I just got back from a week long birthday celebration in the wine country of British Columbia, Canada. It’s a wonderful place to celebrate, by the way. While on the way to a lavender farm, this Share the Road sign caught my eye. It’s obviously modeled on the symbol for Yin and Yang, conceptually “two opposing and, at the same time, complementary (completing) aspects of any one phenomenon (object or process)…” according to Wikipedia.
Is that cool or what? You got to hand it to the Canadians to refer to a symbol that, to my mind, accurately captures the relationship between bicycles and autos, two opposing and, at the same time, complementary transportation modes.
One of the most challenging aspects of improving bicyclist safety is getting bicyclists themselves to ride safely. On the back of this Share the Road sign was a little lesson in bicycle safety, the perfect place to give it. Riding against the flow of traffic is a common but very dangerous way to bicycle.
I saw proportionately many more bicyclists in Canada wearing helmets than I see in northern Nevada. Could Canadians be smarter than Nevadans? Perhaps they are just more resolved to living a long life with full mental function. Bicycle helmets may reduce up to 85% of serious head injuries but, alas, they can’t keep you from colliding with a car. For advice in that regard, I recommend this website to you: www.bicyclesafe.com, “How to Not Get Hit By Cars”.
Lately, I bicycle a different route to work each day. I’m surveying the streets to help revise the RTC bike map of existing bike lanes. My morning commute starts before 7:00. The air is cool and the motorists are calm.
This morning I found myself exploring Fourth Street which has the reputation of being THE place in Reno to obtain female companionship for a price. It really is much more interesting than just that, however. On the west end it’s almost rural. The shoulder is at least 6 feet wide so it feels safe. It’s smooth and downhill toward town, too, so the cruising is easy. Once into town the variety of business is astounding! They range from pizza places and wedding chapels to scrap metal dealers and fork lift rentals. I ride by Reno Rails and think of Bill’s “Come run trains with me!” Riding by the Dilligas Saloon, I think, “Is that the swinger’s place or something?” In a few minutes I’ve forgotten my mission to get to work and I’m captivated by the variety.
That, of course, is the beauty of bicycle commuting. In the car it’s just me and the radio, isolated in my tin box, grousing about traffic and gas prices. On my bike, I’m part of the community and engaged. I make eye contact with the day laborers waiting for a job on Galletti and wish them a “Good Morning”. How they can look so sour and expect to get some work is beyond me.
The highlight this morning was Grandma on her new Harley, however. I guessed it was a woman on a new purchase by her small frame and the tentative way she released the clutch. But I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up next to her and peered into her helmet. Inside was the smiling, weathered, face of a senior citizen. I imagined she was feeling pretty smug on her new toy having found a fun, gas efficient way to get around town. Not as smug as I was feeling, however, ‘cause I was burning no gas at all on my commute.
Ridin’ your bike to the river to listen to some strummin’ gui-tar and not having to worry about your front tire going missing…that’s what summer in Reno means to me. The Reno Bike Project and the Nevada Bike Coalition were in West Street Plaza (Brick Park) last Friday, and will be every Friday during Rollin’ on the River to valet park your transportation, leaving you free to enjoy the season. Did I mention it’s free? No gas, no parking meters, no hassle- just pure, Reno-style convenience in a quintessential Reno atmosphere. Last Friday was a blast with the Procrastinating Peddlers volunteering. We parked some SWEET chopper bikes, like the Rat Fink we got to cruise around the plaza, THANKS DUDE! It was great to see so many people riding downtown, partaking of everything Reno has to offer at a crusin’ pace . Pick up a Reno News and Review to see who’s playing. Next up on our celebrity valet hot list: the cycling assemblyman David Bobzien! So roll by to get your ballot signed and we’ll see ‘yall there!
Bikes get the valet treatment in downtown Reno this summer with the Nevada Bike Coalition and Reno Bike Project “Bike Valet” at Rollin’ on the River every Friday at Wingfield Park.
