CNN has a story today about the increasing hassle of the commute to work, and notes that:
... an additional 22% said they would seek other commuting options if gas hits $4 a gallon, and if prices make it to $5 a gallon, a total of 66% of drivers said they would look for new ways of commuting.
If you're still driving your car (or thinking about taking the bus), MSNBC has some tips about "greening" the process, simply.
And on TODAY, they've apparently noticed the bicycles all around them, and are jumping on that idea.
Commuting, a bigger pain than you realized
Here we go!
Hello Everyone! I'm a college student here in the lovely city of Lincoln, NE and I'm slowy (yet surely!) beginning the transition from car to bike. It's my opinion that Lincoln is considerably advanced in being a bike-friendly community. Although I am not yet part of the this community, it appears as though Lincoln does a great job of encouraging people to use bikes as their primary mode of transportation. Not only are bike racks available outside most every business, we are also adding to the number of bike lanes downtown (http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/plan/subarea/BikeEval.pdf).
My bike is headed to the shop today for some finishing touches, hopefully in the next couple of days I'll be hitting the lanes and giving the old Mazda a (permanent?) break. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.
Happy Riding!
Ask people who know
Bikes are still the most efficient form of transportation yet invented, but still a major pain if you can't figure out a safe way to get from here to there.
You have two choices: You can spend months pouring over maps, driving test routes, observing traffic patterns, figuring out how to get around hills, and basically talking yourself out of it, OR, you can visit sites such as BIKELY, where people who regularly ride routes in your town tell you which way to go.
Another great resource would be an integration to Google Maps, since we're all using that now, anyway. The only problem? Google doesn't offer that yet! Peter has the right idea going!
Becoming a Bicycle-Friendly Community
A few observations from last night's "Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community" reception at the Town Hall in Old Shawnee Town.
- The representative from a company that sells tons of bikes in this country is happy to talk about the great things they do for Americans, and apparently think that if they say "American" enough, we won't notice the "Made in China" stickers on the front of most their bikes. To be fair, though, they have a worthwhile "get on a bike"-type project and are throwing lots of cash at worthwhile organizations.
- Roeland Park Mayor Steve Petrehn noticed the attention Shawnee is getting for their recent "Bicycle-Friendly" designation, and he's determined to be the next city ("of the nine" - his words) between Shawnee and KC, MO, to get the same notice. (The Kansas City Star had a note on this last week in a City Council wrap-up.)
- Shawnee Mayor Jeff Meyers backs up something I've been seeing in recent months: Meyers, a teacher and head football coach at Olathe East High School, said that in the past month or so, five teachers at his school have begun commuting to work on scooters. (IMO: Scooters are a GREAT option for people who can't or won't ride bicycles for whatever reason, but want to leave their car parked. If you can swing an electric scooter, that's even better.)
(The Marshall Tucker Band (June 5) and Foghat (June 6) are playing the upcoming Old Shawnee Days, too, Meyers noted, so mark your calendars. And RIDE YOUR BIKE, or scooter, or carpool or take the bus there, because parking is a mess during that event.)
- Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists (the host/reason for this two-day workshop), pulled no punches in noting the differences between Overland Park and Shawnee, even though OP "kicked off" the local bike-friendly vibe "back in the day." Maybe he didn't say "terrified," but Clarke DID notice the difference in bicycle-friendliness between OP and Shawnee. "I could see this works (in Shawnee)," he said.
In case you think bicycles are too slow for you
Thanks, WIRED:
"The thought of bolting a jet engine to an old Schwinn cruiser came to him about six months ago when 'I wanted to throw the engine onto something that would get me around.' The bike engines provide 50 pounds of thrust. They weigh 13 pounds apiece, but Maddox says you hardly notice it when you're on the bike. Get it going, though, and things get interesting."
Read the whole thing.
Joe's not an environmentalist, he just likes saving $700 monthly!
The Right Tool for the Job
Joe Shelton, part of a three-"man" team patrolling by bicycle today as part of a Main Street Community Improvement District effort, told us during a mid-day stop that he hasn't had a car in two years. But it's not because he's an environmentalist.
"I just like saving $700 a month, without a car payment, insurance gas, everything else," he said.
Shelton and the others ride 20 or 25 miles a day, on a route that takes in area between 27th and 47th streets on the north and south, and the "commercial area" on either side of Main Street.
At home, Joe has four bikes of his own, and though he lives downtown, he's been known to ride to another job of his at Independence Center, making it "about a 90 minute ride."
"But I'm not saying we need to save trees or anything," he said.
The Weather Is Our Friend!
Mondays on the bus just aren't working out but the carpool rides on and my carpool buddy's car stayed home today. On the drive in we saw 4 people headed to work on bicycles. How do I know they were going to work and not out on a recreational ride? Because no one goes on a recreational ride with full panniers or a backpack. Including the carpool that's 5 cars taking the day off. Good job KC!
