All-City Championship

Here is our route. Scott had GPS. I've had a busy week. Summary: THIS RACE WAS A BLAST! Here is a note I wrote to my sister:

"Hi, the alleycat race was awesome. Incredibly excellent! The neat part was that the organizer had a manifest (list of trips to make) that no one could see until the beginning of the race. It had things like: Go to 1724 Kenwood Pkwy and get the year the brick water tower was built. Count the window panes at the Lake Harriet bandshell. Buy a banana somewhere and eat it at the tent in Powderhorn Park where you'll put your manifest in a sealed envelop to deliver to Grumpy's bar in Northeast Minneapolis...and so on it went. At some of the stops there were free socks, bike parts, or drinks. And some were like get the number from the blue hat in the mural at such-and-such address and use that number for the missing number in the next address on the list. It was about 35-45 (?) miles total zipping around all the "burrows" of Minneapolis (plus one cross-town stop in St. Paul). There were bikers all over the place because no one takes the same course unless you are riding with a few friends, which is pretty common.

The night before the race there were crazy contests like track stands (balancing without moving on the bike...some people did it for 10 - 12 minutes), sprints (pairs of people going full blast for a block or two for mini races) and skids (seeing how long you can skid the back tire...all on fixed gear bikes with no hand brakes or coaster brakes). Those contests started at 10 p.m. after registering at a bar (pay $10 and get a spoke card for the race) and were only halfway done at midnight...I had to bike home and miss some of it. Lots of drinking, music, and a little mayhem but all respectful fun...

You know, some of those race ideas (the alleycat race with the surprise manifest before the beginning so that no one can prepare) might be suitable for a horse event. I guess it is sort of like a scavenger hunt in a way.

I actually think horses are more interesting than bikes in many ways. I'm sure that if we compared history, contributions to society, culture, etc. that bikes and horses would go neck-and-neck. However, bikes don't poop! Your horses are so lucky! If only all horses could get the care you offer."

I'm ready for the next one! Here is one person's Flickr show. Scott S., we might have to split up next time to avoid jousting at the end!

Alleycat Comin' Up

Last night was the registration at The Nomad...about 60 (?) people were there and more people will register today. We rode up to the Hennipen Ave bridge, and then on the east side had trackstand comps, then rode to the warehouse district for paired sprints. So cool. Met lots of new people.

I left a little after midnight and they hadn't even started the skid contest. Got some zzz's and am looking forward to a rainy 3-hour race event today.

Edina Connections for Bike Plan

Today I photographed and labeled several access points to other cities plus some interesting roadway issues. This is for preparing the 10-year comprehensive bike plan. Click the photo album cover below and then you can see a slideshow if you click the option.

100 Mile Bike Trip

Here is an English century (going 100 miles on one day). Today I wrote Slurpy, my fixed gear bike. The group was Dublestylee, Philbilly, Atomkinder, Chelsea, and The Other Scott plus me. No one had any mechanical problems on the group ride, and we all pretty much rode the same speed. Averaged 16 mph. I hit 104 miles. I didn't get sore or any pains except the bottom of my feet. What a great accomplishment for everyone.

Dublestylee put together the map, which took us from the Stone Arch Bridge through White Bear Lake to Marine on St. Croix at the Minnesota/Wisconson border. We took a break there and had lunch at Roberta's. It was a good group. No incidents except an isolated pickup jerk, and a minor dropout wheel problem I had. This was all new territory for me, including the Gateway Trail on the way back. Good weather and a great day to complete this feat.

Biking 16 Miles with Kids

All 3 kids biked with me on a 16+ mile route. We stopped at a playground for our picnic lunch and played tag on the play set. We had so much fun that when we got to the bike shop, it was closed. Here is the gang.

Bridge Biker

Please view this powerful slideshow with audio commentary. I think the biker's name is Dan Schueller: http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/rich_media/1344505.html



Also, there is an account of this story, briefer and in text, in MplsBikeLove.

Dog Bite

So I was biking south on Yosemite in St. Louis Park last night and a girl had two dogs off-leash on the street. One greeted me with this bite mark. The intersting thing is that with a little imagination, it looks like an evil little face. The penetration is very deep in this wound although you can't tell by the photo. I have discussed with both a nurse, a doctor, St. Louis Park Police, the dog's neighbor, the dog's vet, and Animal Control. So far, the owner(s) have chosen not to communicate with me.

