Good Ride, Better Ride

Cycling brings about a lot of good, but like everything else, there are ways to make it better.

A couple of months ago, I posted about "Good Cycling and Better Cycling", but every now and then I get an idea for another "Good Ride, Better Ride".

Here are a few.

- The Good Ride sheds some weight. A Better Ride makes you crave good food.
- The Good Ride gets you to your destination. A Better Ride discovers new destinations.
- The Good Ride save gas. A Better Ride makes other people think "I can save gas too."

I'd like to hear yours.

Georgia Rides to the Capitol - 2008

In March of each year, hundreds of cyclists from around metro Atlanta converge on the Capitol to show legislators our numbers.



And they were turning into bicycles, all across our nation -- from Joni Mitchell's early version of Woodstock

It was just one big celebration.

Lots of kids were riding this year. I wish I had gotten more photos of them.

The Emory T-Shirts (Blue with a white dot "Why Not?") were out in strong numbers. I think the Georgia Tech guys need to respond.

I had joined the Decatur group that approached from the East. When we got to the intersection of Edgewood and Courtland, we waited for the group from the north and then merged into a massive surge. I felt like I was rushing onto the field after a big win.

My co-worker who rides recreationally joined us for the trip in today. I also spoke with another neighbor who was riding for the first time. The emotional support and the enthusiasm for what can happen when cyclists take to the roads may win over a few more commuters.

All of this was great, but my best part was when we rode past the playground full of adoring fans (kids) at the Atlanta School in Inman Park. Last year I overheard a couple of boys talking to each other: "It's a bicycle race".

"No", said the second kid as he looked straight at me, "it's not a race."

This year I passed the school and my ego was bouyed instead of deflated.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 20.0
Number of Cyclists seen: billions (ok, only 1500 or so)
In-bound Route: Georgia Rides to the Capitol
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Missed forecast. We were supposed to have sunny skies and warm temps, but it was cloudy and cool (but not so cool I couldn't wear shorts though).

Do you log your miles?

As mentioned elsewhere, I like to count. I count cyclists on my commute. I count the number of routes I ride. I count my monthly miles.

Since using myCyclingLog.com to log my miles, I've become more conscious of the miles I'm getting, and it has motivated me to make rides that I may not have made otherwise.

Do you log your miles? Are you looking for a simple way to motivate yourself to make more trips?

By the way, I should give credit to Apertome's Ear to the Breeze for introducing me to myCyclingLog.com. I may not have run across this otherwise.

Top 100

At 55,000 participants, the Peachtree Road Race has become one of the largest 10K races. The fastest runners cross the finish line before the last of the runners have crossed the starting line.

We're good friends with a neighbor who has finished in the Top 100. When he tells his story, he likes to pause until the "oohs" and "ahhs" have died down, and then admits he ran the first race when there were only 120 runners.

Perhaps BikingCircle.com is only including 120 cycling blogs and this is allowing Atlanta Intown Cycling to show amongst its Top 100.

Since I'm not sure what I've done to make the list, I'll just keep doing what I have been doing: practicing my writing skills, writing about cycling, and maybe infecting someone with my passion for cycling.

BIKINGCIRCLE.COM

A Ride along the Beltline

OK, the Beltline has just begun construction, but it doesn't mean we can't ride through the neighborhoods near the Beltline's proposed route.

The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign is sponsoring a bike tour Sunday April 20 along a southern stretch from the corner of Virginia-Highland over to where the construction has started.

This ride is one of the local Family Rides coming up this Spring. Details are found on ABC's website: http://atlantabike.org

Many lament the lack of facilities, but it's rides like these that show there's already a ground-swell of cyclists, courteous motorists, and suitable routes. We're reaching a tipping point.

Time Machine: a Kid on a Bike

Parents understand that raising kids is an opportunity to re-live your own childhood and last weekend's Kids Ride was another one of those opportunities. I've gone back in time riding the streets of Atlanta on bikes with our kids and caught glimpses of myself at a time I began steering my own course through life.

