Thursday, December 31, 2009

Feel-good bicycle story

Here's a missing bicycle story with a happy ending out of Columbia, Ill.:

Garrett Betts was driving on Illinois Route 3 in the Columbia area when his Christmas gift -- a $400 bicycle -- flew out of the back end of his pickup truck.

Fortunately for Garrett, Steve Blosser saw the bike along the side of the highway on Christmas Eve.

"I'm so happy to find it, that the little boy is getting his Christmas present back," Steve said.

KTVI-TV, Channel 2, originally broadcast the story about the missing bike on Tuesday. The station put the boy's grandmother in with Steve, leading to the boy finally receiving his gift. KTVI broadcast the clip shown above earlier tonight.

Labels: bicycles, Illinois, videos

Roger 0 comments 11:43 PM

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tour of Missouri: More about economic impact

In the past few years, I've taken the progressive political blog Fired Up! Missouri to task for its criticism of the Tour of Missouri. Rather than basing its arguments against state funding upon facts and critical thinking, it's been guilty to using hyperbole and loaded terms such as "French-style bicycle race" to attempt to make it points.

But I have to laud Fired Up! Missouri for obtaining the full economic impact study for the 2009 Tour of Missouri. Neither Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder nor Tour of Missouri organizers released the report when they issued a press release about the impact study. However, Fired Up! Missouri obtained the document through a Missouri Sunshine Law and posted it at Scribd.

The author of the most current Fired Up! Missouri article, Sean, believes the crowd estimate of 71,000 for the end of Stage 4 in Jefferson City is a bit too high. He also doubts the race had an economic impact of $5.4 million on Missouri's capital city.

Sean may be onto something here. For example, the study says 26,250 people attended the finish of Stage 2 in Cape Girardeau. At the time, the Southeast Missouri newspaper reported a crowd of just 5,000 for the Stage 2 finish.

The study, produced by St. Louis-based IFM North America, estimates a total of 500,000 people watched the Tour of Missouri this year and had an economic impact of nearly $38.1 million on the state.In particular, the study noted an increase in spending by non-Missouri residents, from $15.6 million in 2008 to $20.6 million in 2009.

The future of the Tour of Missouri remains in question as state leaders will debate in 2010 whether to continue state support of the race. No doubt, the demise of the Tour of Georgia in 2010, the second straight year that race has been cancelled, has to make one wonder whether there will be sufficient private support of the Tour of Missouri should the state not provide money for the race.

Labels: Tour of Missouri

Roger 3 comments 12:50 AM

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Illinois Share the Road license plates

Once again, the League of Illinois Bicyclists will be offering "Share the Road" license plates in honor of National Bicycle Month. The plates can be legally displayed on licensed Illinois vehicles during April and May.

LIB is trying to take the concept one step further. LIB is pushing to make permanent, year-round "Share the Road" plates. Twelve already have the year-round plate, but LIB would have to convince Illinois lawmakers to pass a law allowing the plates and would have to sell a minimum of 1,000 plates to offer them.

If successful, customers could order the plates from the Secretary of State at a cost somewhat higher than the cost for their regular plates. From the incremental cost, the Secretary of State gets $15 the first year and $2 each year thereafter. The rest would go to LIB for statewide educational "Share the Road" campaigns.

Efforts to approve the plate this year were stalled because of financial concerns. LIB hopes to reintroduce the legislation in 2010.

LIB is taking a survey to determine interest in the "Share the Road" plate. Perhaps we in Illinois can join our friends in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Colorado and eight other states in displaying "Share the Road" plates all year long.

Labels: advocacy, bicycling, Illinois

Roger 1 comments 2:26 PM

Share the Damn Road jerseys

Professional cyclist Phil Gaimon has created a series of cycling jerseys under the name Share the Damn Road.

Phil says on his Web site he was "tired of being honked at, buzzed, and cussed out while he trained, and frustrated that the speed of motor vehicles made witty and insulting replies impossible. To solve that problem, he set out to create a line of jerseys that express what he's always wanted to say to passing cars."

Phil says his goal is to convey messages of safety and cyclists' rights by using humor. He warns these jerseys aren't for "wimps." In addition to "share the damn road," you can buy jerseys with the messages"don't honk at me," "don't run me over" and "slow down."

I agree with Phil the jerseys are funny, at least from the cyclist's point of view, and I've felt many of the same sentiments over the years.

But call me a wimp if you must. I'm not convinced all motorists will find the humor in those messages. I fear a motorist with a case of road rage will treat the messages the same way a bull responds to a waving red cape.

There are two messages I do like -- the "Infinite MPG" and the "3 Feet" jerseys -- that are less likely to draw ire from motorists and get the message across.

