On Saturday night, Henry Sun was out walking near his house in Brighton, a Rochester suburb, and was struck and killed by a motorist. He was 14.

We had our first thunderstorm of the season that night. The details are vague and contradictory on the various news web sites, but it appears that Henry was walking in the shoulder of the road, was struck at about 8 p.m., he then later passed away at the hospital, and police have not charged the motorist.

The police have stated that there are sidewalks in the area, but news sources have quoted some who say there are no sidewalks (and Google Street View backs up the lack-of-sidewalk claims). A story in the Democrat and Chronicle discusses neighbor complaints about speeding on that stretch of road, which is known as “The Elmwood Expressway.”

Henry’s death moves me more than most deaths I read about. I was riding just south of the neighborhood where Henry was walking that night, on my way to a dinner, where I complained about the walkability issues in that part of town. But I haven’t actually done anything constructive to make the area safer for pedestrians.

The mother of a six-year-old girl who was struck on the same stretch of road in 2007 shares her frustration in the comments of this story:

I went to the town of Brighton and asked them to help slow Elmwood down before someone else was hurt or killed . . . I want to start a petition of all Brighton residents to present to both the town and the county to get the road right with sidewalks on both sides and if needed, speed bumps.

These are good ideas, I fully support them. They help to mitigate a serious problem. I doubt you’ll see the county install speed bumps on a 35 mph road, but you might see them try other traffic-calming strategies. For example: a narrower street, with a reduced shoulder size (or bike lane!) and raised sidewalks with curbs, can help signal to drivers that this is a neighborhood and not a highway. This is a response, but it doesn’t eliminate the problem.

The statistics are a little old, but the late bike advocate Ken Kifer’s site has a long rundown of the various dangers cyclists (and pedestrians) face. Ken notes that in his calculations (based on 1997 data), one out of every 69 people will either be killed by or kill someone else with a motor vehicle. Sadly, Ken was one of those people – he was killed by a drunk driver in 2003.

We know that motor vehicles are the problem here, directly causing over forty thousand deaths each year in the US alone.

The convenience of owning and operating our own cars is no good reason why so many people have to die violent, tragic deaths.

Of course, there’s a lot of work to do.

A couple weeks ago, when we were in the first major melting phase of this muddled winter, I found myself on a partially submerged road near Cobbs Hill. Apparently all of Cobbs’ snow was melting and pooling on the street. I stopped for a couple minutes to take pictures of motorists as they pondered whether to spend two minutes on a detour or risk severe damage to their cars.

Maybe if I go slowly the water won’t notice that I’m here 

Winters bring the most difficult conditions for motorists to get through, be they giant puddles of indeterminate depth, deep snow to get stuck in, or icy hills that send climbing cars backwards. I haven’t had those problems yet this winter on bike. And if I do, I make the point in my Ten Reasons Why Bikes Are Better for Winter Commuting that when the going gets tough on a bike, you can walk or carry it until you’re in the clear.

I can carry 12 lifejackets in my Freeloader bags 

It’s OK to feel a little bit of smug self-satisfaction as a winter bike commuter. People think it’s so rough. Oh, you must be really dedicated. I could never do that.

The secret is that, sometimes, it’s much easier on bike.

I picked up some studded tires from Towners about a month ago, and have been tearing up the roads with them since. I’ve experienced and seen my fair share of wipe-outs in past winter seasons, and after reading about Ethan’s experience this morning, figured that I’d share some thoughts on the studded life.

My tires, basking in the ice-cold neon power of the Chicken Avenger 

The Right Tire for You 

My particular Nokian tires seem comparatively low-end, as Nokians go. They have just 160 studs per tire compared to the meatier Nokian Extremes that our own Jack Spula uses. Plus, it seems that the $65.00-per-tire asking price at Towners is a bit high compared to what other people are paying around the country for this particular model. So if you can spare the time to research the best value you can find, I suggest you do.

But even lower-end overpriced studded tire models receive praise from their users. I’ve spent time on icy roads with road tires, mountain bike tires, fat balloon cruiser tires, and of course these Nokians, and this winter season (with the studs) is really the first time I’ve felt comfortable in all road conditions. I’ve gotten away in the past with “knobby” mountain bike tires, but they’re only good when there’s snow on the road. Those knobs do nothing to grip onto the ice.

How Far Will Studs Take One? 

I still ride with extra caution on nights like tonight when it gets cold after a bit of a thaw. That’s my sensible nature.

Yet studs really speed up my winter commutes. I used to get off my bike and walk it on side streets when there was a lot of sludge build-up. Poorly plowed back roads are still not my preferred route to take in winter, but they’re navigable with the Nokians.

White and black ice usually isn’t much of a problem, either, though I make sure to slow down a bit when the street looks shiny. Turns are easy to take, which is a huge relief at intersections. I was riding with Joey Mac last winter, and we went to take a left at an icy intersection, but Joey’s bike kept going straight. A busy intersection is the worst place to fall off your bike, and avoiding that situation just once is worth the price of at least one studded tire.

The brown frozen sludge that cars deposit next to their path, which Jack affectionately calls “car snot,” is probably the most difficult surface to ride on with studded tires. It builds up the most on roads with moderate use, where there is enough traffic to push the sludge next to the motorists’ path but not enough to help melt it all away. When possible I just ride closer to the center of the road, in the right tire track, and let motorists try to figure out how to pass me safely. But when I have to ride in the snot, I drop the bike down to a low gear and take my time. I’ve even ridden uphill through the snot (on Empire Boulevard, by the bay) and that’s something that can’t be done with standard road tires.

