bicycles in the community

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Letter From the Editor 2

8Eight Must Haves When Biking in a City

14Improving Milwaukee - Bike Quest Vol.1

18Great Ideas-Go By Bike

20Thank You

Our staff are committed to bringing you the latest in Bicycle news from coast to coast. This edition will cover a variety of city visits highlighting what is happening in larger citys across the states. Bicycles in the City has been working on some new news to bring to our readers amazing insight into the biking world of Milwaukee.

This month we are inviting you to look inside San Francisco with us. What a beautiful city to take it all in by bike. There are so many spots that only bicycles have access to. We recommend that the next time you’re out on your bike take your time to “smell the roses” and take it all in no matter where you are. We also traveled to Chicago and found that they have some major funding issues when it comes to the biking community for lanes and accessibility. It’s incrediable to know that there is a biking community that helps support each other and their accesibility to ride around the city. In our great city of Milwaukee, we’ve discovered a “make over” that the city is currently conducting. Bike clubs are showing up everywhere, monthly bike rides around the city and possibly some new pathways and bike lanes for the future.

Don’t forget to read about the other important information about riding a bike in a city. We hope you enjoy this month’s edition, and welcome you to write us with your comments or questions.

Sarah Church-Magazine Editor

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San Francisco is boomtown for bicy-cling. And with motre riders comes more diversity. Among the growing population of bicyclists are those who eschew speed and spandex in favor of sitting upright and slowly making their way through town in whatever they happen to be wearing that day. It’s a trend that some are calling the Slow Bike Movement.

“When I think about the Slow Bike Movement, I think of bikes that allow people to sit upright, see your sur-roundings, be more visible to your environment that you’re riding,” says Public Bikes’ Dan Nguyen-Tan. “As a company, we’re in the middle of this wave of growing numbers of people incorporating a bike into their daily lives.”

By Celeste Lecompte

One of those newer riders is Emma Logan, a human resources director in the Financial District. In March, she purchased a bright orange Public bike to use for commuting and leisure rides. While other riders on her routes from the Mission rush down Folsom or Market streets, Logan is happy to take it easy and arrive at work fresh from a slow cycle trip.

“I’m not hard core,” she says. “I’m just doing my own thing.”

That carries over to when you’re get-ting dressed in the morning. Slow rid-ing means not arriving at work sweaty or worrying about wearing specific

bike-riding shoes or any of the other wardrobe-related concerns that plague would-be commuters. Being a Slow Bike Rider may mean being left behind by the pack of spandex-wearing cyclists in the mornings, but it also means getting to know more about the rest of your community.

“I actually like interacting with the people in my city,” Logan says. “And when you’re riding slowly, that tends to happen more often.”

Both Logan and Colleen Stockmann, who works at the Contemporary Jewish

Museum, say it’s easier to strike up a conversation with people on the street while biking. When you’re not rushing past, head down, people tend to talk to you – ask for directions, comment on your bike or otherwise carry on a conversation.

Sometimes that means talking to curi-ous tourists, and sometimes it means striking up a conversation with another slow rider in the bike lane. Sure, it’s easier to talk to someone who isn’t whizzing past, but the laid-back pace also encourages you to look around, Stockmann says. When you’re riding

casually, “you notice more,” she says.

For some San Franciscans, seeing slow-riding folks like Logan and Stockmann out on the road can be a refreshing encouragement to hop on two wheels for a daily commute or a quick trip to the farmers’ market.

“The research shows that cities and communities where more people bike are safer for biking,” Nguyen-Tan says. “The more people who bike, the greater the awareness around cycling.”

Riding a bicycle is not only a wonderful form of exercise, it’s an inexpensive and efficient mode of transportation. So efficient that one does not often think of safety before traveling to a set destination. There are certain basic essentials that are necessary to keep you and your bike safe. It’s crucial to always be aware of your surroundings when biking, especially in a big city. Biking in a city is a lot more dangerous than biking in a sub-urban setting. You can never be too careful though in either situation, so here is a list of things to keep safe when biking around town. First things first, always wear a helmet. You don’t want to get injured for life, or even die because you sustained a head injury. Next, its always best to have lights on your bike. Most people have two, one for the front and one for the back.

