Lakeview Elementary School Update
25 August, 2008
After emailing the school’s principal, I received a response this weekend. I appreciate his candor, and can understand the amount of pressure he must be under as he starts a brand new school year. It’s obvious that he would like help though, so it’s time to get started. Here is a brief game plan:
- Contact the Daily Herald and see if the author of the recent editorial has extra information about anyone involved in efforts to improve the situation on Geneva Rd.
- Get on UDOT’s case.
- Learn, learn, learn (see below).
I have found what appear to be some promising websites with a lot of great information
- National Center for Safe Routes to School – TONS of information, including free training – how I’ll be spending lunch breaks for the next several days.
- America Walks – “The voice of advocacy for local, state, and national issues. We are at the heart of a growing movement to create walkable communities across North America.”
- International Walk to School in the USA
Time to get started!
Utah Air Quality
21 August, 2008
The EPA has just told Utah that it is failing to provide air clean enough for its citizens. Of particular note, the standard is new, so we were doing great on our air quality before this, it is just a new tougher standard. Are you feeling comforted like I am? The next bit is that the new standard isn’t as tough as the EPA’s scientists said it should be. So, we fail the new standard, which isn’t as tough as it should have been. It will be very interesting to see the State of Utah’s response to this. Right now we are in a boom phase in road building. Will bikes and transit play a bigger roll? Or will they do something like oxygenate our fuel like last time? I for one will be watching very closely. I have to breathe every day. For part of the story, click on the picture.
Out of Stock
21 August, 2008
It is an interesting time of year. Bikes are out of stock. You can’t get them. Of particular interest to me is the fact that the Xtracycle is out of stock. In case you aren’t familiar with it, the Xtracycle turns your ordinary bike into something that can haul stuff. It is therefore very useful for someone who wants to use a car less. They have been out of stock for about two months now. Lots of people want one. No one can find them. They will be in soon is what we are told. It is great to know that the demand for practical bikes and accessories is on the rise.
Friday Photo
15 August, 2008
Starting today, I think it would be a great idea to post a weekly picture of a different part of Utah Valley that can be uniquely experienced by bike (hopefully I can keep up and show different pictures each week).
Today’s picture is the view from my backyard, just as I hopped on my bike for the morning commute.
Brought to you by cycling in Utah Valley. Have a terrific weekend.
U.S. versus Denmark
13 August, 2008
The summer Olympics are here, so friendly contests of sport are occurring every day. There’s one competition the U.S. is losing miserably though. Regardless of your political views, I think most Americans agree that the USA’s energy policy needs to be addressed. Whether or not you agree with Thomas Friedman, his recent op-ed points out some big differences in the energy policies of the U.S. and Denmark, and how they have shaped their respective economies and societies.
It’s always amazing to me how powerful the forces of supply and demand are. For example, we started to see demand for gasoline fall as prices soared this summer. A welcome side effect of the increase was a surge in bike commuting. I can’t quote any numbers right now, but I live on a street that is used extensively by bike commuters. The number of cyclists that pass my front window during breakfast has easily doubled since last year. Brad, and others who work at local bike shops, can attest that they’re moving bikes quicker than ever.
The resurgence of the bicycle, if you want to call it that, is terrific, but I wonder about the best way to make it endure. Is the path to cycling infrastructure paved with government invervention? Or, is there another alternative? What do you think?
Frontrunner is coming south!
11 August, 2008
While in reality preliminary work has been going on for some time, construction will officially begin tomorrow on Frontrunner South, extending commuter rail from Salt Lake City to Provo. This has been a long time coming and I for one am very excited. Time to start saving for a folding bike! Hopefully nothing delays the construction. I understand that UVU is being difficult when it comes to the station for Orem. They seem to be very lacking in vision over there when it comes to getting their students and employees to campus. Go UTA! Lets get more transit to Utah County!
What Kind of Bike Should I Buy?
22 July, 2008
Since BikeUV.org launched, I have had terrific opportunities to tell others about the site and its mission. What’s more, some of my friends and family have begun to express interest in buying a bike and cycling more often. All of them have the same question: what kind of bike should I buy? This inevitably leads to a new question: How much should I spend (or, Can I afford one)? I’ll make this a two-part post. In this post, I’ll try to give some helpful advice about what kind of bike to look for. Next time, I’ll address the financial side.
The Giant Suede Coasting DX. The Suede is from Giant's 'Metro' line. Note the fenders and chain guard, to keep you clean, panniers over the back wheel, and an automatic Shimano shifting system. Tres chic.
