May 16th, 2008
Spokesman Review columnist Paul Turner agreed to ride his bike to work this work for Bike to Work Week Spokane and has been writing some cool stuff about. His best entry came today. It’s a great answer to the question “Why Ride?” I’m pasting a portion of it here since the Review (which I subscribe to) doesn’t allow you to link and I’m betting the SR won’t sue it’s own subscribers:
The things I enjoy about riding a bike aren’t kid stuff.
I like that it’s useful exercise.
I like how I’m the source of power for that elegantly simple machine.
I like that while wishing I was in better shape I’m actually doing something about it.
I like how the bike reminds me I can still try new things.
I like that I go faster than my walking pace but still travel at a speed that allows me to be aware of my surroundings.
I like how my anthropomorphic affection for my borrowed bike has been rewarded with dependable service.
I like that my steering and shifting improve each day.
I like how the air feels and seeing lights come on as I quietly roll into downtown at dawn and reconnect with my city.
Nicely done Paul.
Posted by Jon Snyder in News | No Comments »
May 16th, 2008
My friend Virginia sends this question:
“You’re the only person I know who commutes regularly with kids in a burley. Do you ever ride on Third Avenue? Is it safe with your daughter in the back? I am a bit apprehensive because I’m not sure if motorists are used to the trailer (with or without the orange flag).”
I don’t think 3rd is really unsafe, it’s more unpleasant. Because it is 3-lane oneway street you can take a whole lane with a trailer and it’s pretty simple for cars to go around you. But the speed and volume of traffic on 3rd is rough if you are on a bike. Main, Riverside, 1st, and even Sprague seem like much better ways of getting east to west downtown.
With kids in a trailer downtown I would consider these things:
- It’s easy to flip a trailer going up and down curbs. I stopped sidewalk riding after this happened once. I think you are safer for you and your kid staying in the street, avoiding multiple curbs and going in and out of traffic.
- Don’t mis-judge your speed. Trailers slow you down more than you might realize. Make sure you don’t get caught in interesections because you can’t get through them fast enough.
- Be visible. That means flags, lights, and bright colored helmets.
- Take the whole lane if you need to. All downtown streets are multi-laned so cars can pass you easily. Cars can see you better in the middle.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Jon Snyder in News | 3 Comments »
May 13th, 2008
Persian Hour host Sharokh (white shirt) at the Polly Judd tree planting with Jafar and Nsim on his left.
Saturday’s planting of a Peace Tree in Polly Judd parks was fabulous. Later that evening the Iranian cyclists, Nasim and Jafar, gave a terrific slideshow on their trip at the community building. If you missed it you’ll have another chance to see it tomorrow:
BIKING FOR PEACE: Two Iranian computer engineers quit their jobs, sold their possessions and are now cycling the world and planting trees as a symbol of peace and speaking about environmental conservation. You may have seen the Spokesman-Review piece on them Saturday, May 10.
Come hear them speak and watch a slide show of their journey 11:30-12:45PM, in building 24 room 110 on the Spokane Falls Community College campus.
Also: two cool link to check out today:
- A post on the new Spokane Food Co-op at Metro Spokane
- Cool photo of flowers on the bluff trails at Cycling Spokane
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May 12th, 2008
BTW Chair Barb Chamberlain addresses cyclists while Mayor Verner sports a cool BTW t-shirt.
It’s hard to think of a better start to Spokane Bike to Work Week than the gathering this morning at Riverfront Park. Several hundred cyclists showed up to get free pancakes and orange juice and mingle before work. Is spoke with one rider who normally commutes from Cheney to Airway Heights and made a ten mile detour to enjoy breakfast with fellow commuters. If you want evidence that Spokane is becoming a better city to bike in look no further. Mayor Verner addressed the crowd and Councilman Rush was also in attendance. It’s not too late to get in on all the fun this week. Check out Spokane Bike Bike to Work.
