152. Anti-Bike Mayor

New Mayor: anti-bike, pro-car, and unenthusiastic about rapid transit.  But of course he wouldn't describe himself that way, so we should give him the benefit of the doubt for a few months.  There are more car votes than bike votes, so he did what he had to do to get elected. What's important is not what he said before being elected, but what he does after.

Note: both outgoing and incoming NYC mayors agree on the need for more bike lanes.

151. Hometown Pride

I'm so proud of my hometown, having just finished its first dedicated bike lane.  Barriers separate the two bike lanes from cars; they even have their own traffic lights.

But next week's mayoral election threatens progress.  The anti-bike challenger makes misleading or simply false claims that bike lanes take away parking and slow down traffic.  He also enjoys a substantial lead.

150. Spreading the Message

I have two colleagues who struggle with the same commute and now use the same bike-bus strategy that I do.  Not every day, but often.  When Emily first started working in the same department, we had talked about the commute, but I had no idea she was considering biking.  She has small children at home, so the extra time of bike-bus vs car would be an issue.  Mike, also relatively new to the company just heard about me and emailed, asking about how I did it.  He works in the same building, but in a different department on a different floor, and I've never actually met him. The other day Mike emailed me saying he had converted to at least part-time bike-bussing and has liked it, and asking about my folding bike.

149. Gloves?

Suddenly aware that I have an appointment in ten minutes one mile away, I grab my bike (just as fast as a car in city traffic) and head off.  Immediately realize that I left my helmet and lock at home but no time to go back.  About half-way there, another cyclist pulls out from a side street.  Just a quick glance, but it's clear that his cycling gear cost more than my bike.  He passes me and says something along the lines, "You should be ashamed, no helmet or gloves." Gloves?

148. Three Months of Folding

When my hometown built a new bb stadium, partly with tax revenue, team owners insisted on a moveable cover.  Fiscally wary critics noted that during the bb season only rare games would have to be cancelled on account of rain.  That's not the point, they answered; the city's notoriety for off-season rain discourages season ticket purchases or any long-term planning ("let's plan for taking in a game next weekend... nah, it will probably rain, let's visit my sister instead").

So goes my folding bike.  In the past three months I've only had to fold it twice when busses rolled up with already full bike racks and once I've taken it off the rack and brought it onboard to make room for another cycler.  Is that enough to justify purchase?  Sure, for the same reason: don't have to worry about  being bumped/rained on.

147. Just a Warning

On the way home last night a cop pulled along side me and told me to stop. It appears that he had been following me for several blocks (note to self: buy handlebar mirror) and proceeded to recount the handful of traffic violations that I had committed (a tactic I can only assume is covered early in Traffic Cop 101). 

"I'm not going to give you a citation," he reassured me, "this is just for your safety.  Not long ago a little old lady ran into a pothole, cracked her helmet and now she's a vegetable."  

Okaaaay, I'll be on the lookout for potholes, I thought, wondering if I were 30 or 40 years younger he'd be telling me a story about a hot chick falling into a pothole.

146. Cycling Camaraderie

Not wanting to be the center of attention or to delay anyone's commute, I was uncertain how I would react to a totally predictable event: first my folding bike on the rack, then a few stops later another bike, then at another stop a cyclist unhappy when he sees the approaching bus with a full rack.  What else can I do?  I tell first the driver and then the cyclist that I’m going to bring my bike on board.

I exit, take my bike off, fold it (~30 seconds), and re-enter, taking no more time than it takes the other cyclist to put his bike on the rack and board the bus. Quick and smooth, I suspect commuters at the back of the bus hardly noticed.

145. PDX Rules

If you've travelled in developing nations, you've seen motorcycles used for transport of just about everything, from families of 5 to furniture to farm animals headed for slaughter.

Now Portland has taken up not motorcycle but tricycle transport. Though not yet cost-competitive, the "B-Line" still attracts customers for reasons that transcend the bottom line.

 "It feels good psychologically knowing that our ... fresh bread is in that cargo box,” says the manager of Grand Central Bakery. “It killed us that all of our deliveries were in a van,” she adds. “We’re all avid bikers.”

144. Merge?

Merge?  Yeah, right.

When I see this sign, I head for the sidewalk.

Because you know, whether the pitcher hits the stone or the stone hits the pitcher, it's the pitcher that ends up as a pile of broken glass on the ground.