Labels: advocacy, cycling, safety

Roger 0 comments 1:59 PM

Thursday, December 24, 2009

My Christmas Present: Memories of Wes Kramer

Merry Christmas!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season! My present to my family this Christmas -- and by extension, all of you -- is a web site honoring my late brother, Wes Kramer.

"Wes Kramer | A Retrospective: 1955-1986" includes a variety of his work from his high school and college days. Special galleries have been created for his major works, a series of pieces inspired by Cahokia Mounds and other mounds created by the Mississippian people in the metro-east and the "Revolt of the Implements."

Much of Wes' work has been hidden from view since his untimely death in 1996, and I believe this site is an appropriate was to share his work with others. I spent much of the last couple of weeks creating this site, including scanning slides of his college work and scanning in original artwork that my Mom has kept over the years. I hope I have done Wes' work justice.

The site is a work in progress. While I think I've included most of his best pieces, I plan to add more in the coming weeks and months. In time, I will photograph some of his sculptures and include those as well. In time, I hope to create a more sophisticated gallery system to present his work.

As you might imagine, reviewing Wes' work was an emotional experience for me, as I'm sure it will be for many of you. While Wes was in high school, it was clear he had an exceptional talent and a special sense of humor. Wes was responsible for introducing me to such comic geniuses as the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, the original "Saturday Night Live," Buster Keaton and, yes, The Three Stooges.

During his days at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University, Wes further developed his talent. As a person who can't draw worth a lick, I always am amazed what Wes was able to do with a charcoal pencil or with a knife when he created his linocut and woodcut prints.

I hope this site succeeds in presenting Wes' work and preserving his legacy. May all of you receive many blessings this holiday season and in the coming new year!

Roger 1 comments 11:39 AM

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

More naked fun on bicycles

Days after writing about a naked protest ride in New York City somewhat thwarted by the East Coast blizzard, The Associated Press offers up another little gem about cyclists who wanted to make a statement.

Police picked up two naked men on a late-night bike ride in a New Zealand town but let them off with a warning: Put on helmets.


"They were wanting to experience total freedom," said Senior Constable Cathy Duder, who stopped the pair about 10 p.m. on a recent night in the beach resort town of Whangamata. The AP reported that she told them,: "You may experience total confinement. You should head home and get helmets."

The officer didn't see the men again, so it's not known how much "total freedom" they actually experienced.

Labels: bicycle rides

Roger 0 comments 9:23 AM

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Nude bicycle protest planned for today

Bicycling advocates who oppose the elimination of a bicycle lane in one of New York City's Jewish neighborhoods are planning a nude protest bike ride.

The Associated Press reports the removal of clothing is meant as a protest over the removal of a bike lane in Williamsburg, an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn.

The activists want to go topless in front of Hasidic residents who "can't handle scantily clad women" on wheels, bike messenger Heather Loop told a local newspaper earlier this week.

Members of the Satmar branch of Judaism "don't want to see women in shorts," says Baruch Herzfeld, who runs a bike-sharing program in a community where Jewish women wear hefty skirts and blouses with long sleeves and men heavy coats and hats, even in summer.

The paper, the Brooklyn Paper, later reported that a bike advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives, wants people to keep their clothes on.

“A bike lane on Bedford Avenue is about transportation and road safety,” the Transportation Alternatives’ statement said. “Rhetoric or acts that pit neighbors against one another are not just irrelevant to this discussion, they are flat-out offensive. A bike ride of people in provocative undress doesn’t make Bedford any safer, and undermines efforts to bring north Brooklynites together to solve this problem.”

Cyclists -- whether they're nude or fully clothed -- may have a real challenge today. Up to 10 inches of snow are forecast to fall on New York City today.

Labels: advocacy

Roger 1 comments 1:33 AM

Friday, December 18, 2009

Team RadioShack "dances" for Christmas

Thanks to The Veloist, I found this video of Team RadioShack "performing" an animated Christmas dance routine. Johan Bruyneel, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner are all part of the new Team RadioShack, professional cycling team for 2010.

I hope all of you are enjoying the days leading up to Christmas, and for those who celebrate other holidays this time of year, I wish you the peace and joy of the season!

Labels: Christmas, videos

Roger 0 comments 11:05 AM

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Can you do this with your bicycle seat post?

A group that calls itself The Cycologists performed this rendition of "Good King Wenceslas" that was posted last year at YouTube. Tis' the season, so it's time to share this Christmas treat with you!

The Australian-based Cycologists -- Linsey Pollak, Ric Halstead and Brendan Hook -- say on their Web page that all their music is made with bicycles, especially featuring: three clarinets made from the bicycle seat stems, Other instruments include bicycle pump panpipes, tuned bicycle bells and a handlebar flute. Linsey is particularly known as being an instrument maker.

