Even More Photos of the "No Pants" Ride

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

More Photos

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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View from the Street

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.

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No Pants Ride - Bike Love and No Pants

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"

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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1AM Discovery Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd.

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













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

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

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



Thanks to geekstinkbreath at Flickr


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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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Groningen - The World's Cycling City

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

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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San Francisco Walking Tour: Edge cities: redefining suburbia

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

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

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

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.




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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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