RocBike.com

EcoVelo on Lights

Ethan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:53:50 +0000

EcoVelo, one of my favorite bicycling blogs, is running a series on Bike Commuting 101, which is shaping up to be very nice. Today Alan posted a bit about a subject dear to my heart: lights. While Alan is based in CA, the law is pretty much the same here. More importantly, the message is applicable here.

Thought This Was Nice

Ethan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:35:55 +0000

how to be nice to someone in two simple steps

The hipster moving company

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:45:44 +0000

Click for a larger, hipper version

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Xtracycle: Because you never know…

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:30:16 +0000

…when you’ll leave the house empty-handed and come back with a free bookshelf. I saw this on the side of the road on my way back from the post office. I had just run out of space for my poetry books, so it was a serendipitous find.

(Part 2 of an occasional series. Here’s the first installment.)

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

Video from cellist Ben Sollee’s tour by bicycle

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:56:58 +0000

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Unique cycling opportunities in ROC

Julie — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:01:01 +0000

Here are a few things that have come across my email lately:

Flour City Invitational Bicycle Polo, August. 27-29. Go here for the schedule. Most events happen tomorrow, August 28.

World Canals Conference Flotilla Bicycle Ride, September 19. Bicycle along the Erie Canal alongside a flotilla of boats to kick off the World Canals Conference happening right here in Rochester.

MCC Ride for Scholarships, September 25. This one requires pre-registration, and is a fundraiser for scholarships to Monroe Community College students in need. Only $18, plus a free t-shirt. Route is a pleasant 15-mile tour of MCC’s campuses and facilities around the area, and is largely on trails (map is available for download at the website). I’m helping out with this one, so I’ll definitely be there! (I wrote about the previous ride here.)

Not only that, but the Rochester Master Bike Plan is also moving along! Go to the website to review and leave comments.

City government says they’re aiming for full “Bicycle Friendly Community” status from the League of American Bicyclists (we got honorable mention for 2009). I’d say we’re getting there!

Oven Fresh

Ethan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:11:04 +0000

I’m famous, for a day, on BikeRumor.

Reading The Stand again…

Jason Crane — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:45:56 +0000

…happy that when the apocalypse comes, I’ll have a head start because I already get around by bicycle.

More bicycle poetry

Jason Crane — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:17:35 +0000

An updated version of my bicycling poem “this two-wheeled life” will appear in the next issue of Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac. I’ll post details here when it comes out, which will likely be in October.

(Safely) Go Around

Ethan — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:51:50 +0000

I made up this song on Lake, near Madison, this morning, while cycling through the wet streets of Albany. I don’t know why I sing so much when I’m riding. Usually I do so with this almost cheesy, shower voice, like a big, slow Sinatra. Anyway.

You – can pass me – if you want to
You – can just go – around
I don’t – appreciate – being followed
So please, just safely go around

My next bike

Jason Crane — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:11:49 +0000

Poet Alan Casline rides the sardine bike in Belfast, Maine. Photo by Mark O’Brien.

Click for Super Sardine Size!

Rickshaw Performance Tweed

Ethan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:14:25 +0000

Digging these tweed messenger bags from SF. Eighty bucks? Seems like a steal to me.

My favorite sign in Albany

Jason Crane — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:40:55 +0000

I bike past this sign every day on the way to the post office. Today I finally took a photo of it:

All folded up…

Jason Crane — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:37:34 +0000

…and waiting for the bus.

A few random post-NYC cycling thoughts

Jason Crane — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:48:45 +0000

From Crossing The Brooklyn Bridge By Bicycle

After a week riding the Dahon Speed D7, getting back on my Xtracycle today felt like riding a sofa bed. On the one hand, it has the most comfortable seat in the world. The Dahon’s isn’t bad, but the seat on the Packet Boat is like a La-Z-Boy recliner. On the other hand, the Dahon weighs 27.6 lbs and my Xtracycle weighs about 60 lbs. The difference is, shall we say, noticeable. On the other other hand (the “Beeblebrox” hand), the Xtracycle is so stable that it feels like you could take a nap on the Snapdeck and it would keep going on autopilot.
The Dahon performed extremely well during my trip. It fit easily on the bus, unfolded and folded in seconds, handled the Manhattan and Brooklyn streets like a champ, and even did fine on the ridiculously hilly ride I took in State College, PA, over the weekend. Highly recommended.
This was the first time I’ve gone away from home and taken a bike with me (other than when I first moved to Albany and was commuting back and forth to Rochester to see my family). I was pleasantly surprised by just how darn useful the bike was the whole time I was in NYC. I went to a jazz show on my bike, ran errands, conducted interviews, got from one transportation mode to another — all by bike.

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge by bicycle

Jason Crane — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:00:24 +0000

So. Much. Fun.

I love biking in New York City.

Amsterwhere? Copenwhat?

Jason Crane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:15:56 +0000

Tonight I biked from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to the Village to see jazz drummer Tyshawn Sorey’s New Quartet with John Escreet, Aaron Stewart & Taylor Ho Bynum. The ride was 70% on a dedicated bike path, 25% on bike lanes and 5% on the regular, unlabeled street. Who needs Amsterdam and Copenhagen? (The show was fantastic, too.)

Dublin City TV’s ‘Pedal Project’

Jason Crane — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:22:55 +0000

A three-part documentary series exploring bike- and car-based transportation systems in London and Dublin.

Part 1:

The Pedal Project – Three Cycling Cities (low resolution version) from DCTV on Vimeo.

Part 2:

Two Wheeled City – Pedal Project from DCTV on Vimeo.

Part 3:

One Less Car – Pedal Project from DCTV on Vimeo.

Thanks to Ecological Urban Living for the link.

Riding a bike in Manhattan…

Jason Crane — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:27:37 +0000

…is fun! I know this isn’t news to all my NYC cycling pals, but today was my first real ride that wasn’t just on the river path. The Dahon Speed D7 performed like a champ. I rode it from my house in Albany to the bus departure point across the river, folded it for storage on the bus, then unfolded it in NYC and zipped over to my folks’ place. Fantabulous!

With my mom at my parents' apartment in NYC

No Cars in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Ethan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:35:39 +0000

San Juan, Puerto Rico, is not exactly the sort of place you’d imagine to be in dire need of a facelift and urban renewal. Images of a gorgeous coastline and old colonial architecture come to mind, but guess what? The old part of the city, “the Isleta,” is rife with poor urban planning scars, such as inaccessible beaches due to ports and an excessive reliance on cars. The government has decided to infuse the city with $1.5 billion dollars to re-develop San Juan and, most of all, make it a walking city, with no cars allowed.

More here.

Adding a new bike to the lineup – Dahon Speed D7

Jason Crane — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:43:23 +0000

When I went car-free last month, I knew I would need one more bicycle to make my business travel and personal travel car-free — a folding bicycle. RocBike contributor Jack Spula has always seemed very happy with his Dahon, and as far as I know, they’re one of the big names in folding bikes.

So today I went to CK Cycles in Albany, NY, and picked up a Dahon Speed D7. Here are photos of the bike folded up (on my Xtracycle) and unfolded:

From My new Dahon Speed D7

One question: My Xtracycle is named The Packet Boat. What should I call this bike, The Dinghy?

Instant Karma on Two Wheels

Ethan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:20:56 +0000

Today I was riding home on Pearl Street, like I do every day these days. One of the things that frustrates me as a pedestrian on Pearl Street is that drivers do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks. Even though they put those big dayglo signs up, drivers don’t stop. Even a big black SUV with the Mayor in the passenger seat does not stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk. So today I was riding The Watson home from work and I stopped for two pedestrians in a crosswalk. One of them said to me, “thank you.” I smiled and said “sure.”

(Side note: you are not isolated or cut off from the rest of the human race when you are on a bicycle. You can talk to people, instead of trying to run them over. Let’s get back to humanity, eh?)

I was proud of myself for stopping the line of cars behind me to let two hardworking people cross the street. And then I rode on.

