any plans for bike to work day?

[Trek420]

My ride to work is very short, from West Tennyson (Chabot
College area) to South Hayward Bart then get off at Lake Merrit
and ride into downtown Oakland. I could make it longer, say get
off at MacArthur and ride in or on the other end, ride to Castro
Valley or Hayward Bart....hmmmm more bike schwag.

I ride to work about 1/3 of the time and take BART (our rapid transit) every day. I don't get to see the wildlife you do unless you count homeless and wine'os ;-) The route is very urban but it's a great way to get miles in and has its own kind of beauty.

[CorsairMac]

I bike to work everyday (12 miles total) and use my lunch hour to get in another 12-14 mile ride depending on the wind. I just read somewhere that it is Bike to Work week next week?...and tips on how to do it! After my lunchride yesterday, how could somone Not ride to work?.....I rode along the Rio Grande and saw road runners galore, had races with the geckos (lizards), ducks, pheasants, and even a coyote. I didn't wanna go Back to work!
Hmmmmm....maybe on bike to work day I should drive??? :p

[newfsmith]

I manage to bike to work 70% of my work days year round here in New England. It accounts for the majority of my 3000 miles per year. It is about the only way I can fit riding in. Since my lunch hour is non-existent, it is my only chance to get outdoors for a significant amount of time on a regular basis. In terms of commuting time, it really isn't that different from driving, 40 minutes cycling one-way, vs. 20 minutes driving one-way. My route goes through a wildlife sanctuary, I've seen flying squirrels swooping across the road nights, deer and turkeys are almost daily occurances, the spring brings salamander migrations, woodcock courting displays, the frog chorus, migrating ducks, geese, and warblers. I've found interesting road kill: 2 saw-whet owls, a Luna moth, a least weasel, garter snakes, and of course innumerable chipmunks, squirrels, and mice. The predators are shy, I've only seen 2 fox and 1 coyote in 5 years. I like the self reliance of riding and coping with the weather changes, it makes me feel like I really live in the world rather than watch it. Yes, I will be riding next week, as usual.

[nuthatch]

Our bike to work week here in Chicagoland has been set for June 11-17 (probably because of iffy weather) and I volunteered to be a team organizer for my office (through the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=44_0_11_0)). This will be a challenge because almost everyone at the office is way over 55 and lives at least 10 miles away! They see me in my kit each day commuting in and think I'm nuts (in a nice way, of course) ;)

I love my daily commute - I don't get to see all the wildlife that you do, Newfsmith, but it's still fun! It's the way I get most of my miles, too. I get right cranky if I can't ride each day!

[JanT]

I haven't done much commuting this year. I was moved to a tiny classroom with no room for my commuter bike, so I parked it in the student bike racks, against my better judgement. And unfortunately, my fears were justified when some kids damaged it one afternoon after the bike cages were unlocked. I haven't ridden to school since. The good news is that I am moving to a new school a few miles further down the road, and I will have a large classroom with room to store my bike. I will get the commuter bike fixed and next year can ride a couple times a week. I'll probably ride on the street all the way there, and go through the desert for a short-cut on the way home. I love commuting! It reminds me of when I was a kid and rode my bike to and from school. I feel carefree while riding, and energized when I get to work. However, as a teacher, I always have a lot of "stuff" to take to and from school, so several days I need to do that hauling, and ride on the days I can fit everything into the panniers.

[yellow]

There is a special push to record a "Million Mile May" in conjunction with Bike to Work week. There is a website where you log your miles and if like me, you get prodded from someone at a sister agency, you can compare your miles to theirs. They have "celebrity" cyclists (hey...where's Bubba??), etc. It's pretty neat.

Check it out at www.bikecommute.com.

So far I'm the only cyclist from Hangtown Velo :p

I'll bet other areas of the country have similar things going.

Trek--I'd be surprised if there wasn't one for your neck of the woods!

