One Less Car in the Silicon Valley

Wayfinding comes to San Jose

2011-04-14T14:57:00.001-07:00

Jay Stagi and his crew from the MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commision) were in front of the "Silicon Valley" Arena this morning installing one of San Jose, few wayfinding signs aimed at pedestrians. This is however not a San Jose sign, so someday if the city follows the lead of Washington DC, New York, or Portland, the signs will fall outside of any standard. But hey at least it's a start.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Obama's High Speed Rail Program

2010-02-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

This recent editorial from the Christian Science Monitor

“There’s no reason that Europe or China should have the fastest trains,” said President Obama in his State of the Union speech. Actually, there is one reason that might hold back America from having a much-needed high-speed rail system: a long-term government commitment to fund it True, the Obama White House has worked up a head of steam in favor of fast trains. It has already dedicated $8 billion to them in the 2009 Recovery Act. And it hopes Congress will spend another $5 billion over five years to keep this idea moving.

Together, that would be more than three times the annual budget for Amtrak – a sum as energizing to regular train users as a locomotive whistle. But the new spending won’t complete even one train line that exceeds 150 m.p.h. – the definition of a fast train. It will help only two states, California and Florida, to build such lines (California’s alone is expected to cost at least $45 billion). And it will improve speed and safety in other corridors around the country, such as St. Louis to Chicago, and Portland, Ore., to Seattle, but not break the 150 m.p.h. barrier there.

If Obama wants to be known for fast trains as Dwight Eisenhower was for interstate highways, he will need long-term buy-in from Congress, from state and local governments, and from private investors. To fund an investment this big, the support must be bipartisan, must include multiple funding sources, and must continue over administrations.

That may not be as hard as it looks, largely because reasons against high-speed rail are falling by the wayside. One traditional one is that America is too spread out to make fast trains economically viable. But few people are talking about a system to connect the entire country. Over the years, the Department of Transportation has designated 11 “corridors” where high-speed rail would benefit highly populated areas. It’s an approach that makes sense.

Gil Penalosa of Walk and Bike for Life Coming to the Peninsula

2009-10-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Join County Supervisor Carole Groom and keynote speaker Gil Penalosa of Walk and Bike for Life. Learn about the many benefits of active public spaces, joint use agreements, community and school gardens, and park equity mapping.

Workshops will be provided by the Prevention Institute, the Trust for Public Land, Planning for Healthy Places, and Collective Roots.

RSVP is required for this FREE event. Space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

To register: call (650)363-4568 or e-mail gquiney@co.sanmateo.ca.us.

You can also catch Mr. Penalosa in San Mateo on the 15th -http://bikesiliconvalley.org/content/944.

October 16, 2009 - 8:30am - 1:30pm

399 Marine Parkway

Redwood Shores Library

Redwood City, CA

Shopping Cart Bike Trailer

2009-08-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Spotted this cart being used by the Chai vendor at tonight's Bike-In movie.

And here is another cart that was selling delcious cupcakes.

-- Post From My iPhone

The New Family SUV

2009-08-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Found this Surley parked outside of the Saratoga REI. This Surley "Big Dummy" outfitted an ExtraCycle kit has all a Silicon Valley Family Needs; two child carriers, a pick up bed located in the front, complete light and horn kit and even 4 water bottle holders.

The child carrier looks like it is a hand built custom kit complete with a child proof kick plate.

The Extracycle bags on the rear provide plenty of room for groceries and the bed up front is perfect for larger items such as the kids toys.

If any one wants go share their families "SUV" and their stories of a car free or car-lite life, leave me a comment here.

-- Post From My iPhone

Don't Let The Flag Fool You

2009-08-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

So Let me get this straight. If I drive a truck (solo of course) bigger than most Japanese houses, and I stencil an Amerkin flag on the side of the truck (which is almost the size of a highway billboard), I am an American Patriot.

How did we get here. How does this supposed to represent hard working, sensible, tolerant Americans. The sheer energy just to move this thing off of a stop light could power my home for 2 days.

It's no wonder why former President Bush how to go to the Saudi's; hat in hand to beg to keep the oil spigots open. Middle East oil barrons just love to see pictures like this. More money to fund terrorist projects.

So please sir, ask yourself this question; "Who is the true American Patriot, Me, or that guy on the bicycle I just ran over?".

Honey, When Did I Get So Fat. I Used To Fit Into This Parking Space.

2009-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

What was the extra-ordinary, is not just the everyday and ordinary.

-- Post From My iPhone

Hey, Where Do We Park Our Tanks?

2009-08-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

Or ...Tree Mulch is the Only Off-Road These Beasts will ever see.

Las Palmas Park, Sunnyvale, Ca, USA
The two photos below show (illegal) overflow parking at a local park even though there was ample parking across the street.

For those of you who read this blog from, Europe, Brazil, Australia, and and Japan; I don't make this stuff up; this is not Hollywood, this is real life in the Silicon Valley. We are overrun with cars; and not just Euro and Japan size cars with 2.5 liter engines, but monsters; the size of my aparment when I lived in Tokyo.

In the pictures above these 4WD beasts drove over "dangerous" Tree Mulch to find these covered spaces.

As James Kuntsler mentioned in "The Geography of Nowhere"; "if beings from another planet landed on this one they would think that it was inhabited by automobiles." If they saw this scene they would observe that the big fat earthlings were having a summer picnic.

The photo above was taken a couple of days ago showing just how brazen we have become.

I would welcome any comments you would have.
-- Post From My iPhone

No this is not Amsterdam, yur in aMerka

2009-08-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to be positive here. This guy or

gal could really use a bike. Think of the cleaner air, increased health,as well as the school children who can walk, ride, and play.

So fellow cyclists, let's show this guy just how healthy and fun cycling can be.

THIS is why I Ride.

-- Post From My iPhone

Alert - Large Branch Down

2009-08-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

On Miller in front of Both Lynbrook High School and Rainbow Park in San Jose. 10:21 AM

-- Post From My iPhone

"Car Surfing" Driver Pleads No-Contest in Sunnyvale

2009-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Athena Ford, 20 the driver charged with felony vehicular manslaughter in the death of Paul Benabides pleaded no-contest to the charges on July 24th. The women was "playing" a game of car-surfing with Paul, her boyfriend, when he fell from the roof of the car at speeds of up to 40 mph. The street, Lois Ave. in Sunnyvale is a residential street with a speed limit of 25 mph. One of the factors given for the accident besides speed was alcohol. Ford has been scheduled for sentencig on September 14 of this year where she could face up to one year in jail.

In a previous post, I mentioned how suprised I was that on this quiet residential street, a couple of days after the accident there was no evidence that a young man had tragically lost his life. There were no candles, pictures, ribbons, street markings; not even the telltale signs of road flares that would indicate a recent accident.

Paul Benabides -- RIP

Cash For Clunkers Approved!

2009-08-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Had to take a photo of this car while riding

by this morning. The sign on the windshiel says "Cash For Clunkers Approved.

The car was parked at a Shell station at the corner of Stelling Rd. and Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino. Can't figure out what the direct connection to the Shell Station.

-- Post From My iPhone

Even More Photos of the "No Pants" Ride

2009-07-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

San Jose Bike Party July Ride - "No Pants Ride" More Pics

2009-07-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

More Photos

Another Schwinn Spotted on the Alemeada

2009-07-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

What is it about bikes and Peet's Coffee in the Rose Garden area.

-- Post From My iPhone

Another Schwinn spotted

2009-07-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Nice. It's a Schwinn Grey Ghost!

-- Post From My iPhone

This old Schwinn

2009-07-23T10:31:00.001-07:00

This old Schwinn spotted at Peet's in downtown San Jose.

-- Post From My iPhone

View from the Street

2009-07-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

New Game! To encourage the residents and visitors to the Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area to get out more often and explore the area by foot and by bike I'll be starting a new game.

Since I am out and about the area on a daily basis I have been taking a lot of pics with my new iPhone. I will be taking pictures of areas, monuments, works of art, plazas, stations etc.

The main theme of the photos is that they will be shot from walkways, sidewalks, plazas, bikeways, and bridges. There is no hard and fast rule, but in general I hope to take pics of interesting places you would only see if you were not travelling by car over 25 miles per hour.

Ok.... The first photo is:

Leave you answer in a comment post.

-- Post From My iPhone

No Pants Ride - Bike Love and No Pants

2009-07-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Friday Night's ride witnessed about 2,500 riders with just about all showing their "No Pants", which included grass skirts, tennis dresses, anatomically correct male biking shorts, bikinis, pajamas, kilts and all manner of no pants.

Dont Miss next month's Ride....

Beach Blanket Bike-Along

Meeting at a new location

Marketplace Center

Tonight "No Pants Ride"

2009-07-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

It will be 70 degrees tonight; don't just sit at home. Meet at Dick's Center tonight at 8:30 fir a nice ride through San Jose with about 1,000 of your neighbors.

Rememer, no pants; skirts, kilts, shorts, pajamas or other. Just no pants!

-- Post From My iPhone

1AM Discovery Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd.

2009-07-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

Came upon this sad sight on a 1 AM ride. Must be recent; candles still burning and flowers still fresh.

-- Post From My iPhone

Peet's Coffee at Homestead & Foothill

2009-07-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Given that this coffee shop is situated at two heavily used bike routes; on Foothill Experssway and Homestead Rd., along with Starbucks competion just 39 steps away it would only seem natural for the local favorite to cater to cyclists.

Well they do have a bike parking rack although of is not covered it is somewhat close to the entrance. It looks, however that it was just added after the fact since it was shoehorned between the car parking lot and the business/shop walkway.

Given the local being well used by cyclists I would expected just a little more.

I would give this business a B+.

-- Post From My iPhone

San Jose's Calabases Library Bike Parking

2009-07-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

While on my way home this warm summer evening I stopped by the local library branch to do an after hours book drop off.

I was pleasantly suprised when I saw the signs pictured here (sorry for the nightine quality). A local bike shop; Calabases Bike Shop provides the free lock rentals. What a great way to show the community you care. Now if only the neighborhood streets were more bike friendly. Oh well; baby steps, right.

-- Post From My iPhone

Cecil Wayne Cox Pleads No Contest in the Hit and Run Deaths of Two Elderly San Jose Women

2009-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Cecil Cox pleaded no contest in the hit and run deaths of Edina Oliva, 70 and Oralia Puga-Ramirez, 73. The two elderly women were hit on August 9, 2008, while crossing Stevens Creek Blvd. and Cypress Avenue while in a crosswalk. Although the Santa Clara Distric Attorney's office was seeking a nine year sentence the court disagreed and felt that seven years was a more approriate sentence. Cox who was homeless at the time was eventually arrested after he was sighted at a local public library.

Thief Caught In the Act in Union Square

2009-07-13T22:33:00.001-07:00

Some photos of a bike thief in Union Square, San Francisco.

Thanks to geekstinkbreath at Flickr

-- Post From My iPhone

Bike Lane Alert - Cupertino

2009-07-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Tree Down in bike lane and sidewalk.; on Prospect Rd. and Via Roncole, just west of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd. in the eastbound lane. Caution - bikes headed downhill at a high rate of speed.

-- Post From My iPhone

Groningen - The World's Cycling City

2009-07-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

This article is a repost from my friends over at the World Carfree Network. The article was written by by Ton Daggers and Jane Harding.

In Groningen, the Netherlands’sixth largest city, the main form of transport is the bicycle. The city is famous for having the highest percentage of bicycle usage in the world. How has Groningen done it? Cycling here, and indeed in much of the Netherlands, is just the norm. The success comes from a series of sound policies which view cycling as an integral part of urban renewal, planning and transport strategy. By providing proper infrastructure and amenities cycling has blossomed over time and today the main 46 routes of the cycling network is used daily by 216,000 citizens. By prioritising and promoting cycling as the main mode of transportation, city planners, local authori-ties and cycling advocates have played an important part in the city’s reputation as a great place to live. Groningen has a relatively young population of approximately 180,000 inhabitants, which account for a large proportion of the city bikers, but people of all ages opting for two wheels over four. And this is a growing trend. Research by Groningen municipality in 2008 showed a considerable growth of cycling in the last years: an average of 1.4 bicycle trips per person per day in the city, making up more than 50% of the total journeys, a growth of 9% from 2007. In order to further understand the sucess of the bicycle in Groningen, it is important to look at how urban design and policies have changed over time to make it the leading cycle city we see today.

“Cycling is viewed as an integral part of urban renewal, planning and transport strategy”

History of Carfree Development

The city has a long history of urban developments which have maintained the value of keeping the inner city as a central point for a host of activities: a blend of living, working and shopping which favours pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation over the car. Since the 1960s the municipality has been way ahead in its traffic plans and spatial planning policies; maintaining a vision of a “compact city”and implementing policies which have led to a carfree city centre, with almost all areas easily reachable by bicycle. However, the path has not always been easy. During the 1950s and 1960s most cities and towns in the Netherlands were making room for vechicles – some even removed bicycle paths in order to free up space for the car. In Groningen, motorisation was growing rapidly and so was suburban sprawl – there were no restrictions for cars driving through and very few cycle routes leading to the centre. The motorist was king at this time.In 1972, local authorities changed the emphasis of urban planning and development in Groningen. The centre of the city was to be considered as the “living room”for its people. The basic concept used in urban planning was based on the “compact city”vision, which placed an integrated transport system high on the agenda – for an inner city favouring a combined use of pedestrians, cyclists, buses and other means of public transport. A traffic circulation plan divided the inner city into four sections and a ring road was built, encircling the city and reducing access to the centre by car. The result was an inner city which is entirely closed off to cars, and only possible to travel between sectors by walking, bicycling or using public transport. What has further spurred the use of bicycles over all other sustainable transportation is the huge expansion of the cycle network – there are many traffic free bike lanes from the outskirts to the city centre – making cycling is the most viable mode of transport for most journeys.

Importance of policy
The city treats cyclists with respect. A series of sound transportation policies and invest-ments has maintained a carfree urban space – favouring walking, public transport and predominantly cycling. This has resulted in a major trend away from car-use to bike-use in the city of Groningen. Between 1989 and 2000, € 23 million was invested in cycling infrastructure and the annual amount con-tinues to grow. Investments have also been made to expand the network of cycling lanes, improve the pavements, build bridges for cyclists, and many more bike parking facilities – making cycling faster and more convenient. As cycling is the lifeblood of the city, it has been given adequate space and time to flow safely and efficiently.