I filed a police report because there should be public record of the combination of a biting dog and an irresponsible owner. People that own dogs need to be responsible, and it helps if they are courteous, too.

8/5 update: Case # 07004761. Animal control: 952-924-2618. / 952-924-2125. Officer Bahe.
8/6 called Eric at this number to get a status...left a voice message 11:02.
8/7 called Eric again -- did not hear back -- left another message at 7:13 a.m. The neighbors are at 3929Called again 11:15 a.m. and Eric said he'd call back in 10 minutes. Result: He said I can call at the end of the week.

8/11: More Information:

MN Statutes:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getpub.php?type=s&num=347.50&year=2006
Subd. 3. Potentially dangerous dog. "Potentially dangerous dog" means any dog that:
(1) when unprovoked, inflicts bites on a human or domestic animal on public or private
property;
(2) when unprovoked, chases or approaches a person, including a person on a bicycle, upon
the streets, sidewalks, or any public or private property, other than the dog owner's property,
in an apparent attitude of attack; or

St. Louis Park
DOG OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES in SLP
http://www.stlouispark.org/residents/pet_owners.htm#150
City ordinance requires that Dogs be on a leash that is no more than six feet long when they are being walked.

DOGS NUISANCES in SLP
http://www.stlouispark.org/residents/pet_owners.htm#148
"Dogs may be declared a public nuisance and destroyed if a sworn complaint to a Hennepin County court judge indicates that the dog has attacked or bitten a person outside the owner's or custodian's premises "

ANIMAL BITES in SLP
http://www.stlouispark.org/residents/pet_owners.htm#105
After 10 days, a city staff member will contact you to confirm if your pet is still in good health.

Be sure to report any animal bite: call the St. Louis Park public safety dispatcher at (952) 924-2618.

Sauntercycling

Sauntercycling: Bicycle rides starting at your front door with no time limit, pre-defined route, or destination. Required packing list is water and a credit card. The purpose is to have a spontaneous bike adventure, returning anytime you want.

Jain: "Want to ride out to Bryant Lake Bowl for some beer?"
Axel: "Too much structure. Let's go sauntercycling instead...I don't need to work until tomorrow night."
Jain: "Dude that is sick. Spontaneous adventure. I'm in!"

Steve Gets Fixed

Today after lunch with Steve and Dave, we had a little fun on W 77th street. Steve was in an adventurous mood and gave Slurpy a little ride. Tentative at first, within seconds there were snickers. Then laughter. Grinning ear-to-ear, there was boisterous laughter altnerative with comments like "This is fun!" "I didn't expect this to be so fun," and "I get it now!"




Pictured here is my rear cog, served on ice. So pretty.

I would say that Steve's maiden voyage was one sweet ride. Next time, Dave?

Oops: 10 MPH Speed Limit

1. July 26th: Commuter path workers spray-paint dozens of "10 MPH" on the Kenilworth and Cedar Lake Trail bike paths which are heavily used by bike commuters that often hit 20 MPH or more including yours truly
   
   
2. July 27th: My friend Scot Gore posts a message on MplsBikeLove.com saying,

   Just did my commute ride in to work this AM and noticed new 10MPH stencils on the Kenilworth connector trail and the Cedar Lake Trail. It leaves us transportational cyclists 3 choices
   1) Break the speed limit all the time.
   2) Shift our routes out to Cedar Lake Road or Hennepin Ave
   3) Give it up and get back in the car.
   
   All bad options. I also think it a big deterent to new commuters. Makes biking the commuter trails as slow and frustrating as sitting in traffic. I've left a couple of messages this AM to see if I can learn more about the why's, the what for's, and the how do I make it go away's. Scot

   
   
3. July 28 to July 30: More than 1000 views from the MplsBikeLove community (just one forum example) and more than 60 active posts in the thread, covering the various government leaders and transit leaders (including biking and other) that were contacted. Let's just say that the proverbial phones were rattling off their hooks...
   
