What do you wish existed for your commute?

[rhyme]

What product do you wish existed for your commute to work?

Personally, I'd like to see:

A) A cheap cell phone charger that clips onto my bike. I found one but it was like $90!

B) An iphone clip and GPS mapping software that had Chicago bike routes built in rather than just Chicago roads.

[Geonz]

Turn signals.

Yea, GPS that had the features I want ;)

[rhyme]

Turn signals.

Yea, GPS that had the features I want ;)

Interesting idea. I bet that wouldn't be that hard to make.

[Tuckervill]

I bought a 1985 Schwinn cruiser-something at a garage sale that had after-market turn signals on it. They're kind of cute, even if kind of '80s. Not elegantly installed.

Karen

[Becky]

Turn signals.

How about these? http://www.safeturn.com/ $19 each.....I just may order a pair.

[indigoiis]

Although I do like the sounds of nature and the wind in my ears, the one thing I miss about my truck is the cd player. If there was a safe way to play my Cake CD I would be so happy. An on-bike Bose?

[7rider]

How about these? http://www.safeturn.com/ $19 each.....I just may order a pair.

They still require that you take your hands off the bars to activate. I could see something that clips to my rear rack and maybe fork that I can activate from my handlebars, a la automobile blinkers.....

What do I wish for my commute? Well....not really a product for me...but a red light camera at the intersection of Colesville Road and Sligo Creek Parkway would be nice to discourage red light runners on Colesville Rd. :( DH saw a car get t-boned at that intersection and given the numbers of runners/cyclists crossing it (Sligo has a bike path that runs along side it), I think it's a prime candidate for a camera. It's only a matter of time before it's a runner or cyclist who gets t-boned...and I certainly hope it's not me!

[GLC1968]

NPR or other radio news station. Maybe piping through my helmet so that my ears aren't covered?

I guess I don't really need that kind of distraction, but that's the ONLY thing I miss about driving - my morning news bites.

[mimitabby]

windshield wipers. :cool:

[GLC1968]

windshield wipers. :cool:

Or, how about a windshield for those wipers? ;)

[mimitabby]

Or, how about a windshield for those wipers? ;)
yeah, that too

[indigoiis]

Mimi - have you tried rain-ex? My DH gave me a pair of sophisticated UV protecting goggles that they give to the guys at his job (construction) that are like glasses. I rubbed a little rain-ex on them and they work great in a rain.

They do fog up a bit, though, on hot humid days.

[sfa]

NPR and coffee. I don't want to ride with earphones (I can barely stand them when I'm on a treadmill--when I have sound right in my ear like that all other noises don't penetrate and that tends to make me walk into walls and stuff) so I'm voting for the on-bike Bose.

For the coffee, I'm thinking of getting this: http://www.somafab.com/morningrush.html or some similar design (I think Felt makes one that I could buy locally).

Sarah

[RedCanny]

I'd love one of those drive-thru coffee stands, along my route. They are all over the place out in Washington and Oregon, but we don't have many of them in MN. And while I can make and take decent brewed coffee, sometimes I loves me my cappuccino!

[divingbiker]

... a red light camera at the intersection of Colesville Road and Sligo Creek Parkway would be nice to discourage red light runners on Colesville Rd. :(

My coworker's husband got hit at that intersection a few weeks ago! He had the green and someone running the red t-boned him. You're right, that is a bad intersection. I'm surprised there's not a red light camera there already.

[mudmucker]

Shortness. Not necessarily with the bike portion. I still have to drive ~35 minutes, 30-ish miles to get to my starting point for the 22-mile one way biking portion.

[rij73]

Although I do like the sounds of nature and the wind in my ears, the one thing I miss about my truck is the cd player. If there was a safe way to play my Cake CD I would be so happy. An on-bike Bose?

Saw one of these the other day in the park.
http://www.active-tunes.com/home.html
Sound was quite decent and really only audible if you were right next to it. Pretty cool! :cool:

[Geonz]

How about these? http://www.safeturn.com/ $19 each.....I just may order a pair.

