Commute Orlando

Bigotry is Blinding

2012-05-24T19:12:54Z

The image below shows Primrose Dr. on the approach to Robinson St. South of Jefferson there is a wide bike lane (only wide for a block). At Jefferson, that space becomes a general use lane as Primrose goes from one lane to two. It works out pretty well since it puts the cyclist in position to control the right lane. And because motorists are already in what becomes the left lane, they have to change lanes if they want to use the right lane. This evening, my friend Marcus and I were taking Primrose from Central to the Cady Way extension north of Colonial. We crossed Jefferson with no traffic behind us, rode double to the intersection and stopped at the red light. The first driver who queued up behind us did so by changing lanes into our lane, with us in full sight. Typically, only right-turning drivers queue up behind me at this light because mindful drivers don’t queue up behind bicyclists (or buses or amish buggies) if they have a choice. When the light turned green, we continued riding and having a conversation through the intersection. The lanes on Robinson are about 9ft wide. As you can see from [...]

Cycle Chick ride to Sundew Gardens

2012-05-21T17:02:07Z

Yesterday, a small group of us rode to Sundew Gardens for a workshop on chicken farming: Chickens for the Central Florida Homestead. The City of Orlando just launched a pilot program to allow residents to keep hens in back yard coops. I don’t have a back yard (at the moment) but I’ve been curious about raising chickens. In general, I’m interested in local food. Mighk and his wife, Carol, actually managed to snag one of the 25 coveted permits. First Friday regular, Larry Gies organized the ride and planned the route. Diana packed lunch for all of us and made sure we had the appropriate decorations for our bikes. I just showed up The route was fun, many roads I had not been on before. It consisted of a mix of residential streets, some busier roads and the wonderful Little Econ Greenway. The tree-lined residential streets make for perfect riding. Oh, and the tall young man in the photo is LisaB’s son, who joined a group ride for the first time (and drafted and held his line like a pro when we were riding into the wind on some of the busier roads). It was such fun to have him along! The [...]

Ride With Larry 2 – Orlando Version – June 2nd

2012-05-21T17:04:05Z

What? An Orlando version of the “Ride With Larry 2″ When? Saturday – June 2, 2012. 8:00 am Where? “Great Trail Loop” – a 50 mile route that will connect many of the trails in Seminole and Orange Counties. Details on the starting point and map are being finalized. Why? A year ago Larry Smith, a person who has lived with Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years rode 300 miles across South Dakota over five days. I was fortunate to take part in the final day of that ride. Larry’s friends and family have scheduled “Ride With Larry 2.” a one day, 50 mile ride. To honor their effort, raise awareness for Parkinson’s, and simply have a great time, I am organizing an Orlando version on the same day. No fee, lots of friendship and fun. Hope to see you there. For a bit of motivation, here’s the latest trailer of the Ride With Larry documentary - due out later this summer.

Rx: take one bike ride as needed for anxiety/stress

2012-05-18T12:45:38Z

On January 2nd of this year, I took my 13 year old samoyed, Khyber, for fiber optic- guided laparoscopic laser surgery at the University of Florida’s School of Veterinary Medicine. I had anticipated 2-3 day trip, but poor Khyber had complications that required emergency major abdominal surgery, and I ended up staying in Gainesville for an entire week I had packed a folding bike in my van at the last minute, although I didn’t think that I would have occasion to use it. It’s lightweight and folds up small, so it was no trouble. The UF Veterinary School is a world class facility, with state of the art veterinary care. I cannot say enough good things about them. Although I was in Gainesville while the undergraduates were still on vacation, I was pleased to see that the bicycle racks at the veterinary school were all in use, and I remarked on that. The veterinary surgeon who handled my dog’s care, and his intern, as it turned out, are both bicycle riders. They recommended some local trails and encouraged me to get out and ride. My dog was in excellent hands, [...]

Bike to work with me, Mayor Dyer?

