Wednesday, April 20, 2011

To be or not to be...

A few weeks back I had to get to a morning meeting by 8:00. It was right off of University and Indian School. Now, I had a few choices...I could ride straight up University Ave on the road - a "car;" I could ride straight up University Ave. on the sidewalk - a "pedestrian;" or I could ride through UNM across Lomas Blvd. onto the North Diversion Channel trail to Indian School then down the bike lane that's on the road - a "biker."



Little did I know that this has been discussed for years by those who are much more embedded in the biking community. I further realize that the more one delves into many communities, the more one witnesses the hard, yet thoughtful, discussions. There are decisions that most of us "casual community members" might never consider, or, if we did, we usually have not delved into the many (and often challenging) ways in which those decisions are being considered.



For example, I was thinking about the decision within the community of homeless service providers in regards to the work toward ending homelessness. There is a desire to get folks into housing as soon as possible, a concept called "Housing First." It's a great and obvious way to deal with the repercussions of being on the streets...get people housed and then help work on the other challenges that either led to the them being homeless and/or the challenges caused by the homelessness in the first place. A great idea, but, there is usually long waiting lists to get into Section 8 Housing (sometimes an 18 month wait) or Supportive Housing or transitional housing programs and most importantly, not enough affordable housing as most individuals are not paid a living wage (but, that is another blog!).



In the meantime, there are shelters within the city, which are limited, but at least gives folks a break from the street. So, the discussion within the community: do we use available money and energy to push toward more affordable housing, but, in doing so, risk taking money from shelters and short term "fixes" or do we keep building more shelters - despite the fact that long term shelter life can create significant challenges especially health outcomes in children- instead of focusing on the long term stability of a permanent home, since the reality of housing a significant amount of people is a slow, challenging, and a lengthy process?

Just as the discussion between permanently housing folks (long term solution) vs. efforts toward building shelters (short term solution) is a reality for the homelessness advocates, the discussion between seeing the road as the rightful place for bikers vs. efforts for alternate routes so folks at least get on their bikes is a discussion within the biking community.

Just as homelessness advocates want to end homelessness, bike advocates want to encourage more biking. In fact, the more bikes that are visible, the more safe it can be for those who bike. This is part of the discussion I am witnessing on biking-centered blogs. Discussions, that, much like those within the community of homeless service providers, are having to weigh the short and long term repercussions. More specifically, when it comes to advocating riding, safety is a huge issue.

As I stated before, the more folks visibly biking on the roads, the more automobiles will have to learn how to "play well" and "share the road." Some people within the biking community want to focus on training people to be aggressive bikers, to not let the cars push them around and push them to the side. Others want to focus on enhancing biking infrastructure, both on the roads but also by creating alternative routes for bikes only. Those who advocate for those to stay on the road criticize the "alternate route" as, in a sense, pushing the bikes off the road, a place they feel they have a right to inhabit. By pushing the biking to alternate routes or by doing a half-ass job at thin and barely visible bike lanes, they are limiting the visibility of the bikers and thus, making it less safe for bikers since there will be fewer on the actual roads or, if they are on the roads, they may have a false sense of security on the skimpy bike lanes. They also see the push toward alternate routes as a push toward marking bike riding as a recreational activity more than a viable transportation alternative. In either way, the advocates of biking on the road (in one article, called Vehicular Cyclist or VC), see those alternates as more dangerous in the long run. Others in the community do not agree with the strict VC advocates because they feel by not putting money and energy into alternates to roads or improving the bike lanes on the road, children, elders and those of who are not as adept on busy roads and those cities that have not developed the proper infrastructure, will then opt out of biking altogether. In other words, those who are not yet ready to join the cars on the road are at least able to get the benefits of cycling.

In regards to housing, I am a big Housing First Advocate and would like to see the will on all the Federal, State and Local authorities to move people into permanent housing asap...but, as someone who also works within that world, I know that is not always an immediate possibility. I am glad, even if it is not my first choice, that I have something to offer someone in the short term.

In the same way, I appreciate the discussion being held regarding riding on the roads vs. building a biking infrastructure. I agree, that, especially for those who use biking as their transportation, there are not accessible alternate routes or appropriate bike lanes to get me to where I need to go. In reality, until we become much more of a biking culture, the cars will not recognize us as equals and "share the road," and although many of us do not have a choice, there are others who will either choose not to use biking as a major form of transportation at all or only bike for recreation on designated bike trails. I think we take the middle road, as we should learn how to be the best bike on the road when necessary- basically, own our right to be on the road and do it responsibly and yet, enjoy the option of alternatives, especially when you have visitors who are elders or not familiar or comfortable on our ABQ roads.