[singletrackmind]

My commute is shortest-being a stay at home mom and all. Well, I'll just ride anyways. To show my support. Yeah, that's it. Nothing to do with selfish just wanting to ride or anything like that. ;)

Ride your bike to work day May 20th. :)

[Deanna]

I bike to work 3-5 days a week, so my plans for the day are to recruit some co-workers. So far the only response to my reminder that the 19th was BTWD was "My bike won't fit in the trunk of my car".

[cindysue]

I'll be working that day out at the Pleasant Hill BART Station (Bay area) handing out goodies for BTWD and talking about one of the projects my research team is working on. The basic concept of the project is "the first and last mile" of your commute by transit. Using low-speed modes of transportation such as a bike, segway, or walking decreases the emissions from cold starting your engine only to drive 5 miles down the road.

If that didn't totally bore you,
http://www.innovativemobility.org/research/lowspeed/lowspeed_overview.htm

[singletrackmind]

May is National Bike Month™

Bike-to-Work Week is May 16 - 20, 2005 and Bike-to-Work Day is Friday, May 20, 2005.

http://www.bikemonth.com/

[Bike Goddess]

Hey CindySue- That's MY STATION you're talking about! Last year I got a bike light a bag, and some other goodies! How cool you will be there! ;) ;)

I thought it was Thursday May 19th, but Friday May 20th is fine too! I'll be sure to look for you! :p :p - I'll be in my "dress for work" clothes sans bike of course as I come to BART via public transit and walk from BART in SF to work. It was neat to see the folks last year, and even better this year! :D :D

Did you want some cookies while I'm at it? :) :)

[Crankin]

I will be riding to work on the 20th; I try to ride 1-2 times a week from the beginning of May to the end of school, which is around June 20th here in New England. My commute is short, 6.7 miles one way, but over beautiful back roads, by a wildlife refuge, pond, etc. It is up hill a good part of the way there. Being a teacher, I have to plan carefully, since there's no shower. I bring a supply of clothes to work on Monday and leave my toiletries at school so i can clean up. I'm not usually too sweaty from such a short ride. I have a big front bag and a smaller bag in the back, but if I have papers to grade, my lunch, and other stuff, I have to wear my Camelback/backpack that I use for x-country skiing. I hate riding with it.
This year I plan to put a flyer in everyone's mailbox and see if anyone will join in. There is one other teacher who rides. I might see if anyone wants to go on a short group ride Friday, after work.

[Barb]

I rode to work last Friday sort of as a test run. It's not pretty, lots of traffic, broken glass and sprinklers (I almost got soaked when a automatic set turned on!).

We have pretty cold weather and rain sceduled and well, I am a wimp. I'll try for Monday and Tuesday. I am definately leaving roadie home in favor of a more urban assault bike!!!

[Bike Goddess]

Yep, Barb, I'd leave my roadie home too! Maybe you'll need some rainwear for that automatic sprinkler. :D :D While you're at it, how about a broom! :p :p (I'd probably contact the city maintenance dept and see if they will do a clean up job- having glass isn't safe for anyone much less cyclists)

[mommelisa]

no plans for me, i work from home, so it would be a pretty short ride.. :D

[CorsairMac]

no plans for me, i work from home, so it would be a pretty short ride.. :D

maybe you could ride that day and carry some work with you on the bike........a kinda "virtual" ride to work day! :p

[cindysue]

That's MY STATION you're talking about! I thought it was Thursday May 19th, but Friday May 20th is fine too! Did you want some cookies while I'm at it? :) :)

Yes, cookies! But the date is indeed the 19th! I'm not sure what we're handing out and who else will be handing out stuff. I should know more early this next week........

call me when you get there!

[Bike Goddess]

Somewhere I have a cell phone # for you---I think its in my datebook. I'll call you from my bus, how's that!

