Shopping Cart Bike Trailer

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.

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The New Family SUV

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.



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Alert - Large Branch Down

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


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Another Schwinn Spotted on the Alemeada

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






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Another Schwinn spotted

Nice. It's a Schwinn Grey Ghost!



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This old Schwinn

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






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Tonight "No Pants Ride"

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!



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Peet's Coffee at Homestead & Foothill

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+.



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San Jose's Calabases Library Bike Parking

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.



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Bike Lane Alert - Cupertino

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.



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Traditional New England Farm Ride

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
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Who's More Green?

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-.








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New Section of The San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail

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.

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THRIVE! On FREE Valet Parking

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.


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Share the Road Summer Bike Clinics

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

Kudos to Sports Basement

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.






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Nice Cruiser Spotted in Campbell

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



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Bike Rack Boot Camp

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"


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Bike Racks The Right Way

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.
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Spotted in The Glen

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



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