The Party's Over. If You All Grab Your Stuff...

I'm surprised at how much time they had on the mountain. I supposed security had to be very careful once they realized they'd been breached.

This Is Not Vandalism

I met the dainty smelling fellas at Caribou again tonight. We talked singletrack and agreed we're ready to put our dog and pony show up for park's approval. I'm not saying who's the dog and who's the pony.

On the way to the meeting I checked out 12th & Main. Last week I reported my bicycle left on red to the city. Today I noticed it's up and now serving left turns even to bicycles.



I also rolled through 26th and Center and noticed it has been improved. An automobile shared the intersection with me so I was unable to confirm its bicycle only functionality.

As noted in an earlier comment The Owner indicates the 37th and Minnesota Ave received attention this week.

It's still true - if you make your streets more bike friendly then your streets will be more bike friendly.

I invite other local cyclists to play along. First you must ride your bicycle in the city. Next, ride enough to identify an intersection where the light won't change for bicycles. Finally report it here on the city's website.

I wonder how long it will take to get that spray painted q-tip thing changed to something along the lines of this.

Does Your Traffic Engineer Know You're There?

It's the law: "Every person driving a bicycle shall have all of the rights and all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this Code..."

I assume vehicle drivers have a right to expect functioning traffic control devices.

I assume The City is breaking the law with their prevalent use of vehicle sensors at intersections that fail to detect bicycles.

I assume The City contributes to the behavior problem of red light running cyclists by systematically failing to acknowledge their presence at intersections.

I assume the behavior problem of red light running cyclists contributes to the behavior problem of red light running motorists.

...of which there have been more than 8 a day in 2009 at our famously camera monitored intersection.

---

Dear Traffic Engineers:

Saturday I noted improved vehicle sensors at 18th & Southeastern Drive. Thank you.

Wednesday I attempted a legal left turn with my bicycle off 12th Street to the south bound sharrow on Main Ave. The vehicle sensor failed to detect my presence. I was unable to identify the sensor placement in the roadway.

In this situation the police department recommends a right turn and alternate route. I was in the left turn lane and a right turn would have me going the wrong way on a one-way street. I chose to break one law instead of two and performed a left turn against the red light.

Please consider placement indicators for vehicles that aren’t automobiles at this intersection.

Thank you.

---

The following intersections have been improved for motorcycles and bicycles in 2009:

22nd & Lake
26th & Lake
41st & West
32nd & Sertoma
3rd & Cliff
8th & West
22nd & Western
37th & Western
37th & Kiwanis
26th & 4th
18th & Southeastern

The following have been requested and may be complete:

26th & Center
12th & Main Ave
18th & Summit
37th & Minnesota
26th & Grange

Improved intersections look something like this:



In addition to the paint (which is temporary) the sensitivity of the detection device has been increased (which is not necessarily permanent).

Party Like It's 1773: $10 Reward

In the text below there's a quote attributed to Karl Marx. I'll give $10 to the first person to prove the source truly is Karl Marx. The quote can also be found on this Tea Party page ostensibly written by a "Dr. Allen Unrue."

Today there was a Tea Party on Socialized Medicine at the fairgrounds. Details can be found here - http://www.teapartysd.com/. Their press release indicates they expected 8,000 to 10,000 folks.

I must say I really appreciate the even handed reasonable rhetoric that arrived via e-mail today through the Minnehaha County GOP by local tea party animator Dr Allen Unruh. I cannot vouch for the e-mail's authenticity so if it's a hoax, I have fallen for it. Hard. Confirmation from the county GOP on the authorship of the e-mail has been requested.

Highlights follow. Full text at the end.

"Karl Marx said, 'First you socialize medicine and everything else follows like night follows day.' Socialized medicine is the last nail in the coffin of capitalism. Capitalism is the unequal distribution of blessings. Socialism is the equal distribution of misery. All health care decisions will be made by nameless, facelsss, heartless bureaucrats."

and...

"In times of economic and moral crisis, silence is not golden, IT'S YELLOW! Our forefathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, the sacred honor, because they would rather LIVE FREE OR DIE. Too many don't want to even take a few hours off work, or off their free time for the cause of freedom. Apathy, ignorance and indifference pave the road to tyranny. We are only a few months away from losing our country if we don't draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is Enough!" It's time to stand up and be counted."

