May/June 2009 www.bikeleague.org
Confessions of a Cycling
MOM ALSO: A Different Route:
Avoiding the Rat Race with a Cross-Country Ride
Don’t Let Good Bikes Die State Update: Missouri
CONTENTS
12
FEATURES
CONFESSIONS OF A CYCLING MOM
Anne Rock, the winning essayist in Tour d’Afrique’s Tales from the Saddle contest, shares her life as a cycling mom.
16
20
A DIFFERENT ROUTE
DON’T LET GOOD BIKES DIE
After graduating from college, Lisa Reitz set off to find her next big adventure. She found it during a cross-country bicycle ride from Providence to Seattle.
Geoff Thomas rescues unwanted bikes and gives them to Pedals for Progress, where they are fixed up and shipped to developing countries.
DEPARTMENTS
28
CYCLING THROUGH THE AGES: cLAIR dUCKHAM
The League remembers a great cyclist.
2........................... VIEWPOINT 3........................... CHAIR’S PERSPECTIVE 5........................... LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES 24......................... STATE UPDATE: MISSOURI 27.......................... GIVING
Cover shot: Anne Rock, cycling mom, races downhill. Photo by Michael Kirk
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VIEWPOINT
GREAT
Many Things Happened Because of the National Bike Summit We had record attendance of 580 people, including 70-plus bike shop owners and a similar number of bike industry leaders. We enjoyed another year working with our colleagues at the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) who brought a strong off-road perspective to the event; and despite the tough economy, we obviously had a great turnout from state and local advocacy groups, clubs and individual cyclists like you. We were also delighted that the new Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood spoke at the opening plenary, pledging that the U.S. Department of Transportation would be a full partner in creating more livable communities — a topic he has returned to in subsequent speeches and on his own blog. LaHood joined several members of Congress at the Summit — and all told, we visited with more than 350 congressional offices. Truthfully, though, I didn’t realize the full impact of the Summit until about a month afterwards. I suddenly realized that there were no less than a dozen state and local bike summits scheduled in April, with several more on the calendar in May. Florida kicked off the month with a lobby day that helped restore funding for the state’s Office of Greenways and Trails. West Virginia, stung by the 50th place ranking in our Bicycle Friendly States program, welcomed almost a hundred advocates to Charleston for their first-ever summit — and kicked it off in style with a dinner at the Governor’s Mansion and a speech from their DOT secretary. In late April, nearly 300 people converged on Dover, Del. to chart a course for Delaware to become the first state for cycling. Many of the participants came because of a highly novel rolling press conference — a four-day ride around the state with a press conference, events and meetings in numerous communities along the way. Oregon had their fourth summit in Salem; Alaska, Idaho and Minnesota fired up the troops. Grand Rapids, Mich. and Westchester County, N.Y. also got in on the act. Finally, Wisconsin raised the bar a few notches by getting nearly 400 advocates to Madison for their first statewide summit — with only five weeks notice. A powerhouse team from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Trek and other bike industry leaders in the state made their event successful by using the national event as a template and adding their own unique flair. The energy and enthusiasm at these events — from the national summit on down — is incredible. The timing is right for the bicycling movement to step up and make a difference. Doors are opening, and decision-makers across the nation are looking for solutions. That’s one thing we can offer: we just need to keep showing up and saying the word bicycle! 2 American Bicyclist
THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS THELeague LEAGUEofOF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS The American Bicyclists, founded in 1880 as the The League of American Bicyclists, founded in 1880 as the for fun, League of American Wheelmen, promotes bicycling Leagueand of American Wheelmen, bicycling advocacy for fun, and fitness transportation, andpromotes works through fitness andfor transportation, and works through and education a bicycle-friendly America. Theadvocacy League represents education bicycle-friendly The LeagueWith represents the interestsforofa the nation’s 57America. million bicyclists. a current the interests of nation’s affiliated 57 million cyclists, bicyclists.including With a current membership ofthe 300,000 25,000 membership of 700 300,000 affiliated cyclists, includingworks 40,000to bring individuals and organizations, the League individuals and 600 organizations, the League works to bring better bicycling to your community. Contact League officers, better bicycling community. Contact League1612 officers, directors or staff to at your League of American Bicyclists, K Street, directors staffWashington, at League of American Bicyclists, 202-822-1333; 1612 K NW, Suiteor 800, DC 20006-2850, Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006-2850. Phone: bikeleague@bikeleague.org, fax: 202-822-1334. 202-822-1333; e-mail: bikeleague@bikeleague.org, fax: 202-822-1334. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Harry Brull, harrybrull@bikeleague.org BOARD OFRegion DIRECTORS Secretary, 5 (AR, AZ, CO, IA, KS, LA, MN, MO, MT, John Allen, Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, ND, NE, NM,johnallen@bikeleague.org, OK, SD, TX, UT, WI, WY) NH, NY, RI, VT) Gary Brustin, garybrustin@bikeleague.org, At Large Harry Brull, harrybrull@bikeleague.org, Region 5 (AR, AZ, CO, Amanda Eichstaedt, amandaeichstaedt@bikeleague.org, IA, KS,Region LA, MN,6MO, ND,HI, NE,ID, NM, OK, SD,WA) TX, UT, WI, WY) Chair, (AK,MT, CA, NV, OR, Lisa lisafalvy@bikeleague.org, AtLarge Large GaryFalvy, Brustin, garybrustin@bikeleague.org, At Bill Hoffman, billhoffman@bikeleague.org, Region Amanda Eichstaedt, amandaeichstaedt@bikeleague.org, Re- 2 (DC, MD, WV) gionDE, 6 (AK, CA,NJ, HI,PA, ID, NV, OR, WA) Mike Nix, mikenix@bikeleague.org, At Large Lisa Falvy, lisafalvy@bikeleague.org, At Large Bruce Rosar, brucerosar@bikeleague.org, Region 3 (AL, FL,Greehan, GA, KY,mikegreehan@bikeleague.org, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VA) At Large Mike Rob Sadowsky, robsadowsky@bikeleague.org, Ellen Jones, ellenjones@bikeleague.org, Region 2 (DC, DE, MD, Region 4 (IL, IN, MI, OH) NJ, PA, WV) John Siemiatkoski, johnsiemiatkoski@bikeleague.org, Martha1Roskowski, martharoskowski@bikeleague.org, At Large Region (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) Hans Van Naerssen, hansvannaerssen@bikeleague.org, Jim Sheehan, jimsheehan@bikeleague.org, Region 4 (IL, IN, MI, OH) At Large DonYoung, Sparks, donsparks@bikeleague.org, Region (AL, FL, GA, Tim timyoung@bikeleague.org, At3 Large KY, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VA) Phyllis Harmon, phyllis5377@cs.com, Director Emeritus W. Preston Tyree, prestontyree@bikeleague.org, At Large STAFF Paul Wessel, At Large Meghan Cahillpaulwessel@bikeleague.org, – Director of Communications Andy Clarke – President Phyllis Harmon, Director Emeritus, phyllis5377@cs.com Alison Dewey – BFC Program Specialist Walter STAFFFinch – Advocacy Director Darren Flusche – Policy Analyst Andy Clarke – Executive Director Lorna of Operations DanaGreen Dudley–– Director Staff Accountant Anna Kelso – Policy AnalystCoordinator Lou Elin Dwyer – Advocacy Elizabeth Kiker – Vice President Walter Finch – Advocacy Director Bill Nesper – Director, Bicycle Friendly Community Program Lora Golann – Membership Assistant Jeff Peel – BFC Program Todd McDonald – ProgramSpecialist Coordinator Lisa – –Membership and Events Assistant Bill Reitz Nesper Program Manager Sharon Thorne – Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Preston – Director of Communications Preston Tyree – Education Director Marthea Wilson – Deputy Executive Director AMERICAN MAGAZINE LEAGUE OFBICYCLIST AMERICAN BICYCLISTS MAGAZINE Editor: Editor:Meghan ElizabethCahill Preston Art ArtDirector: Director:Studio StudioDD Design Design Editor EditorEmeritus: Emeritus:Phyllis PhyllisW. W.Harmon Harmon American Bicyclist magazine (ISSN 0747-0371) is published six times American Bicyclist magazine (ISSN 0747-0371) is published six times yearly by the League of American Bicyclists, Inc. © 2009 League of yearly by the League of American Bicyclists, Inc. © 2007 League of American Bicyclists. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission American Bicyclists. Reproduction in whole or in part without permisis prohibited. Article queries should be addressed to meghan@bikeleague. sion is prohibited. Article queries should be addressed to the editor at org. Your submission of manuscripts, photographs, or artwork, is your elizabeth@bikeleague.org. Your submission of manuscripts, photographs, warranty that the material in no way infringes on the rights of others or artwork, is your warranty that the material in no way infringes on and that the material may be published without additional approval. the rights of others and that the material may be published without adOpinions expressed by writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect ditional approval. Opinions expressed by writers are their own and do not the policies of the League. necessarily reflect the policies of the League.