Incidentally, the studs handle fine on clear roads. There’s a bit of a humming noise, and a hardly detectable increase in rolling resistance, but nothing that makes me look forward to the end of the season when the road tires go back on. These tires are welcome to stay on my bike for as long as the weather demands.

Cuts through the snow like a hot knife through Earth Balance. 

Now, To Find Studded Boots! 

One hilarious drawback of these studded tires is that they’ll take you to places where you can’t walk. I’ll stop my bike and get off, only to stumble around on the icy surface. I’m happy that my studded tires have made me stop cursing my decision to live in a northern climate while I’m on my bike. Now, for some boots that will do the same while I’m walking.

My Xtracycle has been a long time coming, the result of over a year of scrimping and saving (the car-free lifestyle has helped with that a lot). It was further delayed when the Xtracycle kits remained sold out, so the morning they went back on sale I purchased one and had it shipped straight to local upscale bike shop Full Moon Vista (which had previously put together Jason’s Packet Boat).

An hour after it arrived at Full Moon Vista, I received e-mail confirmation, and gave them a call. I found myself in an awkward conversation, trying to assure the fellow at FMV that I had called ahead to make sure shipping the Xtracycle kit directly to the bike shop was OK. I think he just wanted to know on principle, but I imagine they’d still be willing to do the work if I hadn’t called ahead. And then I scheduled an appointment for this past Monday. This is the first time I’ve had any work done at Full Moon Vista.

If you haven’t been to Full Moon Vista yet, you should check it out. 

Today, I got the call: the Xtracycle was complete. I headed on in and they brought her out. It was love at first sight.

I’ve named her “The Chicken Avenger,” because that’s the name Jason gave me for all the work I do to help chickens. They’re the most abused animal on the face of the planet, and my Xtracycle will help me stand up for them in a lot of ways! Plus, it makes a cool bike name.

So I paid for the work, hopped on my bike, and I was off.

Ah, entering the world of long bikes. 

But, after heading a few blocks on the bike, I realized there was a problem with the chain slipping. So I turned her around and headed back to the shop. Dave, the mechanic who had worked on the Avenger, rode her around and diagnosed it as a worn out cassette.

I hope his name is Dave. It would be a jerk thing to get his name wrong. 

You see, I’ve traveled many thousands of miles on this bike over the past year, which had done a number on my chain. A worn out chain has a way of wearing out the cassette. The new long chain on my bike simply didn’t jive with the old cassette, so $26.99 later and I was back on the road without a slip to speak of.

With a drivetrain that is half-new and wheels that I learned how to true myself, my bike feels almost new again! I remember what I love about her now and see so much more to love, so I think we’re going to be spending a lot more quality time together going forward.

It’s like the pickup truck version of a bike. 

The first thing I did with the Avenger was ride to Abundance Coop and stock up on massive quantities of delicious vegan foods. I was nervous about fitting everything in, but once I started playing around with the well-designed system of straps I realized that it’s hard to imagine a limit to what the Xtracycle can carry.

The straps on either side can actually reach over the back deck, fastening pretty much anything in place. 

Team RocBikers or other good friends/trustworthy acquaintances in the area are more than welcome to take the Avenger for a spin. Just let me know. And I’ll let you know how life with her goes.

And, in regards to Full Moon Vista, I’ll definitely be headed back. Dave was the best thing about FMV; I’ve been insulted or seriously let down by bike mechanics before (want me to go into that?), but Dave was patient, honest, and very friendly.

Technorati Tags: bike shop, xtracycle

This coming Monday, I’m bringing my bike in to Full Moon Vista for a modification that’s taken a year of scrimping and saving to afford. Here is a lousy animation of what keeps playing in my head:

Technorati Tags: animation, xtracycle

This past Friday night, Jess and I went out on a S24O camping trip down the Genesee Valley Greenway. It’s was a very casual, fun, refreshing adventure; and I highly recommend that those in Rochester check out the trail. Pictures and a bit of story telling follow. (more…)

Please welcome the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle’s new lifestyle site, RocEarth, to the internets:

In the D&C’s style, the site is awkwardly designed and serves as little more than a link farm to the newspaper’s main web site, but, there is a gem: a video currently embedded on the main page, called “Green Riders”:

The video series features a bunch of people who commute in different ways to reduce their carbon footprint, including one bike commuter, but also people who use gas-powered scooters, ride a gas-powered bus, and drive gas-powered cars. Brought to you by Hoselton Auto Mall, currently offering 2 models that get over 30 mpg. But I digress.

Here’s a direct link to the bike commuter profile. The vignette features Rochester resident Emily Lynch discussing her bikes, her bike-friendly community in the South Wedge, and her commute to the Rochester Public Market down busy streets.

As a gas-free purist, I took slightly less interest in the other 3 categories, but it’s good to see people making a difference in all sorts of different ways.

As any good bicycle safety resource will tell you, bicycles belong on the road. That’s where cars are going to see you, and it’s where pedestrians are going to hop out in front of you a little less. And although if you’re just getting into cycling you may find that riding street-level with cars may be a little unnerving, you’ll be much safer if you do.

That said, there are a few exceptions to riding on the road. I’m going to go over some of them here. Remember, if you choose to ride on the sidewalk for any length, be extra cautious. Anytime you cross a street from the sidewalk you should assume motorists aren’t looking for you. Be nice to pedestrians when you encounter them and don’t ride much faster than the speed they’re walking (here are some more tips for you sidewalk-using renegades).

OK, on with the list:

1. Momentary motorist distrust 

It’s best to assume, as a cyclist, that every motorist could go veering in any direction at any moment. In practice, this would make cycling on city streets prohibitively slow and paranoid. But it’s still good to have a handle on which cars are approaching you when. If a motorist seems unusually prone to veering, or if they are driving towards you in a way that indicates they have no idea you’re there, hopping up to the curb until they pass is the best idea.

