Riding In Groups

(okay, as a commuter, that doesn't happen often - but you were wondering, weren't you? This is part of a good little booklet.)

Free Coffee (or cheaper)

... you got it... the local baristas will be giving discounts and giveaways to bicycle commuters on Friday. Uncommon Grounds, Starbucks, Espresso Royale and Strawberry Fields have said they'll participate. I believe Starbucks has even said they'll give a free iced tea, which warms the heart of this coffee-free person. (Not caffeine free - but I don't like the taste of burnt beans. Burnt leaves are better, I suppose ;) )

Ride of Silence Handout (it's a Word file):

Ride of Silence

Proposed Ride of Silence Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=954892

Oh, and another little nicety. Some time ago, I was coming down Anderson at night (very well lit, though) and felt the need to pull off and stop because thhe oncoming bus "needed" the whole road; yes, the bus has to swing wide for the turn, but it stayed "wide."
Monday night the same scenario played out, except that this time the bus waited and didn't turn. I reciprocated by putting the pedal to the mettle and scooting by.
I'm willing to wait for busses & wait behind busses and what have you (especially since I don't exactly have an anonymous vehicle) and I make it a point plant myself in a visible place, so it's nice to be given a little something in return :) Don't think there's *quite* the danger of world peace breaking out, but it's a start!

From comments - thankx!!
Maps to download:

http://www.ci.urbana.il.us/urbana/about_urbana/Urbana_Map.pdf
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/maps/citymap/general_city

Coupla Routes

From Myra Ridge to Campus:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=936280

From Urbana to Parkland (the northern route)
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=936293

Next step in the process: go find out what the latest in "google maps" is about 'cause I think I can make prettified ones.

Midwestern Culture Conflicts

Crossposting:
This week I've been going for the extra half mile John Street Route. Based on the sample size of 3, I'm going back North. Getting across Lincoln isn't really so bad tho' I can see a need for improvement. The bus behind me on Gregory was nice & didn't pass me before it turned... crossing at Neil and Hessel was a breeze... but then going left on John I got to play chicken with a driver who didn't see me, saw me & slowed, reconsidered and started forward, then stopped after all... since his window was open I found myself saying, "Pardon me?" in a non-supplicatory, yet non-sarcastic voice. He donned a silver star and badge, so I imagine there was a security guard somewhere soon to be relieved. Hopefully he can figure out that there are these people on bicycles using the roads, too, and we're not some kind of hallucination to be ignored.
Then there was the Prospect headache. No, not the "problem" of waiting for the traffic to clear, but the problem of those "nice" drivers in the right lane making a break in the traffic line to "let you across" without realizing that there is a *left* lane where these things called other cars go streaking by. I *think* this driver now understands (after all kinds of stalls and starts and different cars in the left lane doing their things) the issue but I'm not sure. Clark & Prospect has a less-well-defined "clear" period but I prefer that... tho' there should be a better way...
At any rate, Green Street proper is consistently more pleasant and less conflicted; the complicated Clark/Main/Logan/White combination even more so.

I rode the sidewalk over the interstate on Duncan and confirmed that indeed, the "steps" that made it impassable by bike (without dismounting) have been asphalted into ramps. Given that the sidewalks are smooth and well-maintained, there is no pedestrian traffic on them, and there are no conflicts with roads entering and leaving I just might do that more often. (There was also very little auto traffic today, but not Monday; it didn't make any difference.)
Once I'm over, it's easy access back to the roads, too, at least northbound. I remember otherwise for southbound but I expect to go home via Seymour (the 30-mile route) even if it's yucky.


So even with Bradley mangled, there is access to Parkland College :)

From "Friends don't let Friends Drive"

"Here's a fine place to start. Find a local map or draw a rough draft of your local area. Using a compass (remember those from high school geometry?), draw a circle approximating a one-mile radius around your home. Draw another approximating a three-mile radius; another for five miles; and another for ten. Realize how often you travel in those near reaches of your home. Consider that most people walk at a rate of three miles per hour, and most people can easily bicycle at a rate of ten miles per hour. National statistics show that more than a quarter of car trips in this country are to a distance of one mile or less; walking this distance would take 20 minutes or less. And nearly two-thirds of our daily car trips are to a distance of five miles or less, easily less than a 30-minute bicycle ride. Annually, a typical North American car will add close to five tons of carbon dioxide to our atmosphere. Every mile driven by car adds to that toll. Consider what could be saved by walking, bicycling, car pooling, or using public transit. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the use of cars tops the list of the most environmentally harmful activities in which individuals engage. Cars and light trucks are responsible for about 48 percent of toxic air pollution, 25 percent of greenhouse gases, and 22 percent of toxic water pollution. Keep these numbers in mind when you get behind the wheel of a car. Post them on your dashboard."

Testing, Testing!!

Here's where over the next day or three I will be putting the good stuff up to inspire folks to RIDE their BIKES to work in May.

It's not for everybody, but I am confident that many people have considered it. Here's your nudge!!! You can give your excuses here and perhaps there's a resolution. You can ask for the "best" route (realizing that my idea of best and yours might be different - but I will work with you to find what *you* need or want).

Okay, going to dig out the details :)