Are you one of those people who would ride to work IF there was a place to lock up your bike and a place to clean up?  Or maybe you’ve begged for a bike rack at work only to get no response? Fear not….you now have a resource to turn to for help.

Our good friends at the Bike League (.org) have launched the Bicycle Friendly Business program.  BFB provides technical assistance to companies and organizations so they may foster a healthier workplace. 

The BFB evaluates applicants but just because a company applies doesn’t mean they will earn the designation “bicycle friendly business.”   Still, they just might learn what it is they need to do to become bike friendly. 

 Send this link to the decision makers in your company:www.bicyclefriendlybusiness.org. You might try putting “how to lower company health care costs” in the subject line.   And, if you do work for a Bike Friendly Business, tell me what your company does–I’m interested in knowing what works.

Here at Trek we have showers and a “commuter room” to store our bikes.  In our cafeteria, all the “healthy” food (salads, yogurt, sandwiches) is rather cheap and the less healthy food (chips, fries, soda) cost enough to make it easy to choose the better food.  If you really want that big gulp, it’ll cost you a buck fifty!  Milk or juice however, is just .50.   The weight watchers food score is on the menu next to each item so those on the program can select the best choice. 

 What’s in your lunchbox??

I got an email from the brilliant bike advocate, Tim B. (Bikes Belong.org) who was watching PBS Evening News Hour last night.  On the show Professor John Cochran of the University of Chicago  singled out the “Bicycle Commuters Benefits Act” which is included in the credit bailout bill that the House will vote on tomorrow, as THE prime example of what’s wrong with the revised bill that the House will consider.

I would have to agree with Tim that extra stuff tacked on to a rescue plan (presumably to broaden the bill’s appeal) isn’t the best light to put bicycling in, especially right now.  But it is politics.  Timing is everything.

Still, an election year is a good time to stay focused on growing the bike piece of the transporation pie.   If you ride a bike to work or for exercise there has never been a better time to raise your voice in support of bicycle infrastructure.

When’s the last time you wrote a letter to your local or state lawmakers? Hummm??  If the answer is “more than a year” giddyonup to your desk and google your state legislator’s name and address and start writing . Not sure what to say? Here’s a simple, short message:

Dear ____; I ride bikes and I vote.   What is your plan to increase the safety for bicyclists in (town/state)?

Feel free to ad lib, of course.  Then, after you’ve sent your letter you can follow along on who ISN’T supportive of bikes at the Bike League.org.  They’ve got a  new page to track trash talking politicians and arms you with data so you can talk back.  That’s courtesy of another brilliant bike advocate, Andy Clarke.  This is good stuff:

http://www.bikeleague.org/action/trashtalk/

I rarely get time to watch TV so when I got an email with the link to the Today Show story on World Bicycle Relief, I just had to pass it on. 

F.K. Day, who founded the WBR group is a featured “Hero” on this very website.   This story is touching and shows the impact that the simple and humble bicycle can have.   Maybe for us a bike is transportation but for some, it’s a lifeline. 

Click here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/26950282#26950282

If you have an beautiful old truck that is not a gas sipper, why not paint it and use it for advertising? You have to admit, it’s eye catching. I haven’t seen that shade of green since I lived in a house that had its original 1930s bathroom.  This beaut belongs to the Trek Store of Columbus and I’m not sure if it’s a delivery truck or just for looks?  Either way, it’s a looker!

Click here to see the kewlest bike parking system ever.  It’s in Toyko…and when you view it tell me if it doesn’t remind you of the door factory in Monsters Inc!

The link below points to the blog of a Trek colleague, our Pavement Bike Manager, aka “Hootie.”  Enjoy.

http://trekbikes.typepad.com/rec_and_fitness/2008/04/ah-so.html

A regular 1world2wheel reader sent me something he wrote about a ride he experienced.   Like many of us, he attends a regular group ride and, well, you’ll have to read Paul’s short story.   The piece is called “His Last Ride” and it’s a lovely take on what one can feel on a ride.  Indeed, maybe that is why we ride? To feel things?  Whatever the case, enjoy and thanks, Paul, for sending this in.

