On to Des Moines

As I headed to Des Moines this morning, I had a very pleasant trip to the airport via my extra-cycle. I live about 10 minutes by bike from the airport, so it is easy and really too short. A little longer ride would be welcome on a day like today. IF they ever build it, and that is a big IF, I will live even closer to the high speed rail train station! That, my friends, would be awesome! High speed trains to the Twin Cities, Chicago, St Louis, and many other popular destinations!

Car-Free Challenge

Transform, a local non-profit alliance of green-minded organizations, has started a Car-Free Challenge. It's a lot like the Bike to Work Month activities organized by the MTC here in the Bay Area, but allows individuals to blog and has contests for best stories, photos and videos. I joined and it's getting me back out of the car, after a long 6 months of driving (mostly) to work. (My excuse: baby too young to put on bike and a one-way walk/transit trip of an hour and a half to go four miles.)

If you're interested in my blog, it's here.

Bikes and cars: self-righteousness vs. self-preservation - The Oregonian

by Andrew Holtz, guest opinion
Monday June 08, 2009, 9:35 AM

Recently, Stephen Pastis lampooned cyclists in his Pearls Before Swine comic strip (June 2). In one panel, the character Rat says, "I don't know what it is about cyclists, but every one I've ever met has always been so self-righteous."

I had to laugh. The remark hit close to home. Like many Portlanders, I commute by bicycle and I know what sort of reaction we spark among many of our non-cycling fellows. I shared the strip with friends, who said, " It's YOU!"

Later that day, a more serious event cast a different light on the mismatched perspectives of those behind steering wheels and those leaning over handlebars. I was riding home from work on a busy street... [click here for entire article and comments]

Biking Fashion Contest

The New York Times reports on a bicycle fashion contest that was run this spring in a collaboration between Donna Karan and the department of transportation. The winner, a 21-year old from Queens, will have her designs developed as a prototype by DKNY. There's a link to a slide show there.

Velo-City Conference video

I thought this was an interesting little video from the perspective of Portland's Mayor Adams who recently presented at the Velo-City 2009 in Brussels, Belgium. He is joined by Andy D. Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists.

Freiker hits Wisconsin (Thanks Trek!)

http://tinyurl.com/lmvvxb

Should we be in touch with Trek to see what other good ideas they can fund? Perhaps they are short on ideas and we can help out?