nice day to ride for an errand

Started painting the house exterior last week. Needed more gas to mow the lawn. Combine the errands into one trip and enjoyed the ride!

Fog on the Keystone

 

 

Bike and Ride (Instructions)

By the end of the month ALL MAT buses in Omaha will have bike racks.

HERE is a link that explains how to use them.

This is a great way to make LONG bike commutes more manageable. The MAT system can also help you with east-west commuting needs since Omaha is notably challenged in that regard.

Cycling Commercials

I found the link to the following video over at Amsterdamize.

bike n ride (a bus)

Monday, Sept 15 at 17:00, MAT headquarters, 2222 Cuming St.

Learn how to use the new bike racks on the MAT buses.

Racks are being installed but not functional. They will be available for use starting Sept 29.

For more info:
http://mtbomaha.blogspot.com/2008/09/bike-ride.html

 

Anyone know what the story behind this is? This artwork is on a billboard at the intersection of the Big Papio trail and 82nd street.

Small Wonders

 

Bike friendly cities

When people discuss what bike friendly cities are like, Copenhagen is at the top of the list. Here is a blog dedicated to the Bike Culture in Copenhagen. Copenhagenize.

So what do you think would help Omaha climb that list of bike friendly cities?

we should be careful out there

I wrote this on munson's blog and decided to post here with some additions b/c of commuter content:

I stopped at the gas station at 132nd and Fort for milk on the way home from work Saturday around 18:00. A guy pulls in and runs up on the curb as I'm leaving. He yells out the window, "Who put this curb here?" He was lit up pretty well, probably from watching the game. We strike up a conversation and I smelled the liquor breath and noticed the slured speech. I tell him to be careful driving since he's had a few. He said I should be careful because of the drivers out there like him - "we don't see bikes on the road", distracted by phone or putting on makeup. He said he would never ride a bike on the road b/c of the danger. He had friends killed on a motorcycle by a cement truck.

Well his friend came out of the store with a case of beer and they headed home - a couple miles away. I should have offered to go get his beer next time so he doesn't have to drive while drunk.

I'm wondering if "Beer delivered by B.O.B." would keep me as busy as Eric is at Jimmy Johns?

Though I've been commuting via the SBL trail lately, I still rode home via Fort St. with the traffic. Everyone gave me space, had my yellow rain jacket on for the sprinkles.

cool commuting colors

The city planted some wild flowers along the cement path on the north side of Standing Bear Lake. One curved section has them on both sides 6-8 feet tall - pretty cool commuting colors. Just a taste of the beautiful fall colors and temps coming our way.

commuters share with owh

Article in owh on commuting. OWH requested submissions for alternative modes of commuting. More than buses, motorcycles, etc., cycling was the biggest category.

drawing attention

This guy gave me space but there were a couple cars that didn't today on the way to work. I pull my bob trailer to get people's attention, make me look bigger, and hopefully get more space. Today, I think the attention drew some closer since they were looking at me while not moving left. Different time of day than I normally commute, different people, post lunch tiredness, whatever, the close ones didn't cross over the yellow line when there was plenty of room.

A quiet morning and a sunrise

I'm always amazed at how quiet Omaha is at 6:30 in the morning. I don't really notice how noisy it is during the day until I get one of those early morning rides in. You can almost feel yourself decompressing, as you ride in almost complete silence, with only the sound of your breathing and your tires rolling along.

race prep commute

Hannah and I rode to the Tranquility Tire Tantrum start/finish area to trim and cut with Donna and her sons Wednesday. Paul had mowed most of it beforehand. The bob suspension felt a little spongy so moved the setting from 25lbs to 45lbs. Noticed some difference.

Keystone Trail - Harrison Street Detour

If you need to ride on the Keystone trail past Harrison Street, you will need to take this detour.

If you're headed north:
turn right at the Road Closed Ahead sign
head east through Sun Valley Park
turn north on S 52nd Street
turn west on Arrow Rock Drive
turn north on S 53rd Street
turn west on Harrison Street
turn north on S 60th Street
turn left into the trail head

If you're headed south - reverse the detour

Be careful on Harrison Street, there is no shoulder.

Community Bike Shop Auction

This bike will be up for auction on Friday, August 15 from 5:00 till 7:00pm at the the Community Bike Shop of Omaha. Several other bikes and bike related items will also be up for auction.

CORRECTION: I just got an email from Stuart at the Community Bike shop of Omaha.

"We had a typo on our website. The auction is Saturday, August 16, not 15. Time is still 5-7pm."

So the auction is Saturday and not Friday. Hope to see you there.

The Community Bike Shop of Omaha is located at 33rd and California next door to California Taco. The address is 525 North 33rd Street.

This bike was refurbished with help from Bike Masters and the Bike Masters Cycling Club.

Bike Night 2008 - August 5, 5pm-8pm

Returning this year to 33rd Street is the Gifford Park Neighborhood block party! Community Bicycle Shop Omaha has teamed with the Gifford Park Neighborhood Association to highlight bicycles at this year's celebration. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this evening of food, music, and bicycles!

Planned for the event are several bike-related activities, including BMX racers to 'show off,' a bicycle obstacle course where you can test your maneuvering skills, bicycle police officers, open repair stand for guests to use and more!

Bike Night will be a great event for families in 2008. Coinciding with National Night Out, we'll emphasize the right for all to use the streets safely. Volunteers will be face painting, always a favorite in Gifford Park. Also, children can sign up for library cards and choose from free library books! Live music, hot dogs, and fun!

commuter article in LJS

Stole this
link from FFL posted 7/24. Very positive writeup on commuters and touring.

Cricket, Cricket, Cricket

Where did everyone go. The trails are busy each morning and afternoon, so I know some of you are still commuting.

How is everyone's summer going? Anyone have entertaining commuting stories to share?

My favorite has to be the time a guy in a truck started yelling at me as he passed real slow so he could really unload. After a heated exchange (mostly on his part) he promptly got stuck in a LONG line of traffic as I went scooting on ahead in the not-so-slow lane. I sure hope he realized his mistake of assuming that I was the one holding up traffic. Either that, or he had an aneurysm on the spot. He did look close to blowing a few gaskets.

Interestingly enough, it does seem like a larger proportion of people driving trucks are not happy people. Almost all of the rude comments I get from motorists come from people driving trucks. Maybe it's just PFS (Post Fueling Syndrome).

Keystone report

I rode the Keystone on the way home Friday just after the storm. Several trees were down along the trail. The following 2 trees are still down across the trail north of Maple near the end of the Keystone.