Better than nothing in the dark, but I want to be able to keep my hands on the bars.

[Geonz]

Saw one of these the other day in the park.
http://www.active-tunes.com/home.html
Sound was quite decent and really only audible if you were right next to it. Pretty cool! :cool:

I have one... now I have to figure out how to get it on the bike.

[SouthernBelle]

I want a pannier that I can use on either of my bikes with racks that my heels would never clip. Maybe something with a sort of triangle shape.

I may try making one this winter.

[indigoiis]

My Nashbar bag panniers kept getting my heels too. Then I moved them waaaayyy back and velcroed them so they couldn't migrate.

[7rider]

Oh! Now I remember what I want!!!!

I want a small insulated lunch bag with hooks on the back that can clip onto my rack, so I can cart my lunch to work - and not have to cram it into my pannier on top of clothes or bother taking the second pannier!

[bunnydodger]

More commuters. :)

[Aggie_Ama]

NPR or other radio news station. Maybe piping through my helmet so that my ears aren't covered?



For some reason this has me cracking up. Some mental image of looking slightly crazy like the voices are in your head. Okay this is probably only funny to me but for some reason music flowing into my scalp is just funny right now.

I would like an air conditioner, maybe a hub powered fan for the 100+ degree commute home.

[carback]

for drivers to have a clear understanding of the word 'share' in the Share the Road signs (with picture of bike and car happily travelling side-by-side) posted along my route.

[Melalvai]

Company

[7rider]

for drivers to have a clear understanding of the word 'share' in the Share the Road signs (with picture of bike and car happily travelling side-by-side) posted along my route.

You mean, as in "Share" does NOT mean "Get the %&*#$&# out of my way!" :eek:;)
Yeah...wouldn't THAT be nice.....<<sigh>>

[Tri Girl]

faster legs

[HillSlugger]

Less potholes on Twinbrook Parkway and an easier way to make a left there. Or, Monrose Parkway to be built through to Viers Mill Rd so that I can bypass Twinbrook altogether.

[redrhodie]

Fewer left turns.

[Shale]

Aiiiir conditioniiing. :rolleyes:

[shootingstar]

Less rainy days during the times I ride-commute. (Right now, I can't complain. Vancouver is getting brown lawn grass...)

[rhyme]

You guys are coming up with some pretty hard things to actually bring to market ... "faster legs"? :)

[HillSlugger]

Oh! Now I remember what I want!!!!

I want a small insulated lunch bag with hooks on the back that can clip onto my rack, so I can cart my lunch to work - and not have to cram it into my pannier on top of clothes or bother taking the second pannier!

Can you bungie a bag on top of the rack?

I do two panniers, one has my clothes and the other has my locks and lunch. (Yeah, I know, you leave your locks at work, at your out-of-the-weather lockup (totally jealous!) :rolleyes:)

[NJBikeGal]

A beautifully paved and completely safe cyclists-only bridge that went up and over the city of Camden so that I didn't have to ride through it! :rolleyes:

[Becky]

A beautifully paved and completely safe cyclists-only bridge that went up and over the city of Camden so that I didn't have to ride through it! :rolleyes:

Dang, you commute through Camden? *takes hat off to Sarah* I admire you for that!

[vermonster]

a route with no broken glass on it

[7rider]

Can you bungie a bag on top of the rack?

I do two panniers, one has my clothes and the other has my locks and lunch. (Yeah, I know, you leave your locks at work, at your out-of-the-weather lockup (totally jealous!) :rolleyes:)

Did a combo of caribiners and a bungie cord along the side opposite my pannier. It worked, but was tres' ugly...:rolleyes: .. and risked smooshing my poor lunch. Having a pannier clipped to the side makes it hard to use my cargo net to attach anything to the TOP of the rack, in addition to the pannier. Oh, the trials I face!! :p

And now that I have a locker....I don't even need to worry about a U-lock on the rack at work....just a padlock on the locker door (I just have to remember to bring the key!).

