Columbus, OH 43215 (The park with the Union Station Arch on Nationwide Blvd)

Where do I park? Arena District parking (pre-paid pass available)

What should I bring with me?

Your Registration Packet with maps / cue sheets and WRISTBAND provided.

Please Don't Forget your HELMET!

Always a good idea to carry a form of ID, (when bicycling)

Bike and Bike gear, i.e. Shoes, Spare Tube, Sun Protection, and potentially rain jacket / gear (DOW)

Water Bottle(s) for bike *Water provided at Park

Can I bring a Friend or Family Member to ride with me? Yes, "Day of Ride" signups for all routes are available from 7:00am to 9:00am at the Registration Tent. You can also sign up prior to Day of Ride at any of the three Columbus BikeSource locations. If desired, please have Friend or Family Member arrive in plenty of time to leave with you. Let them know to bring $30.00 for "Day of Ride" Registration fee.

What time do I need to be ready to ride?

Rider Check In: 7:00am - 9:00am

Early Light Breakfast Snacks & Coffee Provided

Will all route distances be leaving at the same time? No, the scheduled start times for the 4) Route Options are:

200K and 150K Rider Start: 7:30am

100K Rider Start: 8:30am

50K Rider Start: 9:30am

What is the easiest way to follow the route I have chosen? You will have multiple methods to KEEP YOU ON the Route!

Road Markings - All routes will have road markings that are visible in the form of WHITE painted stamps (see Signs at Registration Tent on Day of Ride). The flame at the end of the candlestick will mark the direction of your route, with any route turnoffs clearly identified.

Maps - Provided in your Reg. packet.

Cue Sheets - Provided in your Reg. packet.

Where are the Lunch/Snack Stops?

Lockbourne: YMCA Hoover Park - Available to 50K Riders ONLY
Hours of Operation: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Circleville: Ted Lewis Park - Available to 100K Riders for Lunch Stop & 150K, 200K Riders for a Lunch and Return Snack Stop
Hours of Operation: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Adelphi: Adelphi United Methodist Church - 200K Rider Lunch Stop ONLY
Hours of Operation: 10:30am - 2:00pm

If I do one of the Barbour Memorial shorter routes, will I need to find transportation back to McFerson? No, all routes regardless of distance will START and END at McFerson Commons in the Arena District and will be round trip loops. There is a small portion of the return route (except 50K) that will overlap the same route out of Ted Lewis Park. The split for the return route is at S. Bloomfield Royalton. You simply stay on Walnut Creek for the return loop back into Columbus. (See Cue Sheets for exact turn by turn directions.)

There will be Support Vehicles (SAGs) driving all routes in order to assist you with any help you may need.

What happens if I get a flat tire while on the Ride? The Steve Barbour Memorial Tour is a fully supported ride with coverage for mechanical failures and other minor incidents via our SAG vehicles to make sure you arrive back to McFerson Commons park safely.

How do I identify a SAG vehicle should I need assistance? Look for large SAG magnetic signs on the SAG vehicles along the route. They are experienced support personnel and will be on the lookout for any mechanical or rider malfunctions.

What happens after we complete our 1rst BikeColumbus, Steve Barbour Memorial Tour?
Return to McFerson Park to enjoy the festivities of the day with a nice relaxing massage to ease those achy muscles, pickup your BikeSource / Specialized ice cold water bottle directly in front of the Arch, a bottle of EAS Myoplex or sample of MonaVie. Scamper over into the park for a delicious bite to eat while enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow cyclists for a "ride well done" and a thank you from Consider Biking, BikeSource and Columbus Outdoor Pursuits for your participation and support.

How do I make a donation to the Steve Barbour Memorial fund? Please make all checks payable to: Consider Biking with Steve Barbour Memorial Fund in the Memo line. You will receive a receipt for your donation within 4) weeks.

Ineeda Bike Swap, Friday July 16th; 3 pm - 7 pm

Where is the SWAP? VIP Tent on the plaza at Columbus Crew Stadium; 1 Black and Gold Blvd; Columbus, OH 43211

What is it? Bicycling buyers and sellers unite! For buyers, the Ineeda Bike Swap is your chance to find deals on the parts, bikes, and accessories you need to keep rolling. For sellers, you can lighten your gear load and make someone's day by offering great stuff. Don't miss this great event packed with private sellers, big name bike shops, educational seminars, plus food and beverages!

Who is selling? An updated list of the vendors can be viewed here.

Garrett Wonders Criterium, Sunday August 1, 12 - 7 pm

The Garrett Wonders Criterium is an exciting race which transforms the Downtown riverfront District into a bicycle racing wonderland for everyone from beginners to professionals.

Details and Registration link can be viewed here.