During the 1980s and 1990s a car parking policy was strictly implemented. Car parking with time restrictions was introduced in a broad radius around the inner city. Park and Ride areas were created combined with city buses and other high quality public transport. But overall, cycling policy has been central to the traffic plans, which in contrast, car accessibility has been restricted within the city centre.Reaping the RewardsOver a long period of time local authorities have made clear choices, however manifold criticised. Traffic circulation plans were based on the concentration of motorised traffic into a limited road space on the outskirts of the city, and developing a very coherent, comfortable and dense cycle network. This is the result of a clear vision of urban development – based on the idea that a city is for its people. Groningen is a compact city, and for now at least, continues to stay this way. For example, newly built neighbourhoods are no more than 6 km from the city centre. Groningen municipality research showed in 2008 78% of residents and 90% of employees now live within 3 km of the city centre. Residential areas are developed with good connections to the city centre and green lungs in between. There are entire housing developments built along major bicycle and scooter “roadways”, massive bike parks everywhere, many roads that are one way for cars but two way for bikes, and special signal phases for bikes.

Groningen in Numbers
Population: 180,000 inhabitants
Size of Groningen: 87 square kilometres
Residents Traveling by Bike: 57%
Average cycling trips each day: 1.4 per person
Number of cycling routes in Groningen: 46
Number using cycling routes each day: 216,000

There are some interesting economic repercussions to come out of replacing space for cars with greenery, pedestrianisation, cycleways and bus lanes. Banning car traffic has boosted jobs and business. Groningen’s economic development has improved, particularly for businesses which were once in revolt against car restraint, but now are clamouring for more of it. The main function of the inner city has become a successful mix of living, working and shopping.

Cycling into the Future Groningen undoubtedly leads the way in the “cyclisation”of European cities, but many others are putting two wheels in motion to follow its example. However, no other European city can match Groningen’s record, where 57% of all trips around the city are on bikes, but in quite a few cities the ratio is rising to a third or more.The impressive high rate of cycling in Groningen can be explained best by consistent urban development and transportation policies based on reclaiming inner city space from cars, making it into a living room for its people. This spatial concept of city develop-ment has undoubtedly been rooted in the clear political vision of the Social Democrats for several decades. Such legislative commitments do seem to be the key in getting citizens to kick the car habit. Apart from a political vision, many other actors involved in making Groningen the “World’s Cycling City”cannot be ignored – the cyclists themselves. In a nutshell, the success of cycling in Gron-ingen can be explained as a result of a strong vision for a liveable city for its people. For more information, please visit: http://www.cyclinginfo.nl/ and http://www.fietsberaad.nl/

The centre of the city was to be considered as the ‘living room’for its people”

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2404090966/

Traditional New England Farm Ride

2009-07-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

After travelling two weeks through the farm
fields of Vermont and Quebec, this New England farm ride looks great. Two days of riding through the New England countryside. Good food and drink; along with hot tubs at the end of the day make for a great experience. For more information contact the folks at The Farm Ride.

Photo credit: thefarmride.com
-- Post From My iPhone

Who's More Green?

2009-07-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Vegetarian Hybrid Owner who drives to Whole Foods or the bicycle peddling omnivore?

Whole Foods Cupertino opened up over a year ago to great environmental fanfare. From low VOC (volitle organic compounds) to sustainably harvested lumber, the comany's green bona fides were trumpeted to the community.

But, like the classic dilemma of building LEED certified buildings in the suburbs it's a little cheeky to proclaim enviromental agricultural sustainability when you have a parking lot that's holds nearly 400 cars.

On a recent visit to the store at 6:45 AM (store opens at 8:00 am) nearly all possible bike parking spots were taken by employees. How many employees left their bikes at home because of the lack of safe parking.

The design of the building may be environmentally friendly but it is not cyclist friendly. The racks are located against large windowless walls, which do not allow for a watchful gaze on the bikes. Also the bikes (whether employees or customer's) are constantly exposed to sun and rain.

I would give this business a C-.

-- Post From My iPhone

New Section of The San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail

2009-07-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

This Friday, the City of Santa Clara will
conduct a ribbon cutting/opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of Reach 3 along the San Tomas Aquino Trail.

This section of the trail will start from Scott Blvd. and continue to a parking area located at Monroe St. and San Tomas Expressway. With the completion of this section, the trail will now extend from the San Francisco Bay Trail to the north, for a total of 3.8 miles. When the trail is completed (with the completion of the 4th reach at 4.0 miles) the trail will extend all the way to Pruneride Ave. and cover almost 8 miles.

For more information see the trail map provided by the City of Santa Clara.

-- Post From My iPhone

THRIVE! On FREE Valet Parking

2009-07-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

So....Kaiser Permanente, my health care provider, the ones behind the ad campaign entitled "THRIVE"; wants me to eat blueberrys, have healthy relationships and

ride me bike. All good, until you ride you bike to the Santa Clara/Homestead facility and are greet by multiple multi-story parking garages and speed/radar signs.

When I asked the valet if they would park my car....excuse me... bike; they laughed...

Oh well at least pharmacutical stocks were up today in heavy trading.

-- Post From My iPhone

San Francisco Walking Tour: Edge cities: redefining suburbia

2009-07-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

Edge cities: redefining suburbia
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:30pm

In the 1980s, edge cities pulled jobs from the central cities and remade the suburbs as car-oriented employment centers. Today, those edge cities are in the middle of the region and often have major transit lines running through them. What happens next to remake suburbia and the transit stations within it? Leading this tour along the Pittsburgh/Baypoint BART line are John Rennels from BART; Gary Craft, principal and founder of Craft Consulting Group and a Contra Costa Council board member; and Jim Kennedy, redevelopment director for Contra Costa County, who will explore transit-oriented development in the county and assess the future of suburbia – for both jobs and housing.

San Francisco, CA 94105-4015
Free to membersRSVP to tours@spur.org
Okay to bring lunch

Jeff Mapes - Cycling Author Coming to San Francisco

2009-07-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

Jeff Mapes's "Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities"

From traffic-dodging bike messengers to tattooed teenagers on battered bicycles, from riders in spandex to well-dressed executives, ordinary citizens are becoming transportation revolutionaries. In Pedaling Revolution, Jeff Mapes traces the growth of bicycle advocacy; examines the environmental, safety, and health aspects of cycling; and explores the growing bike culture that is changing the look and feel of cities, suburbs, and small towns across North America.

Share the Road Summer Bike Clinics

2009-07-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Share the Road Summer Bike Clinics
with the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition

July 25 and August 8 and 22, 2009

REI and the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition will be hosting bike clinics at REI Saratoga. Multiple 45 minute clinics will run between 11am and 3pm. Check out SVBC's Share the Road presentation and get basic bike maintenance tips to keep your bike in top shape for summer rides, commuting, and trails.

11am - Share the Road

12noon - Get to Know Your Bicycle

1pm - Share the Road

2pm - Get to Know Your Bicycle

SVBC's Share the Road campaign is a collaborative project that aims to promote safety on Bay Area roadways and to generate goodwill between motorists and bicyclists. Spearheaded by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, and joined by partners such as Webcor, REI, Bikes Belong Coalition, Low-Key Hillclimbs and others, we believe that respect and awareness will make the road safer for everyone.

REI's Get to Know Your Bicycle is a free clinic to better acquaint you with your bike, so that you can maximize your comfort and safety on the road/trail. You'll learn how to perform a pre-ride safety inspection and outfit with essential accessories, remove a wheel, fix a flat, change a tire, and make simple nut and bolt adjustments for comfort and performance.

top photo by Mark Stosberg

Sorry I ordered a Salad but You Brougt Me A Tank

2009-07-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

This scene was witnessed at Stacks Restaurant in downtown Campbell. The gi-normous size of this single occoupancy vehichle actually blocks any hint of sunlight to diners for about five hours. Now imagine how your breakfast or lunch would smell when this thing fires up.

-- Post From My iPhone

Kudos to Sports Basement

2009-07-02T17:56:00.001-07:00

After riding around The City this afternoon I stopped by the Sports Basement next to Portrrro Center for an event hosted at the store. Although the is a street track just out side the large doorway I looked inside briefly and spotted this great rack! All unet the watchfulbeyes of the store personal. Great job.

Yep , that's my bike. The homemade sign in the back says "Bike Parking".

Bike Parking at this business gets an A.

-- Post From My iPhone

Nice Cruiser Spotted in Campbell

2009-07-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like an Electra parked in front of Stacks Restaurant in Campbell.

-- Post From My iPhone

Bike Rack Boot Camp

2009-07-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Caught this guy doing his morning exercise routine on a bike rack. The rack is just outside of the restaurant he works at; The Burger Joint, located just between the San Francisco CalTrain station and the SF Giants Ballpark.

He told me he rides his bike to work after a short BART trip and does about a 15 minute work out before clocking in at the restaurant.

After working at the restaurant and eating too many burgers he said he ballooned to 230 pounds; he even showed me his CA driver's license to prove it. He says he now is down to 180 pounds and sleeps much better at night. He credits both cycling and the bike rack exercises.

This Business gets an A. Well placed racks that get used; in more ways than one.

Other Related "Bike Parking Posts"

-- Post From My iPhone

Bike Racks The Right Way

2009-07-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

After my post two days ago about Car Parking signs in downtown San Jose it's good to see a bike rack done right.

This rack located just outside the front door at the San Francisco REI is a perfect example of how good planning invites and welcomes customers who arrive by bicycle.

With a greeter placed at the front door to welcome all customers; shoppers will feel that their bike is safe and secure.

This business gets an "A" due the the watchful eye of the greeter.

Note: author is employed by REI.
-- Post From My iPhone

2009 First Six Months - It's Not the Car Payments that kill you...It's the Car.

2009-06-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

(Map Below)
Although in this blog I try to retain an upbeat tone to the benefits of decreasing our dependence on cars, I do have to highlight something the auto companies try to hide, and that is the sheer number of casualties; both fatal and non-fatal, related to autos. In memory of all victims of traffic fatalities I try to make mention of those who left us just to show you how vulnerable we all are to traffic fatalities. As I have mentioned before I have allready lost three high school classmates (one who lived several doors down from us) and several friends. When I tell people that I ride a bike the usually response centers on the dangers of cycling, without ever realizing that for most males under 30 years old, traffic fatalities are the leading cause of death.

This rememberance actually started the moment I became car-free when someone responded with the usually "bike=danger" response. I figured that if people actually saw a visually representation of a traffic death in their neighborhood they might just be a little more careful in how they drive. I also try to hightlight the young age at which many auto-victims leave us.

Two Things To Note

The high frequency of bicycle and/or pedestian incidents that involve a hit and run is both shocking and embarassing. Asleigh Jackson is just one example of a cyclist who along with her boyfriend where "just riding along" when they were struck by a late model BMW of Highway 9 and Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga, CA. (flyer courtesey of Alto Velo)This criminal has not been caught yet, highlighting another reason to keep this on everyone's radar.

The other troubling statistic is the number of train vs. autos, bikes, and pedestrian accidents. I beleive in the first part of this year the number has grown to 16 in the Santa Clara valley. I am currently research this statistic to come up with some reliable data.

Victims 20 and Under

1-5-2009     Skylar Feather, age 18, driver
1-22-2009   Man Ly Yeung, 18, pedestrian
2-1-2009   Ivy Carrasco, 15, "Go-Cart" Driver
2-3-2009   Issac Young, 6, passanger, killed by DUI driver
2-9-2009 unidentified solo driver, killed in rollover incident.
2-22-2009 Maura Avalos Garcia, 20
3-7-2009 Rafael Narajo, Jr., 20 driven by 20 year old Adam Mendoza charged with vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and drunken driving
3-11-2009 unidentified 17 year pedestrian
5-8-2009 Seth Adam Koller, 16, pedestrian
5-16-2009 Paul Benabides, 20, car occupant
6-5-2009 unidentified passenger, 22
6-18-2009 Shawn Miller, killed while crossing VTA Light Rail Tracks.

6-18-2009 Simardeep Bathia, passenger, 20
6-21-2009 Filipe Bergara, 20, driver
6-21-2009 Maria Jennings, 19, passenger of Filipe Bergara

Rest In Peace

View 2009 Fatal Vehicular Accidents in South San Franciso Bay in a larger map
test

Spotted in The Glen

2009-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

These two beautiful Electra "Hollywoods" spotted at Peet's Coffee in Willow Glen, San Jose, this morning.

-- Post From My iPhone

Park San Jose

2009-06-29T09:13:00.001-07:00

This sign seems so natural for a city that boasts "Come Downtown to play. We have over 23,000 parking spaces".

Translation - Cars are are number one priority. Bike/Ped projects.....nah.....not on our list.

-- Post From My iPhone

Nice Surley Long Haul Trucker

2009-06-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Saw this nice Surley Long Haul Trucker today, fully outfitted for touring. Nice steel frame.

-- Post From My iPhone

Interesting Electric Bike

2009-06-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Spotted this bike parked in front of my local Peet's coffee shop. The owner said that max speed is 26 mph and it weighs about 60 lbs.

The logo on the frame looked like it said "E+". The battery is in the front oversized hub and the motor is in the back hub.

-- Post From My iPhone

Summer Bike Tour Recap

2009-06-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

Just in time for summer. Here are some posts related to bike touring in Quebec.

Cycling in Quebec is an amazing experience for several reasons. Without having to travel to far you can enjoy a cultural experience unlike anything in the lower 48 states. In addition to the language and food; the historical apsects and the sheer enthusiasm for cycling are evident everywhere. In this first blog post of August 16, 2007 I describe "The State of Cycling in Quebec" .

The reason to visit Quebec by bicycle though is the recently inagurated "La Route Verte", a wonderful trail system that spans much of this French speaking province. As the website states:

Made up of over 4,000 km of bikeways criss-crossing the most beautiful regions of Quebec, the Route verte puts you on the right track for the vacation of your dreams. No matter which bikeway you cycle on—the Parcours des Anses in Lévis, the Véloroute des Bleuets encircling Lac Saint-Jean, the Berri Street bike path in Montreal or the Estriade in the Eastern Townships—you’re riding on the Route verte.

After flying in to Burlington, Vermont we headed north to the border to discover the Canton d'l Este or "Eastern Townships". Due to the Anglo influence in the area the town names are strickingly similar to their New England counterparts. Names such as Windsor, Sherbrooke, Sutton, and Bromtonville give an indication of the areas past. In the Eastern Townships a visit to the Benidictine Abby - St. Benoit du Lac is a must. The abbey is famous for their cheese and ciders which are all produced on site from the abbey's farm and orchards.

Definitly make it a point to visit either Montreal or Quebec City. Quebec City, being the only walled city in North America is a treat to walk around. Set up on a bluff overlooking the Saint Lawrence River is an absolute gem of a town. Also try to get in a ride to the Montmorency Falls about an hour by bike outside of town. Don't worry about not being able to find your way by bike. The trails on La Route Verte are very well marked and there is a Canadian Tourist Office in every town we visited. The staff in these bureaus are extremely helpful and friendly (and speak excellent English).

If you didn't find any of the area worthwhile the food alone will make you want to go. After sampling some of the local food; including Poutine, you really realize we are borderline third world when it comes to food.