You can, in part, rely on the sounds cars make (and perhaps the occasional head twist) to monitor traffic behind you. However, mirrors, invented 8,000 years ago, make a wonderful accessory to your bike and clue you in to approaching trouble you may not otherwise notice. They also allow you to do double-takes at other bikes out on the road without being so obvious about it. And they cost about $10.

Spot suspicious cars driving backwards towards you with a trusty mirror. 

2. Inclement weather 

You’re in an ice storm in the middle of winter, but no matter how big the metal studs on your tires are, you can be sure the motorist next to you is knuckling it on bald all-seasons. The best you can do when a 2-ton metal brick starts sliding around next to you is to put a curb between you and the brick.

Downpours can pose a different problem – potholes and poorly designed storm drains have their way of hiding underneath vast puddles. And as visibility drops, not only will motorists have a hard time seeing you, but vice-versa. Although you may be anxious to get out of the rain, playing it safer and slower up on the sidewalk may be the most prudent option.

3. Awesome shortcuts 

Part of being a safe city cyclist is using side streets when possible. Riding down the nearly-abandoned side streets in smaller cities like Rochester can be calmer, smoother, and often more picturesque.

The calmest of sides streets are that way because they aren’t open to “thru traffic,” but cyclists don’t always have to heed these traffic rules. Sometimes a pathway, a park, a footbridge, or a sidewalk connects dead ends to other roads and allows the street-smart cyclist to take these alternate routes.

Spend some time riding around side streets you otherwise may think you can’t get through, and you may be surprised at the options little footpaths give you.

My favorite shortcut in Rochester, which takes you from S Goodman and 490 to Oxford and Monroe. The numerous bike tire tracks in the snow indicate this shortcut’s popularity. 

4. Construction 

Construction often provides motorists with the terrible combination of sensory overload with confined shoulder-free lane space. Unless you’re prepared to take a lane and infuriate a motorist in standstill traffic because they need to wait 8 feet farther from their destination, it’s often a good idea to avoid construction traffic altogether.

Remember to be even more extra cautious if you choose to take the sidewalk. Motorists stuck waiting are prone to quickly turn off the main road and right into your path.

Henrietta + nighttime + construction = jump on the canal path as quickly as possible! 

5. Mixed use paths 

The long mixed use paths that may intersect your city like they do Rochester provide a great alternative to vehicular cycling. You’ll have to be aware of pedestrians, rollerbladers, unleashed dogs, woodchucks, etc. but oftentimes these paths are underutilized anyway. Unlike most sidewalks, mixed use paths are often specifically designated for bicycle use, but that doesn’t make them any more safe when you cross paths with motor traffic.

And in conclusion 

So those are my top five reasons for getting out of the way of cars and into the way of pedestrians. Like many things in the world of cycling, common sense and caution will go a long way. Do you have any good reasons for breaking the cardinal rule of vehicular cycling? Object to any of mine? Let me know in the comments.

UPDATED BELOW

I recently went on a nice little trip to Canada via Amtrak train, and decided to get to the station via bike. I took my “backup bike,” a Trek MultiTrack I picked up at an anti-war garage sale for $20 to use while my main bike was in the shop. I locked it up to a sign with a medium-quality cable lock and nothing else, and wished it luck.

While I was in Canada, I imagine a pair of bolt cutters made quick work of the cable, and when I returned I was greeted with this sight:

It was only a $20 bike, and I was un-stranded by Rochester’s reasonable public transit system, so I’m not too saddened by the loss. I had added an odometer, bottle cage, and kickstand to the backup bike, but nothing fancy like a new seat or an array of lights. The lock and helmet actually had more sentimental value than the bike itself, but I’ll always have the memories behind them.

I figured the bike would make its way to some other city and I’d never see it again. However, this post on Craigslist gives me hope that we’ll soon be reunited:

Wish us luck.

UPDATE: Unfortunately for me, “backup bike” was sold to a new buyer this morning at R Community Bikes. The group doesn’t buy bikes, they only accept donations, which makes this story all the more puzzling. Did a bike thief have a change of heart? Who knows! More if it develops . . .

UPDATE 2: RUDY! says in the comments: “Ah, maybe your bike was removed for being illegally parked (is there such a law) and subsequently donated?”

I had the same thought. I’m trying to get a hold of the manager at the Amtrak office – I may have to drop by in person if Amtrak headquarters doesn’t give me the contact info. Before I parked my bike, I asked the staff on hand about where to put it, and they recommended that spot. Who would steal it and go through the trouble of donating it – an Amtrak groundskeeper? The city? The feds?

Come one, come all, to the first officially promoted cruiser ride of the season!

Meet at 8:00pm at Monty’s Krown, or join us an hour earlier at Dog Town just down the street. To learn more about the cruises, visit the RocBike Cruise section!

I contribute to a Seattle “Zine” called DMFDP, and here’s one of my past essays on bike commuting: 

Americans love their cars. Cars are rites of passage, status symbols, objects of affection, and utility vehicles. They’re protective moving cages with environmental controls and sound systems, suitable for both long trips or short errands. For decades, cars have been at the center of American life.

But our cars are without a doubt hurting us. Automobiles are a major cause of death and injury. They run on fossil fuels, which create both short and long term problems. They contribute to noise pollution and encourage infrastructures that fracture communities and lead to sprawl. We spend a large portion of our incoming purchasing, maintaining, and fueling them. And to many, operating a motor vehicle is a stressful and sometimes scary experience.