In either case, if we use the argument of less bikers results in less safety for bikers, either solution alone can be detrimental for the long term push toward biker visibility and thus, bike safety.

There are some good discussions regarding this issue being held amongst those in the biking community. I especially like the comments made below in this particular article on VC.

"Please don´t get me wrong, of course I would prefer a good cycling infrastructure (I grew up in Kiel, there is a good infrastructure, so there most cyclist use the bicycle lane), but if there is no good infrastructure being a vehicular cyclist is the safest way to move in the city"

"I think that a city has to decide, which way they want the cyclists to move in the city. Either on the road or on a separated bicycle Infrastructure. The worst case is making no decision at all. You are right that many people prefer a separated bicycle infrastructure, but it is also important to show these people that it is safe to ride a bicycle on the road, that cycling is not something dangerous"

"Being radical by saying "Only moving on a bicycle lane will push cycling culture forward" or "Only moving on the road will push cycling culture forward" is exactly the wrong way, to motivate people using the bicycle."

So, while heading toward my 8 o'clock meeting that morning, I see now that all of the choices had their pro's and con's. On University, the best decision may have been to be a pedestrian -of course, this is not very wise on my part or safe for pedestrians, but off the road-, or to take the long way- the alternate route that took me out of the sight of cars, on the designated trail and on the bike lane (a long and somewhat convoluted way to reach my destination, but off of University- or take the riskier short term road and risk being run off the road by the mad morning rush of drivers on a street that has neither a lane nor a hospitable driving community, but, that will get me to my destination in a straight shot. In the end, either choice could represent a safe or risky choice, it is just a matter of a short term or long term look at safety.

Ultimately, the best choice was to simply make one choice. I needed to either leave earlier if I wanted to take the bike path, stay on the sidewalk and off the road or stay on the road and own my right to be there.

Instead, I started as a vehicular cyclist but lost my confidence while crossing Lomas Blvd. and switched to a pedestrian, but, too late. My hop to the curb, from vehicular cyclist to pedestrian, turned me into a tumbler... and left me wondering if I should have taken the long route instead.

There is obviously lots to consider in regards to route options, for both the short term (getting to our destination) and the long term (creating a bike friendly, livable city). For the short term, I recommend planning ahead- and, when making a choice, stick with that choice - as a split second change can be the most detrimental to your immediate safety. For the long term safety of bike riding, we need to get more of us out there. If we are visible, whether on the roads, bike paths or bike lanes, the more the cars will learn that we are not going away.

In addition, our city planners need to make a choice as well. Although I appreciate the efforts toward bike lanes, designated bike roads and bike trails, we can do more to make this a livable, bike friendly community.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Biking as a Viable Alternative

In my digesting of all things biking, all the time, I've been coming to grips with the sort of schizophrenic messaging we (as a society) engage in when it comes to biking.

Take for example, the basic standards in regards to what exists and what doesn't exist in ABQ.   Recently I was surprised to see a bike box on Martin Luther King at Edith.   What is a bike box?

Bike Box


Yes, we have a bike box in ABQ.   Yet, I'm not even sure cars know its there or even how to use it?   First off, its not painted green like this one pictured above in Long Beach.   And, second, I've yet to see a story about it or any mention on any city website about how its supposed to be used.   Supposedly, based on a forum post I dug up, cars are not supposed to turn right on red at intersections with a bike box.  Perhaps? 

Messaging.  

How do we encourage people to bike?  How do we let people know that not only is it a viable alternative to driving but that its not dangerous, doesn't require all the fancy gear, and depending on the length of your trip and end destination provides amenities that cars can't (like not having to pay for parking and better health)?

Monday, April 11, 2011

Ontology of Biking

Here it is.   Your GRE word for the day:   Ontology  Basically, the "Ontology of biking" would be the study of "being a biker."  And for your reading pleasure, I present:

Click for Full Image
I didn't spend $40 on insurance this month; I didn't spend $80 on gas this month; and I didn't spend $200+ on a car payment this month.   Yep, I saved a lot of money.   It's estimated that by getting rid of your car, you'll save $3,000-$12,000 a year.

So what does "being a biker" mean?   It means:   planning your trips, adding travel time when necessary,  never worrying about parking, but worrying about bike security; breathing in fresh air not recirculated vent air, actually hearing birds, dog barks, the sounds of the city instead of drowning them out. 

The time is now.   Get out of your car onto your bike. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Not Knowing

It's not just about biking;

it's about walking, running, skipping, taking the bus, sitting, standing, wandering into the comic shop that is rarely open (even during its posted "Open" hours).