Happy Travels

San Jose Bike Party Meeting

2009-06-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

For those interested in helping with the San Jose Bike Party rides there will be a meeing at Orchard Valley Coffee in downtown Campbell on Monday, June 29, starting at 7:30. Check the website for more details.
www.sjbikeparty.org

-- Post From My iPhone

Green Mobility Sidewalk Project

2009-06-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

While walking in downtown San Jose yesterday I came upon this construction project (right next to the PETA lettuce ladies street theater). I'm not sure what a "Green Mobility Sidewalk" is, but there building the "Green Project" right next to a 450+ car parking structure, a gas station, and a car wash.
Just hope when all is completed I don't get run over while trying to be green and mobile.

-- Post From My iPhone

Street Improvement on the Alameda Bike Accident Last Year

2009-06-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

While out walking on the Alameda I noticed this project under construction. A women cyclist was hit at this corner over a year ago.

This appears to be a artistic stab at a traffic calming device to get cars making the right turn from the Alameda to slow down. Let's hope it works.

-- Post From My iPhone

Portland Sunday Parkways: A Second Great Year

2009-06-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Maus over at BikePortland.org does a great job highlighting this years event. "Portland Sunday Parkways a Success: Thousands Enjoy Gift of Carfree Streets"

After witnessing firsthand last years Sunday Streets event, its great to see that the return to North Portland is a great success. It would be great to have a Sunday Streets/Ciclovia event in this area. If San Jose Bike Party can attract 1,500 riders in its second year riding until midnight I'm sure the demand is their when you include recreation starved families.

Bogota, Columbia started the whole idea by opening their streets to the city residents every Sunday over 10 years ago and the concept has spread worldwide. Clarence Eckerson Karla Quintero, and Aaron Naparstek traveled to Columbia to see just how successful their program is.

Photos: Cheryl and Rich (Flickr)

You said Party - So I wore my Party dress

2009-06-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

One of many great things about mass rides is the growing awareness of bike culture and the diversity of riders. Stretchy pants or cycling chic they are all welcome at Party rides. All though San Jose is no Copenhagen (or Portland) as far as bike style is concerned this area is slowly coming around.

My favorite on this ride was a beautiful backless red cocktail dress with a superb pair of riding shoes, showing rather nicely that you dont have to have strectch pants and a loud jersey to sport the look. The only thing missing was a Copenhagen style skirt gaurd on the bike.

Light Rider Ride - San Jose Bike Party Ride

2009-06-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

I am little groggy this morning as I write this post, after finishing my ride back to the house by about two only to wake up at 6:00. This is one of the biggest rides I've seen yet and it was confirmed by sjbikeparty.org ("Reflections on Ride #21-Light Rider!") ; there were over 1,500 riders on last nights ride, which started at Dick's Center and ended after 17.25 miles at the fountain at SJSU at around midnight. Read the post to find out more on the amazing growth of these rides.

The sheer numbers of riders show just how starved this area is for some type of organized ride where fun, socializing and some type of light physical activity happen while feeling connected to a larger group of riders. As you enter the street at the start of the ride and feel more confortable riding amongst cars; that on any given day treat you as just a road obstacle, it feels good to be with fellow riders enjoying the warm summer evening.

The diversity of riders is amazing; young, old, cruisers, lowriders, roadies, teenagers, families, boyfriends and girlfriends all come together just to "Bike Party". As we passed neighborhoods many cyclists shouted out to residents and families; "Grab your bike. Let's Go....BIKE PARTY!", encouraging them to join the travelling festival.

All in all ...Good Times...Good Fun....Lets's Go ...BIKE PARTY!

San Jose Bike Party - June at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Share and Plan your Trips

New iPhone App Review

2009-06-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Just recorded my second trip using the new REI "Bike Your Drive" app. Technically this app is nice from a couple of standpoints; the ability to take photos along the way using your iPhone and the ability to use your iPhone as a GPS bike computer.

The actuall operation is pretty straightforward. Open the app to the dashboard screen which displays speed, distance, etc., (see screenshot at left) hit the start button and your ready to go. There is a feature to lock the screen, (the button in the lower right portion of the screen) so if your like me and just stick it in your pocket you dont have to worry about the ride being aborted inadvertantly. I am not sure but I am looking to see if there are any iPhone bike mounts available but you can probably make one withuout any effort.

One of the best features of this app is the ability to take geo-locatable photos while your riding (button in the lower left portion of the screen). Very Cool.!

After your ride hit the stop button in the middle and it will prompt you if you want to save or resume the ride. If you decide to end the ride right there you can save the ride to a draft ride file or upload it.

If you save the file it will prompt you for a name (required) and a ride story if you would like to add comments. There is also a photo button to edit your photos (include:default, or keep and attach an caption).

Once your ready to upload just hit the upload button and you will be taken to a screen that shows you the upload progress. First the file will be converted to GSX a GPS type of XML, then the photos will loaded given you the progress of each photo such as "Photo #1 of #5". Obviously the more photos the more upload time so if you have more than 5 photos you may want to establish a WiFi connection first.

One other nice feature of the app itself (before moving to the next stage, everytrail.com) is the fact that you can describe the type of activity; road biking, nordic skiing, train, walking, etc. This app naturally defaults to the road biking activity.

EveryTrail.com

The other component to this app is the upload side of "Bike Your Drive". This app connects you to everytrail.com. You can view your trip via their site or embed the trip in your site or blog as I have done here. You can even get the same look and feel with routes and photo markers in Google Earth which is really nice. According to the sites blog recorded trips (using other types of GPS input of course) has reached over 100,000 publicly available trips.

Whats nice about the everytrail site is that you can browse trips by country, state and county. Currently there are 8,500 public trips for California. By clicking on the "World Map" Section of the top menu bar you can choose from over 25 different activities based on its world map location. Some of the more obscure are sightseeing, hangliding/paragliding, and skateboarding..

So in a nutshell here are the Goods and Not So Goods.

Goods

Very simple and easy to use.

Free App

Taking Photos along the way is way cool.

The abilitity to lock the app along the way.

The ability to set the accuracy of the GPS to optimize battery life.

Not So Goods

Screen is a shade of green with a white font which is very difficult to read in the bright California summer sun. It would be great if you had an option to change the screen background to black.

Also the dashboard cold be a little more readable.

I've used the app three times already and couldn't get the cummulative stats to work even though I have input my weight, cost of gasoline, and MPG.

All in all I thing this is a great app and its FREE and its use is not just limited to cycling, it would also be great as a photo log of tours, sightseing, hiking, etc.

Whole Foods Cupertino to Peets Saratoga at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Geotagging Community
Note: Author is an employee of REI

San Jose Bike Party Tonight

2009-06-19T06:42:00.001-07:00

Tonight everyone's meeting at "Dick's place" near the Bascom Light Rail Station. The ride is scheduled to go thru the Rose Garden area to northeast San Jose and finish at SJSU. Last month's ride had over 800 riders , so please bring a light and obey all traffic signals. Represent cycling in a positive way.

-- Post From My iPhone

Get Paid Not to Drive

2009-06-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Whether you decide to go car-lite or car free you can get paid to park your car. Due to recent changes in IRS policy you have "pre-tax" benefits at your disposal.. Internal Revenue Code Section 132(a) provides for eight types of employee fringe benefits, including a transportation fringe. My employer uses Wageworks a benefits plan manager to administer the "back-office" portion of the plan,but it basically works like this:

I can choose any number of San Francisco Bay Area Transit systems, for example CalTrain or VTA. If I choose VTA; a one month Adult pass is $61.25 which is the amount deducted from my paycheck. At $735 for all twelve passes for the year that amount would be decucted from my wages saving some dollars at tax time. But thats not all. My employer reimburses me 50% of the VTA pass each month which means I am saving over 60% per month. When you also add the costs of gas, oil, maintence not incurred, your on your way to huge savings. For more information check 511.org - Commputer Tax Benefits page.

New Apple iPhone App for your bike

2009-06-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

This app is called "Bike Your Drive" which is branded by REI allthough some else actually created the app.

It is actually very cool. Using the GPS and the camera in your iPhone it tracks your route, allows you to take pictures and upload the route to a website hosted by DeLorme. More on the app later. I just wanted you to see the results on a ride I took to take a look at the new Mary Ave. bridge connection Cupertino to Sunnyvale, California.

New Mary Ave. Bike Bridge at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Share GPS Tracks
Note: Author is employed by REI

Way to Go - City of Campbell, CA

2009-05-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

Even after all of the Bike to Work Day Events the City of Campbell decides to get city employees on their bikes. Way to Go.

According to the article posted today:

There were about 13 participants this year, which is a bit down from last year's numbers but still a good turnout, said Councilman Dan Furtado, who has participated in the event the last several years.

Furtado only had to travel a mile or two from his home to Campbell City Hall, but he said just being out there sends a message about the importance of reducing emissions.

"It highlights the fact of both exercise and that we could and should consider alternative transportation," said Furtado, who pedaled around on his 1950s Schwinn cruiser.

Sunnyvale Interactive Bike Map

2009-05-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some routes and notes in the Sunnyvale Area. If you would like to help and contribute

some current data just let me know. Hope this is useful.

View Sunnyvale Bicycle Map in a larger map

Paris Music Video

2009-05-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Posting Timeline

2009-05-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

Feed Timeline on Dipity.

Random Acts of Artfulness - Guerrila Artist Identified

2009-05-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Secret to the Mystery of found art.

Last week I posted on Facebook a piece of art I found while biking south on Lawrence Expressway right before Prospect Ave. What

looked like a fish, was perched upon an exposed manhole cover four feet off the ground. It was made of various car and other metal and plastic parts.

Well this morning Patty Fisher, a columnist with the San Jose Mercury News may have answered the mystery. It appears a Guerrila artists who goes by the name of Harry P. Rymate (get it ...gorilla) has been creating these works of art and leaving them around the valley. It seems as soon as he leaves them out someone will just pick them up and take them home, just what the artist intended. Any way if you see any of Harry's work leave a comment or take a photo.

For the Taking - Patty Fisher's SJMN column

Join me. Take the Challenge. The Drive Less Challenge!

2009-05-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Join me taking the Challenge to drive less in June.

TransForm

(formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition

- TALC) has put together a great summer program to get Bay Area Residents to drive less.

How It Works

1. You sign up to take the Challenge! To participate, Transform asks that you commit to either: 1) getting 10 people to support you at $5 each, or 2) donating $65 to TransForm. Here are 5 great ways you will help TransForm improve walking, biking and transit.

2. You pick a mileage goal that's right for you and then keep track of your miles. No matter what your goal is, big or small, if you drive a lot or not at all, it all adds up collectively. Already planned a road trip in June? Because the Challenge is focused more on the driving we do on a daily basis.

3. You set a fundraising goal and then ask friends and family to support you in reaching your goals (both dollars and miles). They've got tips and templates to make it easy! Don't want to fundraise? Simply donate $65 to TransForm and start your Challenge.

4. You chronicle your adventures via your Challenge page. Check out how others (or even "moi") are sharing the highs and lows in reaching their goals with stories, pictures, and videos.

5. You compete for great prizes. Prize categories include: "most entertaining posting", "most extreme story of avoiding driving a car", "most inspirational posting", "most supporters", and more.

6. You track your mileage and then share your results with us at the end of June so we can add up how many miles Challengers cut out of their lives.

7. You celebrate with other Challengers at one of several post-Challenge parties hosted by Sports Basement around the Bay Area.

So Join me in June.

In Memory of Paul Benabides, 20

2009-05-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

In was only just over a week ago, Saturday, that Paul Benabides was killed in a car "accident" near my house. This morning I went to go find any evidence, of the spot where he was tragically killed. I though I might spots flyers, posters, flowers, or candles. Since the newspaper report listed only Lois Ave., which runs North/South for about a mile, I peddled through the neiborhood slowly trying to find something that would remind neigbors ofthe tragic incident.

Peddling at a slow 5 mph I found no evidence of any accident.

Paul Benabides RIP
August 10, 1988 - May 15, 2009

Nice Little Bike Video

2009-05-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

I think this is from Quebec....anyone know anything more on this video. Just a simple catchy song.

Tivo this! From KQED Friday 9:00 PM "Blueprint America: Road to the Future"

2009-05-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

Blueprint America: Road to the Future

Friday evening at 9:00 PM on KQED and tonight at 8:00 on PBS stations across the country, a new one-hour documentary film will highlight the state of affairs for Americas highway system.

Blueprint America:
"PBS reports on the infrastructure crisis"

Road to the Future:
Film Documentary

With examples drawn from Denver, New York, and Portland, veteran CNN correspondent and anchor Miles O'Brien will visit places where local officials and residents face agonizing choices between the easy status quo and the path less taken.

Good to see Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland and Janette Sadik-Khan

30 second video preview

Who Wants to Go to Copenhagen?

2009-05-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Out of Copenhagen comes the blog Copenhagen Cycling Chic, although right now he is visiting Amsterdam.

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

A promotional music video I made for the City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Office.

Aimed at promoting Copenhagen's fantastic, unique bicycle culture. 500,000 people ride their bikes each day. 36% of the population.

This video highlights who they are and what they do. Shot over a period of four months.

Is This The End Of The (Suburban) World As We Know It?

2009-05-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

Notice to Residents of Victorville - "Your Home May be Worth Less Than Your SUV"

As a follow up to my last post this morning (Is This The End ExUrbia as We Know It?). I went back to check on some of the other "possible unfinished developments" that Guaranty Bank, (currently at 64 cents a share - GFG) or any other bank may own. I had to stop because my eyes and hands were tired from clicking. If you think this real estate thing is over, you may want to think again.

Someone borrowed money from Guaranty, or B of A, or Chase/WAMU to pull the building permits and get the heavy machinery to start construction. Somebody lent on the hundreds of empty pads that dot the high desert. I'll tell you one thing; the bank presidents - they aint living in Victorville.

See Zillow Graph (You may have to scroll down)

Los Angles Times - "Housing Crunch Becomes Literal in Victorville"

Each Pin Represents a New Development in Victorville; a city of 100,000

View Victorville Real Estate in a larger map

Is This The End ExUrbia as We Know It?

2009-05-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Partially completed Southern California housing tract demolished

Original Article in the Daily Press Los Angeles Times - Article "Housing crunch becomes literal in Victorville"

In a story Associated Press article syndicated by the San Jose Mercury News, the demolition of the remaining partially constructed was noted. The article desribed the site as follows:

"The planned 16-unit tract on the fringes of a suburb about 65 miles northeast of Los Angeles included four finished homes with granite counter tops, whirlpool bathtubs and dual-pane windows."

Two things worth noting about the above statement. "Fringes of Suburb" is an understatement. Victorville is over 80 miles from downtown Los Angeles. According to Google Maps the drive to Victorville is over 80 miles which theoretically takes over 1 hour and 20 minutes and up to 2 hours, 40 minutes in traffic. Also to get to Victorville you would need to drive over a 4,200 foot high pass through the San Gabriel and San Bernadino Mountains. On some of the worst commutes; the trip could take over 5 hours, round trip.

