ridefridays.org

Everything in its right place

2008-07-21T09:12:00.003-05:00

Bike riding for the adult set isn't all Tour de France and lycra shorts, despite marketing efforts to the contrary.

This is addressed in links from the "Whoomp" post below ... the signs, right or wrong, that the US was starting to become a bit like Europe, and that expectations would likely need to shift when it comes to people riding bikes, rather than driving. We sweat! Hair (those of us who have it, anyway), can get messy!

Sounds like a bus ride, eh?

The Globe and Mail is on it, with Primp my ride. Check out how they're doing in Copenhagen at Copenhagen Cycle Chic. And if you really get it, spend some time at the Slow Bicycle Movement.

Alternately, you can ride "in the drops" on your new aluminum road bike. It's up to you.

Whoomp There It Is

2008-07-16T09:12:00.007-05:00

It might have been when gas prices blew past $4 a gallon and just kept climbing, or maybe it was a bit earlier, and I just didn't notice.

But suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, people are riding bikes places. Maybe we are becoming like Europe, or maybe people are just ticked off enough that they realize, they can leave the car in the driveway, and get places without it.*

Not too many years ago, say 2004 or 2005, I'd maybe see one other person riding their bike, either to/from the store, or to/from "work," every six months or so. Maybe. "Bike to Work Week" 2005, I think it was, I didn't see anyone. (And this is on a bike commuter route that's very popular.)

But today, and yesterday, and the day before it, I'm seeing probably five people each day, either appearing to be riding to/from work, or clearly riding to/from the store. Some bikes have baskets even! If I look outside the window at work, in downtown Kansas City, and watch just one nearby intersection, I'm seeing a handful each hour. People riding bikes with baskets, people riding bikes with bags. People not driving their cars.

This is Kansas City, USA, July 08, and things are sure starting to look different.

*I think there's a difference here. Europe is Europe, with different distances/scales/expectations and histories than the US. We know most of it wasn't built in the 'sprawl' pattern many US communities followed after WWII, and getting around without a car is FAR easier there than here. All the more impressive that in Kansas City, anyway, today, people have begun to do what they CAN in light of skyrocketing gas prices, and it didn't take the government or "big business" to provoke them.

We've rediscovered our bootstraps.

People are riding bikes; I'm floored.

Find others who want to carpool, too

2008-07-11T08:08:00.004-05:00

It's not getting quite the attention that busses, bikes or scooters are getting these days, but carpooling is still a great option for those who want to leave A car home a day or so.

And the Mid-America Regional Council comes through again! Check out the (free!) Carpool Connection if you want to team up with similar-thinking people in your area.

July, Four, indeed

2008-07-03T08:45:00.004-05:00

With July 4 less than 24 hours away, gasoline prices in the US hit another all-time record, passing $4/gallon on a national average for the very first time.

This is bad news on many different levels, but, TIME reminds us, it's also good in ways we might not be imagining.

Take MARC's Green Commuter Challenge!

2008-07-02T11:53:00.004-05:00

The Mid-America Regional Council is challenging KC-area company employees to drive less during July and August, in their Green Commuter Challenge. And why not? MARC says the average 20-mile round trip commute costs about $75 monthly (my math differs quite a bit, but it is what it is).

This is a contest, so you might want to get in on it immediately! Check out who's in already:

American Century Investments
Americo
City of Kansas City, Mo.
City of Mission, Kan.
DLR Group
GE Money
GEHA
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Hallmark
Mid-America Regional Council
PGAV Architects
Rosemann & Associates, P.C.
Terracon
UMB Bank
Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, Kan.

WSJ readers commute via bike, on crazy expensive machines

2008-07-02T11:40:00.004-05:00

Do not be afraid that the bicycle commuters profiled in the Wall Street Journal ride bikes that represent a year of so of gas for a small Toyota car.

They're commuting by bike, and that's the thing to remember. Remember too, though, that bike riding is tough enough for anyone over the age of about 12, and this is my reminder to finally post some tips up here. For now, though, I'll offer one. You don't need to spend $2,000 for a bicycle!

bus essentials

2008-07-01T08:09:00.004-05:00

Because of some extended maintenance on what I call my "utility" bike I had to ride a back-up bike. As I was getting the back-up bike down I realized I wasn't nearly as prepared to get on the bus as I originally thought so I figured this was a good time to write down my thoughts on the basics I need in my "commuter kit" so here goes:

Bus Pass: This seems obvious but ask me about my bus pass. My June bus pass expired last night and I forgot to get a July bus pass yesterday. The lesson here - figure out when you can get next month's bus pass and get it as soon as you think about it. The first of the month will be here before you realize it! Once you have your bus pass put it somewhere that doesn't require you to think about it - like in your wallet or bag!
Route Schedule: Keep a hard copy version of your bus route schedule in your kit at all times. If a meeting runs late and you miss the early bus home you'll need to know when the next one will be along.
Umbrella: Get one that folds up nice and small and fits somewhere in or on your bag. While many of the Metro bus stops are covered I have yet to see a Jo stop that's covered. If you don't have one I can tell you from personal experience you'll need it!
A Good Book: I suppose it could be a mediocre book but I would say get a good book and have it in a convenient place so you can pull it out and start reading right away.
MP3 Player & Headphones: The bus can be a noisy place so have your MP3 player and headphones handy to drown out all the background noise. Headphones can also serve as a sign that you're not interested in talking, but use the headphones wisely. I have had some nice conversations on the bus with people that I used to consider total strangers.
A Tough, Roomy Bag: You probably already have a bag for your work stuff but once you get these items gathered up make sure everything fits easily in your bag. Also make sure you put things in a convenient place so you can get to everything quickly. Tip - take all the stuff you need to carry to your local specialty bag store, set it on the counter, and give the salesperson a challenge to find you a bag that holds everything you carried in. The salesperson will love the challenge and you'll end up with a great bag.

This list is based on what works for me - as the EPA says your mileage may vary so experiment, find what works for you, and keep your kit ready to go - especially on a Monday or the first of the month. If you take something out make sure you get it back in there before you go to bed or you'll be scrambling the next morning. Let me know if you have anything else in your commuter kit that makes your bus commute more enjoyable!

High gas prices, and how people are doing

2008-06-27T14:47:00.004-05:00

CNN/Money has a neat look at 36 people/couples/families, and the way current gas prices are having an effect.

They start out with someone who takes a bus to and from work, but rides a bicycle on nice days. Great idea!

"Nebraska's so flat that I DON'T care."

2008-06-21T13:41:00.004-05:00

'Moe.' may have made it sound like a bad thing. I DON'T care, because it allows me to go where I need, quick and easy. Living in downtown Lincoln there is truly not a hill to be found, and I love it. Being a college town, the resources to living and having fun are just a bike cruise away.

For instance:

It was a fine Friday evening just this past night and though it was pay day I had not an inkling to spend any of it. It was around 12:20 and I was grieving my inability to win a game of Mancala. I swallowed my sorrows with the last sip of a brew and thought a bike ride to the sidewalks of drunks would put me right back on top. Was it the idea of riding my bike that made me smile, or getting to observe the distasteful benevolence of college life? The bike for sure, sometimes the activities surrounding the spectacle are better then the spectacle itself(see: tailgating.) Being well within my legal limits I kicked on my taillight, and set off to 'O' St.
Arriving all of seven minutes later with a slightly windblown look we cruise through frightened dizzying eyes in prayer of us not hitting them. We catch up to some friends playing outside the staple bar, its on its own corner tucked just outside the true strip of idiot joints. We dig on some street side music for a while and catch up with friends both common and rare. The bars shut down and the crowds flee, so we take off to a friends for a late night laughing spree. We cruise under the trees of the shady lanes and avenues passing all to often other bikers out for a ride thats plain and simply FREE.

Hi, my name is Chris and I'm the proud owner of an 'Orange Howard'. It's a custom ride with only one other of its same style, and both bikes cruise side by side all too often. Since the bikes have come in to my ladies' and I's lives we've become minimal car users. My farthest destination is all of twelve minutes by bike. I couldn't be happier. I proclaim myself a conscious person, but knowing this town was that easy to get around was WAY beyond me. However, I love it and am grateful. I hope to be posting on here more in the future, if the ADD doesn't get me down. I hope to bring good news and perspective on a growing trend that's here to better us all.

P.S. pardon the newbie length

multi-modal week

2008-06-20T07:55:00.004-05:00

Here's run-down of how I got around this week:

Monday - Car. Catching the early south-bound bus doesn't get me home in time to get to my Monday evening study group so Mondays is my car day. Study group will be done in April '09 so this is a short-term issue.
Tuesday - Bike, Bus, Walk. For the first time I jumped on the #2 bus (6:40 am) and got to the office about the same time as the 7:05. I won't be making that mistake again! A mid-morning coffee meeting gave me the opportunity to walk through the Crossroads District and get a feel for the galleries you can't get from a car, bus, or bike. And the weather was great!
Wednesday - Bike, Bus. A 7:30 meeting meant I had to ride the 6:20 am bus. Thank goodness for the lights on the bike. And Wednesday evening class is close enough to home that I even had time to change into short before pedaling to school.
Thursday - Bike, Bus (and a little rain). Back to the #3 (7:05 am) bus and I was at my office in time to watch the clouds roll in to make for a slightly soggy spin home. A photographer (rumor has it he was from the local newspaper) was on the bus taking pictures of riders and asking leading questions... "Did you start riding the bus because of high gas prices?" He was surprised to learn that not everyone started riding the bus just because of the recent spike in gas prices. Some of us thought it was a good idea before gas jumped to $4.00/gallon!
Friday - Bike, Bus. And here I am at my favorite Friday morning spot having my coffee. The bus drops me at a nearby intersection and when I'm done I'll pedal on in to the office.

