want to see.

Michael Reynolds, Garbage Warrior

renegade architecture and sustainable communities

created from trash

yay! bicyclist wins NYC commuter challenge!!

Transportation Alternatives held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge pitting cyclist, driver, and bus/subway rider in the ultimate showdown of which mode of travel can be quickest (and cheapest!)
In the end, the bike proved swiftest over the 4.5 mile course which began in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene and ended in Manhattan’s Union Square. Jamie Favaro rolled up in just over 16 minutes and took home the gold and a bouquet of flowers for her efforts. Driver, Emmanuel Fuentebella (22 minutes) parked his car and sprinted to a surprise second place finish. Shortly after, disappointed MTA rider April Greene came in last at 29 minutes. But, as Wiley Norvell noted at the finish line, Transportation Alternatives also measured the carbon footprint of all the the riders and Greene came in a close second behind the cyclist.

originally posted here: bike vs. car. vs. transit

[7:44:00 am to Orual via text:]

"Right now i'm thinking. What was I thinking?!"

I was about a mile from work at that point. and the truth was, it really was a beautiful! morning for my first commute by bike. In all, the nearly 9 mile route was far easier on a weekday-workaday than on a Sunday.

Even though I awoke at my usual time - 5:45 - my morning routine was entirely different. Used to timing my day by the various [and repeat] segments on NPR's Morning Edition, I quickly realized I need to develop a new rhythm. What interesting behaviors we embrace as humans. For instance: I know that unless I reach a certain intersection by a certain time, then I will catch the red light. And therefore catch a subsequent 4 red lights on my entire route to work by car. But by bike: The rhythm is entirely different.

So too are the sailor signs. You know the way you watch the skies to know what to anticipate? Here's what I've learned in the last 24 hours by bike:

The whole universe may seem mired in a still, sticky heat as complicating to movement as Jello, but when you are pedaling that last 4 mile homestretch to work by bike…don't let the stilled trees fool you. you will be riding against the wind the whole way.

In spite of this, I made it to work…and an half-an-hour early!...only moderately drenched in sweat.

I had lain awake for three hours until nearly 2 in the morning buzzing [was it an exercise euphoria from my Sunday ride?] through thoughts of what to anticipate and what to pack.

Packing for a bike commute, it's helpful to embrace your inner boy scout and consider every possibility to BE PREPARED. I am wholly a novice. And when I couldn't sleep I read through a couple chapters of The Complete Idiots Guide to Cycling to go through some of the checklists of provisions I'll need to acquire.

What I did not have to pack is:
A repair kit.
A portable pump.
New tubes.
Raingear.
Any suitable baskets or panniers.

But starting small, what I was able to do was: In one backpack and a small pocketed messenger bag I packed:

-all wrapped in plastic inside my packpack-

My current read: "Soulmates" by Thomas Moore
My journal and pen
My wallet with ID [for you, mum]
2 bananas; an apple; 2 granola bars; 2 fruit bars [no…I am not a major snacker…I have diabetes and must make every effort to consider an episode of low blood sugar…especially while exercising]
My diabetic glucometer
A injection site change for my insulin pump
My hair products and brush [to alleviate the inevitable 'helmet head']
An extra stainless steel water bottle filled with ice cold h2o

-wrapped in plastic inside the messenger bag-

A towel, washcloth and soap [for making myself presentable to my coworkers]
My deodorant
My workclothes
A change of shoes
My Second current read:"Man and his Symbols" by Carl Jung

[it should be fairly obvious by the necessary inclusion of 2 books that i'm the fairly bookish type. EVERY thing you pack is weight. And a backpack is PRIME real estate when it requires physical effort to make every mile]

By 7, I was on the road…with my messenger bag bungeed to my back rack on top of my Kryptonite U-lock.

The roads were remarkably quiet the first half of the trip with the occasional car and a few startled, sleepy dogwalkers.

I definitely need a bell/horn…not that they do any good for a clueless or aggressive driver, but a delightful ring-ring has to work better to alert a wandering sidewalker than my attempts at speaking louder than my usual soft tone by announcing my presence with an, "Excuse me…excuse me…ex-cuuuse me. Thank you!" [and smile: important].

I've also learned that garbage cans and recycling bins put out to the curb can ruin your flow when you have to screech to a halt to make it between them and a concrete lightpost.

So, by 7:30 I'm well on my way and more than half-way to work and enjoying the sounds of the morning birds…something I'd totally miss by car.