[BBsw]

NPR and coffee. I don't want to ride with earphones (I can barely stand them when I'm on a treadmill--when I have sound right in my ear like that all other noises don't penetrate and that tends to make me walk into walls and stuff) so I'm voting for the on-bike Bose.

For the coffee, I'm thinking of getting this: http://www.somafab.com/morningrush.html or some similar design (I think Felt makes one that I could buy locally).

Sarah

That is exactly what I need. Joe on the go!

[GLC1968]

a hub powered fan for the 100+ degree commute home

Now it's my turn to snicker...isn't this just what the wind is as you are pedaling? ;) Of course, that doesn't help at traffic lights when the heat rising up off the road is likely miserable in your neck of the woods.

For those that want coffee on your commute, here are two ideas:

http://www.somafab.com/morningrush.html

And this is what I have for mine:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.travelmugs-bottles.shtml
The Leak Proof Backpack bottle. It fits in my bottle cage, it's truly leak proof, and it keeps coffee pipping hot! Someone here recommended it, and it's awesome!

[7rider]

For those that want coffee on your commute, here are two ideas:

http://www.somafab.com/morningrush.html

And this is what I have for mine:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.travelmugs-bottles.shtml
The Leak Proof Backpack bottle. It fits in my bottle cage, it's truly leak proof, and it keeps coffee pipping hot! Someone here recommended it, and it's awesome!


I like the idea of that backpack bottle. This (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70098786)is what I use... vacuum sealed so it insulates better than a travel mug. The black paint is chipping off, and after 3+ years of steady use is about ready for retirement, but it's been pretty good for my needs.

[indigoiis]

I just thought of something.

Work appropriate mules or dress shoes with speedplay clips.

[GLC1968]

That's similar to the backpack bottle except that the backpack one opens with one hand so that you could drink while riding. I don't, but my commute is so short right now. I may end up using it to actually drink coffee on my ride in the future!

[Aggie_Ama]

Now it's my turn to snicker...isn't this just what the wind is as you are pedaling? ;) Of course, that doesn't help at traffic lights when the heat rising up off the road is likely miserable in your neck of the woods.



Well the only thing that is a blessing and a curse is all summer I have a tailwind home. So it makes it less effort but the air feels stagnant.

I would like trees along my commute. Not the little brush cedars but real trees. It is not a shady commute and that is not to nice when it is 100. Wonder how hot it is going to be this afternoon. First commute home in a few weeks (had a lot on my plate).

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Sigh and here I was working on a coffee cup holder for my bike. Might as well buy that snazzy one!

I would like to have something that would hold my cellphone so I could see the face of it when it rings. I know there is something out there.

BELLS! I find there is a meager assortment of bells out there.

+1 on music for the ride..

AND how bout snazzier commuter clothes? Don't make me design my own!!! I found golf skorts are really cool for this as long as you don't need padded shorts because they pass for 'office wear' if you buy the IZOD ones.

[coyote]

Hills

[TJ_Relic]

Anti-leafblower Laws.

The grocery people to not stare at me funny when I say I don't need bags, just put it in the cart and I'll load it into my "vehicle."

+1 on working handlebar turn signals AND brake lights

I'm envisioning all of us with pedal-powered motorcycle looking things, with full dashboards, integrated radio and GPS, windscreen....and somehow magically lightweight.

Ok, realistically, I need a way to keep my Basil Panniers from getting into my spokes. Anybody have an idea?

[MomOnBike]

I LIKE my commute, and the way I have the bike set up. However:

I want a real bike rack (covered), a shower, or at least a place to freshen up a bit once I get there.

I want my Stuff to beep at me, or otherwise let me know if I'm leaving it behind. (You don't have to ask :rolleyes: )

[BBsw]

I want my Stuff to beep at me, or otherwise let me know if I'm leaving it behind. (You don't have to ask :rolleyes: )

I am sure I will be there too. I haven't forgotten anything yet since I have only ridden to work twice but...BUT...it will happen. Guaranteed! I will start procrastinating and not get my stuff together the night before and then end up forgeting important things like a bra/underwear or like ...pants. MY MAKEUP!!!! oh God. Can't go to work without my face on.

