We miss election day. Most of you probably voted weeks ago and we’re just getting around to opening our ballots. It’s not the same since Washington went to an all-mail system.

So it’s probably not to going to help most of you that we’re putting in a last minute endorsement in our otherwise a apolitical blog for Mayoral Candidate Mike “bikes” McGinn.

As you expect, our pro-bike support of the pro-bike candidate is pretty  obvious.  Joe Mallahan also makes it an easy choice for a family who takes their voting seriously. Even if Mallahan didn’t promise to run the city like a phone company, he’d still fall short with us for his personal voting track record.

The fact that he’s missed 13 (thirteen!) elections since 2001 means we won’t be sending any hanging chads in his direction (Susan Hutchison, by the way has fared poorly, missing eight in the same time period).

You may have different hot-buttons and may make other election choices; that’s OK with us at Car Free Days..  Just whatever you do, don’t be like Joe and Susan. Vote. Make your voice heard.

-Tim

carfreedays dry cleaning delivery service

our neighbor's dry cleaning delivery service

How does everyone feel about delivery?

In these new fangled modern times you can have just about anything delivered: Thai food, Indian food, groceries, pet food and even dry cleaning. The possibilities are endless.

In our crazy, pre-kid, free wheeling youth, we used to love delivery. Remember Kozmo.com? Tim and I used to have them deliver a movie and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s a little more often than I care to admit. But we were young and foolish then, we would never do that now (even if their coupon system was still broken and we could always get it free)

On one hand, one car/truck driving around and making deliveries is better than many cars driving around running errands. But the delivery vehicles are usually large and loud and they drive through otherwise quiet neighborhoods all day long.

This morning, on our walk to school, I saw a delivery driver taking a nap in the cab of his Amazon Fresh truck. I know those guys and gals work all night long, and he was probably real tired, but come on, couldn’t he pick a more discreet parking spot for his nap than the walking route to the school?

What do you think?

Is delivery just a convenient, modern way to get the stuff you need?

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen delivered (maybe I don’t really want to know)

– Anne

I’m a little behind on my blog / RSS reading (like 6-9 months, oops) so maybe this one has been all over the Inter-Webs. But even if it has, I don’t care. I love it and I’m posting it here anyway.

Nate Byerley, CEO of Xtracycle, spent some time filming his daughter Davis and their commute to school on a PeaPod (child seat) -equipped Xtracycle. The result is the perfect video to share with anyone who wonders why children should be transported by bike.

Watch and then answer me this: Have you ever seen such joy (“I see a kitty! …  Scream with me!”) from ANY child strapped into a video screen-equipped mini van or SUV?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Bikes are better!

Thanks Nate!

-Tim

It was raining so hard when I got up Wed. morning I didn’t ride my bike to work.

Don’t worry, I still got there on the Xtracycle, but like most days, I found it made more sense to take my time getting underway.

My morning (many mornings, in truth) went something like this: I got up. It was raining. Had my Grapenuts and coffee with the kids. Raining. Helped them get ready. Raining. Said goodbye to the kids. Still raining. Shower? Yep, still raining.

Yet 10 minutes later I was on my way to work dressed in my normal (non-bike) clothes, rain gear safely stowed in the Xtracycle Freeloader. Rain-gear optional is a a pretty usual way for me to roll (and maybe the reason I can still justify owning my hideously ugly purple/pink/black, 18 (!) year-old REI Turismo jacket/pants

I’m not saying all this to sound like a total time-challenged-douche-bag-schedule-slouching-weather-rock-star or something—though if you got soaked yesterday you might think  I sound like one of those. Nah, I just want to share my two simple tools (well, three if you count the merino wool and four if you count fenders, but everyone knows that one, right?)  for staying dry this winter.Here goes:

• A flexible schedule
• Weather radar

The whole reason for this overblown topic is because I was reminded of the latter (family, friends and co-workers can’t shut up about my creative use of the former) this evening when ran across a great post from a couple days ago by local UW Prof/NPR media personality/author/general weather stud, Cliff Mass.