Rhonda talks about her son Cole's feeling of empowerment. For kids dependent on their parents to take them around in the car, it feels good to go places under your own power. Doing it on your own changes how you see the world.

Although we took an easy pace, Atlanta is still a hilly city and the legs get a good workout. The rewards of that effort however, are immediate. Cresting the hill means you can coast down the other side and catch your breath. I pay attention to hills, but I'd been missing them too. Out of familiarity, I had lost the thrill of the downhill, but was able to find it again.

Tom's daughter Carli is now choosing the bike for short trips. A simple "I can do that" carries a lot of power. It's genuine self-confidence.

We often carry into adulthood activities we enjoyed growing up. Positive experiences like these will propagate for generations.

Mayor's Ride to the Capitol - 2008

Tuesday March 11, police-escorted cyclists from Decatur and Roswell will be converging on the State Capitol for lunch. Hundreds of registrants last year got a free lunch. Registration for this event -- and your free lunch if you're among the first 2000 -- has just opened. I'm registrant #116. You can get details at http://www.georgiaridestothecapitol.org/

I'll be leading a group from Aurora Coffee in Virginia-Highland to the start of the Decatur group's ride. The Decatur route and time of departure match last year's route which left at 10:45AM from the East Lake MARTA station along Decatur and then jumped over to Edgewood upon reaching Inman Park. I will also escort a group back to Virginia-Highland along Edgewood to L5P and then up N Highland after lunch. The round trip is about 12 miles and is at an easy pace.

This is a good day to play hooky. Asking for time off to go ride a bike might infect your co-workers with spring fever. Hope you can join me.

Getting more people on Bikes

Greg Raisman is a Portland resident who recently wrote about how people like you and me can make life better for cyclists. He has a good bit of experience since his job promotes cycling safety with the Portland Office of Transportation.

I've had this idea of Recreational Commuting that I've been kicking around -- commuting and fun go together when you're on a bike -- and Greg's article puts some teeth in that idea.

Greg mentions Portland's "Breakfast on the Bridges" (video), for example. Lots of folks ride alone into the office, but what if you could meet several like-minded commuters for breakfast? This might be all it takes to tip someone off the fence.

Greg reminds us that "Safety in Numbers" works for cyclists and those numbers become self-increasing. He points out, "The more you ride your bicycle, the more likely it is that your friends will ride." Sand dunes are built one grain at a time.

I was also pleased the article mentioned family rides such as the one we have planned for Saturday.

Further supporting this idea of Recreational Commuting is this post on Commute by Bike. The stream of comments left by readers is impressive in both its number and the breadth of experiences. There are an awful lot of ways to get more people on bikes.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.0
Number of Cyclists seen: 20 (17 commuters)
In-bound Route: Wednesday Bike Train
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: just below freezing in AM and windy; good afternoon temps and less wind.

A Fun, Social, Recreational Group Utility Publicity Ride

This morning I helped move the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign's offices by bicycle. It makes sense that Atlanta's largest and oldest cycling advocacy group would do this by bike, but I was still so tickled to actually be lugging copy paper, books, rubber bands, and file folders in my panniers along with a bunch of other fully-loaded bicycle riders.


A group of loaded down cyclists riding through downtown gets attention from passerby. One guy was trying to hitch a ride. We told him, "Sorry, this is a freight train, not a passenger train!"



Bikes are automatically more fun. This would have been actual work if we had to do it some other way, but on bikes, we were just out for another (severely weighed-down) group ride with friends.



I took a few shots. I'm looking forward to photos taken by others.

We needed more fun stories in the paper. Look for us in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

3rd Friday Commute - a Bike Pool

Bike to Work Day in May is fine, but why do we have to wait so long? Aren't there enough of us to have mini Bike to Work Days throughout the year?

There were enough bike commuters last month for a small group to ride into Midtown from the Decatur Square. We'd been chatting on the SBL Forum about co-ordinating our commute (not as easy as you would think), and managed to generate sufficient enjoyment to ensure we wouldn't have to wait until May for the next Bike to Work Day.