The bus/bike combo works really well for me. I can catch an express bus to downtown and get off directly across the street from my office. Given my older car doesn't get great gas mileage it makes a lot of sense for me to do this. Can this work for you? Drop us a comment or let us know if we can help you get started.

CNN: Riding a bike, instead, can save you money

2008-06-17T14:40:00.002-05:00

CNN had it some time back.

Oklahoma digs carpooling

2008-06-12T08:14:00.002-05:00

CNN says that many parts of Oklahoma are among those least prepared to deal with high oil prices.

The best and worst cities are listed, as are the things that Oklahomans are doing now (carpooling is big, it seems).

WIRED: NYC Mayor Bloomberg would ban bikes on subways

2008-06-11T10:47:00.003-05:00

WIRED wraps it up pretty well, but the short story: If NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg could do so (uh, and he's mayor, right?), bikes would not be allowed on New York City subways.

The busses in NYC don't have racks, like KCATA and JO busses do in Kansas City, so this is quite an issue for people who live far away, or on the other side of the river(s) or whatever.

Maybe Bloomberg hasn't heard about $4 gas, either?

I'm afraid to ride the bus!

2008-06-11T09:46:00.008-05:00

Now that $4 gas is officially here, maybe you're really starting to think about taking the bus to get to and from work.

But maybe the whole process is a bit intimidating? After all, most of us haven't been on a bus since like the sixth grade, right? And it wasn't a heck of a lot of fun back then, either.

Luckily, the KCATA feels this pain. This Saturday, they're holding one of their ''How to Ride the Bus" events at the 103rd and State Line Price Chopper. Stop by any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., they say, and "In 10 minutes, people will be ready to Dump the Pump and ride The Metro like a pro."

And because lots of people share this pain, many have done their best to also offer tips for the rest of us:

KCATA has a new rider info page.
eWikiHow has a page called "How to ride a public transportation bus."
The Seattle area bus service (metrokc indicates them, not Kansas City) has a similar page, including several informative video clips, at http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/howride.html .

As always, find the KCATA Metro info here , and look for the JO stops and fares here .

The Buzz talks The Bus

2008-06-10T09:38:00.004-05:00

96.5 FM, "The Buzz" talked up "The Bus" in the 7 a.m. hour today, when a sidekick by the name of Steadman decided to jump into the fray of bus ridership.

They had a grand old time noting that only one other person was on this bus, despite big talk, crazy gas prices, the "liberal" nature of this part of town. Of course, heading the opposite way of the majority a.m. commute in a part of town that's not quite active in the morning probably had something to do with this (75th and Metcalf to 119th and Metcalf or so).

The driver noted that busses on the same bus route headed the other way were packed, and a co-worker on one of them confirms that fact.

Ironic that a few of us heard this show from the comfort of our non-carpooling cars. Must be that dip below $4/gallon gas that surfaced overnight.

NOTE: One caller had the usual complaints about busses -- how to ferry the kids around in the morning, how to leave early enough to get from here to there, etc. But the kicker for this caller? Upon arriving downtown, she'd have to walk "three to five blocks" to get to work.

I guess it's going to take $6-7 gas now?

School bus bummers

2008-06-09T21:26:00.003-05:00

I don't have any kids, but I do know that the cost of diesel fuel is hurting all those big, gas-guzzling school buses. So, some metro schools were looking into ways to cut back and save some money. Blue Springs spends $4,500 on fuel in one day alone!

Fort Osage is researching the Walking School Bus program, where a group of children walking to school are accompanied with one or more adults.

Now, here is the bummer. Some in Blue Springs aren't convinced that encouraging kids to walk will solve their problem. They are looking at cutting field trips to save gas money! I think Blue Springs should look at Ft. Osage and Park Hill's solution and teach kids alternative and safe ways to get to school instead of trapping them in the building longer and not letting them have field trips!

(full disclosure: I happen to work at the station that did this story)

Everyone's getting on the bus

2008-06-09T08:29:00.008-05:00

KSHB had a story this morning about increased bus use, and how many in that part of town are hoping for the addition of another bus for a Lees Summit to downtown KC route. Reports of bus riders being turned away were mentioned.