CHAIR’S PERSPECTIVE Amanda Eichstaedt
Chair, League of American Bicyclists
“I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.” — Dr. Suess, Green Eggs and Ham
R
ecently, guests at our inn reviewed us on line and commented that they thought we took the sense of “organic/environment/sustainability a bit too far.” Could we be too green? On our local radio station recently I interviewed author and gardener Ellen Sandbeck, and I mentioned this incident. How can one be too green? How can you care too much about the planet? She said that would be like being “too alive, too happy, too content or too well married.” I recently met with Martha Danly, blogger and creator of Green by Design, a resource for information about green products. Danly lives locally and has a keen interest in bicycle transportation, as well as everything green and how, on a continuum, we can alter our lives to live more sustainably on the planet. She was excited to hear about what the League is doing in terms of sustainability for the bicycle movement. It was nice to articulate the work of the League in defending and protecting the rights of cyclists. Our successful Bicycle Friendly America program fits so nicely into concepts that Danly promotes in her blog. I saw An Inconvenient Truth several years ago, and I was inspired. Regardless of whether you think the current measured climate change is real or not, it is clear to me that humans have a big impact on the planet. At the end of the movie there is a list of things that you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effect change — from swapping out your light bulbs and turning down thermostats, to reducing vehicle miles travelled. I felt good that I was doing almost everything on the list already — except run for Congress (not likely). I represent Region 6 on the League Board. I will serve three more years on the board. It isn’t Congress but it is my way of contributing to positive change that I believe in. Thanks to technology, I can do the bulk of my League volunteer work from West Marin while tending to my garden, chickens and guests. At the Bear Valley Inn we really do like “green” eggs and ham. We do, we do, Sam-I-am!
Bike parking at the Bear Valley Inn encourages guests to commute by bike and reduce vehicle miles travelled.
Eichstaedt’s hens don’t provide green eggs for her guests ... but they do contribute to her green lifestyle.
American AmericanBicyclist Bicyclist 33
LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES
letters to the EDITOR myself into spandex,” and then gets the old Raleigh/Trek/Schwinn out of the basement/garage, we will count ourselves a success. Georgeann W. Hitzel, Glen Gardner, N.J.
Red Means Stop
Not Restricted By Spandex But Maybe By New Jersey DEAR EDITOR, Loved the cover of the March/ April edition! In fact, loved the whole thing but especially the cover. I am of the firm opinion that you don’t have to wear spandex! My husband and I have been avid cyclists for more than 25 years and have never once donned the “official garb.” We do wear a lot of day-glo orange, but it’s right off the rack, and the whole idea is — we could see you coming for a mile! People have to be able to think that they can go out to the library or the grocery store in just what they have on, and not get trussed up in their biking clothes. If just one person sees us and thinks, “by gosh I don’t have to squeeze
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DEAR EDITOR: In response to Steven Leiby’s question in the Jan/Feb letters (What to say to fellow cyclists who ignore traffic laws?), I’d like to share my personal experience. After more than 20 years of pedaling around Boulder, Colo., I have honed my response. If someone runs a red light where I am stopped, I simply say “Red means stop.” I (try to) use a kind voice to reduce any accusatory implications to a simple statement of fact. I’ve said this hundreds of times; and 6 out of 10 cyclists ignore me, 2 out of 10 flip me off, 1 out of 10 yell back at me and 1 out of 10 look back quizzically, possibly pondering what I’ve just said. It’s that last one that keeps me saying, “Red means stop.” I have some faint hope that such a statement from a fellow cyclist might actually cause a change for the better in someone’s behavior. Those who have concern for the greater good (generating positive car driver attitudes toward cyclists, for example) are already stopped next to me at that red light. Ray Keener, Life Member, Boulder, Colo.
Kids Are People Too DEAR EDITOR, When I’m riding a bicycle during the day, the best way I’ve found to be seen by easily distractible motorists is to wear a bright yellow jacket. A variety of manufacturers make jackets (as well as vests and jerseys) for bicyclists in this color. But when I went to buy one for my 10 year old son, I was disappointed to learn that nobody makes them in kids’ sizes. Fortunately for us, the owner of my local bike shop (Straightline Bikes, New Milford, Conn.) was willing to
order a jacket in a women’s extrasmall to see if it might fit. It did. So now I breathe a bit easier when I ride with my son on the streets of our not-bike-friendly town. I just hope he never finds out that he’s wearing a ladies’ jacket. And more importantly, I hope that manufacturers such as Pearl Izumi, Louis Garneau and others will someday realize that kids are people too. Tom O’Brien, New Milford, Conn.
ber of the League of American Wheelmen as early as 1896. And he was my great-grandfather. Weed learned to ride a bicycle in 1896 at the age of 55. That year he departed Portland, Ore. on an Orient brand bicycle, and spent the next several years riding all over the country. At the age of 67, he departed New York City and ended his ride in Estrella, Calif. at 68-years-old. In approximately 14 years, Weed logged 57,875 bicycle miles. If anyone has anything to add to Weed’s story, I’d greatly appreciate hearing from you. Dave Weed, Great-grandson of Major E.A. Weed, Bellingham, Wash. (dcweed@comcast.net)
Dissatisfied Cyclist
Above: Jake O’Brien, age 10, sports his new bright yellow cycling jacket.