143. Folding Bike in Action

Been riding my folding bike most days (but not with rain, it's too new to get wet).  Sometimes I bring  it on the bus, sometimes I leave it on the bike rack, which would be a mean thing to do if the rack filled and then down the line some other cyclist couldn't get on.  Well, maybe not mean but certainly contrary to cycling camaraderie

notice how my bike matches my backpack

If I saw that coming, I like to think I'd get off and do a quick fold, bringing it on the bus to open up a space on the rack.  

A noble act you think? We'll see.

142. New Yorker

Celebrating NYC's new bike share system

141. Great Price

Just an ordinary street fair; bought a couple of bowls and while talking to the potter and his wife (or the potter and her husband), somehow the subject of bicycles came up (but of course, some would say that I bring up bikes in every conversation, which I categorically deny).

I just bought a new bike, she said, a really nice bike for a great price. You don't think it was stolen? There were so many.

Yes, I do think it was stolen; why do you think it was so cheap?  And too many bikes? Traveling gangs hit campuses and parking lots.  From there to Craigs list or that corner where you got yours. I don't want to know. Go back to your clay.  Bikes wouldn't be stolen if dupes like you wouldn't buy them.  And don't tell me about the great price on that Ebay iPhone you're holding.

140. Done Deal

The skies are March but the calendar says May, and sure enough, more cyclists are hitting the road.  In yesterday's rain, I was the first bike on the bus rack, three stops later, a second bike filled it, then a few more stops and a third cyclist was waiting--but no room.  A few minutes later a fourth cyclist also left waiting.  In the afternoon, again the rack filled after I got on and down the road another cyclist left.

Time to get that folding bike.  The morning ride is okay, I pick up the bus at its first stop; it's been a couple of years since I had competition for the rack.  But the afternoon it's another story; I pick up the bus far from its start.

So I bought it. It was even on a 15% sale. 

139. Folding Bikes, Part II

Three months ago, I became serious about folding bikes with some google searches and a couple of test rides, then put the decision aside.

Now with better weather increasing the odds of being bumped--a bus arriving with the bus rack already full--so I started looking again.

First the Brompton, gold standard for folding bikes.  Folds the smallest, weighs the least, best rep for reliability.  But also $1200, or so my earlier research told me.

My test ride was disappointing: the smaller (than other foldables) wheels decrease stability, especially when standing during climbs.  And the model I'd need would come to $2000. Scratch the Brompton.

Next, a couple of $600 models; not as compact, but that's because of large wheels which means greater stability. I think I'll go with REI's version, given the discount as an REI member, the easy return if necessary, and the convenient maintenance (on my way home from work).

138. Bike to Work Month

Yesterday at the doctor's office my blood pressure was 152/83, higher than I can remember it being. I blamed it on stress, almost late, rushing to the office then immediately ushered into an exam room with BP taken right away.  Wasn't quite out of breath but almost.  No acute illness, but I did have a request that I wasn't sure would be addressed the way I wanted.

Today, a bike ride to the bus stop, deep into "The Violinist's Thumb," then the bike ride up the hill to my office, stopping off at an DIY BP machine (well-calibrated, I was assured). Not quite out of breath but almost.

BP = 114/77.

Yes, the advantages of commuting by bus and bike.

137. Veloman

The deal was sealed on line; I was to meet him on the corner of Post and Marion, me with the cash, him with the goods.  I had to be there by 5 before the hour, turns out he had a bus to catch ("to pick up my kid"--I'm sure that was code for something but hesitated to ask lest my naivety jeopardize the transaction).

My timing was dependent on my own bus, but I thought I had reached the specified corner in time. I called him only to be told that he was heading for the bus stop "near the library."  I climbed back on my bike for the 4 steep blocks up to the library.  Out of breath and barely able to speak, I called him again: "Look for the orange bike helmet." He caught my eye but just as I reached him his bus arrived and off he ran.

No problem: as he entered the bus, I put my bike on the rack and climbed on behind him.  The transaction completed, I exited at the next stop.  The other passengers may have thought they were just looking at some dude with a beard buying a copy of Turbotax from an asian guy.  But do they really know the contents of that disc? Can they be sure he's not North Korean? I think not.

136. Door'd

Almost door'd last week.  The timing was perfect, the driver's door opening just as I passed, but I was a few inches away.