We’ll have a safe, convenient and FREE bike corral in West Street Plaza Fridays from 5-8pm, June 13th through August staffed by friendly and vigilant volunteers. And by volunteers I mean bonafide local celebrities and cyclists just like you, like City Councilman David Aiazzi, Assemblyman David Bobzien and others looking out for your trusty Trek and talking to people about cycling issues in Reno. We’ll have a different influential celebrity each week so check back to find out who you’ll want to come meet next.
So no more driving around the blocks of one way streets looking for a place to parallel park. And don’t worry about buying popcorn at the theater just to get your parking validated, either. The last time I parked in the alley off 1st st. a guy with a blanket over his shoulder and missing one shoe offered to park my car for me. That was nice. But not this summer. This summer friendly valet attendants will park your bike inside a barricaded corral and retrieve it for you when the concert is over.
Directly across the river from Wingfield Park, our Bike Valet in West Street Plaza couldn’t be more convenient. A fantastic opportunity to save a few bucks on gas and meet some great people.
If you’re worried about your commute back to the south meadows area after the beer and sun goes down, consider parking someplace a little closer with your bike in the car and riding from there. You’ll still be saving gas, reducing congestion, and LOOKING AWESOME, but won’t have to commit to 20+ miles at the end of a long week. Any ideas of good places to park in close proximity to downtown? Leave a comment and get the wheels a rollin’! See you there!
Well geeze, if you don’t know that Friday May 16th is Bike to Work Day…you must be OK with the rising price of fuel and the growing expanse of your waistline. These things are not so hot in my book, so I’ll be down at Papa Wheelies Friday morning , the only place in town giving out free fuel for your ride. They will be flippin’ pancakes and serving hot coffee starting at 6am so you can breeze in to your job and grab that front row parking space, the bike rack!
Yes, yes, you don’t know a quick route from your home to your job. You don’t want to have helmet hair for that biweekly staff meeting where there’s always way to yummy donuts. Well, what can I say…you could easily burn upwards of 200 calories on your ride into work, and save a few bucks on that gallon of gas…might it be worth it? Open up Google Maps and look at some side roads that connect the dots between your home and destination. Those 25mph zones you avoid while speeding in late to work are great for a safe and energizing ride to start, what I predict, will be a highly productive work day, and the beginning of a long and sustainable life style. See you on the road!
Wow, long time no post. But ski season is dwindling away (sniff sniff) and I can almost take the toe warmers off my cycling shoes, so its time for some bikeblogging.
Now, I don’t try to hide the sad fact that I’m a fair weather commuter. There are no fenders on my bike, and if I have to wear a face mask to stay warm, its Subaru weather. But these blustery days will soon be “gone with the Schwinn” and I can see all over Reno that I’m not the only one dusting off my Trek and getting back into the spin of things. (ha.)
Riding a bike is, well, like riding a bike…it all comes back to you. But the finer points of cycling through urban road systems may take some review after the ski season (although its not entirely unlike navigating the trees on the side of Proletariat Bowl, so some of us should be good). When in doubt watch this video and strictly abide by the following tips.
Just kidding I meant this one:
Commuting Necessities:
1) Helmet. I know, I know, helmet hair = weirdo, and may not help you attract the kind of attention you were hoping for over drinks at the Imperial. But when I ride, the chances are too great that showing off my new highlights = being a vegetable, so I’ll take my chances and rely on my winning personality.
2) Clothing. Oh, I don’t mean to suggest that clothing itself isn’t optional, that of course is personal preference. But when riding at night, its oh-so-cool to be oh-so-visible. No, chartreuse isn’t on my list of complementary colors for my skin tone either. But even white is pretty reflective at night, and you should definitely make sure your messenger bag has some reflect-o-taping to catch the driver’s eye.
3) Cool. Noah, RBP co-founder, (clearly an authority on the subject,) gives insight into the source of his stature. “I find being cool helps with my ride,” he says. I think he’s right. My hard CORE commuter friend Earl finds similar success riding to work in a three piece suit with a bunch of camera junk strapped to his back. And at the risk of reviling trade secrets, I’ve heard that messenger bags with a helmet strapped to the front is a great tool for navigating crowded bars. It either gives you the opening to buy someone a drink, or pushes them into their own drink, which ever works in your favor.