Another huge essential is having a sturdy lock. Buy the “U” shaped locks so no one can cut into them and steal your bike. Some other things that will be helpful on the road is a portable pump for your tires, a tool set just in case anything comes lose, your phone in case of a major emergency. All of these things can fit right into your bag. Some other essentials that wont hurt to carry with you are energy bars and water to stay healthy and hydrated. It also wont hurt to carry a leg strap to wrap around your pants when riding and a flat tire repair kit. When you have all these things or most of them you should be all set to hit the road. You could be heading to work or school or just even a joy ride, either way you can never be to safe when riding a bike around town or in the city.

By Kevin Mueller

Though the city is renowned for manufactur-ing motorcycles, Milwaukee also boasts an active bicycling subculture. With so many local bike clubs and group rides popping up around the city, it’s not difficult to find one to suit any cycling niche. And now, as the city takes steps to improve its cycling infrastructure, biking here stands to further, ahem, inflate. “We’re right on the verge,”says Dave Schlabowske, Milwaukee’s bicycle and pedestiran coordinator. “Our bike use is up 250% in the last five years since we started adding bike lanes.”

Bike lanes only add a certain percentage of people. You need to add trails, bicycle boulevards and other things to get the rest of them. Once we start doing that, I think we’ll see our growth continue to rise.” In september, the Common Council approved a bike plan that would do just that. The 10-year blueprint outlines 153 miles of bike lanes, 54 miles in boulevards and 14 miles of paved trails that will expand the city’s bike network almost threefold.

The total cost is estimated at $8.6 Million , though funding will require approval for each individual project. The goal, v says, is to become as bike-friendly as Minneapolis and Madison, two cities with high ridership and thorough bike networks. We’re a little behind the curve, “schlabowske says, “but we’re moving in the same direction.” The growing local interest in biking is reflected by the spike in bike-themed events around the city. Various local organizations and businesses are offering more weekly and monthly rides than ever before. For instance, the Bella Donnas, an all-female biking club, holds 6 p.m. rides on Mondays starting from Crank Daddy’s and Cory the Bike Fixer offers Thursday rides at 6 p.m. as well, Steve Roche of mkebke.com arranges monthly themed rides, and Schlabowske uses his blog, overthebars in milwaukee.wordpress.com, to plan laid-back trips to brunches and farmers’ markets.

In addition to these social and meet-up rides, there are many bike rides and gather-ings planned for the summer. Here is a pre-view of some of the more notable ones:

MAY

Motorists often use the excuse “But I didn’t see you!” to justify nearly flinging a bicyclist into the asphalt. While sometimes those complaints are justified, drivers usually just aren’t paying attention and are surprised to see a skinny, two-headed vehicle riding alongside them. To bring more awareness to those gas guzzlers and remember thoes cyclists killed on public roads, Ride of Silence encourages riders to traverse the roads quietly and at a relaxed pace on May 18. The worldwide event of-fers more than 200 starting points, includ-ing 7 p.m. ride times at Wheel & Sprocket in Fox Point and Waukesha State Bank.