Notice that the article described the homes with granite counter tops and whirlpool bathtubs, a classic add on at the hight of the real estate bubble.

Victorville is classic suburban type development gone wild and gets my Golden Asphalt Award . The gobbling up of desert land is clear noticeable from "the air" as you view the city on Google Maps . With only a 2007 population of just over 100,000 it has hit the suburban big time with their own mega mall, creatively called "The Mall" (I'm not making this up) featuring stores such as Sears, McDonalds, and Starbucks.

If you want to buy land next to this mall its only $7 million.

San Jose Bike Party - This Friday

2009-05-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

This Friday is Troll-Out Night. Also come ride on the new Mary Ave. Bridge.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-jose/499124167655250002"&amp;gt;Troll Ride to Mary Ave Bridge - May 15th, 2009&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/ca/san-jose"&amp;gt;Find more Bike Rides in San Jose, California&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Vauban - Realistic Experiment?

2009-05-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's New York Times reported on a town in southwestern Germany, nestled between the French and Swiss borders that has made a civic commitment to go car-free or more realistically as car-lite as possible. Titled "In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars", the article (along with photos) describes a suburb of Frielberg, Germany (Google - My Maps). The Times also featured a discussion page about going "Carfree in America?".

Comparing Sunnyvale to Vauban

After reading the article take a look at the pictures that I have linked above and also my map created on Google Maps to get an idea of the scope of the car-free village. I am always curious the amount of land devoted to roadway. In a previous blog post I took a look at a corner of Sunnyvale, California (which due to the square mile grid pattern makes it a little fun and easy). In that post I estimated that this purely residential area devotes about 20% of its land area to road way (not counting the concrete used for driveways on private lots). In Vauban I calculated that less than 4% is used for auto roadways!

Here are some additional links on Vauban
Bike Portland - "Germany's Car Conscious Community"

The Christian Science Monitor - "New German Community Models Car-Free Living"

Also this article is linked to in the New York Times article - "Students Give Up Wheels For Their Own Two Feet"

Vauban Photo courtesy of Ecofaubourg at Fickr

View Vauban in a larger map

Tragedy in the South San Francisco Bay This Weekend.

2009-05-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Bay Area lost two 16 year olds to tragic traffic accidents this weekend; one in Union City and One in Half Moon Bay. Not only is the coincidence of the events striking, but the young age that they were taken from us should not go unnoticed.

Juan Rodelas Jr . was killed and his passenger was injured after Rodelas lost control of his speeding Corvette on Central Avenue in Union City.

An unidentified 16 year old male was struck by a car while crossing Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay just before midnight on Friday (Google Maps ).

View 2009 Fatal Vehicular Accidents in South San Franciso Bay in a larger map

Santa Clara County Sheriff Pleads Guilty in the Death of Two Cyclists

2009-05-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sentencing Set for June 25

Deputy James "Tommy" Council pleaded guilty yesterday (May 8, 2009) in the deaths of two local cyclists Matt Peterson and Kristianna Gough.

Two Year Anniversary - Two Year Experiment

2009-04-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Well it's been two years now. What started as a one year experiment is now entering its third year;to be, to live car free in the Silicon Valley. It was two years ago today that a car ran a red light seriously injuring a family of three and destroying my own car. Since I was preparing to leave on a summer cycling trip through Quebec, Canada, I decided to wait until returning to look into getting a new car.

After cycling through Quebec that summer, I reflected on just how far behind we are in our own here in California in terms of a cycling culture, public health, the livability in our cities, and in general just enjoying what we have here in this state. Here was an area with over 4,000 km of some of the most beautiful cycling trails, known as La Route Verte. The organization and investment evident in the trail was superior to anything I have seen in the states.

Bay Area and Silicon Valley

The Silicon Valley lies between two mountain ranges, the Santa Cruz mountains and the Diablo range of mountains. From ridge to ridge its about 26 miles and from foothills to foothills (using highway 280 as a guide from west to east) its about 17 or 18 miles across. The valley contained by these two ranges and the San Francisco Bay is generally flat.

With a Mediterranean climate that makes for livable area I always wonder; why aren't their more cyclists in this area? Why are their more cars in the bay area then the population of Sweden (9 million), or Quebec, Canada? Why are there more cars (vehicles) in California than the poulation of Iraq (31 mil vs. 29 mil). With a population of 36 million and total vehicle registration of 31 million there is a car for just about every resident (86% of residents) of the state! This is over the U.S. vehicle penetration rate of 84%.

So what started as a one year experiment is slowly evolving beyond that initial goal. Who knows how long I will keep this up. I have tried to highlight the state of cycle transportation in the valley, along with other topical and current issues such as; traffic safety, livability, public health, community, and non-auto advocacy. With the recent and continual decline of automakers, auto dealers, and the other industries that feed off of Detroit, I hope to continue to highlight and tell the story of others that choose not own a car. Although I choose, at this time not to be a "car-nivore", that doesn't mean I do not ride or drive in cars. I do occasionally and have rented a car for the weekend on one occasion. I like to consider myself an "Omni-tran", one who does not exclusively seek out transportation options by automobile.

Along the way I have met some great people in Portland (thanks Meghan and Elly), New York (Clearance), San Francisco (Dave), and Brazil (Thiaggo). Also others out there who advocate for transportation options; Katie Alvord - "Divorce Your Car", Donald Shoup- "The High Cost of Free Parking", Jonathan Maus - "Bike Portland", Clarance Eckerson - "StreetFilms.org"and James Kuntsler - "The Geography of Nowhere".

Anyway thanks to all of you who have made this experiment a fun one!

Population and Vehicle Density Correlation

2009-04-28T12:11:00.001-07:00

This was a little fun I had playing with a graphical representation of the amount of land converted to parking; assuming a density of 6,000 residents per square mile (Sunnyvale, CA). I came up with just under 25% of the land would be needed to park cars, on average. This does not assume land needed to move those cars. I haven't gotten there yet.

The land here in the Silicon Valley only 50 years ago used to be full of orchards now parking lots have taken there place.

Parking Requirement Calculations (Google Docs)

The larger square represents one mile square. Notice how the old orchard roads were one mile distant. Now these "one mile roads" make for perfect suburban arterial roads. The smaller red square represents one quarter of a square mile.

View Asphalt Jungle in a larger map

Another Hit and Run On a Pedestrian...This One a 4 Year Old

2009-04-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

Hit-and-run driver kills 4-year-old girl playing in driveway

Currently reasearching the number and trend of hit and run accidents relating to cyclists and pedestrians. Absolutely senseless, any way you look at it.

James Howard Kuntlser - TED.org Talk

2009-04-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is a great talk by James H. Kuntsler author of "The Geogarphy of Nowhere", "Home from Nowhere", and "The World Made by Hand".

Thinking of the Current Transportation System as a Health and Safety Issue

2009-04-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

All I know is that first you've got to get mad.

You've got to say,
"I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!"

Three vehicular events in the Silicon Valley area this weekend highlight the fact that we are all subject to property damage, trauma, critical injury and even death from vehicles. With this weekends death of a solo driver in Los Altos, a hit and run pedestrian accident in downtown San Jose, and a hit and run accident involving two cyclists, we need to stop and seriously consider the pain and suffering these events cause.

I am acquainted with Ashley (Ashleigh), through work and we share several mutual friends. Ashley was riding with her boyfriend this weekend when she was struck by a car that drove into the bike lane. As I have written before, death and injury has visited family members, a favored author (David Hallberstam's tragic death near the Dumbarton Bridge), three high school friends, a college friend, and bike riding buddies. Many years ago, while riding my bike, I witnessed a accident victim's final seconds as the blood from his head flowed onto the asphalt, on that early spring morning. I was stunned and helpless. Unable to move the truck that had just slammed his head to the ground and was now pinning his body to the roadway, all I remember was the color of his face, and how it seemed to change color the more his blood drained from his motionless head.

Several years after witnessing speeding and erratic behavior by a driver on a southbound San Diego Freeway, I came upon the prostrate body of the driver in the middle lane; motionless as we drove by, suddenly making the connection that the driver had met his end in his own horrific way.

With almost two years of a car free lifestyle under my belt, people often ask me; "isn't bike riding dangerous? I'm to afraid to ride my bike. I think I'll just go to a spin class instead." First, bikes can be dangerous, but not many people fail to consider the large number of car accidents every year; whether classified as solo vehicular accidents, alcohol related accidents, accidents due to youth and inexperience, or just sheer and utter stupidity. We seem to just accept, "as if that's the way it's supposed to be.

"We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, "Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone."

Ask anyone who rides or walks and they will tell you horror stories of the streets. Freeing yourself from the cocoon of your car you notice more. In the two years since my own accident, I have witnessed four accidents involving a car running a red light ( myself a victem as well). Of those four, I was the first responder on three of them. One involved a person trying to flee the scene. Six victims required medical attention.

In the two years since giving up my car in favor of a lifestyle involving cycling, walking and public transportation as a means of mobility, I have kept tract of most of the accidents involving cars, whether solo, with other cars, with bicycles, or pedestrians. Also motorcycle accidents; which seem almost to be predictable in rider age and accident location are document.

We strikes me and also troubles me the most however is the continued increase in hit and run accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. I have read somewhere that it may approach 50%. That would be one out of two accidents involve a vehicle leaving the scene; an absolute disgrace on any measure of moral, ethic, or civic responsibility.

Anyway here are three Google Maps so far that I have put together.
(Blue - Vehicle, Red - Pedestrian, Yellow - Motorcycle, Green - Cyclists) Dot in the marker represents a fatality.

2007

2008

2009

Pedestrian Friendly

2009-04-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

La Rade by Yann Tiersen....Must be Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan ....Look at the size of the crosswalks and the signals are timed so pedestrians all walk (scramble) at once. At least the first scene was....

This Morning on My Bike

2009-03-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

I am not always delight with bike usability in Cupertino, buth this morning there was room for optimism. In travelling through Cupertino each morning I get a little frustrated with construction sites that take away bike lanes for weeks on end with no signage or the number of unsafe riders on cell phones or carry shopping bags on their hadlebars, or the crazy student drivers near De Anaza College.

However this morning I felt releived that some form of bike justice was done. I was travelling east on Stevens Creek Blvd. crossing De Anaza Blvd. just as the light turned green. As the traffic started to pull away from the light a car decided to make an unplanned and unsignaled right turn (more popularly known as the right hook). As he cut infront of me makeing his right, I pulled out my only weapon.....my middle finger. Just as I was crossing the intersection, I noticed a Santa Clara County Sheriff motorcycle cop on the other side of the intersection. Nice. Score one ticket for the city of Cupertion and hopefully a safer driver in the futer.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec

2009-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

One of my original ideas about bike touring through French Canada was to plan a trip that would hit small artisan towns. Villages that specialized in some for of agriculture or food production; no different than tourist who flock to Napa, California each year for the wine; except without the car.

At the time I really had not though about the term Agritourism (AgroTourism) but I started seeing reference to it in some websites. I remember the early days growing up in Southern California, when Knott's Berry Farm was really a farm that grew berries. The rides were originally built just to get people to come and buy their berries. Dairy farms were located just outside of town. In fact the road to Tijuana which is now the beautiful Interstate 5 used to be lined with dairy farms.

Somehow we have lost our agricultural roots; tomato past made in giant factories, beef fattened up on feed lots, and beer made in Colorado. Most of the towns centered around local agricultural products, historical architectural heritage, and include vistas and access to water.

The idea for "the most beautiful villages" originally comes from France with over 32,000 certified villages. The idea is to preserve and display towns and villages which have preserved their geographic, historic and cultural characteristics.

As describe on their website the villages also expect a level of responsibility from tourists given their small character. Some guidelines include:

The Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec are ideally visited on foot or by bicycle. Consider parking your car at the entrance or at the centre of a village, and enjoy a leisurely tour.
Local businesses strive to preserve smaller, more approachable operations, allowing you to engage in conversation and to learn more about local life and history. Supporting artisans, artists, farmers and other local businesses not only ensures the survival of traditional village life, but also, and quite importantly, the pleasure of human contact and the authenticity of products.
Our villagers are gracious hosts, proud of their homes, and honoured by your visit. It is their pleasure to engage you in conversation: let them share a bit of themselves with you, and share a bit of yourself with them. However, please refrain from creating a disturbance by speeding, parking outside designated areas, or excessive noise. Also, please respect private property.
Heritage buildings and their surrounding property are generally not open to the public. Access is limited, except with authorization.
Our villages offer a wide range of inns, bed and breakfasts, and farmhouse accommodations that will allow you to spend some time with the townspeople. Please feel free to ask them questions about local life, village history, and things to see and do.
Generally, villages to not offer as wide a range of products as in large urban centres, and the cost of supplies may vary accordingly. Please take this into account when planning your stay.

The province specializes in cheeses, ciders, herbs, sugar shacks, and pasture fed grazing animals. The website for Agritourism in Quebec offers an interactive way to plan you trip.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec
Agrotourism in Quebec
The Most Beautiful Village of Quebec - Google My Maps

Day 9 Trois Rivieres to Quebec City

2009-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

La Route Verte 2007

Day 9 August 30, 2007, Thursday
Trois Rivieres to Quebec City

Trois Rivieres
Having spent some time in Trois Riveries about 10 years prior I had a sense of where some things were in town. Trois Rivieres Having settled into the Hostel in town we did some sightseeing the day before and walked down the Boulevard Rue des Forges (photo at left: Claude Boucher, Wikipedia). The whole central district is easily walkable and although not as touristy as Quebec City, there area plenty of restaurants on the main boulevard. It is not totally evident from the photo but Boulevard Rue de Forges is lined with all types of Restaurants from Spanish to Greek, from casual to formal, from pubs to bistros.

What amazed me however was that in a town of just over 100,000 on a Thursday night all the restaurants were busy both inside and out on the street. I tried to imagine any comparable U.S. city that would have such a crowd out walking and dining, and you know I just couldn't name one. Any suggestions out there?

What was nice about staying a the hostel and being so centrally located we could just leave the bikes and walk to the restaurant district, amble around and watch the people with out having to lock up our bikes. Riding's fun but it's nice sometimes to just get off the bike and stroll. We would also have that opportunity in the old town area of Quebec City.

As I had stated in previous posts if you cannot find a tourist office (? information touristique) in any Quebec town or village, well your just not looking. Look at the photo at right not only are there signs on lampposts but also in the street and signage informing you that you can park for 30 minutes for free if you use the office.

Lucky for us we found a fantastic Belgium Bakery, known as Nys (Patisserie Belge Artisanal Nys). After some palmiers and some espresso we ordered a couple of baguettes, wrapped them and stuffed them in to the back pockets or our Jerseys and were on our way.