 His last ride

6/29/07Last night was one of those times that almost didn’t happen. I almost missed it. I had left the office late, traffic was backed up and then of course the cats needed to be fed right away. The ride starts at 6pm, sharp, I’ve been late before, and I’ve always caught up but this week, after seven days of not riding; the clouds gray and pregnant along with near 100% humidity I was in no mood to play catch up. Still, I was lucky. I rode into the parking lot, up to the gaggle of riders, eleven of us tonight. Mick, the shop’s leader said that tonight was Scott’s ride. “Scott’s ride?”, I asked, why? His birthday? What was the occasion. “Its his last ride”, came the measured reply. “Yeah”, I’m moving to Boston Saturday morning so this is it for me” explained the man that until that moment I didn’t know his name. From his expression I knew this move was not what he wanted.Scott it turns out is the name of one of the men I have ridden with for two years now. Every Thursday night, from April through October. While most of us miss a week or two, not Scott. Scott’s one of those guys who tries. Really tries. If you met him, you might not guess he’s a bicyclist and yet one look at his legs and you know he’s serious, chiseled calves and shaved legs. It’s the shaved legs that give us all away. What seems to throw things off however is the extra 70 or so pounds that he carries. Yet every week he is there. Every week he is happy, full of enthusiasm, ready and always a smile. Every week we start out and every week he fades off the back of the pack within the first 10 miles. Every week its always the same, he smiles as he waves us forward telling us to go ahead and that he’ll see us at the end; and that if he has to wait too long he warns he’ll head over to the pub to get an early start on the gang. Every week he has enthusiastic compliments, he is ready, he wants it. In fact he may very well want it more than any of us.Not tonight though. Tonight was Scott’s ride. We all agreed that no matter what Scott was not going to get dropped from the pack, no matter what we would hold the pace on the route of his choosing so that tonight he would be there, the place he usually can’t be.So as we rolled out of town west, heading into the muggy summer night, the air clammy and thick with humidity we held our pace, we adjusted to a speed that would ensure that tonight there would be no waving us onward. We snaked along through the hills and fields, through the tunnels of trees, Scott taking his turn leading the pace line, falling into an artificial rhythm that carried him along his favorite roads. We twisted and turned following the roads, roads that for now I took for granted. Roads that he did too but sadly not after last night. He pedaled and we all felt the pang of regret that would visit us too if we knew this was the last time that we would complete this circuit.At one point we passed another group heading in the opposite direction, “Hey Scott, nice job!” Someone yelled as their wheels whizzed past. See he may not be the fastest yet surely he is one of the riders we can all feel good about. As the ride wore on it was obvious that the pace, despite our efforts was getting the best of him. We adjusted, waited and adjusted again. We were nearing the home stretch, if 8 miles can be called a home stretch. There was a yell from the back of the pace line, “rider coming up” he yelled as we neared one of the favored descents along the way. Its one of those magical places. The road sweeps gently to the left until it seems to fall away, down, splitting the meadow and the pond to the left. It’s a spot that as you coast down you accelerate like you’re on a roller-coaster. Tonight was Scott’s night as he plunged down the descent, giddy as he led us down the hill like a run away freight train and then part way up the next. Here he fell back, out of breath but unwavering in his commitment. How many of us can claim that; unwavering in our commitment. The final miles sped past and soon we were coming up to the last descent.Before we had left we had all agreed that we would stay together, let Scott lead us on this final thrill ride of a hill and then as the road arced and then straightened into the last straightaway. It was here, where that turn stiffens and straightens along the railroad tracks that we would sprint, we would be free to speed off and finish the night. But something strange happened.

The Go By Bike Challenge wrapped up last weekend with nearly 30,000 pledgees who committed to replace 11 million auto miles with their bike trips.  That’s remarkable! 

