83 year old bike commuter-Stan

I met Stan this morning while having coffe at a Panera in Prairie Village, Kansas.

He is an 83 year old Bike commuter

 This is Stan, he lives in Kansas City Missouri.

He has been commuting by bicycle for the 30 years. As you can see by his attire Stan is living proof you can where regular street clothes while bicycling.

Stan's commute this day is 6 miles round trip, he usually rides more but just got out of the hospital, so he says his endurance is down. At 83, he is an inspiration.




I hope I am able to ride like him at 83!

Carless in Montana



Ginny Sullivan

 This from the Adventure Cycling Association

CARLESS

Speaking of Adventure Cycling staffers, here's a link to a terrific story from the December 23 edition of the daily Missoulian about Ginny Sullivan, our special projects director, and her family's newly adopted car-free lifestyle in Montana's Garden City. "The lifestyle change hasn't been insurmountable for the Sullivans, who already did much walking and biking to get around town," writes reporter Keila Szpaller.

"[Sixteen-year-old] Mac would prefer to have a car for trips to places like Target, but he believes the family will be able to sustain the transition despite some obstacles. 'I think that we can pull it off, but when we need to go out to get dog food, it's quite a challenge,'

Mac said." Read the rest of the story here:

http://bit.ly/uh9szG

Transportation Law of 4.

Carfree American has developed the, "Transportation Law of 4" or TL4.  TM

Simply put, TL4 encourages people to think about, and try, alternative transportation before they jump in their car for a trip to the Quik Shop for a soda.

For driving adults: TL4 works like this, you need or want to go somewhere.

You ask yourself this question first: "Can I walk, bicycle, or take mass transit?" Then you ask yourself, "or should I take the car."

Four options.

For children and non driving folks: When you are going someplace with a driver, again ask yourself, and then ask driver, "Can we walk, bicycle, or take mass transit? Or do we have to take a car?"

There are times when the car is a good choice and necessary.Walking, bicycling, and/or mass transit may be a better choice. It is always nice to have other options.

I am comforted knowing I have access to a car anytime. I can borrow a neighbors, take a taxi, or rent a car. I have borrowed a car six times since being carfree.

TL4 is something to think about. I would like to encourage you to try this for one month. Let me know if you are game and I will do a follow up story on you.

The alternatives ways to transport yourself are cool and fun.

And besides,

You can always drive your car.



Peace and happy roads,

Bill

Brent Hugh, Director Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, Car-lite Profile

Tell me a little bit about you (name, age, occupation, carfree or carlite, where you live).

"Brent Hugh, 47, Exec Director of MOBikeFed, car lite, Raytown, MO."


Your family bikes for transportation, tell me about that and how it has affected your lives?

"It's made our teenager more independent. He goes everywhere he wants independently now (13 yrs). It has made us all healthier."

"The thing I didn't know/realize before starting, is it has made me more able to tolerate the climate--hot, cold, humid, dry, etc. Partly it's because you know how to deal with it (clothing etc) and partly because your body adjusts."


When did you start using a bicycle for transportation and what effect has it had on your life?

"Started biking in about 1998 when my doctor told me to lose 25 lbs or else."

"It was 3-4 years after that I realized I could bike to the drug store about 2 miles away, and it was downhill from there. (Before that I had ridden certain routes for exercise/recreation but since I was avoiding all traffic these never went near stores or commercial areas.)"


Please describe a typical day in your cycling life?

"Ride girls to school on our recumbent tandem + trailer bike (me plus two girls); Jonathan accompanies us on his own bike."

"Then maybe I ride to a meeting downtown KCMO or near the Plaza or KU hospital area, then ride home."

What kind of bike(s) are you currently riding?

"Rans Rocket recumbent and Rans Screamer recumbent tandem are my main rides."

"I also have a Trek mountain bike I ride occasionally, a 1970s Schwinn road bike I take on trips, and a Trek recumbent that is my "backup bike"."


In your opinion, what’s the best part about cycling for transportation?

"Fun!"


What’s the worst?

"There are some places you just can't go, even if you're fairly hardcore."


Do you have a favorite carfree/carlite story? (Something that really makes you smile or could possibly encourage others to use a bike instead of a car for transportation?)

"Stopped at a garage sale, some woman said, "You just get around **everywhere** on that bike!"--as though she didn't believe it possible I was covering such massive distances. Then she mentioned where she had seen me--about 2 miles away, or 10 minutes by bike . . ."


What are three pieces of advice you would give to someone starting/ considering commuting by bike?

"Don't set yourself up for failure. By that I mean, don't start out by saying, "I must do this every day, no matter what, and if I don't, I'm a failure." Because sure enough the day will come when it is too hot, too cold, to rainy, you have too much to carry, or whatever. If you can accept that 'Sometimes I bicycle and sometimes I travel another way' then all is OK. But if you envision yourself as a 100-percenter then that day you drive because of the huge thunderstorm or whatever because your reason to quit altogether."

"Start out small--say one day a week--and then gradually build up."

"Do it when you enjoy it. If you don't enjoy riding in rain, don't. If you don't enjoy it in weather over 95 or whatever, don't. If you don't like to ride below freezing, don't. And so on."

"There are ways around all of those difficulties and eventually you'll find them. But if you start out by forcing yourself to go when you are actually going to be miserable, pretty soon you won't enjoy it any more and then you'll stop doing it."

What changes regarding transportation would you like to see in the United States?

"Routine accommodation of bicycling and walking on every street and road."