[TJ_Relic]

I want my Stuff to beep at me, or otherwise let me know if I'm leaving it behind. (You don't have to ask :rolleyes: )

I'm just waiting for myself to forget my keys, and not realize it until I leave class and go to unlock my bike. It will happen. Except, of course, that would mean I forgot to lock my apartment. Maybe it won't happen. *fingers crossed*

[madscot13]

A really big shoulder sans intersections.

[Melalvai]

I'm just waiting for myself to forget my keys, and not realize it until I leave class and go to unlock my bike. It will happen. Except, of course, that would mean I forgot to lock my apartment. Maybe it won't happen. *fingers crossed*
That happened to me so many times. Now I carry my locks LOCKED. So I can't lock up my bike without a key. I keep spare keys in my office. Now, if I forget my key, I put my bike in the stairwell, run upstairs to find someone who has a key to my office, get my bike key out of the office, lock up my bike, and return the office key to its owner. It adds significantly to my commute time. And then I have to remember to put my spare keys back in my office the next day.

In my new office, my bike is just outside my cubicle. She doesn't need locked up any more. I still carry my locks locked, in case I need to go to main campus or elsewhere in town.

[JennyPi]

Hmm ... how about less high school-aged drivers on the road!!!! They're just as bad as those obnoxious, speeding F-250's. Not all high school drivers are bad, but I'm talking about the ones who roll around with the seat all the way back, all 4 windows down, weaving in and out of lanes during traffic hours. We need less, less, LESS!

I'm loving this thread. Now on my shopping list: Soma coffee cup, possibly the radio, and, most definitely, the WRIST BLINKERS! I'm excited about those.

[Tri Girl]

OK, so faster legs aren't something that can be done, but how about a bike lane on all the roads I ride on, or a multi use path where I don't have to deal with traffic at all?

Those blinkies are pretty nifty!

[malkin]

I want the valley to be exalted...or the hill made low.
Just a little bit until I'm stronger.

[mci021]

[QUOTE=rhyme;340045]
A) A cheap cell phone charger that clips onto my bike. I found one but it was like $90!

Fry's electronics sells a solar panel for about $30 that can be strapped to a bag or package carrier and produces enough charge to power an ipod or cell phone. I wouldn't reccomend it as the only way to charge your low voltage devices, but if you're in need of just enough battery life to get you home to your wall charger, it might do the trick. The down side is I don't know how long it takes to build the charge. It may be well beyond the amount of time you would normally spend on your commute.

[bikecanada]

I also want a bike signaling device in where I don't have to take my hands off my bike :)
Also, having a small bell that would fit on my road bike right near the shifters so that it's easier to reach

[7rider]

Personally, I'd like to see:

A) A cheap cell phone charger that clips onto my bike. I found one but it was like $90!
.


Didn't even think of this until I saw another respond to your post.

I have and use an Energi-to-Go recharger (http://www.energizer.com/products/energi-to-go/cell-phone-charger/Pages/cell-battery-charger.aspx) that fits in my jersey pocket. I suppose it could fit into a saddle bag or Bento Box (http://www.rei.com/product/724938?cm_re=pageContent*productsNo12*Packs%20Racks%20and%20Trailers%20%20TNI%20Bento%20Box%20%20Large). Costs $20 and is available all over - from Best Buy to Home Depot.

[lph]

You ladies are commuter goddesses. I am ordering that music thingy as we speak, but I think the ubercool coffee mug doesn't ship overseas.

Ignore that. It does :-)

[Aggie_Ama]

I would like less motorists and more bikes. I do notice however that wearing a wrap over my shorts makes drivers nicer. It might be all in my head but I really think it is the skirt.

[obie]

If I can't have less glass on the roads, then I'd like an insta-sweep vacuum-hose of some sort that can suck it away.

Radiant heating for roadways to remove possibilities of black ice.