Trois Rivieres to Quebec City

The trip today would be about 90 miles which is definitely doable, especially with the flat route along the St. Lawrence River. But with an early morning cool rain storm and a nice headwind it would definitely be challenging. Now that we were traveling along the St. Lawrence what little history I read about the region was beginning to make sense. The first European exploration of New France (Quebec) was by Jacques Cartier in 1534. The first permanent settlement of the area would be located in Quebec City some 50 years later by Samuel de Champlain (Lake Champlain).

These small fiercely french villages still retain much of the flavor of the old country. The grid based land and urban system so typical in the United States is not present here. In fact looking at Google Maps or Google Earth look at upstate New York with its grid or square and rectangular farms and grid based town maps. In Quebec you will notice that abutting rivers, landowners had a small frontage but the land extended back from the water in large strips.

Most of the development on the lower St. Lawrence takes places on the south-east side of the river, so the ride to Quebec City along the northern side is prettier and more direct; skirting closely to the side of the river without substantial truck and auto traffic exiting the provincial freeway. The road enters many small towns with a decent amount of farmers stands to stop for produce and food.

One small town (small being less than a hundred buildings) Deschambault, which is built a small knob sticking in to the Saint Lawrence had this great little bistro. The owners; a husband and wife team built the restaurant in an old converted two story Victorian era house. The wife, who is an artist, redid and outfitted the whole house in stunning antiques and works of art, while the husband focused on the food.

I order a smoked salmon bagel with an additional wrap. Just as we were wrapping up our lunch, a couple from Toronto mentioned that they were on their way to Quebec for the --get this--, "Accordion festival". Before you knew it Dave grabbed the restaurant owner's guitar and started playing some improvisation right there on the spot.

It sure made for an entertaining rest from the rain and the wind just an hour prior. But now we had about another 40 or 50 miles before entering Quebec, so it was time to say our goodbyes and hit the road.

An hour and a half into the ride and I was already feeling somewhat tired. As we passed a town (although it look more like a typical American freeway stop) just off the highway, I noticed; strewn over the roadway paper cups, wrappers and bags courtesy of McDonalds. I was a little shocked because I had not seen the typical scene of hyper-litter that now is present on most American roads. It had been over a week now and I really didn't recall seeing any litter until now. This is one of the few; in fact I think the only McDonalds we had seen in Quebec, and as a reminder we were now being blessed with an unsightly roadway garbage to make us feel at home.

Well the afternoon was getting late and I was completely drained of energy. I didn't remember Quebec City being so large. As a tourist you think of the city as that which is within the fortress walls but it has expanded outwards about 20 miles from the walls along the river. I knew that if I just follwed a general path along the river I would reach the auberge. Finally at around 8:00 PM I reached the gates to the "old city". The next few days would be focused on rest, relaxation, and tourist

Publish Post

activities.

It was an end to a long day.

Car Wash for Car Crash Victims

2009-03-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

This isn't the first time I have seen car washes held to raise funds for car crash victim's. The article states that the young victims loved cars, only to die in a car.
Friends, family pitch in to aid young San Jose crash victims-San Jose Mercury News

with permission from A. Singer

2008 State of the Valley - Traffic Safety

2009-02-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

A while ago I asked a friend why they drive to the gym to "spin" instead of cycling and experiencing all of the joy and fun that comes along with it. They responded that cycling is dangerous. So that got me thinking if cycling is dangerous, just how dangerous is it compared to other modes of transportation. At the time one of my favorite authors, David Halberstam was killed in a local traffic accident near the Dumbarton Bridge in Menlo Park, CA. I also had 3 high school classmates (those that I have heard about) killed in separate traffic accidents. Strangely enough one was killed in New Zealand and the other in South Africa. Additionally two family members have been severely disabled due to car accidents.

When I was 17, I started studying for my private pilot's license and I always heard the reply, "Why do you fly? Its so dangerous". I began to notice that an aircraft accident; even if it only resulted in one or two fatalities, the event would make regional or national news headlines. Conversely, automobile accidents where usually buried on the 4th page of the local section, sometimes only involving one or two paragraphs.

So after the tragic accident involving Mr. Halberstam, I wondered - what if I monitored the news using new internet tools to highlight and document the tragic nature of auto accidents. After keeping track of such grim statistics, it made me conscious of just much, we as a society tend to ignore the violent costs of automobile traffic.

However it is not just vehicular fatalities that are sobering but the sheer number of pedestrian fatalities highly skewed to the most vulnerable part of the population; those due to age or financial circumstances that must walk in a culture designed for high speed auto traffic. In looking at the many cases of pedestrian casualties, three key characteristics stand out. Pedestrian casualties generally victimize the elderly, occur in the poorer areas of the valley (where massive arterial roads are not uncommon), and generally fall upon victims who were born outside the United States and its culture of cars.

To memorialize those that we last last year.

Silicon Valley Youth who died tragically in 2008.
6-13-2008, Breanna Slaughter-Eck, 12 (pictured)
1-9-2008 12:20am Jessica Stevens, 16
2-28-9 Alexander Moran Cabrera, 2
4-22-2008, 9:38 PM, Trieu Dinh, 19
8-2-2008, 4:50 AM Chrishtiana Acevedo, 18
10-10-2008 6:00 PM Moses Florez, 5 (killed on Razr Scooter)
10-12-2008, 9:15 am, Fernando Valencia, 18
10-12-2008, 9:15 am, unidentified passenger of Fernando Valencia, 12
12-18-2008, 12:05 PM, Matthew Mikaelsson. 17

See Map Below
Cyclists (Green)
1-10-2008 6:25PM, Hsien Tsun Wan, 77
2-28-08 Andrew Hale, 54
3-9-2008 Matt Peterson, 30 of San Francisco
3-9-2008 Kristy Gough, 31 of Oakland
6-13-2008, Breanna Slaughter-Eck, 12
10-5-2008, 9:45AM Bruce Finch, 58

Pedestrians (Red)
1-10-2008 as Estella Manalo Bacong, 50
1-4-2008 Randy Walke, 50
1-22-2008 1:55 AM, Leonardo Par Tzoc, 29
1-23-2008 2:40am Unidentified Hispanic Male 35-40
2-8-2008 Guoliang Chen, 76
2-15-2008 Douglas Carr, 61
2-21-2008 6:20 PM unidentified female
3-26-2008 Panfilio Prado, 51
2-21-2008 6:20 PM unidentified female
4-1-2008 6:30PM, Souang Athetsanathip,66
4-25-2008 11:30 Jose Del Carmen Cauigh-Medina, 51
8-2-2008 5:20 PM, Kenneth Stewart pedestrian, 69
8-10-2008, 8:45 PM, Oralia Puga-Ramirez, 73 of San Jose
8-10-2008, Enedina Oliva, 70
8-30-2008 8:40 AM, Maria Dolores Acosta Dereyes, 69
9-9-2008, 2:15 PM, unidentified male pedestrian, Capitol Exp. San Jose
9-13-2008, 9:30, unidentified pedestrian, 91, McLaughlin Ave. & Spokane Dr., San Jose
9-14-2008, 8:45 AM, Rodolfo Escurial, 68
9-14-2008, 8:45 AM, Aproniano Siruno, 71
10-10-2008 6:00 PM Moses Florez, 5 (killed on Razr Scooter)
10-11-2008, 1:20 PM, Margaret Garza, 45
10-26-2008, 7:00AM,Gary Ray Hedges, 66
12-2-2008 3:15 PM, Phyllis Seidman, 66
11-27-2008 7:40 PM , Jose Perez Rivera, 39
12-12-2008, 8:15 PM, Manuel Velasquez, 73

A noticeable but disturbing trend is evident in Pedestrian fatalities in the valley, with regard to age, ethnicity, and location.

Pedestrian Fatalities Age Breakdown (only those whose age is known)
Amt. %
Under 18 years of age 1 - 5%
18 - 30 years of age 1 - 5%
31- 40 years of age 2 - 9%
41- 50 years of age 1 - 5%
51- 65 years of age 5 - 22%
65+ years of age 12 - 54%

Note: These are not audited or verified traffic statistics but just a compilation of traffic casualties that have been reported in local newspapers.

View Larger Map

Day 8 - Rest Day in Trois Rivieres

2008-12-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

La Route Verte 2007
August 29, 2007, Wednesday
Day 8 - Trois Rivieres

We had reservations at the International Hostel right in the middle of town or in French known as the Auberge International de Trois Riviere. I had stayed here about 5 years earlier and had no problems. It's not plush but centrally located, and reasonable.
_==========================================_

Touring Gear

I thought I would ramble a little bit here about gear. This year I decided to go light. No panniers, no trailers, no camping. In fact when we didn't stay at hostels it was either with friends, or what in French they would describe as Auberge or gites (bed and breakfasts). Since my goal was to keep it light as possible I limited my self to a handlebar bag, a seat post bag, and what is known as a bento box to carry my camera and some sunblock.

The seat post bag I used was by a small company called "Detours ". I first heard the husband and wife owners of the company speak about light and fast touring I thought, "Wow, that would be both different and fun". I got something called the High Tail EXP , which supposedly has a 5lb. weight limit but I think I loaded it with more. The handlebar bag I got at REI . Both bags had use a KlickFix system that makes it extremely convenient to take the bags off the bike.

As you can see, since I had the bag over its weight limit it did sag a bit. In fact on some of the rougher trails it did rub against the tire once or twice but no major difficulties. I did have some trouble removing the bag by flexing it upward. Of course it became more difficult, when I had more gear strapped to it like you see in the picture above. The Bento Box although limiting in the amount you can carry is great purely for its convince factor. It is a great place to store a digital camera since it sits right in front of you and all you have to do is tear open the Velcro to access the camera.

So here it goes with a gear list....In the Handlebar bag I carried....

Medium weight combination lock
Cateye - Front Light
Flash card reader for camera
Cellular phone and charger
One pair of "Primal" lightweight Tatoo arm warmers
Ball cap
Small lightweight towel
Sunglasses
Clothes line
Dr. Bronners Liquid Soap
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Disposable Shaver
Sunblock
Eagle Creek "Undercover" Security Belt" containing*:
*passport
*cash and coin
energy bar
Google Notepad and pens
Maps
Tire Lever
Patch Kit
Pocket Knife
Spare Inner Tube

______________________________________________

Rear Seat Post Bag
Two Bike Jerseys
Patagonia Lightweight Rain Parka
Two Polyester T-Shirts
Yellow Protective Rain Cover
REI Sahara Convertible Pants
Pearl Izumi Black Mountain Biking Shorts
Black Polyester Button Up Bike Jersey
Two Pairs Bike Socks (Camelback and Google)
One Pair of Polyester Underwear
One Pair of Padded Bike Underwear

All of this fit just perfectly into the bags which really didn't leave room for souvenirs but it was worth it. It also meant having to do laundry every other evening which meant the liquid soap got a lot of use, along with the clothesline. Also with less stuff to carry it was easier to get up in the morning and just go. Obviously this meant that campgrounds were not an option but compensated for the greater expense by staying in hostels and with friends, in addition to motels.

15 miles

350 Cumulative Miles

Day 7 San Francois-du-Lac to Trois Rivieres

Day 9 Trois Rivieres to Quebec City

Day 7 - Saint Francois-Du-Lac to Trois Rivieres

2008-12-08T19:50:00.000-08:00

2007 La Route Verte, Quebec

Day 7 - August 28, 2007, Tuesday

Saint Francois du Lac to Trois Rivieres

On the whole, Quebecois breakfasts are not too different from what I am used to in California, a nice muffin, some good coffee. Well ok, a fruit parfait, with chocolate and maple syrup on the side is not normal, but it sure was good.. Although I don't recall the cost it wasn't too expensive. We stopped in a little breakfast place in Pierreville right on the main road about 3 quarters of a mile from the river.

After breakfast we hopped back on the bikes for our trip to the riverside town of Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers). You have to be careful on the local road out of Pierreville for truck traffic. So when you see the bike sign pointing you away from highway 132; follow the signs. It was not only safer but far quieter and made for a nice early morning ride. This area takes you through some beautiful corn fields but keep an eye out for large corn harvesters that tend to drive on the roads.

Our first goal for the day was the small river town Nicolete. Although the town is not that large there is a large Police Academy in town as well as a large girls catholic school so there seemed to be a lot of people on the street. Our first stop of course was to the tourist office, where we met ; oh let's call her Evette. We asked to have her locate a internet cafe so that we could check up on some emails. She sent us, no she walked us over to a small shop called Mudigo, where the owner (oh I don't remember her name) made us some tea and let us use a computer and internet connection. The shop was a mix of herbal tea, clothing, computers, and other items.

After a few minutes on the computer, I notice a package delivered to the shop but on closer inspection I find out it's actually her lunch. Not only did it look good but smelled good as well. It hadn't been too long since breakfast and we had only completed about 12 miles, but the food looked so good and hearty I asked her to point us to the restaurant. She said it wasn't really a restaurant but she provided the directions (in French of course).

So after Dave finished up his cyber errands we followed her instructions to :"go back to the center of town past the tourist office, past the Catholic high school, make a right about two streets down, go down a street and when see the large old house go around the back and just knock on the door." " She doesn't have a menu", she said "Just go and tell her you want a lunch; a lunch to go."

Well after following her instructions we did find the back of this old (looked like a Victorian style house, complete with a widows walk), and as we walked in we step right into a kitchen with a huge cast iron stove. She was busy preparing other lunches and I put up two fingers and just said "duex". After a few minutes she had packed up a sizeable lunch of vegetable soup and crackers, a vegetable and beef stew, fresh corn, roll, and date walnut bread for after. Hell, just the stew itself was a meal. All that for $5.00 Canadian.

We took the lunch in bags and proceeded to a park down near the Saint-Francois river. It was fabulous the food, the view, the slow pace of the trip. Everything was coming together.

After a brief nap in the park it was back on the bikes and back to route verte. Due to the small footprint of the town in no time at all were found the linear park that lies alongside the forest just to the south of town. It would have been a straight shot to the town of St. Gregoire but due to the heavy truck traffic on highway 132 (see map below) trying to cross the bridge to Trois Rivieres the bike route detours making the 5 mile route a more scenic route of about 13 miles to the town. It wasn't all bad however because the rolling farms are pleasure to cycle through. The big question though would be "can we pedal over the bridge?"

The Laviolette Bridge is the only bridge crossing between Montreal and Quebec City a distance of about 160 miles. After all the maps; both paper and online, I don't recall any of them mentioning that you couldn't. Well we finally got to the riverside, it was obvious, there was no way we were going to bike over that bridge. However we found that you could take a van outfitted with bike racks and have them shuttle you over the St. Lawrence River. So we pulled into the ever present Tourist Office in Becancour and booked a ride over to the other side. The service is free but we gave the driver a tip.

