Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Fall foliage shots
There's still a surprising amount of fall color still on the trees.
I don't know if it's the relatively mild fall, or if it's always this way.
Some shots I've taken in the last couple of days
I don't know if it's the relatively mild fall, or if it's always this way.
Of course, all this leafy splendor reminded me that fall color is followed by raking!
I rode to Home Depot for a pannier full of stuff and 4 packs of yard waste paper bags (the kind that the city will pick up for composting), then followed that with a stop at the grocery store to fill up the other pannier with groceries.
It was a slow and wobbly ride home.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Soggy Phoenix
A Chinese Phoenix brand bike, parked outside Kendall Station. Looks like a pretty generic copy of a Raliegh sports, but the headbadge and seattube art are pretty cool.
Unfortunately only had my phone camera, because it was pretty rainy, but here are the snaps I managed to get:
Anyone read chinese well enough to decipher the text on the chain guard?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Changes to onramp of Longfellow
I made a special detour to go see what's going on on the Cambridge side of Longfellow this morning, because I've been biking via cambridgeport and the river the last couple of days, but heard from a couple of people asking what was going on there. Basically, they turned the right lane of Broadway into a right turn only lane, in order to provide a dedicated lane for people coming off Mem drive onto the bridge.
My best guess is that it's an attempt to streamline diverted traffic from the Craigie bridge closure, which means it may only be in place for a month while Craigie is closed.
Looking towards Cambridge
Looking towards Boston
My best guess is that it's an attempt to streamline diverted traffic from the Craigie bridge closure, which means it may only be in place for a month while Craigie is closed.
They were anticipating a huge volume of traffic coming off of mem drive and trying to cross into Boston, and they wanted them to be able to merge onto the bridge faster. I don't see that volume of traffic, so it seems like overkill to me, and kind of a mess for bikers. I don't mind the bike lane zig zagging, but there's so much visual clutter, that I'm worried that people entering the lane won't see bikers coming, what with the giant sign, the bollards and so on.
I sent photos to someone who has better contacts at Mass DOT to ask what's going on, but that's my best guess.
Do you ride there? What do you think they should do there? Anything? Or does it seem clear now that you've passed through it a couple of times?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Only if you love it
I went to the Livable streets talk- I was a little late, but I think I caught most of it. I'm so glad I went, because even if the whole talk had been a bust, I found this on the way home:
It's the PERFECT size for my 2 YO nephew- he will be SO excited! It was a bit of an awkward fit on the back of the bike, but less awkward than wheeling it along. I'm tempted to drag it to the post office tomorrow, but I suspect it will have more impact as a Christmas present.
The talk was not a dud in any case, so the wheelbarrow was just a bonus. I actually had lunch with Steve Miller, who was one of the speakers, and we had talked a bit about how advocacy walks a line between protest and lobbying. On one hand, you have to be an insider to get your ideas put forward, but on the other, you have to hold out the threat of protest to stop ideas that you think are bad. It's a tough way to get really progressive ideas moved forward, but it's a good way to improve the status quo. I think as a long term strategy it's really important to influence who the decision makers are. Steve told me an interesting story about how Mayor Menino learned how much fun bicycling was after he had an injury that prevented him from walking long distances. The fact that we have separated bike lanes today on Western ave is the way, way downstream result of one of his staffers giving him a BSO while he recuperated.
There was a watershed moment here about 2 years ago at a meeting about the Craigie Dam Bridge reconstruction (work that is happening right now), where cyclists turned out in large numbers and insisted on being heard by the car- centric planners of DCR. The redesign of BU to have bike lanes, the possibility for cycletracks on Longfellow, the almost certainty that there will be bike lanes on Anderson, River and Western: all these things stem from the overwhelming cyclist response that day to the DCR planning department ( who were really baffled by the idea that there could be alternate goals to the bridge other than maximum throughput of cars). We actually forced them to go back and redesign, through protest, and ended up with a much better solution through lobbying. More importantly it lead to a better public process that involves bikers (as much as they show up at the meetings) in the decisions that are being made for infrastructure for our lifetimes.
After the talk I ran into an acquaintance, R., who said that she was biking to work regularly. We talked a bit about biking in the winter, and dress strategies for that.
I could post about the best way to dress for cold weather (and probably will as the weather gets colder), but really R. and anyone else should go look at Let's Go Ride a Bike, because Dottie has it all figured out- how to be warm in Chicago in January and cute as a button.