Later, on Hackett, I saw a car stopped at an intersection. Cars in this area often stop IN the crosswalk, blocking the whole thing. Pretty sure this is illegal but it isn’t enforced. I usually go around behind them and ring my bell. Well today, the car stopped in the crosswalk saw me coming, put his car in reverse, and backed out of the crosswalk before I got there. I was astounded by his act of humility and courtesy. He had his window down, and I called out “thank you” as I passed.

Have any similar stories?

Going car-free (an update)

Jason Crane — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:37:43 +0000

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

Three weeks and one day ago, I went truck-free. So far it’s been fantastic. Often very, very hot, but a lot of fun. Given my job with the New York Bicycling Coalition, I enjoy being the only person who shows up at meetings on a bike. (To be fair, there are occasionally others, but not often.) Here, in no particular order, are a few things I’ve observed since ditching the truck:

People offer me rides quite frequently. Always with the best intentions, of course. I say “no” almost every time, the one exception coming last night when a friend took me to Saratoga Springs for a poetry reading. It’s not particularly easy to get there any other way. It’s about 40 miles, and the reading doesn’t usually finish until after 9 p.m. There’s a train that will get me there, but not one that will get me back.
Many people think I don’t have a car because I’m poor. I find myself explaining fairly often that yes, I’m poor, but that donating my car to the local classical station was an intentional and happy decision.
It’s contagious. A friend contacted me this week to say that he’s spending some car-free time while the rest of his family and the car are away on vacation. He said he’d been reading about my experience and wanted to give it a shot, so he’s using his bike and mass transit. Cool, right?

From 100724 Around Albany & Poets In The Park

I don’t have to add nearly as much travel time as I might have expected. I tend to be someone who gets everywhere early, no matter how I’m traveling. I’ve been biking for several years now, so I don’t know why I thought everything would take so much longer. Sure, I need extra time on some trips, but more than once I’ve left one location by bike and arrived before friends who were making the same trip by car. And trust me, I don’t ride fast.
I’ve become smarter about planning trips. My friend and fellow cyclist Bob Anderson mentioned that as one of the benefits he noticed when he gave up the car, and it’s certainly proven true for me. I make lists of what I need based on where it is and then try to do a bunch of things in one trip. That’s certainly made easier by The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle) because it allows me to carry so much.

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

I spend less money on crap. I’m not out in my car, swinging through drive-through windows and ordering bad food. It’s funny how much easier it is to find time to eat well when I don’t drive.
I walk more. Yup, one thing about ditching the car is that I often choose to just walk places, which is also a lovely way to get around a city.

The verdict? I’m so happy I made the leap. Give it a try yourself — even if you start small, which is fine — and let me know how it goes.

Quiet

Jason Crane — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:32:27 +0000

When I ride my bicycle, it’s often so quiet that I can hear the traffic signals change. The boxes make an audible metallic click as the lights change from yellow to red or from red to green.

Agressive mini golf + cycling = FAIL

Jason Crane — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:39:53 +0000

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The Fully Weaponized Waffle Bike

Jason Crane — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:51:18 +0000

You’re welcome.

Book Review: The Lost Cyclist

Jason Crane — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:18:09 +0000

An interesting true story about two attempts to circle the globe (or at least the land masses on the globe) by bicycle. The second attempt ends in the disappearance of the cyclist, so the cyclist from the first attempt sets out to find out what happened. This all takes place in the 1890s as the modern bicycle is coming into its own. The book is a bit slow, but the details are very interesting and the picture it paints of that era is fascinating. By David Herlihy, the author of the excellent Bicycle: The History.

My Xtracycle just got updated

Jason Crane — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:02:48 +0000

Click for a larger version

Xtracycle just introduced its 2010 Freeloader bags. In addition to looking better than the original bags that I had on The Packet Boat, they also have a waterproof inner pocket, which the old Freeloaders lacked. Now that I’m car free and using my bike to get the mail for myself and my employer every day, having some waterproof storage on my bike is important.

Here’s a slideshow of the new bags. The first few photos were taken last night in my apartment after I installed the bags. Then there are photos from today in Albany of the bike empty and loaded.

Sadly, the fully-loaded shots are from a big-box store (Target) because it’s apparently much easier to buy pot than to buy a sauce pot inside the city limits. So I waited until I had a long list of housewares to buy then trucked out Central Avenue, easily the worst street to bike on in Albany. All it’s lacking are snipers on the rooftops shooting at the cyclists. Or maybe neck-high blades that whip across the street at random intervals.

I also stopped to get furikake at the Asian Supermarket at 1245 Central Ave. Wow. I could live there. Highly recommended.

Anyway, here are the pics:

Sketchy

Jason Crane — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:38:02 +0000

My friend Carolee Sherwood did this sketch of me on her iPad:

Click for a larger version

NOTE TO CHILDREN: Please do not try riding your bike and playing the saxophone at the same time. I am a trained professional.

Touring (bluegrass-style) on an Xtracycle

Jason Crane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:18:07 +0000

Steel Wheel Duo Spokesongs Tour from Joel Landis on Vimeo.

A cycling first, or, “Get your hand out of my bag!”

Jason Crane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:49:29 +0000

The other evening I was hanging out at Justin’s, a restaurant in Albany that serves good food and is home to many local and national jazz artists. It’s also one of the places my poet friends go after readings.

So there I was with two of those poet friends. We’ll call them Sharon Olds and Anne Sexton to protect their identities. There’s no bike parking at Justin’s or anywhere near it, so I locked my bike, as I always do, to the fence you see on the left side of this photograph:

Photo © Justin’s

We sat inside. I had my back to the window, but Sharon and Anne were on the opposite side of the table looking out the window. As we chatted, Sharon looked out the window and said, “I think someone is touching your bike.”

I turned around and sure enough, there was a guy going through the under-seat bag on my Xtracycle. I hopped up from the table and went outside. A second guy was also there and he turned as I came out.

“Is this your bike?” he asked.

“Yes. What exactly are you doing?”

“We were trying to figure out if it belonged to a customer, otherwise we were going to have it removed,” he replied.

“It belongs to me,” I said, maintaining a fair amount of composure despite wanting to clock the guy with my U-lock.

“Well, we didn’t know that,” said the guy going through my bag.

“You do now,” I said. “Maybe next time you should ask around the restaurant first.”

They seemed miffed, if I can use some strong language. So, Justin’s, here’s my advice: Keep your hands out of my stuff. And get a bike rack.

Bike Theft Season

Ethan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:24:27 +0000

Looks like Bike Theft Season has started. (Apparently the Albany Bicycle Coalition deleted the article I wrote about locking your bikes. So I’ll just link here, even though I could care less about “bike registry” programs.) Lock your bike.

C’mon, Pee Wee Herman!

Ethan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:19:03 +0000

Last night I was riding to Kickball. (We play every Monday night in Hoffman Park. 6:30. Free.) I’m stopped at the red light on Whitehall, crossing Delaware. There are cars in front of my and behind me. When the light turns green I start moving. Someone behind me starts yelling, “C’mon Pee Wee Herman!”

As usual, I don’t understand these sort of exclamations. I am moving, and I don’t look anything like Pee Wee Herman. Whatever are you screaming about?

Through the intersection we go, him screaming at me the whole way. I do my best to remain calm. He passes me, roaring the engine of his big white SUV. As they go by he calls out “Let’s go Pee Wee Herman!” And the young boy in the back seat is also heckling me. I am saddened that young boys are no longer riding bikes, but mistreating people who riding bikes. It’s like an important part of childhood has been slain by the Great White SUV.

But I let them go. Because I do. But if you’re familiar with Second St over there, you know the red lights can back up traffic. So a block or two later, the offensive SUV is stopped. I do something I normally don’t do. I pass them on the right. I ring my bell as I zip by, and I pass everyone in front of them. I don’t see them again.

What weird things have people called out to you?

