Poor Man Transportation

Found this over at Copenhagenize.com

"Me no want no bus, no car, me no want no blasted minivan
Me no want no bus, no car, me no want no basted minivan
Jussa wanna ride upon me bicycle for transportation"

As they said the Copenhagenize Anthem and I couldn't agree more.  I remember when my bicycle switched from being an object of recreation to an object of transportation.

Bike Corrals and the Southside of Pittsburgh

Bike Corral at OTB

The other day while I was out riding I decided that a bit of food was in order. (I know what you’re thinking but I don’t always go to OTB for food.) I wanted to get some miles of riding in as well so I tooled on over to the Southside Jimmy Johns, got off my bike and found that I had no place to lock up my bike. not that the bike racks outside of Jimmy John’s were full, but that there were no racks outside of Jimmy John’s

I was just a little surprised. 

Jimmy John’s does employ cyclists as delivery people. Several of my friends deliver for Jimmy John’s and even more of the delivery people are regulars at the local cycling hangout. I had to wonder just why the lack of bike parking. If nothing else a place for the delivery people to secure their bikes.  I took my drink and sandwich and sat facing the front windows so I could keep an eye on my bike. The longer I sat there the more bothered I got about the lack of parking. So I did what anyone would do. 

I fired up my phone and hit facebook. I send Jimmy John’s the following message:

Fatguy

No bike parking outside your South Side pittsburgh shop. Why? South Side is cycling Mecca in pittsburgh. You can do better than this.

To which I got a quick response.

Jimmy John’s

I don't know, but I do love bikers and bikers love Jimmy John's! Thanks for the feedback Terry

On the inside I knew that bike parking has not been a high priority in Pittsburgh, and I was willing to accept that we need to strive for more but accept what we can get. That was until the car that was parked in front of the store pulled away leaving an open Parking space. 

Just the size of a bike corral. 

I’m betting the people in the store could hear the gears turning as I visualized a bike corral in place of the open parking slot.. The more I thought about it the more I liked the idea. The bike trail on the south side is broken up (in my mind) into three parts. The first part is the station Square portion of the trail that runs from the Duquesne Incline past the hounds field, station square and behind the cement factory. The Second part runs from S4th street (just past the terminal properties) thru riverfront Park and down to Hot Metal Bridge. The Third part of the trail runs from Hot Metal bridge to Sandcastle Waterpark in the Waterfont in Homestead.

Station Square has some bike parking and the Waterfront has to many problems to go into in this article. 

Right now I'm focused on the Southside and the southside trail. I am defining the southside as east carson st from s10th to Hot metal Street, and the southside trail as the section of the trail from s4th street to Hot metal St. First a little information about the trail. Exits and Entrances to the trail are limited to 4th 9th 18th and 26th streets. So it seems that it would be advantageous to have bike corrals at the start of the Southside (Near 10th st.) in the middle of the Southside (Near 18th st) and at the end of the Southside (Near 26th st) 

Now back to what started this all Jimmy Johns in located at 1717 East Carson St. the nearest bike corral is up between 25th and 26th. So that means they are located almost next to where the bike trail empties onto to carson. So in my mind this would be a perfect place to locate a Bike Corral. This got me wondering just how does one go about getting a Bike Corral placed on the street. So again I fired up my phone and went to Email instead of Facebook and asked the people at Bike PGH. Eric at bikePGH outlined the different plans 

1. Free bike rack from City Request Program. - This may take awhile.  Since the meter removal, the City has been using all of their racks on the districts that lost meters. The program is on a bit of a hold, but they could still apply, it might just take a long awhile.

2. Purchase bike rack, install yourself.  - They can get this done really quick. Long story short: It's a $25 permit, the city checks out the site to make sure it's not in the way and ADA compliant, then you buy and install yourself.  all info is located on our site, including the forms to download: http://bikepgh.org/purchase-bike-racks/ 

3. Corral: There's a permit application, as well as getting the permission of the neighbors on your block, but I haven't figured out how they are supposed to "formally" get the approval. If it could work out, it will be free. HOWEVER, it will no doubt take a long time, especially considering the Southside has a corral, with a second already on the way.  They gotta spread the love to other neighborhoods first.  

