Living Car Free - 2009 Bike To Work Week Celebrations

Hello Everyone,

We are fast approuching Bike To Work Week which is due to be celebrated next week in my area. Here are some links in case anyone is interested:

Global Events Listings

http://biketoworkweek.org/events.php (http://biketoworkweek.org/events.php)

Local Southern California Information

http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/bikeway_planning/biketowork/local_events.htm (http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/bikeway_planning/biketowork/local_events.htm)

http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/bikeway_planning/biketowork/default.htm (http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/bikeway_planning/biketowork/default.htm)

http://www.californiabikecommute.com/ (http://www.californiabikecommute.com/)

You global events link provided no mention of anything happening in Iowa for BTWW.

However, I found one guy has started a commuter blog (http://realbikerspedal.wordpress.com/).

Myself, I plan to bike to work that week. :)

You global events link provided no mention of anything happening in Iowa for BTWW.

However, I found one guy has started a commuter blog (http://realbikerspedal.wordpress.com/).

Myself, I plan to bike to work that week. :)

The Webmaster seems to have been busy updating his/her site to reflect the many updates that keep coming in. Here are the ones for Iowa as of 10:16 PM Pacific Standard Time (the time I was actually reading the site) on Sunday May 10, 2009:

USA IA May 9-15, 2009 http://biketoworkweek.org/comments.php?loc=USA-IA-- (http://biketoworkweek.org/comments.php?loc=USA-IA--)
or: http://biketowork.bikeiowa.com/ (http://biketowork.bikeiowa.com/)

USA IA Cedar Valley May 12, 2009 http://www.cicbikeweek.org/

USA IA Coralville May 10-16, 2009 http://biketoworkweek.org/comments.php?loc=USA-IA-IowaCity (http://biketoworkweek.org/comments.php?loc=USA-IA-IowaCity)

Keep checking the site frequently as more information is made available for you.

I'm thinking of getting up extra early that morning and biking out to one of the suburban aggregation spots to learn the route in from there. If I lived there
I'd put my bike on the train for the first five miles to avoid the nasty drivers. I
can't think of a route in that I'd advise anyone to ride on a daily basis. On the
other hand, I might be lazy and just swing by the downtown event for the free
bagels and coffee. It would be cool if Obama came by on his hybrid, the event
will be just a few blocks from the Whitehouse.

Our Bike to Work Week has expanded into a month of Bike/walk/bus and it's all tied into a campaign to get a Smart Streets plan on the ballot. It's pretty exciting, really.

Our Bike to Work Week has expanded into a month of Bike/walk/bus and it's all tied into a campaign to get a Smart Streets plan on the ballot. It's pretty exciting, really.

Which organization is behind the campaign and do they have a specific plan for the Smart Streets program. I was told there were a number of similar initiatives for Des Moines, particularly as the mayor seem developing bike infrastructure as a means of attracting young professional (and their tax dollars...). However, the rumor was that debate arose over those who wanted more bike path infrastructure and those who wanted street upgrades.

Which organization is behind the campaign and do they have a specific plan for the Smart Streets program. I was told there were a number of similar initiatives for Des Moines, particularly as the mayor seem developing bike infrastructure as a means of attracting young professional (and their tax dollars...). However, the rumor was that debate arose over those who wanted more bike path infrastructure and those who wanted street upgrades.

They are in the process of developing a specific plan, largely based on the Smart Streets concepts.

Ironically, I had no idea it was this week until a coworker pointed it out to me. :o Of course, I'm still the only one riding to work.

I saw my local city celebration this morning on the bus. Flu/allergies going rampant here, so I've ironically been off my bike this week, but it was a nice sight to see the helmets and seat bags dotting the landscape of a park set between major turn-of-the-century buildings and towers. A local LBS had their wares set up (go figure), and there was a big breakfast goodie spread for anyone riding in, apparently.

Lots of regular folks in spandex - amazing how brave people become when motivated :). Spandex is comfy and if you have a longish commute, you need it, but I was half expecting/hoping to see more people wearing regular work/play clothes. I think that's obstacle #1 in getting people to commit to commuting - the myth that you can't wear slacks and a nice business casual shirt to ride in or that you have to ride so fast that you'll be drenched in sweat beyond return by the time you get there.

I expect it will become a more popular event as a few more years pass and people realize that the gas prices aren't going to "truly" stabilize.

None of the pit stops in my area are open early enough for me to use them on Fridays; I'm already at work by then.. :D

I expect it will become a more popular event as a few more years pass and people realize that the gas prices aren't going to "truly" stabilize.

Excellent event but bike to work was last week and ends with a parade Sunday. Come Monday that event will be a fading memory.

Totally misses some- bike to school, bike in the rain, bike to the doctor, bike to the laundromat-print shop-hardware store- grocery store. Or those cycling when retired, cycling to an unemployment office, cycling to a shuffleboard, cycling to a golf course; whatever.

Nice hoopla- free food, parades or who knows what; but I think I will bike to the mailbox tomorrow and have a nice peaceful Sunday Cruise.

Got "old" to me when I retired in 1993. Goes on and on and on!

Ironically, I had no idea it was this week until a coworker pointed it out to me. :o Of course, I'm still the only one riding to work.
It's always hard to estimate, but I'm not seeing that many commuters this year for BTWW. We had a couple of rainy days, but I did see 7 one morning. I think there were more last year.

For me, this was bike-to-work-and-fix-flat week. I had three flats, which I now attribute to buying cheapo tubes. This was the first time ever fixing a flat in the rain. :(

I for one summed it up in my personal experineces on this important event on my own Blog and here as a Brompton folding bike owner and user:

My Own Personal Experiences On The 2009 Bike To Work Day
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=8931314&posted=1#post8931314

For me personally, it is a way of opening my eyes to the reality of both my own city and the global reality of shifting consciousness of how we as a group are really living our lives, not just cycling only. It is a chance for me to grow as a person in all ways of life.

we had a bike to work event last wednesday (14th of may)
It was a worldwide event within the company I work for. 100 Locations, all over the world, participated.
I didn't bike to work as it is a 125 km ride for home (one way) but I took my bike

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/levensnevel/Snapshots/2Cycle/AlanRecordeditioneKarrewielIIv09050.jpg

with me in the back of my car and took her out for a 1 hour spin prior to work (instead of my daily indoor work out at our wellness center)