This sure sounds good in the face of such sky is falling rhetoric like this from the South Dakota State Medical Association:

"The SDSMA supports the achievement of meaningful health system reform – health system changes that hold promise for improving the health status and quality of care delivered to patients and are achieved in a fiscally responsible manner in order to maintain a sustainable health care delivery system."

or this from the American Chiropractic Association:

"A PARADIGM SHIFT IS NEEDED: A broad transformational change – a paradigm shift—is needed, away from our current health delivery system which is largely oriented to provide care for those who have already become seriously ill, and toward a more progressive system that focuses primarily on comprehensive wellness care and disease prevention."

Thank you Dr Unruh for revealing to me the truth about your tea parties.

-- full text

Dear Concerned Citizens;

The teapartysd.com movement is sponsoring a rally with national and international speakers this July 2nd, at the Sioux Falls Fair Grounds.

Karl Marx said, "First you socialize medicine and everything else follows like night follows day." Socialized medicine is the last nail in the coffin of capitalism. Capitalism is the unequal distribution of blessings. Socialism is the equal distribution of misery. All health care decisions will be made by nameless, facelsss, heartless bureaucrats.

Socialized medicine is one issue that can never be reversed. Frank Luntz, author of "Words that Work." said if there is enough public outcry, this is one issue that could be stopped. But it's only if enough people care enough about their country to protest.

Talk show hosts can only do so much. We live in a bottom up system. Of the people, By the people, and For the people. The Declaration of Independence says, "Whenever any government becomes destructive of these ends (our inalienable rights) it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.

Please read the enclosed brochure, share it with all your friends, neighbors, and co-workers,. The penalty of the early colonists for their protest on a 3% tax on TEA, was death. What we have endured has made King George look like a PIKER.

In times of economic and moral crisis, silence is not golden, IT'S YELLOW! Our forefathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, the sacred honor, because they would rather LIVE FREE OR DIE. Too many don't want to even take a few hours off work, or off their free time for the cause of freedom. Apathy, ignorance and indifference pave the road to tyranny. We are only a few months away from losing our country if we don't draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is Enough!" It's time to stand up and be counted.

See you at 12:00 at the Fair Grounds Grandstand. For further information go to our website at teapartysd.com

For the Cause of liberty,
Dr. Allen Unruh

"Too Busy To Ride?"

I started the day thinking how much I like it that "I gotta go to work" equates to "I'm going for a bike ride."

The day only got better.

My trip home this evening looks a little like Family Circus. Some of it went a little like this...



Start down there at the bottom left. Go to the bank for a FAB deposit.

Head north to meet Craig to co-sign a FAB check to the Health Department for FABRAD food service license.

Head east while coordinating via text message an August trip to MPLS. Between The Pastor, and another pastor and KT we've got it booked.

Take a call from The Dad. He's somewhere on the east side of the city thinking he saw me stranded with a broken bike. Noap. I'm west side and doing fine.

Head into downtown with Mama's Ladas on the brain. I note I'm sharing the Main Street sharrow with another rider. A red light gives me a moment for clarity. I'm sharing with The Dad. He's two blocks ahead with green lights as far as I can see.

Hi The Dad! Mama's Ladas takes precedence, besides I doubt a catch was in the cards. How many miles is that for the year for you?

Mama's Ladas, where all they want to know when you order is beef or chicken - and I didn't even have to go to that effort. They brought me my chicken, chips, Sprite and water.

Now south to Staples to pick up the FABRAD ads to deliver tomorrow to the Beresford 125k for packet stuffing and ride time display. I love Staples Print/Copy center. I placed the order at 3pm, it was ready by 5:30.

Back north a kid races me up the street. Why you going so fast? I got places to go. I think it was a fair race. I'm riding a 32x15 single speed today. Cruising speed 15, max speed probably 18mph at 110rpm. I gotta go slow because any increase effort might leave me smelling less than dainty for the ladies at Caribou Coffee...

...where I met with a few singletrack builders. We set some goals. Meet The City in two weeks to get approval of the neighborhood presentation. Present to the neighborhood by the end of the month.

While there Tez arrived and delivered me some FAB registrations, FABRAD registrations and some jersey orders. Guess I gotta go for another bike ride to the bank. I don't think she noticed that I tried to stay dainty smelling for her.

Finally, the recreational portion of the evening. Follow Snakebite back downtown and take the MUP the long way home.

The map ends.

I think I'm just a couple tasks short of being able to say I'm too busy to ride.