But automobiles are a basic necessity in modern America, right? Perhaps to some. But others are turning to vehicle that preceded the automobile, and which never development many of its vices: the bicycle.

The bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation ever invented. Bikes are far less destructive, takes up less space, and can often travel faster than cars in urban environments. Bikes can be quite inexpensive to own and operate, and cycling can be an effective workout without the cost of a gym membership.

Plus, riding a bike is an adventure. When you’re on a bike, you’re not isolated from the outside world and moving so fast you can’t take in the scenery. You can interact with pedestrians and other cyclists, notice things you may have not noticed in your car, and travel on paths and to places inaccesible by motor vehicles.

Utility cycling, while quite common in many parts of the world (and, in fact, the most common form of cycling worldwide), is still rather rare in North America’s middle class communities. But that’s beginning to change. Some American cities are seeing exponential growth in bike commuters. Bike manufacturers are starting to build specialized bikes for the new commuter market. Transportation planners are recognizing the positive benefits of bicycles and are taking cyclists’ needs into account in their projects.
People looking for ways to improve their life while reducing their impact on others are turning to cycling.

If you’re interested in getting into bike commuting, here are some useful tips to get you started:

1. Get a bike! Check out Craiglist and other local classifieds, garage sales, friends, or fix up that old bike you had in high school. Visit your local bike shop. Try to avoid bikes from big box stores, as they’re usually unreliable.

2. Grow comfortable with riding on the street in the same direction as motorists. It’s much safer than the sidewalk. The book The Art of Urban Cycling is loaded with tips on how to handle the road. Try social rides like Critical Mass to help build bike confidence.

3. Be safe! Find a good helmet. If you might be riding after dark, put lights on your bike! Be cautious about motorists, they can do just about anything at any time.

4. If you’re planning on riding to work, scope out the route on your day off before your first real ride. Plan your route so you avoid major roads for a more enjoyable ride.

5. Be prepared to fix a flat or weather a sudden rainstorm. Have a backup plan in case mechanical or meteorlogical problems arise — riding near a bus route is often a good idea.

And here are some web sites with in-depth info on commuting and safety:
http://www.runmuki.com/commute/

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/commute/

http://commutebybike.com/

http://bicyclesafe.com/ 

Thinking about switching from car to bike as your commuter machine, but holding off until Spring before you do it? Here are ten good reasons to make the switch this season:

1. No need to brush/scrape your windows
   Unless your car is perpetually stored in garages, one of the worst parts of winter driving is frequent window brushing and scraping. Some motorists cut corners on this important step and dangerously operate at reduced visibility. A bike’s complete lack of windows makes visibility a non-issue.
2. You can skip shoveling the driveway
   Unless you’re expecting company, there’s little need to shovel, blow, or plow the driveway if your bike is your mode of transportation. Spend that time you saved in the morning reading the paper, or in the evening cozied up by the fire.
3. Bikes never get stuck in the snow
   Digging your car out of its on-street parking or making it over that hard packed snow at the end of your driveway can build character, but why bother when you can ride a vehicle that you can walk or carry if the going gets tough?
4. Biking: a low-cost winter sport
   Cars can get you out to remote mountains so you can pay to strap fiberglass to your feet and fall down them. But what if you could avoid the price of lift tickets and season passes and still get your fill of quickly moving past snow-covered stuff? While you make your way to work? Bikes can help you with that.
5. Pumping gas is a bad excuse to stand still in the cold
   Have you ever filled your tank with less gas than you usually would, just to get out of the cold? Bikes don’t have gas tanks, and the time you spend outside is time when you’re active and generating more than enough heat to stay comfortable.
6. Avoid “Winter Weight Gain“
   You are a beautiful person no matter how much you weigh, but excess weight can lead to chronic health problems and lower activity in the winter can also contribute to “seasonal affective disorder.” Ride a bike to help avoid these winter problems.
7. Studded tires rock
   Studded car tires are popular in Scandinavia, but in the U.S. they’re often illegal due to the road damage they cause. Studded bike tires are unregulated and easy to come by in regions with snow and ice. I’m pretty sure a bike with studded tires is one of the best things imaginable for handling icy roads.
8. Losing control of a bike is a bit less scary than losing control of a car
   Drive or ride around after a big snowstorm and you’ll see cars in ditches, left abandoned after their operators lose control. You can’t just bail when your 2 ton cage hits some ice and starts recklessly sliding about. While it’s not always fun to bail from a bike, it’s certainly much easier, and both bike and operator often come out fine in the end.
9. Bikes are easier to maintain
   Winter can be a real disaster to cars. Combine repeated freezing/heating of the vehicle with road salt and other melt chemicals — it’s easy to understand why cars in colder climates depreciate faster. Bikes basically just require a quick rinse after the ride an an occasional deep clean and oil change (on your chain) to keep in good working order.
10. Bikes let you enjoy the season
    Winter is beautiful. Why experience it through fogged up windows with the radio blaring when you can be out in the middle of it all? There is a lot to enjoy: the invigorating cold air entering your lungs, the sights of your town blanketed in white, the satisfying sound of your bike crunching snow. Winter is often ignored because people are too cold and depressed to pay attention. Biking gets you out there and keeps your blood flowing.

We were a bare-bones group this week, but doesn’t mean it was any less fun. Some caliente music was keeping us warm as we made our way through our routines as rolling creatures of habit. Here’s the Breakdown: Dogtown, Monty’s Krown, Rolling Around Town, Snow Falling Down, Looking Like Clowns. Standard Wednesday Night Cruise. We even hit up our favorite Footbridge over 490. It was almost impassible, as we expected. We did however stop and do a bike lift for the evening 490 traffic. We did a little exploring for hidden routes through the Park Ave neighborhood. Then skipped LUX for a change and got a 6-pack of a beer with a dog biting a bicycle tire on the label. These frosty libations were enjoyed in my humble abode while we watched cartoons and played 2-player Tetris with the friendly neighbors.