[Dianyla]

I'd like a good night's sleep, every night, and the ability to wake up early enough to commute without feeling trashed. :rolleyes:

[jsdilks]

Observations from my short time commuting:
1. more bikers who follow the Rules of the Road and don't put themselves or others in danger and give the rest of us a bad name
2. bikers with manners (a theme here??)
3. a way to shave some time off the time I spend in the small locker room where I go to shower and dress for the day - I've been trying and I just can't get any minutes off there (unload the bag, arrange things, get to the shower, take my shower, dry off, get dressed, dry my hair, put on my face [which is only moisturizer and eye stuff...])
4. an easy steamer to take wrinkles out of my clothes that have been smashed into my bag
5. a way to get lunch to work too - right now it's clothes or food, but not both. The panniers are crammed to the gills since there are two of us.

I've enjoyed reading through all your thoughts - great ideas, and some, well, other ones...

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I would like that glass blower too. What is with all the glass? And when I ride on a certain road, I hear this tinging noise from hitting something metal, but I never see what I've hit?!

I think I'm investing in a GPS (Garmin Nuvi) so I don't have to figure out what routes to take anymore. There are times I want to go to Target which is way out of the way, and I would do it but not sure how to get there. Being new to the area, I don't know the back roads that well. And getting lost on a bike is not really the way I want to learn them :)

[Becky]

Observations from my short time commuting:
1. more bikers who follow the Rules of the Road and don't put themselves or others in danger and give the rest of us a bad name
2. bikers with manners (a theme here??)
4. an easy steamer to take wrinkles out of my clothes that have been smashed into my bag


Agreed on 1 and 2! As for 4, here's what I do. To start, I pack my clothes in one of those Eagle Creek Pack-It folders- it makes a huge difference in how wrinkled stuff gets in panniers. When I get to work, I mist my clothes lightly with a plant mister or spray bottle, and hang them in front of a fan to dry. The water relaxes the fabric so the wrinkles fall out, and the fan speeds up the drying. Probably wouldn't work for super-wrinkly stuff or things like linen or some cottons, but for most cottons, blends, etc., it works great.

[Trek420]

The city I live in has recently made a huge effort in cleaning our bike/ped overpass.

I'm sure they're spending thousands of dollars on new lighting newly installed on the overpass and at both ends.

Our regional bike advocacy group has asked them .... no signs.

Nobody knows it's there. So I networked at the pet store with some customers I overheard talking about city council meetings and I think I found the right person to bug, this is what I wrote:


Dear Mr. Beaurocrat,

First I want to express my thanks for the recent cleaning and trimming the shrubs on the bike overpass. It's lovely. Also the lights are a nice idea. I'm sure it will make the area more safe.

But what would really increase safety is .... get some riders and pedestrians on it. In Four years of bike commuting I've seen a grand total of 3 other riders!!!

I'm a long time resident of H 15 years. Four years ago I moved to South H.

As a bike commuter I looked for a safe way to ride to BART which I now do about twice weekly. Maybe I'm a slow learner but it took me almost a year to find the bike/pedestrian freeway overpass off Colaraga. After many experiments and rides, trying different routes I finally spied it .... while driving. Yep, I have a car too.

Imagine my surprise when looking up there it was, like a mirage, an oaisis. We have a bike overpass, one of only two in the Bay area.

We should be proud of this and sign it.

Instead when one rides up West Tennyson towards BART (or anything else that way) as the intersection of W. Tennyson and Colarago there is a tiny sign that says "bike route ends". Same thing on Tennyson heading home at Tampa "bike route ends"

Maybe you ride, if so just ignore me but the average urban cyclist, riders we affectionately call "invisible cyclists", are not riders who do club rides, charity rides, ride for fun and fitness. These men and women ride more miles than I do are just trying to get to work or shopping on the affordable transportation they have, their bike.

Since they are not in a cycling community they don't know that the first tip of safe urban riding is "don't ride the same route you would drive. Think sides streets, off roads, parallel roads ... go where the cars AREN'T. And then obey the traffic laws there".