I'd like to invite both experienced and new bike commuters to join me Dec 21 on another commute from Decatur's Square into Midtown. I'm offering a list of routes to entice the fancies of a broad group of riders. Participants can vote which route we take.

1. The first choice is a repeat of our Nov 16 ride. It climbs Mt. Coventry to get to Emory Village, and then passes through Virginia-Highland to Piedmont Park to reach 12th at Peachtree.
   
2. The second choice climbs Mt. McLendon then turns onto Clifton to follow the Freedom Park PATH trail to 5th and Peachtree.
   
3. The third choice also climbs Mt. McLendon but continues through L5P down Euclid to Edgewood. This route brings us past the Thumbs Up Diner on Edgewood. Downtowners can continue, but the route will turn north on Jackson to join the PATH trail to 5th and Peachtree.
   
4. The fourth and southernmost choice doesn't have a mountain to climb, but the route isn't flat either. It heads south through Oakhurst to join Hosea Williams Blvd. and then hooks up with Wylie to the Krog Street Tunnel before joining Edgewood. This also brings us past the Thumbs Up Diner and also turns north on Jackson to end up at 5th and Peachtree.
   

Rules:
Rules? We don't need no stinking rules!

OK, some suggestions:

• Meet at the Decatur Square at 7:15AM. Leave before 7:30AM.
  
• We're trying out scheduling this for the 3rd Friday of each month.
  
• Those who intend to participate get to vote on the route we take. I'm leaving it open how we come to a consensus.
  
• We ride at a commuter's pace, 10-15 MPH.
  
• No set timetable. If you'd like to join in after we leave the square, let someone know where to look for you so we don't miss you.
  
• Traffic laws are obeyed. Safety and Courtesy are good for everyone's morning.
  
• Flexible on changing the route based on the whimsy of the participants. We're getting to work, but the point is to enjoy the ride in.
  
• Beginners are welcome and encouraged. We're a friendly group.
  

Social Commuting

A foursome of riders met at a coffee shop on Decatur's Square and rode into work this morning. Four guys riding into work together isn't unusual, except perhaps for the following:

1. The guy who led the ride had the day off from work
   
2. Route ended up only within 2 miles of second guy's destination
   
3. Third guy rode 4.5 miles in the opposite direction to start out (we passed his house 2/3 of the way back in)
   
4. Fourth guy rode 10+ miles out of his way to join in and had to refuel (peanut butter sandwich) upon reaching our meeting spot.
   

Was it worth it? Oh, we're going to do it again.

We chatted and learned more about each other. We took our time. We chose the scenic route a couple of times. SO different from being stuck in traffic.

People want to be part of something bigger. Although this isn't very big, I think we want this to succeed. We're calling it the Decatur/Midtown Bike Train on the SBL Forum.

Yes, getting to work is something we're going to do one way or the other and yes, all four of us are experienced bike commuters who enjoy riding to work. But, we went out of our way to meet up with each other in freezing temperatures to be a part of this.

In our quiet unassuming way, we became the change we want to see in the world, and that is a very social commute.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 22.1
Number of Cyclists seen: Didn't pay close attention; too busy chatting
In-bound Route: Decatur/Midtown Bike Train
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Below freezing for the first time this season

SBL Forum could become Bike Commuter Magnet

The Southern Bicycle League (SBL) has one of the more popular forums for Atlanta. It's where my Wednesday Bike Train gets the most online traffic and it may be getting the attention of new commuters.

The ride and route I posted below from myCyclingLog.com is what I recommended for a new bike commuter I ran across earlier today on the Commuting Routes forum. Recruiting and encouraging new riders is really what I wanted to accomplish with the Bike Train, so maybe it is working after all.

Sun, Nov 11, 2007 - 14.60 mi [Cycling]
14.60 mi in 00:52:52 hours at 16.57 mi/h on Trek 1200. [Cycling] Checking out a route I wanted to recommend to a new commuter. The route listed below is part of what I rode.
Posted from My Cycling Log

EastlandHeights-GSU

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Climate Jam

• Beautiful Day at the local park.
  