JUNE The cantankerous Hoan Bridge rebuilding project that’s beleaguered the city for years finally has a plan in place, but the country seems unwilling to implement a relatively inexpensive bike path. Never fear(unless you’re afraid of heights): United Perform-ing Arts Fundraiser, Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite, on Sunday, June 5. Cyclists have the option to steer along 5-,12-, 25-,50- and 75-mile routes that navigate along the lakefront. The ride begins and ends at the Summer-fest grounds and helps support the local performing arts. Ride for the Arts serves

as the precursor to the city’s Bike to Work Week, five-days (Hune6-1-) of educating commuters that cycling to work can be safe, refreshing and fun. Annual activities include a group ride with Mayor Tom Barrett, a Brewers outing and verious bike training seminars. On the following Saturday (June 18), one of the city’s longest-running rides, The Fat Tire Tour of Milwaukee, celebrates its 27th year of beer and cycling, Starting and finishing at Best Place, 901 W. Juneau Ave., this glorified pub-crawl prides itself in going off the beaten path. Last year, cyclists dressed as characters from The Big Lebowski and stopped at a few area bowling alleys.

This year’s theme borrows from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.Held the same day. The Tour de Cure makes for a less intoxicating endeavor, though the $150 registration fee can stretch the wallet as much as a bar tab. Thankfully, the event supports a good cause. This year marks the tour’s 20th anniversary of supporting the American Diabetes Asso-ciation. The fund-raiser is a fun ride instead of a race. Ride lengths span from a short, 10-mile family ride to a 100-kilometer trek along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.

JULY

Colorado-based, bike-friendly company New Belgium Brewing stages a travel-ing, cycling circus throughout the country called the Tour de Fat. On July 30, it stops at Humboldt Park. Attendees are encour-aged to wear oddball costumes and ride outlandish bikes. The premiere event for Milwaukee in 2010 proved successful, rais-ing $12,000 for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

It’s not as much about endurance as just having a goodtime in the neighborhood-looping, daylong race that is the Riverwest 24. From 7 p.m. July 29 to 7 p.m. July 30, cyclists compete in solo, team and tandem categories, stopping at various checkpoints to earn bonus points. The race highlights the neighborhood’s community-oriented and counterculture sensibilities. The 600-participant ride sold out in two days, but volunteers are still needed.

AUGUSTThe Cream City Cycle Club holds regular group rides throughout southeastern Wisconsin, but all pale in comparison to its Century ride on Aug. 28. As the name imples, its longest route covers 100 miles. The ride begins in Waterford and includes a few planned rest stops along the way, stocked with water and homemade goodies.

The staff of Bicycles in the City went around town asking our local bicyclist about how they feel about biking around Milwaukee and possible improvements that could be made involving bike lanes for the future. We got some great insite from our participants, so Check it out and Enjoy!

Do you ride a bike?

I do! I bought it used from a friend about a year ago and it’s been my most faithful companion ever since. Do you have a car? If so, how do you feel about bikers on the road?

I do not have a car. If I did I would respect the bikers on the road like when I respect the cars when I‘m biking.

What are your thoughts on bike lanes?

Bike lanes are essential for a progressive city. Their presence goes beyond being valuable just for bikers and their safety but also as a constant reminder of bike presence and the option for other modes of transportation the contemporary urban landscape.

Do you think there should be more bike lanes through out the city? Why?

Milwaukee both benefits and suffers from it’s small town/big city position. Bike riders exist in some strange middle-ground purgatory. We are restricted to the road for our rides and at the same time misunderstood by many drivers to be mistakenly using it. The presence of bike lanes provides both safety for bike riders and awareness to drivers about their neighbors on the road. By installing more bike lanes, we also create a safe and comfort-able environment for more potential riders to join the movement.

Do you ride a bike?

Why yes I do!

Do you drive a car? If so, how do you feel about bikers on the road?

Why yes I do! I feel completely comfortable sharing the road with cyclists AS LONG as they

Volume 1.

NATEPYPER Student

KATHRYN BETLONGIA Student

follow the rules of the road just as motor vehicle drivers have to. But some people just don’t know any better..i.e. blowing through stop signs, not looking both ways, not wearing lights at night, cruising on the sidewalk...


I am all for bike lanes. And all for more bike paths.


There should be bike lanes where there are streets, everywhere. Bike lanes should occupy a little more room in the road too, away from where a person in a parked car could maybe not be paying attention and open their door on your face...