Why? ‘Cause you never know (with apologies to Chris Rock)

Jason Crane — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:28:47 +0000

Xtracycle … because you never know when you might leave home empty-handed and come back with a ladder.

Thank You

Ethan — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:36:33 +0000

The other day, I think this would’ve been Tuesday, I had something of an other-worldly experience.

I was out walking, which I do on occasion. I saw a cyclist headed out on New Scotland, riding with traffic, and wearing a helmet. I don’t see that often, so I was a bit shocked. A moment later, another cyclist came up New Scotland in the opposite direction. He was also riding with traffic and wearing a helmet. A few blocks up I saw a cyclist headed West on New Scotland. He had a bright, blinking headlight and a helmet. He was on the left side of the lane, stopped, signaling to make a left turn. Cars in both directions had stopped to let him go. It was stunning. It was beautiful.

So I want to say thank you to all of the cyclists who do NOT ride like jackasses.

Testing the rain gear … for real this time

Jason Crane — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:53:44 +0000

My post office box and that of my employer are at a post office a couple miles from my house. The rain was pouring down (and still is), so I decided this would a perfect time to test my new rain gear.

Here’s the pre-ride photo:

Too cool to deal with, right?

I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts under my rain cape and rain pants, along with a pair of Keen sandals, a Walz cap and my helmet. I don’t own a helmet cover, although I may decide to get one.

Anyway, I cruised through the rain on The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle) with no trouble. The cape kept me relatively cool underneath as well as dry, and the pants did the same. Here’s the post-ride photo:

This, by the way, is the cover for the September issue of the Bicycling Magazine Doofuses Of The Road special issue.

And here’s the shirt I was wearing:

Thar he blows!

It’s a bit wet around the collar because I didn’t cinch the collar strap. And the wet spot near my stomach is from the cape brushing against me as I hung it up to dry, not from the rain getting through. My shorts were also dry.

Again, here are the links to the cape and the pants at bicycleclothing.com.

Bicycles Are So Last Year

Ethan — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:17:42 +0000

Have you noticed the huge, and seemingly sudden, rise in scooters and mopeds? Wow. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought bikes were finally making it into the mainstream. Now it seems like the fad has passed and everyone is riding around on this loud, cartoon motorcycles.

Ode to a bike

Jason Crane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:25:04 +0000

Bob's bike on a trip to Washington, D.C. (Photo by Bob Anderson)

Occasional RocBike contributor and Albany cycling activist Bob Anderson was hit by a car a few days ago. Thankfully, he’s OK — a bit battered, but nothing broken. His bike, on the other hand, which he built up himself, didn’t fare so well. Here is Bob’s post on the Times Union bike blog about his bike and about a whole lot more:

“It IS About The Bike”

Good book

Jason Crane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:44:54 +0000

I just read this again:

In my opinion, this is a brilliant book about smart urban cycling. Not dogmatic, extremely practical and fun. Highly recommended.

p.s. — Here’s what I wrote the first time I read it.

p.p.s. — And here’s what Julie wrote that inspired me to read it in the first place.

Wash Your Bike

Ethan — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:13:16 +0000

This afternoon, after a ride to Washington Park, I washed my bike. I don’t feel like my washing process is particularly sophisticated. I use dish soap and hot water, and a rag. I am always amazed at how filthy a bike can get in a few weeks. Not just the fenders, but spokes, brakes, and the rear quick release. Ew, gross.

While washing my bike I wondered if something like this would make a good fundraiser. You always see kids holding up signs that say “car wash” (usually in barely legible neon letters) trying to raise money for their sports teams. Would a “bike wash” make any money?

The New York Times discovers cargo bikes

Jason Crane — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:28:41 +0000

I guess they’re real now…

George Bliss aboard his trike. (Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)

The story and the accompanying video are here:

Hauling Cargo, No Car Necessary

New tires

Jason Crane — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:05:05 +0000

I went car-free on Wednesday. My back tire went kablooie on Friday. My front tire went kablooie just now. However, they had thousands of miles on them and now I have two new tires. Total cost? Less than $100. WIN!

Bike Snob NYC defines American “cycle chic”

Jason Crane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:36:58 +0000

From today’s post:

[T]o some extent, the American interpretation of “chic” cycling is buying a whole bunch of stuff in order to ride a bike so that you can look like you don’t ride a bike.

Goodbye, little red truck (updated)

Jason Crane — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:29:33 +0000

This morning, I donated my truck to WMHT-FM, the local classical music station.

I spent a lot of time deciding whether now was the time to be car-free.

Arguments in favor:

I’m the executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition.
I work from home.
I live in downtown Albany, close to everything.
I want to be car-free, with all that implies for the environment, my physical health, mental health and finances.
BP, Iraq, the Middle East, global warming, etc. etc. etc.

Arguments against:

I sometimes have to travel across New York State for work.
My wife and kids are temporarily living in a different state.

When I balanced it all out, the outcome was to donate the truck and go car-free. I can travel across the state by train, and with a folding bike I can move around when I get there. (Of course, that means I need a folding bike, but that’s not a large expense, even on my austerity budget.)

As for visiting Jen, Bernie and John, that’s a bit harder because they’re in an out-of-the-way part of Pennsylvania. However, there are mass-transit ways to get there (Greyhound, Amtrak and other bus services). And I can rent a car. And they can visit me using our family’s other car, which is with them in PA.

I’ve lived without a car before. I didn’t have one either time I lived in Japan, and I didn’t use one when we lived in Brooklyn. Of course, those places have much stronger mass transit systems than Albany, but Albany’s isn’t bad. But I was still surprised by just how uncertain I felt as the tow truck pulled away. I’m so conditioned to believe that it’s only possible to live in the USA with a car. And that’s despite my immersion in the cycling world and my general political and environmental beliefs.

And that may be the strongest argument in favor of making the break with my automotive life. This is a time of reinvention and bold moves, a time in my life that calls for change and decisive action.

So here I am at the beginning of a new experience. Wish me luck, and I’ll see you out there!

UPDATE: A few more things about the truck:

It was a gift from my parents, who no longer needed it when they moved from the countryside in upstate New York to Manhattan. Like many gifts, particularly from my family, it came exactly when it was needed.

As you’ll see in the comments my mom made to this post, the red truck has been around for a long time. Since 1997, in fact. It’s hauled its share of wood and done its share of service, a story I tried to tell in a poem called “Red Truck Elegy.”

I like to think that the red truck is going out on top. In the past few weeks it has been called into action at a difficult time and it made that time less trying. And now it will go toward keeping art alive in this little corner of the world. All in all, not a bad existence for a truck.

Let’s go to the movies

Jason Crane — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:04:08 +0000

Bike Snob NYC’s post today had a slew of great videos today. You should go read his post. To make things easy for the RocBike family, though, here are my favorites:

Actor John Leguizamo saves the world:

A rap video about putting your bike on a bus in Louisville, KY:

Auto-tuned cheese from Montreal about their bike-sharing program:

And here’s one starring NYBC board member Claire Nolan (not featured on BSNYC’s site):

I’ve thought about it a lot, and tomorrow…

Jason Crane — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:22:50 +0000

…I’m going car-free. (Or, to be technically correct, truck-free.)

Details to follow. Much like the promised details of the sheriff story.

A new poem about cycling

Jason Crane — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:16:53 +0000

I’ve posted a new poem about bicycling called “this two-wheeled life” over at jasoncrane.org. Enjoy!

Kay Ryan on community colleges and bicycles

Jason Crane — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:05:11 +0000

“I simply want to celebrate the fact that right near your home, year in and year out, a community college is quietly — and with very little financial encouragement — saving lives and minds. I can’t think of a more efficient, hopeful or egalitarian machine, expect perhaps the bicycle.” Kay Ryan, U.S. Poet Laureate, quoted in Boneshaker, Issue 42-400.