   
   
4. July 30th response that dozens or more received from Don P. from the City of Minneapolis:
   

   The MPRB did this by mistake. They are working to correct this. It was never intended to place a speed limit along our commuter trails.

   
   

I was impressed: Within a matter of a few days, the bike community organized itself without any leader and accomplished a very quick visibility and turnaround from the right people. I'm grateful for involvement in this from the Transit for Livable Communities (Steve Clark), the later involvement by the City of Minneapolis (Don Pflaum), the scores of others.

Hmmmm...very interesting you say? Whether this was really just a bone-headed mistake (Park board worker: "But those are our favorite stencils for around the Lakes!") or something more sinister ("Quick, Karl...how can we spin this awful mistake?"), I love how the collective understanding of these bikeways was reinforced to be COMMUTER facilities.

Yes, we have froot booters, dogs on really long leashes, giant unicycle riders reading novels (yup, it happens!), spandex-clad racers, and vegan utility riders hauling goods from Whole Foods...believe me, there is NO reason to start imposing arbitrary rules such as a flippin' speed limit.

Note to spray paint stencil workers: Please do not inhale the product.

Besides, since when were bicycles required by law to inform their drivers what speed is being registered? Unlike cagers, bicycles don't really go much faster than 20 MPH in most conditions for most riders. The important thing, dangit, is to PASS WITH CARE. Believe me, an idiot can do lots of damage at slower speeds.

If you don't believe me, try getting your ass hit by a 200-pound biker going at 9.5 MPH while you're strolling along listening to The Fray and smelling dandelions. Now, wouldn't you rather have a biker going 20 MPH that actually gave you 3 feet of clearance and also bothered to say "On your left" if you were walking like Captain Jack Sparrow?

Encouraging Biking/Walking to Schools

(Click to enlarge photos)


This morning my daughter and I rode our Schwinn tandem to Highlands Elementary to count the bike racks as part of a community project. There were 3 racks with a capacity of 37 bikes. We also measured the distance between the racks and the front door: 130 yards. Highland is an excellent school and we appreciate the talented staff, volunteers, and families that make the school a gem in our community. The improvement we'd like to see is related to the transportation infrastructure...there are opportunities for encouraging more biking and walking to for both children and adults.

My kids say that the racks are usually full on school days. We know of one adult worker that bikes to the school. My personal trips to the school are always by foot or bike. Why isn't that more common for other adults and children? Out of more than 500 students and perhaps 100 adult workers and volunteer on any given day, it is no wonder that there is a crammed parking lot full of cars and a congested traffic scene with buses and cars before and after school. Plus, parking for cars spills out into the streets for some after-school events.

Why might our community benefit by having a higher percentage of bikers to the schools? I'm not advocating that everyone bikes or walks to school, but imagine the outcomes if 80% would do that. Close your eyes and think about it for 15 seconds...what do you envision? Here are some points to ponder for encouraging more biking and walking to schools.

1. Did you know that 14 bikes comfortably fit in one average car parking space? Imagine your school parking lot being free of congestion, quieter, safer, and healthier.
   
2. If children (and parents) think it is important to be driven everywhere, even if it is less than 2 miles, what lesson are children learning about mobility? Instead, teach them safe riding skills, such as those we recently covered at the Edina Bike Rodeo. Get involved as parents for learning and teaching safe skills. And encourage more walking too.
   
3. Related to the above point: "Ninety percent of trips by children today are made as a passenger in a car. This low level of walking and biking impacts children’s health, independence and ability to learn walking and bicycling skills" (Transit for Livable Communities).
   
4. Child obesity: Children overall are more sedentary today than every before, leading to 17% being overweight.
   
5. Safe Routes to Schools is a popular program spreading across Canada and the U.S. designed to decrease traffic and pollution and increase the health of children and the community (reference). Check it out and consider integrating with you school's and your community's planning.
   
6. Ensure that streets near schools are exhibit the "complete street" features which are explanied very well by the Thunderhead Alliance. From the site: "Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street." Ironcially, the streets near Highland have no sidewalks. Our community is working to correct this problem.
   