But more important than any advice on the how to's and details, I'll tell R. and anyone else that's starting bike commuting and getting a little nervous about the whole cold-wet-after dark thing the REAL secret to winter commuting:
This, at least in my eyes, does not make you one jot less of a biker. Biking should be fun- something you enjoy, something that adds independence and freedom to your life, not obligation and a sense of dread. So take a day off if it looks nasty out! Or if you didn't sleep well, or have too much stuff to carry. Hell, take a couple of months off (although I think in Boston it doesn't really get nasty until January when everyone- not just bike commuters wants to move to Florida).
I didn't bike through the winter until I'd been doing it for three years, and it was so habitual to hop on my bike before I even had coffee that I just never stopped. I still don't bike every day. Trying to keep up a streak is a recipe for burnout and OCD.
By biking just when you enjoy it, you will love it. And my prediction is that you will get addicted and find that you're happier when you do it every day, even if it's cold/ rainy/ dark. But the key is letting yourself only do it when you love it, never forcing it.
As I was rattling off my strategies for Charles Circle, and seeing the dumbfoundment in R's eyes, I had a "how did I get here" moment. I think that a side effect of successful life choices, is that in retrospect they seem obvious. For me, biking is that way. I can't really remember how I got here, I can't really imagine my life without it, and it just feels like the right thing to do. Not because I have to, but because I love it.
It's the PERFECT size for my 2 YO nephew- he will be SO excited! It was a bit of an awkward fit on the back of the bike, but less awkward than wheeling it along. I'm tempted to drag it to the post office tomorrow, but I suspect it will have more impact as a Christmas present.
The talk was not a dud in any case, so the wheelbarrow was just a bonus. I actually had lunch with Steve Miller, who was one of the speakers, and we had talked a bit about how advocacy walks a line between protest and lobbying. On one hand, you have to be an insider to get your ideas put forward, but on the other, you have to hold out the threat of protest to stop ideas that you think are bad. It's a tough way to get really progressive ideas moved forward, but it's a good way to improve the status quo. I think as a long term strategy it's really important to influence who the decision makers are. Steve told me an interesting story about how Mayor Menino learned how much fun bicycling was after he had an injury that prevented him from walking long distances. The fact that we have separated bike lanes today on Western ave is the way, way downstream result of one of his staffers giving him a BSO while he recuperated.
There was a watershed moment here about 2 years ago at a meeting about the Craigie Dam Bridge reconstruction (work that is happening right now), where cyclists turned out in large numbers and insisted on being heard by the car- centric planners of DCR. The redesign of BU to have bike lanes, the possibility for cycletracks on Longfellow, the almost certainty that there will be bike lanes on Anderson, River and Western: all these things stem from the overwhelming cyclist response that day to the DCR planning department ( who were really baffled by the idea that there could be alternate goals to the bridge other than maximum throughput of cars). We actually forced them to go back and redesign, through protest, and ended up with a much better solution through lobbying. More importantly it lead to a better public process that involves bikers (as much as they show up at the meetings) in the decisions that are being made for infrastructure for our lifetimes.
After the talk I ran into an acquaintance, R., who said that she was biking to work regularly. We talked a bit about biking in the winter, and dress strategies for that.
I could post about the best way to dress for cold weather (and probably will as the weather gets colder), but really R. and anyone else should go look at Let's Go Ride a Bike, because Dottie has it all figured out- how to be warm in Chicago in January and cute as a button.
But more important than any advice on the how to's and details, I'll tell R. and anyone else that's starting bike commuting and getting a little nervous about the whole cold-wet-after dark thing the REAL secret to winter commuting:
IT'S OK NOT TO BIKE YEAR ROUND
This, at least in my eyes, does not make you one jot less of a biker. Biking should be fun- something you enjoy, something that adds independence and freedom to your life, not obligation and a sense of dread. So take a day off if it looks nasty out! Or if you didn't sleep well, or have too much stuff to carry. Hell, take a couple of months off (although I think in Boston it doesn't really get nasty until January when everyone- not just bike commuters wants to move to Florida).
I didn't bike through the winter until I'd been doing it for three years, and it was so habitual to hop on my bike before I even had coffee that I just never stopped. I still don't bike every day. Trying to keep up a streak is a recipe for burnout and OCD.
By biking just when you enjoy it, you will love it. And my prediction is that you will get addicted and find that you're happier when you do it every day, even if it's cold/ rainy/ dark. But the key is letting yourself only do it when you love it, never forcing it.
