My Vienna trip wraps up with a nasty dose of food poisoning. I don’t make it out of the hotel till about 4 o’clock, just in time for rush hour.

I keep blaming my malaise on the bike — I haven’t been on one in a week, so it’s no wonder I’m sleeping poorly and dragging my butt. Next up, fifteen hours of flying to get home.

Almost everyone is a utility cyclist; there’s not much Lycra to be seen.

For a motor vehicle, this is pretty snazzy looking.

 

I’m in Vienna for a week; it’s the annual EBAN (European Business Angel Network) Congress. If you remember, last year it was held in Moscow. After 6 years, this event is what I owe most of my European travel to.

Most of the week will be spent discussing Eastern European early-stage startups, but this weekend I have time to check out the local bike infrastructure.

The city has a bike share system, check, but it’s the separated bike lanes that cause me some jealousy. Last night at rush hour there were plenty of bikes taking advantage of these bike paths and doing so the European way — without a helmet!

Nice infrastructure

Crowd Supply’s Patrick Croasdaile

I guess it takes a cyclocross enthusiast to get behind a new way of funding the next great cyclocross bike. Meet Patrick Croasdaile, he describes himself as a curator at Crowd Supply.

Crowd Supply is a new company in Portland, OR that’s working to create a renaissance in consumer products — how they’re designed, funded and delivered.

Two of the first few projects: an ultra-reflective bike tire and a cyclocross bike that’s branded by the folks at Rogue Ales.

Show #49 Listen: Stream, Flash player, or subscribe through iTunes.

the Asylum Meuse Cyclocross Bike, Rogue Team Edition

the LIT Ultra-reflective Bike Tire

Disclaimer: I’m an investor in the company, a small one.

The story is huge though.

They started in Marina del Rey

When I see bike tourists I always want to stop and chat; that’s because, when I’m in the saddle, meeting people is the best part of touring.

I saw these 3 idling in the shade at Jamboree and Coast Hwy. I wanted to make sure everything was ok; they were just taking a break. They started the day in Marina del Rey and were headed to San Diego tomorrow, eventually Phoenix. All 3 were from Minnesota.

“Are you camping along the way?”

They told me they were hitting hotels on this 2-week excursion. I could relate; I never want to carry the tent, sleeping bag and cooking utensils — a hot shower and a comfortable bed feel great when touring.

They liked all the bike lanes they were finding. I offered a suggestion as they approached Laguna Beach: look for Cliff Drive on the right.

I told them I like to tour, too. We’d all done the Erie Canal it turned out.

Yeah, I’m goin’ to pick up my new touring bike; it’s ready today.

They probably hear that all the time…

My new Salsa Vaya touring bike

Follow Mark, Doug and Russ’s adventures.

Tania Lo and Jeff Miller

Momentum Magazine‘s Tania Lo and the Alliance for Walking and Biking‘s Jeff Miller ride with me over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Had dinner with my son, Jeff Miller, CEO Alliance Walking & Biking, Leah Shaham, Executive Director of the SFBC and Mia Kohout & Tania Lo of Momentum magazine. We were carbo-loading at a gorgeous San Francisco restaurant before this morning’s bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge.

I’m in town for the Angel Capital Association’s Annual Summit; my 6th year attending. My sponsor contribution is in the form of a bike ride the last 3 years and this year it’s really taken hold — there are 51 riders ready to roll. I’m combining my interests in angel investing and cycling advocacy.

Over dinner we spoke of many things and Leah had some advice for us as we begin a Bicycle Master Plan for Newport Beach: don’t get too analytical, maybe focus on the 5 best ideas. Don’t boil the ocean. Then get those 5 done. She should know and I’m sure I’ll be asking for more advice as the process begins.

About 2 dozen Huntington Beach bicycle enthusiasts showed up tonight to review the details of a new Bicycle Master Plan. The City hired KTU+A to prepare the recommendations that went into the plan. Long-term listeners will remember my interview with the design team.

Many good questions were raised. My favorite part was how KTU+A’s John Holloway coolly handled the comments, critiques and suggestions.

It’s a very well-thought out plan; in part because HB has had a long-standing Bicycle Advisory Committee which meets quarterly. The city has many natural advantages for cyclists — mostly, it’s flat and many roads already have bike lanes striped. They’ve accomplished a lot without the plan; that’s why they’re recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community — now they’re shooting for Silver!

KTU+A showed off the draft of the Bicycle Master Plan tonight

Several options for improvements on Coast Hwy were presented

Four broken spokes

Mark Goodley

My fellow bike safety advocate, Mark Goodley, joined the Boy Scout ride yesterday; it was his second time taking up the rear. He’s a former Eagle scout himself and remembers earning Cycling merit badge, too.

For safety, I’m psyched to have as many adults along for the ride as possible. Yesterday’s ride was a good example.

We planned a simple Bay Bay loop; in part because I had a newcomer to the group, a young scout and I wanted to match a ride to his capabilities. His Mom came along, too; she rode my Pedego electric bike.

We were about 5 miles along our route when a scout made a sudden turn and crashed his bike into Mark’s; you can see the damage to his front wheel. No one was injured; no one fell, but embarrassed, yes. A teachable moment for the boys, so we gathered to discuss what happened, what the young scout would do different next time — look where he’s going.

My favorite part of the teachable moment was when Mark thought he could ride his bike home; I didn’t and used my authority as group leader to encourage Mark to take a ride home instead.