On City owned streets, ie Highland Ave Mad Mex.  There's a corral request form, which one technically needs to get from the Bike/Ped Coordinator, but I can send it to them as well.  They need to get their neighbors on board, because the last thing the city wants is complaints, and they are supposed to demonstrate that there is a need, as well as showing that there are no viable off-street options (like if they have their own parking lot, for instance). They then have to sign a maintenance agreement stating that they will help keep the corral free of trash and snow, and notify the city if there is an abandoned bike or if the corral is struck by a car or something.  The City then creates a work order, and eventually it gets installed.

If the street is owned by PennDOT, like E.Carson st there is one more step.  The city will need to apply for what's called a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP), which adds at least a month to the process.  This will most likely be done by the City, but it also means that PennDOT will need to review the site and the plans. They also want to be able to remove it if need be, say for some major plowing effort or repaving or something.

I will always be a fan of Bike Corrals over Bike Racks on the sidewalk for several reasons. 

First, off bikes don’t belong on the sidewalk. Cyclists have to constantly fight for acceptance on the roads. I’m not saying that having to lock your bike up on the sidewalk is a step backwards but I do feel like it is a solid step sideways.  

Second, if we want to increase the number of people cycling on the roads (and we all know that more cyclists on the roads means safer roads for everyone) then we need provide the infrastructure that the General Population will be able to use. 

Third, I think it would be better to concentrate the bike corrals to a neighborhood like the Southside instead of “Spreading the Love around to different neighborhoods. Maybe I’m wrong but I believe that by putting 3-4 bike corrals equally spaced out along carson from 12th to 26th you will begin to see what kind of impact this has on the neighborhood as a whole. We could use that kind of data to find out what works and what doesn’t. This will help other neighborhoods create these cycling friendly areas with minimal impact and maximum effect. 

Simply put I want people to cycle because it is simpler and easier to ride to the southside, park your bike and shop then jump back on your bike ride the 6 blocks and lock your bike up there and shop some more because it is easier than it would be to get in the car, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and then only shop in that small section of the southside because you don’t want to have get back in the car, fight traffic and look for another parking spot eight blocks away.  

If you want people to start riding bikes then you have to do three things. Make riding a bike easier, cheaper, and more convenient than a car. I don’t believe that Bike Corrals are some kind of magic bullet that is going to change the inherent car culture in Pittsburgh but I think it will be a large step in the right direction.

Bias

This had been going around facebook today and when I got home from work I took a look at it.

Bias against cyclists is Rampant and unfair (Michigan Auto Law)

This is no surprise to me. I have seen it growing for the past few years. People who would never advocate hurting anyone will say the coldest most psycotic things about a cyclist that has "Made" them a few seconds late. When I hear these things I often think about offering to do the same things to their own mother, sisters, daughters.

You would be surprised how upset they get at the idea of someone saying something so cold about someone they care about. I guess turnabout isn't really fair play. Here are a few quotes from the article.

"The lawyers defending the trucking company refused to accept any responsibility for his death. They said he caused his own death, and then they said it didn’t really matter because an 83-year-old man isn’t worth very much money."

"There were many people who were quite willing to assign blame against him for just riding a bicycle. And there are many people willing to forgive clear negligence if the victim is on a bicycle."

I see this all to often. During most of my family gatherings I find myself talking to one of my relatives who will eventually bring up that he has seen someone on a bike do something illegal (run a red light, blow a stop sign) but doesn't understand what I am doing when I walk to the window and look out on the road and say "That car is speeding, and that car is speeding, and that car is speeding"When I bluntly point out that he is more than willing to break traffic laws that don't suit him but get angry when someone else does the exact same thing. You may think I'm getting a little ranty!

I am.

If this bothers you, well tough. I'm not going to pretend to understand why a person can kill another person and it is called murder or negligent homicide or manslaughter, unless the killer is in a car and the victim is on a bicycle. Then it's a 500$ fine and 3 points. Besides it was clearly the cyclist fault since he was riding on "my" road.