Do you ride a bike?

I ride a bike, but only for recreation and exercise.


I mostly drive a car for work and personal use. I don’t mind bikers on the road as long as they all follow the rules of the road. Some bikers are all over the place, going the wrong way, and not staying within the confines of the bike paths that are designated for bikes. I see bikers going through red lights, turning when they aren’t sup-pose to be turning, and a lot of them cross the road as if the cars were suppose to yield to them.


I believe that bike lanes should be on every road, and there should be set guidelines for bikes to ride on roads. When I grew up, every biker in the 60’s had to have a license for their bike through the police station, and when you obtained a license, you received a safety booklet. I believe that should be implemented again today, and every bike should have the minimum amount of reflectors, lights, mirrors etc for that biker to navigate with. I also believe that bikers should where at minimum a helmet for safety from those inattentive drivers.


Yes, and as I stated above, every street should have bike lanes, just as they do bus lanes. I think biking around the city is a awesome way of trans-portation, but there aren’t enough safety rules that are enforced to protect both the drivers and the bikers, nor are there enough bike lanes for bikers to ride in.

Do you ride a bike?

No, I do not ride a bike anymore.


Yes, I drive a car.

What are your thoughts on bike lanes? I do not mind bikes on the rode if they ride in bike lanes or understand that riding along side one or more fellow riders blocks the driving lane. I respect bike riders, but they need to respect that they are riding in car lanes and not all drivers pay a lot of attention to what’s happening on the right/passenger side of the car. My car has a ter-rible blind spot and there have been times when making a right hand turn I haven’t seen a rider trying to go straight.

Do you ride a bike?

Yes.


Yes. I don’t mind bikers on the road, but they need to respect the rules of the road too.


I like that people ride their bikes, they have a right to the road, but they should also remain conscious that although they have the RIGHT to be on the road, they should not hog lanes like assholes, ride like an asshole to prove a point, etc. also, if you’re going to ride, awesome, but know the rules of the road, etc. be safe. Bike lanes rule and I wish we had more, because it will encour-age more people to ride their bikes.


It makes bike riding easier, safer, and more comfortable for most. if it becomes easier, more people will do it, less people will be driving, less traffic, less pollution, etc. and more people will be active. bike lanes also add to the quality of recreation in milwaukee. people may be more willing to explore the city by bike, go on long rides, may bring in more tourism, etc.

“Thanks to all who got involved and took their time to answer these simple, but very helpful questions to help im-

prove biking in the city of Milwaukee.” -Staff at Bicycles in the Community

CARLEEN CHURCH Mother

SUE CAMPBELL Business Woman

KATELYN LUCAS Student

Chicago, Aug. 24, 2011 -- As transit agencies prepare their budgets for next year, the riding public is bracing itself for another round of possible service cuts and fare increases.To fight for the needs of transit riders, the Active Transportation Alliance launched Riders for Better Transit, a new initiative to organize transit riders in the Chicago region to demand better transit options.Residents and community leaders can declare their sup-port for better transit and learn more at www.ridersforbettertransit.org.

“Riders across the region know our system is plagued by slow zones, overcrowding and deteriorating stations, and every community has a laundry list of needs, from restoring bus service that’s been cut to increasing train frequencies,” said Ron Burke, Executive Director of Active Trans. “Our region can barely maintain our current transit service, much less make improvements riders need. The bottom line is transit in our region is significantly underfunded.”

By Ethan Spotts

While demand for transit in our region has been increasing for years, funding shortfalls and chronic disinvestment mean that transit agencies are having a harder time just making ends meet every year. In 2010, the CTA cut bus service by 19 percent and rail service by 9 percent in order to make ends meet.

“Transit reduces pollution, provides essential links to jobs and commerce, and offers an affordable transportation choice for Chica-goland residents,” said Jennifer Henry of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is partnering with Active Trans on the new campaign.