Resources: Entre Flueve et Riviere (English)
Ville de Nicolet

View Larger Map

45 miles
330 cummulative miles

Day 6 Acton Vale to Saint-Francois-du-Lac

Day 8 Rest Day in Trois Rivieres

Day 6 Acton Vale to St-Francois-Du-Lac

2008-12-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

Day 6 August, 27, 2007, Monday

Acton Vale to St. Francois-Du-Lac

Today's goal was to head north to a town called Wickham, and then northeast to a larger town along the Saint-François river called Drummondville.

Historically Drummondville, which lies at a strategic point on the river was used by the British during the War of 1812 as a military base to prevent invasion from the south by the Americans.

By 1920 it became a center for industry with the building a large (at that time) hydroelectric dam right in the middle of town. This area of Quebec is known as the Centre du Quebec and is at the southern end of renown maple syrup producing regions. The area is also famous for the foret de Drummondville, a beautiful forest park next to the river about 6 miles out of town. Once entering the town of Drummondville we would continue along the river to the town of Saint-François-du-Lac, which is almost at the river junction to the Saint Lawrence River.

The town figures prominently in the French and Indian War in 1759, having been destroyed by Roger's Rangers. (For a historical reference read The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America. Library , Amazon)

The first six miles of the trail were straight out of town due north towards Wickham. The trail resemble that shown in the picture above for the first few miles straight and surrounded by trees while traveling through some of the most beautiful agricultural land around.

Once we reached the outskirts we had two objectives get some form of lunch and caffeine, and stop by the bike shop. By this time in the trip I had devised a way to find my way around any French-Canadian town. First upon entering any town look for the highest point in town which is usually the church steeple or bell tower. In most of these towns the oldest church, and therefore the center of town is always the most prominent point. And in the center of each Quebec town is a tourist office staffed at all hours of the day during the summer. We found tourist offices in towns as small as 300 people.

Well in Drummondville, the center of town with the obligatory church also contained a great pastry shop and a bike shop located just down the street. So while Dave made a trip to the bike shop I got the morning paper and my cup of coffee. In no time at all we were back on the road trying to find our way out of town along the Saint-François. It is a little confusing at first trying to find the bike trail out of town. It would have been helpful with a local city bike map (see page 2 for detail view of bike map in Drummondville).

Just outside of town is the foret de Drummond a regional park with lots of trails for hiking or mountain biking. After a brief stop in the forest it was back on the road along the river. This part of the Route Verte is called the Circuit des Traditions. The regiom is a verdant agricultural part of the province and is quite evident all along the river. The photo at left is just one of the many farms that lie along the river. Although we rode along the two lane Rang du Bassin traffic was almost non-existent. We saw a couple of other cyclists and that was about it.

We arrived in town to have enough time to do laundry and walk down the road for dinner. Tonight was the first time I was to try the Quebecois favorite; Poutine, a mixture of French fries, heavy gravy, and cheese curds. Supposedly Drummondville is the birthplace of Poutine, but heah, you've got to be famous for something. It wasn't bad but I could only imagine eating this dish sparingly.

Tomorow we would see and then cross the St. Lawrence River for the first time.

50 miles
285 Cumulative miles

Day 5 Acton Vale to St-Francois-Du-Lac

Day 7 St-Francois-Du-Lac to Trois Rivieres

Day 5 Stuckley Sud to Acton Vale

2008-12-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

Velo Quebec 2007
August 26, 2007, Sunday

With a day off and the rain behind us we headed out early for Waterloo, retracing our route along the Route Verte. At Waterloo we turned north on the trail north to Acton Vale, about 25 miles away. Once leaving Waterloo the trail returned to a trail all to ourselves. There were stretches where we were the only cyclists on the trail and the "gravel dust" trail soon turned into a heavily wood forest on the outskirts of the Parc National de Yamaska. The tree abundant tree canopy completely sherltered us from the sun allowing us to move at a decent pace.

Comments on the Bike Culture in Quebec

One of the things that has continually amazed me on this trip is the little things that make this bike trail different from my experience stateside. Most trails I have ridden in California are short (the longest I've have ridden is only 25 miles or so), but the main difference is in how they are designed, usually only as basic bike ways that seem to have been added as an afterthought. The trails are planned with only the least experience or recreational cyclists at heart. Here I've have seen tourist offices, ice cream shops, and tourist attractions right off of the bike ways.

On many of the longer trails we have ridden it is not uncommon (especially near Granby) to see art along the bike way, or rest stops with bike racks, maps, trash cans and covered picnic tables. This in addition to litter free trails and a lack of any type of vandalism makes the ride even more enjoyable. In fact the only time I noted litter of any significance was an assortment McDonald's litter (wrappers, bags, cups, and napkins), found about a mile from the local restaurant. The good news is that we just didn't see a lot of fast food places along the trip.

The trails also act as an important transportation route for the locals. We would often see men and women over 60 years of age peddling their bikes from town to town to see a friend, a brother, a sister or other family member. Also bikes in Quebec seem to be more culturally accepted as a mode of transport (as evidenced by the bike scarecrow pictured above guarding the family garden.
__________________________________________

38 miles

235 cummulative miles

__________________________________________

Yellow Route on Map

View Larger Map

Day 4 Rest Day Orford/Magog

Day 6 Acton Vale to

Day 4 - Rest (Rain) Day in Magog , North Hadley and Sherebrooke

2008-12-05T18:17:00.000-08:00

Velo Quebec 2007 - La Route Verte

Day 4 - Saturday, August 25, 2007

This would be the only full day of rain on the whole trip; our first rest day. Two places on the list however was the abbey of Saint-Benoit-du-Lac, just to the southeast on Lake Mephremagog, and the Arkel bike bag factory in Sherbroke. The area (Orford/Magag) from what I understand has developed into a summer and winter destination area. During the winter both alpine and nordic skiing as well as ice skating is a draw in the Mount Orford area just to the north of the Lake. During the summer tourists come to visit the lake, restaurants, as well as the abbey. (photo: Township Heritage Web Magazine ). Along the northern end of Lake Memphremagog, lies Magog a summer get-a-way for the residents of Montreal and New England in the United States. The town is known for its summer theater and abundant shops. It is also near the winter ski area of Mont-Orford.

St. Benoit du Lac
After hearing about the abbey at Saint-Benoît-du-Lac from a friend of mine who had just visited the previous year, I had to check it out. The abbey is also famous for the agricultural products that are produced on the property such as their cheeses, apple cider, as well as other fruits and nuts. (see map).

The Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, was founded in 1912, along the western shore of Lake Magog and numbers a little more than fifty monks living under the Rule of Saint Benedict. The abbey also serves as a guest house for travellers at CDN$40 per night. The abbey is only about a half-hour drive from the town of Magog.

North Hatley
Most of the area is either small town and rural agriculture so the "drive" through the country side was beautiful. The town of North Hatley is only a 20 minute drive from Magog though some pastoral farmlands and along the lake shore. We stopped at a local recommendation the Pilsen Pub located right on a tributary leading into the river.

The Pilsen is a combination restaurant and pub with a formal dining room upstairs and a

pub and dinning area downstairs along the water. We choose the less formal waterside location. The menu was fantastic with a lot of local favorites. To see some examples off their menu click through to Pilsen's website . The website is lacking any content but the pictures give a good indication of the quality of the food and menu.

Before dinner we all just sat on the waterside table staring out to the boats and ducts that frequent this part of the lake while sampling some of their locally brewed beer. I just couldn't help think what an enjoyable trip it had been so far. The rain had just about slowed to an occasional trickle and the sun was even starting to pop out. I had a completely satisfying meal of a quail stuffed with froi gras served with local apples and sirop d'erable (maple syrup), with potatoes and assorted vegetables.

Sherbrooke
After Lunch lunch we took a drive over to Sherbrook the largest city in the area and home to Arkel , a local bike pannier manufacturer. Many of their bags can be seen in use on the local bike paths. They do make some great bags. Not cheap but from what I understand; very durable. However by the time we got to the address the showroom was closed.

Here are some videos describing various things to do in Eastern Townships

0 miles

197 cummulative miles

Day 3 Chambly to Stuckley Sud

Day 5 Stuckley Sud to Acton Vale

Day 3 Chambly to Stuckley Sud 59 miles

2008-12-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

Velo Quebec 2007 - La Route Verte
Montérégie to La Estrie (The Eastern Townships)

Friday, August 24, 2007

Route Des Champs

Local Bike Maps

The ride today should not be to bad not the longest trip of the week and relatively flat. The route from Chambly to Stukley-Sud will really takes us to through the Eastern Townships, also known as Canton d'est or The Estrie. We were told that the first 5 miles or so would be difficult going along the highway with traffic whizzing by at 60 miles per hour. First we stop by a really nice coffee shop by the lake for some coffee and fresh local apple pastry.

Marieville

Once we got to Marieville a town of about 15,000, we made a quick stop at the downtown ATM to get some cash. Just south of town the Route Vert bike path began. It was picture perfect. The the trail was surround and covered by trees off into the distance (see picture). For the next 10 miles at least we would be traveling on a crushed gravel bike way seeing only one other person. Compared to yesterdays trip along asphalt bike ways with people walking everywhere this was quite a change. The path was absolutely straight for miles with no other signs of cars or people in site. We were now starting to leave the city behind with farm fields all around us; mostly fields of corn. Some times we would come across apple fields especially around St.-Cesaire.

St. Cesaire

While in St. Cesaire we came across this tourist information office right on the bike way with no access for cars. It really showed how much they support the bike trails within Quebec; and also how much a priority tourism is given in this province. Within the office they carried a full supply of maps, menus of local restaurants, and snacks and drinks. We told here we would be ready for lunch in about 30 minutes and she had a menu for a nice restaurant in the next town, St. Paul D'Abbsford which sat right under the peak of Mt. Yamaska. Here is an excerpt off the local web site explaining the route and local area. Notice the mention of a patrolled bike path!

La Route des champs is the official French
name of this Quebec cycling trail. As its name
suggests, the trail runs through fields of varied
crops. We could therefore translate it ,
poetically speaking, as ‘The Golden Waves
Trail’.

La Route des champs is a 36 kilometer, multi
-use trail, located in the heart of the Montérégie
region and connecting Marieville to Granby
(and vice versa!). It is managed by the
Rouville MRC (Municipalité régionale de Comté).
The trail is always open but is only patrolled
during the summer holiday period which begins,
in Quebec, on June 24th and ends on Labour Day,
September 3rd.

The patrollers are at your service and ready to
inform, help out and reassure. Their job is to
keep an eye on the trail. The Visitor Infor-
mation Kiosk is located in Saint-Césaire at
1430, rue Notre-Dame (450-469-2777)
[contact us page]. Opening hours of the
Kiosk are the following : Every day of
the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It opened on April 30th and
will be open until mid
-September. You’ll find,
in addition to services
mentioned below, a cheerful
secretary/receptionist who will be
delighted to be of help.

Access to the Trail is free and reserved for
cyclists, walkers of all ages and roller bladers.
Motorized vehicles, horses and pets
are strictly forbidden on the trail.

The Trail winds its way between
Marieville, Sainte-Angèle-de-
Monnoir, Rougemont, Saint-Césaire,
Saint-Paul-d’Abbotsford up to Granby.
La Route des Champs runs through
fields planted with a variety of crops
creating an atmosphere of calm and
serenity.

The Trail is paved 60% of the way. The
remaining 40% is covered with stone dust,
which will hopefully be paved as soon as
possible. The Trail also features a few
picnic areas variously equipped with
tables, benches, water supplies, parking
and, of course, lavatories!

Saint-Paul-d’Abbotsford

Les Pitites Peches du Mont Yamaska was run by Nathalie Daguzan a who has been in the area for about 10 years, and is originally from France. Her restaurant also doubles as kind of a tourist gift shop with jams and jellies and other French Country kitchen items. I had a grilled chicken sandwich on a baguette with a very nice salad to go with it. For desert I had to have the creme brule while Dave had the chocolate souffle, she also had a pear cake that looked great. The coffee was also excellent not having that sometimes water down look that you see sometimes in the area.

After lunch it was back on the bikes for what was to be a long day. By the time we got to Granby, Dave's neck was hurting but we still had another 30 miles to go. At least the view along Granby and the lake was stunning. The trail and park along the lake and river was a real relief after being on the the road form most of the day. I was worried it was gong to get late soon and we would not be able to see much since we were leaving Granby and the roadway was turning into a trail.

We made it to Waterloo which was the last town before Stuckely Sud . I had to stop at the local convienence store and get something to eat and water; actually anything to eat, which ended up being some nuts and a moon pie. One thing I learned about the Route Verte Trail systems is that it does not always go via the most direct route, but in some cases the more scenic route through small towns..

By this time we had left Waterloo and it was getting close to sunset and I was beginning to get a little worried because we were in the middle of the forest and visibility was decreasing fast. We finally hit a highway and then a turnoff on to Rue Deligence which is what we were looking for. Diligence happened to be a gravel road with few houses on it. A couple of miles further up Diligence and it crossed the hiway switching to an asphalt surface. It was at this time that Dave said "I'm done". I asked for some local directions and one gentleman said "Rue Gerard Dames is 2 kilometers down on Diligence. I told Dave I would take his headlight and go out as far as 4 or 5 kilometeres and if I did not find the street we were staying on I would turn back.

So off I went with no front derailleur so to speak of and only a flashlight in on a dark country rode. It took a bit of effort but I finally make it up the first hill, and then a second. but now I was getting close to 2 miles and nothing in site. Another mile and I would probably have to turn back. at about the 2.5 mile marker I found the street flashing Dave's headlight on mailboxes looking for the address with no such luck. After about three quarters of a mile I reached the end of the street so I start back down the road now peeking inside the gates to see if I recognized the houses. After about the fourth house I though it look familiar so I rode up to the house and just as I reached the house I recognized Diane from the pictures Francois had shown me. I made. After a few pleasantries I told here that I had a friend still stranded down the road.

Cycling Resources in Cantons de l'Este

Note: There are two pages of map makers and trails.

View Larger Map

59 miles

197 cummulative miles

Day 2 - Isle LaMotte, VT. - Chambly, QC

Day 4 - Rest Day in Orford/Magog

Day 2 - Thursday, August 23, 2008 - Isle LaMotte, Vt. to Chambly, QC 66 miles.

2008-12-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

Montérégie

From Lake Champlain to the Richelieu River Valley

After a good nights sleep in the Terry lodge and a short walk after breakfast. It was time to depart for Canada. We would have only about a ten mile ride to get to the border. Just down the road from the lodge was this really beautiful outdoor chapel. It almost looked like something you would see in Maui (given the open style seen in the tropics), not in the middle of Lake Champlanin. This site commerates the oldest European site in Vermont going back to 1666. And not too much further down the road was this beautiful rest area just to look out onto the lake and contemplate. I only wish. We had to get back on the road and start peddaling. As the wind started to pick up we really got to take full advantage of an increasing tailwind.