Just kidding...I really don't make any effort to smell dainty for the ladies.

34.5 miles.

No Impact Man Writes What I've Been Thinking

Today I engaged in an e-mail conversation with one of the local usual suspects. I was writing about local "green" efforts. If I had to guess I'd say the Sioux Falls Green Project has the most financial potential - the most resources to have the most impact.

Beginning with the give away of reusable plastic drinking bottles at an SFGP event. Continuing with my SFGP tagged Novak recycling container that rewards me with points for recycling. If I recycle enough I can acquire coupons wherein I spend $100 and get "rewarded" with $10 off. I have to earn my rewards by consuming 90%.

I'm frustrated.

Tonight I caught up with some blog reading and found No Impact Man putting words to my frustrations:

"Everyone was frenetically networking and Blackberrying and iPhoning [at a green business conference] just as they would at any business conference. Everyone was tired. Increased revenue--at least for many--seemed to be the measure of success."

He also wrote this:

"So-called 'green business' probably is not going to offer people the satisfaction and meaning we all crave. Keeping the live-to-work paradigm while manufacturing everything with 'sustainable' materials is not going to give us time to spend with the people we love for example. It's a good thing, but it's not going to offer real human satisfaction."

Yes. It's not.

His full post is here.

Well That Was Adventurous

I limped to work today. Did three miles on a flat rear tire. I chose that over potential late arrival for my 9am meeting. It started as a slow leak but by the time I found some free air the tube was like swiss cheese. Lunch plans now include a trip to the LBS. Haven't been there for awhile. I'm thinking I might have to replace the tire. Hopefully the rim survived.

Malfunction

The most unecessary sign in the city is, after 4 months, now useless.

Hi Ho...Beemer?

Remember when people got around on horseback? I don't either.



My brother-in-law is a bit of a cowboy. My nephew is a lot of a cowboy - a recent Equine Science graduate he's in Montana somewhere that you can't get to from here.

We visited the place he goes to be a cowboy today. That's Lefty up there, and that's Beemer down there looking up to the task, right?



I've got lots of experience sharing trails with horses. It was super cool to be on one.

If You Don't Make Plans...

...to make a better bicycling environment in your city, there will never be plans to make a better bicycling environment in your city.

Metro Area Bicycle Plan Open House

Monday, June 22 @ 5:00pm to 6:30pm @ Washington High School Commons Area

A quote from the press release: "The MPO plan provides recommendations for bicycle facilities and methods to improve safety and the bicyclist’s experience throughout the metro area including rural bicycle routes and bicycle trail connections."

This is the first ever plan to cover our metropolitan area. It provides plans for the area encompassing Sioux Falls and the five nearest cities/towns.

I read the plan. I didn't see The MinusCar Project on the acknowledgements page but I know quite a few people on the list pretty well. One of them very well.

Come see the plan. Offer some additional advice. Make it a little bit better.

If you make your city more bicycle friendly your city will be more bicycle friendly.

The Bike/Bus Explosion

It disgusts me when headlines are misleading.

Just a week ago I was lamenting the full rack of bikes on the front of a bus I recently attempted to board.

While I celebrate the usage of the rack I occasionally depend upon being able to board the bus. Well, seemingly right on cue bus bike rack usage statistics appeared in my Inbox this week.

The statistics say I'd better get used to it. This graph shows the four years Sioux Falls Transit has offered the ability to carry bikes from January thru May.



The raw data:

2006 - 1018 trips.
2007 - 1867 trips.
2008 - 1258 trips.
2009 - 2439 trips.

Could it be, perhaps it's true, the more bikeable the city becomes the more bikeable the city will be?

Hmmmm...

It Was Bound To Happen...II

I just didn't feel like it...

I procrastinated...

I waited 'till I'd be too late for work to bike...

I found one completely dead battery in the car.

I rode - and was a happier person for it.

I jumped the car tonight and tripled its miles for the week in hopes of it starting next time I need it.

Ray Of Light

A digitally captured image of what my bike looks like when it's anticipating a ride.

It Was Bound To Happen...

This morning I faced a particularly interesting day. Today would be my first opportunity to pick up The Boys from the venue that contains their daily summer experience. Essentially today would define the routine for how to pickup without a car.

I presented some options the night before and we agreed that we'd catch the bus and get home that way, this time. So far they weren't interesting in a bike related solution.

The plan...

1. ride bike to venue. What if I can't get away from work on time? I left work with time to spare.