I learned the best way around the tricky roundabout and even commiserated about the already sweltering heat with a fellow velo-commuter who was riding her bike to the Tri-rail station…I imagine she was on her way to work. I think in today's economy, we are going to see more people taking public transport…provided it will still be provided in the throes of our state's budget cuts.

I practiced spinning instead of mashing…for development of those very defined calf muscles I used to have as a child [now incredibly hot as an adult].

And when I got to work, I felt exhilarated at what I'd accomplished! 10 minutes washing up in the ladies room, and nobody could've suspected I'd wheeled my way to work by the sweat of my brow [ I asked a work friend, just to be sure ]

There certainly is an exercise euphoria…release of endorphins, and all…my mum the marathoner talks about it all. the. time. Because, even though I watched the afternoon clouds roll in with some consternation, I could not wait to get back on my bike. And I did watch the skies…again…for sailor signs. The rain looked frightening…and like it was going to be around for a good, long time. But thankfully, the universe smiled on me…and though it was dark and cloudy…3 people actually called me while I was en route to make sure I wasn't riding in the rain…the roads were entirely dry by the time I rode home, and the wind and rain held out until I made it there.

The most important thing I think I've learned however is, it is so much easier to simply Do.
The hardest part is wondering if you can.

sunday. first trial run from home to work by bike.

50 minutes!
In spite of dirt, rocks, roundabouts, missing sidewalks, bumpy sidewalks, narrow sidewalks, traffic, scary intersections, other cyclists, clueless pedestrians, bad drivers, that truck that almost hit me, cactus planted at arm level along the way, the threatening sky, brutal heat and general fatigue.

now that i've practised, i'm ready to attempt a workaday run.

a personal [2 wheeled] revolution.

so.
in that quirky way the universe smiles upon you when you are simply pursuing your passions. it made me smile to recently discover that the week starting may 12 was National Bike Month.

it intrigued me, because that monday, may 12 which was the kick-off of a national event to promote the reduction of pollution and solidarity and resistance to the culture of consumption and gas prices which are currently drowning every jane Q public, was the day i brought my recent Craigslist find of a roadbike to the local bike shop to be renovated.

24 hours later [for le$$ money than i had feared] my bike was roadworthy...and i received kudos from the shop owner Stan for my find of a yokota merced hybrid for a mere $49.

my intention this year was to begin commuting by bike to work. it's approximately 10 miles one way...which isn't much of a distance, truly...i've walked that sometimes in my latenight-past-all-streetlights rambling walkabouts sometimes. but it's an altogether different scenario by light of day in this area of Great Suburbia where everyone jumps in their cars to drive to the local market for their daily bread.

i've driven the distance - my regular route - now, for the last few months planning where i would cross the major thoroughfares and avoid the worst morning rush hour. it's no small feat. i work on one of the most major intersections in my area. and the drivers in this town are NOT conditioned to be cogniscent of cyclists...or pedestrians.

i've made a few trial runs the half distance, and am somewhat surprised at how quickly it takes to make a distance of 5 or so miles. there are times now when i am driving and stuck behind some dangerously distracted slow driver that i wish i was on two wheels [even though my MINI cooper is an absolute joy].

so.
tomorrow is the first trial run that i make the distance. i figure a sunday run will give me a good idea of the path that is best. it's remarkably more visceral to pedal your way to a destination. what is a yawn of a drive by car is incredibly bumpy by bike. i am building callouses on my rump even while learning which intersections to stand and lean into.

so why commute by bike when it's virtually unheard of here in traffic-ville? and when i already drive one of the greenest cars that isn't a hybrid?

as i stated to a group of my coworkers this week:

1] it's good for the environment, and i figure since i know my co-workers love me, my inevitable stanky-ness once i get to work won't be a problem.
[they assured me i was DEAD wrong]

2] it's a practical way to get in a daily workout...calorie burning=more grilled cheese each week...until i go raw, that is. oh yeah, did i mention it was good for the environment??

and,
3] it's in keeping with my list of aspirations for the year...toward which i am well on my way.
[my plan for the year. you can see here]. many of which were in keeping with living mindful of my ecological footprint...so embracing the counterculture of cycling revolution is just one more step.

[if all goes well....monday starts my new morning routine...i figure it'll take me an hour longer to get to work, but it'll give me plenty of time to appreciate the scenery of my hometown and think about the bigger lunches i'll enjoy when i get there]