As always, an open invitation to join us any Wednesday. We’re a fun group who likes riding bikes and listening to music, while visiting some of our favorite watering holes. No agenda, just cruising!

Pics by Adam, video by Joey

Today, I passed a milestone as a bike commuter: I got hit by a car on my way home from work.

It all happened very fast. I had just gotten out of work and was on my way to run an errand. I pulled on my jacket, strapped on the helmet, and fired up the Down Low Glow and assorted blinking bike lights. I waited for some cars to pass before entering the road with a right-hand turn.

After I made my way past a couple buildings, I saw a car approach from a parking lot up ahead on my right. I slowed down quite a bit to get a feel for the motorist. He wasn’t signaling, but he came to a complete stop. There was no traffic behind me, but oncoming traffic was headed our way. I advanced in front of him.

And then I heard him gun his engine. I’ve had a couple close calls since I started bike commuting in July, and I’ve come to learn that my instinctual reptilian reaction to danger is to yell “Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa,” as if to say “Settle down, buddy!” in a single repeating syllable. I don’t know if that ever helps, but it’s completely involuntary anyway.

As his big metal luxury motorcar came flying towards me, I found myself in an epic right cross, and I had no time to intentionally react on a physical level. It’s funny how time can basically stop in the situations, though. I do remember wondering what it would feel like flying onto the car’s hood or windshield. And I’m sure I got a couple whoas in before the impact.

Lucky for me, either my right leg was positioned forward by chance, or I picked it up on instinct, because the front bumper of his car struck my bike and not me. My bike and I flew sideways and the rear end spun to the left a bit, but I was able to maintain my balance. I hesitated for a moment, then quickly made my way off the road and into the parking lot entrance he had pulled out of. I could still pedal my bike and didn’t feel any pain, and both of these facts shocked me. He backed his car out of the road and got out of it.

I was in a bizarre emotional state. I enthusiastically told him that I didn’t get hit, that only my bike got hit. I wasn’t apologetic, but I do feel as if I was so happy to be unhurt that I didn’t even want to be mad at him. He checked the front bumper of his car for damage, saying he thought he hit me pretty hard. I said it felt pretty hard. And then as I was looking over my lit-up-like-a-Christmas-tree bike for damage he pointed to the front pillars of his car and said he had some blind spots. No direct apologies from him that I recall, but he at least seemed embarrassed.

I said I couldn’t find any damage on my bike and told him to have a nice evening. Maybe I should have gotten some of his information. Maybe I should have called the police. But I was in emotional shock from just getting hit, and also quite happy, so I figured I’d just be on my way.

I’ve read through Michael Bluejay’s How to Not Get Hit by Cars multiple times and follow much of his advice. In my attempt to avoid the Right Cross tonight, I used a plethora of lights (though nothing above my handlebars save the reflective tape on my helmet), I slowed down to a crawl until I believed he was waiting for me, and because there was no traffic approaching behind me I was further out to the left. I did not honk or yell until he was already on the path towards striking me. And perhaps if I had never slowed down, I would have been far past him. But I think I did OK.

In fact, maybe my ridiculously bright Down Low Glow made him see me and brake a fraction of a second earlier than he would have, letting me clear him just enough so that my bike took the impact instead. Once he decided to gun his engine to beat the oncoming cars into the lane, my fate was sealed, and it was all up to him.

After the accident, I headed over to Abundance Coop to pick up ingredients for dinner with a friend. On the way I met another bike commuter on the road and told him I had just gotten hit but came out of it unscathed. At the coop I could not focus on what to buy and ended up leaving my wallet behind, something I’ve never done. As I biked to my friend’s house I seemed a little shaky – I wasn’t sure if it was me or my bike. Things were more than a little surreal.

But all is good in my immediate world. Tonight’s events remind me of something that happened during my last week as a car commuter. I had been contemplating commuting by bike but didn’t have a bike that was capable of such a trip and was hesitating on the purchase. I was headed home from work one night, and as I pulled out of the office complex I nearly struck a cyclist who was heading the wrong way down the road. I realized at that moment that I no longer wanted to be in a position where I could seriously injure someone so easily. I headed straight to the bike shop and ordered my dream commuter bike, and that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I don’t imagine the man who stuck me tonight will have quite the same reaction. But let’s hope both he and I are a little more cautious on the road in the future.

What motorist actually enjoys driving on busy city streets? Who would actually miss commuting? For me, the commute used to be the most stressful and aggravating part of my day – but that was before I starting riding a bike to work.

On Friday, I’m switching offices at my job, and my commute drops from 9 miles to 1. And although a few months ago when I drove my car I was quite excited about the prospect of a shorter commute, now that I travel by bike there’s a lot to miss.

I’ll be experiencing 1/9th of the excitement, adventure, and fun on my way to and from work than I did before. No longer will I have reason to hit the canal path on my way home. I’ll see fewer cyclists and pedestrians, and yes, I’ll even miss some of the motorists in their big metal cages. A lot of the sights and communities I’ve come to enjoy will no longer be part of my daily routine.

Sadder still, Thursday marks the last morning bikepool with Caitlin. You can read about all that was special about our morning rides in our little co-authored essay here. Not only did we make each other safer, but she’s become a close friend in the past few months.

