Blog – Page 6

Rebecca Clark July 17, 2014

Join us for Bicycle-Friendly Fridays!

Every Friday, a group of bicyclists meets up at the Blue Baker on Dominik Drive for breakfast and conversation about all things bicycling. We would love to have your company! People generally start appearing a few minutes after 7 am, and then filter out sometime between 7:40 and 9 am, depending on the amount of time it takes to get to work. Bike-Friendly Fridays are a great way to get to know some of the area bicyclists, share experiences, and hatch schemes for future bicycling adventures. Come join us this Friday!

BFF riders posing with the Earl of Sandwich at Blue Baker

Rebecca Clark July 16, 2014

Come join the Wednesday ride!

It’s Wednesday, and so it’s time for another installment of the Wednesday Ride. There’s still a chance of more thunderstorms this evening, so use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to ride. I’ll plan on being present at the start no matter what. Otherwise, it’s the usual details for today.

We meet at 5:30 by the Flagpole, roll out at ~5:45, and if you’re running late let me know (before 5:20, e-mail rebeccmeister@gmail.com, otherwise my cell number is 480 734 fifty-five, thirty-five).

We’re still an intermediate-paced ride, structured as a series of sprints, averaging around 16 mph for 32 miles total (that will take 2 hours and change). We regroup at the end of each section to make sure no one gets lost or left behind, and there’s a stop at a gas station partway in to refuel (ha!). If you’re feeling frisky and reach regroup points fast, you can always add bonus miles by U-turning and doing additional laps. Why not?

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4665389

Bring water (2 bottles recommended), strap on your helment, fire up your bike lights, check to make sure you’ve got a snack and your toolbag, and join us!

brazoscyclists July 15, 2014

Biking basics for folks who’ve always wanted to ride, but didn’t dare [VIDEO] | Grist

Check out the fun ‘getting started’ video from our friends at Grist:

By Daniel Penner

You say you want to get around the city without spending the $9,000 to maintain and operate a car each year, and maybe get some exercise while you’re at it? You don’t have that kind of cash. And you know, the planet. But those bike lanes can look pretty intimidating, with all the mustachioed hipsters on their superbad fixies, the spandex-clad adrenaline junkies, and the cars whizzing by.

What you need is a video that squeezes basic bicycle skills into four action-packed minutes, replete with a sick sound track and just maybe a crazy stunt or two.

Well, you’re in luck:

Daniel Penner is Grist’s intern.

via Biking basics for folks who’ve always wanted to ride, but didn’t dare [VIDEO] | Grist.

Rebecca Clark July 15, 2014

Cycling for all

Here’s a recent article about reaching out to lower-income riders, based on survey data collected in two lower-income neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.. The writers conclude that

Cycling just isn’t popular among the urban poor (yet). In 2012, respondents ranked cycling seventh out of nine transport modes, ahead of only taxis and bike sharing. Cycling barriers included poor road safety, poor or lacking infrastructure (e.g. bike lanes, racks, or storage), distance, and physical exertion. In 2013, respondents reported more than 30 barriers to cycling or walking. Physical safety (32.6 percent), distance (30 percent) and comfort/cold/sweating (25.4 percent) were the most common objections. Other barriers included the difficulty of carrying bulky items, work attire, not knowing how to ride, theft risk, poor health or disability, the slower speed, “laziness,” and a lack of desire. One respondent said, simply, “I just want a car.”

The article continues with some thoughtful approaches to addressing the different transportation priorities of people of different socioeconomic status as well. What do you think this could all mean for the sake of promoting bicycling and other forms of alternative transportation in places like College Station and Bryan?

Jean Marie Linhart July 15, 2014

The Past, the Present and the Future

The Past

Once upon a time, I was the featured cyclist in the B/CS Bike to Work Day article. Remember when I worked at Stata? Remember when I had long hair? Not that you can tell in the photo! I still commute on that very same bike. This article is from the Sunday, April 24, 2005 edition of The Eagle.

Jean Marie is featured in this 2005 Bike to Work Day article.

Part 2 of the April 2005 Bike to Work Day Article.

* * *
The Present

Tonight was my penultimate social ride — on July 28, I relocate to Washington State. It was the first day of the year over 100F, and only 2 other riders showed up. One of my big fears starting out as a Social Ride Leader was that no one would show up. It’s happened a few times. The worst was one night when one person showed up and rode about a mile then decided to just go home! That time I really wondered if it was something I did or said. But it was fine; if you want to lead, you have to grow thick skin for those moments. Life went on.

I’m pretty convinced that on the most part, making sure the ride happened every week got a lot of people out on bicycles. Even if it is only 3 of us at a time, it is still a bike ride! I think I’ve been a good bicycling friend to many.