The Ides of Flock

 Video of the March Flock of Cycles ride

My long bikefast is broken. Thank the cycling gods! Last night I headed over to Oakland to join in the fun that is the monthly Flock of Cycles Party ride (facebook link).The ride was as fun as always and I was very happy to see that there were several new people (First time Flockers) in the group. We had a good showing for a still chilly march evening which makes me wonder what the rides are going to be like when the weather gets warmer.

The ride was a laid back tour of the city (look at route here) that took us through Oakland, Bloomfield, The strip District Downtown, The Armstrong tunnels, Across the 10th st bridge and into the South side. The ride ended with food drinks and fun at OTB bicycle cafe. (When the weather gets warmer and it stays light longer, I have noticed a tendency to end the ride with a pot luck picnic in a park.)

Eventually I wished my friends a good night and hopped on my bike and headed to town, with the plan of throwing my bike on the bus and heading home. This became quite a challenge. It seems my long Bikefast had its effect on more than my mental well being as I rode slowly into town my legs complaining the whole way.

For those of you who don't know what a Flock of cycles ride is like, allow me to give you a description. First off take everything you believe about cyclists and group rides (hipsters looking down on you, Lycra clad riders trying to form a peleton, annoying cyclists blowing through stop signs) and forget it. Now imagine hanging out with friends and talking, listening to music and catching up with people you like but haven't seen in a month.

It's like that just on a bike.

The ride is slow, fun and best of all accepting. My first flock (several years ago) was an eye opening experience. I was rather fearful that I would be looked down on for being old, fat, and slow. I knew this was supposed to be an easy, everyone staying together, fun ride. I didn't believe it. I knew I was going to be the one slowing everyone down. when we got to the hill (you can't avoid all the hills in Pittsburgh no matter how you try) I was the last one up. I was so close to quitting.

But I didn't.

A couple of the people rode with me. The rest waited at the top of the hill. (I found out later that it is normal for the group to wait at the top of the hill to allow everyone to re-group.) No one looked at me like I was the one slowing them down. everyone accepted me. I've worked very hard to return that favor and accept and do what I can to help those around me.

I will be interviewing Marcel from flock of cycles in an upcoming post so be sure to keep a lookout for that.

Links in this Post
Flock of Cycles Website
Flock of Cycles  Facebook
OTB Bicycle Cafe

Pedal for the Pantry

Last night I managed to get over to OTB for a bit of dinner and an adult potable (or 2) I needed to do something to life my spirits. I have ridden since the midle of Janurary and to tell the truth I'm starting to get a little twitchy. It seems my goals for the year are mocking me and all I do is work and sleep.

It is taking its toll on me. Mentally and Physically.

When I walked in a pretty girl smiled at me from behind the bar, a friend of mine was sitting at the bar, and the seat next to him was open. The gods were smiling. A snowmelt and tandem later and I could feel the tension leave my body. My friend, we will call him Paul (because that is his name) is putting together a great ride for the beginning of april. The ride is called Pedal for the Pantry and it will benifit the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. This is a ride and a cause that I am firmly behind. In my younger, married, father of four life places like the food bank made a huge difference and I don't want to imagine what that part of my life would have been like without them.

So this is more than just "A ride" to me.

I felt like I had to do something more. That still small voice inside was pushing me. As we sat and talked about everyting that needed done and all the companies that had donated prizes that still small voice nudged me again. I hate it when he does that.

"You know what you have to do." Said that voice inside. He sounded cocky but he usually does, he's usually right.

So I sponsored a prize. I'm not telling what prize I sponsored (you have to show up to the ride to find out), and Im not writing this to brag since what I did really is no big thing. I'm writing this to first off, let you know about this great chance for you to get out, have a good ride and possibly change a person's life. Secondly, I'm writing this in hopes that others will read this and decide they want to do more, to step outside of themselves. If so I would strongly encourage you to head over to the Pedal for the pantry website or the facebook page and get in touch with Paul and find out what you can do help. Somethings I can think of off the top of my head:

• Go on the ride
• Sponsor a prize (even if it is 25$ gift card)
• Donate food (more on that later)
• Spread the word

I know a lot of people who are saying "Terry I don't even own a bike, I can't go this 'RIDE THINGY'" Well that's ok because you can always bring food to the event. Here is a list of the Most needed Items. You can bring them the Over the Bar bicycle cafe 2518 east carson between 1 and 4 on the day of the event.