• Live Band.
  
• Lots of neighbors (many on bikes) coming together to raise awareness of environmental issues.
  

Life is Good.

November 3 was National Step It Up Day. A group of my neighbors -- Greenprint Atlanta -- sponsored this event at John Howell Park. Other grassroot organizations throughout the US sponsored their own events on the same day, one year ahead of the US presidential elections.

I was happy to find the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign's (ABC) new director Rebecca Serna manning a booth. She told me ABC was her dream job. Things have been steadily improving for cyclists in Atlanta. With Rebecca now working her dream job, I think the rate of improvement just got turned up a notch or two.

Halloween Bike Train

21 people dressed up as a cyclist today, including myself. None of the cyclists stood out, but someone at my office did. A recently married woman wore her wedding gown to work.

The weather was good this morning, so my hopes were high that I would find someone to join me on the Bike Train. I waited until two minutes after my scheduled time, but no one joined me at the start. Coming through Emory, I found a few headed in other directions. At Paideia, everyone seemed to be headed to the school. At the Candler Park Bridge, I arrived a minute early and waited until three minutes late. I only saw a man walking his dog. I raced up to the next stop hoping to sweep someone on the uphill. Empty. I hung around at the Carter Center and saw a few bikes headed in perpendicular directions.

The near misses were making me hungry to bag a riding partner. The hunt was getting serious. My eyes opened wider. My head swiveled.

I got to the next stop two minutes early and spotted someone crossing the bridge ahead of me, but was blocked by the traffic. There was a risk of losing my prey even though it appeared to be moving slowly. The light changed. The traffic parted and I rode through in hot pursuit. When I came over the bridge, my prey had vanished.

Since I was ahead of schedule chasing the ghost, I waited for a minute or two and then it occurred to me I should be waiting instead at a spot where more riders typically come by. I was off again.

Approaching North Ave, I spotted a rider ahead of me at the light on Ponce. I knew the pattern of this light and knew they would probably get away. If I hadn't delayed at the last spot, I probably would have caught them. It turned out they did get away.

I was still early though and decided to hang out on 5th street. I always see cyclists headed my way on 5th street. Well, I didn't see anyone by the time the light changed so I sat and waved the traffic around to wait for the next light. Still no one showed up on a bike, but I still had time so I waited for another light. Finally, looking behind me down the street, I saw a cyclist approaching, and then they mysteriously disappeared. Well, actually, they turned one block before reaching me. For a moment I considered chasing them, but if I had caught them, it would have ruined my story.

Sometimes you come back empty-handed, but I'll treat that as a reminder that sometimes, the journey is the destination.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.0
Number of Cyclists seen: 20
In-bound Route: Wednesday Bike Train
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Sunny and just the right temperature

Dalai Lama visiting Emory this Weekend

The XIVth Dalai Lama is in town this weekend to accept a professorship at nearby Emory University. The Dalai Lama is the secular and religious leader of the Tibetan people and continues to strengthen his long-standing relationship with the Emory-Tibet Partnership.

So, why would a cycling blog post about the Dalai Lama? I'm glad you asked ;-).

Key to the Dalia Lama's teachings are the concepts of compassion and tolerance as paths to achieving lasting happiness. We are reducing conflict and strife in the world by improving our ability to give others a little more space. Like all big changes, world peace requires small steps.

Compassion and tolerance doesn't mean we can't bump into each other or that we don't compete for the same resources, but it does mean we face our conflicts with the human capacity to reason rather than responding with anger. If we treat our adversaries as if they do not deserve to pursue their own happiness, then we cannot find peace. Only by using our higher human capacities -- reason, compassion and tolerance -- can we treat our adversaries with the respect we would like to be shown. In this manner, we avoid strife and find peace.