Before I get to the answer, I want to stress that this is only my opinion. If any of you experienced cyclists think I have misrepresented something or failed to consider important factors, please weigh in with a comment. Collectively, we should be able to offer more help for new bike buyers. Also, this is just the beginning. Once you have read this post, visit your local bike shop, look around, and ask questions. Shops are selling so many bikes to so many people nowadays that they can easily find the right bike for you. My objective is to prepare you for your first look around. So let’s get started!
The first thing to consider is where you will typically ride. Is it to the gym, work, the store? Just for fun?
Next, how far will you be riding? Two miles, or eight?
Finally, what kind of surface (or conditions) will you be riding on (or in)? Bike trails or road? Is the road well maintained?
Once you have the answers to these questions, use the following to help you narrow down your choice.
- If you must pack clothes and/or other large items like books or a laptop, a bike with a rack or basket is highly preferable. Cycling with a backpack or messenger bag (guilty!) is definitely possible. However, the heavier the bag, the more strain you place on your back and neck. Another issue to think about is “sweaty back syndrome.” If you carry a bag on your back, bring along an extra shirt or plan to give yourself enough time to air out.
- Wide Tires = Comfort ≠ Speed
- Skinny Tires ≠ Comfort = Speed
- As an explanation of the previous two points, skinny tires usually come on road bikes. Road bikes earn low marks in the comfort category, but they are much faster and perform better on roads than the alternatives. The alternatives include mountain bikes, hybrids, and even recumbents. All of these bikes can be considered more comfortable than road bikes, but you sacrifice speed.
- Certain bikes will help you sit more upright. Others will stretch your arms way out in front of you, causing you to bend more. You may need to try a few bikes out at the store before you know what’s right for you.
I should also mention that I am brand agnostic. Just about any brand out there will suit you fine.
Please, if you have any other specific questions about choosing a bike, feel free to leave a question in the comments. Both Brad and I will be happy to help you out. You can also email me, travisATbikeuvDOTorg
Why Cyclists Wave at Each Other
20 July, 2008
I noticed a peculiar phenomenon when I began cycling a few years ago. My cousin and I would be out on a ride together, and as we passed other cyclists, it was the norm to wave at each other. It didn’t matter what size road, what town, or who the other cyclists were. We waved and kept on riding.
I now wave at (or at the very least, acknowledge with a friendly nod) almost every cyclist I pass, and they frequently do the same. Over the years, I have often thought about why this is. Here are a few of my explanations for why we wave:
1. Waving provides affirmation of your membership in a club
You get the feeling that you and the other cyclist are enjoying a good inside joke. Except it’s not really a joke, it’s just a healthy way to travel that reduces pollution, saves money, improves your fitness, helps you enjoy the outdoors, and lowers America’s dependency on foreign commodities.2. It’s easy to wave because there are still relatively few cyclists
You realize that you’re only going to see a handful of riders. The low number of cyclists makes it a delightful surprise when you actually pass one.3. You’re not separated by steel and glass
Isn’t it funny how alone we are as we wait at a stop light in our car? Though we’re surrounded by other people, we look straight ahead lest we catch the guy next to us picking his nose. We fiddle with our radio, inch closer to the car in front of us, and generally kill time in awkward solidarity while we wait for the light to change. The same goes for the moments when we’re driving. Out on a bike though, there are no boundaries. We share the same air, and hence, we wave.
And here are two reasons why I think we should wave at everybody:
1. Waving helps”keep it real”
If you haven’t already noticed, we cyclists are a vain lot. Sometimes I think we wave to draw attention away from the fact that we’re scoping you out. We’re trying to analyze you and pass all sorts of unjustified stereotypes on you based on the name written on your bike and what you’re wearing. Please, stop doing this. Keep it real and wave to congratulate your fellow human being for using the same commendable mode of transportation as you.2. Waving helps encourage more cycling
It sounds simple, but waving can make someone feel more welcome. Wave so that we continue to see more and more people out on bikes. Let them in on the “joke”. Encourage them. The world will be a better place for it.
What do you think? Am I making a big deal out of nothing? Will waving make any difference at all? Comments are open!
Win a Free Bike!
18 July, 2008
I know, I should have said something earlier. If you join in on Trek’s 1 World 2 Wheels Go By Bike challenge, you could win one of the free bikes that they are giving away everyday between July 17 and the end of August. That is quite a few bikes. If you want to roll the dice, click here. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