Other Questions:

What will be done with the money that is raised from the Bike Columbus Festival? All proceeds from the various events will support bicycling initiatives via two organizations:

The Institute for Active Living at Columbus Public Health works to increase access to physical activity and nutritious food, to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic. It supports everthing from community gardens and local food systems to physical fitness equipment and bike safety. Consider Biking will use proceeds to support safety and awareness campaigns for cyclists on our roads.

The Steve Barbour Memorial Fund will be used to provide education, encouragement and infrastructure needs to increase safety of bicyclists on our roads.

I have friends/relatives/coworkers who are interested, What should they do? We have online registration open until late on Wednesday July 14 or folks can register onsite for $30 for either ride (or $50 for the combo of Twilight + Barbour Memorial Tour). For further details, click here.

Cash and Checks are the only acceptable payment methods onsite, please plan accordingly.

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Contact the Festival Team

For more information about the BikeColumbus Festival, you can reach us by phone or email.

Phone: Consider Biking @ 614-447-8894 (weekdays 9am - 6pm)

Barb Seckler @ 614-645-4798 (weekdays 8am - 6pm)

Email: bikecolsfest@considerbiking.org or bjseckler@columbus.gov

Web: www.considerbiking.org & www.bikecolumbusfestival.com

Further Consider Biking Contact Information

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Web site - www.considerbiking.org

Facebook - Facebook Page

Twitter - Considerbikeoh

Office Phone -(614) 447-8893

Executive Director, Jeff Stephens - jeff@considerbiking.org

2 by 2012 Campaign Manager, Bryan Saums - bryan@considerbiking.org

Membership & Events, Suzanne Birk - suzanne@considerbiking.org

Operations, Jody Dzuranin - jodydz@considerbiking.org

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People, not speed.

More Swag Coming Your Way!

2010-07-07T07:26:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I gave away a Columbus Marathon MP3 player armband that the good folks at the Marathon supplied for me. I got home last night, and found that they'd dropped off THREE of them, not just one! So, to get you ready for RunFest on Saturday, we'll give away the other two today.

So the first question today: who was the first person I interviewed here on Bike Commuting in Columbus? Again, if you know the answer, email it to me, or visit our Facebook page and leave me a message!

~~As soon as we have winner #2 in the books, we'll release the question for the third and final armband!~~

BINGO! We have yet another winner - Scott (that's all he identified himself as) figured out that the first interviewee we had here was Meredith Joy of Yay Bikes!

And now, for our final Columbus Marathon armband... who can tell me why I told people NOT to bike to work?

2:10 PM - And we have our final winner - Alec Fleschner found that I told you not to bike to work when it's -3 degrees outside, back in February of 2007!

So congratulations to Mark, Scott, and Alec. Your armbands will be headed your way soon. And thanks everyone else for playing!

People, not speed.

Columbus Marathon Invites You to RunFest 2010

2010-07-05T08:00:00.021-04:00

Blogger's note: This is a bit off topic, but the health-minded bike commuter might also be interested in other means of attaining fitness for cross-training or personal goal achievement, so I thought this appropriate.

The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon is inviting you to RunFest, to be held at the Frog, Bear and Wild Boar in the Arena District on July 10th from 1:00-4:00 PM.

RunFest is a celebration of fitness, and is the official kick-off for the 2010 Columbus Marathon. They'll have resources on hand for people who want to know more about training for the marathon or running in general. With free food and soft drinks, live music by Double Barrel and lots of giveaways ($1,000 in running store gift cards and free marathon entry for life), this is definitely going to be a fun afternoon!

The invite and further information is on Facebook (same link as above), but no RSVP is required for the event.

In addition, I'm giving away a free Columbus Marathon MP3 Player armband to the first reader who can find the following information on this blog: what was the first bicycle I ever owned? Email the answer to me here!

Note: WE HAVE A WINNER! Mark Nye of Columbus was correct in his guess of a red Schwinn Bantam. He'll be receiving the Columbus Marathon armband as soon as I get it from the Marathon folks! Thanks to everyone for playing!

People, not speed.

Muxu offering Euro-style clothes for cyclists

2010-06-25T09:01:00.001-04:00

Yet another great company is offering a line of regular street clothes with the urban cyclist in mind: welcome to the party Muxu!

I first heard of Muxu this morning via a Thrillist email, which tells us a bit about the car-restrictive nature of Barcelona, the Spanish city where Muxu's clothing is designed and inspired. Bike messengers in Barca have been testing and using such clothes on their daily rounds for a while, it seems, and the styling keeps them looking good while the technical specs keep them comfortable.

From their website:

Taking the cyclist seamlessly through the day, Muxu apparel blurs the boundary between what you wear on and off the bike. From a light commute, a game of bike polo, to 100 kilometre messenger days, your Muxu is designed to look and feel amazing, whilst functioning without compromise.

The shirts are designed with seams that are out of the way of your shoulders so that messenger bag straps don't rub you raw. There's a hidden MP3 player pocket in them, too. And the fabric is a wicking fabric that fights odor and dries four times faster than regular cotton.