It's about sitting on a sculpture - giving up trying to "figure it out" since even the sculpture itself is still trying to "figure itself out."




It's about witnessing the subtle changes in temperature, noticing the new growth - the mulberries -- smelling whats bloomed - the lilacs -- witnessing the damage to our city streets- the pot holes -- weighted down by our buildings, our water, our very presence.



It's about having the time to write in this blog since my options on this extremely windy, allergy provoking day have limited my options.


It's about getting on the city bus at the start of a day, being a part of a community of adults who have learned that beyond knowing their next stop, the rest of the day will most likely not go as planned.

It's about deciding to walk home instead of busing it, so I can fill my senses with the offerings of the city streets and hope the rest of the day is as much of a surprise as the earlier one I had planned.


"Not Knowing" may bring fear to some...but to me, it brings an opening to new realms - both sensory and emotional.

It's not just about biking.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Know Your Bike

Let's face it, you're gonna have a flat.

I would hazard a guess that you may go years without having to change a flat tire in a car.  In fact, I took a trip and we got a flat about halfway from our destination.  The driver, a smart, independent 30 year old woman, had never changed a flat tire.  She didn't even know where the jack was or how to operate it.  End of story, we changed it and went on our way.

But biking?   You're gonna change a lot of flats.  Now, this is not some post where I walk  you through the process.  No, there is plenty of help on the net for that.   This is a small post that simply points out one thing.    There are two types of inner tubes for your bike.

Is your tube Presta or Schrader?

Now, most bikes that you'll see on a cost-effective budget will be Schrader.   Almost all pumps can work with both, but most of them will be set up by default to work with Schrader.  To make it work with Presta, you have to do a little adapting on it.   Make sure you know how that works (just ask the local bike shop how-you are buying your bike stuff from a small, local bike shop right?) or else you'll end up like me and wrestle with it and still take your bike to the shop.

Presta valves are apparently more structurally sound, so the pricier bikes will use Presta (funny, I don't really think of my bike as pricey, but it does have a Presta valve).   So before you replace your tube, know what size of tube you need (written on the side of the tire (26 X....or 750C or ?) and whether it is Presta or Schrader.   You can't use one in the other.   But, and this strikes me as a cheap solution, you can add an adapter to a Presta valve so you don't have to futz around with your pump every time you have to pump it up.

The adapter looks like this:

Presta to Schrader Adapter
 And it'll totally save you time if you have more than one bike and don't want to be flipping it around between bikes. Best $1.61 I spent today.

Friday, April 1, 2011

DIY

I admire the folks who have lived their lives with the DIY philosophy...

I wish I was 15 again and could argue with my mother when she suggested I had my brother, some boyfriend, or some neighbor guy help me with some technical challenge I was having. For instance, if my car was having trouble, I was not encouraged to fix the issue, nor, was I encouraged to even completely understand what the issue was. Of course, I could have developed my own inner "gumption" to become a more practical and handy individual, but, alas, I chose to focus my attention elsewhere. So, I grew soft and did not exercise those "handy" muscles.

I am still not incredibly handy, but I have developed a strong desire to understand the technical world around me and to appreciate the process of learning how to do it myself - even when it means I have to give up some luxury in order to do so.
Spare Tube

A few months back, I had another particularly challenging day at work and was ready to practice yoga in order to re-claim some inner calm. When I approached my bike, I noticed the back tire was extremely low... the inner tube had a hole. Normally I would have just pumped some air and moved on...but, I realized, this wound was too big and pumping air would not do. Also, it was raining and cold, so I could not stand outside debating my next move for too long.

Although I had all the forces against me: foul mood, cold, rain and flat tire...I decided to turn this into a "yoga and the art of bicycle maintenance" moment. So, I moved back into the work space from where moments ago I could not wait to escape, turned my bike upside down and readied it to be repaired. Now, changing a tire is not a huge deal...but, had I had other options that rainy day, I most likely would not have had the bike with me in the first place. Instead, I had to sit with it, look at it, understand how to deal with it myself and... do it myself. Although replacing an inner tube is not major repair work, it did feel good to let go of my original plan and completely focus on the issue at hand. The repair became a meditation for me, as I had to move through my frustration in order to take off, insert and replace the back tire ( which, by the way, is not as easy as replacing the front one).

By the time I was done, I was pleased with myself...mostly because I was able to re-focus my energy enough to find the pleasure in the job. I was able to let go of the day while taking care of something myself. I had no choice...and, because of that, I had opportunity to step into that philosophy I so admire.