Historical Inquiry DEAR LEAGUE MEMBERS: Would anyone have any information regarding a man named Edward Augustus Weed? He was often referred to as Major Weed, and he may have been a mem-
DEAR EDITOR: Based upon an advertisement that appears regularly in your magazine, my wife and I took a bicycle tour in the Florida Keys with Senior Cycling, Inc. While we certainly don’t expect you to warrant the competence or responsibility of your advertisers, we think you should know that Pat of Senior Cycling does not operate by the standards that the League of American Bicyclists advocates. We found this tour neither safe nor enjoyable. We believe that your other members would be equally dissatisfied. Henry E. Riggs, Stanford, Calif. Senior Cycling’s Response DEAR EDITOR: I appreciate the opportunity to respond to Mr. Rigg’s letter. So as
not to turn this into a he said/she said, upon receipt of your letter I emailed riders that had taken the tour. I asked them to respond with their opinions of this bike tour and our company overall. The response was overwhelming. From Judy Norris, Edmonton, Alberta Canada, “My experience with the company has been so positive that I continue to recommend their tours to senior cyclists that I meet.” From Lois Czapiewski, Arlington, Va., “Pat Blackmon is an incredible leader. She pays close personal attention to all of her riders on a trip, gives out written and oral directions each morning and, of course, rides with the group.” From Nancy and Bill Newmeyer, San Franciso, Calif., “My wife and I took the same trip with Pat in 2005. We felt safe and comfortable. It was as advertised.” From Leva Lessure, Md., “I have been on the trip two times and found them enjoyable. They were professionally and competently done.” From Robert Huley, “My wife and I look forward to the opportunity to take a future trip with Pat and would not hesitate to do so based on our experience on the trip in the Keys.” Finally from Robert Regan, Pittsburgh Pa., “I had participated in this year’s Keys ride and my experience was exactly opposite (from Mr. Riggs). Simply put, it was the best organized bike ride I have ever been on. If I were rating it I would give six stars, out of a possible five.” I’m really sorry and disappointed that Mr. Riggs was unhappy. I wish he had
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LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES Letters to the Editor (continued) brought this to my attention at the time. I will continue to work hard to deliver a truly enjoyable experience to my senior riders. Patricia Blackmon, Loudoun Heights, Va.
New Yorkers Liking the Lanes? DEAR EDITOR: I am an avid bicyclist and have been riding in New York City for decades. But the present and latest bicycle lanes in the city are a Frankenstein monster that is out of control. First, the bicycle lanes are not enforced and never will be, so they are useless on that count (nyc.mybikelane.com). Second, the commercial vehicles have no where to park, so they park in the bicycle lanes. Third, the new pedestrian mall/bicycle lane on Broadway in Manhattan is useless for bicyclists as the pedestrians congregate and walk all through the lane. Fourth, when you take lanes away from cars you create more traffic, hence more pollution. Residents of Kent Avenue in Brooklyn and Grand Street in Manhattan are rising up against the bicycle lanes. I am active with my community board and trying to rid my neighborhood of useless bicycle lanes and take my place among the cars. Bruce Mansfield, New York, N.Y.
Not all New York cyclists love the city’s newly-installed bike lanes.
Combo Package DEAR EDITOR: Imagine a folding bicycle tucked into the trunk of every new car sold...or a rack on every car to accommodate the bicycles that the buyer already owns. As the federal government contemplates ways to help our troubled automobile industry and addresses long-range transportation issues, how about requirements and transportation money that encourage automobile manufacturers to facilitate cycling as a component of car sales and road use? Bikes, racks and fee reimbursements to take the League
thanks for your letters We eagerly await all of your comments — good and bad — on cycling, the League, our publications, and just about anything else you want to tell us about. E-mail meghan@bikeleague.org, fax your letter to 202-822-1334 or mail it to us at 1612 K Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006. Letters may be edited for style and length.
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traffic safety courses? Placing bicycles on every new motorized vehicle would not entail a huge expense and could be implemented. So, which brand of folding bicycle do you think will be the first to come as standard equipment with new automobiles? Michael Bos, Long Beach, Calif.
Correction: The correct listing for Classic Adventures, which was included in the 2009 Tour Finder: Classic Adventures (800-777-8090) www.classicadventures.com info@classicadventures.com World-class bicycling & hiking vacations since 1979. France, Greece/ Crete, Germany, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Finger Lakes, Erie Canal, Lake Placid, Natchez Trace.
BIKE SUMMIT
2009 March 10-12 Washington, D.C.
BIKE SUMMIT WRAP-UP The 2009 National Bike Summit was our biggest and most successful to date. Close to 600 participants congregated in Washington, D.C. from 47 states and four countries (Canada, Denmark, Czech Republic and the U.S.) from March 10-12 to educate themselves on current bike advocacy issues and lobby for bicyclists’ rights.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood opened the Summit, promising that the Department of Transportation will be “a full partner in working toward livable communities.” The Secretary was followed by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA). Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN)
Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR) and DOT Secretary Ray LaHood (r) both showed their support for bicycling at the 2009 Summit. LaHood stated at the Opening Session that the Obama Administration “will work toward an America where bikes are recognized to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges.”
spoke at the Summit dinner, and Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI), Howard Coble (R-NC), Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Larry Kissell (DNC) addressed the Congressional Breakfast and Reception. Andreas Rohl, head of Copenhagen’s Bicycle Office, spoke at the opening dinner and at the Annual Meeting. A record breaking number of registrants visited more than 350 Congressional offices to argue that bicycling be a prominent part of the next Transportation Bill, reminding members of Congress that the simple bicycle can profoundly impact the nation’s environment, health, employment and communities. Thank you to all who participated. Your voices will help turn our country’s view of bicycling, two wheels at a time!
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7
LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES
Smart Cycling
Conference The League’s Smart Cycling conference is June 18-20 in San Jose, Calif. The Smart Cycling Conference is the only national conference dedicated to bicycle safety and education. The program includes workshops on sharing best practices, improving the marketing and appeal of Smart Cycling, reaching diverse audiences and reaching educators in your community. The League’s education program is in the middle of a complete overhaul. Since 2008, we’ve launched Traffic Skills 101, Traffic Skills 201, Group Riding, and completely revised our Commuter Student curriculum. And the League is in preliminary stages to redo the kids manual and redo the entire League Cycling Instructor Curriculum! We want all of our LCIs and bicycle safety advocates to contribute. Network and learn from your peers, brush up on your teaching techniques, help the League continue to improve our curricula, and to listen to the foremost cycling educators in the world!
For the complete agenda, visit bikeleague.org/conferences/smartcycling09
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YOUR FAVORITE
BIKE SHOPS The League’s Shops of the Year award recognizes outstanding shops for their commitment to customer service and dedication to encouraging cycling. “The League is delighted to recognize all of the 2008 Shops of the Year for their efforts to promote cycling in their communities,” stated League President Andy Clarke. “In addition to their outstanding customer service, these shops are involved in advocacy, education and encouragement activities that have an impact well beyond their shops’ walls.” How are the Shops of the Year selected? The League conducted a membership questionnaire this past winter to survey our membership, their bicycling patterns/interests and their satisfaction with the League. The League 2008 Shops of the Year were determined in this survey — our members were asked what their favorite bike shops were and why. The shops with the most mentions in each region won. Typically, six awards are given — one per region. However, 2008 proved to be a great year for Region 4, where three shops were three shops were tied.
2008 Shops of the Year Region 1: Belmont Wheelworks, Belmont, Mass. Region 2: Genesis Bicycles, Easton, Pa. Region 3: Revolution Cycles, Arlington, Va. Region 4: American Cycle & Fitness, Commerce Twp., Mich. Century Cycles, Peninsula, Ohio HubBub Custom Bicycles, Cleveland, Ohio Region 5: Bicycle Sport Shop, Austin, Texas Region 6: Bike Gallery, Portland, Ore.
John Siemiatkoski (center), member of the League Board of Directors, presented the Consumer’s Choice Bicycle Shop certificate for Region #1 to Belmont Wheelworks co-owners Clint Paige (left) Peter Mooney (right).