More random thoughts in re Erie

Jack — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:38:11 +0000

I’ve often been accused of (and sometimes happily pled guilty to) being a Great Lakes bioregional chauvinist. But you still can take my word for it that the north shore of Lake Erie is one of the best chunks of creation, and one of the most pleasant parts of the “sweetwater seas.” And this is especially when you get out in the more remote stretches of road and beach – far from Fort Erie/Buffalo on one end and Windsor/Detroit on the other.

Note the precedence of the Canadian place names in the above. That’s only fair, since all of Erie’s N shore is within Canada, and also because I think that country as well as the Province of Ontario have generally done better by the lake than has the US, which peppered the S shore with more industry and fewer public parks than the lakeshore deserves. Of course, the US side is dominated by an industrial history long as your brawny arm: steel, autos, chemicals, alloys, you name it, in metro areas from Buffalo to Erie, Pa., to Cleveland and Sandusky and Toledo. By contrast, the Ontario shore is a string of small port communities, including Port Colborne at the S end on the Welland Canal, Nanticoke (home to that humongous coal-fired power plant that’s now pumping ozone our way during the heat wave), and Leamington (tomato capital of Canada, and just about the southernmost point of that eminently boreal nation).

Try Long Point Provincial Park when you get the time; it also could be justly be called Long Beach: a truly impressive stretch of bright sand littered with just enough driftwood to be decorative, and something resembling real surf when the wind’s up, as it generally is. The day we were there was refreshingly chilly at waterside; I spent an hour snoozing under some weather-stunted trees that provided just enough shade to keep me from getting cooked under the strong sun. I was a wimp about getting all the way into the cold water – what happened to shallow Lake Erie’s reputation for warming up quickly? Must have been one of those wave-driven temperature inversions.

The region’s got history and social issues, too: my obsessions, in other words, the stuff that always keeps me from having an unalloyed good time. But anyway: legendary liberal Keynesian economist John Kenneth Galbraith grew up in Iona Center, an Essex County hamlet just a stone’s throw from our route. And today, the excesses of globalized capitalism that JKG warned of (and that his son Jamie, of the U of Texas, warns of even more strongly and radically today) have brought many no-doubt-underpaid Latin American workers to the greenhouses that now provide Canada with cheap tomatoes and flowers, etc. Turns out Leamington, a lot closer to post-industrial Detroit that Iona Center ON in more ways than one, has Canada’s highest density of Latinos; we saw many obviously low-income workers getting around the rural roads and village streets by bike. We should have connected more directly with them in a gesture of solidarity, I suppose. But we were perhaps too fixated on heading west for the start of the Social Forum. Such are the contradictions…

“The Basics” of Commuting from EcoVelo

Ethan — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:34:11 +0000

I have not been very good about blogging, and this is hardly a post anyway, but it’s good. EcoVelo posts his list of what you need to start commuting by bicycle. I’d say it’s pretty solid. Of particular note: lights. The other night I saw (and I use the word loosely) three young ladies on bikes, at night, with no lights.

Ode (and owed) to Detroit

Jack — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:12:54 +0000

July 1, Canada Day – the beginning of the crossborder holiday madness, what with July 4 in the offing stateside. Liz and I and our friends in Waterloo ON are headed for Niagara Falls this morning for a picnic and a farewell as the two of us bike somewhere over the Rainbow Bridge toward the Land of Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace. But it will be good to get home again after two weeks on the road.

My mind is still back in Detroit. Somehow I got more out of the Tent City experience there of solidarity amidst the urban decay-slash-renaissance. Official Detroit is American capitalism writ small – and the smallness is moral as well as geographical. The city has been left to Smith’s invisible hand pretty much, though I’m persuaded after my Michigan visit that, just as Joe Stiglitz says, the hand isn’t invisible, it’s not there at all. The “surplus populations” of the US are being left to rot, and you can see real live human evidence of this every morning, afternoon and night along Woodward and other downtown Detroit arterials.

Case in point: We were having breakfast in a greasy spoon one morning when a woman came by, obviously mentally ill, and took off practically all her clothes, uttered some curses to persons unseen, dressed herself again and went about picking up litter along the sidewalk. When a crew from the restaurant pushed a loaded coffee cart out the front door, probably heading to some catering gig, the woman approached them. In a short drama we watched from inside the place, a drama that obviously has gone through many rehearsals, the guy pushing the cart drove the woman away by spritzing her on the face with what I hope was only water. In a civilized country, women in such distress get real social services that keep them from being “refreshed” in such a manner. Maybe our nation will someday be civilized. But the way things are going, don’t hold your breath (or do hold your breath as you get spritzed politically).

In my next post – after I can mentally break away from the contradictions and conundrums of Detroit – I’ll jump to our biking experience in Southwestern Ontario, specifically the route from Sarnia to Stratford and beyond.

Have I mentioned the sheriff who pulled me over?

Jason Crane — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:13:59 +0000

No? Stay tuned. The story involves:

An Xtracycle
Woods
A closed road
The aforementioned sheriff

You’re on the edge of your seat, aren’t you?

The easiest way to pass Traffic Skills 101…

Jason Crane — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:10:39 +0000

…is to do the tests on the back of an Xtracycle while someone else pedals! Here I am giving a ride to Chris, one of my classmates:

(Don’t tell the League of American Bicyclists, OK?)

Hoping for rain

Jason Crane — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:02:21 +0000

I’m heading to Voorheesville, NY, today for a poetry reading. It looks like it may rain, which is exciting. Why? Because for Father’s Day this year, my parents got me rain gear. I’ve never had any actual rain gear, which means one of two things has always happened to me when it’s rained, either:

I got wet.
I didn’t ride.

So today I’m hoping for rain. And in case you’re interested, I’ve got this rain cape and these rain pants. I’ll review them if it actually rains.

A review of Bike Snob, the new book by Bike Snob NYC

Jason Crane — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:28:47 +0000

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Bike Snob NYC, the bicycling blogger who regularly skewers that which needs to be skewered and celebrates both the beauty and the absurdity of riding a bicycle.

In recent years, it’s become fairly common for bloggers to publish books, often just slightly modified collections of their blog posts, apparently under the assumption that folks would like to carry the World Wide Web around with them in physical form. Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling is something different. And much, much better.

First and foremost, the book tells us what we already suspected: At heart, BSNYC loves, loves, loves cycling. All his potshots and sideswipes and finger-bang-highlighting-posts are nothing more than a long love letter to the bicycle as a vehicle and to bicycling as an activity.

This is actually a book, not just a hard copy of BSNYC’s blog. It flows, it’s beautiful to look at, and every page sings with the joy of riding a bicycle. From a practical point of view, Bike Snob contains possibly the best commentary I’ve read on the perceived-versus-real danger of cycling, and it also contains one of the most intelligent sections on helmets that I’ve read.

Riding my bike reminds me why I love to ride my bike. Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling reminds me why it’s important to keep that love alive.

NOTE: I interviewed BSNYC a few years ago. You can listen to that interview here.

Reflections on Lake Erie

Jack — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:05:44 +0000

Walt Whitman famously wrote of “Blue Ontario’s shore” and just as famously never saw that lake outside of his endlessly colorful imagination – but by the goddess, he should have been biking with us along true-blue Erie’s shore. I’ve never seen the second smallest (in surface area) of the Great Lakes in better hue. It’s a testament to the success of the clean-water laws and programs that were inspired by Lake Erie’s moribund condition forty years ago (some say it was actually dead, except for algae, etc.) and sideshows like the combustion of one of the lake’s most infamous tributaries, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland.

It’s not just the blue water, though, that makes for beauty. The shoreline between Fort Erie and Point Pelee is verdant, slightly rolling (unlike the back country here, which is quite flat), and festooned with new wineries, apparently prosperous small farms, and patches of hardwoods. hardwoods, including deep-rooted old oaks, were taken down by microbursts and tornadoes recently; the towns around Leamington are still dealing with cleanup, and it’s remarkable how selective the wild winds were: you’ll see a few acres of trees devastated, and acreage nearby almost untouched – hardly a twig torn off.

