They both have a point, and miss one, in my opinion.

It’s a very good point that most of the info disseminated by bicycle advocates about cycling in the snow really orients [...]]]>

The excellent Copehnagenize has an excellent post on how most posts on cycling in winter complicate the issue and emphasize subculture instead of mainstreaming the notion.

They both have a point, and miss one, in my opinion.

It’s a very good point that most of the info disseminated by bicycle advocates about cycling in the snow really orients to lifestyle cyclists and not people who ride bikes. At the same time, even somewhere like Minneapolis, riding in the snow isn’t yet considered normal, and all the gung-ho promotion of it as normal is not going to win over most people. In addition, even when you deal with a bikeway like the Midtown Greenway, which is plowed regularly, the relative normalcy of cycling in winter is also influenced by how a city approaches snow/ice removal in general, and how a city’s drivers approach cyclists in general.

In winter, in Minneapolis, drivers are less likely to look for and expect cyclists than they are normally. This is just a truth.

In winter, snow removal practices influence cycling possibilities more than usual. Snow removal focuses on major routes first, which are often not ideal bike routes, especially in snow. The artery streets that get priority are often faster, with limited shoulder/bike facility, and even if plowed to the curb, end up a little narrower than usual.

I try to avoid the cyclist elitist approach, but there are places that there is reason to emphasize certain approaches. Yes, they’re right that if “dressing in layers” is news to you, you’re likely to be dead before the end of your first Minnesota winter. But issues like how to handle in snow, how black ice mucks with bike handling, why maybe the bike you have in your garage ISN’T a good idea in some conditions (the idea of riding my Giant OCR1 on ice? Oh dear god no!), how route selection may need to vary in snow… all real. All legitimate in cities that don’t take cyclists for granted, and whose infrastructure is a hodge-podge of accommodation and suitability at the BEST of times, let alone when said streets and accommodations need to be plowed and salted.

The subculture can promote winter cycling in ways that don’t stink of subculture. But right now, cycling in winter remains subcultural. And we’d all be lying if we said that riding in winter was just like riding at any other time, or that the behaviors of June translate on a 1-to-1 basis to the behaviors of  January after 3-5″, a clear, a partial melt, and another 2″ fall. Because we’d be lying heinously in ways that if anyone were dumb enough to believe us could cause injury, confusion, and delay.

Should winter cycling be a circle-jerk? No. Does it require some extra thought processes? Hell yeah.

And once again, the new year highlights that there is a very real differentiator between “bicyclists” and “people who bike.” This differentiator can be fatal, as in the case of Kerry Steven Baker. Mr. Baker was killed pre-dawn on New Year’s morning, [...]]]>

So, here we are. Minneapolis gets recognition and awards for its bike culture. Bicyclists, woo!

And once again, the new year highlights that there is a very real differentiator between “bicyclists” and “people who bike.” This differentiator can be fatal, as in the case of Kerry Steven Baker. Mr. Baker was killed pre-dawn on New Year’s morning, riding northbound in the southbound lanes of the 4700 block of East River Road, near the Anoka County Riverfront Park. He was hit by a plow going southbound in those southbound lanes.

News reports are calling out that he had no lights and no helmet, but not calling out that much like lacking a headlamp in the dark, riding against the flow of traffic is contrary to Minnesota state regulations for bicycle use. Nope, it’s all about the helmet!

Further revelations (via Fridley Patch) indicate that the deceased had a long criminal record featuring many kinds of violations that would preclude driving a car legally, although nothing has outright stated that he lacked a driver’s license.

These sorts of accidents really call out the people who aren’t touched by “bicycle culture!” as is so frequently touted in mags like Bicycling, or on sites like Grist or Streetsblog, which speak to a certain level of audience. These people get lost in things like the annual bicycle counts for the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program, because they don’t use “commuter” routes, and are often out at irregular times. Often, these people don’t speak great English, use sidewalks, don’t wear helmets, don’t have lights, etc.

