Bike to work week

Iastfan112 · 05-12-2008, 06:35 PM

Hmmm the 97 mile bike ride on Friday looks a tad bit unappealing, that said now that it's been nice when I'm home I have been riding my bike for when I need go the mile between my house and grandparents(about 1 mile each way). To town is a bit far at 8-10 miles for my liking.

madcityCY · 05-12-2008, 09:39 PM

I am participating in BTWW in Madison. 5 mi ea. way for me. That will be 50 miles by the end of the week.

BenEClone · 05-13-2008, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by BenEClone

Cy Heavy, Do you have an estimate on how many were involved in the Livestrong ride? We'll probably never do the ride for the roses with Lance, but, we might be able to get a Livestrong ride started here in Lincoln/Omaha.

I found on the LAF site that there was an event in Lincoln last weekend - publicity must have been very low key.

coachdags · 05-13-2008, 09:06 PM

I thought this was just for crazy people in Iowa....? It is actually a National Bike to Work Week, May 12-16......

I'm going to put my big rear on a schwin tomorrow, only have about 8 mile round trip.....

.......it will not be pretty....

DougMasters · 05-13-2008, 09:23 PM

I've been biking in this whole week so far. It's been alright, not great. I think tomorrow I'm going to put some pegs on my bike though so I can pull off some sweet tricks on the way in. Maybe that will make it better. It can't make it worse.

Wesley · 05-13-2008, 09:59 PM

Guess I will stick to the car to play CDs....

BryceC · 05-13-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Cy Heavy

Thank you, we're glad you're not downtown anymore for BTWW

I don't have a problem with BTWW. I have a problem with the bikers like the guy my wife saw running a red light on Oralabor in Ankeny. IMO it's just not safe.

CYCLONE STATE · 05-13-2008, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I don't have a problem with BTWW. I have a problem with the bikers like the guy my wife saw running a red light on Oralabor in Ankeny. IMO it's just not safe.

I agree. This bugs me too so I try to set a good example when biking and follow all laws. I think this also will help create a little more respect from motorists.

An interesting email making the rounds on bikeiowa group...
"Today a guy I work with was riding into work and got buzzed by a car.
It was witnessed by an Ankeny police officer. The police officer chased
the car down and when my friend got up to them the police officer told
him the driver was being charged with speeding, illegal pass and
wreckless driving. This is great news. Hats off to the Ankeny police."

jmb · 05-14-2008, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by CYCLONE STATE

I agree. This bugs me too so I try to set a good example when biking and follow all laws. I think this also will help create a little more respect from motorists.

An interesting email making the rounds on bikeiowa group...
"Today a guy I work with was riding into work and got buzzed by a car.
It was witnessed by an Ankeny police officer. The police officer chased
the car down and when my friend got up to them the police officer told
him the driver was being charged with speeding, illegal pass and
wreckless driving. This is great news. Hats off to the Ankeny police."

Bryce
I think the danger is both from a few really dangerous riders, but there are many dangerous drivers.

I know the guy that sent the message about the cop in Ankeny, but that really is the exception and cyclists are at risk from cell-phone, Starbucks chugging, make-up applying, attention diverted drivers.

It is really dangerous driving a car right now, let alone being on a bike. I ride year round, and I am geeting more and more fearful of the road danger. I would like to reiterate there are definitley some cyclists that do things to po folks driving cars.

jmb

capitalcityguy · 05-14-2008, 04:56 AM

I'm planning on biking on Friday. My commute via car is normally about 25 minutes to downtown DSM. It will take me about 40 minutes by bike and I'm fortunate that about 90% of my ride is via bike trail.

capitalcityguy · 05-14-2008, 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by Cy Heavy

Neal Smith trail down to the Botanical Center then the bike lane on Walnut (I think, or Grand) to downtown.

Yes, Walnut has the bike lane.

capitalcityguy · 05-14-2008, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by mramseyISU

I would but I have a 28 mile cummute everyday.

Those in the Middle East thank you for your patronage.

BryceC · 05-14-2008, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by jmb

Bryce
I think the danger is both from a few really dangerous riders, but there are many dangerous drivers.

I know the guy that sent the message about the cop in Ankeny, but that really is the exception and cyclists are at risk from cell-phone, Starbucks chugging, make-up applying, attention diverted drivers.

It is really dangerous driving a car right now, let alone being on a bike. I ride year round, and I am geeting more and more fearful of the road danger. I would like to reiterate there are definitley some cyclists that do things to po folks driving cars.

jmb

The drivers you are describing are in the huge minority. I actually really have no problem with the year round riders - they are the ones that generally know what they are doing and don't put drivers in bad places. This is why I don't like a lot of the motorcycle riders that commute either - oftentimes I see them going too fast and driving more recklessly than the cars.

My problem is with the out of shape, violating traffic laws, own the road, dangerous riders that comprise about the same percentage of bike riders that the drivers you mentioned make up the driving population. I just think a lot of people that normally don't ride to work and have no clue what they are doing, and are huffing and puffing by the time they make their way downtown so they aren't as sharp as they normally are really put a lot of motorists who are just trying to make another uneventful commute at risk.

If a bike rider were to blatantly run a traffic signal and get it, the headline would be "EVIL NAZI MOTORIST KILLS BIKE RIDER - THEN DRINKS SATAN'S BLOOD". IMO they need to make Bike paths more accessible to downtown if that is something they are really interested in.

BryceC · 05-14-2008, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Those in the Middle East thank you for your patronage.

I commute with two other people so all three of us drive one week on two weeks off. I think that's a lot more helpful over the course of a year as opposed to a handful of people riding their bikes to work one week a year. Take it easy getting off that saddle on your high horse though.

Phaedrus · 05-14-2008, 07:36 AM

Here, in Germany, it is extremely easy to bike nearly everywhere. We're talking bike trails, or small goat-trail roads nearly everywhere. Having said that, the roads are infested with passive-aggressive types who ride on the road, creating a traffic hazard, despite the bike trail 6 inches to their right.

I'm convinced they do it in order to try to obstruct car traffic, and to show how superior they are.

Having said that, I really like having riding the bike to work as a safe option, because of the bike trails. That and the quaint little towns every 2-5 km.