Tonight, after the ride, a young lady who saw that I had “bike stuff” to give away came by to see what I had. I dug out a few things I might have otherwise kept, but that I honestly didn’t need. I so enjoyed her enthusiasm. Some things are so worth the price of admission. I hope the “stuff” that I don’t need brings her many miles and many smiles.

* * *
The Future

Next week, Monday July 21, after the social ride, my friend Karen has generously arranged a picnic to send me off to Washington. Everyone is invited, new riders, old friends, friends who don’t ride, if you want to be there, just come. Karen asks “It would help if I could get an RSVP (to vierow@verizon.net) on the number of people in your party. If you don’t RSVP, please show up anyways as I will bring more than what seems appropriate.” If you are planning on bringing a potluck item (which is NOT required, especially not for those doing the ride), please mention that too.

The picnic will be in Steeplechase Park (click for map), and will start at about 7:30 pm. There are picnic tables near the playscape and dog run area where we will gather. Social Riders should arrive around 7:30 and certainly by 7:45.

If you want to join for the bike ride:

Departure time: Mondays, 6 pm from Technology Loop in TAMUs Research Park
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5881835
or http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4684741
Distance: ~20 usually, but the short route is ~15 if needed.
Meeting place: TAMUs Research Park, on Technology Loop, nearest shade
to the south bridge by the duck pond
Pace: Suitable for beginners, no-drop.
Required items: helmets, flat change kit, water
Strongly suggested: headlights, taillights, food, cell phone

Some notes: Beginners welcome, faster people will need to slow down to make the pace comfortable for everyone to ride and talk. No fancy bike is required.

Rebecca Clark July 14, 2014

Traffic Skills 101 class on July 26th

We just received a note that the Northwest Cycling Club, in conjunction with League of American Bicyclists, is offering a class designed to teach adult cyclists how to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, utility, and sport under various highway, climate, terrain, and traffic conditions.

The class is organized into three levels:
A. The Basics

The Bicycle
Maintenance
Clothing and Equipment
Bicycle Handling

B. Bicycling in Traffic

Your Role in Traffic
Avoiding Crashes
Hazard Avoidance Maneuvers

C. Enjoying the Ride

Riding Enjoyment
Ride Etiquette
Helping Motorists Share the Road

You will need your bike, helmet and comfortable riding clothes. At the end of the course is a brief ride for practicing skills learned.

There is a pre-requisite for this hands-on course – you must complete the online ‘classroom’ portion. This is available at www.bikeed.org.

Date: Saturday, July 26th
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Place: Zube Park (back parking lot), 17560 Roberts Rd, Hockley, TX 77447

Click here to register! Registration closes Thursday, July 24th at 11:45 p.m.

James Robertson July 14, 2014

Bicycle Detection Markings at Intersections with Enhanced Detection

The City of College Station is taking bicycle detection to a higher level by adding radar detection to intersections. And to assist bicycle drivers in knowing they are at an intersection with radar detection, we are providing bicycle detection pavement markings.

And, the intersection of Timber Street at George Bush Drive is the first intersection with both of these devices.

At Timber and George Bush we have installed radar detection that detects bicycles more accurately than devices used at other traffic signals throughout the city – inductive loops and cameras. We have also installed bicycle detection markings to inform bicycle drivers that they will be detected at the intersection every time — not hit-or-miss like with other detection devices.

When a bicycle is positioned on top of the marking, the traffic signal knows the bicyclist is waiting for a green light. When the light turns green, they may proceed through the intersection.

As funding becomes available, radar units and bicycle pavement markings will be added to other signalized intersections.

For more information or to express other traffic concerns, contact me at 979-764-3690 or jrobertson@cstx.gov.

James Robertson | Graduate Traffic Engineer
City of College Station | Public Works Department

Jean Marie Linhart July 3, 2014

Wednesday Ride with Photos

It was wild having a bystander photograph the start to the Wednesday ride tonight. Normally I’m taking the pictures, so I’m not in any of them.

The Wednesday ride is an intermediate pace, intermediate difficulty ride about 36 miles long. Speeds vary — about 16-18 mph to start, and I suspect that slows a bit on the hills. I can’t keep that pace up for long, so I’m usually dragging behind by the time we get through Traditions and out to the Expo Center. I ride my slow and steady pace, occasionally cutting a rest short to get ahead for a little bit. The last two weeks, I’ve turned back early. Everyone’s been supportive of me being out there, which is much appreciated.

Jean Marie gets her photo taken at the ride start standing next to James!

Riders talking before the ride start.

Looking over our shoulders.

We are all making hearts to show how much we love to ride, especially on Wednesdays!

If anyone knows Roger from chemistry, the photographer, assuming I got that name right, please forward him this post with a big thanks from the ride crew!

Jean Marie Linhart June 29, 2014