On my daily commute, many negotiations over the use of the roadway occur. Each is an opportunity to display either an understanding of the right to pursue getting to our destination on time, or an opportunity to react poorly and with anger. By controlling our anger, we allow ourselves to walk in our fellow man's moccasins, and realize they are seeking the same happiness we seek.

Sometimes we find people whose skills are not as developed as we would expect. Should we take this opportunity to increase their skills? This is tough, because I know myself that I am not always receptive to improving my skills. We learn at our own pace and a compassionate environment increases that pace.

Cycling affords more and better opportunities to practice. Two drivers in automobiles are isolated by their cages. The cyclist is out there in the open and the interaction is open as well. Cycling is a better opportunity to use our higher human capacities.

Fortunately, when I ride my bike, I'm in such a good mood that compassion and tolerance come easy. Even getting drenched during a rainstorm when a motorist splashes a puddle up my nose brings a big smile. (It is pretty funny, after all.)

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 11 including chainstretcher who I have seen on every commute since last Wednesday.
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Raining in the morning. Only two cyclists (both looking very serious) on the inbound trip.

Report from the 8:17AM stop

This morning I rode with chainstretcher starting from Aurora Coffee in VaHi. The timing is a little bit of a squeeze for chainstretcher since he's trying to get to his office by 8:40 and there lies one of the challenges to the Bike Train. Not everyone has the same schedule.

This did not diminish the ride.

• We rode a little quicker and the cool morning allowed a good work rate without too much sweat.
  
• We ran across a couple other people we knew, but because of our schedule, did not ride with them.
  
• Spent some face-time with some folks we only know through the forums.
  

On the way home, I spotted Jeff by Candler Park while I was chatting with Barry who rides with us on Sundays.

Big changes require small steps. Today's steps look like they're pointed in the right direction.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 16.5
Number of Cyclists seen: 32 (14 in, 18 out)
In-bound Route: Wednesday Bike Train
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: low 60s inbound; mild outbound

Interactive Bike Trip Planner

Select your start and end points from a Google map and a street-legal map with cue sheet and detailed elevation profile is prepared for you. By adjusting a couple of "knobs", you can avoid higher-traffic streets or take less hilly routes. I've only played with it for a few minutes and can see myself getting absorbed by the possibilities.

The site trip.atltransit.com is put together by the Citizens for Progressive Transit, an Atlanta-based advocacy group.

Out on the Edge of Darkness there rides a Bike Train

Now I've been happy lately
thinking about the good things to come
and I believe it could be
something good has begun

-- Cat Stevens, Bike (Peace) Train

This morning I enjoyed the company of Jeff from Decatur. We rode along the PATH portion of the route from Moreland to Jackson street smiling and feeling pleasant about our good fortune to be riding bikes to work.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.6
Number of Cyclists seen: 35 total (17 inbound is a record)
In-bound Route: Wednesday Bike Train
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Mild and drizzly inbound, but the pavement stayed dry. Overcast but dry outbound.

New Record for number of Cyclists Observed

I knew this was going to be a good day when I had spotted 12 riders within the first 3 miles. The ride into the office brought me past 16 riders, most of whom were clearly commuting. In the afternoon there were a good number of rec riders, but still a strong showing from the commuters. 22 riders over 9.3 miles is about double what I usually see.

Intown Atlanta, we are getting on our bikes and riding.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 21.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 38 - a new record
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH (stretched out a bit)
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Slap your head silly gorgeous. Everyone is outside today.

Kissing the Pretty Girls

Virginia-Highland scores well on the Walkability scale. Folks visiting from the 'burbs often remark they wish they lived here so they could walk more.

It is interesting however, that many of my neighbors do not take greater advantage of the many destinations that are within walking or cycling distance. People pay dearly for sidewalks, yet jump in the car for a 2-mile round trip. Bringing the car is taken for granted and walking becomes talk.

The poets talk of romance, but who is kissing the pretty girls?

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.9
Number of Cyclists seen: 16 others kissing pretty girls and cute guys
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Big rain storm came through right before quitting time. Wet roads. Got soggy. Kissed the pretty girls anyway.

Get on your Bikes and Ride!