The KSHB reporter found that most bus riders were crossing their fingers for 'compressed' four-day workweeks.

The AP reported that the NATIONAL average for gasoline reached $4 over the weekend.

The Week In Review

2008-06-06T21:46:00.003-05:00

This week was the first week of summer for the girls so they decided to spend it with me downtown. Part of the bargain - taking the bus as much as possible. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we took the bus to and from. Up early to catch the 7:05 am put a bit of a damper on the first week of summer break but at least they have a better idea of why we come home tired every night.

I had a one week break from school so no need to rush to Study Group on Monday night and class on Wednesday so the afternoon bus, while crowded, wasn't nearly as stressful as usual. So we had three solid days of taking the bus downtown. It was a good learning experience for the girls and now they have a better handle on what it takes to make the bus work.

Thursday and Friday, however, turned out to be a bust. I needed to take Jill's bike in for some work on Thursday and didn't get it back until today so, irony of ironies, I had to drive to get bike work done. In spite of that I still kept my car off the road three out of five days this week which offset the sting of the price for unleaded at my nearby convenience store - $3.99 per gallon. Someone said to me just this week "I'm afraid to ride the bus" but I'm afraid to fill up my car.

Bus on!

Businessweek: Suddenly it's cool to take the bus

2008-06-06T12:35:00.007-05:00

Businessweek's story is focused on companies that manage to have their own bus service, but maybe that applies to you, or will in the future?

CNN's got the flip side, with the people who dare you to pry the SUV from their cold, dead fingers.

The (New York) Sun talks about the bike shortages there (!).

And today's acronym is MPGPP (miles per gallon per person - had to point you to Grist), or the real mileage you get, when you figure out that more than one person in a vehicle improves the relative mileage. (Meaning you're as green as can be in that Canyonero if you've always got ten of your best buddies aboard.)

* It's Friday, June 6, 2008, oil hit an all-time high today; I rode my bike.

Nebraska police move toward alternatives

2008-06-05T09:32:00.005-05:00

The Omaha World-Herald has a story today about a number of Nebraska police departments feeling the pinch of $4 gas -- and those who have taken action by increasing foot, bicycle, and motorcycle patrols.

Of note: At least one department has begun cracking down on certain police cars that aren't even moving.

" ...including disciplinary action for officers whose cars are found idling when emergency equipment is not in use."

(Thanks to The World-Herald for the graphic at right.)

Biking Newbie

2008-06-04T15:24:00.004-05:00

Hello everybody - I'm Meagan, the newest addition to the RideFridays group. I've been riding for a grand total of five days now, that's right: 5. I'm a runner and after all those 5ks and half-marathons got a little boring I decided the next thing I needed to do was tackle a triathlon. Then gas prices went through the roof and it just so happened a co-worker had a bike she was looking to sell. Everything came together and just last Friday I got my bike out of the shop for a tune-up!

My reasons for biking:

Health. I wanted an alternative for the days that I didn't want to run, so I would at least get a workout in.
Training. You can't train for a tri without a bike!
Transport. Once I got the idea in my head of riding my bike instead of my car, I can't stop. I rode my bike to the movie theater this weekend and to the gym yesterday. I already feel like I've done my part to help the environment. Next thing you know, I'll be buying cloth bags for my groceries (actually, I do plan to do this).

So that's the jist of it. I've got a vacation from work coming up this week and I plan on taking the bike out on the Plaza and later this month I'll take it home to Nebraska to try out the roads there. I'm interested in scoping out new bike routes and now I'm afraid most of my excess cash will go towards new bike shorts and a rack to put my groceries. In the long run, though, I think I've made a good investment.

Subsidized bus passes are getting popular

2008-06-02T13:19:00.006-05:00

According to today's story in The Kansas City Star, many Kansas City-area companies are reacting to escalating gas prices by offering subsidized bus passes.

Other reactions dug up by the Star: Company-owned commuter vans, carpooling, compressed work weeks (four ten-hour days, for example), telecommuting, and busses.

A new problem being encountered? "The Jo," Johnson County's bus service, is starting to see some full busses, and they don't have any more! On the Missouri side, busses are even MORE full, but the ATA has more, and can apparently add to their routes if needed. Good thing we don't have trains (yet)!

Bikes work, too, and many at Garmin are apparently taking that route. Straight from the Star:

At Garmin Ltd., employees led efforts to institute several gas-saving programs. Jason Bridges, a design engineer, took a lead role in encouraging walking, bicycling, bus ridership and carpooling at the Olathe-based company.

Commuting, a bigger pain than you realized

2008-05-30T09:27:00.004-05:00

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.

Here we go!

2008-05-27T11:31:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-23T09:18:00.009-05:00

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!