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May 9th, 2008
Iranian Couple Cycling the World for Peace and Environmental Conservation Arrives in Spokane May 7th
One year ago, on April 29, 2007 in Tehran, Jafar Edrisi and Nasim Yousefi started their journey to promote peace and environmental conservation by cycling around the world. Since then, the Iranian couple has logged more than 8,405 km on their bikes—across ten countries and two continents—and planted 33 ‘peace trees’ along the way.
They are scheduled to roll into Spokane on Tues., May 7th and be our guests for a week before cycling to Canada. Their trip continues for another year as they plan to cycle through Japan, Korea, China, Nepal, India and Pakistan before heading back to Iran. Jafar and Nasim have received wide media attention about their peace and environmental mission, including interviews on CNN, BBC and many others. For more information and photos, visit http://www.rmc4peace.com/index.htm
Jafar and Nasim’s Schedule of Events in Spokane:
May 10, at 9 AM Planting Peace Tree at Pauli Judd Park
Area cyclists are invited to bike to the park and enjoy a pancake breakfast.
Bicyclists will meet at lower Manito park pavilion at 8:30 AM as their starting point.
May 10, at 6 PM Welcome Reception at the Community Building (35 W. Main)
Open to the public, finger foods and beverages will be served.
About Jafar and Nasim:
Jafar and Nasim’s both hold bachelor’s degrees in computers. They serve as International Eco Tour leaders and are both avid rock climbers and mountaineers. They each hold a grade 3 coach certificate of rock climbing as well as, ice climbing. Nasim was the head coach of the Iranian Women’s Rock Climbing team and together produced more than 10 educational multimedia CDs for children.
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May 7th, 2008
Steve Rumsey, of North Columbia Monthly, sends us this advisory:
Spring Mushroom Hike at the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
Mycologist Jim Groth will lead a one-day mushroom foray on Saturday, May 17, on the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. Emphasis will be on collecting morels for the table, but also included will be identification and ecology of all fleshy fungi encountered.
Participants should meet at the Refuge headquarters at 9:30 a.m. To get there, follow the brown Refuge signs as you head east out of Colville on Highway 20. Bring a bag lunch, water, collecting bag (no plastic) or basket, and rain gear, and wear long pants. Also bring binoculars if you wish — birds and plants will be included for those interested. We should be finished collecting by 3:30 p.m., followed by mushroom preparation and cooking demonstrations by members of the Slow Food Upper Columbia organization.
Please RSVP by calling Jim or Jo Ann (509-684-1379) if you intend to participate. The mushroom hike is sponsored by the Friends of the LPO.
The Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is located 13 miles southeast of Colville and provides habitat for migratory birds and wildlife. Established in 1939, the Refuge includes six types of forest habitat from meadows and wetlands, to Ponderosa pine forests to subalpine fir forests, and is the largest refuge in the state. The public is welcome to visit the LPO to enjoy the wildlife and scenery, to hike, mountain bike, horseback ride, and cross country ski in the winter, and to hunt and fish. The LPO is a great place to learn more about the natural history of the area, and offers outdoor photographers unique opportunities for capturing images of native plants and animals as well. Visitors are encouraged to tread lightly, of course, both to preserve the habitat for wildlife and to improve their chances of seeing deer, bobcat or wild birds.
For more information or to get on the LPO newsletter mailing list, contact the refuge by phone at 509-684-8384 or by mail at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, 1310 Bear Creek Road, Colville, WA 99114. The website is www.fws.gov/littlependoreille/.
The Friends of the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of native fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats on the LPO, providing educational opportunities, and fostering understanding and appreciation of the refuge. For more information, or to join the Friends of the LPO, see the website at www.refugefriends.com.
Posted by Jon Snyder in News | 1 Comment »
May 6th, 2008
OTM reader and commuter Luke Bakken
Luke Bakken noticed an omission in this month’s Guide to Buying Your first Adult Bike:
“I just wanted to point out that the guide left out one entire category
of bicycles that are appropriate for first-time buyers: recumbents.
While not as familiar (or inexpensive) as their upright cousins,
recumbents offer far superior comfort and some aerodynamic advantage over “wedgies”. I have been commuting on my recumbent up and down the South Hill for several years now and can attest to their hill-climbing ability (you may remember me in a photo from a way-past Out There issue on bicycle commuting [December 2004]).
