El Camino BRT Cycle Chic

VTA is planning to install full-scale Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a rail-like bus system, along three corridors in the County. BRT on El Camino and The Alameda is scheduled for 2014. As part of that planning, we have been scoping out current and potential bus stops.

People bike in Santa Clara County but usually either in spandex or ...very baggy pants. I was delighted to see cyclists at our first BRT bus stop on The Alameda; the first one in a lovely white sweater, boots with heels and riding a mixtie.


A moment later, another cyclist passed by porting much more your typical San Jose look and also typically riding on the sidewalk. The South Bay has pretty good bicycle roadway facilities, and the pavement is good, but without a culture of cycling both the cyclists and the automobile drivers don't know how to share the road.

Pigeon Point Bike Ride photos

Pigeon Point 2009

Chris, Daniel, Danielle, Kathy, Lindsey and I rode our bikes from our respective homes to Pigeon Point Lighthouse and back again. These photos show views of the ocean and the ridge, of breakfast, second breakfast and lunch, and of all of us having a whale of the time. Let's do it again soon, guys!

Poster party!

I'm participating in this event.
It's 7:00 - 11:00p. See you there.

Vélib' = bike freedom/free bikes

Tomorrow, I'm giving a talk on the Paris bike sharing program Vélib' at San Jose State University. In honor of this event, I'll post some of my remaining photos from this summer's Paris visit of people riding the bikeshare bikes.

Admire my tomatoes.

These are the first of this year's crop.

Women's happiness

My mom sent this over. It's interesting.

What's Happening To Women's Happiness? by Marcus Buckingham, September 17, 2009

I can't provide a whole lot of insight since I am relatively happy, and I'm a sample size of one. But comparing this life to my idea of my "perfect life", I would prefer to spend 80% of my time playing with my children, gardening, raising chickens, cooking together and listening to music made by people I love.

New York Bicycle Wedding photograph

I was delighted to see this wedding photograph as the lead photo of my TA StreetBeat this week.

Here's what it said: T.A. staffer Ryan Nuckel married longtime member Rachael Myers last weekend. Our sincerest congratulations to the happy couple.
Image courtesy Andrew Hinderaker

The evening saved.

Sometimes I want to call this blog "Chronicles of My Amazing Life"... like today for example. We were going to do some field work which would have caused me to get home by 5:30 instead of my usual 7p. But a meeting happened (that I wasn't invited to) where people realized they had made a huge error. Since the deadline was this afternoon, I was then called into a follow-up meeting and then required to do some reconciliation to account for the error. So, I took my usual bus home.

After work, I had an errand. The website of the place said it closed at 9. So, I dashed over there, arriving at 7:15 to find it closed at 7p. I nearly cried to the security guard; another customer reminded me "It's not his fault". I knew that. I just wanted the correct time on the website.

My mood was low as I rode my bike towards home. I took Hayes St., which is unusual for me, and a former grocery store was having an art gallery opening party. This is my native habitat; so, I locked my bike and sauntered in for a complimentary glass of delicious red wine. It's "joby inspired" and huge writing on the wall asked the guests to finish the sentence "I feel inspired when...". Everything was made from those flexible tri-pods including lamps, a bicycle, and a toy robot. On display were also film cameras without view lenses. I bought a book designed to "make you a better photographer" that really was just a series of cool art projects. Drunk shopping -- my part to boost the economy.

The event had a newspaper. The bios included "Derek Chen... recently returned to his first love, furniture." "Liz Kinnmark... hopes to join the circus someday." and Rich Hansen and his wife's "most ambitious project to date, daily photographs of their children." (I'm totally going to do that!) I don't know how I didn't know anyone there; these felt like my peeps.

A bicycle rally was planned for Gestalt House. I swung by since it was on my way home. Well after the starting time, the crowd was still thin ("bicycle time"). I saw two people I knew. I went over to recruit to our table another woman we recognized (she was alone) but got waylaid by a couple cute guys hitting on me. Eventually, I had to get away without the girl, but I sure was flattered.