Just up the road we had the option of staying on the main road and heading west to Rousses Point, New York before heading north to Quebec; but since I got a speeding ticket 20 years ago on that little sliver of New York state I said 'No Thank You`. We instead veered off to the right on Vermont 225. As we rounded a corner you could just make out the Canadian flag and I didn`t notice even a building until we got about 200 feet from the border. This was a real eye opener. After growing up in San Diego, California I am used to a border crossing that has sixteen lanes and an hour wait on weekdays. We were the only car, I`m sorry people for miles around. In the 12 minutes after we made the right turn onto this road we were the only ones on it. As a southern Californian my first thought was how can they afford to keep this open.

As we approached we were asked by a young border guard if we were American citizens while I tried to get a snapshot. I was immediatly told that this was a secure area and that photographs were forbidden. I wanted to say `Come on, man. The only thing I see here needing security is corn, cows and silos. Oh yeah and the horribly maintained road on the Canadian sign.` But oh well, I went through the questioning. Do you have any alcohol or tabacco on you? `No` (Yeah right here in my handlebar bag). Have you ever been arrested before a judge? `No`. Have you ever been refused entry into Canada? `No`. Come on...I mean who do I look like, John Lennon. After reviewing our passport we proceed to tell him to `Have a good Day` (In English of coure), and to possibly loossen his shorts. Just think, last year I didn`t even need a passport.) I felt like telling this guy, you want to really see some action go to Tijuana on a summer three day weekend, none of this in the middle of the corn field Jack Daniels and high blood pressure medication stuff there.

Any way, did I mention the road leading from the border station was BAD...as in Tijuana bad...hey maybe the do have something in common. Any way it was good to be over the border so quickly in the morning so I could start practicing my French. Along the way we meet Michele a transplanted Brit who now lives in Montreal with his wife. He was headed south from Montreal to New York City. This guy who was not young, was really loaded down. He was also a real character. He says he does the trip at least once a year and usually brings his wife but she was not feeling so good this time. With his gear he says he usually just finds a place hidden off the side of the road and just sleeps there. Any way this was the first bicycle tourist (at least fully loaded) we saw and it was good just to talk with him for about 15 minutes.

As the road got progressively better we made the left had turn onto highway 202 and were soon heading over what may have no longer been Lake Champlain but now may have been the Richeleau River. About two miles into Canada we started seeing the Route Verte Signs and now as we crossed the river we could see the sign pointing north as we made a right turn onto 223 near Lacolle.

Once the signs pointed us away from the river and out into the cornfields it was now evident that we had the roads to ourselfs. With only a handful of cars over the next hour the roads were pretty much to ourselves. We could easily here oncoming cars long before they approached. It gave me a chance to eat that apple I smuggled over the border from Vermont. I applied sunscreen and drank some more water all while riding down the middle of the road. This is where we first encountered the `Watch out for les enfants` sign. The sign is your typical children playing ...Hey watch out! sign but in truley Quebecois fashing that dont hold back graphically. There in a yellow and black sillohette is a picture of a young girl with severe lacerations lying on the grown with a shoe and a sock on one foot but missing the shoe on the other foot. You cannot tell if she is alive or dead but you get the picture (so to speak).

The Route begins to get back to the Richelieu River at Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu. Riding north along the extensive canal network we will ride for another 10 miles. The Richelieu River Valley actually starts at the northern end of Lake Champlain (the US-Canadian Border) and ends at Sorel-Tracy where it enters the Saint Lawrence River. The Chambly Canal starts at Saint-Jean-Sur-Richeleiu and continies on to Chambly. The Chambly Canal is also a National Historic Site and home of Fort Chambly.

After a few more miles in farm country we decided to have some lunch St.-Jean-Sur-Richeleu, the first town of any size we have seen since entering Canada. After riding from a few miles through the main boulevard through town we were are fuel tanks were getting pretty empty so we stopped at the first place we saw; an Italian Restaurant specializing in Pizza (Pizzeria St-Jean Restaurant). The restaurant is right on the main river road, rue Jacques-Cartier sud. After our late lunch we followed the route verte down alongside the river where the canal now began to appear, giving boat traffic a way around the rapids at St.-Jean. Much to our suprise with the added attraction of the canals there were all kinds of places to eat. Oh well thats part of the adventure. We were pretty hungry anyway. Well we knew we were on the right path, knowing that if we followed the canal we would eventually hit Chambly, the site of Fort Chambly.

After passing (I think) 16 locks we eventually reached Chambly, a town noted for their beer. So after we got a room for the night we started looking for a brewery or brew pub. After stopping at the local bike shop Velo Chambly (which is located right next to the canal bridge) to buy a water bottle cage. We asked for directions. He recommeded...Bedondaine & Bedons Ronds a local brew pub.

54 miles
138 cummulative miles

Day 1 - Burlington to Isle LaMotte, Vt.

Day 3- Chambly, QC to Stuckley Sud, QC

Day 1 Wed. August 22 - Burlington to Isle La Motte 66 miles

2008-12-03T16:28:00.000-08:00

Originally Published on August 22, 2007 on Velo Quebec 2007

Link to My Maps on Google Maps

After getting up a bit late we still had to run a couple of errands. Getting some last minute bike work done before hitting the road and sending back some items we had overpacked. Then it was down to Local Motion, a great biking resource at the lake front in Burlington. Ron one of the owners of Local Motion as well as Bike Recycle Vermont was extremley helpful (along with his staff) of getting us the right maps of the area. Local motion rents bikes, inline skates, as well as being a great advocate of bike trails in the lake region. The have done great job with the excellent bike trails around the lake.

I just had to take a picture of this building right next to Local Motion. Notice the animated gargoyles.

From Velo Quebec 2007

There is a great bike trail in the works called the Island Line Trail that is a great example of "Rails to Trails". It follows the path of an old trail line running from Burlington to the Champlain Islands. There is only one problem. The old rail steel was in severely bad shape that they had to tear it all out; which included a bridge that let boats through the train line. So now there is a 500 foot gap in the trail in the middle of the lake. Local Motion has oraganized a ferry to transport bikes over "The Cut" but it is only operating on the weekends in August; so needless to say we had to take the long way around. This added some time and distance but also put us together with a bit of high speed traffic.

I will say though that the stretch of bike trail from downtown Burlington to the Winooski River Bridge is a real gem. The view strethes all the way to the other side of the lake into New York State. After crossing the bridge you will soon see a local park. If you are going to take the fery on the Island Line Trail you would make a left at the park but we were taking the long rote on highway 2 so we head left until we reached Holy Cross Road.

Watch this intersection. The street signs are not to clear hear. Look for the coffee shop on the corner. Just a reminder there really isn't any place to stop for food until you reach the islands. About the only plance is the Exxon Gas Station before turning onto Highway 2. From here out out you bicycle on Highway 2 which has very wide shoulders but the traffic is doing about 60 mph.

Once on the island however, we did stop for lunch and some ice cream (this is Vermont!) at the Apple Island Store on the south east corner of the Theodore Roosevelt Highway 2 and South St. We also found our first apple tree so we picked a couple and headed on our way down the highway until Ferry Road which got us of the main drag and along a secondary road along the islands west shore. The road takes you right past the ferry landing for the Plattsburgh to Grand Island Ferry. While riding along you get a feel for the fact that in addition to being a beautiful tourist island it is also the home of many family working farms, so we did get behind a few slow moving tractors transporting the summer hay.

Moving north we did stop a the well known Hero's Welcome, a combination, gas station, general store, deli, bike and boat rental shop, and local coffee hangout in the town of North Hero. Just after this stop I caught this local gentleman getting ready for Fall with the town display.

From Velo Quebec 2007

By now it was getting late and we had made reservations at the Terry Lodge on Isle La Motte's West Shore. Since the island is a side island the highway does not go through it at all so it is much quieter traffic wise. It was a great way to wrap up the day with the sun going down in the west over the New York side of the Lake. I was told to look for the row of Chairs facing the water; and as we rounded the corner; well there they were.

From Velo Quebec 2007

After a nice meal of pasta and with some excellent sausage and meatballs, garlic bread, lemonade, and some excellent pastry for desert, I took a walk along the shore. Sitting in the chairs at about 9:30 pm watching the lights on the lakeshore it New York was a nice way to finish the days ride.

66 miles

84 cummulative miles.

View Larger Map

Day 2 - Isle LaMotte to Chambly, Quebec

And the Journey Begins - Pre Ride 18 miles

2008-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Originally Posted on August 21, 2007 on Velo Quebec 2007

After an all night flight from San Jose, CA to New York, I arrived at JFK airport at 7:30 this morning to meet Dave for a 9:15 AM flight to Burlington. Weather in New York was overcast and raining with cloud cover down to about 1,000 feet. Needless to say the traffic getting out on Tuesday morning was a bit of a wait. After being 10th in line for departure we finally got the go ahead for take off. All was forgotten however when we headed north the skies cleared with great visibility all around the Lake Champlain area.

After arriving at our place (the Fairfield Inn in Williston, VT) the first thing we did was have a bike build party. We unpacked the bikes but on the pedals, handlebars, front wheels etc. I know its not a good idea but I had purchased the rear bag and handle bar bag without ever having installed them on the bike. Well there were know issues with the bikes and after a few test rides around the parking lot we set out for town. The hotel is about 4 miles from town.

Given the Burlington has a large student population there are decent bike paths and trails in town but out where we were staying it gets a little sketchy. There are quite a bit of large trucks on the road in Williston. The town is just the perfect size to see and visit by bike either at the local pedestrian only outdoor mall or down at the lakeside. It is a bit challenging however given the hills that come up from the lake front. With a substantial student population from about three different colleges there are always people out and about either on foot or by bike.

From Velo Quebec 2007

18 miles
18 miles total

Le Route Verte

2008-12-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

Originally Posted August 14, 2007 on Velo Quebec 2007

I originally heard about Le Route Verte in an article in Bicycling magazine which is ironic because I rarely read Bicycling magazine. In the article it mentioned that after ten years of planing and constructing Le Route Verte is was soon to be inaugurated. Much of the trail is typical "Rails to Trails" conversions.

After cycling touring around British Columbia two years ago (photos) I was really impressed with the state of cycling in Canada. The bike trails were good to excellent. They were well marked, well maintained, and well used for everyday life near urban centers. Motorists are a lot more tolerant about sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians. So after such a wonderful experience two years ago I thought I would try the East Coast. I had traveled extensively through French and Atlantic Canada 10 years ago and thought I would try it this time by bike.

Through an association of small tourist and argicultural villages called l’Association des plus beaux villages du Québec, (or the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec) I did some research on some small picturesque villages to visit. The goal is to use parts of le route verte and some country backroads to find some scenic small towns.

The State of Cycling in Quebec

2008-12-01T15:57:00.000-08:00

Originally Posted August 16, 2007 on Velo Quebec 2007

As soon as you do any research on le Route Verte you instantly become acquainted with Velo Quebec. And if you are like I was; well its a bit confusing. At first it seems like a large bike club based in Montreal, but the more you read about it you begin to think its more like LAB, the League of America Bicyclists. But it is different because Velo Quebec is more localized, more provincial and their main goal over the last ten years was the completion of le Route Verte.

If you read the LAB website it is clear that it is an advocacy organization first. The current page has a clear picture of the Capitol in the background. One thing that Velo Quebec does very well is to research and analyze the state of cycling in Quebec with regards to the penetration of active cyclists in the community. Every five years the association publishes a report which highlights the level of cycling activity in the province and its impact on the economy. (Bicycling in Quebec 2005 and Bicycling in Quebec 2000). Included with my membership was the choice of either a subscription to Velo Mag or Plein Aire. I choose Velo Mag and although it is written in French only it is in my opinion a better magazine than the national magazine in the states; "Bicycling" which sometimes sees to be written for the recreational high school students.

In addition to the magazine I received cycling specific maps for every area of Quebec along with cycle touring brochures for each region. Additional books and publications can be ordered. All in all these resources provide a good base to start from in your research on bicycle touring in the area.

Eastern Townships

2008-11-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

Originally Posted on March 2, 2007 on Velo Quebec 2007

Eastern Townships
Travel Map

Le plus Beaux Villages du Quebec
Google Maps 50 miles/80 kilometers from Frelighsburg to St-Benoit-du-Lac
Frelighsburg - Stanbridge-East - Knowlton - St.-Benoit-du-Lac

Frelighsburg

Google Map

Nestled between luscious green valleys on the banks of the Brochets River, close to Mount Pinacle and the american border, Frelighsburg is home to a particularly special architectural heritage as is reflected in the importance, originality and preservation of its buildings. Its proximity to the United States meant this village became a place where many cross-border immigrants would eventually settle. The first wave of immigrants arrived in 1790; among them was Abram Freligh, who gave the village its name upon acquiring the sawmill. The second mill, built on the rivers’ edge by Freligh’s son in 1839, is now a historical monument and is private property. Frelighsburg began expanding throughout the 19th century, with side-by-side construction of American-style stone and wooden buildings.

Au cœur de la Pomme, 42, route 237 : farm with apple products , specialty of applevinegar and honey.
À la Girondine, 104, route 237 sud : Ducks, geese, rabbits, pâtés, foie gras etc.
Le Festiv’Art, (Saturday and Sunday, early september) : hundred artists from all over the Québec on the main street.

Restaurants

Café-terrasse Les Sucreries de l’Érable,
16, rue Principale, downtown (in the old general store)
Aux Deux Clochers, rue de l’Église
La Girondine, 104, route 237 sud, country dining

Stanbridge East

Google Map

In 1797, several years following the American Revolution, loyalists Nathan Andrews and Caleb Tree arrived in Canada, and built a grain mill next to the Rivi ère des Brochets (“Pikes river”). The little village of Stanbridge East was thus born, in the heart of a calm and quiet landscape. Harmoniously blended within are cultivated fields, edged in groves and hedges and flanked by evergreens and leafy trees. The river cuts across the landscape, weaves along the hollows, and leads through the heart of the village.

After strolling along the roads, which offer eye-catching vantage points, cyclists and walkers arrive at the village centre, surrounded by nineteenth-century ancestral homes built in the American style using brick and painted wood. Next to the Brochets River is the Missisquoi Museum, housed in the 1820 Cornell Mill, which was built on the edge of the barrage. To the east are Hodge’s General Store and Bill’s Barn (Grange à Bill).

As in its neighbouring villages, here, too, religions reside peacefully side by side. Saint James Anglican Church and its presbytery (1860), built in the neogothic style, stand in a shaded area alongside the small verdant cemetery. The United Church (1884) sits on the opposite side of the park, displaying a more Victorian style. Rather ironically, the Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc Catholic Church is housed in a former 1861 bank.

Starting in the nineteenth century, this peaceful setting saw the expansion of small industries, such as a wool-refining mill, a manufacturer of wooden tops, and a leather tannery. Soon after, railroads and stores were built. Agriculture also began developing at this time, and quickly became the village mainstay after most of the workshops closed down. Today, in addition to standard farming, farms produce a variety of lesser-grown fruits.