There are far too many lakeside cottages cluttering up the fringes of beach, but still enough openings to preserve the viewscape, that sometimes underappreciated part of the public domain. Speaking of views, Ontario and regional municipalities here have been installing wind farms at a rapid pace. Parts of the region reminded me on northern Germany, with white-shafted and _bladed windmills dominating the skyline. They look a lot better here than they do, say, in the hilly Southern Tier (NYS) town of Cohocton, where they seem like vertical insults on the ridgelines, and banks of intrusive red warning lights at night. (You might have guessed my support for wind development is qualified.)

One thing’s beyond debate: the Ontario windmills should presage the long-awaited shutdown of coal-fired electric plants like the one at Nanticoke, a major source of ground-level ozone, etc., that plagues a wide swath of points east, including Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, and the rural areas between. I seem to recall that Toronto now gets more than 100 ozone alert days per year, thanks not just to Nanticoke, but to other obsolete, poisonous coal plants like Huntley in Tonawanda and the Dunkirk plant on Erie’s south shore. So the US is doing its part, too!

Nanticoke is also ugly as sin. What a contrast it makes with so many other features of the north shore.

Next post: I’ll finally get to the US Social Forum and its biking connections – not to mention the eminently bikeable city of Detroit and its eco-transportation potential.

-Jack

Biking is hot!

Julie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:08:02 +0000

(Cross posted at sewgreen These tips may be obvious for experienced bike commuters, which probably describes many Rocbike readers, but I thought I’d share for any newbies reading!)

In more ways than one! I don’t know how it is in your community, but around here, cycling as a form of tranportation is finally getting some press. First, the Secretary of Transportation, a Washington, D.C. cyclist himself, talked about the importance of cycling infrastructure on National Public Radio. Locally, my city (Rochester, New York) has been listed as one of the top 50 U.S. cities for bicycling by Bicycling magazine. Okay, granted, it’s number 50, but we still made the list! Finally, Rochester is also working on a bicycling master plan.

And, with the rise in gas prices and the recent tragedy of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many people are turning to cycling as transportation to minimize the use of fossil fuels.

Well, there is a definite need for public policy advocacy in terms of the issues surrounding the oil spill, but that’s a topic for many other blogs. I thought I would address one of the perceived barriers for people who would like to commute to work by bike: what to wear.

Specifically, I have found I really have to have a system for what to wear on the bike, and what to wear once I get to work. Some people have jobs where dress is not an issue, and others are comfortable wearing business attire while biking. That’s not the case for me, though.

First of all, like I said, biking is hot! Even when it’s relatively cool outside and I’m going a short distance, I sweat. So, for the ride, I wear comfortable clothing. It doesn’t have to be bright neon lycra and spandex, but light-colored clothing is helpful in terms of visibility. Generally, I wear what I would wear for a walk, except that I pretend the temperature is about 15-20 degrees (Fahrenheit) higher than it actually is, and dress accordingly. (I tend to get warm very quickly; your internal thermostat may vary.)

I carry lunch, clothing, and anything else I need for the day in 2 rear panniers on my bike. I recommend ones that are waterproof, as you never know when a downpour might come. (I’m looking out the window at one right now and hoping that it stops before I have to bike home!) Two panniers are better than one if you carry much of a load at all, as they allow you to evenly distribute the weight.

I find it fairly easy to towel off at work and change into my work clothes. After many times of forgetting some essential piece of clothing, I keep the following in a filing cabinet at work: black shoes, a simple black top, black jacket, bra, and pantyhose. (Black goes with everything!) I also keep a pack towel (found in the camping section of stores, this is a very thin towel that dries quickly), deodorant, and hair product.

Speaking of hair, I’m an au naturel kinda gal, so hair and make-up is mostly a non-issue for me. My hair is extremely short, but I actually do still get helmet head. My solution for that is a cycling cap worn under my helmet. That helps capture some of the sweat and eliminates the indentations in my hair, which really wouldn’t add much to my professional credibility.

As a case in point, yesterday, I biked to my first meeting of the day, at another campus of the college where I work than the one in which my office is located. I have biked there several times, and I have a favorite bike rack and big bathroom where it’s easy to change. I got there, grabbed one of my panniers with my clothing in it, and changed for my meeting. I should have gotten there a bit earlier, as it was a muggy day and frankly I was still bright red when I got to the meeting. Fortunately it was a fairly casual group whom I know pretty well. I try to have about 10-15 minutes of cooling-down time before my meetings on hot days, but I just didn’t have the timing right yesterday!

My next meeting was at a university down the road/bike trail. I changed back into my biking clothes. I could be casual at this meeting, so I just changed into a clean and non-sweaty top for that meeting. Then I headed to my office, and followed my usual routine.

It took some planning, but by 11:30 that morning I had biked over 10 miles, just going about my business. All of these trips only took 5 minutes more (at most) than it would have to drive, and I got some exercise to boot.

Today, my partner gave my bike and me a ride to work (we do have a car; we just try to minimize driving as much as possible) because I was doing a video and didn’t have time for the cooling down time. At the end of the day, I grabbed the pannier with my bike clothes in it, changed, and headed home. First, though, I did a 30-minute fast ride along the trail to get my aerobic workout in. Then I headed over to the neighborhood farmers’ market. And finally I made it home.

Yes, commuting by bike takes some planning, but once you get in the routine, it’s much more carefree than driving, dealing with traffic, and circling for parking spaces.

Share your tips and/or questions about bike commuting in the comments!

he Erie Canal, Buffalo, Ontario; 1st instalment

Jack — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:17:37 +0000

I was so busy sweating and churning (aka pedaling) that I neglected to report daily or even weekly on our BikeIt group’s westward progress. But here it is in a bunch of nutshells.
If you haven’t ridden the canal trail from Rochester to Lockport, do it asap. 70 miles of absolute flat – not even a lock to break up the elevation – but great for cruising, unless you hit a big headwind. (Way out west they call the wind Mariah; in Western New York, we call it lots of other names, unless it’s at our back.) The group had a couple flats, but generally it was an easy go. I bypassed the beautiful, historic Lockport high locks, but after 70 miles I was ready to get to pt. B as fast as possible. We took Bear Ridge Rd. down to Tonawanda Ck. Rd. N., where I checked out my Uncle Ed and Aunt Eleanor’s old place (childhood memories aplenty) and told Liz a bit of family lore as we rode. Then came the Buffalo Riverwalk, starting in the city of Tonawanda – about 12 miles along the great Niagara River (some call it a strait, but never mind) to the Queen City. The next day we crossed the Peace Bridge with minimal bureaucratic delay, then found the lakeside trail that leads west from Fort Erie – natural bliss again, though I have to emphasize my love for Buffalo and its bikeability.
More later…

DETROIT REPORT, PART ONE

Jack — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:03:13 +0000

Here I am a at usual destination on a Spula-style bike-trip: a bar. Yes, sipping a pint of local pale ale lubricates the blogging process better than teflon oil does a drivetrain. The bar, as luck would have it, is around the corner from the BiketIt tent city, and folks here are very positive about the Social Forum, and attitude not universally reflected in the local media (the ironically-named Detroit Free Press recently published an extended insult by some local columnist, who referred to, among other things, the aromatic quality of Social Forum participants – and he wasn’t talking about Chanel No. 5. But the low-income neighbors here off Woodward, the main arterial, are more welcoming; I’ve had several good conversations at the fence with folks who are trying to weather the economic storms that have hit southern Michigan especially hard. Today is check-in day the Forum itself – I realize now I don’t have the right armband to get back into Tent City tonight – so I gotta rush down to the extravagantly capacious Cobo Center and get my credentials. The tent city is definitely a work in progress: showers going in (solar, of course), more tents going up on plots reclaimed by mulch infill. Quite a project – and even the Detroit MSM are taking notice! More later, Rocbikers… The Forum officially kicks off in an hour or so, and I’ve still gotta find a shower and a clean shirt.
-Jack, from Motor City

Take Action — Help pass New York State’s ‘Complete Streets’ Bill

Jason Crane — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:28:13 +0000

A message from the New York State Bicycling Coalition and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign:

(June 21, 2010) — In Albany, bicycling advocates are working overtime to help assure the passage of a Complete Streets law—sweeping legislation that will create more livable, bikeable and walkable communities across the state. This proposed law would direct the state Department of Transportation to consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the planning and development of state, county, and local roads and other transportation facilities. NYBC is working closing with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, AARP and other groups to get this legislation passed.