So step up and step outside of your comfort zone and reach out to those less fortunate.

Sometimes

http://lovingthebike.com/uncategorized/bike-to-nowhere-to-see-nothing

Bike Counter in Oregon

Cycle Oregon co-founder (and VP of Communications for ODS Health) Jonathan Nicholas. 

"From now on, people crossing the Hawthorne Bridge by bike will count. Literally. A new bike counter (a.k.a. the bicycle barometer) — the first of its kind in the United States — went live at midnight last night and at this morning's press conference the number was already well over 2,000."

You can read the whole article over at BikePortland.org

I would love to see something like this in Pittsburgh but at 20 grand a pop it could get a little pricey in a city full of bridges.

Upsetting

looks like I'll be building my first Ghost bike

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/bicyclist-killed-hit-and-run-crash-point-breeze-po/nP3c7/

My heart goes out the man's family.

I find this very upsetting, it shouldn't be like this.

Im calling this one a WIN

The Bike Pgh blog recently posted about the increase in bike parking in downtown Pittsburgh (Read whole post here) I'm very excited to see all the things that are happening here in Pittsburgh. from the Bike Racks on busses (which I use all the time) to the increase in bike lanes and sharrows. I really think we are approaching a tipping point of popularity where cyclists began to be noticed as something more than a bothersome nuisance.

We are starting to be noticed as a valid group instead of

Out the ordinary
Hippy freaks
Law breakers
Unruly kids

This is a very good thing, for the most part. There are some negative aspects of this that I will, no doubt, talk about later. But for now, I'm calling this one a WIN!

Found a Cure

Photo Credit: Cuito Cuanavale

Ok not a cure, but perhaps a treatment. I was (and still am) feeling quiet anti-social but this story about 1000bikes.org  Dedicated to putting 1000 bikes into the hands of foster kids each year.

Yeah even I have stop and realize I am focusing to much on the negative.

Thanks to Urbanvelo.org

Don Parker Ride

Photo Credit: Me

Three months ago today something tragic happened,  From the original article:

“A man from Allison Park has died following an accident this morning in Indiana Township.
Don Parker, 52, had two passions - one for the people in his life and the other for bicycling.”

Today I had the privilege to ride with people whom I had never met and only known by names on a computer screen. We came from all over the city, meeting along the way, groups growing larger and more visible as we neared town. We came together in town the couples that became groups now become an assembly as we now rode not just on common ground but also with a common purpose. We rode through town stopping at the county building in hopes of meeting with the District Attorney Stephen A Zapalla Jr. and asking him about the tragedy and what if anything is being done.



We didn’t get to talk to the D.A (We really didn’t expect to) but we did get to talk to Mike Manko the Spokesperson from the DA office. Here is what we learned.

Taken from Bike Pgh Forums
- The DA's office only received the case in the last "10 days or two weeks or so", and is still investigating. The local LEO and County police may have completed their investigations, but the DA's office has only begun looking into it. He emphasized how slow the legal process works.
- If the driver was issued a ticket, that is a summary offense issued by the local LEO's and has no bearing on the DA's investigation.
- He could not comment on the status of the investigation, but he said that when the decision to press charges or not is made, it probably won't be well publicized. He did invite the community to check in every few weeks or so for a status update. There is a feedback link on the DA's office's website that will go directly to Mr. Manko. (mmanko@da.allegheny.pa.us)

As Mick said in the same thread:
“If our goal was to get some kind of justice for Don Parker, then we accomplished (perhaps) a little. Maybe or maybe not.

If our goal was to let our elected officials know that a dead cyclist will not go unnoticed, then we succeeded.

I'm glad we did it.”

So am I.

It was during the Moment of Silence, as I stood there on Grant St. that I realized that it could of just as easily been Me, or John, or Tabby, or Eleanor. If you are reading this then know that it could of been you.