CNN is presently carrying a Mental Floss article on the role of the bicycle in promoting mobility for women – both physical and social.
May 21, 2008
by julie
2 Comments
May 15, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Bike 2 Benefits
Bike 2 Benefits
In honor of Ride to Work Week, which I am missing by not being at work and thus not riding there, I present up the new Metro Transit Bike 2 Benefits program. Commit to biking to work or transit once a week for 8 weeks before year-end, and they’ll give you a nice bike map, a personalized commuting route, and a reflective ankle strap.
They’ll also enter you for faboo prizes. If you commute more than the 8 times/8 weeks, there’s apparently more benefits available, but Metro Transit is vague.
May 9, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on East River Road Bike Path Improvements
East River Road Bike Path Improvements
Backing up my past claims that some of the local bike trails are in pretty rotten shape, neighborhood paper The Bridge reports that parts of the East River Road paths will be closing midsummer for renovation.
Per their report of the Prospect Park/East River Road Improvement Association:
…some trails are seriously deteriorated. Also, older trails will be brought up to current park system standards.
Construction is expected to begin in midsummer and be completed by early fall. It will involve paving, wall repairs, signage, and landscaping. It includes 1.5 miles of pedestrian trail from the city limits north to East River Flats, and .75 miles of bike trail between Franklin Avenue and East River Flats.
The roadway in that section isn’t anything to write home about either, but I typically prefer the road through there for having more avoidable hazards in either direction, and because if you’re going from Franklin towards the Flats, it’s a downhill and the path is 10mph, and I… am not. Going downhill, I go the same speed as cars on the road.
May 9, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Free Bicycles for Republicans!
Free Bicycles for Republicans!
No, I’m not being catty. MPR reports that during the GOP Convention, 1,000 bicycles will be available for check-out from racks around both Minneapolis and St. Paul.
There are all sorts of interesting things to think about this.
- How does this fit in with the St. Paul Council’s refusal to extend bar hours to save residents the sight of “puking Republican lobbyists?”
- How many lost out-of-towners will be wandering about on bikes?
- Will these out-of-towners know bikes are available in advance, or will we see convention-clad people sans helmets on these bikes?
- Will these bikes be available to the massive number of expected protesters? I’d think the protest peeps would be more likely targets for bicycle use, somehow.
Me, I’m planning to be well away from the convention hijinks, as I survived the DNC 1996 and that was enough for at least 20 years. I’ll be up near Grand Marais somewhere, so I’ll rely on all y’all to let me know what sort of law enforcement is brought to bear on lost (drunk?) cyclists, or if the bikes even see use.
New: Article says program will leave behind the check-out mechanism (credit card swipe) and 70 bikes. This article also says that somehow, the bikes all come with helmets.
Me, I am grossed out by communal helmets. Ew.
May 6, 2008
by julie
1 Comment
Count the Bad Ideas!
1. No helmet on dude
2. No helmet on DAUGHTER
3. White visor always fashion faux pas
4. Midgrade 28c more than standard
5. Midgrade called “Silver”
6. Front tire low
7. Back tire flat
8. Seat too low
9. Cellphone use while riding
10. Flip flops
(Picture from Associated Press.)