Many business and community leaders in our region already understand that transit is es-sential for our economy, health, environment These “Transit Champions” are standing with transit riders in support of better transit choices:

“We have long been concerned about how to ensure a clean, diverse natural environment. There is no question that public transportation is a critical factor in creating cleaner air and using fewer resources. Chi-cago is a world class city that deserves a world class transit system, so we are proud to support Riders for Better Transit.”--Donna La Pietra and Bill Kurtis: TV journalists and civic leaders

“We need to use transportation dollars wisely and reinvest in existing communities and infrastructure.”

Riders for Better Transit will support in-creased investment in transit, promote transit initiatives that will improve service, and keep transit agencies in touch with riders’ needs. For example, Riders for Better Transit will fight to prevent further service cuts and fare increases as transit agencies prepare to finalize their 2012 budgets. Riders for Better Transit is also encouraging the toll highway authority to incorporate new and improved transit service on tollways.and quality of life.

The benefits of public transit for Chicagoans are self-evident: less congestion, lower pollution, and more active and productive employees. Groupon encourages the use of public transit by providing a pre-tax fare benefit, and we are proud to be a Transit Champion in support of the Active Transportation Alliance’s Riders for Better Transit initiative.”--Skip Schipper, Senior Vice President, Human Re-sources at Groupon

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A new bike shop has opened up at the base of the Portland Aerial Tram in the South Waterfront neighborhood. Go By Bike is owned by Kiel Johnson and run out of a refurbished camper. I stopped by on opening day yesterday to learn more.

We counted about 325 bikes parked within yards of the shop yesterday! Nestled among well over 300 bikes in overflowing racks outside the tram and the OHSU Center for Health & Healing, Johnson’s humble, 7 by 14-foot mobile bike shop awaits the hundreds of people who bike up to Oregon Health & Science University each day. The idea behind the shop is to have people drop off their bikes in the morning and then pick them up on their way home.

OHSU’s transportation options manager John Landolfe was at the opening yesterday. He contacted me back in March to spread the word that he was looking for someone to open up a shop. “People asked for it, and Kiel [Johnson] really stepped up with his proposal,” said Landolfe.

The old camper doesn’t exactly fit in with the

modern lines of other buildings in the South Waterfront.The shop is on a temporary, one-week pilot lease. “Hopefully we can extend it,” says Landolfe. One of the issues with how the camper doesn’t meet existing architectural design guidelines. (I’ve asked for further clarification about why only one week was given for the lease and will update when I hear back.)

Johnson’s name might be familiar. He’s the guy who single-handedly sparked a school bike train revolution in Portland that led him to attention from NBC-TV in Los Angeles and won him an Alice Award from the Bi-cycle Transportation Alliance earlier this year.

The proud owner is ready for your business. Johnson did some great work on the trailer, which he bought for $850 off Craigslist. It’s small, but he and mechanic Eric Phelan can fit comfortably inside with a bike in the stand, a workbench, and a small selection of basic accessories in stock. As for the name, Go By Bike, Johnson says he got that idea from a 2007 post on BikePortland where I wondered why Portland doesn’t have a “Go

By Bike” sign similar to ones we have for taxi, streetcar, and bus.

It was too windy to put up the sign.Go By Bike will be open five days a week from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Hopefully OHSU will extend the lease and it will be around for a long time.

Both Landolfe and Johnson are urging people to send feedback about the shop (especially if you want to see it become a bit more permanent) to them via email at bike at ohsu dot edu or gobybikeshop at gmail dot com.

By Jonathan Maus

Great Idea!

Participants:Photo/Illustration: Contributors:Katelyn LucasNate PyperCarleen ChurchSusan CampbellKathryn Belongia

Tara BogartPhotographyShane ValentineIllustration

Jonathan Mausbikeportland.orgEthan Spottsactivetrans.orgCeleste LeComptesfbike.orgKevin Muellerexpressmilwaukee.com

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