2. catch same bus I normally catch from work but much earlier in the route. What if we can't get to the stop on time? We made the stop with 15 minutes to spare.

3. that bus I usually catch is chronically late. What if we don't make the transfer to the second bus? Upon boarding I said we need this next bus. We'll be fine the driver said. What he meant was he really likes to have an excuse to drive fast!

What if!?! What if!?!

Our bus was late. Our driver made a valiant and successful attempt to hold our transfer.

I never considered that both spaces on the bus bike rack might be in use? They were.

On some level I'm supposed to think this is a good problem to have. I remember this as if it were May 23, 2005, "this city has taken a progressive step. For the first time ever, busses will be equipped with bike carriers on the front of the bus. This is one of many inspirations for this summer experiment, and realistically makes the experiment possible at all."

The answer to the question what if? $16 for a taxi. That's a big difference from the $1 we had already paid for the ride home. Next time I'll push harder for the driver to let me board with the bike.

Now I have another reason to sympathize with individuals who have no other alternative than to ride the bus.

Flava

I forgot to mention the herb garden we obtained a few weeks ago. My understanding is we snip some flavor from this and it just keeps growing and making more flavor throughout the year.

There are seven 'erbs 'ere. I can't find the list though. Sorry.

Anticipating A Miracle

Water.



The perennials have departed their slumber. Columbine & Bleeding Hearts - a meaningful combination.



The original backyard venue. Now with manure. Beans, squash, onions, lima beans and the official flower of The Boy 11, sunflowers. Hiding, for now.



Last year's addition. The place where The Boys could dig to their hearts content is now the place where I'll eat small tomatoes to my heart's content.



This year's addition. It used to hold a round sandbox, now will hold a ring of zinnias (the official flower of The Boy 8) around a bunch of lupine.



Eco-terrorism. 10 silver maples. By mid-summer they'll either be left with 10 neighbors by an irresistible 7 year old or placed on prominent display free for the taking. I'm still waiting on legal so I can weigh the consequences of responsibility for conspiring with a minor to release 10 silver maples into the wild. Wangari - these are for you.



The less a food item travels the better it tastes. I shop my backyard now.

Five Of Twelve

Through May...

2008 miles: 659 bike, 851 car
2009 miles: 899 bike, 736 car

2008 gas fill-ups: 4
2009 gas fill-ups: 3

I met somebody in the lobby today. She said, "I rode to work today." I said, "I did too." She was hoping I'd be more encouraging. I should be more encouraging.

Commute By Bike

Big Dummy

For a while this morning it seemed like everywhere The Family went The Big Dummy was there.

First - farmer's market - there was The Big Dummy.
Second - drive by The Owner's bike shop - Big Dummy was there.
Third - the grocery store - proof of the presence of The Big Dummy.



I never actually talked to him. But The Family did while I was off fetching a bell pepper.

Me & A Clock

So many things to put here, so little time...

Hot news yesterday in my world was South Dakota's move from 41st to 28th in the League of American Bicyclist's 50 state rankings. The most thoughtful write-up of that fact is over at Snakebite's site. If you hit that site remind him last year there wasn't a 60 member Bike To Work Challenge or a three year old Falls Area Biclists Club that he helped found (find?).

--



Then there's the strange q-tip graffiti being spray painted in many intersections around the city. I know a lot about these - but I don't mean to imply I painted them. Every time I interact with the guy who does paint them I thank him profusely - because he has completely changed the way I perceive red lights as I approach them on a bicycle.

There's still work to be done here. These aren't permanent. It would be a shame to waste all the effort traffic engineering is putting in to this by letting winter arrive without having some policies change.

--

But really today I want to write about biking. How on my way home I crossed paths with Dyann a Snakebite Bike To Work Challenge(r) (HI DYANN) and then found Eric and his soon to be wife and later to be child. You guys stray pretty far from home! :-)

I stopped off at the Falls Area Bicyclist's Time Trial event too. 21 time trialists participated which seemed pretty great to me. I'm pretty sure I won the Cargo Shorts and T-shirt (Fat Cyclist Style) division. I tried to enter the Guy's Who Haven't Been In A Car Since Monday division but couldn't find it on the reg sheet.

On the way home I successfully identified the sensor and tripped the trigger on The City's newest traffic signal. Whee...no paint necessary. Could it be there's additional attention being paid to new installations? What if...

30 miles.