WEEKEND ON
WHEELS 2009
National Rally of Bicyclists
Registration is now open for Weekend on Wheels 2009 — the League National Rally of Bicyclists! The Twin Cities Bicycling Club, in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, is the proud host of the National Rally at the annual WOW event, July 31 through August 2 in Winona, Minn. Lodging will be available at Winona State University on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. These traditional single and double dorm rooms share bathrooms and come with hot breakfast in the morning. All the details, and online registration, can be found on the WOW web site www.bikewow.org. Registration will close when the event is full or on July 14 — whichever comes first! Delay is not advisable if you want to be at this exciting event. Ensure a spot at this national cycling event by registering today!
This year’s WOW will be unlike any other in WOW’s history! There are many features to look forward to for this year’s event:
!
WOW
• Three days of riding (Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday) with route support and full-service rest stops. Routes will be from 25 to 62 miles Friday and Sunday, and 25 to100 miles on Saturday.
• Mountain biking opportunities on the great trails of Winona Saturday afternoon!
• League Traffic Skills 101 course offered Friday — take the League’s respected course in vehicular cycling to build your handling skills and confidence. This all-day course will be taught by a certified instructor and includes lunch and snacks.
• Friday Night Pasta Feed at Central Lutheran Church, Winona will feature homemade bread and desserts.
• Friday Night Welcome Social and Night Ride from Lake Winona — meet new friends and light up the night with an evening ride through Winona.
• Saturday Night Banquet — Featuring appearances by regional and national cycling advocacy organizations and a special keynote speaker.
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LEAGUE NEWS & NOTES
A Bicycle Friendly America The League Announces the Spring 2009 Class of Bicycle Friendly States, Communities and Businesses
T
he League of American Bicyclists announced our Spring 2009 class of Bicycle Friendly States, Communities and Businesses this past April and March. These three components of the League’s thriving Bicycle Friendly America program are revolutionizing the way states and communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks and have encouraged businesses to weave bicycling into their corporate, office and store cultures — giving employees and customers the opportunity to be active stewards of their personal and environmental health through bicycling. We were excited this year to name the inaugural Bicycle Friendly State winners, with four designees and two honorable mentions. “We are recognizing several states for their impressive initiatives to improve conditions for cyclists and make cycling safer,” according to League President Andy Clarke. “As we strive to reduce energy consumption, prevent climate change and improve our health, the timing for this could not be better.” The BFS program launched in 2008 as part of the Bicycle Friendly America program expansion and links the League’s work with federal level and community advocacy throughout the nation by recognizing states that actively support bicycling. The League also announced our first platinum Bicycle Friendly Businesses — New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colo. and Bike Gallery of Portland, Ore. This was the second time BFB winners have been announced since the program’s inception in 2008 when the League announced the first 13 designees. “New Belgium Brewing created bicycling events and advocacy that we are passionate about in hopes to spread that energy and make the
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world a better place one bike at a time,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesperson for New Belgium Brewing. “It’s completely rewarding, culturally sticky and it makes for a greater sense of purpose at the end of the day.” Thanks to the generous grants from Trek’s One World Two Wheels program and the Bikes Belong Foundation, our Bicycle Friendly America program continues to grow and improve. Together we are becoming a Bicycle Friendly America — one state, community and business at a time. For more information on how your State, Community or Business can become more bicycle-friendly, visit www.bicyclefriendlyamerica.org.
SPRING 2009
BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES PLATINUM Bike Gallery - Portland, Ore. New Belgium Brewing Company - Fort Collins, Colo. GOLD CatEye North America - Boulder, Colo. David Baker & Partners - San Francisco, Calif. Seattle Children’s Hospital - Seattle, Wash. SILVER Bear Valley Inn - Olema, Calif. Kona Bicycles Co. - Ferndale, Wash. Liberty Bicycles - Asheville, N.C. Mad Dog Cycles - Orem, Utah Providence Portland Medical Center - Portland, Ore. RDG Planning & Design - Omaha, Neb. San Francisco Landscapes - San Francisco, Calif. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, Calif. Toole Design Group, LLC - Hyattsville, Md. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Madison, Wis.
HOW
DOES YOUR STATE RANK?
SPRING 2009
BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES NEW BFCs Columbia, Missouri - Silver Alexandria, Virginia - Bronze Cedar Falls, Iowa - Bronze Columbus, Ohio - Bronze Irvine, California - Bronze Lakewood, Colorado - Bronze Long Beach, California - Bronze Naperville, Illinois - Bronze Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Bronze Santa Monica, California - Bronze Traverse City, Michigan - Bronze Tulsa, Oklahoma - Bronze Vail, Colorado - Bronze BFC RENEWALS Ann Arbor, Michigan ’05 Bronze, ’09 Silver Bend, Oregon ‘05 Bronze, ’09 Silver Milwaukee, Wisconsin ’06 Bronze, ’09 Bronze
1. Washington 2. Wisconsin 3. Maine 4. Oregon 5. Minnesota 6. Iowa 7. Arizona 8. New Hampshire 9. Delaware 10. New Jersey 11. Wyoming 12. Illinois 13. Colorado 14. California 15. Michigan 16. Maryland 17. Missouri
18. Utah 19. Massachusetts 20. North Carolina 21. Vermont 22. Hawaii 23. Virginia 24. Mississippi 25. Nevada 26. South Carolina 27. Kentucky 28. South Dakota 29. Indiana 30. Louisiana 31. Georgia 32. Florida 33. Kansas 34. Idaho
35. Rhode Island 36. Texas 37. Nebraska 38. Arkansas 39. Ohio 40. Pennsylvania 41. New York 42. West Virginia 43. Tennessee 44. Connecticut 45. North Dakota 46. New Mexico 47. Alaska 48. Oklahoma 49. Montana 50. Alabama
INNAUGURAL ROUND
BICYCLE FRIENDLY
STATES These states have been recognized for their impressive initiatives to improve conditions for cyclists and make cycling safer. SILVER Washington Wisconsin
BRONZE Arizona Minnesota
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Confessions of a Cycling
MOM by Anne Rock Cyclist. Mom.
12 American American Bicyclist Bicyclist
Tales from the Saddle Tour d’Afrique, a Toronto based company named for its flagship cycling expedition/race that annually crosses the African continent from Cairo to Cape Town, approached the League with an exciting essay contest, Tales from the Saddle. The contest was designed to recognize the most interesting, exotic, unusual or special cycling stories — based on the submissions and ratings by their website visitors. Tour d’Afrique offered any one of their epic races/expeditions in Africa, South America, Europe or Asia as the grand prize — absolutely free. The League agreed to publish the winning essay in the May/June issue of American Bicyclist. Here is the winning story, by Anne Rock.
Defining the Cycling Mom
We all know about Soccer Moms and Ice Hockey Moms. One votes for democrats and the other wears lipstick. Pit bull moms, who don’t wear lipstick, grow weary of Hockey Moms giving them a bad name. Helicopter Moms try to protect their children from ever taking flight themselves. MILFs are for another article altogether. What of the Cycling Mom? What kind of mother is she? A clue lies in her mantra: Descend with conviction. I am a Cycling Mom.
True Confessions
When my son Jimmy was four, I brought him to the mountain bike training race where seasoned cyclists screamed down the infamous Parachute Hill at ludicrous speeds. Good parenting suggests that the four-yearold on the 12-inch wheel bike refrain from attempting such a descent. I advised, “Just pick a good line.” A few minutes later, as both boy and bike vaulted into the air, my immediate thought was, “Oops ... wrong line.” Several racers stopped, offering water bottles to help Jimmy rinse pebbles out of his mouth and blood from his scrapes. I comforted him by pointing out that he hadn’t lost any baby teeth and his bike and body parts remained intact. I urged him to keep this brush with death a secret. “There’s no need to tell Daddy.”
