Wayfinding comes to San Jose

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.





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Obama's High Speed Rail Program

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.

Read more.....

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

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

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

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

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.

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


-- Post From My iPhone

Hey, Where Do We Park Our Tanks?

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

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

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

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!

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

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.






-- Post From My iPhone

Another Schwinn spotted

Nice. It's a Schwinn Grey Ghost!



-- Post From My iPhone

This old Schwinn

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






-- Post From My iPhone

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.

-- Post From My iPhone

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!



-- Post From My iPhone