We must accept change in our bike routes, of course. I can always fit in some random riding or extreme errand running to make up for lost commuting time. And it’s not like I won’t be allowed to see Caitlin anymore. I could even ride out in the morning with Caitlin then ride all the way back, if I really wanted to. And on days this winter when the weather gets truly awful, I’ll probably be quite happy that my commute is short enough to walk.

Anyway, this week the commutes have already been extra memorable.

The Bridge

Yesterday morning Caitlin and I took a special side journey to High Falls as we traveled through the city. At one point on our journey up St. Paul we were directed to take a detour onto the Inner Loop – a tractor trailer operator had tried to squeeze under an overpass and didn’t quite clear it, giving the trailer a nice accordion fold and tying up northbound traffic. Bikes don’t belong on the sidewalk, but they don’t belong on the Inner Loop either, so we headed up St. Paul on the Jack-Spula-approved Riverway Trail sidewalk.

We got to Pont De Rennes Bridge over the falls and a couple of guys asked if they could borrow our bikes to make a phone call. It was a very weird request. After we got our bikes back from them (just kidding) we stopped at the middle of the bridge to check out the view.

I have no idea what part of her bike Caitlin is adjusting here, but she has chosen a scenic location to do so.

The mixed-use bridge is one of the very few places in the city with a designated bike path, and the little biker stencils were actually the basis for the RocBike logo.

Picture this graphic in 3D and in a Walz Cycling Cap. That would make an awesome logo for this site.

As we were on the bridge, I gave Caitlin a token of my friendship, a copy of the book Meat Market by Erik Marcus. Universally acclaimed books about factory farming make great gifts!

Riding with Squegeeboo

That evening my commute home was suddenly dark, as Daylight Savings Time is wont to do (Dear government: I prefer more daylight in the evening, not the morning). As I approached a traffic circle stop light I saw a fellow cyclist approach from behind. We confirmed each other’s bike commutingness with much excitement. He introduced himself as squegeeboo from the Bike Forums. He said his car stopped working last year and he figured he’d start riding a bike. His secret to riding in the winter? Pajama pants, and lots of ‘em!

Although squegeeboo left me in the dust when we started moving again (Jason and I are both quite familiar with trailing behind) we kept meeting up again at traffic lights. I suggested that he contribute some stories to this group blog. And then in a long traffic-light-free stretch I watched as his little blinkie rear light moved farther and farther away. I think I can stand to push myself a little more.

The Bustastrophe

This morning I set out without Caitlin (Election Day is a vacation day for her!). Right when I left my driveway it started to lightly sprinkle. Within ten minutes it was a downpour, and foolishly I did not come properly dressed and reinforced for a major storm. I decided to go multi-modal and made my way to the downtown RTS bus stop.

I arrived just as my bus did. I loaded my bike onto the front rack (here’s a diagram of exactly what I did) and climbed into the bus.

My bike has the habit of falling off of vehicles. Or perhaps its operator (me) has the habit of not properly fastening it to vehicles. Regardless of their cause, sure enough, I noticed that the bus was making a stop in a non-designated stopping area and feared the worst. “Whose bike is this?” yells a chatty passenger standing by the driver. “Mine!” I yell out, making my way to the front of the bus.

As I approached I saw that the front restraining bar had bounced off of my bike, and my bike was now laying precariously on the edge of the rack, just one bounce away from being swept under the bus.

I tried to get out to fix it but the bus driver had already taken matters into her own hands and started to head out the door. Unfortunately, in getting out of her seat she knocked her cell phone to the floor, then her full cup of coffee onto her cell phone, and then her jacket onto the coffee. This was too much for her to take so she started kicking her RTS jacket out of the bus towards the large puddle outside. Once she was satisfied that things were ruined enough, we exited the bus.

Upon arriving at the rack next to the driver it quickly became apparent that she had no familiarity with RTS bike racks, as she started pulling and pushing various parts that had nothing to do with securing my bike. I pulled the restraining bar back over my front wheel, stopping short of the front fender as I always do, but once I got back in the bus the passenger who notified me that my bike had come loose told me it would come loose again. We both headed out and I pulled the restraining bar over my fender to his standards.

Once back inside the bus, the passenger said “Now look you made my wife spill her coffee.” The dynamic between the two was revealed. I tastefully replied with “Thank you so much for saving my bike!” and the husband replied “No problem, Homeboy,” which is the first time I’ve ever been called this.

I wonder how often bikes meet their doom on these racks. Although I did not initially pull the restraining bar all the way up on the fender like the husband said I’m supposed to, this Canadian transit page says “Make sure the support arm is resting on the tire and not on the fender or frame.” Many other sites say the exact same thing. I can see how using the fender as a pressure point could be a very bad idea. But what’s the use of preserving your front fender if the support arm comes loose and your bike ceases to exist as a bike?

This guy, who is a huge nerd, has not placed the bike on the rack properly because the support arm is not pulled up high enough. Also, the bus driver is probably getting quite angry at him for taking the time to pose for this picture.

If I acquire a folding bike at some point I will do a much better job of avoiding these potential bike disasters. Or I can just get better at attaching my bike to things. Either one will do.

And the Conclusion

So, in conclusion, that’s three interesting commutes so far this week, and the week is only getting started. I’ll miss you, 9 mile ride. Unless the weather’s really bad. Even then, I’ll probably miss you.

Tonight, a bus full of schoolchildren excitedly waved at me. I got compliments and applause as I rode through town. I struck up conversations with complete strangers. All because of an amazing bike light.

I’m always looking for ways to make my rides more safe and fun. Nighttime visibility is becoming even more important to me as winter approaches and the sky during my commutes grows darker. So I set out to research bicycle lights, and I came across a light that promised to not only ensure that I’m seen, but also bring smiles to people’s faces.