Thanks!”
Luke
Thanks for the input Luke. You can read the article that Luke was featured in right here:
“Don’t Run Me Over I’m Just Biking to Work” (OTM 12/04) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jon Snyder in News | 4 Comments »
May 2nd, 2008
CARS ARE TRANSPORTATION? Cars are time machines. Cars collapse space and time like no other form of transportation. You could get somewhere by foot, horse, train, or boat before the car, but it might take you hours, days, or weeks. We’ve become addicted to that time travel, so much so that when our car trips are slowed by even a couple seconds it pisses us off.
I try to keep that in mind when I get buzzed, honked at, or flipped off while riding my bike to work. Granted the vast majority of cars are quite courteous, but it’s hard not to wonder about the truck that cuts me off and then peels out to show it’s disgust at my presence, or the Prius with the “Share the Road” license plates that buzzes me, cutting through my lane while passing. (Actually happened to me on Earth Day this year!)
But then I remember: cars are time machines. They carry an unspoken promise of delivering their drivers to a certain place, quickly. And nothing is more frustrating than losing a second or two passing a cyclist or waiting for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
I’m not being glib. I know the feeling. I own a car and when I’m in it my intellectual musings about our modern transportation psyche take a back seat. I want to get where I am going. Now. It takes concentration to stay out of a crosswalk until a pedestrian has left. Operating a car has an aggressive effect on our state of mind. I’ve seen it happen in even the most unlikely drivers.
But we have no right, as drivers, to that expediency. We have no right to violate pedestrian and cyclist rights to gain a few seconds. We have no right for unlimited and unrestrained use of resources to support our automobile time travel.
A solution? It’s not just more new bike/ped infrastructure. We need more education and participation. Drivers in our town need to be educated better to respect the rights and safety of pedestrians and cyclists-and realize they aren’t being slowed down that much. Cyclists need to get in the street and ride more. Every responsible new cyclist in town increases visibility and awareness and makes it safer for those of us who are already riding. Please support Bike to Work Spokane May 12-16.
Visit: www.biketoworkspokane.org
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April 28th, 2008
The New York Times had a great piece comparing to pieces of environmental futurism last week. Ernest Calllenbach’s Ecotopia, a story where the Pacific Northwest secedes to creates a new country is contrasted with the new James Howard Kunstler novel, World Made By Hand. Peak oil guru Kunstler’s book raises an interesting question; is it impossible to motivate people to change through hope and optimism? Or must we be scared into to doing right by the planet? Kudos to the New York Times for outing Kunstler as Y2K enthusiast. According to the Times, “Kunstler went long on Y2K, predicting ‘loss of comfort and modern convenience,’ possibly escalating into disease and chaos.” Credibility gap? You decide. You can read the piece here.
Posted by Jon Snyder in News | 1 Comment »
April 25th, 2008
Everyday Cyclist writer John Speare at last night’s Bicycle Master Plan meeting.
Bicycle democracy to be exact. Last night’s Spokane Bicycle Master Plan at the West Central Community Center was successful and well attended. A hundred or so folks got to see maps of proposed bike infrastructure and long network plans. City Planner Ken Pelton and Bicycle Advisory Board members Bob Lutz and John Speare eagerly fielded questions. WSDOT also presented on state bicycle plans and got an earful from Spokane City Council member Richard Rush, who asked for more state support of bike/ped projects. Councilman Steve Corker was also in attendance. If you haven’t crashed the Bicycle Master Plan party yet there’s still time. Read about it here:
OTM collumnist John Speare has an eloquent posting about the Master Plan here:
http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com/
Read more about it at Metro Spokane here:
http://metrospokane.typepad.com/index/2008/04/get-yer-bike-pl.html
Visit the City of Spokane’s Master Bike Plan site and take the survey and give feedback:
http://www.spokaneplanning.org/master_bike_plan.htm
Or attend the final meeting:
Tuesday, April 29, at the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook, from 6 to 8 p.m.
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