You say you want a revolution?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Want to send a message to the oil companies?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Do you have a dream, that one day bikes and cars will peacefully co-exist upon our roads?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Want to encourage others to ride?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Fed up with sitting in traffic?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

CO2 blanket getting too warm?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Choked on enough ozone?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Immersed yourself in the outdoors recently?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Need to bust some stress?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Are your clothes getting tighter?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Want to save the world?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Are we the model for future generations?
Get on your Bikes and Ride!

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.9
Number of Cyclists seen: 17 (one I know was headed to Critical Mass)
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Fully humid in morning. Rained on again in the afternoon.

Another Generation's worth of fond Cycling Memories

A few weeks ago I posted about how much fun it is to ride bikes with kids (Fun for the next generation).

• Different things that can be said with a Bicycle Bell ("Here I come!", "Hey, another bike rider!", "Good Morning!")
  
• Brakes that sound like a goose.
  
• Riding with your feet on the top tube.
  
• Finding a bottle of "Old Croak" embalming fluid at the cemetery gift shop.
  

Getting out with the kids and goofing off is just one of the many ways we can encourage the next generation to be better cyclists than we've been.

Yesterday, one of the best programs for getting kids on their bikes made their resources available to a broader public. Whether or not you have kids in school, you'll be interested to know what the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership is accomplishing and how they're doing it.

The SRTS National Partnership announced a new website yesterday that helps explain who is involved, where they are involved, what they are accomplishing and how you can help. They're working to reverse a trend that took us from 50% of kids walking or riding a bike to school in 1969 down to less than 15% today.

I think most of us know when school starts back up after the summer by the increase in traffic. SRTS has been responsible in some school districts for reducing the school car trips by 75%.

I grew up walking to school, walked and rode my bike through college, and it has stuck with me. Of course, I did get a car and drive to work soon after college, but I soon found that 1) my waist got bigger and 2) I really missed being on my bike. The fond memories of getting around on a bike helped me get back to cycling. The SRTS is working to create another generation's worth of fond cycling memories.

Online logging of miles

They say imitation is one of the highest forms of flattery. If so, it's Apertome I'm flattering by adopting the use of MyCylingLog.com as an online repository of my rides. I noticed it because his sidebar included a summary of the rides he had entered.

Instead of putting the summary into a sidebar, I've given the summary a page of its own and linked it to my Bike Miles in 2007 counter.

I had been collecting the stats since May of 2005 on my Treo (in excel), and being the capable computer guy that I am, tossed together a program to automatically move all my entries into My Cycling Log.

This particular site is making an effort to raise the awareness of green commuting by calculating the amount of CO2 our riding is keeping out of the atmosphere. As a show of appreciation for the developer's efforts to make this site available, I'm spreading the word so others will add their miles as well.

The site is free. I'd be happy to share my technique for uploading ride records or (in consideration of a small fee) would consider uploading your records.

Vatican issues 10 Commandments for Motorists

I think the title says it all. Click on it to read the article from CNN.

It's nice that there is official recognition that motor vehicles present an opportunity for evil.

Maybe not news, but worth repeating

Paul Dorn has a great bike commuting blog that I try to keep up with, but sometimes I get behind. Last week he described an article about whether we'll ever get out of our cars, but what caught my eye was a joke he mentions he likes to tell: "Building freeways to fight traffic congestion is like building cemeteries to fight a pandemic disease."

I like this analogy. Another one might be getting a bigger refrigerator so you can better manage your weight.

What's Important?

I watched my nephew play baseball this past weekend and struck up a conversation with another dad. He talked about parents who put a lot of pressure on their sons, punishing them for errors committed, and putting their game under the microscope each time they stepped onto the field. We agreed these players would probably not be playing much longer because the fun was being sucked out.

Sometimes we get caught up thinking that performing at the higher levels means applying more pressure. It turns out high performance goes along with the absence of pressure. Making it fun removes the pressure.