Cliff began the post discussing Seattle’s so-far-pathetic efforts in the name of bike mobility and safety, then switched to promoting Thursday’s Traffic Justice Summit (an event I had planned to blog, attend, and make some noise at, but my week/month has kind of got away from me. BTW, if you went of have any insight, please holler in the comments).

The view from 120 Miles

Cliff finally cut into the meat of the day: tips for keeping dry on the bike (Cliff Notes version [ha! get it? "cliff!!! notes"]: use the weather radar). I’ll leave bulk of the radar advice to the professional weather professor, but I will go out on a limb and recommend King5’s doppler radar (KING! FIVE! LIVE! DOPPLER!) as a liberal-arts-major-friendly weather tool.

I find the way their animations display (I like the 120 mile view) give me a fighting chance of actually judging where the rain is going next.  When using a static view or less dumbed-down animated version, I’ve more than once misjudged the actual rain direction and instead of arriving dry and happy, found myself pedaling into a major squall clad in less than appropriate attire.

OK, so you’re thinking: “radar is great. I can stay dry all the time, right?”

Well, the problem with radar is that it doesn’t change the weather. It helps you find gaps, but doesn’t do squat if you have to be somewhere now, and now on the radar shows a green spot the size of  Holland hovering over the city

You Deserve Flex Time!

This is where the flexible schedule tool comes in.  We’ve talked about this before in the context of hourly forecasts. While radar animations further refine the dodging raindrops concept, if you really want to ride all through the winter, you need to negotiate with your power structure to get you on a “flex” schedule.

Flexible. That’s the key concept to get across to the man. Use it a lot when you are discussing the idea. This isn’t about working less. It’s about working smarter. You may also want to mention the Commute Trip Reduction Law and maybe “Work Life Balance” 10 or 12 times. It probably wouldn’t hurt to mention how  much you are saving them health care and absenteeism, too.

Go ahead, cajole them, drop hints around the water cooler, lie. Whatever it takes (“…I was talking to my friend Earl, and I says to him ‘Well, I was finally getting used to not carrying my shotgun to work, now that I’m riding the bike every day, but it looks like this weather means I’m gonna start driving the truck again soon. Yee-ha!’”). You may have to lay it on thick, but this is important stuff—it’s your wet (dry!) butt we’re taking about here.

A little rain never hurt me

In fact, the only time I really ever get really wet is riding home. Mainly it’s because I can’t stand hanging out in the office at night waiting for a gap in the Doppler Green when all the drivers have left the building and my family is snug at home. Getting wet then is OK because I’m doing it on my terms. I also find the knowledge that I missed a mega storm on the way in tends to shield me from some of the weather fury on these return trips.

And another little secret: I kind of like riding home in the rain—it’s the wet from the sweaty rain gear or road spray and then having to work I hate. Especially when I can take a warm shower and wear my PJs after the return commute (even I can’t get away with that at work).  I like to think of the trip home as epic and civilized all in one. Like getting a massage, sauna, and soft Turkish robe on the summit of Mt. Rainier.

So, how about you? Any great wet-weather riding tips? Forecasting, visibility, and gear suggestions welcome, too (and not just because I need a new rain coat or poncho, and maybe some of those goofy Rainlegs, assuming they make’em in a giant size).

-Tim

October is International Walk to School Month. At our local elementary, we don’t discriminate. Walk, bike, hike, skip or even take the bus. Just don’t drive to school in October!

Our elementary school received a Seattle Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School grant last year. We’re using some of the funds from the grant to host  a Walktober celebration this month. Kids keep track of their “active” trips to school and earn prizes if they make a minimum number of trips by foot, bike or scooter (any way other than a personal automobile).

Basically we’re bribing them.

We should really give prizes to the parents. What do you think would work? massages? coffee? gift certificates to the pub?

Cause it’s really up to the parents to make it happen.

- Anne

I just read this article about women and everyday cycling that Xtracycle posted on their Facebook page. It’s a subject we love to talk about and one we’ve covered before.

The article (and some of the commenters) point to a lack of cycling infrastructure in most American cities as a reason women feel unsafe on the road.  They also mention that household and child rearing responsibilities make it more difficult for women to go by bike.