As I was rattling off my strategies for Charles Circle, and seeing the dumbfoundment in R's eyes, I had a "how did I get here" moment. I think that a side effect of successful life choices, is that in retrospect they seem obvious. For me, biking is that way. I can't really remember how I got here, I can't really imagine my life without it, and it just feels like the right thing to do. Not because I have to, but because I love it.
Better Bridges Talk Tonight
I should have posted this earlier- sorry didn't get around to it!
There's a talk at Livable Streets Alliance tonight about bridges in general-history, great bridges of the world, new developments in bridge technology etc- and the process ofsausagemaking advocacy that is going into the planning on the Longfellow in specific.
I'm enough of an architecture geek that the first part appeals to me, and as a regular user of the longfellow, the 2nd part has a big impact on my life.
7pm, livable streets alliance, Sidney street Kendall area
Sorry for the late post- hope you can still make it, if it's interesting to you.
There's a talk at Livable Streets Alliance tonight about bridges in general-history, great bridges of the world, new developments in bridge technology etc- and the process of
I'm enough of an architecture geek that the first part appeals to me, and as a regular user of the longfellow, the 2nd part has a big impact on my life.
7pm, livable streets alliance, Sidney street Kendall area
Sorry for the late post- hope you can still make it, if it's interesting to you.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
In celebration of Daylight Savings Time
In celebration of daylight savings, I have done absolutely nothing to increase the visibility of my bike.
Why?
Because I already count on being visible 365 days a year. My bike is my primary transportation, and I can't be bothered with transportation that I can only use during the day. November, January, July, I ride in the dark and need to be seen.
I personally don't go in much for reflective clothing. I am a firm believer in reflective tire sidewalls however. Nothing transmits "bicycle" faster to the brainstem than two circles of light. I do have a retroreflective sash that I wear if it's raining, I'm wearing head to toe black, or it's Friday or Saturday night and I want just a little extra edge. I bought it at a running store, and like it because it's easy to stuff in my bag for an instant transformation into an ordinary person. It's also easy to shed if I'm trying to de-layer at a stop sign.
For maximum effectiveness, your lights need to actually be, you know, visible. Lights clipped to the top of your backpack so that they're pointing at the moon when you're bent over the handlebars, or on your seatpost hidden by the tail of your coat or the stuff on your rack aren't actually doing anyone any good, except possibly battery manufacturers. It's not a bad idea to have someone else either ride your bike while you follow them, or have them follow you when you're riding every so often to make sure everything is as visible as you think it is.
I like a combo of fixed and flashing lights. Flashing lights are eye catching, but can be harder to track when someone is trying to figure out how fast you're going (like before they pull out in front of you). A lot of people have rear blinkies because they're worried about being seen by cars from behind, but neglect front lights. Front lights not only help you see obstacles in front of you but they keep cars from turning in front of you, and help pedestrians and other bikers know you're approaching.
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you too probably have a lighting strategy in place, whether it gets dark at 4pm or 9pm. What's your favorite light, and why?
Because I already count on being visible 365 days a year. My bike is my primary transportation, and I can't be bothered with transportation that I can only use during the day. November, January, July, I ride in the dark and need to be seen.
I personally don't go in much for reflective clothing. I am a firm believer in reflective tire sidewalls however. Nothing transmits "bicycle" faster to the brainstem than two circles of light. I do have a retroreflective sash that I wear if it's raining, I'm wearing head to toe black, or it's Friday or Saturday night and I want just a little extra edge. I bought it at a running store, and like it because it's easy to stuff in my bag for an instant transformation into an ordinary person. It's also easy to shed if I'm trying to de-layer at a stop sign.
For maximum effectiveness, your lights need to actually be, you know, visible. Lights clipped to the top of your backpack so that they're pointing at the moon when you're bent over the handlebars, or on your seatpost hidden by the tail of your coat or the stuff on your rack aren't actually doing anyone any good, except possibly battery manufacturers. It's not a bad idea to have someone else either ride your bike while you follow them, or have them follow you when you're riding every so often to make sure everything is as visible as you think it is.
I like a combo of fixed and flashing lights. Flashing lights are eye catching, but can be harder to track when someone is trying to figure out how fast you're going (like before they pull out in front of you). A lot of people have rear blinkies because they're worried about being seen by cars from behind, but neglect front lights. Front lights not only help you see obstacles in front of you but they keep cars from turning in front of you, and help pedestrians and other bikers know you're approaching.
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you too probably have a lighting strategy in place, whether it gets dark at 4pm or 9pm. What's your favorite light, and why?
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