I had coached youth soccer and faced the problem of parent pressure. Over the years, I built up a list of stories that help illustrate the importance of fun. One of my favorites is Bruce Brownlee's Six Things Parents Should Say to their Player. It's a list of things to be memorized until you can say them automatically.

Paul Dorn had recently completed a poll of cyclists asking why they rode their bike to work. Fun and Health topped the list of reasons.

Whether it's baseball, soccer or cycling, we get better when we spend time doing it, and we spend time doing it when it's fun.

Midtown Alliance's Commuter Rewards

Usually good news travels slower than bad news, but this kind of good news might move along nicely.

You can win cash and prizes for an alternative commute.

If you don't believe me, I'm posting the text of a recent reward I received for riding my bike to work and logging my commutes.

I had mentioned in an earlier post that people do what is easiest. The Midtown Alliance and the Clean Air Campaign are making it easier to clean up our commutes. By working with local businesses, the Midtown Alliance is making a positive impact on alternative transportation. And that makes Midtown a healthier place for everyone.

Even if you are unable to take advantage of Commuter Rewards, perhaps you know someone who can. Pass along the good word.

Subject: Midtown Bike and Walk Incentives

Congratulations! Because you logged at least 15 bike or walk trips last month, you've won $15 in Zifty Bucks to use toward your next order from Zifty.com. Use your Zifty Bucks to order in lunch, have a movie delivered... whatever you want! Just go to www.zifty.com to place your order. You'll need to enter this coupon code at check-out: XXXXXXXX. Enjoy! And thanks for leaving your car at home. -Midtown Transportation Solutions and Zifty.com

This email was sent by: Midtown Alliance 999 Peachtree Street; Suite 730 Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 16.5
Number of Cyclists seen: 22
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: The 5-week campfire covering SE Georgia blows smoke our way.

Candler Park Golf Course (from behind the 6th green):



From the bridge TV commercials are filmed:

Bike to Work Week Activities

Here's a list of Bike to Work Week Activities I plan to participate in. There are many more in Atlanta I could list, but these are my personal picks.

• Wed. May 16 - Ride of Silence - Atlanta's version or this international ride begins at 7PM from Piedmont Park (Charles Allen and 10th).
  
• Fri. May 18 - Decatur Bike Train - Leaving 7:50 AM from the square into Woodruff Park.
  
• Fri. May 18 - Midtown Alliance's Outdoor Booth for recruited riders - Gift certificates for riders who recruit new bike commuters, 4:30-6:00 PM at Colony Square.
  

And of course, I'll be riding into the office all month and all year.

OK, one list I will refer to: ABC's Calendar of BtW Events.

Car Habit (or Driver's License Part 5)

I really enjoy my bike, riding my bike to work, and leaving my car in the driveway. I get a big kick when I'm locking up my bike and a stranger walks up, asks if I ride everywhere I go and offers encouraging words. I feel like I'm part of something bigger when I stop at an intersection to talk with a fellow cyclist. I want to spread the good news, to tell it from the mountain and to proclaim the simple beauty of the bicycle.

At the same time, my daughter is doing some pretty cool stuff with cars, and the more I look into this, the more I like cars. I had forgotten about paint markers and how much fun they are. I've written in previous posts (click on the Driver's License tag below) about what I'm learning about how we as a society develop our car habit. My daughter is making the transition to motorist, and I'm trying to take an honest look at the reasons we love our cars.

I have to admit, I enjoyed the attention I got when I drove the car with this message on the driver's side window:


This fun occurred when Grady High School advanced to the quarter-finals of the Girl's State Soccer Championship last Tuesday. On Friday night, they advanced to the semi's and play Tuesday night May 8. The community is loving it and my daughter (who scored the game winner Friday) is eating it up.

So, the question becomes, is it OK if the bike guy enjoys driving around in the car? Can the car really be so evil, if some fun can be had? Is there a place in the world (besides the driveway) for an energy-hungry, inefficient, transportable set of chairs with windows? I'll have to consider this further.