On June 17, the Senate passed the bill 53-3. Unfortunately, Assemblyman David Gantt of Rochester has amended the Assembly version of the bill in a way that would render the legislation useless in its impact.

The only way to get this process back on track is if we can get bicycling advocates — particularly those in Rochester, where Assembly Gantt is based — to make their voices heard!

Visit NYBC’s Take Action! page to learn how you can help secure the passage of this bill.

Low bridge, everybody pedal.

Jack — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:55:10 +0000

That’s the updated version of the old Erie Canal song text: today most of the traffic is bikers, walkers, etc. on the towpath. And among the bikers yesterday was our stalwart BikeIt crew, headed to Buffalo via Lockport (and soon on to Detroit). It was great getting to know this energetic crew from Ithaca, Binghamton, and other Upstate locales – though as usual, I’ve been slow in learning everybody’s name. There are old folks like me, a couple of pre-teens, and a large group in between, and different levels of experience on a bike, to match. We did get strung our along the 90-mile route we chose (I mean strung out geographically, not emotionally), but the ride, under the capable facilitatorship of Claire Stoscheck, kept together pretty well. Luckily, the infamous west wind, which of ten makes the westernportion of the canal trail a challenge if you’re going in the “wrong” direction, was gentle yesterday, though the sun was strong. I was hoping to see much wildlife, but not a single water snake or migrating snapping turtle crosse my path. Nary a heron – but lots on Canada geese – and two chipmunks. Maybe other riders had more good fortune in this department. We had pleasant stops, too, for snacks and conversations with support vehicle drivers. Just flat tires – one of them mine. I stopped in Tonawanda at Dick’s bike shop (not to be confused with megastore of similar name) and got a replacement tire before the next flat could arrive. Lesson to all- make sure your wheels and tires are in mint condition before you leave on a 400-miler. Well, more later… We’re working with the Massachusetts Ave. Project in the city of Buffalo today (check them out online), then off to the Peace Bridge and beyond tomorrow. Here I can take the opportunity, too, to thank my brother Richard, who lives very strategically near the bridge entrance – great to be cloase to family members (emotionally as well as geographically)!

Boneshaker

Ethan — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:59:09 +0000

I’ve written about Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac before. This past week I had the pleasure of finishing my second issue. Definitely interested in more.

The Practical Bicyclist’s Handbook, the Basic Field and Street Manual for Utilitarian Riding, features

Farming By Bicycle
Riding in Cleveland and Pittsburgh
Bamboo Bicycles
Bicycles, Women, & The Vintage Posters Bearing Them Both
Two Gears Better Than One
Bicycle Lights
Shame & Guilt On The Commute
and a bunch of other stuff worth reading.

Boneshaker is available from Wolverine Farm Publishing for $6.

Beyond the Motor City

Richard DeSarra — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:23:50 +0000

BEYOND THE MOTOR CITY
A Documentary Film about the past and future of transportation.
June 28, 2010 @ 7:00 pm Free Screening

Presented by the Rochester Regional Community Design Center
and Empire State Future.

The Dryden Theater at the George Eastman House
900 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607

Jack’s back – and almost back in form (he hopes)

Jack — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:45:56 +0000

Dear RocBike and friends: I’ve been away from the site for so long, you must think I was uploaded to a UFO. Well, that’s close; I’ve had some health issues to contend with, but those are now under control pretty much. More to the point, I’ve got an announcement: Liz and I and hopefully thousands of others are biking to Detroit next week in prep for the US Social Forum to be held there the following week. Liz and I will be joining a group that’s starting in Ithaca and eventually will be among the proud residents of a massive Bike Tent City in the erstwhile Motor City – and hopefully will be plugged into many an interesting event. I plan to concentrate on – cue the drums, please – bike transportation. Anyway, I’ll also be blogging (and posting to rocbike) as we make our way to Buffalo and across the Ontario Panhandle to Windsor and Detroit and (somehow) back. Hope the posts will be edifying, etc., etc. See y’all online very soon. And check out BikeIt.org as well as the USSF site for details – or maybe you’ve already done so (as I said, I’ve been UFO’ing more than surfing the last months). Take care!
-Jack

Sneakers

Ethan — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:32:09 +0000

The other day I was complimented on my sneakers.

(Too bad we don’t have a “style” category.)

Know when to fold ‘em

Jason Crane — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:27:16 +0000

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive* folding bike?

*When I say inexpensive, I want you to think cheap. And then think even cheaper than that.

NYBC is now on Facebook and Twitter

Jason Crane — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:31:24 +0000

I promise this site is not going to become NYBC central, but I wanted to let you know that the New York Bicycling Coalition is now on Facebook and Twitter. Please “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The links:

Thanks!

NYBC: Day 1

Jason Crane — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:27:06 +0000

Today is my first day as executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. Check out the press release and lots of other cycling information at NYBC.net.

By the way, are you a member of NYBC? Why not join today?

More bicycles and poetry

Jason Crane — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:55:14 +0000

Over at The Best American Poetry blog, Stacey Harwood recounts her rekindled appreciation for the bicycle as transportation..

And on the same blog, Gabrielle Calvocoressi talks about bike racing terminology and the Italian scene.

Why are these posts on a poetry site? Why not?

One more week…

Jason Crane — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:29:00 +0000

…until the new gig!

“The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.” — Christopher Morley

…and everyone else, too!

Rochester Bicycle Master Plan Presentation tonight

Julie — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:29:39 +0000

Be there at 5:30! More information here.

Bike To Work Day

Ethan — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:49:59 +0000

I was photographed and interviewed for a Times Union article, which you can read here.

Team RocBike represents in Albany!

Jason Crane — Sat, 22 May 2010 13:39:04 +0000

Today’s Times Union newspaper contains a great article about Bike To Work day that features not one, but two members of Team RocBike — Ethan Georgi and Bob Anderson. Congrats, guys, and thanks for making riding your bike to work look like a perfectly normal thing to do. Way to go!

Photo of Ethan Georgi by Skip Dickstein / Times Union

Cyclists save by pedaling to work
Wheeling commuters combine savings with health benefits

By TIM O’BRIEN, Staff writer
First published in print: Saturday, May 22, 2010

For Ethan Georgi, every day is Ride Your Bike to Work day.

The Web developer for Zone 5, an Albany public relations firm, rides his bicycle a little over three miles to his job.

“It’s fun to ride a bike instead of sitting in traffic,” he said. “I don’t care about gas prices. I like exploring the city.”

Friday was National Ride Your Bike to Work day, an effort to try to get people to cut down on gas-guzzling cars and take a more leisurely way to get to work. To support the effort, CDTA offered free rides to bicyclists who put their bikes on racks on the buses.

Georgi said he originally began riding to his office two years ago. He used to come home to get out his bike for a ride after work. One day it dawned on him he could combine his commute and his daily exercise.

Read the rest of the article.

Ooooooohhhh. I want one.

Jason Crane — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:32:36 +0000

An Xtracycle canopy. Learn more.

Public Workshop Invitation for Off-Road Bicycling

Richard DeSarra — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:09:41 +0000

Public Workshop Invitation for Off-Road Bicycling

From Larry Staub, Director of County Parks

Help us draft and design a pilot program for
off-road bicycling in Monroe County Parks.

Pilot sites to be located at
Tryon Park and Irondequoit Bay Park West

ALL ARE WELCOME!