Their 3/4 shorts have fewer seams as well, and are slightly elasticized for more comfort and ease of movement without looking stretchy.

Prices are good - a little higher than normal, but not as bad as some of the other companies that have entered this market. And the styling is great - not baggy, but rather created for people whose physiques show the time they spend on the saddle.

It's great to see yet another company that is making clothes for the urban cyclist who wants to look good while riding!

People, not speed.

Expanded BikeColumbus Coming in July

2010-06-24T13:04:00.000-04:00

Image by BikeColumbus Festival

Columbus's official bicycle festival is right around the corner, with the approach of the BikeColumbus Festival 2010. The 3rd annual offering has been expanded for this year and includes some great new events to make cyclists of every type sit up in the saddle and take notice.

The first event for this year is the Friday, July 16th Mayor's Twilight Tour. Starting and ending at Crew Stadium, you'll have a choice of a 20- or 9-mile loop that will loop through Clintonville, OSU Campus, Downtown, and feature a rest stop at McFerson Commons in the Arena District. The festivities start at 6:00 pm and the ride will take off at 8:00. Cost of the Ride is $25.00, which can be paid in advance (registration is online). Registration for the ride also gets you a ticket to the Crew's August 28th game versus Dallas! Bring a light - or get one at...

...the second event of the festival: the Ineeda Bike Swap. Also at Crew Stadium's VIP tent (west side of the stadium), the Bike Swap starts at 3:00 pm on Friday, July 16th, and goes till 7:00 pm. Bike Vendors from all over the area are invited to come in and share their wares at this event. There is still space for more vendors if you're interested, registration is online. The price of admission to this event is $5.00 for patrons 13 and over, kids 12 and under get in free! Swaps are generally for cash only, unless individual vendors are willing to take checks. An ATM will be on site.

The third event for the festival is the Steve Barbour Memorial Tour. In honor of the local bicycling advocate and enthusiast who was killed by a motorist last year, this fully supported ride will take place on Saturday, July 17th, with distances of 50, 100, 150, and 200 kilometers (with staggered start times). Pre-ride check-in is at McFerson Commons in the Arena District from 7:00-9:00. The $25.00 Registration is online, and funds will go to help Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and Consider Biking's Steve Barbour Memorial Fund.

The final event of the festival doesn't take place till August 1st, but it's sure to be an exciting one: the Garrett Wonders Criterium. In honor of an aspiring Olympic cyclist who was run down by a car during a training ride, this Criterium race will be run downtown along the Riverfront and turn downtown into a race track! Not to be missed, criterium races are always an exciting event for everyone. Athletes who'd like to participate can register online for various skill and ability levels - including a free kids' race!

Consider Biking and the Mayor's office are putting a lot of work into this great event, please come out and support better transportation for Columbus!

People, not speed.

"Share the Road" Signs Too Vague?

2010-06-09T08:57:00.002-04:00

Photo by Brent Nimmo

The case of Brent Nimmo and his ticket for violation of Ohio Revised Code 4511.55 Section A, which was overturned earlier this month, brings to mind a point that many people have made about Columbus's new signage on High Street.

As you all know by now, we have "Share The Road" signs on High Street with bikes on the signs so that people know that they need to be aware of bikes on the road.

But there are many problems with that verbiage. Critics of the phrase "Share the Road," including myself, say that the signs are too vague. A much better phrase for the signs would be something like the picture on this post displays; "Bikes May Use Full Lane."

There's no mistaking what that means at all, where "Share the Road" simply doesn't say anything concrete. And to people who don't understand bicyclist rights on the road or are unaware of them completely, they may think it's telling cyclists that they have to ride too far to the right so that cars can pass them without getting into the next lane. Believe it or not, there are people who think that's exactly what those signs mean.

"Share the Road" is a nice sentiment. But it's not a firm statement of bicyclist rights like "Bikes May Use Full Lane."

People, not speed.

Some Changes...

2010-06-01T21:15:00.001-04:00

Hi all, Jamie here with a little bit of blog management.

We've gotten a troll on the comments here, and after asking the members of this blog's Facebook community for their opinions on things, the decision was made to moderate all comments. I'm somewhat surprised, now that I think about it, that it took this long to get a real troll under our bridge, but it's happened and it won't happen again.

I'm a believer in free speech, without a doubt. But I'm also a believer in appropriate speech. An ignoramous who was simply trying to bait cyclists while accusing them of ignoring the law (which he obviously didn't know, as he proved to us) was making comments that were designed to start fights. And we don't need that here. I like to keep things positive and helpful on this blog - even when I get going and go off on a rant, as sometimes happens, I like to spin it to a positive direction by the end of a post.

Starting a flame war isn't going to help anyone, so we're moving back to full comment moderation. Nothing negative will make it out. Constructive criticism is one thing but this was not that.

Thanks to all the folks who chimed in with opinions on the Facebook page, I really appreciate your candor and support.

People, not speed.