They know to get from point A to B you take Tennyson and up Tennyson they go. There these (usually not helmeted, they are not wearing bright visible clothing) riders face 4 (four) freeway on and off ramps on each direction.

Also frankly they are tired, hard working folks. This is not a sport to them. For me it was kind of fun, each day exploring the neighborhood encountering dead ends to the bike route but finding "oh, I can get to the Bay Trail this way, and look I can take Colarago to the Eon Cafe and ...." These hard working folks are not going to make a weekend of trying to find a safer route.

We need a sign. A $10.00 sign, instead of "bike route ends" we need "this way to the bike/pedestrian overpass". The funny thing is on both ends if one just turns and rides or walks ..... there it is but not on the main traveled route.

A $10.00 sign on both ends to save lives.

I see women with kids and strollers on that overpass, elderly people on their bikes. Yes, it's legal, yes they can walk on the sidewalk there. Should they? I don't. I've ridden from SF to LA 5 times and I don't.

Let's show them the safe route before we loose a life.

Thanks for your prompt attention

[Ana]

Indoor bike locker
Paved bicycle path (network), apart from the road
People standing on the side of the road holding out bananas, granola bars and orange juice ;)

[lph]

Indoor bike locker
Paved bicycle path (network), apart from the road
People standing on the side of the road holding out bananas, granola bars and orange juice ;)


4. and coffee. And cheering :D

(I actually have points 1 and 2, so I'm feeling rather spoiled now.)

[jsdilks]

We have the cheering! There is a homeless guy at the corner right where we turn off before we park who gives us a big shout "Hey" when we ride by. I always give him a big wave back and we're all left smiling. He used to yell "Hey Bicycle guy" at my sweetie before we started riding in together - he's always excited to see the two of us. At 7:15 am what more can you ask for? :D

[Trek420]

People standing on the side of the road holding out bananas, granola bars and orange juice ;)

That's great! You could stock him with bananas, granola bars and orange juice :D

[Grog]

Food and coffee on the bike route? It happened in Vancouver in the winter, to warm up the hearts and bellies of bike commuters alone a popular route:

http://www.beyondrobson.com/city/2007/01/get_a_latte_and_muffin_en_route_to_work/

[shootingstar]

I'd like a good night's sleep, every night, and the ability to wake up early enough to commute without feeling trashed. :rolleyes:


+1. I wonder why I sleep in an extra 2-3 hrs. on weekends..when quite honestly I do want to get an early morning ride and make good use of my weekends. I succeed 50% of the time. Maybe it's age, it doesn't get any easier over time..

There is nothing quite like restorative sleep... to beat 4:30 am wakeup times on workdays.

[KatiePickle]

I wish there was an anti-leafblower law for my commute. Nothing like a little dust in the eyes on a busy street to wake you up in the mornings.

[Trek420]

It was in my Spam mailbox so I did not see it for a bit. I got a response to my letter quoted above

"Dear Ms. Trek,

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I have asked my staff to handle your request and we will get a sign installed as expeditiously as possible.

Roxy Carmichael-Hart
Transportation Manager
The City Trek Lives in"

Soon more riders and pedestrians may be enjoying this quiet street parallel that passes a park then goes up over the freeway instead of on the overpass itself.

[kfergos]

No ice or snow on the roads, ever.
Wide, clean shoulders the whole way.
Cops directing stopping cars to let bikes go at intersections. :D
No bike-killer storm drains with the parallel bars (I counted no fewer than 20 of these in an 8-mile stretch of my ride)

Most of all, no:
- Stinky garbage trucks
- Semi trucks with big long trailers on narrow roads
- Landscaping trucks, especially with big trailers*
- Snow plows spewing salt as they pass you
- School buses that pass too close
- Vehicles that pass within 1 foot of you at any time

*Yesterday I got passed by a van that had a huge fan affixed the the front. It was towing a large trailer, and attached to the back of the trailer was the basket for a hot air balloon!