Anne and Jimmy (age 10) after a mountain bike team relay race from the Mid Atlantic Super Series. The race is scored based on cumulative lap times, bribes and costumes — which explains why Jimmy has a Bart Simpson mask attached to his helmet.
As Jimmy grew, so did his bikes. Once, he and I rode to the woods where we spent several hours climbing rocks, skipping stones and trying to avoid staying clean. He discovered a two-foot drop off that looked like a good launching pad. Having stripped down to nothing except shorts and plastic clogs, he managed five successful launches and landings. When he begged to go just once more, I decided to ignore my maternal instincts and better judgment. He got good air on the last jump, followed by a face-full of ground. As I brushed away dirt, leaves and tears
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Anne and Jimmy Rock competed in a team relay race where everyone wears a costume. The team Moe's Foes was comprised of Jimmy as Bart Simpson, Anne as Ahmed Adoodie (pronounced “I made a doodie”), and their buddies were Hugh Jass and Amanda Hugginkiss.
from my sobbing son, I suggested that perhaps in the future he should wear a shirt and cycling shoes when launching off two-foot drops. I also advised him not to tell Daddy about this.
Learning Together
Over the years, I have commuted to school with my son in tow, and then by my side. From the Burley trailer, to a Trail-a-Bike, to his own two wheels, we have traveled together to the school where I teach and he learns. He often reminds his friends that cars are 14 American Bicyclist
coffins. I chuckle every time he uses that morbid expression. Once, while riding his Trail-a-Bike to kindergarten, we took the corner into the school’s lot too fast. As we hit black ice, the wheels slipped out and we landed on our sides with the bikes on top of us. “Don’t tell your father we rode our bikes today,” I pleaded while peeling myself off the asphalt. I wanted to learn how to ride at the track, so I enrolled the two of us in a program at the velodrome located an hour from our house. The only
programs available were advanced level — but lack of experience does not deter a Cycling Mom. For the first five minutes Jimmy clung to the wall, refusing to move. I decided to get coffee because I couldn’t watch the imminent disaster. When I returned 20 minutes later, a group of children on fixed gear, brakeless bikes whizzed around the track in a perfect pace line. Jimmy, in the middle of this pack, grinned like a podium finisher. “Wait until we tell Daddy!” I screamed from the stands.
Anne and Jimmy (age 5) under the Eiffel Tower in 2004. The family rode around Paris in the rain.
In July of 2004, the Rock family followed the Tour de France. During their ascent up the col du Tourmalet with Jimmy on a Trail-a-Bike, Alex Steida, first Canadian to don the yellow jersey, rode by and patted Jimmy on the back, nearly knocking him off.
I’ve enrolled Jimmy in a local club team and for the velodrome’s youth spring racing league. I look forward to lining up next to Jimmy at road and cross races where Cat 4 women mingle with the juniors, racing together. As a Cycling Mom, I don’t just hang out on the sidelines and bring snacks. I race. I commute. I play. I try to show that two wheels are better than four. I try to show my love for my son by sharing my passion for bikes. Sometimes I wear lipstick. American Bicyclist 15
by Lisa Reitz
Taking a Different Avoiding the Rat Race with a Cross-Country Ride 16 American Bicyclist
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In the fall of my senior year of college I developed an itch. I was knee-deep in English thesis papers but all I could think about was what crazy things I wanted to do after graduation. Most everyone was applying for jobs and worrying about the future; and while I was certainly doing the same, I couldn’t stop wondering, “What’s my next big adventure?”
I had done a couple of marathons and triathlons in college, so I knew I had to do something bigger. When I heard from a friend about a crosscountry bike trip that included building with various affordable housing organizations, I was instantly sold. After graduation, I found myself in Providence, R.I.; and with less than 200 miles ridden in training and a new bike I barely understood, I set out for Seattle, Wash. with 30 other young adults. After I became accustomed to the routine of our days — ride, eat, sleep, build — I realized that each day, even each hour, was different from the last. As we whizzed across the country at 15 mph, passing cities and states in a blur of early morning gas station coffee and adrenaline, I came to love the highs and lows that each day brought. In disbelief, I discovered that I could start a ride feeling fantastic, talking and laughing with friends for 50 miles, and then somehow end it wallowing in ice cream and Icy Hot. The constants of the trip — the good friends, the wonderful people I met, and the grow-
ing confidence I felt — became woven into a summer of unforgettable ups and downs. A couple of these ups and downs stick out most strongly in my memory ... Meeting the (Unexpected) Challenges
One week into the ride, our group planned to ride through the Catskill Mountains to a small town in northwestern New York called Roscoe. I was excited because it was supposed to be a relatively short day, only about 60 miles. Since we had left Providence, the farthest I’d ridden in one day was 50 miles, and that was enough for me. My lack of training beforehand and the sudden appearance of mountains weren’t doing much for my confidence, let alone my aching knees, but I tried to stay in good spirits. During the first half of the ride, I hopped off the bike to splash around in the mountain streams of the
Catskills, take photos, and lay in the grass with my new friends, chatting. All the while I marveled at the beauty of the mountains. How was it possible that I had never seen mountains upclose before this? Yet, the high of the day wore thin when it became clear that the entire group was lost. This was nothing new though; we had managed to get lost on our way out of Providence and almost every other city since then due to inaccurate cue sheets. I watched our trip leaders’ faces shift from cool and collected to red and panicked as they asked locals for directions for a desperate three hours. This day almost broke me. After nearly 10 hours of riding, I rolled into Roscoe at 7 p.m. alone, shaking and tired. The cue sheet fiasco had tacked on an extra 25 miles, as well as an endless series of climbs on the difficult Hunter Road. Only six in our group were able to ride all the way
Route Above Left: My first glimpse of the Tetons on the way down Towgotee Pass. Right: Celebrating at the top of Grand Teton. American Bicyclist 17
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2 to the top; everyone else was forced to walk. We found out later that locals from the area usually try to avoid the route we took because the steep inclines are difficult — even for cars to maneuver. In no time, the legend of Hunter Road took on a life of its own in the collective memory of our group. When I finished, I was so weak that I collapsed off my bike, and only then realized that I hadn’t refueled in four hours. Through sweaty tears, I promised myself that I would never have a day like that again. Somehow that promise evolved into a complicated blend of healthy confidence and a warped sense of time and distance. It coalesced into a central idea — “No matter the distance or the incline, it will always be easier than Hunter Road. Since I did that, I can do anything.” Putting the Mantra to Work
That mantra kept me going through the rolling hills of Ohio, the flatlands of Indiana and Illinois, and the brutal winds of Nebraska. When we finally neared Wyoming, I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead. After taking the requisite state sign photo at the Wyoming border (it felt like we had finally reached the West, so my friends and I climbed up on the sign and swung our helmets out like cowboy hats), we cruised through the southern tier of the state. I expected 18 American Bicyclist
to start climbing soon thereafter — this Midwesterner had never been further west than Iowa. Instead, we stared at mountains in the distance for three days, passing tiny towns nestled into red rock formations and bristling desert brush. When the arid flats finally gave way to rolling hills and pine trees, the general gossip of the group shifted to the day we had all been waiting for — the first big challenge of the Rockies. On the morning of our first climb, we were in Dubois, Wyoming. The small western town’s feel, complete with wooden sidewalks and storefronts and motto of ‘Where real cowboys work and play,’ seemed to usher us into the mountainous frontier. I rolled out of Dubois in high spirits and pedaled quickly through the first ten miles, not able to visualize the ominous climb ahead. Suddenly, I whipped around a bend in the road, and the most intimidating mountains I’d ever seen appeared above. My friend Hanna and I looked at each other and laughed anxiously. Really? I was expecting a climb, but somehow I never expected the mountains to be so huge. As so often happened on the trip, we had no choice but to buckle down, get (as) comfortable (as possible) and get going. The 30-mile climb to the top of Towgotee Pass was cold and tedious. Within a few minutes, I lost track of
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Hanna and rode the majority of it alone. I had never realized how lonely it could be riding six miles an hour for three hours straight. Even the realization that I was undoubtedly stronger than I had been in Roscoe didn’t cheer me. How had the day turned so suddenly? After lunch, I joined up with other riders and began the descent. As we wound around the other side of the mountain, we crossed the Continental Divide for the first time and passed the best elevation sign seen yet: 10,000 feet. In the east I hadn’t been confident enough to ride fast downhill — now, I couldn’t stop laughing as I raced down the mountain at 30 miles an hour. When I suddenly zipped around a turn, I was face to face with the soaring, majestic Grand Tetons. I had heard that at 13,700 feet, the Grand Tetons would be the steepest climb of the summer but nothing could have prepared me for that first glimpse. For the next 50 miles, we wove our way down Towgotee and through Grand Teton National Park. As I rode past grazing buffalo and sparkling green streams, I couldn’t help but think that
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52 1. One of our last days riding, in front of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. 2. Where the water switched directions! 3. Cycling “cowboys” in Wyoming. 4. Climbing in Washington State. 5. Seattle bound! Ten miles to go ...