It's BIKE TO WORK DAY today
It's a bit too late to worry about it if you already drove there, but still WIRED decided to throw up a few tips for Bike to Work Day.
The cool thing is, you can ride to work ANY day you choose. Of course, checking the comments at Wired, Bill is worried that as an executive, he might wrinkle his suit. I guess Bill isn't worried about ever-increasing gas prices. Maybe Bill works at Dodge?
Car-free WEEKENDS
The first of (hopefully many) Car-free weekends on Cliff Drive (scheduled for May 16 to Oct. 27) takes place this weekend.
Catch the kick-off celebration tomorrow (Friday, May 16) at the Kansas City Museum, at 2 p.m.
Then, "enjoy a scenic and safe route to walk, bike and run along the historic Cliff Drive. Gates close to vehicles at 2 p.m. on Friday and reopen 8 a.m. on Monday from May 16 to Oct. 27." Cliff Drive is a Kansas City gem, for sure. This is a great idea. Check it out!
View Larger Map
Tipping Point?
Could it be that drivers have finally hit a tipping point with gas prices approaching $4 a gallon? The buses (and their bike racks) are filling up and I'm seeing lots of new faces. This morning's ride was interesting - two new riders were asking lots of questions of the bus driver and my carpool buddy hopped on. Overall we had about a dozen people on the bus!
We're also approaching the end of the Car-Free Challenge and Team ridefridays.org continues to represent. Todd and I have the bike rack to ourselves at work - good for me since I rode the land barge today!
Even though the week is winding down don't forget to keep up the good working giving your car the day off whenever you can!
So far--so good.
It's bike (ride) to work week and so far it's been great. I actually saw another pedaling this a.m.- good to see!
This week is a great challenge that I wish would happen more often. We should have one week each season----just a thought.
The more we (those who are participating) talk it up- the more people who hear about it- the more who might participate!
Talk it up all!!!
Reality check
I ride my bike to work on good days and see it.
I ride my bike to work on days I wish I wasn't riding and see it.
I drive my car to work every other day (most days of the year, actually), and I see it again.
Cheers to the person who rides this bike to their job at the IRS building on Pershing Road, every single day of the year as far as I'm concerned. You know who you are.
The "Car-Free Challenge" continues over at kcbike.info
One down, nine bike rides to go
I'm not sure if there are many more people than usual taking part in Bike Week, but so far today, there's been TV coverage (Noah and crew), reports of packed busses with bikes on board, far more bikes on the road than I can ever recall, and a couple hundred people recording miles at kcbike.info.
Wow. This week will be interesting.
13 by my count
That's how many cars got the day off this Monday - at least as a result of the bus I take taking 12 others to work. This also gets the Car-Free Challenge for the week off to a good start with a little bit of cycling to (and eventually from) the park & ride and then the bus ride downtown. I have logged my mileage for the day. Go Team ridefridays.org!
One of us is famous now!
Calep might not mention it, but I will. He's the current pin-up over at the Mid-America Regional Council's Rideshare Program Commuter Profile page.
I'd talk about fenders just about EVERY day ...
But I won't, because next week is Bike Week! (Get everything you need over at kcbike.info.)
Time to get your bus riding, carpooling, walking, bike-riding ducks in a row. Speaking of ducks, it was a rainy ride again this morning. Yep, fenders.
Getting to School
In spite of the predictions for rain I decided to ride to school last night and I'm glad I did - what a beautiful night for a ride! I went outside during a break and it looked pretty bad out south but a storm never materialized. The ride home was just as nice as the ride there and I got to leave my car in the driveway!
Team ridefridays.org
The Ride Fridays team will be participating in next week's Bike Week 2008 Car-Free Challenge. This event encourages use of all available modes of transportation - you know, the stuff we talk about here - and allows you to track your car-free miles on their web site. If you're so inclined, point your web browser to kcbike.info/bikeweek, register, and join the ridefridays.org team. Help us represent!
- Track the miles for your carpool
- Track your miles on the bus
- Track your miles on the bike
- Track your miles by foot
Tell Google that "bike there" is a good idea
Google rocks, everyone knows that. And so does much of the stuff they do.
However, one thing they COULD do, but AREN'T doing, is a "bike there" option, much like the "get directions" thing they have, which assumes you have a motor vehicle.
You dig? Tell them so!
Ride to work WEEK is near
Make your plans! The League of American Bicyclists' Bike to Work Week is May 12-16, which means the Monday after next.
Locally, though, 'Bike Week' runs May 10-18, because there's a TON of stuff planned for the weekends on either side, and some events involve not only bicyclists, but walkers and bus riders, too! Get started with kcbike.info's "Car Free Challenge," and check out the complete list of events to see how you can get involved!
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