This light is called the Down Low Glow, and I’d almost rate it a must-have for people who like riding at night. For $130 you get two neon tubes and a rechargeable battery. The components look like they were pieced together by hand with love. The whole unit is water and shock resistant. And when it’s mounted on a bike and turned on, it bathes the street with a 10-foot glow visible in all directions.

I ordered a Down Low Glow last week and it arrived today. I was hoping to receive it before last Friday’s Critical Mass, but at least I got it in time for Wednesday’s Halloween ride. Rock The Bike offer the Down Low Glow in 6 different colors; I chose Envy Green because I thought it looked the coolest.

That’s not me! Image posted by Rock The Bike on Flickr.

I mounted it on my bike with the included mounts (the whole process took me about 15 minutes). As I started my commute it was only dusk – the Glow on the pavement was barely visible. But as it grew darker, the effect grew stronger, and by the time I had reached downtown it looked cool enough for me to start hearing “nice bike” from pedestrians. The Glow is perfect for people who are starved for attention.

And I can’t scientifically test this, but it definitely felt like motorists were giving me more room as they passed me than they otherwise would without the Glow. I’ve become familiar with white-knuckling it down Culver Road at night as I pass the busy expressway intersections, then two lanes become one, then construction zones and parked cars are added to the mix. Tonight, I felt worry-free. It’s as if someone was laying out a green carpet for me as I traveled down the road.

A few people stopped to talk to me as I ran some errands in the city. The most common question I got was “How do you power it?” as if something so cool couldn’t possibly run off a rechargeable battery. That’s really how cool the Down Low Glow is.

My camera is currently out of commission, so these Flickr photos will have to suffice for now. If you want to see the Down Low Glow in person, I’ll see you on Wednesday!

I hope to see you this Friday at 6pm for some Rochester Critical Mass!

This essay is part of RocBike.com’s contribution to Blog Action Day

This is perhaps a deeper subject than can or should be fleshed out in a “Cycling Thoughts” blog post. But I’ve been thinking about this topic in recent days and since the environmental-themed Blog Action Day’s coming to a close, there’s no better time to put it out there.

The concept of bike commuting is nothing new. Be sure to watch this film of a trip down San Francisco’s Market Street in 1905 to see bikes peacefully coexist with automobiles, streetcars, coaches, and pedestrians. It goes without saying, though, that mass production and cheap energy have made the automobile the preferred mode of transportation in the United States. Our world has suffered for it. And bicycles, to many, are nothing more than toys for children, or exercise devices, or sporting equipment.

There’s nothing wrong with using a bike for the mere enjoyment of it. And certainly, as forms of recreation go, bicycles are kind to the environment. But if you’re throwing your bike onto your car’s bike rack and driving out to the trail in the neighboring suburb, you’re burning fossil fuel for fun. You’re probably a great person and you really do deserve to get out on the trail and yeah, it’s just the way our culture works. But in this case, your bike’s just another excuse to blow carbon into the air.

Many of us have taken to bike commuting for some or all of our daily transport, specifically to replace what we’d be doing with a car if we weren’t so eccentric, and this of course directly reduces our impact on the environment. So we can go ahead and pat ourselves on the back right now. But the percentage of Americans who voluntarily commute by bike on any given day, while perhaps growing, is quite low.

This statistics-filled essay about the environmental benefits of cycling from the League of American Bicyclists makes a lot of nice points with a lot of statistics. But one number jumped out at me – it states that 20% of household survey respondents said they used a bike for transportation within the past 30 days. I think that’s the percentage of people who used a bike for any sort of transport, and the majority of that transport would be the recreational kind that has either zero or a negative impact on the environment.

There is an oft-forgotten bike commuting demographic that I should mention. Many Americans live below the so-called “poverty line,” and these people are a large portion of the bike commuting population. They also account for a substantial number of public transport users. But in their case, it’s not the use of bicycles that’s reducing their environmental impact, but serious poverty, and that’s nothing to take comfort in.

I think that in only a small percentage of cases, the sale of a bike at a bike shop results in the reduction of fossil fuel output. It’s good to see that bike companies like Trek are campaigning to make bike commuting more mainstream, and they obviously think they can gain customers this way. But even Trek’s promotional page mentions bike recreation as part of the environmental impact goal, as if they’re too afraid to leave it out.

We need to recognize how the deep-rooted perceptions of bicycling in our culture prevent us from realizing any serious benefits, and we must strike at those roots, even by simply leading by example. See you out on the road.

Park Ave Bike Shop is a tiny island of hope in the sea of commercial-industrial despair that is Henrietta.

But you can’t really talk about Rochester-area bike shops without first mentioning their location. Jason has been to Park Ave’s other location in Pittsford, and he’s noted the interesting trend of locating Rochester bike shops on busy, dangerous roads. Park Ave Bike Shop’s Henrietta front, in the shadow of a BJ’s Wholesale Club, is no less dangerous to approach on bike than the one in Pittsford – in fact, I’d rate it slightly more dangerous.

Those trying to get there on bike from the city are forced to spend at least some time on West Henrietta Road: a busy four-lane road with no shoulder and much of the right-hand lane occupied with periodic bike-tire-gripping storm drain grates. You can expect cars to pass within inches at speeds in excess of 45mph, and the F*** You’s Per Mile add up quite fast. Last time I operated my bike there I was ejecting items out of my rear crate as I went over huge road hazards.

The helpful guy behind the counter said that staff members, when they dare travel to work by bike, come in on the slightly-less-dangerous Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road and use the sidewalk the rest of the way there.