this day was a beautiful reward for all the difficult ones in the past month and a half. This is why I keep riding, I thought. The Power of Perception
Without a doubt, this summer was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Some days, I woke up really dreading the idea of getting on my bike. After a couple days of feeling miserable, I began to appreciate our early morning coffee routine and let the conversation comfort me. Other days, I wanted to scream from the pain and boredom on the bike. To curb the monotony, I sang musicals with friends until I had no breath left to scream. By the time I made it to Wyoming, I had realized two things. First, I learned how to deal with the things I couldn’t control — the weather, the pain and the tough days. Second, I began to acknowledge that this adventure would shape who I am for the rest of my life. Anyone who has participated in a lengthy ride knows that the journey inevitably takes on epic proportions at some point. Northwestern Wyoming
was this point for me. The difficult days didn’t fade away from memory but my perspective changed. When I climbed Grand Teton the next day, I realized that I was a slightly different person — physically and mentally — from the one I had been in Providence. Over the course of the summer, I came to understand in a very real and concrete way the power of the mind. Perhaps it sounds naive — ridiculous even. Yet, somewhere between the switchbacks of the Appalachians, the heart-wrenching pacelines of the
plains, and the lush beauty of the Cascades, a scraggly group of 20-somethings made it across the United States on two wheels. When I pulled up to Alkai Beach in West Seattle, I knew I had had the adventure I was looking for. My only question then was, “What’s next?” Lisa Reitz answered that question by joining the League of American Bicyclists as membership and events assistant in December 2008. To speak with her about her trip, or about the League, contact her at lisa@bikeleague.org or 202-822-1333.
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good Thinking globally while trash-picking locally! Now in central Ghana, this bike was in suburban Westfield, N.J. only six months ago. Photo credit: David Schweidenback
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Don’t let d bikesdie! D
o you follow the environmental motto of reduce, reuse, recycle? Would you also like to help someone in Sierra Leone, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Uganda, Ghana or Moldova experience that thrill of personal freedom that your first bike gave you? It’s easy. Just recycle bicycles. One of the great things about bicycling through upscale neighborhoods is the amazing treasures you find in the trash. Some people have more money than time, so it seems perfectly reasonable for them to put expensive, usable items out with the trash. Over the past few years, we have diverted several nice pieces of furniture, a perfectly usable set of bicycle rollers and a rowing ergometer from the landfill. We have also saved many bikes. There are many different reasons why perfectly serviceable bikes end up at the curb. Maybe the bike needed a small adjustment or a flat repair, or maybe it got displaced by a new bike. Maybe its rider grew up and moved away. What doesn’t vary is that one person’s trash remains another’s treasure. To reduce the number of bicycles going to landfills, I rescue them from the trash. After six months, the rescued bicycles start to clutter my garage. Once I have four to six of them, a carload, I donate them to the charity Pedals for Progress. Pedals for Progress teams up with local volunteer groups who are trained to arrange, publicize and staff a collection day. The volunteers partially disassemble the bikes for shipping (remove pedals and turn handlebars), and provide transport back to Pedals for Progress’ home location in High Bridge, New Jersey. Pedals for Progress evaluates the bicycles and fixes minor problems. The bikes are cleaned up, lubed and reshod with new tubes and tires as needed. Some are converted to a single speed. Then the bikes are held for the next ocean container shipment. To date, Pedals for Progress has shipped over 117,892 bikes to 32 countries. The bicycles, after their ocean voyage, are delivered to a local receiver organization that reassembles the bikes and may modify them further, as needed. They are then resold into the local market, which may only have had access to prohibitively expensive, new imported bicycles.
by Geoff Thomas
Geoff Thomas rescues bikes he finds in the trash and donates them to Pedals for Progress, where they are fixed up and shipped overseas to developing countries. The bikes pictured above are on their way to the Morristown, N.J. collection site.
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Do you remember how liberating your bicycle was to you as a kid? In many areas of the world, a simple bicycle provides that kind of freedom to adults. Suddenly, the person who could previously only travel on foot can now find work in neighboring villages and towns, start a small business or travel to see family or friends in areas where no public transit exists. In short, a bicycle can transform a person’s life.
The Bike Collector Over the past few years, I’ve collected quite a menagerie of makes and styles. Sometimes there seems to be a theme to a particular collection. I titled my most recent donation “A Salute to American Bicycles,” complete with a Columbia from Massachusetts, the ever-present Schwinns from Illinois and a nice 24inch girl’s Ross from Allentown, Pa. I don’t know where the Sears brand bike was made but it did say, Made in USA. The only foreign made bikes in the group were a Mongoose that looked brand new except for an outof-true rear wheel and a vintage Fuji. Sometimes you can trace the date a bike 22 American Bicyclist
was sold by the bike shop stickers. Some bikes have stickers showing what college its owner attended. Oh, the tales these bikes tell. They can even reveal the stock history of local bike shops; some sold all sorts of brands that they no longer carry. It’s also fun to see the evolution of bikes, from antique 3-speed SturmeyArcher hubs to very current Shimano gear. I have been able to see firsthand how the craftsmanship of bikes has changed, how they have gotten lighter and more durable. I’m still hoping to rescue something equipped with Campagnolo! The most common curbside find is usually a five to 20-year-old road bike, typically with a thick coating of garage dust, two flat tires and a very rusty chain. But then there are the nice older Trek mountain bikes that need only a new tube or the Dutch lady’s multispeed city bike complete with fenders, internal drum brakes and generators. Judging from its size, Dutch women must be mighty tall! Kid’s bikes and BMX bikes, recently, are increasingly common too.