MONDAY, MAY 24 at 6:00 pm

Dolomite Lodge (located behind Penfield Town Hall)
3100 Atlantic Avenue, Penfield, NY 14526

Baiku

Jason Crane — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:30:59 +0000

fog on the Normanskill
mist clouds my glasses
two wheels through this May morning

Can I just say…

Jason Crane — Tue, 18 May 2010 02:08:55 +0000

…that in a couple weeks my job is going to involve riding my bike around, talking about bikes and advocating for bikes?

…this is the first time I’ve ever been on television?

(Anybody who can tell me the origin of that second line gets a free jazz CD. Leave your guess in the comments.)

Bike-themed birthday

Julie — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:41:06 +0000

Rather than bicycling as many miles as my age, like I did two years ago, I celebrated with a trip to the Albright Knox Museum and surrounding neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, where I saw the above church sign.

I got this beautiful piece of pottery made by my friend and wonderful artist Vicki Hartman. You should go to her website where you can see a better picture than my dark image.

And the great bumper sticker from my partner, which really says it all. You can buy one yourself at Talking Leaves Books, or online at stickergiant.com.

p.s. When in Buffalo, I always like to stop by Campus WheelWorks bike shop. They had some really great-looking cruisers from Felt which I lusted after from afar.

Culture Shift

Ethan — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:17:23 +0000

Over on EcoVelo, Alan has a really nice little article about thinking about bicycling as more than a sport.

Like most people in the U.S., I spent a good portion of my adult life thinking of bicycling as a sport. Even during a long period when I rode my bicycle to work everyday, I was concerned with things like personal bests, total miles logged, and target heart rates… Somewhere along the way, I went through a mental shift that resulted in my viewing the bicycle primarily as a tool for transportation.

Definitely good stuff.

New gig

Jason Crane — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:46:14 +0000

I’m very excited to announce that, starting June 1, I’ll be the new executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. I’m looking forward to heading out across the state to make New York a better place for cyclists. And I’ll be looking for YOUR help. More to come…

“Road or mountain?”

Jason Crane — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:08:06 +0000

I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and talk turned to my love of bicycling.

“Road or mountain?” the person asked.

“Urban,” I said.

Their reaction was much the same as if I’d said “jello” or “anti-gravity.” The idea of bicycling as something I do to get around, rather than something I need to plan for as a sporting outing, still seems foreign to a lot of people. And, of course, the best way to change that is for me to keep riding around the city. Consider it done.

A wicked awesome Big Dummy video from Japan

Jason Crane — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:40:57 +0000

Love. It.

Rochester Bike Week May 21 – 28, 2010

Richard DeSarra — Mon, 10 May 2010 09:48:54 +0000

Rochester Cycling Alliance : Rochester Bike Week 2010
The Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA) was formed in September, 2009 to advocate for better bicycling infrastructure and a stronger voice for cyclists in Rochester and Monroe County, NY. The calendar of Bike Week events at the RCA site; www.rochestercyclingalliance.org

Too sexy for my Xtracycle

Jason Crane — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:01:14 +0000

Click the image to see a larger version, if you dare.

Left to right: My mom, Sally; my younger son, John; and me on The Packet Boat on the way to watch my older son play baseball.

Capital Coexist / Capital Hate

Ethan — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:08:09 +0000

I am really offended that every time cycling gets into the local news, there is an automatic burst of “get the hell out of the street.”

STOP THE HATE.

Really. Of all the things you could be angry about, like our infantile politicians, you’re angry at people on bicycles?

Bicycle Ads on TV? Finally!

Ethan — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:10:19 +0000

So go watch this. Seriously, I’ll wait.

Nice, huh? I like that it’s not some rich dude in his super hero kit on a carbon fiber bike. It’s not some young punk in cargo shorts on a mountain bike. It’s just fun.

Thank Cog.

A Call to Action – Passing Rule NYS

Richard DeSarra — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:48:38 +0000

The statewide initiative to enact a safe passing law for cyclists is stalled in the state Assembly’s Transportation Committee. We need your help to convince Transportation Committee Chairman David Gantt to allow the bill to move forward.

The bill would require drivers to give cyclists a three-foot buffer when passing. Gantt’s staff maintains we don’t need to enumerate the distance. They say a bill requiring that motorists pass at a “safe distance” would suffice.

But requiring a “safe distance” for passing is too ambiguous and does not provide a clear point of reference for the driving public. The bill emerged last fall after Greenburgh resident Merrill Cassell was sideswiped by a Beeline bus on Route 119 and killed when the bus ran over him.

The bill – A10697 – is patterned after laws in 15 states, which require the three-foot buffer. The latest to enact the three-foot law is Mississippi. Others are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. Similar laws have been proposed in nine other states.

We need to let Gantt know that the cycling community wants the three-foot passing law.

The main purpose of the law is to educate the public about how far is a safe distance to pass bicyclists. Many motorists believe that just avoiding contact with a cyclist is required. Many motorists are unaware of the danger of passing a cyclist too closely. It can result in hitting the cyclist, or startling the cyclist and resulting in a crash to avoid the car.

Law enforcement officials in states where the law is in place say it has been an effective educational tool. It gives officers, government officials and civic groups the opportunity to inform motorists of the safe distance.

You can email Gantt at GanttD@assembly.state.ny.us
You can call his office at 518-455-5606
You can fax a letter to 518-455-5419
You can send a letter to Assemblyman Gantt at
LOB 830
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5606

Thank you for your support.
Richard DeSarra
New York Bicycling Coalition and Rochester Bicycling Club

Transitioning to oil independence–by bike!

Emily Weber — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:52:26 +0000

It’s a rainy day in Rochester, and except for a quick trip to the UU church for services today, I haven’t braved the gray day.

I’m a new contributer, though I’ve been around for a while. I moved to Rochester about 18 months ago and have been riding full time for about a year. I have to say, I love Rochester, and I love seeing more folks out on their bikes again. Winter is a tough time for year-rounders, and I’m happy that spring is finally here.

This past week, I went to a fantastic Earth Day talk about Transition Towns at First Unitarian. Transition Town is a UK movement that has made its way to the US. With an emphasis on eliminating our oil dependency, the movement encourages communities to work together on innovative alternatives to non-reusable energy sources, as well as creating more connected relationships within those communities. The Transition focuses on several areas of sustainability, including food, water, and transport, to inspire communities to come together and create systems that are sustainable and conducive to a healthy environment. It really is an inspiring model, and one that I hope Rochestarians will soon adopt.

To say that this movement relates to cycling communities is a severe understatement. I think that the more we do to encourage bike-friendly community structures and discourage the use of motor vehicles, the better prepared we will be for this pending oil apocalypse. At the very least, eliminating your personal dependence on oil reduces your financial vulnerability to the waves of price hikes and, presumably, gas shortages and/or rationing. I’m very interested in learning more about this movement. And also, I was so happy to see so many groups congregated together to learn more and to share their work with one another. Coalition-building is an important step towards effective change.

I’m so glad to be a part of a small group of folks who believe in the future of bicycles. Whether you use it to commute to work, grab a bite to eat with your best friend, or run out to the grocery store, your bike is a revolutionary tool, and it is creating change each time you hop on. So thanks for riding. And thanks for writing…

Group-bike

Julie — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:26:39 +0000

(This is the Frederick B. Douglass/Susan B. Anthony bridge, over the Genesee River in Rochester, New York.)

I usually don’t cycle in groups; I’m more of a laid-back/commuting/put-the-dog-on-the-bike-and-chill kind of cyclist. But, I’m a sucker for a good cause, and raising money for college scholarships for students in need, as a part of our college’s festivities celebrating the inauguration of our fifth (and first woman) president, Anne M. Kress was a good enough cause for me.

Here is Dr. Kress thanking us and sending us off. She later noted that her spring cardigan wasn’t exactly appropriate for the 40 degree weather. (She is still adjusting to our Northeastern climate after moving here from Florida. Most people move the reverse direction, that’s for sure!)