Hmmm cookies...... ;) ;)

[Hill Slug]

Here's another Sacramento, CA area website:
http://www.bikecommuteweek.com/
I signed up with Kaiser Permanente as my employer and Sacramento Bike Hikers for my club. The Bike Hikers have the most club miles so far!!!

I can only ride to work a few days a month. I get off at 11pm, and the main road home has a few miles of open land, that is scary. Seriously if someone were to bump me off in that area, no one would find me for months.... :( When I do ride in, I have someone pick me up....I know it kinda defeats part of the purpose, but I'd rather live to ride another day!!! Last week, I had a chicken almost run me into the road!!! I was totally not expecting her to be there...whew!!! :eek:

[Raindrop]

I'm an in-home personal trainer, so getting to my clients homes with all my equipment on my bike isn't doable (they'd be pretty upset with my lateness too!), however, I plan on "biking to work" for my gym jobs which means I'll be riding my bike to teach an indoor cycling class...ironic somehow huh? :)

[Trek420]

Hill Slug near miss "Last week, I had a chicken almost run me into the road!!! I was totally not expecting her to be there...whew!!! :eek:"

why did the chicken cross the road?

[CorsairMac]

Loved that Trek! I was thinking more along the lines of "Ahhhhhh, free dinner!".

[Hill Slug]

why did the chicken cross the road?
She actually didn't cross the road, just came up on the shoulder, then back down in the drainage ditch....So maybe, I scared her too!!!! :D

[singletrackmind]

maybe you could ride that day and carry some work with you on the bike........a kinda "virtual" ride to work day! :p
Almost any day I ride I carry my work with me in a trailer. He's great company with his songs and comments (go faster momma, faster). Ahhh, the life of the stay at home mom has precious little to do with bonbons (unless they need to be cleaned up after). :D

[CorsairMac]

What an Awesome visual Sing!!....thanks for ending my evening with an "awww smile"!

[yellow]

Well, in an attempt to ride every day of "Bike to Work Week", I'm only 20% at this point.

It was pouring yesterday morning, so that made it a no-go.

I rode today and got soaked coming home (at least the morning commute was dry-ish).

This rainy rainy rainy is making me mopey mopey mopey. I was going to extend my ride this evening on the way home but decided food and a fire were better (I don't ever remember having to light fires in May before. What's wi' dat?).

Even the dog is mopey 'cuz we can't go out and play with the flying squirrel.

And it's supposed to rain the rest of the week, though there's only a 20% chance of rain for Friday :)

So I guess I'll wait until morning to decide if I should break out the raingear or get in my car and drive to work.

I feel like I'm back livin' in the PNW. (Except that this year they've been getting our weather, I hear. Hope they are enjoying it!)

mopeyellow

[Veronica]

Ahhh... the beauty of a very short commute and fenders. :p I manage to ride even in a downpour. But I have increased my commute to be 1.9 miles each way rather than 1.6. That will give me three more miles a week, 12 miles a month. I was very excited to see the new route was a tad longer and it's still almost all downhill to work. Can't get all sweaty before school even starts you know.

V.

[SadieKate]

And kids complain that they won't use all this math in real life :p .

[CorsairMac]

the weather here has been gorgeous, sunny, clear, highs in the lower 80s climbing to the upper 80s by Fri....now before ya'll smack me - the winds on the other hand, haven't been Out of the single digits since I can't even remember when. My commute home the last 2 nights has been in 35+ mph wind gusts! I would Love the rain if it meant the darn wind would just stop blowing!! I just keep telling myself it's a form of strength training (but it ain't working! :rolleyes: )

[Trek420]

My plans include getting up waaaay too early and meet one of the members of the Velogirls at a BART station. The timing requires me to be 3 trains before I would normaly arrive at BART. Then we'll breeze through about 3 refresher stations. Will Trek wake up in time? will she fall over riding without adequate coffee? Will I chicken out at the first rain drop? Stay tuned.

[Veronica]

I went down one more street and added another tenth of a mile! My commute is now two miles each way! Twenty miles a week for me commuting instead of 16. Woohoo!