What Does Pedals for Progress Want? Pedals for Progress would like nearly all bicycles. According to David Schweidenback, president of
Pedals for Progress, “No bicycle is too good to ship overseas.” He notes that bicycle racing has taken off in the developing world; and as a result, demand is rising for high-end bicycles. Better quality bikes sell for higher prices in the destination countries, which helps to pay the shipping bills. Pedals for Progress ships high-end racing bikes regularly. I learned from Schweidenback that, ”For years, the national champion of Nicaragua rode a recycled Cannondale!” While Pedals for Progress can use just about any sort of bicycle, the best find is a sturdy adult-sized mountain bike. The frames are strong, and the fat tires are well suited for poorly paved roads and rural paths. Pedals for Progress prefers men’s bikes because as Schweidenback says, “The bar that differentiates a man’s from a woman’s bike is, potentially, a seat. These bicycles
become the family vehicle. Every possible seat is needed.” However, a kid’s bike is also desirable abroad — bikes with 20 or 24 inch wheels are viewed as full size, and BMX bikes are especially sought after. The bottom line is this. Whenever I see a bike put out with the trash, I look it over. If it is durable and fixable, I sling it into the car. If I see a good bike in the trash while I’m walking the dog, I’ll walk the bike and the dog home together. That bike then joins the herd in my garage until the next collection day.
The reborn bikes pictured above are now in service in Nicaragua. Photo credit: David Schweidenback
For further information and details, please visit Pedals for Progress at www.p4p.org. While donations of bicycles or money are tax-deductible, bike donors must pay a minimum $10 fee per bike to offset handling costs, which averages $35 per bicycle. If you can’t find a collection site close to you, consider holding a drive of your own. It’s a nice Eagle Scout project, town environmental day project or a great activity for a bike club!
American Bicyclist 23
STATE UPDATE
GetAbout Columbia Experiment in Motion
by Robert Johnson
Columbia, Mo. is now the subject in a Federal non-motorized transportation survey.
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olumbia, Mo., population 100,000, is a college town familiar with experiments, grants and a test subject or two and is now the subject in a federal nonmotorized transportation study. With the signing of the 2005 transportation bill, Columbia, along with three other communities, received $22 million to fund non-motorized transportation projects and promotion. The theory was if non-motorized transportation is funded at the federal level, will there be a reasonable increase in participation? Columbia was mandated, with results due to Congress by 2010, to
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first develop non-motorized transportation projects and second, to study the increase, hopefully, in bicyclists and pedestrians. A control city would be compared to see if it was money, or some other factor (gas prices or the economy), that was responsible for the increase in bicyclists and pedestrians. As a test project, the future of federally funded programs like this depends on Columbians, and the residents of the three other test communities, favoring their bike helmets and tennis shoes to their car keys. Where was Columbia to start? The first task was to come up with a name. Although The Federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Project Grant was certainly descriptive, it was not very catchy.
The program was renamed GetAbout Columbia and a brand was born. The program was divided into two parts — physical infrastructure, along with encouragement and education. Public Works was in charge of infrastructure improvements, such as bicycle lanes and trails. The encouragement and promotion portion was split between a local marketing firm and the PedNet Coalition, a local nonprofit bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization. PedNet had been teaching the League LCI courses, instigating a variety of encouragement programs and advocating for city improvements for cyclists and pedestrians since 2000. Since 2008, Columbia’s education initiatives have helped reach and train nearly 4,000 residents.
Due to the success Columbia had with the League’s LCI classes — especially with the Traffic Skills 101 course Confident City Cycling, the League’s curriculum became the backbone of the city’s bike education program. As vehicular cycling can be done with any existing infrastructure, Columbia was able to encourage people to bicycle without having to wait for the proposed bicycle lanes and trails. The course changed the way Columbia’s residents viewed bicycling. Many students, previously afraid to bicycle on a city street, rarely drive a car now! GetAbout Columbia’s mission to get people to replace automobile trips with active transportation was playing out in real time. GetAbout Columbia surveyed their students six weeks after graduating the Traffic Skills 101 course. In order to measure success the survey asked, “If your amount of bicycling has increased, what percentage of your automobile trips have been REPLACED with bicycle trips?” The average answer is 24 percent! Columbia was impressed with this figure because it says if they can get people to take the Traffic Skills 101 course, they WILL drive less and bicycle more, regardless of infrastructure. The infrastructure of Columbia has been altered due to the League’s curriculum. Prior to an active education scene, Columbia’s few bicycle lanes ended at the stop bar at intersections. A bicyclist traveling straight ahead would then be in a vulnerable position of being struck by a right turning automobile. Traffic engineers would never design a straight thru traffic lane to the right side of a possible right turn lane for automobiles! This problem seemed unavoidable to Columbia’s traffic engineer before taking the Traffic Skills 101 course
GetAbout Columbia’s mission is to get people to replace automobile trips with active transportation. back in 2006. He was nervous, just like many of the students prior to taking the course, about riding in traffic. He could not imagine anyone on a bicycle going through an intersection the same way an automobile driver would. After taking the class and seeing how easy it was for someone to learn how to signal, scan and merge with the regular traffic flow, the engineer changed the future of Columbia’s infrastructure. Now bicycle lanes end approximately 200 feet before the intersection with sharrows being placed in the lane between the ending of the bicycle lane and the stop bar. This allows the bicyclist to find a safe time to merge with the regular traffic flow and use the intersection the way it was designed to function. This virtually eliminates the possibility of the dreaded right hook that plagues many intersections with bicycle lanes across the United States. A similar breakthrough came when the city mayor took Traffic Skills 101. He had been bicycling for years and quickly learned how much easier negotiating intersections could be when you utilized it correctly. More progress came with GetAbout Columbia’s newfound partnership with the Columbia Police Department — all 150 officers were trained about bicycling law. Many of the officers were simply not trained on the subject and did not have any additional knowledge on the subject than the typical motorist. Initially GetAbout Columbia trained an officer who enjoyed recreational bicycling and talked him into taking the Confident City
Cycling course. After he passed the course, his tuition was paid to attend a League LCI training seminar. The perfect opportunity to train the rest of the force occurred during one of the Confident City Cycling courses — an officer pulled over the participants twice for not being as far to the right as possible, despite that the class was making a left turn! The chief clearly realized that training was necessary. Columbia has gone from a city where the police ignored bicyclists who desperately needed to be pulled over for infractions, like riding at night without lights and running stop signs, to a city that has a police force that generally recognizes that bicycles are vehicles and pulls over riders who break the law. The month after PedNet ran their in-house training for the police, the department issued Operation Share the Road. The Captain told his officers to make a concentrated effort to pull over bicyclists who were
Robert Johnson (left), PedNet Coalition’s Education Coordinator, actively participates in Columbia’s Confident City Cycling courses.