There is much to be said that making roads safer for bicyclists also makes it safer for people who bike. But most communities remain stuck on the how of reaching many of the people who bike, because they are so outside of their experience. Some communities don’t even recognize/realize the need.

At the end of the day, the cycling movement really needs to work on empowering people beyond the spandex-clad, the hipsters, the young, and find ways to reach out to people who feel forced to ride, and people who think riding is out of reach, such as many women, people with kids, etc. It’s a hard problem. But the first step is recognizing the need, and not getting too caught up in congratulations, awards, and circle-jerking within the core community of bicyclists — a group who often look down on people who bike, and a group who people who bike often feel no kinship with. We’re all on these roads together.

Edit/Addition: The section of road where this cyclist died is highly bikeable, and there are several off-road routes that overlap, but are unlikely to have been passable immediately post-snow. A lot more of this accident is on wrong-way riding and a lack of lights — both of which can be taught. This accident was by no means a facility issue.

Go read it, for it is super awesome.

There is a common theme to these stories: Hey, look at the freaks! Sure, many of the stories have positive elements, such as the riders [...]]]>

There has been the expected annual spate of winter cycling stories on multiple local news channels and sites – from the Strib and PiPress to features on local news and radio programs.

There is a common theme to these stories: Hey, look at the freaks! Sure, many of the stories have positive elements, such as the riders discussing their health and well-being. But the basic nature of the stories is one of abnormality, and not that this is a choice that can be made by people in the right circumstances – and in some cases, there are people who are forced to the choice by circumstances, although those people are rarely featured in such news puff pieces.

To my mind, a lot of these stories aren’t exactly bad for the profile of cycling in the state – or anywhere, as there are plenty of these stories in many cities – but they really don’t promote the idea of cycling as a sustainable or possible choice. It’s rare these articles contain actual tips on how to make such a decision for yourself. While many do present the winter cyclist as some sort of super-person, and thus there is the potential for aspiration, it’s really not made explicit that these people are admirable – just crazy.

I think a real sign of progress for the cycling community will be when we reach a point where these stories are driven out of the slow-news cycle by tales about fuzzy puppies, because there won’t be a freakshow/crazy element to the profiles – cyclists will simply be accepted and expected, regardless of season.

Photo by Jaymi Heimbush, via Flickr

As I expected when I wrote about this bridge and its corroded cables in October, the reopening for cyclists does have some plowing dependencies. While Minneapolis is on its ‘new’ plowing budget for 2011 after completely blowing the budget for 2010 with all the [...]]]>

Yesterday, the Plymouth Avenue bridge in Minneapolis reopened for cyclists and pedestrians only.

As I expected when I wrote about this bridge and its corroded cables in October, the reopening for cyclists does have some plowing dependencies. While Minneapolis is on its ‘new’ plowing budget for 2011 after completely blowing the budget for 2010 with all the November snow emergencies, running plows over the bridge is not a budgetary or safety priority. (Hey, plows are heavy.) As a result, cyclists are being asked to walk their bikes over the bridge via the sidewalk. The shoveled walkway is not wide enough to support simultaneous cyclists and walker use.

As I also would suspect, pedestrians and cyclists were using the bridge anyway, despite signage.

This situation is expected to be extended, although come spring the snow/walk restrictions will obviously be a non-point. Minneapolis hopes to get help to fund the bridge repair, which includes both replacing the corroded cables and relocating the drainage pipes contributing to the corrosion. If funding is procured, repair would take place “late next year,” whatever that means.

Personally, I don’t believe this is going to last until Wednesday. It’s to warm up on Monday, and even now it’s heavy, wet and dumb snow. The plows aren’t especially visible at this point.

If you’re looking to extend your [...]]]>

Everyone panic! It’s November 13 in Minneapolis, and we’re having the first snow. Winter riding season is here!

