SNSNYDR 2010

After the Spoke-n-Sport New Year's Day Ride everybody's on pace for a 5,000 mile year.



Let's go!

MinusCar TV: Good Neighbor Edition

Sometime last February my TV stopped working. I may have missed a memo but whatever. There's plenty of good material on the intertubes.

This week I found myself in an e-mail conversation making the case that the effort I and others are putting into Falls Area Singletrack (FAST) satisfies James Howard Kunstler’s requirement that we make ourselves “useful to [our] neighbors and fellow citizens.”

A remarkable theme emerged for me over the next few days.

In his superb TED Talk Kunstler says, "Life in the mid 21st century is going to be about living locally. Be prepared to be good neighbors." It’s his final point. Watch the whole talk at the TED website.

Later in the week Krista Tippett talked with Bill McKibben on her Speaking of Faith program. He’s "founder of 350.org, a global climate campaign named after what scientists deem the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million."

Krista says he’s written, "Research has shown that when we live on car-filled streets our number of close friends drops by half. We eat half the meals we used to with friends, family, neighbors...The big question for this century may turn out to be how fast we can relearn the skill of neighborliness."

Finally the Sanctuary For Independent Media has released this video of Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. In “Beatitudes of Buylessness” he finishes off the song with “Blessed are you who disturb the customer. You just might be loving your neighbor.”



So Merry Christmas! I celebrated numerous times this week the birth of the man who got killed for saying crazy things like “The second greatest commandment in the bible is to love your neighbor as yourself.” What was true 2000 years ago is confirmed by many of my favorite people today.

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus.

Wardrobe Malfunction & Mouth Run-On

This evening as I prepared my wardrobe for the ride home I found myself facing a zipper problem. The Fox Stormfront jacket that I celebrated in this blog post from January 2006 had developed a faulty zipper.

This was critical. I was desperate for time and facing the necessity of riding home in mid-teen temperatures with an unzipped jacket. Luckily a second zipper pull on the jacket saved me.

Now I'm looking with suspicion on my other single zipper pull jackets. I don't know if I'll be able to trust again.

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I stood and spoke favorably to the City Council tonight about the Shape Sioux Falls 2035 Comprehensive Plan. There are verified reports that Mr. Bite did as well but he availed himself an earlier opportunity. I did not see him nor hear his words.

I find myself contemplating the replacement of TV with real tangible experiences – and I consider that I might be on to something. In front of me was the mayor whom I'd handed a LAB Bicycle Friendly Community award to a couple months ago. To my left was councilor Kenny Anderson whom I'd last seen (and mostly first seen) less than a week ago inside the Kenny Anderson Community Center. We were presenting the FAST/Leaders Park plan to some of his constituents.

I was highlighting some of my favorite bits of the plan and got to corridors. In an attempt to demonstrate the importance of planning corridors I suggested one need only watch a group of teenage girls try to walk from the Empire Mall to the Empire East Mall to realize corridors need attention.

I relinquished the podium. The next man to speak identified himself with his name, his address, and his high level position at the Empire Mall - "thank you very much” – which received a fair amount of laughter.

I stand by my statement.

Footprints In A Contest!

I've entered my popular and very special "Footprints" photo in the Alliance For Biking and Walking's People Powered Movment Photo Contest.

I wouldn't mind at all if readers visited the photo and gave it a vote or two.

Furthermore I wouldn't mind at all if you spread the word, event a little.

For my Footprints story read the post here.

Thanks.

Carbon Lite? Go Outside.

Saturday morning I got up bright and early and headed off to lead the regularly scheduled FAB Coffee & Donut Ride. I arrived at the rendevous to find four hearty souls waiting in the 26-degree temps.

A guest! We were pleased to have Tom from Minneapolis join us for the ride. It didn't take long to learn he volunteers for Transit for Livable Communities, one of my favorite organizations, and he knows some of my (heros?) favorite people.

We headed off to Dunn Brothers - and I managed 27 miles for the morning.

In the afternoon The Family headed to the Outdoor Campus. We explored the place for a few hours. I took some pictures of the wildlife along the way.

I failed to take a picture of the snake we found warming in the sun. Snakes. November. The Boy 7 and The Wife saw a deer - I didn't get a photo of that either.

I did get a tree sloth.



There was a kid who's not necessarily soft spoken but he still had a big stick .