Yesterday I had to bring 3 quarts of half n half on the bike. Today I had 150 sugar cubes, a bowl and 50 packets of sweet n low. Prepping for tomorrow's volunteer breakfast. :D By bringing some each day, I don't have to drive tomorrow.

V.

[SadieKate]

I seriously think you need to write up a math word problem based on your commute and cargo. :D

[Veronica]

I just made my class figure out my increased mileage for the week. They're funny.

V.

[cindysue]

OK gals,

Come see me at the Pleasant Hill BART energizer station on Thursday from 7-9am. I'll be stationed along the bike trail handing out goodies!

[Bike Goddess]

Where on the bike trail? Might not see you after all! :( :(

[cindysue]

Where on the bike trail? Might not see you after all! :( :(

Not really sure. I'ts a show and go kinda day. I'll send you my phone number again....

[AutumnBreez]

32 miles is an approx. could be more by a couple of miles each day.
Ride 4 days a week at 4 miles each way.
I enjoy it because it is less sitting in traffic and even though I have to pack my clothes and change at work incl.shower or babywipes it is still less hassle, learn to work with it. Hot on the way home, I wet down my headsweat with cold water before putting on my helmet and keeps me cool till I get home to strip down. I feel good that I am not contributing to the pollution in the air.
Wish I were in Holland or somewhere there were were no cars at times. :p

[Trek420]

that's it, that says it....hmmm. head for the puddles? :cool:

[Trek420]

Ok, I woke up at 4 am and it was pouring outside. Got up anyway, got ready, at 6 it was still raining hard so I text message Erin and said I still planned to ride but would leave about my normal time if it let up at all.

By 6:30 it had all but stopped, really just a mist so I got Mae's (dog) stuff outside, grabbed the bike and headed out the door.

By the time I had locked up the heavens opened again and it was pretty much a downpour.

I'm dressed for rain, lit up like a Christmas tree but I'm a fair weather cyclist at heart, normally don't head out in the rain. I'm fine if caught in it but don't ride in the rain on purpose.

So I'm thinking to my self "self? I've arranged for 2 hours off, I could go back inside and wait for a break". Mae also is looking at me as if to say "you know we both could be inside right now watching GMA" when my neighbor comes out in bathrobe and slippers to take the garbage out.

She sees me in full bike gear, schoolbuss yellow rain jacket, Velogirls jersey and says incredulously "you're riding??!! In this??!". Without thinking I say "It's bike to work day, yep, I'm riding" Damn right I'm riding, so off I go.

The ride to BART was wet but fun, like stomping in puddles once I got going. In BART I stood next to a first-time bike commuter, poor guy got the brunt of my sermon "why you should wear a helmet".

By the time I got off the train at Lake Merrit it had stopped raining so I had a nice ride to the first refresher station.

Then turned towards Downtown Oakland and rode with a group of women cyclist which I think included one of the Oakland City Council members on a rented bike. They took a different route than I would have, went down Broadway, we agreed that a left on Webster would have been better but I decided to stick with the group. One of them commented that she felt safer with me there because of my screaming yellow rain gear and bright blinky Velogirls blinky light on my backpack. I'm happy to help.

At Downtown Oakland I picked up more bike schwag, coffee and a free Bike to Bart t'shirt still arrived with time to clean up and get ready to work.

happy Bike to Work Day TE

[Bike Goddess]

Well, I didn't bike to work today- but I public transit ALL the way! :)
At the Pleasant Hill BART station I found CindySue- she got treats from me and I got bike treats from her including the infamous RED BULL! :cool: :cool:

Sunday when I go on the Napa ride I'm takin my can! :p :p

It was great to see CS- she's a real trooper- rain and all there she was with her red rain bike! :D :D

CindySue- you should tell everyone what you do for a living! It's way cool! :cool: :cool: :cool:

[CorsairMac]

At Downtown Oakland I picked up more bike schwag, coffee and a free Bike to Bart t'shirt still arrived with time to clean up and get ready to work.

happy Bike to Work Day TE

good on you Trek!.....isn't it funny sometimes how just 1 sentence can change a mind?? must've been fate that your neighbour came out Just at that time to get her paper! and how fun is that to catch a bunch of women to ride the rest of the way in with! Hope your ride home is just as inspiring!!

