You're TWICE as likely to die driving a car than riding a bicycle

Alan over at EcoVelo just posted these statistics from Failure Analysis Associates. I've been looking for something like this. When I am talking to someone who is considering bicycle commuting, one of the most familiar "but" excuses I hear is, "but it just seems so dangerous!" The best I ever could come up with was, 

well, it's all about the routes you choose and being a smart cyclist. And I feel like I'm safer on a bike anyway-- I ride like cars can't see me and am less prone to take the risks we take in cars.. and I'm sure there are some statistics somewhere that show that driving is probably more dangerous anyway.. and you get better long term health from riding a bike...

WELL. Here are those statistics I've been grabbing for! You're twice as likely to die while driving a car-- but you don't say, "oh, I don't want to drive to work.. it just seems so dangerous!"

Activity Fatalities Per Million Hours

• Skydiving 128.71
  
• General Aviation 15.58
  
• On-road Motorcycling 8.80
  
• Scuba Diving 1.98
  
• Living (all causes of death) 1.53
  
• Swimming 1.07
  
• Snowmobiling .88
  
• Automobile Driving .47
  
• Water Skiing .28
  
• Bicycling .26
  
• Flying (domestic airlines) .15
  
• Hunting .08
  

Bicycling also provides long term health benefits that driving doesn't. It's also a LOT better for the health of the environment. And it's just more fun.

Flip

Sometimes..

flip

you just need to          over your perspective

in order to

actually see

not just cyclists and trees.

That's a cheese poetic way of saying that turning photos away from their usual orientation is a good way to see a photo for the composition and not just the content. 

And sometimes you spin your legs on your bike reallyreallyreally fast! And it's fun. And they are called "spin-ups." It's what cool kids do. 

RJ's Walla Walla Bicycle Map

The City of Walla Walla, with input from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, makes a fairly fantastic bicycle map both of in-town bike routes for commuters and also longer excursions for recreational cyclists. This map is available at our local bicycle shops, Allegro Cyclery and Bicycle Barn, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and other locations.

The map appropriately folds out to 18 by 24 inches and it is rumored that the next generation map will be even larger. The map highlights a lot of useful information for a cyclist, including bike lanes, routes, trails and more. If you are new to the area or just new to bicycling, this map is a very helpful resource.

However-- I found that as a local, I wanted:

• A smaller map, that's easier to pull out quickly and read.
• Less information that I don't really need.
• More information about the ride-ability of roads to quickly scan for an ideal route.

Also, when I give out a bike map, I usually suggest highlighting more roads that are especially good for cycling. So finally, I just decided to..

MAKE MY OWN WALLA WALLA BIKE MAP!

I highlighted roads according to my personal opinion (and no scientific study!) of each street's ride-ability. It is possible and to be expected that my idea of ride-able roads may vary from another person's idea of ride-able roads. However, this map is always a work in progress! If you think that I inappropriately marked a road or intersection, please leave a comment on this post and let me know!

These maps are intended to be printed out on a regular 8 1/2" by 11" paper. You will likely have to make an adjustment on your Printer Preferences to make sure it fits the paper.

Click to enlarge.

This map includes a larger area than the close-up below.

The streets are labeled:

• BLUE, for bike lane
• GREEN, for great for bikes, very light traffic, highly residential
• YELLOW, for good for bikes, light traffic, wide shoulders, sometimes residential
• ORANGE, for ok for bikes, steady traffic, few shoulders, speed limit over 30, sometimes more than one lane in direction of travel
• Orange DOTS, frequent congestion
• Red DOTS, exercise extra caution in this intersection

Click to enlarge.

This map is a close-up of the map above.

Frequent Congestion and Extra Caution Intersections are labeled as such because they may:

• Experience increased traffic when the school day starts or ends.
• Have poor visibility.
• Require a confident and experienced cyclist to maneuver through safely.

Can Pictures Explain?

I take a lot of pictures of myself, my bike and the Walla Wallan landscape. It is as if I take enough photos of the three-- eventually they will meld into one spectacular vision that will explain it all. Explain the winds, the wheat. Explain scraping salt off your cheek and a Snickers bar that's really far away. If I take enough pictures, will it explain the curiosity, the constant framing of compositions and the rhythm of power lines? I take a picture when my blood is rushing, not from the trap of a steel teleporter. When you're standing out there, bike lain askew, pockets bursting with all your provisions-- when you're standing out there and one itty bitty tiny cloud goes--

 AH HA! Neener, neener, neener!

It's funnier. It feels more important. Or I am more aware. Than if I had clicked open a car door.

So when I see photographers out in the wheat fields, only steps from their sense-numbing vehicles-- I feel like they're cheating.

I feel like we're not even looking at the same wheat.

On my bicycle-- everything I visit is a friend. A familiar face. A conversational pal. 

And we like to chat often.

12/27, 12/28?

Does anyone have a Shimano 10-speed 12/27 or 12/28 cassette that a Whitman cyclist could borrow for Collegiate Nationals?

The road race is VERY steep and every tooth will make a difference!

Thanks!

See a hazard to cyclists? CALL! RIGHT AWAY!

If ever you are out riding your bicycle and you come across a serious road hazard to cyclists, call your local Public Works or (they sometimes transfer you to) Street Division.