"Go in and back-fill all the roads/streets we've built in the last 75 years or so where we forgot the bicycle accommodations."


Do you recommend cycling to friends/family members/youth or others? Have any taken you up on it?

"Some have, mostly my children."

"My parents and brother have recumbent tricycles they really enjoy."   


Find out more about Brent and how to join the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation
Dr. Brent Hugh, LCI #1335
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation
Director@MoBikeFed.org
Phone: 816-695-6736
Fax: 210-579-2265
http://www.mobikefed.org/

The Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation is a coalition of bicycling, walking, running, and trails organizations and businesses representing over 30,000 Missourians and speaking for the 2 million Missourians who bicycle regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.

Join MoBikeFed's advocacy alert network:

http://mobikefed.org/email.php#announce

Carfree American supports the MoBikeFed and would like to encourage you too also. These folks work tirelessly for the rights of pedestrians and cyclists. They also are the ones who lobby for us so we can have street which are bike friendly and safe for our children!

Carfree Family of seven



A rare photo of all 7
Summer of 2011

 Can you have a Carfree Family?

YES!

A year ago, a Hillsboro family decided to get rid of their minivan.

Now the family of seven traverses the suburbs by bike. In this video, 15-year-old Vivianna talks about what the year has been like.







Thanksgiving is just like any day for our carfree family: food cooking before dawn, mom out for more before the store opens. Grateful for organic food, family, cycles, and the sun's brief appearance during a beautiful ride! November 24, 2011

 

 

We at Carfree American are so proud of this family of seven taking away the excuses of not being able to be carfree because of a family-they are proving YOU CAN HAVE A FAMILY AND BE CARFREE TOO!

You all are an inspriation!!!

 

See more pictures of the carfree family and let them know what you think on their

 Carfree Family Face Book page

 

Happy Holidays and may you walk, bike, or ski for transportation this winter!

 

Peace,

Bill

 

 

 

 



Bicycling in winter



Winter cycling guide

Every Fall as the weather turns cold people are always asking me,



 "Your not riding your bike in this are you? How do you do it?"



Photo by Ellen van der Zwan



I smile and tell them, "I am riding in this, and I will be riding all winter and when I can't ride, I will walk." I smile.

And they roll their eyes, and say cliches like, "Well, your a better person than me. I could never do that"

But truth be told- they could. Winter cycling to me is the most fun. The extreme, often unpredictable weather, adverse road conditions, and lack of day light, make it an adventure.

I think having a positive attitude is a big part of it too.

Here are some things I do to make my rides, and commutes, safe and fun.

Prepared:
I am always prepared for changing weather. I carry extra clothing-shirt, gloves, neck gaiter, socks, hat, helmet cover, pants, and whatever else I may need.
Temperature drops of 30+ degrees are common in winter.

Bike prep:
My bike is well prepared for winter. I have fenders, rear rack, and multiple lights.

Actually three lights in the front an three in the rear. May seem excessive, but it is not, being visible is very important with the low light conditions of winter. Reflectors and reflective clothing are OK, but nothing catches the eye of a driver like a blinking light.

Lubrication-I use a generous amount of oil on my chain, gears, and derailleurs. The salts and sand are very harsh on the bike.

Obeying the laws:

One should ALWAYS obey the laws of the road. If you drive you know what they are.
Winter is a time for me to be hyper aware of my surroundings. I know the road conditions, what is in front, behind, and on my sides 100% of the time. I am also aware of options to get off the street if I have too-especially in icy conditions. I recently got pulled over for going through a four way stop without completely stopping during rush hour. It was the first time I was pulled over on my bicycle. When the cop told me why he pulled me over, I told him, "you are completely right, and I appreciate you looking out for me, I should have come to a complete stop." He told me most of the cyclists he stops argue with him even though they are breaking laws like going through Red lights of ignoring Stop signs. I have found over the years the Police are good allies to have, if for nothing, they will be the first ones to the scene if you get hit, and may save your life.

Biking skills in winter: 'What if you slip on ice or snow?" I think one of the best ways for a cyclist to prepare for the adverse road conditions is by learning how to bike on dirt and gravel trails with multiple terrains. Like mountain biking, winter road cycling has its share of obstacles: sticks, leaves, walnuts, sand, ices, snow drifts, branches, slush, mud, just to name a few. Mountain biking prepares you in that you learn how to go over and through obstacles like these. Tires are not as important as you might think, it is more about the pressure in the tire so experimenting with different tire pressures can help insure a safer ride.

Clothing:
Why ride in winter? Why not ride in winter?!
Layering, layering, layering! That is the key, there is no magic one piece of clothing, and in most cases less is more. For instance in winter I usually wear, in temps of 20f to 35f, skull cap, helmet rain cover, neck gaiter, fleece gloves, two light weight wick able long sleeve shirts, a light weight wind breaker with a back vent, cycling shorts, wind pants, or micro fleece pants, wool socks, hiking boots ( I use platform pedals).

I regulate my temperature buy the zipper on my jacket, and on my level of exertion. All this takes practice and what works for one person, may be different for another, so be patient. The only rule is: to go ride and experience it for yourself!

I have biked in blizzards, sleet, 31f degree rain, snow storms, when temps were well below zero, and all I have to say is: it is FUN!

So give winter cycling for transportation a try! Here are some resources that may help.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/howto.cfm

http://www.icebike.org/

Happy Cycling,

Bill
(All pictures were found online if you are the taker, let me know.)





Video from the Dutch-bicycling life!

Cycling For Everyone from Dutch Cycling Embassy on Vimeo.