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Above: A typical Columbia bike lane ending 200 ft. before the intersection, with sharows beyond the intersection’s end.
breaking traffic laws, as well as following up with complaints of motorists harassing bicyclists. The police made about 100 contacts with bicyclists, to which one officer joked, “that is about 100 more than we have probably ever made before.” An officer who is not confident about bicycling laws will be hesitant to stop a bicyclist who deserves it, be hesitant to protect a bicyclist who needs it or, worse yet, pull over a bicyclist for using the roadway in safe manner. Columbia believes they have improved and have increased the awareness that everyone is better off when bicycles are thought of as vehicles. That includes motorists, bicyclists AND police officers. Columbia also encourages their LCIs to make presentations about bicycling laws to motorists and bicyclists by attending club meetings, facilitating brown bag lunch seminars and stopping riders on the street. There
is the occasional unchanged motorist but more often than not, people leave a presentation finally understanding why it is safer to ride on the road rather than the sidewalk and why bicyclists cannot be fined for impeding traffic the way a motorists can. A good, consistent message is necessary to produce a friendly and safe bicycling environment. Confident City Cycling students, the best cheerleaders for safe bicycling, spread the word to their friends, family and colleagues. The PedNet LCIs are frequent guests on local talk radio shows and are featured in the media. A local call-in radio show has been a hotbed of discussion about bicycling laws since the inception of Columbia’s program. Most callers need a refresher on traffic laws — some think it is illegal to ride a bicycle on a city street! Though, it is important to remember that the vocal minority is just that. For every person who is admittedly antibicycle, there are probably another 100 who learned something that will help their driving or maybe even encourage them to get out there on a bicycle. Columbia and its counterparts are still in the midst of the non-motorized transportation study; and so far, only one survey has been released. The city’s results, released last January, show that solo automobile use is down over 15 percentage points, walking is 1.6 times what it was 12 months ago and bicycling is 2.5 times what it was 12 months ago. In addition to that study, Columbia has numerous anecdotes to share and knows that the future of nonmotorized transportation is riding on the results they achieve. If the numbers are as impressive as they think they will be, then this experiment could prove that spending our transportation dollars on things other than moving as many automobiles as fast as possible is truly a wise investment. Columbia was just recognized by the League as a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community.
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GIVING (JAUARY-APRIL 2009)
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On this page we acknowledge all those individuals who have contributed $100 or more to the League of American Bicyclists between January through April 2009. Your gifts help provide educational tools to national, state and city leaders; law enforcement; motorists and bicyclists; teachers and students; and parents and children. Above all, you inspire us to continue to reach for new and better ways to advocate on behalf of bicyclists and promote our shared passion. We are grateful for your support.
The Millennium Club ($1,000 - $2,499) Phil Blumenkrantz Ann Pokora The Century Club ($100 - $999) Bike Clubs Arkansas Bicycle Club Bikestation Chattanooga Bicycle Club Cleveland Touring Club Doubles of the Garden State East Coast Bicycle Club Elmhurst Bicycle Club Kansas City Bicycle Club Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club Riverbend Bicycle Club Spring City Spinners Bicycle Club Westerville Bicycle Club Dealer Campus Cycles Individuals Dan Adams Judy Amabile Bruce Amesbury Dale & Sue Anderson Greg Avedikian Deborah Bacal Mimy Bailey Susan Barsley Paul Beukema Greg Binder Steven Blondeau Scott Booth Donald S. Bost Michael Braaton Larry R. Brown Matt Brown Michael Brown Jeffrey A. Burke Jim & Lisa Burque Jeffrey W. Call
John Colwell Steve Combs Aben Cooper Ronald P. Cooper Lily Conrad Harold W. Crosley John Curington Mavic Driscoll Gary & Carole Dupuis Robert Ferguson N. V. Fitton William Forlifer Hal Foster Gary W. Gemmill Adil Godrej Janet Goldstein John Graham Richard Griffith Phil Grinton Dave Grumann Jennie Hamiter Alan W. Hathway Chris Heisterkamp George C. Hetrick Carl Hill Stuart Z. Hoffman Michelle Horvath Andrew Hsu Robin Hunt Peter Janick Benjamin Joannou Michael Johnston William Keir Siri Akal & Hari Khalsa Greg Kimberly David King Greg Kline Stacy Kline Larry Kloet Kurt C. Kovac Jonathan K. Kurohara Jeffrey Larsen Fred Logalbo John T. Magrane Paul Manocchio David Margraf Steve Marsh
Donna L. McMillen William Mensing Charles J. Mintz Michael W. Moran Ronald Mortensen James A. Nafziger Douglas B. Neu Gary Newhart Neal J. Ney Tim Nichols Thomas Niedbala William Nosbisch Gene Oh Jean O‘Leary Michael Onstad William Pack Nicholas Don Paladino Eugene C. Palmer Jeff Pedelty Tom Portel Don Potts William Radtkey Jan Rael Robert Railey William Randolph Steve K. Rankin Jim Register Leroy & Jenn Rodriguez Eduardo Ruchelli Paul Sanford Don Schatz Jim Sebastian Bud W. Shaw Jim Sheehan Neal Sigmon William Simonsen Richard Stephan Porter Storey John Stowe Tom Taaffe Evan & Susan Tilley Al Tillson Thomas Tilque Jim Tobias Christopher G. Tompsett Terence Treppa William Trost
Andy & Roseanne Valdivieso Carl Voss Dan Waldheim Robert Weeks Paul Wengert Timothy P. Whalen David G. Williams Loel Wooldridge Jerry & Janet Zebrack Chris Ziegler
Life Members Alison Chaiken John Gallovic Loretta Gase Mark D. Graff Pat Grimm Michael Lonetto Jeff Olson Eric Post Julian Shepard Walter Shields Keith Zudell
American Bicyclist 27
Clair Duckham Cycling Through the Ages
By Chuck Smith, League Life Member, LCI #1209, Dayton Cycling Club Board Member
Clair Duckham reminded us of what cycling can do for the body. He showed us the strength of the human spirit and left us with an admirable legacy.
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lair Duckham is an inspiration to us all. He lived almost 103 happy years, a great physical specimen to the very end. Duckham, a collector of bicycles and a bicycle racer, was born in 1906 in Kenton, Ohio and moved to Dayton in 1936. In 1961, at age 55, Duckham established a bicycle club in Dayton, the Dayton Cycling Club. Duckham served as the first president of the Dayton Cycling Club and watched it grow from three members to 700 over the years. Through his 70s and 80s, Duckham continued to take long rides, including the 206-mile, two day Tour of the Scioto River Valley. Duckham also led a group of older Dayton Cycling Club members on breakfast rides from his home in north Dayton to surrounding restaurants. They became known as the Gray Wolves. When Duckham reached age 90, additional club members joined the Gray Wolves on Duchham’s birthday ride from his home to the Big Boy restaurant in Troy, Ohio. As Duckham progressed through his 90s, the birthday party grew as more people heard of his tenacity. Duckham’s family members
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and friends from across the country joined the ride — even Ohio Governor Bob Taft started riding with Duckham to his birthday parties. Taft proclaimed Duckham’s birthday Clair Duckham Day in Ohio and began to advocate for bicycling and its health benefits.
Duckham was three years old when Governor Taft’s great grandfather, William Howard Taft, became President of the United States in 1909. Duckham’s 100th birthday celebration ride in 2006 is a poignant memory for Chuck Smith, a League life member and LCI #1209. “Duckham and I rode a Co-Motion tandem together. The tandem had separate chains for each of us, so Duckham did not need to pedal if he did not want to,” recalls Smith. It was raining hard as the pair pedaled onto Shoup Mill Road in Dayton. Duckham was pedaling hard, and Smith had to tell him to stop as the light at Frederick Pike was turning red. After turning left onto Frederick Pike, they began to climb out of the Stillwater River Valley. “I was concerned about getting up to speed for balance, as the Co-Motion tandem is rather unstable at slow speeds,” stated Smith. “We got up to speed very quickly and pulled away from the entire group of riders!” In 2008, Duckham once again pedaled the entire 17 miles to his 102nd birthday party.
Above: Chuck Smith rode with Clair Duckham (seated front) to his 102nd birthday party in 2008. Duckham pedaled the entire 17 miles.
An avid collector of vintage bicycles and memorabilia, Duckham was a longtime member of the Dayton Wheelmen and donated much of his collection to The Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio. Those wishing to contribute in Duckham’s memory are asked to donate to the Bicycle Museum of America, PO Box 97, New Bremen, OH 45869.