2012-05-17T19:27:39Z

Dear Mayor Dyer, Thank you for the invitation to bike to work with you again, on May 25th of this year. Maybe you would like to bike to work with me some day. I leave a little bit earlier than you do, so you would need to meet me no later than 6:45 AM. We won’t have a hundred other cyclists with us, and we won’t have dozens of Orlando Police Department patrol officers to escort us and block intersections so that we can ride straight through without motorists. But it’s a fun ride, and you will have some options. Allow me to take you through a little taste of what’s in store for you the first 1/2 mile section. Here is the view of Primrose northbound, just south of the 408 expressway, from a driver’s perspective. As you can see, there’s not much road space here. If you try to ride the “white line”, as far to the right edge as you can, you will need to have narrow handlebars, nerves of steel, and the good luck to be alongside compact cars. There’s a little surprise awaiting you in the form of a particularly brutal grate. Good luck with that! Here’s what [...]

Join us for the Mayor’s Ride

2012-05-22T14:18:31Z

The CyclingSavvy team will be riding with the Mayor again this year. As we did last year, we will lead a group from the Cady Way Trailhead at Fashion Square to the ride start in College Park. To join the ride, meet us in the trailhead parking lot and have your bike ready to ride at 7AM. If you’re meeting us at Dartmouth Park, please sign in under the CyclingSavvy team. This year’s ride is May 25 from Dartmouth Park Registration begins at 7:30 AM Ride starts at 8 AM Ride to the ride leaves Cady Way at 7 AM This year Bike/Walk Central Florida and Retro City Cycles are teaming up with us. We’ve designed a team T-shirt to show our love of cycling in Orlando. If you would like one, please pre-order using this form. If we get enough pre-orders to bring the cost down, proceeds will benefit Bike/Walk Central Florida. Shirts are printed. Can be picked up at Retro City Cycles 5/23.

Freedom to ride

2012-05-11T05:23:33Z

A neighbor of mine suffered a spinal chord injury at work a couple of years ago. While he doesn’t have the use of his legs, he is able to propel himself around in his wheelchair and enjoys getting outside for the fresh air and exercise. He stays in touch with his friends using one of the two or three cell phones that he carries at all times. He’s always cheery and eager to chat, unless he’s busy on the phone. I tease him that he is running a numbers racquet from the cul-de-sac. We frequently talk about cycling. If I’m headed out for a ride, he always asks where I’m going and quizzes me about what I saw when I return. If he sees me loading my bike on the car rack, he’ll ask, “Are you going downtown for a First Friday Ride?”. Often he’ll say that he wishes that he could go for a bike ride – no doubt thinking back to days in the past when he was able to do just that. That got me thinking, “Why couldn’t he go for a ride?”. His arms and shoulders are strong, so a hand crank operated device [...]

You Can’t Bring that Bike in Here!

2012-05-10T21:53:06Z

Tom Snyders, The Bicycling Comedian, is coming to town! “You Can’t Bring that Bike in Here!” is a one-hour, one-man show about Tom’s 25 years on the road, traveling to all of his comedy performances by bicycle. His fun mulit-media show features video clips and photos from his years on the bike. Enjoy a touring cyclist’s take on funny road signs from the back roads of America, starting with a section of signs you don’t like to see when on the road by bicycle! June 20th marks exactly 25 years Tom has been on the road — 162,000 miles, through all 50 states, and in 34 countries on six continents. He has performed in more than 200 comedy clubs throughout America, Canada, Europe and Australia. Come check him out at the Orlando Fringe Festival. Get your tickets online or at the door ($10). Tom will be in the Yellow Venue (Shakespeare Center) in Loch Haven Park. Show times below: Arrive by bike! If you’re looking for quiet street bike routes, here are some suggestions:

Happy Bike to School Day

2012-05-09T12:33:06Z

In honor of National Bike to School Day, here are the Colonial High School kids.

Bike Lane Law Update: What it Means

2012-04-30T15:04:58Z

As a product of this year’s legislative session, there has been a change in the language of the far right/mandatory bike lane law. The change “clarifies situations in which a bicyclist is not required to ride in the marked bicycle lane (if the roadway is marked for bicycle use) or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. The bill clarifies that a bicyclist is exempt from this requirement when a ‘potential conflict’ or a turn lane interrupts the roadway or bicycle lane.” Here’s the way the statute looks in CS/CS/HB 1223: 316-2065(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations: When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or [...]