Originally Posted by
MartinOne
Yes, to CSULA (then called LA State) + East LA CC. But this isn't about our childhoods or who has the most "my-neighborhood-is-more-bad" cred.
History Lesson Clarification:
Jan. 1964
L.A. State College is officially renamed California State College at Los Angeles (CSCLA) and becomes part of the California State College (CSC) system formed in 1960. -
http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/media/cslainf1.php
I attended & graduated from
CSULA far later than 1964. I never attended East Los Angeles Community College. I don't care much for schools operated by the Los Angeles' local government, so I transfered to another far better non Los Angeles operated community college a year after I attended LACC (a real dumpster of a academic education which I had to fix later on) in Hollywood. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is one of the local colleges I sometimes periodically attend to upgrade my sewing skills as I work professionally in that trade now. For trade education, it is wonderful. Everything else, not so much.
As for neighborhood location, I prefer not to advertise exactly where I live for security reasons. Suffice to say, it is in the process of gentrification.
Now To Bicycles:
Originally Posted by
MartinOne
As a recent convert to Folderism, and already a member of the choir, I wanted to remind the OP that although fanatics are often correct, their standards might be a bit high for mere mortals who have to factor in everyday risks and benefits.
So I have no quarrel about 1 and 2 of the following advice, but I'd add the other steps with the caveat that everyone will have different metrics for assessing tolerable risks, the environment, and their capacity to tolerate loss.
1, Keep the bike "in touch."
2. Keep the bike "in sight."
3. Lock the bike if in sight but at a distance.
4. Lock the bike if out of sight, even for a short time.
5. Lock the bike if out of sight for a longer time. Here, my research indicates that some popular locks and chains take about 4 minutes to break through, and that is only with a loud, spark-throwing grinder. These chains/locks come with insurance coverage (for the bike) if the chain fails. I limit my lock and chain use to locations with lots of people around- - -where the theft would be so conspicuous that most thieves would prefer to look for an easier, quicker target. (IMO, most college campuses qualify here.) All bets are off if locking in a dark alley overnight.
Any bicycle can be a real pain if I did not take my dad's advice. When he had to remove the damaged U-Lock from my last bike I ever had to lock, he told me, "This is not working, find another bike!" And I did. With his help, I chose the Dahon Boardwalk. When my father was transported to a hospital 5 miles from home in the middle of the night, only the Dahon was able to get me there safely. And because I was able to fold it up, bag it, and then bike was taken in the ICU to check on my father
without concern about what to do with the bike. My father did not return home after that, but I was able to be with him before he died-without the loss of my sole transportation as he himself wanted.
Originally Posted by
MartinOne
6. Leave the bike at home. This is clearly the worst choice.)
The several years I had with now 4 folding bikes (and soon a tricycle), has given me a unique take on bikes. They are here to serve me (not the other way around). If I need one, I use it-if I don't, it stays bagged & stored away until I do. I don't need to use one all the time as I like to use other forms of transit periodically. But that does not mean I forget about them. I sew for the home and professionally, so I expand my designs and create one-of-a-kind creations for the bikes just like I do for the dogs and cats I own.
I think that this is what people on the streets stop me to ask about my bikes over the years. They can see for themselves how fulfilling folding bikes are in adapting to the environment I-and they-function in. And they want one for themselves. Hence, the development of my Website series.
Folding/separating bikes were the choice of wartime. Now they are a choice for an infrastructure environment that does not support anything that does not "claim" it's part of the road (the private 4 wheeled huge motor vehicle).
Now For New Designs & Approaches To Doing Or Participating In:
Sometimes a client brings me a commercial pattern for the home sewing market because they just love it. I don't follow the rules too closely with these patterns as sometimes they are not the best way to construct or even use the garment. I am about to modify this one listed below in order to speed construction plus mainly keep prices to charge for the dress' construction as low as possible. My bag patterns also reflect this philosophy of creating the best and quickest made folding bike bag ever! I don't follow someone else's drumbeat.
http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6351-products-14406.php?page_id=96