The entrance to the shop, taken from inside the steel-and-glass cage that protected me from Henrietta Traffic. The people who use those bike racks have guts.

Maybe it’s just me, but the biggest issue I have with many bike shops (and coffee shops) is the attitude. My significant other, Kristine, has had nothing but good experiences at Park Ave. According to her, they’ve never talked down to her and have always been eager to help. In fact, they’ve fixed issues on her bike for free or a nominal charge when other bike shops were unable to (including a corroded seat post that other shops couldn’t budge).

And Park Ave did not let me down. I’d rate the shop as friendliest I’ve ever been to so far in Rochester (disclaimer: I have not yet been to Full Moon Vista, so this title may not stay in Park Ave’s hands for long, assuming I don’t get State St and St Paul mixed up in my head next time I try to find FMV). And I’m really only basing this on the guy behind the counter, but he was nice, honest, and eager to assist. He even cancelled out of a text message he was writing when I asked for his attention. And he let me take pictures inside the store for your enjoyment.

The first retail items you see when entering are accessories, including a reasonable selection of cycling clothing. I was in search of gloves, which I found rather quickly, with prices ranging from $15-$100 (as I recall). You can expect the standard bike-shop markup, but I could find lower end items in most product categories. Park Ave offers a wide selection for many items, which gave the store a crowded feel, but this allowed me to find the glove I wanted at the perfect price point.

A bead of sweat wouldn’t last a second in this store before getting wicked away!

The bike selection in the back of the store was off the charts. My eyes had no idea where to start when I looked at the huge mass of bikes. I’m sure this is useful when an employee is trying to find the perfect bike for someone, but this is about as crowded as I’ve ever seen a bike shop get.

So many bikes doomed to winter over at the shop.

With hundreds of bikes displayed bike after bike, it’s hard to tell which components are on which bike. In fact, I only got two bikes in before I had to stop and focus. Luckily, the first two bikes were Dahon folding bikes, and the second one will almost certainly be my next bike purchase when I’m ready to make that step (Jack practices his love on Dahon Folding Bikes here).

Dahon bikes – the perfect blend of reliability, affordability, portability, and oddity.

The guy behind the counter even came out from behind the counter, tried to fold it up for me, and offered to let me take it for a spin. It was dark outside and I didn’t want to fall in love and let my credit card help me make a hasty decision, so no bike tryouts this time.

I don’t know if this review is considered RocBike’s official stance since I am but a pawn in Jason’s plan for blog domination. That said, I happily recommend Park Ave Bike Shop’s Henrietta location if you have a cage to take you there and don’t get cross-eyed when you look at large amounts of bikes.

Jason says: Rocbike.com is a team project, so Adam’s reviews carry the exact same weight as mine, except that his have cooler graphics.

For as many bicyclists that love Critical Mass, there seem to be just as many who oppose it. Some feel it angers motorists and reeks of hypocrisy. Others see it as simply an outlet for liberal aggression. The event certainly doesn’t seem to be winning over Minneapolis newspaper columnists.

In a column for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Katherine Kersten comes down hard against Critical Mass and recommends serious police crack-down. She implies that all protesters in modern social movements are only interested in venting their aggression, not in making the world better. She says that like “petulant children,” leaving Critical Mass participants’ misdeeds unpunished will only result in more serious trouble down the road.

Kersten is an advocate of corporal punishment, which makes her child-punishment analogy/fantasy even more disturbing.

In order to bring some clout to her arguments that massers ride to exert power and seek to boost their reputation by adding to their arrest record, she calls in Robert Lichter of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. He shares his vast knowledge of the narcissistic and aggressive nature of “’60s-style radicals” and draws a connection to Critical Mass.

But he seems like an odd choice for a source; according to his own biography Lichter is an expert on the news and entertainment media. Maybe he used to study hippies before his current gig, but his activities prior to CMPA seem somewhat biased against social justice – he has earned himself a page on SourceWatch for his past associations and statements.

Regardless of the column’s accuracy, it’s pretty clear where the readership stands. A poll on the StarTrib site, asking “Should police crack down on ‘Critical Mass’ events?”, with almost 3300 respondents at the moment, results in 66% Yes and 32% No. Although the poll is unscientific, I’m not surprised at the results.

Critical Mass is an event, a statement, a celebration. It’s not a strategic attempt to get motorists to respect bicyclists. I’ve probably said this a hundred times to my friends. My favorite essay on the subject, by Adam Kessel, argues that Critical Mass as an event has a neutral effect on the state of bicycling. But it’s an amazing tool for energizing people into action, participation, and advocacy. People who ride in Critical Mass develop the confidence and motivation to move bureaucracies towards change.

Some see the humor in columnists getting so bent out of shape over a bike ride. Wonkette, a DC political news and satire site, mocks Kersten’s column, and commenters there make some fun points:

She should stage her own right-wing protest. She can get all of her friends to clog sthe streets of Minneapolis with gas-guzzling SUVs to really show those damn hippies….

Of course, that already has a name: rush hour.

I like the way the photo she used for her piece shows an orderly enough procession of bikes riding on the correct side of the street.

Now now…we all have a common enemy. Rollerbladers!

I can attest that Portland is the epicenter of two-wheeled terrorism. I see scores of them every morning on my drive to work. Some of the little tree-hugging bastards have the termerity not to get out of the way when I blow my horn and aim my Escalade at them.

The official Star Tribune blog post has already drawn over 350 comments so far, not nearly as insightful or funny as Wonkette’s.

If the Star Tribune site asks you to log in, username:idontthinkso password:bugmenot worked great for me! Thank you, bugmenot!