WW Public Works

(509) 527-4463

WW Street Division

(509) 527-4363

I just happened to be out riding around town one day

APRIL 9, 2009

when I came across several BIG piles of gravel that were spilling out of some big potholes. Wow. If you didn't see one of these coming-- and you hit it-- you would most likely CRASH. You could even crash into traffic, which could cost you your life if you had unfortunate timing. Or, in another scenario-- you might see the gravel at the last minute and swerve violently into traffic, possibly colliding with a motor vehicle.

Basically-- this area is very unsafe for cyclists!

So, like a good citizen, I called our local Public Works and reported the problem. I was told, "We'll send someone to take a look at it."

Well, on April 24, 2009 it was still there!

So I called again.

To view this video with CLOSED CAPTIONING, click HERE, then click on the triangle in bottom right corner, then click CC.

If you think that this problem should be fixed RIGHT AWAY, please CALL:

WW Public Works

(509) 527-4463

WW Street Division

(509) 527-4363

Thanks.

Commuter Panniers for Sale!

Here are some great NEVER BEEN USED commuter/light touring panniers for sale! I plan on using Trek panniers for this summer's tour.

For information straight from the brand, click HERE. These are a pair of "Transit Tour" and "Transit Cycle" panniers. They retail at $90 and $75 (for the pair) respectively. 

LEFT: Transit Cycle, 2200 cubic inches, great front or rear pannier.

RIGHT: Transit Tour, 3100 cubic inches, great rear pannier.

In background: each pannier comes with a yellow rain cover!

Here is the convenient attachment system! The levers ratchet open and close. This is BEEFY and HARD plastic, not just any plastic. The 'bungee' isn't too stretchy (a good thing?), but could easily be replaced with whatever you like.

The Transit Cycle with rain cover on.

The Transit Tour from the side. Both bags have a reflective tab/webbing to mount a bike light. Both bags feature reflective piping as well.

The Transit Cycle from the side.

Transit Cycle retails for $75. Yours for $60! *pair only.

Transit Tour retails for $90. Yours for $75! *pair only.

OR, buy both pairs for $125! 

I would prefer to sell these locally, but please contact me at jensenrs (at) gmail (dot) com if you are interested in having them shipped.

The Lovely Trek WOMEN WHO RIDE

Okay, I have to admit-- my biggest fear before going to Wisconsin was that I wasn't going to be as ridiculously cool as the other ladies and I would respond by being unusually shy or intimidated. I'm often THE most enthusiastic bike nut in a group, so what would it be like to be with 4 other nuts? Well, I did discover that every lady is absolutely amazing, inspiring but-- most importantly, approachable. I hope we cross paths again. I'd love to spend more time with these gals.

My Visit to TREK!

Why haven't I been posting for a week? I'VE BEEN IN WISCONSIN!

I wrote earlier that I had been selected as one of five TREK Women Who Ride. Being a WWR means that not only do I get a BEAUTIFUL, FAST and SMOoooOTH new bike and other fabulous gear from Trek-- but I also get to share my experiences on a blog that has a fairly large audience and help get more women on bikes. 

Getting people, particularly women,

on bikes is a primary life goal of mine--

and now Trek has a wonderful program

that I will be able to utilize

to further realize this goal.

THANK YOU, TREK!!

And before you ask-- the new WWR aren't yet posted on the Trek website. Check again in a week or two.

What did we do in Wisconsin? WELL. Let me tell you.

We got all sorts of cool WOMEN'S CYCLING GEAR!



We got FITTED to our amazing BICYCLES!




We LEARNED about all sorts of things.

Here's Heather talking about

how women's bikes are different!

We got to RIDE

with a bunch of COOL WOMEN that work at TREK!

Oh, and there was a PHOTO SHOOT, some tasty DINNERS, the most amazing cafeteria, a factory TOUR, lots of chatting and meeting all the wonderful women that work at Trek!

Tour of Walla Walla Race Report

Two of my junior cyclists line up for their first night criterium!

Tour of Walla Walla

Race Report

• Time Trial: I had a smooth time trial and went as fast as this year's training would let me go. Somehow, without high race fitness, I am finding it hard to really make myself REALLY suffer on the bike. I put in a good effort, though-- 26th out of 45, which felt about right. 
• Criterium: Survival mode. I have not been in a criterium for TWO YEARS. When zooming around 8 corners with 70 women, sometimes accidents happen and I didn't want to be in any of them! I rode comfortably in the first chase group, but had no legs to be aggressive.
• Road Race: oh, boy. My "power to weight ratio" isn't doing so great these days. I've lost muscle mass AND gained weight. Yikes! In college I had placed 13th in the road race out of the 1/2/3's.. this year, I got dropped the first time up the big hill. With no chance of catching the group, I rode home with two lovely ladies and then had a pulled porked sandwich at the local brewery followed by a Coca Cola. (And I don't usually drink soda!) But oh, it felt so good!

Best Parts of the Tour

• Hearing my name cheered by both Whitman students AND locals
• Hearing people recognize and cheer the Community Center for Youth

Welcome, Tour of Walla Walla!

It begins.

The Idaho Stop Law, Coming to Oregon

The "Idaho Stop Law," in a nutshell, allows bicyclists to legally treat stop signs as yield signs. This law is currently being proposed in Oregon.

Here's a pro-Idaho Stop Law video that explains the pro-law position very well. What do you think?


Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

As a disclaimer, I am posting this video only as a point of education and discussion-- not as a display of my personal opinion.