What do you think? We’d love a lively discussion in the comments. Are safety concerns keeping women off bikes? Lack of showers at work? Too many kid juggling duties?

Tim and I talk about this a lot in our household. Unfortunately we don’t have any major new insights. All we can think to do about it is to keep encouraging people to ride and to raise our own kids who we hope will grow up thinking going by bike is normal.

What about you? Any thoughts on the not-enough-chicks-on-bikes issue? We’re all ears.

– Anne and Tim

Get ready to leave your car at home on Tuesday, September 22 in honor of World Carfree Day:

World Carfree Day is an annual celebration of cities and public life, free from the noise, stress and pollution of cars. Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets and neighbourhoods to celebrate World Carfree Day and to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated societies.

Come on, it’s just one day, give it a try. Take your bike or the bus or your feet instead of your car.

I took a peek at the events page and it looks as if (for most of the country) World Carfree Day doesn’t have many organized events. If you live in Santa Cruz or San Francisco, Broomfield, Boulder, Louisville, Ashland, Galveston or Roanoke, by all means get out and celebrate.

Otherwise, just leave your car at home on Tuesday and go about your daily business.

– Anne

Among many other things lately, Parking Day completely snuck up on us this year.

Originally created by Rebar, San Francisco art and design collective, PARK(ing) Day is an annual, one-day, global event where artists, activists, and citizens independently but simultaneously temporarily transform metered parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public parks.

We at carfreedays think subsidized on-street parking is a waste of public space. That makes it easy for us to get excited about PARK(ing) Day. Green space where a stinky car would have been waiting between trips? We’re all for it.

I had a few free hours yesterday,  a lovely Seattle end-of-summer kind of day,  so I took some time to ride around and check out some of the impromptu “parks” in South Lake Union and downtown Seattle. I enjoyed a mini-South Lake Union complete with picnic area, sailboat and kayak, tried my hand at a  putting green, albeit badly, and enjoyed a delicious Michou sandwich at Pike Place Market (not a PARK(ing) day site but a prime location for car- freeness).

I intended to ride up to Capitol Hill where the bulk of Seattle’s “parks” were set up but I ran out of time.

What was your favorite PARK(ing) Day site?

How was PARK(ing) Day in your city?

more photos here

- Anne

In addition to the weather, Tim and I love to talk about bike parking, bike racks and anything related to parking and racks. If you ride a bike, you need to have a secure parking spot for it upon arrival at your destination.

SDOT wants to know where on-street bike parking is needed around the city. So go ahead and send them your suggestions! Email requests to bikeracks@seattle.gov.

I already commented, telling SDOT to expect some from me. But unless you only want them in front of cafes, bars and restaurants (when I  ride a bike, I  get hungry, thirsty and I need a place to park my bike!) you better submit your spots, too.

– Anne

An Every Day Adventure at the Bicycle Music Festival

We  just returned from a day of family Xtracycling. If you’d asked where we were going when we left the house, we probably would have mentioned something about the Bicycle Music Festival. Sure that’s where we were headed, but in reality we were out for a dose of every day cycling adventure.

In the course of an hour or so on the bikes we picked up the youngest from a play date, helped a friend install a basketball hoop, took some photos, stopped at the library, saw a ton of boats and houseboats, took some more photos, and picked up some excellent free stuff on the road near said houseboats (some BRAND NEW Ikea LED lights plus some high-quality nickel-plated light fixtures with sconces that will go nicely in our bathroom. SCORE!)!

And that was just on the way to the music festival.

On the way home we hit Whole Foods for picnic fixings, gawked at two totally different wedding events at the South Lake Union Park (one a typical slacks/skirt affair, the other boasting big cowboy hats, boots, shiny belt buckles, and some very tight dresses, though not all at once), watched the South Lake Union parade of sea planes, and even came face-to-face with the rudest 7-year-old boy we’ve ever seen.

Seriously. The following is our best memory of the actual exchange:

Boy: I’m really thirsty, give me some of your water.