Chèvrerie Les Caprices du Pré (goat farm), 1, chemin Blinn (visits, activities and demonstration of hand-made goat’s milk soap production)
La Ménagerie de verre, 2, rue Riceburg (artisanal stained glass window making ).
La Pépinière Bernier, 155 Ridge (nursery and small fruits)
Les Serres Mercier, 191, chemin Bunker, route 237 (garden centre)
Le magasin général Blinn, 12, rue River
Meubles Shaker, route 237 ( Shaker style hand made furniture)

Restaurants

Café « Chez moi »,
rue Maple (delicatessen, breakfasts)
Phil Baker’s bakery,
19, North Road (bakery and asparagus for sale)
Restaurant « Le Sainte Jeanne d’Arc »,
7, rue River (breeded game).

Knowlton

Google Map
About 100 kilometres southeast of Montreal, on the shores of a magnificent five- kilometre wide lake, Knowlton is at once a blooming, shady and festive village, especially during the summer and weekends. Vacationers gather here to enjoy aquatic activities on the lake, the beauty of the surrounding landscapes, and the quaint charm of the streets, which are lined with specialized boutiques, antique shops, and cafés.

The village was founded in 1821 with the construction of the first mill, a flour mill built in 1836 by Colonel Knowlton; a sawmill and the general store then followed. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Knowlton became the administrative, legal and postal centre of the region.

As is typical of the region, the presence of three different churches (one Catholic, one Anglican and one 1875 Victorian-style Methodist) epitomizes the co-existence of different cultures and religions. Beautiful residences spread across the village, particularly in the wooded area near the north entrance. Visit Masonic Hall (61, chemin Lakeside), which dates back to 1843 and once housed a tannery. A scenic little pond drawn from Cold Brook creek decorates the village centre.

A number of interesting public buildings are worth visiting, notably the P.H Knowlton Memorial (1854, now the Musée historique du comté de Brome) The History Museum of Brome County, the former post office (1904, now serves as city hall), the former Eastern Township bank, and the old library of 1894.

Duck farming is a Lake Brome specialty. Purchase or sample the variety of duck products available. For your intellectual cravings, a summer theatre features performances in English.

The Anglo-Saxon charm of Knowlton makes a winter visit worthwhile too. Enjoy the inns, winter ice-fishing, window shopping, and winter sports at Mount Glen. For a rejuvenating visit, try the lakefront health spa.

Brome Lac

Brome Lac Ducks
Brome Lake Ducks Ltd.
40 chemin Centre,
Knowlton (Quebec) Canada J0E 1V0
Google Maps

Duckfest - Canard de Fete au Lac Brome
Sept. 23-24, Sept. 30 - Oct 1

St-Benoit-du-Lac Abbey
Map
Blue Cheese and Cider
Room and Board $40 per night

Benidictine Abbey

St-Benoit-du-Lac to Magag to Ste_Catherine-de-Hatley to Sherbrook to St-Denis-de-Brompton to Racine.

90 kilometers or 56 miles

Racine

Racine to Victoriaville 77 kilometers

Victoriaville

Victoriaville to Trois Rivieres

Good and Bad Today

2008-11-19T17:21:00.001-08:00

The great thing about riding a bike around town is that you run into the nicest people. You see friends at random out riding. Well today on two separate occasions I ran into friends out for a ride. Its great to be connected in the community. In Portland after only 4 days in town I ran into acquaintances I had met that week. When you on a bike you have the chance to meet so many other people.

The bad thing about being on a bike is you meet (run into) all the other nut jobs out their who hide behind the anonymity and protection of their SUV.

At the intersection of Prospect Ave. and Saratoga Ave. in San Jose, CA. (right in front of the WAMU...Washington Mutual or whatever it is this week) so guy was displaying a sign with random and incomprehensible gibberish. Some SUV (Volkswagen) nut job proceeds to argue with him for about a minute while making a right hand turn.....bit talk such as get a job asshole...etc.

He then pulls into the WAMU parking lot and starts to get out of his car and I am thinking this 150 homeless looking guy is going to kit taken out by this muscle bound, big armed, tattooed loaded cannon. He started to egg him on ....saying things like come on over here and I'll kick your ass. Like this little guy is going to drop his sign and go take on Sgt. Overcaffinated.

I think he knew that I was watching (eyes on the street) so he got back in his car and took off. After he left I was thinking, oh no I hope he didn't go back home to bring out the heavy artillery.

This incident is something bicyclists usually see with the first signs of spring. You know, cooped up all winter, first chance to get out of the house, go for a ride, roll the windows down and harass cyclists and pedestrians. You usually don't see it just before the holidays on a day when our first seasonal chill sets in. Maybe this is a sign of things to come in the Silicon Valley. Maybe everybody is just stressed out economically, wondering if they will be fired from their own little shit hole start up. "We are all just one step away from humility"

So if you see a guy in West San Jose traffic just waiting to explode; check it out. Volkswagen SUV, slate grey, no license plate in front (didn't get the back plate). He is about 5 foot 8 inches about 190, with big tattooed arms and close cut black hair. Age; about 30-35 years old.

Be careful out there...cyclists.

DeAnza College - Ticket Giveway

2008-11-19T10:03:00.001-08:00

This morning at 8:30 saw 5 Santa Clara County Sheriffs giving tickets at Stelling Rd. and Stevens Creek Blvd. at the same time.

Miami's First Car Free Event

2008-11-11T06:32:00.001-08:00

Bike Miami: Car-Free Under the Palm Trees

This posting from Streetfillms.

Yesterday Miami became the latest American city to pull off a big car-free event, when an estimated 2,000 people (including mayor Manny Diaz) took to the streets for Bike Miami.

And from Bike Miami:

By all accounts Bike Miami was a total success! Some estimates claim nearly 2,000 bicyclists, joggers, walkers, dogs, dancers and skaters in attendance. I have a feeling it may have been a little more, but regardless, downtown was full of smiling people enjoying their city in a new way.

The two hot spots were undoubtedly Mary Brickell Village and Bayfront park, the two bookends of the route where people flocked in droves. In fact, South Miami Avenue was much more like an urban plaza than a street. Did you notice how the cafe seating and active retail edges allowed people to watch the active participants promenade through what became more a stage than a street? It was a beautiful event and instructive. Indeed, I have never seen such an exercise of urbanism within downtown Miami. The event clearly demonstrates the wonderful potential of downtown Miami and I think the event’s organizers and participants now understand what livable streets can mean for the health of downtown Miami.

At 11am Miami Mayor Manny Diaz gave a short speech about making Miami a more bicycle friendly city. His commitment to such a goal has been more than evident in the past 9 months and we should all thank him, his staff (especially Kathryn Moore!) the Bicycle Action Committee and all the other city departments who made Bike Miami so successful. As Mayor Diaz also pointed out, yesterday’s event would not have been possible without the volunteer effort of the city’s police force who were wonderful, if not a bit surprised at the masses of people using the city’s streets in such an innovative way. Thanks to all!

Please know that all those involved in organizing the event are now aiming to make Bike Miami occur on a regular basis, perhaps even monthly as the mayor mentioned to me yesterday. However, before doing so, we would like to hear from you. What did you like? Did you have any problems? Do you have any suggestions for a route change or possible extension? Share your feedback by visiting the Bike Miami homepage and filling out a quick survey.

We will do our best to make Bike Miami even better for you in the future. All we ask in return is that you contact your local representatives, the Mayor’s office and/or your local news outlets etc (Especially the Miami Herald who ignored the event in today’s coverage!). to share your support and positive feedback. This is a grassroots event. Be the roots.

All bike routes lead to SLO

2008-11-10T07:19:00.001-08:00

All bike routes lead to SLO
Kylie Mendonca

San Luis Obispo cyclists got some good news from the City Council on Tuesday, with the approval of two bike-friendly traffic projects.

Funding to complete the Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard, which runs the length of Morro Street between Upham and Marsh streets, was approved after dozens of cyclists and neighbors showed their support for the project. It will cost the city an estimated $436,000, of which more than half is to cover the cost of scheduled maintenance.

Although the money for the project had already been allocated, the city has had to reconsider many projects in the city in light of a worsening budget outlook. Council members considered cutting certain safety and ornamental features, such as “bulb-out” curbs at the Pismo Street crossing, and a roadblock at Leff Street. Ultimately, however, the council passed the total project with a 5-0 vote. When it is completed, the boulevard will be closed to cars, except to allow them to cross the boulevard and to allow access to arterial streets.

Bike Coalition Executive Director Adam Fukushima said the strong show of biker support for the path led to its approval.

The Bike Boulevard is just one of several trails that will someday link-up and connect Cal Poly to the south side of town and the downtown area, as well as the Bob Jones Trail to Avila Beach.

Earlier this year, the city opened up a portion of the Bob Jones Trail, a sort of disconnected but beautiful path, which begins at Prado Road and winds around the back of SLO’s water reclamation facility before dead-ending at Highway 101 near Los Osos Valley Road. The council approved plans to build an overpass at that site, and many cyclists hoped that it would also include an underpass for bikes and pedestrians to access the path from Los Osos Valley Road. It didn’t, but the council did approve 12-foot-wide sidewalks, which can accommodate bike lanes in the future.

The Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving green space, hopes to connect the newest section of the trail to the historic Octagon Barn on South Higuera. The eventual goal is to connect the trail all the way to Avila Beach. Land Conservancy Executive Director Brian Stark said that while money is an issue right now, he was optimistic about the eventual completion.

“When the Bob Jones Trail is finally finished,” Stark said, “and bikes can get from downtown to Avila without having to get on a road, it’s going to be a priceless experience.”

For now, priceless seems a little steep for county and city budgets.

U.S. Automakers are facing isaster after '30 years of denial"

2008-11-09T09:24:00.001-08:00

DETROIT (AP) — At Ford Motor Co. they called it "Blue," a team set up around the year 2000 to design an array of small, fuel-efficient cars to compete with the Japanese. It didn't get far because no one could figure out how to make money on low-priced compacts with Ford's high labor costs.

Besides, the automaker was racking up billions in profits by selling pickups and sport utility vehicles. Times were good and gas was cheap.

"Blue" is only a small blip in automotive history, but it tells a big part of the story about why Detroit automakers are in a mess so critical they could be only months away from bankruptcy.

Democratic leaders in Congress asked the Bush administration on Saturday to provide more aid to the struggling auto industry, which is bleeding cash and jobs as sales have dropped to their lowest level in a quarter-century.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that the administration should consider expanding the $700 billion bailout to include car companies.

Critics say leaders over the years at Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and what is now Chrysler LLC were slow to take on unions, failed to invest enough in new products, ceded the car market to the Japanese and were ill-prepared for the inevitable rise in gas prices that would make their trucks and SUVs obsolete.

"There's been 30 years of denial," said Noel Tichy, a University of Michigan business professor and author who ran General Electric Co.'s leadership program from 1985-87 and once worked as a consultant for Ford. "They did not make themselves competitive. They didn't deal with the union issues, the cost structures long ago, everything that makes a successful company."

Industry representatives, however, say their critics are simplistic, giving them no credit for huge progress this decade in cutting costs, raising productivity, and building competitive cars while handling multiple government regulations and a powerful labor union.

"In the last five years, there's been more restructuring done in the automotive business than any other business in the history of the United States," said Tony Cervone, a GM vice president of communications.

Whatever the reasons, the Detroit Three are closer to collapse than ever, and likely won't make it without billions in government loans.

On Friday, GM posted a $2.5 billion third-quarter loss and ominously said it could run out of money before the end of the year. The company spent $6.9 billion more than it took in for the quarter and reported that it had $16.2 billion in cash available at the end of September.

Ford reported a $129 million loss but said it burned up $7.7 billion in cash for the period. It had $18.9 billion on hand as of Sept. 30. Its chief financial officer says he's confident Ford will make it through 2009, but that's because the company took out a huge loan last year.

Industry analysts believe Chrysler, now a private company that does not have to open its books, is as bad off as GM as U.S. sales continue to plummet because of tight credit and lack of consumer confidence due to the economy.

To survive, automakers are pressing Washington for $50 billion in low-interest loans on top of $25 billion already approved to build more fuel-efficient vehicles. The $25 billion, though, is gummed up in Energy Department regulations and may not be available until next year.

The industry's path to cliff's edge is a complex one that even critics say is intertwined with government fuel economy and safety regulations and the United Auto Workers union.

The demise started in the 80s when Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. mastered building reliable and efficient cars while the Detroit Three lagged behind.

As GM, Ford and Chrysler saw their market share start to slip, the 90s arrived and high profits returned as Americans snapped up pickup trucks and SUVs.

As Honda and Toyota took over the small and mid-size car markets, Ford, GM and Chrysler put most of their resources into trucks and SUVs, which brought in billions in profits that covered growing health care, pension and labor costs.

"In a market-based economy when you have to try to be profitable, you go where the money is," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

When times were good, the automakers did not take on the UAW, which the companies say drove up their labor costs to $30 per hour more than Japanese companies paid their workers. The figure includes pension and health care costs for hundreds of thousands of retirees.

When GM pushed for changes in 1998, the union went on strike at two key Flint, Mich., parts plants, shutting down the company and costing it about $2 billion in profits.

"They were making money and the union had a monopoly," Cole said. "They'd shut them down. That's why they had some very lengthy strikes that were very painful."

But when the SUV and truck market started to fade in the mid-2000s, executives realized their business model would no longer work and began globalizing their vehicles, streamlining manufacturing processes and developing new and better cars.

The UAW, realizing that the companies were in trouble, agreed to a landmark new contract last year that nearly eliminated the labor cost difference between the Detroit Three and the Japanese, shifting retiree health care costs to a union-administered trust fund.

But just as the cost cuts started to take hold and new products were rolling out, gas prices rose rapidly to around $4 per gallon and Wall Street collapsed, virtually eliminating credit which 60 percent of car buyers need.

"A lot of things sort of coalesced simultaneously," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates.

Automakers have all said bankruptcy is not an option because people would not buy cars from a company that might not exist in a few years. But if the car companies run out of money and can't pay the bills, bankruptcy could be forced on them, according to industry analysts.

GM's statements that it may run out of cash this year or next likely will have an effect on sales, Libby said.

"It doesn't help, and they know that," he said.

The current crisis, Cervone says, is not unique to the domestics. Honda and Toyota, he says, also have seen huge sales drops in the U.S. in recent months.

If Detroit gets federal help, the companies that do survive should become profitable next year, Cole said, if the credit market thaws out.

Cole says there's no way at this point the Detroit automakers can survive without federal aid. But if they get it, the ones that do survive should become profitable again next year if the credit markets thaw out.

"They'll get out of it," says Libby. "They've got to do what they've got to do. They're backed up against the wall."