Personally, I don’t believe this is going to last until Wednesday. It’s to warm up on Monday, and even now it’s heavy, wet and dumb snow. The plows aren’t especially visible at this point.

If you’re looking to extend your season, one of the most popular posts I’ve ever published on this blog is about prepping for riding all winter. One thing that is true of the process is that it’ll cost a few bucks to really be able to kick it all winter long – whether it’s light acquisition, getting studded tires, looking at a bicycle that can even support studded tires. On the other hand, winterizing your car costs money. Having winter clothing of any type costs money. So.

However, this week Minneapolis lost a crossing of the Mississippi River for the very reason of hazard and corrosion. The [...]]]>

Ever since the new I35W bridge opened – and in light of the budgetary issues facing both Minnesota and the US – it seems as though attention to the crumbling state of many bridges has quieted down.

However, this week Minneapolis lost a crossing of the Mississippi River for the very reason of hazard and corrosion. The Plymouth Avenue Bridge was closed October 22 as a ‘safety precaution’ after discovery of corroded bridge tendons. On October 28, the city announced the bridge would remain closed for the winter.

As bridges go, this one isn’t even one of the older bridges in town to be showing such damage – it was built in 1983.

Officials say that they will evaluate leaving the bridge open for cyclists and pedestrians, as their overall weight doesn’t provoke the strain that 10,000 vehicles a day do. Those vehicles are mostly expected to move north to the Broadway Avenue bridge, or south to the Hennepin Avenue bridge. Traffic lights near both are being adjusted to help with traffic flow.

It’s difficult to say, with this bridge closure, if the bridge will be plowed through the winter if the bridge is kept open for cyclists and pedestrians. Presumably, plowing it would become a very low priority in light of the closure (as well as budget issues). It’s safe to suggest that cyclists are going to end up detouring too through the winter, even if the bridge is ‘kept open’ for them.

The timing for this is interesting – because of the many issues with right-of-way, as well as [...]]]>

There’s been a bunch of coverage of the final phase of the Cedar Lake Trail. After years of right-of-way issues, the construction of Target Field, and funding, the final easement to extend the trail to the river has been acquired.

The timing for this is interesting – because of the many issues with right-of-way, as well as building a mile of trail through the densest part of the urban core, this is going to be monstrously expensive. Estimates for the total cost of this last segment exceed $9.2 million dollars, paid via a combination of state funds, federal earmark, donations and even funds from the city of Minneapolis.

A lot of people question this expense, particularly at a time of challenging federal, state and municipal budgets.

One thing to keep in mind is that this won’t ever become any cheaper, short of a zombie apocalypse that devastates that piece of Minneapolis and makes the construction easier. Costs to get the construction going are cheaper now than at any time in the recent past, due to high labor supply.

The maze to get from the de facto current trailhead to the river frustrates many. Some of the city’s recent shenanigans with parking, bike lanes, taking streets two-way from one-way, and etc. haven’t helped. Obviously, this of itself doesn’t justify expense – but the completion has been planned for many years.

Completion is scheduled for November. I am assuming that the extension, like the rest of the trail, will be plowed during the winter, adding to the Minneapolis commuter trail network that is quite workable even in the nastiest months of the year. However, it’s always good to confirm plowing each year – budgets being what they are.

Factors cited that create anger include running red lights, texting and e-mailing while driving, putting on makeup, eating, or talking on a cell phone.

One thing worth noting is that per the study methodology, the telephone surveys were performed [...]]]>

In a recent study, Minneapolis-St. Paul made it onto a list of the top five metros for road rage.

Factors cited that create anger include running red lights, texting and e-mailing while driving, putting on makeup, eating, or talking on a cell phone.

One thing worth noting is that per the study methodology, the telephone surveys were performed between January and March 2009. This winter’s road conditions would have been enough to provike road rage in anyone. Still, it’s a fine reminder to cyclists that distracted drivers are a hazard to all around them, and cyclists need to be even more aware of them than even others in automobiles.