Impressions from Bike to Work Day

Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).

Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.

Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!

Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.

For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.

Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.

Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.

Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:
Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).

Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.

Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!

Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.

For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.

Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.

Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.


WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Lou

On May 12, 11:25*am, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:





Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).

Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.

Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!

Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.

For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.

Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.

Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.

WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Same here. This is the morning commute in PDX.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx-hobnob/214205333/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmlodge/3809799854/
-- except we wear helmets, and not so many dyno hubs. Probably lower
gears being that we have elevation changes. That little hill in the
background of the St. John's bridge has a hundred meters more
elevation gain than Mt. Vaals. Nice descent, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqllO_J9_wA
-- Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie wrote:
On May 12, 11:25 am, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:





Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).
Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.
Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!
Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.
For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.
Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.
Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.
WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Same here. This is the morning commute in PDX.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx-hobnob/214205333/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmlodge/3809799854/
-- except we wear helmets, and not so many dyno hubs. Probably lower
gears being that we have elevation changes. That little hill in the
background of the St. John's bridge has a hundred meters more
elevation gain than Mt. Vaals. Nice descent, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqllO_J9_wA
-- Jay Beattie.



First caption says 'bridge is normally closed to traffic'

Really? Portland built a bridge just for bicycles?

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On May 12, 12:34*pm, AMuzi wrote:
Jay Beattie wrote:
On May 12, 11:25 am, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:

Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).
Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.
Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!
Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.
For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.
Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.
Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.
WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Same here. *This is the morning commute in PDX.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx-hobnob/214205333/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmlodge/3809799854/
*-- except we wear helmets, and not so many dyno hubs. Probably lower
gears being that we have elevation changes. *That little hill in the
background of the St. John's bridge has a hundred meters more
elevation gain than Mt. Vaals. Nice descent, too.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqllO_J9_wA
-- Jay Beattie.

First caption says 'bridge is normally closed to traffic'

Really? Portland built a bridge just for bicycles?

Yes, but it's not avery grand bridge: http://www.flickr.com/photos/magpie33/376758467/
On the Springwater Corridor across scruffy McLaughlin Blvd.

I think the caption was referring to the fact that on that ride, the
Bridge Pedal, the bridges are all closed to auto traffic -- much to
the chagrin of anyone who needs to cross the river in a car that day.
-- Jay Beattie.

On May 12, 3:13*pm, Jay Beattie wrote:
On May 12, 11:25*am, Lou Holtman wrote:



Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:

Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).

Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.

Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!

Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.

For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.

Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.

Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.

WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Same here. *This is the morning commute in PDX.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx-hob...ge/3809799854/

Are you sure? That looks much more like the Bridge Ride - one of
those pay-to-ride-your-bike events, the kind where you have to sign a
waiver saying "I know riding a bike is really dangerous. I will never
ever take off my helmet."

-- except we wear helmets, and not so many dyno hubs.

There are lots of helmets in Portland, but by my count, it's closer to
50% than to the 100% shown in those photos. IME, the trendy
Portlanders tend to believe anything that's told to them with a dash
of counterculture save-the-world sincerity. That includes messages
about helmets, barrier-separated bike lanes, colored pavement, etc.

BTW, I bought one of my dyno hubs at CityBikes.

- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski writes:

That looks much more like the Bridge Ride - one of those
pay-to-ride-your-bike events, the kind where you have to sign a
waiver saying "I know riding a bike is really dangerous. I
will never ever take off my helmet."

Mike's Bikes here in Palo Alto made me sign a waiver like that to
*buy* a bike from them. It's a page long. I couldn't believe
it.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org

On 5/12/2011 3:21 PM, Ben Pfaff wrote:

Mike's Bikes here in Palo Alto made me sign a waiver like that to
*buy* a bike from them. It's a page long. I couldn't believe
it.

Seems to be S.O.P. for bicycle shops these days. The last two new
bicycles I bought the shop had something similar.

"Ben Pfaff" wrote in message
...
Frank Krygowski writes:

That looks much more like the Bridge Ride - one of those
pay-to-ride-your-bike events, the kind where you have to sign a
waiver saying "I know riding a bike is really dangerous. I
will never ever take off my helmet."

Mike's Bikes here in Palo Alto made me sign a waiver like that to
*buy* a bike from them. It's a page long. I couldn't believe
it.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org

Gee Ben, you wouldn't have had to sign a waiver with us! :-)

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On May 12, 2:45*pm, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On May 12, 3:13*pm, Jay Beattie wrote:





On May 12, 11:25*am, Lou Holtman wrote:

Op 12-5-2011 18:03, SMS schreef:

Numbers: Seemed like there were a lot more people riding this year.
Maybe it's the price of gasoline. Ran into several people I knew (not
literally).

Lighting: Big change from last year. A lot more daytime lighting,
probably 20% of bicycles I saw had a front flasher going, and 40% had a
rear flasher. I saw one other bicycle (besides mine) with a dynamo
light, but other than that it's very much a battery driven world around
here.

Helmets: I did not see a single cyclist at any of the energizer
stations, or on the road, that was not wearing a helmet. So while there
is no adult MHL in most of the U.S., at least in areas where the people
are highly educated, helmet usage is extremely high. Good to see that
the facts regarding helmets are getting out despite the best efforts of
a few people!

Trouble-making: Called the Sunnyvale police about a car parked in the
bicycle lane. Didn't wait around to see if they got there in time. I
have all the police non-emergency numbers for Bay Area cities programmed
into my phone and I don't hesitate to use them when I see something like
this. It was very annoying and dangerous because you had a lot of
cyclists in the bike lane having to swerve out into traffic to get
around this car.

For Bay Area people, the May 2011 Santa Clara County bicycle map is
available and was being distributed. This map is generally only updated
every couple of years, and there were many changes from the previous
one. I think VTA will mail you one if you call them. The 2010 San Jose
Bikeways map was also being given out.

Best bicycle I saw was a triple Bike Friday where the owner was taking
his two small children to their elementary school three miles from their
home.

Went to the Apple and HP Energizer stations. Alas this is the last year
for the HP station as they have sold all their buildings in my area to
Apple and are moving out. Unlikely that Apple will continue the HP
station and have two stations next year.

WTF is Bike to work day? Here people get to work by bike every day.

Numbers: I see hundreds/thousands every day.
Helmets: none;
Lights: almost exlusively dyno powered. Bikes less than 5 years old
almost all with dynohubs.
Trouble making: none. Cyclists deal with cars and vica versa.
Bikemap: ?? to go to work?

Same here. *This is the morning commute in PDX.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdx-hob...//www.flickr.c...

Are you sure? *That looks much more like the Bridge Ride - one of
those pay-to-ride-your-bike events, the kind where you have to sign a
waiver saying "I know riding a bike is really dangerous. *I will never
ever take off my helmet."

Of course it was the Bridge Pedal -- not even Holland uses interstate
highways for bike lanes. And it is dangerous! Gawdamighty, its like
riding in a cattle drive downtown on the narrow streets near the
starting line with endless dorks who ride once a year. I'm amazed
there isn't more carnage. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tholub/3829791787/
Moooooo! And this is just one waive of riders -- there are multiple
waives with different colored vests. Those are just the blue vest
guys. 20,000 riders -- count 'em. -- Jay Beattie.