In the meanwhile, I'm glad to have an excuse not to wash it.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 13.4
Number of Cyclists seen: 17
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH
Out-bound Route: Errands
Weather: Completely blue skies, Low 50's in AM; mid-70's by afternoon; low humidity.

Talking about Cycling

Noah recently posted in his blog KC Bike Commuting about a public debate concerning bike lanes. He summarized a number of impassioned points showing a range of emotional reactions to carving out some space for cyclists, and then provided his rebuttal for each.

These are opportunities for Talking about Cycling.

The underdog does not hope for victory because this is not a single skirmish that is won or lost. It is the much slower and less visible process of changing the way people think. Little by little, the good information seeps into the minds of individuals, and one-by-one, minds drift toward a more sympathetic point of view.

It's slow and often it is hard to see progress (that's why I celebrate the number of cyclists I'm seeing), but it is worth the effort.

Of course, riding our bikes and being the change that we want to see in the world is honest advocacy. A willingness to respectfully and cheerfully share our point of view carries that advocacy further.

Cycling Karma

There was a car commercial that showed people being nice to each other and upon receiving that kindness, passing kindness along to another. This chain repeated several times, creating good feeling out of almost nothing, then time reversed back up to the beginning of the chain which, in TV land of course, was the car.

This is in Winn Park along my Georgia Tech route. For me, it's a few moments spent in places like the one pictured here that trigger a chain reaction of good feelings that ripple through my slice of the world.

I hope this post can make ripples in your slice of the world.

Cycle Man

Like any other Intown bike commuter, he wears his helmet, turns on his tail-lights after dusk, and rolls up his slacks to keep them out of the chain -- just an ordinary cyclist on an ordinary bike. But if trouble should arise -- a child riding without a helmet, a wrong-way grate, a driver-side door about to open -- he dashes into the nearest porta-john and turns into ...
[trumpet flourish]

Cycle Man!

• Faster than a jogging stroller,
  
• More powerful than an all-you-can-eat buffet,
  
• Able to climb tall hills in a single gear,
  

It's Cycle Man.

Cycle Man is prepared for any cycling emergency:

• Who always knows whether to turn left or right?
  
• Who always knows where to find the best variety of Clif bars? (At a good price, too.)
  
• Who always has water in his bottle for a self-defense squirt?
  
• Who can put a rude motorist in their place and make them glad for it?
  

Cycle Man. That's who.

Cycle Man protects his secret identity, but there are some clues that might help you spot him:

• Appears to feel at home in a porta-john.
  
• Gets jittery when he hasn't eaten for a couple of hours (blood-sugar withdrawals).
  
• Frequently looking for a place to throw his banana peel.
  
• Pretends to like coffee (it's really decaf with about 8 creamers).
  
• You can sometimes catch him wearing his cleats into the office.
  
• You can sometimes catch him wearing his helmet into the office.
  
• Chooses to take the stairs and beats the elevator without breaking a sweat.
  
• Has a driver's license with his picture on it, but never offers to drive to lunch.
  
• Hangs around in Cycling Advocacy Blogs.
  
• Gets visibly excited when someone suggests riding bikes along four-lane shopping strips with 60+ MPH traffic.
  
• Quick to offer you a Fig Newton.
  
• Left cheek is stretched out by overuse of tongue-in-cheek.
  

Maybe you'll spot Cycle Man one day.

Is Wearing a Helmet Rational?

A recent post on Commute by Bike discusses decisions to begin wearing helmets. The main article and most of the comments talk about the events that convinced people to wear a helmet. What I find striking is how many of the decisions to wear a helmet were based on either an accident or hearing about an accident. Even my story 'The Day I Got Helmet' was an emotional reaction instead of a well-reasoned decision.

We all like to think we act rationally -- and perhaps taking steps to do something about our fears is rational -- but it's interesting that none of the stories talked about rational decisions reached upon careful reviews of the facts.

OK, analyzing data and pointing out the result isn't nearly as interesting as splattered brains. Stories are what we want to read about and relate to. At least the data does support the stories.

Got Helmet? ;-).