[nuthatch]

You da (wo)man, AG!!! My commuting hero!! I didn't ride today because of rain but I'll take your inspiration with me when our bike-to-work week starts in June! Neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night....hmm, sure hope it doesn't snow in June.... ;)

[Melody]

You know. It's ironic. I normally bike to work, every day. Very rarely do I have the car. But hubby has his new (used) 240SX and we both couldn't sleep well last night, so I was exhausted this morning. I just didn't want to deal with the traffic and rain, or with California drivers + rain. :p

So... on Bike to Work Day... in Bike to Work Week...

I drove a car

:eek:

Mel

[Veronica]

Yep, it was pouring when I went to work this morning. I rode anyway, as usual. But i didn't get any schwag. :mad:

I did wear my Top Hat t - shirt today though.

V.

[Crankin]

Instead of riding to work, I will be riding with a colleague from work, at 5 AM. I will drive to her house and we will ride for about 15-20 miles. Since she lives about a mile from our school, i will shower and at her house and go to work from there... she's a runner who cycles once or twice a week at this time of year. Right now she's got a sprained ankle, so she's riding. Since she's about 15 years younger than me and a marathoner, I hope I can stay in the lead!
Gotta go to bed... I have to wake up at 4:15 to get ready and get to her house by 5 AM.

[cindysue]

- she got treats from me and I got bike treats from her including the infamous RED BULL! :cool: :cool:

CindySue- you should tell everyone what you do for a living! It's way cool! :cool: :cool: :cool:

Got yummy carrot cake from Nancy this morning. She always has goodies in hand. Last time it was skin care stuff from Gumps. :cool:

Ahhhh, what I do for a living? Thanks Nancy - I like to think I'm contributing something positive.........

Well, what I "do" is multi-faceted, actually:

I am a student at UC Berkeley - 1) Masters in Civil (Transportation) Engineering, 2) Masters in City and Regional Planning. I work for a research firm: Innovative Mobility Research. Our projects include "smart parking" (those signs that tell you how many parking spaces are available, and the ability to reserve a spot through your cellphone/online), Low-speed modes to Transit (encouraging non-car modes of transportation like walking, biking, segway), pedestrian safety issues, "intelligent transportation systems" (like Fasttrak, 511.org, the signs on I-80 that tell you how long it will take you to get to the bridge, .....) I also work weekends at Juvenile Hall as a youth counselor.

So school full time and anywhere from 20-40 hrs per week of work leaves Cindy a very tired girl - but I do love to ride..............

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, and you do a good job of both!!!

Hope you have some time to ride this weekend. We will miss you on Sunday in Napa- that's turning out to be a BIG ride! :D :D
Nancy

[cindysue]

We will miss you on Sunday in Napa- that's turning out to be a BIG ride! :D :D Nancy

Bummer! But need to entertain BF's visiting friends this weekend............

[BikeMomma]

I couldn't ride on Bike to Work Day, but I rode home from work on Wednesday...only about 9 miles. 'Zat count? I also rode from work on Thursday to join the regular Thursday night ride group.

However...on both nights, I had to go back to work to fetch the car...so I guess no emissions were saved. :eek: Oh well....the good intentions were there. I also put up posters all over City Hall (my workplace) saying "Don't Drive, Ride!"

[spazzdog]

Is there a Barbara Cleforth in the house (from DC area)? She is a prime TE candidate ;)

If not, somebody find her... she was interviewed as part of a little segment on "alternative commuting" on this mornings edition of Sunday Morning (CBS).

spazz