Maybe this will inspire me to get out my alto saxophone -- no, I can't play music with my Cannondale R500, although it has made its share of noise over the years -- and play some Christmas music!

Labels: Christmas

Roger 1 comments 12:54 AM

Sunday, December 06, 2009

New bike/ped bridge planned for Great River Road

A new bicycle/pedestrian bridge is being planned for the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail along the Great River Road between Alton and Grafton, Ill.

The (Alton) Telegraph reports that $263,508 of federal Scenic Byway funds will be used construct a bridge over Piasa Creek roughly halfway between Alton and Grafton. No timetable has been set for construction of the bridge.

Currently, the trail crosses Piasa Creek on designated bike lanes on the Great River Road bridges used by motorized traffic. The trail is an off-road trail between Alton and Piasa Creek. The trail mow moves to bike lanes on both sides of the Great River Road (Illinois 100) just east of Piasa Creek. The Telegraph story does not make clear how the bike trail will be rerouted once the bridge is built.

The Great Rivers Land Trust and Elsah Township not only intends to build the bridge, they also plan on building a rest area with informational kiosks about the Underground Railroad. In 1828, with the protection and assistance of Don Alonzo Spaulding and his family, the nearby Rocky Fork area became a large scale Underground Railroad station. Operated by both blacks and whites, the station drew fugitive slaves from Southern Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Descendants of those former slaves still attend the Rocky Fork AME Bethel Church, which is now part of the village of Godfrey.

The bridge will be built on the abutments on a old railroad bridge across Piasa Creek. Before the Great River Road was built, the Illinois Terminal Railroad had a line between Alton and Grafton.

Labels: Illinois. trails

Roger 2 comments 11:40 PM

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Bike I-64 and don't forget your layers!

Your only chance to bike the new section of Interstate 64/Highway 40 between Kingshighway in St. Louis and Interstate 170 is Sunday. On Monday, the highway reopens to motorized traffic, and you won't be able to bike it again.

For those of you hardy enough to bike, dress in layers. The high temperature is only expected to hit 45 degrees tomorrow.

From noon to 4 p.m., the eastbound lanes of the highway will be open to bicyclists, while the westbound lanes are open to pedestrians.

From 7:30 to 10 a.m., Big Shark Bicycle Co. is sponsoring an individual time trial on the eastbound lanes. From 8 to 10 a.m., the St. Louis Track Club is sponsoring a 5K run on the westbound lanes.

The two-year project to rebuild I-64/Highway 40 between Kingshighway and I-270 is being completed several weeks ahead of schedule, so there's plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Labels: St. Louis

Roger 0 comments 1:37 PM

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Drunken driver gets up to 45 years for killing cyclist

All too often, we hear about the injustice the legal system gives bicyclists who are killed or seriously injured when they are struck by a motor vehicle.

In some ways, the sentencing of Kevin Babcock, 44, to 20 to 45 years in prison for killing a 19-year-old bicyclist in Grand Haven, Mich., is a step in the right direction.

And yet, the case reveals many of the problems of the system. The conviction is the fifth drunken driving conviction for Babcock. According to the Grand Rapids Press, Babcock has not had a valid Michigan driver's license since 1993, but yet he had managed to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

This time, his actions killed cyclist Curtis Jacobs and seriously injured a friend, Christian Van Wyngarden.

According to the newspaper, Babcock was driving on U.S. 31 about 8:30 a.m. June 27 when he went through a stoplight at Quincy Street and hit Jacobs and Van Wyngarden. Babcock admitted to having as many as 20 drinks and court records showed a 0.18 blood-alcohol level, more than twice the legal limit.

Babcock pleaded no contest to charges, including second-degree murder, driving while intoxicated causing death and other felonies. Judge Calvin Bosman issued the sentence and asked Babcock how he would keep drunken-driving offenders off the road. His response?

"I don't have an answer for you sir. I wish I did," the Grand Rapids man was quoted as saying. "I thought I had control over my drinking."

I've been to Grand Haven several times over the years, three times because of the West Shoreline Tour and a few other times while traveling to other parts of the Lake Michigan shoreline, a favorite vacation destination..

Unfortunately, one of those visits included a trip to a Grand Haven emergency room, While I never had an encounter with a drunken driver, a bad driver driving a Cadillac with Florida license plates -- unfortunately, no one was ever able to get license plates -- buzzed by me and a friend extremely closely. That startled her, causing her to fall and causing me to run over her with my bike.

But I know my next trip to Grand Haven will be a bit safer, knowing Babcock won't be on the road for a while.

Labels: fatal accidents, Michigan

Roger 0 comments 1:23 AM