The High Cost of Doing Good

The Rawland in repose on the shores of Lake Superior
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

I signed up for the League Certified Instructor (LCI) course this evening. The LCI certification will enable me to teach Traffic Skills 101 class, lead Bike Rodeos for kids, and teach Confident Cycling classes.

I've been interested in bike education for some time, but it's kind of an ordeal to go through all this. The LCI course has a prerequisite of TS-101, which makes sense. To register, you also need to join League of American Bicyclists, which provides the LCI certification and you need to be affiliated with a group (in my case, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota).

By the time you add this all up, the total cost for the memberships and course work totals $320. That's a lot less than some training (Wilderness First Responder is about $800, but it's also an 80 hour course). Still, at that price, it's a barrier to a lot of people, I suspect.

I am scheduled to complete the LCI course work in late June, so hopefully I'll pass (not that I am worried about that) and be able to get some teaching in yet this summer.

Legislative Update: No E-Bikes, but Nothing Else, Either

Another of my Sunsets
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota staff posted a very informative update on Bike Love today regarding the results (or lack thereof) of the recently concluded legislative session as it concerns bicycles.

The upshot is that essentially none of the pro-bike legislation passed; that means that the Mississippi River trail is on hold as is the legislation that would have increased penalties for drivers that cause serious injury to cyclists or pedestrians.

Too bad, but I expect these will not go away and we might win next year. On a brigter note, the bill that would have allowed E-bikes on state trails also failed to pass, so that might those things at bay for the time being.

Here is the link to the discussion of legislative results on Bike Love.

Gateways

Iron Fence Gate, stamped concrete
Originally uploaded by Acadia Landscape and Hardscape

I am about to pass through a gate, metaphorically speaking. It's not unanticipated, and it's probably past due. Still, crossing the line, and closing the door seems kind of intimidating.

The sense of excitement and unbounded opportunity is absolutely invigorating, but the undercurrent of bitterness and frustration makes this sublime.

I "friended" the Dali Lama on Facebook the other day and that's been useful. Many of the posts are about appearances, but he always seeds in a few words of wisdom to keep us subscribed (he's no fool). Today's post:

"Whatever path our activity takes, if our intention is to make ourselves useful to others, there is a good chance our conduct will be useful; whereas activities generally considered to be good, such as the practice of religion, risk causing more harm than good if they are not motivated by a desire to help our fellow beings."

That seemed appropriate this morning.

MPLS Bicycle Master Plan Map

MASTER PLAN MAY 4 2011
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

My well placed sources were kind enough to email a copy of the May 4, 2011 revision of the Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan map. The map has been the subject of several rounds of comments is probably close to complete.

Yes - the map is illegible, but if you click on it, you'll go to my Flickr page. From there, select "actions" and then "view all sizes". Select "original" for some high resolution map readin'.

It would be nice to see this level of infrastructure become a reality. Here's to hoping and persistence.....

Time for a Name Change

I have determined that I need to rename this blog.

When I started it, I simply took a screen name from a on-line forum that I frequent. That was simple, but it doesn't give any clue what this blog is about and it's kind of a stupid name anyway. I'll probably leave the URL the same for those that pick this up on a feed or something, but the name has to change.

I have a few ideas in my head, but I would welcome suggestions. If you have an idea, please post it in the comments below.

A "How To" for Bike Season

Cycle Twin Cities ran a "How To" article that I authored today.

I am re-posting it here on my site in case any of you Cats are not hip to that scene. Dig it.

The Week(end) in Review

Wet Clunker
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

Another weekend draws to a close and I find myself surveying what I accomplished (and didn't). Thankfully, we were unscathed by the tornadoes that struck the Twin Cities today...

I was signed up for the Lake Pepin 3-speed Tour this weekend, but ended up canceling last week. Lack of planning, or rather attention, on my part, plus the other things competing for attention on my calendar ruled the day, and I sent the Shirt-Tail Organizer an email last week canceling. Hopefully someone else was able to get in because I canceled. Then again, with the weather we had this weekend, that may not be much of a good deed, after all.

I put my time to good use, however. I shot Saturday (literally) by taking some friends to the range to give them some exposure to target shooting. I love shooting, but don't do it very much. I find it very meditative - the amount of concentration required to accurately fire a pistol or rifle requires one to push every other thought from their head, and to pay attention to breathing. Few other things we do require that level of concentration. Drawing comes close, but not much else I can think of.

We sampled a wide range of calibers, but kept the distance close to yield positive results. The immediate feedback on a range is interesting. There are few other areas in life where you can take some sort of action and get immediate, definitive feedback on how you did. Endless opportunity to improve, experiment and learn. Plus, guns are involved!

Sunday was spent running a few much-needed errands and completing some chores, including yet another shake-down on the 3-speed. I now (finally) have the bike dialed-in like a frickin' F-16; the pesky cone tension problem is resolved and it's silky smooth (as least as silky smooth as a 40-year old bike can be).

On that note, I need to plan the next TC3-SAS ride. I am thinking two weeks from now (first weekend in June). Something casual and scenic. Details will be forthcoming...