This is the indomitable Susan, who was the chair of our committee and my compatriot in composting (we worked hard to ensure that all the waste from the day’s luncheon and reception was composted, and that’s another story altogether).

We visited all 4 of the college’s sites, first stopping at the Applied Technology Center. We had a police escort along this section, which is a heavily traveled road. I felt very important! Actually, I was the ride leader, so I really was grateful for the help.

We followed a map developed by Karen and Brian of the Rochester Bicycling Club. Most of the ride took us along many of Rochester’s finest trails.

This is the Public Safety Training Facility, which has a bike trail running right behind it. This was my first time leading a ride, and there were some much stronger cyclists than me on the ride, so right about now I was feeling a bit stressed. So I took off like a bat out of hell after this, and had to be reminded to slow down, since this was supposed to be a fun ride for cyclists of all levels!

Between the Applied Technology Center and this shot, we were on trails the whole time. That’s actually when we passed the bridge shown in the top photo. When we got downtown, they were doing some construction we hadn’t expected, but fortunately we were able to get through. Here’s the campus where I work, right in downtown Rochester.

On the way back, the wind started to get me. I never really thought about the fact that the leader takes all the wind. So, once we were back on the trail and it was just a straight shot, a couple of other people got ahead and I just relaxed for a bit.

And finally, back to the largest campus, just in time to change for the rest of the day’s events!

I tend to find riding in a group a bit stressful, so I’m not quite sure what possessed me to agree to actually lead this ride, other than enthusiasm for the event and my usual not-quite-realistic optimism about life in general. However, this was such a supportive and laid-back group that I really had a wonderful time.

The ride also made me really appreciate the network of trails that we have in this city. The streets still aren’t great, in my view, for cycling, but they’re not awful either. And the trails are just so beautiful. From my neighborhood, I could quite easily bike commute to any of the MCC campuses, to RIT, University of Rochester, St. John Fisher, and Nazareth (and their surrounding areas), much of it on trails.

Although I’m not as familiar with these areas: Irondequoit, Browncroft/Winton neighborhood, and Northeast Rochester, I suspect that it’s not quite as easy to commute, but I know people who do it (include some RocBike readers).

I’m curious to hear what you like and don’t like about bike commuting in Rochester, so let me know in the comments!

Meanwhile, I’m not sure if I’ll be leading a ride again any time soon. But the dog and I will be out on the trails; you can count on that!

“North Greenbush To Albany” – a poem

Jason Crane — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:26:19 +0000

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this here, but my first book of poetry, Unexpected Sunlight, will be out soon from FootHills Publishing. You can read my work at jasoncrane.org.

Here’s a poem I wrote this week based on a bike ride:

“North Greenbush To Albany”

Ten Things To Do While You’re Waiting At At Red Light

Ethan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:31:01 +0000

catch your breath
unzip your wind breaker
make sure the pocket with your keys is zipped closed
check that nothing has fallen off your bike
say “hello” to other cyclists
look at the flowers
look at the clouds and the blue sky
memorize the names of the streets
take a picture
count the drivers talking on cell phones
wait patiently

Burlington Bikeway

Ethan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:05:45 +0000

Easter Sunday I was in Burlington with my family, on the Bikeway. Albany could learn a lot from them.

First, let me say that the waterfront is beautiful. Lots of grass and open space. People having fun. I saw people barefoot in the grass. Would never see this in Albany, where there is broken glass and garbage everywhere, whether it’s paved or not. In Burlington there are things to do on the waterfront, places to eat, places to shop.

I saw every kind of bike on the path. Girls in sun dresses on beach cruisers. Young guys on racing bikes. Kids on mountain bikes. I saw tandems. I saw whole families biking together. People were nice. There was a skate park with skaters and kids on bmx bikes doing tricks. I saw a bike polo game getting started. The only thing I didn’t see was a tall bike.

The bike path is clean and well maintained. There are maps every few miles. I saw things painted on the trail that said “cycle the city.” I could not help but think, this is what biking in Albany could be like.

Friday Morning Baiku (Bike Haiku)

Ethan — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:06:49 +0000

i rode through the park
/ morning sun on dew on grass
/ / things motorists miss

Bike Snob NYC unmasked!

Jason Crane — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:26:19 +0000

The New York Times has revealed the identity of Bike Snob NYC.

You can listen to an interview I did with BSNYC back in November 2007. Can you believe it’s been that long?

Tweed Ride

Ethan — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:24:39 +0000

There’s a really great write up, with lots of lovely pictures, of the latest Tweed Ride in Sacramento over on EcoVelo. I’ve said before that I’d like to do something like this in Albany. I need
a) a nice tweed jacket and
b) people who are interested.

Mid-Day Escapes

Ethan — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:15:30 +0000

As someone who spends all day in front of a computer, I found this article wonderful.

R COMMUNITY BIKES NEEDS DONATIONS

Richard DeSarra — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:44:19 +0000

That bike in the garage or basement has been collecting dust and spider webs for how long? What about the closet or shelf containing all those unused, not needed, parts or accessories? Give it up!

R Community Bikes could recycle that equipment that would benefit those that need new wheels, a bell or horn, cables for brake or derailleur, whatever.

You don’t know about the best bicycle community service organization in the world!
Read on.

R Community Bikes is a grassroots, 501(c)3 organization that collects and repairs used bicycles for distribution, free of charge, to Rochester, NY’s most needy children and adults. Our mission is meeting the basic transportation needs of those in the community who depend on bikes for recreation as well as for transport to work, school, rehabilitation programs, and training sessions. For this segment of the population, both quality of life and the ability to participate in our community are greatly enhanced when our mission is achieved. R Community Bikes also provides a venue for the Rochester bicycling community to conduct educational programs relative to bicycle safety and maintenance.

R Community BikesWe are open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at our warehouse at 226 Hudson Ave. (at the intersection with Woodbury Street). In addition, on Wednesdays in the summer we conduct bike repairs at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality at 402 South Avenue.

We welcome donations of bikes, bike parts, tools and money to cover expenses such as spare parts. We are always in need of volunteers to serve as mechanics and a variety of other positions. We provide the necessary training. http://www.rcommunitybikes.net/

‘I now have a fairly clutter free basement and more room on the shelves to store the latest bicycle gadgets,’ says Richard DeSarra

Thoughts on this morning’s commute

Julie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:33:45 +0000

Wish I could hold the images and sounds from this morning’s ride

The Canada geese honking on the Genesee River

The statue in front of Bausch & Lomb as I turned the corner

St. Mary’s Church to my left

The dead pigeon on the side of the road, only partially flattened

The throng of people at the bus stop at Main and Clinton

Everyone in line for coffee and donuts as I wheel into the building

Funny Video About Commuting Etiquette

Ethan — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:16:50 +0000

Got a lot of laughs out of this, this morning.

We’re looking at some wonderful weather this week. Be nice, ride your bike, ring your bell.

State of the Lane

Ethan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:34:28 +0000

A commuter’s perspective on bike lanes in the city of Albany.

I think this picture pretty much sums it up.

This was taken a few weeks ago on Clinton Ave, headed up hill. This is one of the “new” bike lanes they put down in the fall of last year. The paint is pretty messed up and cars use it like a right turn lane.

The other “new” bike lane they put down, the sharrows on Washington Ave, was covered by snow most of the winter.

I appreciate the new riding spaces. I use them daily. I think Albany could do a lot to make the city more bike friendly by clearing/cleaning the WHOLE street, from curb to curb. If half of the sharrow paint is covered by snow, it’s not helping anyone to have put it there. If the bike lane is filled with broken glasses and potholes, it’s not helping anyone to have put it there. If the WHOLE street, curb to curb, was clean, you could actually ride in the street- whether there were marked lanes or not.

Word is they intend to make more bike lanes. Which is a great thing. But if they aren’t going to be kept clean and clear, this is going to be an ineffective gesture. If the lanes become invisible due to paint loss after a few months, this will be a complete waste of time. Please Albany, let’s do this right.