Quotable link...

Functional architecture for every cyclist's house.


"... and since they get dirty, there is a shower designed specifically for washing bikes." 

Cycling Claremont - Sustainability Dialogue recap...

The Claremont Bicycle / Pedestrian Advisory Committee presented a Sustainability Dialogue tonight and I rolled up to the front door just as they were getting underway. There were about 30 interested people in the audience, along with three presenters. Maria Tipping, engineer with the city, kicked things off with a discussion of policy changes at the State and Federal level with regard to active transportation and how these affect local jurisdictions. Following this, she was joined by Joan Presecan and Larry Scheetz, both of the advisory committee, and the dialogue turned to bicycle infrastructure enhancements within the city of Claremont, some of which we have begun to see, and others we will see in the near future. Among these enhancements are the Bike Priority Zone and, it's city council approved, extension south to Arrow Highway, the installation of sharrows within the BPZ, bicycle detection loops at all intersections with traffic signals, video detection at intersections along the proposed Citrus Regional Bikeway, installation of 100 new bike racks including at all public buildings and parks, and a look at the new Citrus Regional Bikeway connecting the cities of Claremont, La Verne, Pomona and San Dimas, along with cities in San Bernardino County along the Pacific Electric Trail. City councilman Sam Pedroza was in attendance, and as I mentioned in my last Sunday post, he seems to be an active supporter. Other members of the audience contributed with questions or comments of their own which contributed to an informative evening. There is a lot happening in this little city with regard to active transportation which, if carried out on a similar scale in a larger city would put such a city on the forefront of transportation change. As it is, I believe other cities could find much to emulate here.

Monday's mural...

Almost perfect camoflage for the yellow Basso is this minimalist mural on a wall of Mead Hall at Pitzer College. I do not have an information on it, but if nothing else it certainly provides a nice backdrop for the blooming aloe in front of it.

Slow Sunday scenes from the Village...

a little Ireland in Claremont

chopper style

procession in pink

solo pink

ready for the farmer's market

good morning for a bike ride

any port in a storm, or trash receptacle when

there is no bike rack

wait; there are no hills in the Village

busy crossing

orchids and sunflowers

patriotic lamp post

shirtless tandem. that kind of day

fresh strawberries

corner, 2nd and Yale

One last thing; it is good to see our public elected officials participating in the active transportation lifestyle. While having breakfast at the Grill this morning city councilman Sam Pedrosa rode by. I was not fast enough to take his photo, but since it is not the first time I have seen him on his bike, maybe I can get him the next time.

Art in the park...

by bike. Paints, brushes, palettes. A bike with trailer to carry it all. Ride around. Search. Find a view. In the shade, beneath massive oaks. In the park. Art.

Of course...

what I really learned last night was that I have no grace riding a speedplay-equiped bike in sandals.

Too many years of hard-soled cycling shoes means anything else is just plain awkward.

Younger People Driving Less, Auto Industry Getting Nervous...

This is the second report stating that younger people are driving less, putting off buying a car, and in general are not as interested in car ownership. So maybe there is a way out of this car-centric mess that has been created yet. Not many years ago car ownership was almost a rite of passage; turn sixteen and get your driver's license, followed by a job to kick-start that lifelong commitment to the old ball and chain (auto, not wife/husband). I image it is still too early to tell if this is an actual change in direction based on want, or some cyclical aberration due to economics or technology, as is suggested. But clearly a door to a new future has been opened and beckons. Unfortunately, it may be a lengthy transition - last night was 'family fun night' at my son's school, an annual end of year event, and a perfect opportunity to leave the car at home for once. But, the bike racks were only half-full (maybe 10 bikes, 3 of which were the property of la familia), while parking on the surrounding streets was at a premium. Instead of leading by example, too many seem content to perpetuate the mistakes of the past. I do not understand how parents, more than any other group of people, with a vested interest in providing a better future for their children can continue to ignore opportunities to proactively participate in ensuring that such a future evolves.

With this...

I could become the oldest victor of the Giro di Lombardi this coming autumn.

So why, oh why does Basso not have a dealer in the states, let alone one locally?