It’s been fun picking bike winners every day and while the “win a bike” part of the challenge is over, you are all encouraged to keep on riding and keep sending me your commute photos and tales from the two wheeled road. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of the Go By Bike Challenge was going through all the postcards.  The above photo is just some of the 5,000 or so postcard entries we received.  Yes, I looked through all of them.  Had to, actually because a lot of other people’s mail got stuck in the pile of cards.  So everyday I looked through your cards and noticed some trends:

1) Most Commonly Received Postcard

Yep, Gumby and Pokey.  I loved watching Gumby and Pokey as a kid! I received about 40 of these–far more than any other card.  Is there a Gumby and Pokey store somewhere??   I’d like to get a Pokey showercurtain. Really.

2) Olives

Yes, who’da thunk that olives are a popular postcard subject? I happen to like olives very much and these postcards made me hungry. 

3) Animals Who Want to Ride Trek Bikes

The little pig is saying “No more stinkin’ procrastination, I pledge to ride my bike!” I’d like to see a pig riding a bike.    The dog is pledging to ride 3 miles.  Or maybe it was the owner who pledged to ride and the dog would run along side??

4) Handmade Postcards

This is an interesting category; people cut up food boxes and wrote on the back, stuck a stamp on it et voila..postcard!  These came in all shapes and sizes and clearly, America is eating a lot of junk food.  I’d never heard of “little bites” but this was a popular box to use for a postcard.  I do like Skinny Cows though–it’s one habit I picked up in my racing days that I can thank my old teammate Julie for.  Thanks, Julie. I’m still hooked on Skinny Cows.

5) Exotic Places

Now here’s some cool places! Istanbul and Fjordland Sound of New Zealand.  I’ve traveled to hundreds of towns around America to race my bike but these postcards gave me a case of wanderlust.  The kind that requires a passport.

6) Cool Art

These are just two of some dozen or more postcards that were of original art.   The cubist postcard is by Jean Metzinger, in case you are wondering.  I’ve never heard of this artist so it was fun to learn a new (old) artist!

7) Cheesy Tourist Postcards

Now I know what people really buy touristy postcards for.  They send them to poor contest organizers!  For the record Trek is in Wisconsin and I got a lot of “Wiscowsin” cards.   Also received a lot of Florida cards and these flamingos cracked me up.

Alrighty, enough on the postcards. Here’s the last bunch of winners and thanks to everyone who pledged.  Keep it up–you all are fueling the Go By Bike Revolution!

August 25: Melissa Beaudry

August 26: Cary Reeves

August 27: Jennifer Pipkin   

August 28: Jeff Strawn

August 29: Edgar Arroyo

August 30: Jason Davis

August 31: Aimee McNamara

 Congratulations, all!

These two tots belong to a good friend of mine who incorporated the 1world2wheels art into the jersey design.  The kids are sporting the “Support Global Cooling” and “Weigh less, Wait less” jerseys in kiddly sizes.   Word is they’ve not taken the jerseys off for days and they want to ride their bikes all the time.

I haven’t convinced the buyers that either jersey would sell for kids.  Any thoughts on that?

So last weeks winners in the Go By Bike Challenge are:

August 18 - Jane Rogers

August 19 - John Fossett

August 20 - Lindsay Stonebrook

August 21 - Tom Duvall

August 22 - Rita Shorba

August 23 - Kyle McGinnis

August 24 - Maria Novilla

Here’s a question for all of you Challenge takers: how is it going? Are you replacing your car trips by bike and what’s it been like?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Another week has gone by in the Go By Bike pledge drive.   The photo above is a “commuter shot” sent in by a 1w2w reader, David Wilkins.  Wilkins had no idea how much his photos would be useful in making the case for complete streets.  More on that in a minute.

 David lives in a lovely area of Alabama and what a great reason to make it more bike friendly.   Looking at the photos you can see the potential for becoming bike friendly.  

I’ve been wanting to write about complete streets for awhile and this is a great entree.  Complete Streets does exactly what it sounds like it would: helps communities remake it streets to accocommodate multiple modes of transport; cars, bikes, pedestrians.   This brilliant program is making waves around the country with its simple, economical street redesign.  Find more here: www.completestreets.org.