7. Offer a few minor adjustments in the bathrooms for commuters to clean up...or offer a changing/clean-up area for men and women. This can be accommodated in a number of cost-efficient ways.
   
8. Offer more and better bicycle parking options. Think of faculty, parents, and volunteers. What makes sense for these people for bicycle parking?
   

Efforts such as the above contribute to overall reduction in our nation's (and planet's) consumption of natural resources, reduces demand for oil, reduces greenhouse gasses such as CO2, reduces motorist traffic, reduces noise, reduces pollution, increases more social contact with others during commutes, increases exercise, decreases obesity, teaches important mobility skills that can provide lifelong value, builds muscle mass, increases heart health, and develops good thinking and reasoning skills for children that learn to safely navigate their bicyclces. Oh, and biking is fun.

Please contact me if you'd like to discuss further: Kirk@BikeEdina.org. And, I welcome comments posted on this blog. Thanks for your interest!

My Bike Was on TV!

Here is the KARE-11 news story, aired 7/25/2007 that included my bike! (Direct link to video.) Uncle Slurpy (my Surly Steamroller) was shown taking off, and then my interview at about 1:30 into the film.

I appreciate the positive press for bicycling. However, I wish the motivations cited were not so much on the gas prices. Anyway, someone asked me if this was planned or just being in the right place at the right time. I said it was the latter, which is always the case when being on a bike ;)

Uninformed Officer

I had an interesting encounter with an Edina police officer today. I was riding with my son and daughter east on Vernon and west of the Eden/Vernon intersection, a motorist came very close to my daughter's handlebars, less than 3 feet, and honked at us. It's not the honking so much that disturbed me, it was the choice of the motorist to "teach us a lesson" by coming to close and being positionally and audibly agressive toward us.

I immediately memorized the license plate and called the Edina police department. An officer was dispatched and met us nearby. He did not know about the 3-foot passing rule. I helped him look it up in his statutes book. He also made a comment about bikes needing to keep up with traffic, but I wasn't sure where that comment was going. A big part of the conversation was the officer lecturing my daughter to ride as "close to the curb as possible." Statute 169.222 does not include that kind of language, instead it is "...as close as practictable," which is an important distinction: It goes on to list exceptions, one of them being riding 2-abreast, which is what we were doing. Inside the fog lane, dangit.

My request was that he would contact the driver and educate the driver that bicyclists belong on the road and that passing needs to be at least 3 feet. The officer said he would do that, and he was saying that this is a learning experience for him, too.

The whole incident has left me wondering what education, if any, our Edina police officers have about bicycling on roads. And I also feel bad about it...bad that the officer was much, much more focused on restricting where the bikes ride instead of being informed and concerned about the traffic violation of the motorist. Heck, Vernon is a wide roadway where motorists speed at 50 mph or more and it is the worst road to bike on in my daily rides.

I feel 10x more safe in the downtown street grid in Minneapolis than Vernon Avenue.

The territorial and agressive attitudes of the drivers, which the officer didn't not seem initially concerned about until we uncovered the three foot passing law in his book, is what keeps some people from biking in Edina. It is what terrifies parents about their kids riding to soccer games and to school. And it is why some adults themselves don't ride, combined with a lack of education and infrastructure support in Edina.

I contacted the officer a week or so later to ask about the outcome and to suggest a few ways that the police department could get involved with education. I was being open-ended about that...both from a perspective of police getting bicycle education and also being involved with it in the community.

He returned my message and ignored the question about contacting the malicious and errant driver. He chose to respond only to my idea about bicycle education with officers and give me an internal contact.

I'd like to see the Edina police more involved in community biking. I'd suggest having them involved at the next community or kids event like the 2008 rodeo or something sooner. I also think it would be good to put together and offer a session for police officers on biking in Edina. I would like to do this with some support from some community leaders such as you and/or the BETF. T.J. suggested bringing in some of the bicycle cops from other communities to exchange info as part of the training.

I'm guessing that the offcer (I have his name) is not alone in a gap in bicycle education. WIth more people biking, officers need to be informed.