Us: Um, no, I don’t think so. Maybe you should ask your parents first (thinking that maybe his parents wouldn’t want him asking  for and taking food from strangers).

Boy: Nooooo!!!  No! You are a meanie. If you don’t give it to me I’m going to punch you in the face!

Us:  Yikes! Where are your parents? Go away little boy!

All that, and a Festival, too!

And on top of all those experiences, the festival at Denny Park was a good time, too. The crowd, pulled mostly from the hippy-like biking demographic, came with lots of long hair, beards, and very little spandex (that’s a good thing, in case you must ask). The vibe was very mellow. No surprise there, though we thought more families would show. Maybe they, like Totcycle, chose the morning gig? Still, a bikey crowd is a bikey crowd. No complaints here!

We arrived at Denny Park about half past three yet still managed to be on time. My kind of crowd! We caught the first(?) band, Bend – a tight group with a kind of a Dave Matthews like vibe. They were followed by Nettle Honey, a electric Bluegrass combo complete with Anne’s favorite instruments: fiddles! We enjoyed both, all the while marveling in the human-powered amps, mics, and speakers.

Along the way we did some people watching, the kids threw a Frisbee, we checked out the people-power system up close, observed some hornets, and generally got our groove on, in a mildly distracted ’cause we are watching to see if the kids would chase toys into the Denny Way traffic kind of way.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with whole-family events, we had to be flexible with THE PLAN. We soon realized the kids’ attention spans plus our parenting skills combined for a two-band limit, max.  So after about 90 minutes of music (pleasantly scented by aromas from the nearby Hostess Twinkie factory), we hit the bikes again in search of the previously mentioned picnic dinner and ride home

As we we rode, it became clear to me that without the Xtracycles, our day would have been pretty one dimensional. Our fun didn’t come from the music festival alone. It was the whole adventure (the ride, smells, the bands, the jerk, the junk, the food, the picnic, the weddings, all of it) that made our day.

A Musical Festival by Car Instead?

Let’s look at how the day would have gone, had we decided to drive to a music festival. The event was set for  3 pm, so around 2:30 we’d pile into the auto, buckle up and drive. I’m guessing we’d  fight traffic for about 30 minutes, maybe flip off a bicyclist or two along the way, and likely listen to the kids beat the crap out of each other in the back seat. Upon arrival downtown, we’d then look for parking  for another 10 minutes—it’s gotta be free because I’m cheap as hell —and pile out of the car.

We’d walk to the park and probably experience a lesser quality 90 minutes of festival;  I’d be cranky from driving and the kids would be cranky from being cooped up in the car.

Then we’d do it all again: Walk back to the car and drive somewhere for dinner. We probably wouldn’t have gone to Whole Foods to purchase wholesome picnic fixings, because getting in and out of the car with kids is, frankly, a pain (drive-thru is America’s dining choice for good reason. Well, not good reason, but easy reason for sure). Maybe we’d just eat at home since we’d get back there a lot earlier. The speed of the car might give us more free time in the day, but we’d probably just squander it on TV or surfing the Internet.

By car, I’m pretty sure it would have been a day without adventure. That just makes me a little sad because that means lots of folks are going adventureless every day.

Fact: Every Day Adventures are Key to Family Cycling

The title of the Xtracycle blog, Every Day Adventures, has it nailed. That’s exactly what we experience when we ride. Junk on the side of the road, interesting smells, hills, wacky people, cool sights, sweat, rainstorms, shouts of “you rule,*” speed, found money, and of course, our smiling, happy children enjoying fresh air in the city. We feed off this stuff. Our kids enjoy riding. We enjoy riding.

Summer Girl, Winter Boots

The camping trips, music festivals, ice cream cones and the like are wonderful, but are really just icing on the everyday cycling cake.

Unlike car travel where you are always in a hurry to get somewhere, when we’re on the bike the trip is the adventure. On the bike, the trip is living.

How about you? Will you share some of your every day adventure stories?

-Tim

*(Anne got that on Friday; I got the middle finger on Tuesday. I think her better legs must tip the odds.)