We found these ducks.



This one appeared to be Alpha.



Finally, it was clear that we'd overstayed our welcome.



We wandered some more and found a bird named Woody...



...and a tree that could hold everybody up.



Finally it was getting late...



...so we headed home.

Wandering around the city. Left the car behind a while ago. Haircuts, Caribou (we got in trouble for beverages on the bus - a risk I knowingly took), couldn't quite grasp the 10th & Phillips demonstration as we passed on the bus. They were gone when we were able to make our way back. I assume PETA. Finally the Visual Arts Center - Scott Ehrisman's got a piece it kinda like - and Roller Dollz photos too.

Good times exploring.

091123 Transportation Donut

Some weeks it just all comes together...



A bit of a big week in MinusCarLandia. There a few pots on the stove. I'm almost to busy too drive - and that's reflected in the donut!

My favorite meeting this last week was the CAC of the MPO at SECOG. There was lots of discussion about what it means to have received the Bicycle Friendly Community award. Lots of people are pretty happy about it. I didn't hear a bit of cynicism. When traffic engineers are happy about bikes, I'm happy about bikes.

At that meeting an engineer explained how it was that for many years traffic engineers have gnashed their teeth and asked the question - what would happen if the sensitivity of vehicle sensors was increased to detect bikes. Would it mess up traffic?

Our fresh young engineer turned all that upside down by going out and increasing the sensitivity of some of the vehicle sensors.

That story brought a lot of laughter into the room. If you can't laugh at yourselves who can you laugh at, eh?

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The other big things are the No Impact Man movie and the Falls Area Singletrack project. There's probably a post or two about those nearby.

Playing In The Dirt

After more than a year The Falls Area Singletrack (FAST) project at Leaders Park is just about out of the incubator. The City's Parks Board approved our proposal and agreed to let it go to the neighborhood for public input.



The Parks Department has a website for the project as well.

Yesterday FAST held an informational meeting for interested people. I had my usual "what if you throw a party and nobody comes?" anxiety and the bike community showed up with five times my minimum expectation.

That Snakebitten fellow and I worked the agenda. There was plenty of participation by attendees and I feel like we're ready to respond to most any question we might get.

No Impact Man: The Movie Part III - It's Happening

There I was, minding my own business and this poster arrived.



It's a free movie! About The No Impact Man.

Please come.

If you're Facebook inclined the event page is here.

No Impact Man: The Movie Part II

The other day on the way to work I stopped off for a warm cup of joe. That's not the only Joe I found, the director of The Sioux Falls Green Project was in there.

We chatted. I'm all like, "MinusCar Project."

He's all like "Sioux Falls Green Project."

I'm all like "No Impact Project (the movie)."

He's all like, "hmmmm..."

(parts of this post may be fictionalized for a poor attempt at enhanced drama. can you feel it? the drama?)

(i totally want to be clear, Joe doesn't at all sound like this when he talks. i on the other hand, as far as you know, do.)

091116 Transportation Donut

The ratio of bike to single occupant vehicle looks good. The multi-occupant miles are very high due to a trip to Mitchell for a meeting about the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition.

The high cost of state level advocacy, darn. The meeting was good though. We know what we're doing for the next 9-ish months.

No Impact Man: The Movie

I noticed the No Impact Man movie is out and about. I was thinking the other day how nice it would be if it showed in Sioux Falls. Colin Beavan has been blogging his journey for a long time and often puts words down that resonate VERY well with me.

What's not to like - it's the No Impact Project. No Impact Project, MinusCar Project - like peanut butter and chocolate, no?

So I was just thinking how nice it would be if it showed in Sioux Falls.

Here's the trailer. Watch it. Even it's good.



Yeah, I like the No Impact Man and the No Impact Project.

091109 Transportation Donut

First, The Dad celebrated 4,000 bike miles this week.

It was a pretty good week. I’m particularly happy with the walking part. The Boy 11 says I didn’t walk much. I said if I walked enough to match the other sections I’d still be walking.



I’m a little surprised that it’s been so long since I’ve posted. I’m a little busy right now with actual projects with actual people.

I’ve had conversations with a health department in Lincoln, NE, a health department in South Dakota, and the Community Education program in Sioux Falls. All of these were about my involvment in the LAB Bike Ed curriculum.