Cedar Ave Bridge Rally

Today was an awesome rally attended by several hundred (nearly 1,000?) people. Barry Hans and I rode over together. We are both on the Bike Edina Task Force. State Representative, Ann Lenczewski (rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn) from Bloomington chaired the speakers, which included governors/mayors and other citizen groups from dozens of cities and counties around Minnesota. Below are just a few of the speakers and supporters. Interests ranged from bicycle transportation and recreation, bird watching, hiking, walking, and others.

Dave G. (Hiawatha Bicycle Club & Twin Cities Bicycle Club) with Ann Lenczewski. Friends from HBC John, Jim, Dale, Becky, Russ. Hans talks with some of the media crew. The crowd was huge...nearly 1000? Part of it is shown here. The bridge is shown with various closed signs. Mike Maquire (second to last photo, speaking ) of Eagan (mayor) and another leader (blue shirt)--I need to get her name.

My Daily Bike Commute

Here is my first attempt at being a photo journalist. Visit the damage here at my commuting article with pictures.

Who Rode Uncle Slurpy?

Who rode my favorite bike? In somewhat correct order, oldest first....

18. Steve M. 8/2/07
17. Dan K. 7/2007
16. Geno 7/2007
15. Justin at Erik's 7/2007
14. Scott S. 7/2007
13. Ted D. 7/2007
12. Alan J. 7/13/2007
11. Matty L. 6/2007
10. Hans G. 5/2007
9. Margaret 5/2007
8. Paul H. 12/2006
7. Carl S. 11/2006
6. Barb P. 11/2006
5. Shree 10/2006
4. Lisa 10/2006
3. Jake K. 10/2006
2. Jeff D. 10/2006
1. Me 10/2006

Zach and Anna

Here is another oil painting recently completed by my sister, Karen Kersten!

Edina Bike Rodeo

Here are some pics of the wonderful event, thanks to Catherine Elliott for her Gold Star award project for Girl Scouts plus several bike shops, community groups, and volunteers. For a more structured image set with text, visit Photos at www.BikeEdina.org.

More than 100 visitors attended at about 70 children received bike inspections, helmet checks, safety instruction, and navigated simulated city roads in a course marked on the parking lots complete with real road signs.

MS150 to Blaine

Self-photo shadow, Barb & volunteers hard at work, starting out in Hinckley, Erica, Lance, and friend at the finish, scene on my bike home from Blaine to Edina.

MS 150 Saturday Night

Setting up the tent, evening festivities, C.H. Robinson's team song, enjoying the GMAC ResCap tent.

MS 150 to Hinckley

This is Day 1. More than 3000 bikers! $2.2MM raised. A few shots show biking with Mike and David, finishing in Hinckley after riding from Duluth (75 miles).







Note: The "butts" are not real! They are rubber, just in case you were concerned.

Last Day Highlands

Today is the last day of school where Aliya, Artem, and Alex all walk to Highlands together. Next year, Alex will be in middle school. I will miss going with them to the edge of the school each morning. Great kids!

Biking Downtown

I’m heading toward Hennepin on 9th Street. This is a typical scene at rush hour, which as you might know is a bit of a misnomer: The cars aren’t rushing—they’re stuck. I’m the one rushing. Biking in any urban center involves special thrills. Almost every second requires full attention, moving or track-standing. Being out in the open allows me to sense the sounds, smells, and movements in a close and personal way that drivers don’t experience.

Pot Head

David won't be taking any calls at this time. He's quite busy.

Snirt Dale

Here is one of the highlights from Hiawatha Bike Club's ride starting out at GMAC-RFC in Richfield, which went through Bloomington and Edina. The group included Erica, Kirk, Matt, Aldo, Chris…and Al's yellow helmet.

Our route included a trip around the Hyland Lake Park Reserve area and then headed on a spontaneous trek up "Chain Break Hill" in west Edina. We covered about 18 miles and averaged a pretty good speed. Lots of fun. Plus, we visited one of the few remaining winter remnants: Here is Chris tackling "Mount Snirt" near Southdale.

Comics in a Tent

Here are Artem and Alex (now 12!) enjoying a spring day with a makeshift tent and a few comics.

Spring-klers

Bart the Hydrant Man visited the Highlands neighborhood and Aliya and Alex followed him around to test the water. Cold! Wet! Fun!