Mark’s wheel will be repaired in a day or two; it wasn’t anything serious, but as the incident was resolved and we continued on without Mark, I had new insights into the take-aways.

By taking a ride home, Mark showed the boys the safe way to deal with an equipment failure. It may be all they eventually remember from Cycling merit badge.

 

Read the Staff report

The much anticipated AQMD Staff report has been released. In it are new definitions of Rule 444 and 445:

A new definition is added for “beach burning” which is prohibited beginning January 1, 2015 under this amendment. However, using charcoal and liquid/gaseous fuels for cooking at beaches is still permitted. Other types of recreational, ceremonial, or open burning remain exempt, such as those at regional parks and camp grounds not covered by the new definition… Under PAR 444 a city or county could, through formal action, make the prohibition sooner than January 1, 2015.

Background: Last year the Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously to remove its 60 fire rings. The next step was to seek Coastal Commission permission, but the issue was derailed at the recent March meeting as 4 commissioners sit on their respective air quality boards, including Dr. Burke who Chairs the South Coast Air Quality Management District which is responsible for what we breathe in the 4 counties of LA, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside, 41% of the population of the State of California. The Coastal Commission deferred this issue to their ‘sister agency’ and will reconsider Newport Beach’s application again in June.

Today’s AQMD Staff report is queued up for Board review May 3rd.

Under the proposed revisions to Rule 444, Newport Beach already qualifies for immediate removal of its fire rings — 27 at Big Corona and 33 on the Balboa peninsula.

Frank, they may get rid of the fire rings but they will burn you in effigy; keep fanning the flames, you continue to spark opinions. love, rog

I’m still checking my web logs, but in the meantime, let me fire one last shot across the bow!

Soon I’ll be back on my meds and riding my bike, then these other advocacy issues will blow away like a puff of smoke.

Along those lines, I’m pulling back from the limelight. It’s kinda intoxicating to be seen on TV and quoted in the Press. As a 7-year blogger on a variety of topics, that’s what I suppose I’ve always wished for – being discovered.

But as I get started with the 12-Step Fire Rings Advocacy Rehabilitation Program, today I turned down a TV appearance. Can you imagine my withdrawal symptoms? I mean, prior to all this fire ring frenzy, it’s been since the day Michael Jackson’s medical doctor was convicted that I’ve enjoyed seeing my mug on TV!

I have to admit, this latest TV invite was in the form of a debate with a fire rings advocate in Huntington Beach and I knew I would lose. One thing I’ve learned about myself: in realtime I seldom get the last word or win many arguments – that’s why I write. Here I can craft my arguments and edit them for hours sometimes. I knew I’d be blown out of the water if I attempted to debate the fire rings controversy.

As you know, I’m against the fire rings. I’ve lived with them for 15 years and I’m beginning to understand the health impact on myself, my family, my neighbors and the region. But how would that play against the red-meat arguments of a fire rings proponent?

Then I got an idea! Instead of arguing with an almost lunatic proponent, which would be no fun at all – turn it into a game!

I would sneak my Fire Rings Fruit Cake Bingo card into the TV studio and secretly check off the nutty arguments he’d use, the same nutty things everyone in Huntington Beach seems to be saying, then near the end of the interview, as my opponent would be licking his lips, knowing he mopped the floor with me, I’d jump up out of my chair, dislodging my microphone probably, and shout BINGO!

Next time you’re in a discussion about the health effects of the fire rings, play along.

Smart enough to know the fire rings are poisoning the entire region, but not smart enough to stop arguing with those who love them anyway? Make it fun, play BINGO!

Read Mayor Curry’s letter

The story heated up today when Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry released a letter he wrote to his counterpart in Huntington Beach.

The topic is fire rings. The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously to remove 60 local fire rings. The next step was a trip to the California Coastal Commission to acquire the necessary permit. That’s when things got interesting because 4 members of the CCC also sit on their local air quality boards including Dr. Burke, Board Chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The AQMD has authority for 4 counties: LA, Riverside, San Bernandino and Orange; this region includes 41% of the population of California. Potentially, the AQMD could ban up to 836 fire rings along the coast.

Things were going well, as the AQMD issued a draft proposal that would revise their Rule 444 to ban all beach burning. That’s when Huntington Beach woke up and jumped into the fray. Mayor Connie Boardman wrote a strongly worded letter of protest and then last week at a public hearing at AQMD headquarters, several HB residents and employees of the HB Visitors Bureau attended to speak their mind.

NB Mayor Keith Curry proposes that if HB supports Newport’s efforts to remove the rings then,

We can support your ability to retain fire rings based on local wishes…

Apparently, Mayor Curry is no poker player, because as I saw things developing, there seemed to be little movement at the Thursday hearing to retreat from a total ban. The issue of converting the wood burning to clean burning alternatives was very much up in the air.

Principally, Newport Beach based its claims to the CCC for health benefits, for beach goers and nearby residents. How can Curry then throw that argument under the bus for the sake of expediting approval for only 60 fire rings?

Many are waking up to the regional health implications of 840 toxic fire rings. Parsing out approvals, one city at a time only opens the door to the next City Council election cycle where candidates will be campaigning for their reinstatement.

Expedient, no doubt; we’d all like to return to the Coastal Commission with the issue decided, but trading the public health of the region and doing so on the verge of the AQMD’s possible removal of all these polluting fire rings is a bad trade.