Meanwhile, the TC3-SAS spoke cards are back from the printer and they look great!. I will be giving these away to anyone that shows up for a ride and wants one. I may leak some to friends as well - I seem to have plenty.

Now to gird the loins for another work week, which should prove to be interesting and significant. Details to follow on that as well.

Be well, do good, appreciate what you have.

Ghost Bikes

I have been intrigued by Ghost Bikes since my first encounter with this back in February of 2008.

Looking back at this blog tonight, I've posted about Ghost Bikes in one fashion or another no less than 5 times. Therefore, this post marks the 6th to touch on Ghost Bikes.

If you are not familiar with the concept, Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel.

Click the link for more detail.

Recently, the City got a complaint about one of the Ghost Bikes out there. The caller stated that this bike was an eyesore and asked for the bike to be removed. The bike in question commemorates Dennis Dumm, who I did not know. He was younger than I am, he was an artist and photographer, he rode the same roads I do, he was loved, and he was killed in a truck-bike collision on Park Ave. at about the time I ride that same road. Now, I see this bike every time I ride Park Ave. to the office.

I stopped by there tonight on the way home to size up the situation and see if the bike was in fact an eyesore. It was not bad, but it needs some maintenance. I cleaned up the easy stuff and will return tomorrow on my morning commute with a few tools to do a little bit more. I've sent an email to the City telling them that we are working on this and to ask for some time to fix it up, as well as another to the MPLS Ghost Bike people to see if it's possible to do more - the bike needs to be repainted or replaced.

I have an uneasy relationship with Ghost Bikes - I support them, but I can't help but feel for the people that live or work next to one of these. Honestly, I would not like the reminder of this in front of me every day, so homeowner or landowner approval seems really important to me. Maintenance is important as well. Installing a Ghost Bike seems noble, but an unmaintained Ghost Bike could easily become an insult to the victim and an eyesore to the community.

Lots of responsibility placing these, it seems. Hopefully this one will be spiffed up and Dennis's life commemorated appropriately.

UPDATE: The good people at Ghost Bike MPLS are on the case! Yea and thank you!

RESCHEDULED: Time for Direct Action

I have been trying to get the local business association at 48th and Chicago to add a bike corral to improve bike parking. Background is available here and here. I've run into a dead end and need your help to get this un-stuck.

Parking is not great at this intersection, but there are a ton of destinations that draw bikes (Turtle Bread, Townhall Tap, Pepito's, etc.). I have spoken to the President of the business association and lobbied him on this issue. He's supportive and brought the issue to the association members. The consensus is that they are supportive of trying a bike corral, but they do not want to spend any Association money on this, nor are any of the merchants willing to pay for this on their own.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

I would like to put together as many cyclists as we can on Saturday, May 28 Sunday, June 5 for a short, fun group ride. We'll meet in front of Midtown Freewheel, ride en masse to 48th and Chicago and drop leaflets with all the local merchants asking for improved bike parking. While doing that, we will let them know that we are continuing on to Buster's/A Baker's Wife/Angry Catfish to spend money of coffee, food, beer and bakery at a location with better parking. The merchant can then watch us ride over the hill and think about the merits of on-street bike parking.

I am not trying to be a jerk here, but I don't know what else is going to make them see that bike riders are good customers.

Meet at Midtown Freewheel at noon, Saturday, May 28 SUNDAY, JUNE 5. We'll roll out by about 12:10, make it to 48th and Chicago in time for the peak of lunch, do the drop and talk and be at Buster's enjoying a cold drink by about 1:30 PM.

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to come along - for this to be effective, I'll need a lot of cyclists, so if you can fit this into your weekend, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!!

Unintended Consequences

Bicycle license plate
Originally uploaded by Minnesota Historical Society

I realized today that my migration to bicycle and transit commuting has resulted in an unintended consequence: I can no longer tolerate driving in rush hour traffic.

I had a late afternoon meeting today in Golden Valley. The meeting was productive and I was in a good mood when I left at about 5:00. I eased onto I-394, waited at a metered ramp, slowed and merged again around Highway 100, and then came to a complete standstill in the lane that goes to I-94 east, trying to get back to the safety and serenity of So. MPLS.

I-394 was a frigging parking lot. I got more and more wound up as I inched along until I finally said "Bucket!" (except the "B" was actually an "F"), and exited on Dunwoody, thinking I could meander south and east on City streets.

Bad idea, SS. I got swept into Hennepin Ave. at rush hour and crawled along for another 15 minutes or so until I could finally turn east on 28th and get out of that seething mass of humanity. To be clear, pedestrians were keeping pace with me and the fortunate few on bikes were essentially wrinkling time as they whooshed by. Buck! (remember, "B" is "F" for this post).

Apparently, I have lost any ability to deal with traffic jams. The bus might be a little poky, but I can at least read while we inch along, so the time passes productively. The bike lets me bypass the whole mess at my usual pace and gives me a little exercise to boot. Plus, it improves my naturally gloomy demeanor.

By the time I got home, I was frothing at the mouth, honking my horn at others and inventing new and exciting swear words.

I need to go lay down now.