Published Article

My first newspaper article published in March 2007: "Bike Edina Task Force keeps rolling along"

Bike Edina Task Force keeps rolling along

By Kirk Johnson - Guest Columnist
(Created: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:30 PM CDT

MN Sun-Current

According to survey work completed by the Bike Edina Task Force, bicycling is an important activity to many Edina residents.

More than 18,000 residents indicated that they ride their bikes each year. Even though Edina is home to these thousands of bicyclists, for the first time we are seeing specific efforts to create a sense of community for Edina bicyclers. This is an exciting time for bicycling in Edina.

All residents are invited to consider themselves a part of the Bike Edina community. How can you specifically be involved in the Bike Edina community?



Some simple steps include joining one of many Edina group bicycle rides, using the Bike Edina website (explained below), visiting Edina's local bike shop, and taking part in various classes, seminars, and other educational activities.

There are now biking activities during all seasons, even in the winter. Even if you are not a biker, you can appreciate the benefits of biking. Additionally, if you are a motorist, you can offer courtesy to bicyclists on the road: Minnesota state law gives bicyclists full privileges to ride on the road, so remember to be kind and share the road.

To give more visibility to biking and offer a social group outlet for bikers in Edina, several community residents are involved in ride-leader training with the Hiawatha Bicycle Club. The result is more group rides originating in Edina.

Already this year, Edina enjoyed its inaugural Polar Bear Ride: Starting near City Hall, a group ventured out for a brisk 12-mile ride on Jan. 1. Additionally members from the Bike Edina Task Force have organized a Winter Ride Series that runs through March. Another spring series will start in April and run through May.

All riders are invited, and different rides have different focuses for speed, distance, and terrain. For example, one ride was designed around some of the steepest hills in Edina. Another ride recently featured a slower, flatter pace and looped around Lake Harriet and was suitable for children accompanied by adults.

Where can residents find news, learn about group rides, meet other bicyclists, share tips on commuting, and engage in interesting bike-related discussions? For the first time in Edina's history, we now have our own community website and interactive forums to accomplish all of those things.

At www.BikeEdina.com, the Bike Edina community can engage in the interactive forums area, stay informed on the latest community news, plan for upcoming rides and seminars, ask questions about bicycle safety and maintenance, etc. The site features information on commuting as well.

Another way to engage in the Edina bicycling community is to visit Edina's one and only local bike shop, Edina Bike and Sport, on Valley View Drive. The shop has been kind enough to sponsor the Bike Edina website and some related efforts. This is a great source of advice, products, and service for biking and other sports.

Edina Public Schools offers community education for all ages. The website is http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/ces/, plus you may have received periodic catalogs. The recent catalog features some bicycle classes such as bicycle commuting and a class on bicycle maintenance.

Additionally, clubs like the Hiawatha Bicycle Club offer "Smart Cycling" events where you can learn more about specific topics such as training, touring, safety, etc. The Club's site is www.hiawathabike.org.

For a consolidated list of events and education specifically related to or located in Edina, visit the BikeEdina.org site and register in the Forums area to view the calendar.

Steve Rusk is chair of the Bike Edina Task Force and can be reached at BikeEdina@earthlink.net or 952-929-9771.

Kirk Johnson, is an organizer of several group rides in Edina and is also a bicycle commuting advocate and webmaster for the BikeEdina website. He can be reached at Kirk@BikeEdina.org or 952-922-3344

Muchacha y Su Cabello

Here is my sister's recent horse and person portrait, completed March 2007 in oil. I think it is one of my favorites of this type. Comments anyone?

Fun with Artem

Here are a few pics of recent fun activities with Artem. His vocabulary is increasing. Instead of asking "Are we going back to that thing?" while on a ride around Lake Harriet getting back to the bandshell structures, he actually asked, "Are we getting closer to that little stadium?" Also, we watched some snow windsurfers, and instead of commenting on "Those people doing those things" he asked if we were getting near the people doing the "winter activities." Great!

So, here is Artem clowning with Dad after dinner with the big arms. Also pictured before riding off to Lake Harriet. The photo by the door is on his way to an old fashioned school study trip. Snow tubing. Aliya's half birthday. And the guy doing that thing back at the thing.