I attended our Planning Commission meeting and spoke favorably about the Shape Sioux Falls 2035 Comprehensive Plan. Their approval was a necessary stop as it makes it’s way to the City Council.

The Falls Area Singletrack project took a very significant step forward this week.

I'm transitioning from my 3-year stint as treasurer of FAB to FAB Webdude.

The MinusCar Project has a something in development too.

Plenty of potential for stories to come.

091102 Transportation Donut

I started out the week strong but faltered in the end. Less rain in the forecast will help with motivation - which I need right now. This is the best time of year for riding...and night riding just got a lot more convenient.

Let's go!

Another Way For Less To Be More

In "ad man" Rory Sutherland's TED Talk he describes using marketing to make less seem like more.

Outside The Lines

091025 Transportation Donut

This one covers from 10/12 to 10/25. Not exactly a time period to hand on the fridge for inspiration.

50/50 Chance Of Cyclocross!

Reposted from the Falls Area Single Track (FAST) blog.

Sioux Falls' first ever cyclocross event occurred Saturday morning. 19 riders were available enough and game enough to come out and enjoy the opportunity to ride in 0.4 mile circles with others.



What you don't see there is 40ft of climbing. Yeah, that's right, I said 40.



Cyclocross is known for its special flavors. We’re all pretty new at this so there were no men or women in skirts, no bonfires at the top of the climb, and no bacon hand-ups.

There was also no trouble with the neighbors, parks officials, or police.

...and we secured a lost dog too. Oh yes, we’re that good.

Here is some of the special sauce at our event.

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First, Snakebite. Who one day thought, hey, let's do cyclocross and suddenly there were people riding around in circles. He has a way of doing that.

Jason Harms showed up early and said he was there to help - and he was - and he did.
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Adam rode his bike through town with a 10 pound sledge in one hand after the hammer we were using to place barriers malfunctioned.

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One racer tied a cowbell to his handlebar because, especially at cyclocross, there is no such thing as too much cowbell.

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Before the race we took a moment to observe THE MONOLITH. It’s an electrical utility.



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Antknee filled the role of the guy with no hair and a beard that goes to 11.



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It’s important to have an Irish Guy in a Team Ireland kit.



That’s Kathy on the left from the Sioux City contingent. Tammy One-Speed chased her around the course all day. How about a special shout out for Madeline the youngest (12) participant! YES!!!!!!!!!

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No, this is not Team Ireland carrying his brand spanking new Surly 1x1 Anniversary Edition with Large Marge rims and even larger tires because he didn’t want it to get dirty. The most striking feature of cyclocross is the torturous placement of barriers on the course. That’s a barrier he’s stepping over.


*photo Chad Pickard

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Thankfully we didn’t need his professional skills (no last rites?) on the course. It’s always nice to have a minister on hand. Any chance we’ll make tomorrow’s sermon Rev?


*photo Chad Pickard

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At the end it’s good to have a lot of cold, sweaty, drained people being held up by their bikes. The Muscle was a long way out in fourth, clawed his way back to 2nd and finally landed in 3rd after succumbing to Kyle’s tactics.



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At least one team photo, it’s winner of the B event Peter on the right. 2nd place in the A event Kyle is second from left.



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I’m ever so pleased that heretofore unknown to us, 15-year-old Zack from Crooks, SD rode away from everybody and won the A event. The enthusiasm of his family was warmth.

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See Saturday's article in The Local Daily.

See Sunday's article in The Local Daily.

The Local Daily's photo gallery of the event is here.

See The Hooterville Mayor's photo/video montage on his blog.

The Press Conference

Awright, enough about being all bike friendly an stuff.

LAB Bicycle Friendly Community? Here's Why...

According to Bill Nespar, director of the Bicycle Friendly American Program reviewers [of our application] were particularly impressed with:

1. Efforts to educate young people in every school to give them the skills and confidence to ride.

2. One of the best urban bicycle path systems in the country and recent on-street improvements to the network.

3. The new bicycle master plan and investment to connect the overall cycling network.

3. Encouragement efforts such as consistent club rides, annual bike to work day, and events like the Tour de Kota and the downtown criteriums.

4. Dedicated advocates including those at the Falls Area Bicycle Club are a huge part of the successes in Sioux Falls.

5. The growing bike culture in Sioux Falls; it’s clear from your application and from local reviews that Sioux Falls is becoming a great place for bicycling.