The moon rose fast; so, I went home before turning into a werewolf. Here, I watched Chuck . Is it my nerd fettish or is he the most attractive character ever?

ACT: Brief Encounter

Marketing works. I wanted to go to this show because the Bicycle Coalition partnered with ACT for a "bike to the theater" night. That night didn't work for me, and neither did a whole bunch of other nights, but eventually we were able to select one.

This production was fantastic. I loved the whole multimedia thing they did, making it sort of like an old movie but then fading back to live and back again. The other thing I loved were the vaudevillian supporting characters. They rocked.

That said, the story kinda sucked. Let me run it by you: man and woman meet accidentally; they meet again. They start spending time together even though they are both in other relationships. They fall in love, but it doesn't change their home lives in any way. They realize this can never work, and agree to stop seeing each other over copious tears. Excuse me while I vomit in the corner.

In addition, main characters' acting was weak. The woman came across as very simple; maybe that was their intention. When the man spoke, I thought (after 20 years of dating) "he's lying. don't believe him", which makes the plight of these lovers a difficult situation to empathize with.

Naomi said that's her experience with ACT. They put on amazing productions of mediocre plays with bad acting. She's feels like they're wasting that talent.

Lilia Pilia on Bikes21

My photo is on Bikes21 today. Vote for me.

Not what a bicycle was designed for, but so wonderful anyway

Thanks, Kathy

[Streetsfilms] Sands Street Gets a Sassy, Center-Median Cycletrack

I really like solutions like this where cyclists are completely separated from traffic, pedestrians and parking. The separate level and sloped curbs also show a magnificent attention to detail and understanding of how cyclists use the road.

[Scientific American] Women = indicator species of cycling

How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road, To boost urban bicycling, figure out what women want, By Linda Baker
OK, so the title they gave the article gets it backwards, but the study brings up excellent points: cycling won't become a truly mainstream part of our society until women feel save riding on a city's streets. Women are the ones who are likely to feel unsafe. The solution is easy: prioritize bike safety.

It must be a big relief to know what to do. ;-)

[Dylan K] collector's corner

Dylan said: Saw this bike near my office a few days ago and had to
take a picture for you. Notice that the generator appears to have an
integrated wire (comes out of the handle-bar post), and even better -
check out the little camera holder on the handle bar!

Gift idea for me

Fusion Jacket from Terry Precision Cycling
Oops! I wanted it in pink, and they appear to be out of that color. :-( Never mind.

San Jose Bike Party Review

Someday, I'll make it to the San Jose Bike Party. In the meantime, here's a review someone else wrote.

David Byrne on Cities

First, the WSJ published his essay A Talking Head Dreams of a Perfect City where he identifies the best part of every city. San Francisco, he says, is beautiful but too small. The following week, last week, his book Bicycle Diaries was released. My pal Chris Carlson reviewed it in the SF Chron. Sounds like a sweet read.

Circus Bella

Last month, I had the good fortune to see Circus Bella at Fort Mason. All the performances took my breath away, but I'm still thinking about the guy who juggled downward, bouncing balls against things on the ground in combination with beepboxing towards a complete musical composition. Looking at the program now, I'm guessing his name was Bronkar Lee, but I could be wrong. David Hunt's slack rope performance is also still on my mind -- worried that he's going to fall.... Go see them perform again at Yerba Buena Gardens on October 18th.

Park(ing) Day: The Noodly Appendage (Pirates!)

Across the street from the Park(ing) instillation shown in yesterday's post, the excellent folks at 826 Valencia represent with a pirate ship installation. (Speaking of which, I believe tomorrow is talk-like-a-pirate day. I don't know why we need a special day to talk like a pirate -- we should do it every day we're moved to do so!)

In case you're wondering, "826 Valencia is dedicated to supporting students age 6-18 with their writing skill, and to helping teachers get their students excited about the literary arts."

When I shot their photos, residents of The Noodly Appendage "arrg"ed at me enthusiastically.

Park(ing) Day Map

Click here for the map