Booyah! We are pleased to announce the addition of our newest member, Team Bacon Strip. Dubbed “a gaggle of dirty hippy mountain bikers” by the Minx herself, TBS has joined with NBC because, well, they do have real jobs, to which they ride at least a few times a week, and so they have a community interest in making Nevada roads safer for their commute. They also do crazy things like grill pancakes on Peavine to fuel up for trail maintenance days with the Poedunks. And so we welcome them to the coalition of Nevadans committed to making all of our commutes safer. BTW, membership is free, so that helps too.
At first glance one would think a room filled with top ranking law enforcement and disgruntled cyclists would quickly erupt into hysteria, but thanks to the cooperation and good intentions of everyone involved, tonight’s meeting with “the chiefs” to discuss the perceived bias of law enforcement against the cyclist was a complete success.
Thanks to the cooperation and initiative of Sheriff Haley and our very own Terry McAfee, we cycle commuters finally got to let it out, all the hoots, the near misses, the “I didn’t see you”s, the “get off the road!’s,” and why it seems like there’s nothing being done to keep the peace. We got to hear the other side of the story too. The fact that 1.2 officers per 1000 people make it pretty difficult for officers to respond to every complaint of erratic driving. Our goal was to begin a much needed conversation with the people who can make our commute safer, and I think we got the point across. So, thanks Sheriff Haley, thanks Lt. Donnelly and thanks everyone for attending and speaking up and making it a complete success. We look forward to working together in the future. You can find Heidi’s notes of the meeting and more pictures under the “Advocacy” page.
Are Bicyclists getting a fair shake from the police? Darren Seltzer thinks maybe not.
Darren Seltzer wrote:
Hello All. This email is merely a rant, there is no ‘timely’/critical information, so you can delete now, or read on if you would like to know more.I was watching the morning news (rare that I am up that early) and saw a clip on an elderly lady who hit a cyclist yesterday. The footage showed the horrifically cracked windshield of the red, 2 door, late model Cadillac (shocking huh?). The cyclist was said to have a few major injuries, and that he was wearing a helmet. The only other information I know is the lady was cited for a “failure to yield” violation. If you are still reading…I had read on Velonews of a forum (link below) by an attorney, who thought there is a huge bias against cyclists in both the driving/police enforcement communities. Mr. Mionske quotes many incidents (including one in Incline not too long ago) where many cyclists have been hit/and or killed, and then to find the driver rarely cited, even when the situation dictates pure driver error. You can read the link below:http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/13637.0.htmlFinally to my question: For the Reno cycling community, has anyone personally felt/seen a bias against cyclists? I would also like to ask anyone with any legal background, how/why do these motorists only receive a slap on the wrist for injuring or even worse, killing a cyclist?Thank you if you have read this far. I believe we all know as cyclists there are inherent risks in our sport, but there should be greater consequences for motorists who injure/kill cyclists, just as a motorist to motorist fatality (vehicular manslaughter). I apologize if I seem a bit heated. It’s just that these incidents arise quite frequently, more than they should. Thanks again everyone!PS-if anyone has any information on the cyclist I heard of this morning, please let me know.
In Nevada, I frequently hear that cyclists “have all of the rights and responsibilities of a motorist”, with a few exceptions. This is a blessing and a curse. When two motorists crash together, one gets a “failure to yield” citation and his insurance company pays to have both vehicle repaired. It’s no big deal. When a motorist hits a bicyclist and gets a “failure to yield” citation, it’s no big deal for him but the cyclist frequently is maimed or worse. It just doesn’t seem fair. One gets maimed and the other pays a $100 ticket.
So does anyone know if any state in the US has adopted laws that give cyclists more of a level playing field?
Is that cool or what? You got to hand it to the Canadians to refer to a symbol that, to my mind, accurately captures the relationship between bicycles and autos, two opposing and, at the same time, complementary transportation modes.
Friday May 16th is Bike to Work Day…you must be OK with the rising price of fuel and the growing expanse of your waistline. These things are not so hot in my book, so I’ll be down at 