A local pediatrician was not so lucky.  In his words:

I and the guy sitting in his parked car made simultaneous errors: riding too close (me) and opening the door without checking for a bicycle (him).  Injury [fracture] to the back of my right hand: [orthopedist] took care of me and I was out of the OR by 2 am and ready for nursery rounds the next morning: turns out I can examine newborns with one hand tied behind my back!  Lots of help from the dads, they were definitely not allowed to snore thru it that morning.

Full recovery expected in six weeks; his helmet cracked in several places.

Damned if you do (ride too close to parked cars); damned if you don't, risking the moving traffic that doesn't always appreciate a cyclist's right to a traffic lane.

135. Taxes

Breaking News: Washington State Legislature proposes Bike Tax:

http://streetsblog.net/2013/02/21/washington-state-considering-a-symbolic-tax-on-bicycles/

So, a symbolic tax to assuage the feelings of motorists angry at red light-running cyclists?  Sorry, these aggressive motorists will hardly change attitudes based on a $25 tax.

Then a symbolic tax so that all users pay for road maintenance?  Then why not an excise tax on shoes for all those pedestrians whose habits require lights and paint and traffic cops?

yes, this is my route and could be my bike--if it were black

We pay sales taxes on bikes and equipment repairs.  Most of us own cars and may gas taxes.

I don't go along with the worst case scenario which would have fewer people buying bikes because of this tax.

And since yearly auto excise taxes (0.3%, or $6.00 for my back-up Volvo 740) support local transit, I can't complain about cyclists also supporting public transit. So a one-time $25 tax on new bikes?  Sure, why not.

134. The next bike

Always thinking of my next bike, like some people think about their next car, pair of shoes, or night out.

This bamboo bike from Phnom Penh would make some kind of statement, I guess but relatively pricey at $450.

So I went to Costco, cheap and reliable, but it would be the usual routine: switch tires, add fenders, etc.  Not so cheap anymore, and a copy of what I already have.

That folding bike looking more and more interesting.

133. What? No Busses?

Phnom Penh skyline

Phnom Penh: a city with 2.2 million residents and no public transportation. Many cars but mainly tuk-tuks, motorcycles and mopeds. Rare taxis.  Not as many bikes as I thought for a flat terrain. Tuk-tuks aren't cheap, tourist price 3-5 dollars to get downtown from my hotel about 15-20 minutes away.

View from back of a cycle

Tuk-Tuk

Walking around, I was offered a motorcycle ride every couple of blocks, until of course I really wanted one. And why not, an easy way for the owner to pay for the cycle. Two bucks got me the same destination as the $4 tuk-tuk.


I'm guessing the low number of bikes reflects the hazards of competing with cars and motorcycles.  And in a large city, it may be that jobs are too far away from homes. "Downtown" seems to consist of government buildings and tourist spots with job-heavy commercial high rises scattered throughout the city, making it easier to live close to where you work.  

Shave head: need umbrella

As for pedestrians?  Just me and some Buddhist monks.  With sidewalks on commercial streets taken up by parked cars, walking means sharing the street with cars, cycles, and tuk-tuks, not very appealing.

132. Volunteer Park

Sure, I talk a lot about riding the bus, biking, or just running to get to work.  But there is something to be said about just walking, slowing down to see what is going on around me, like this squirrel, a bit suspicious but not wanting to interrupt his meal.

131. I Love You, Helmet

I'm the last one on the bus as it nears its final stop. Eager for the last leg of my commute, I get my gear together and head for the front to make for a quick exit.  At the same time some idiot swerves across three lanes of traffic in order to make the I-5 ramp.  Bus driver slams on the brakes and suddenly I'm face down, sprawled on the floor, my head ricocheting inside my helmet.  Did I mention that getting my gear together meant putting on my helmet, without which I would probably be in an ER right now?

130. To Fold or Not to Fold

I have occasionally commented on the disappointment that comes when an arriving bus has a full bike rack.  Some fit two bikes, others three, but once full, that's it; no bikes on the bus.  More likely in the summer but can happen anytime.

Solution #1:  Just wait 30 minutes for the next bus.  Only once has the following bus also been full, meaning an hour wait.  If the weather's okay, and I have a smart phone or computer (e.g., my new Air), I'm okay.  But if the day has been long or frustrating, the wait seems interminable.

#2: Lock up my bike at the bus stop, and then pick it up in the morning.  After two stolen bikes from the bus stop, scratch this option.

#3: A folding bike, that can be taken on board, in a bag no bigger than common carry-on luggage.  So I've started the process of googling and test-riding that may end up with a folding bike in the garage and at my foot on the bus.