Back to David.  Here’s his ride, waiting at the YMCA at the bright hour of 5am.

After David gets through the first bit of highway (seen in the top photo) he comes to this:

 This is a lovely scene but note the lack of striped bike lanes.  

 His commute takes him through a newer looking subdivision, also lacking striped bike lanes.

 And here’s the finishing stretch.  Let’s give it up for a bike lane!

Thanks for sending the photos, David.   You’ve got one of the tougher commutes I’ve seen and good for you for going to work on two wheels.  

And the winners from last week are:

August 11: Sara Myers

August 12: Julie Bower

August 13: Manuel Margine

August 14: Linda Mason

August 15: John Sutter

August 16: James Hagen

August 17: Henry Ma

Btw, I have to say that the boxes of postcards I get everyday are a side benefit of the Challenge I didn’t anticipate.  Leading the “most commonly received postcard” is none other than Gumby.  I am not kidding.  The second most popular card is a hotel from Vegas.  Third most popular, Florida.   After winners are drawn from the postcards and on line, I go through and save the wackiest postcards.  That’s a whole ‘nuther blog entry!

It’s Wednesday and I’m just now posting last week’s Go By Bike Challenge winners.  Apologies for the delay but it’s Trek World this week, our annual reveal of new bikes and riding said new bikes with 5,000 of our best friends from all over the world.  Trek retailers descend on Waterloo and Madison, Wisconsin and it’s a week long love-of-all-things-bike celebration.   The best part about Trek World is being amongst like-minded people who’ve not forgotten how to play.  And there’s no better playing than riding a bicycle with other grownups.

Speaking of grownups, last week a reader from Tucson sent me her commute pics.  Amy Grey has an interesting commute and the photo above is of her vehicle, ready for duty.   Here’s Amy’s ride:

My name is Amy and this is my four mile daily commute. Although we live just a quarter mile from the Santa Cruz River Park, the various builders of the Tucson neighborhoods along the river apparently did not envision people wanting access to the river path and they surrounded our suburbs with walls. The first part of my commute is along a back alleyway.

To cross the drainage ditches between neighborhoods I use the utility access ramps. It is invigorating to do a little off-road riding first thing in the morning. The only other people I see back here are dog walkers and gangs of Junior High boys on dirt bikes.

The Santa Cruz river used to have water most of the year, now, except for the August and September rainy season, it is mostly dry. When the water runs it is rapid enough to sweep cars and people down river. As you can see, no traffic jam here. 

I cross three major grid streets, but each time the bike path goes under the street and I never have to stop for cars. I do see the traffic backed up on the bridge and I am always glad that I don’t have to hurry up and wait like the poor car drivers. The city very kindly put in several elegant little bridges, like this one below, along the several miles of the path. A handful of us enjoy them very much. The park staff have nurtured mesquite trees and dozens of different flowering bushes along the path. There are always lizards dozing in the sun and bunnies in the shady places. When the cicadas or frogs are singing, I can’t even hear the far-off traffic.

I take this third underpass and then a tiny paved path, through a parking lot, and up the street to my office building. I rarely see another set of bike tracks in the sand that drifts across this path. I think kind thoughts about this company that clearly paved a path to the river just for me.

-

The campus does have a large bike rack neatly tucked away in a spot shady and private enough to attract all the passing bike thieves. I am lucky to be able to park in my office.

Thanks, Amy, for sending your Tucson area commute.

So back to our winners.  As usual, we have seven winners from Aug. 4 - Aug. 10.

August 4: Larry Horton

August 5: Karen Ruth

August 6: Betty Swain

August 7: Jonathan Sawn

August 8: Josh Minix

August 9: Craig Shryock

August 10: Shirley Chamberlain

Congrats, winners! You’ll get a phone call or email any day to get the prize wheels in motion (pun intended).  Stay tuned for more winners, more commute pics and pcitures of the CRAZY postcards I’m getting as entries for the Go By Bike challenge.  Yesterday’s box of postcards featrued a stuffed doggie card.  For real.