129. Prop One, Again

You know Prop One: the narrowly defeated proposal to raise sales tax for local bus service, threatening evening and weekend service.  I initially blamed the loss on selfish voters, but I think it's more complicated.  The tri-county bus/light rail/rail system also depends on sales tax revenue but doesn't face a similar financial crisis.  Why?

Granted that the tri-county express routes are more efficient, but probably more telling is an observation from a couple of days ago:  Waiting at the bus stop I watched 4 local buses pass--it's evening rush hour, downtown, the buses heading out for separate residential destinations.  They should be crowded, right?  I counted the number of passengers in each: 4, 16, 7, 6.

Tri-county transit on the other hand, just announced quarterly ridership numbers: up again, around 12% increases in each of its lines, following similar increases the past few years. My morning against-rush hour express bus often is often more than 50% full.

So the problem may be that this county just doesn't get it--the public transit thing. As expressed by one of my co-workers, "only poor people ride the bus."

But they're stingy, too.

128. I believe

Interviewed at the first day demo rides for Utah's new commuter rail, one prospective user said after comparing cost of gas with cost of fare, he'd save only 80 cents, but "switching to the train will save both his car and his nerves more than enough wear and tear to make the difference."

While riding home last week a transit worker asked if I would respond to some questions about transit use including why I commute by light rail/bus/train/bike.  She suggested some possible answers: save money, good for environment, less stress, time alone, etc.  My response?  "I believe in public transit."

127. Final Tally

It's final: Prop One to support local public transit defeated by 700 votes out of 200,000 cast.  The county also voted against gay marriage and for legalization of marijuana.

And to no one' surprise, the proposition to change the county's motto won by a whopping 65-35 vote.  As of Jan 1st, the county's new rallying cry will be, "It's All About Me."

126. Prop One, Part Two

The governor-elect of my home state claims a greener outlook than his liberal but still road-loving predecessor, but he can't claim a mandate.

The public transit authority in the state's second largest county asked for a 0.3 cent increase in the local sales tax (that's 3 cents for every ten dollar purchase).  But out of 175,000 votes counted so far, the nay votes lead by about 900.

The local Chamber of Commerce opposed Prop One on the grounds that any increase in sales tax threatens business.

Transit officials predict that weekend and night service will disappear, a nasty blow to the poor, disabled, and those of us who ride public transit because we believe in it.  We'll find out for in a month or so if this was a real prediction or a campaign false alarm.

125. SRO

Well, not exactly Standing Room Only, but to have 26 riders on my bus this morning--6 am and against rush hour--that's not bad. Back in the day (we're talking last century) there were days when just 2 or three of us made the ride).

The local transit authority says that Sept 2012 ridership increased 13% over Sept 2011 on its bus/light rail/commuter rail system.

Maybe we are approaching a critical mass: more riders generating more routes, attracting even more riders, and on to a nuclear explosion of mass transit

[there there is a downside; I may have to start sharing a seat, common at the 5:30 pm homeward bound route]

124. Free Ride

Last week, public transit ended the Ride-Free Area (RFA) a one by one-half mile area downtown where all bus rides were free (though of course if one entered the bus in the RFA and continued as a passenger outside the zone, the full fare would be collected at exit).

It started in 1973 as a friendly nod to tourists and to encourage downtown shoppers, but many (most?) riders were the homeless and/or the disabled.  Advocates for the latter groups opposed its end, citing the need for free rides so that these citizens could get to clinics and grocery stores and shelters.  The city has been paying the transit $400,000 yearly for the service and last year decided could afford to do so no longer.

But the disabled have 75 cent fares already, and there are no hospitals/clinics within the RFA, no public housing, just one large shelter.  I don't think it served logistic goals, but simply provided a warm, dry place to sit for at least 15-20 minutes during the long days until shelters open or until darkness allows sleep in doorways or underpasses.

I doubt that transit will see much in the way of increased fares; shoppers and tourists will walk or change plans, and the homeless, well, the homeless will continue as before.  Transit says it will provide more free passes to aid agencies and a free circulating bus/van has started, though its continued funding remains uncertain.  I'm sorry to see the end of the RFA.

123. I Promise....

... to never, ever, never, never, never, leave my bike locked up outside overnight.

No lock is impenetrable, and strategies to prevent theft (e.g., two different locks that would require separate tools to break) have their own problems.  So just don't.

When I have an overnight shift; that's the day to run/bus instead of bike/bus.