The draft Ann Arbor Transportation Plan was unveiled several weeks ago in back-to-back presentations and informal poster sessions at city hall. While the focus of the plan is on things like commuter trains, streetcars, priority queuing, and road diets, it does endorse the Ann Arbor Non-motorized Transportation Plan as well.
My main bike-related concern is that they did not consider "Copehagen Lanes."
My main rail-related concern is that I think they should be more aggressive in the roll-out. The current proposed stations (Plymouth and Fuller) see much lower priority than the Downtown station or the station at the intersection of the two commuter lines.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Winter Bike Commuting
Winter snows have hit Ann Arbor early this year. We went from 70 degrees on Halloween night to regular snowfalls in the latter half of November and early December. There hasn't been much melting, as the temperature has stayed in the mid-20s or below.
My goal for the winter is to bike to work every day the bike lanes are clear of snow and ice, regardless of the temperature, assuming I am not traveling for work. (I've signed up for the Winter Bike Challenge, so we'll see how I do.) So far that's worked out to just a half-dozen rides since mid-November, and winter hasn't officially started yet. (I missed a good week while on travel for work or I would be doing better.)
Today was fairly typical ... when I woke up our side street was fully covered with a packed 1/2 inch of snow. While the main arterials were largely clear where the cars were driving, the bike lands were not totally clear. The forecast suggested snow late in the day, so I didn't risk it. However, looking at the roads on the way in and looking out my window at lunchtime, I think it probably would have been fine.
I'm still trying to figure out how to do better at guessing whether to ride or not. A coworker told me about a fellow who works downstairs from me whose bike slipped on some ice. Apparently he broke his hip and he will be out of commission for six months. That put a major damper on my enthusiasm to risk it. One option is to get winter tires for my bike, but I'm not sure whether that would be a good investment or not. Would they really make me feel comfortable enough to ride in any conditions? Comments from other winter bike commuters would be very helpful.
Complicating things is that I try to avoid having my kids walk to and from school when it's sub-20 degrees, as they are so thin and get cold so easily. If I'm going to drive them to school, I usually just drive on to work.
As a result, I'm increasingly convinced that going "car-lite" or even "car-free" and relying on one's bike for most intra-city mobility in Ann Arbor requires a supplementary mass transit option to handle the winter commute, at least for the majority of potential commuters. In my case, that would mean having the option to shift to walking and mass transit when I didn't feel comfortable riding my bike due to weather or conditions on the road. Normally there would be about 3 months out of 12 where I might consider an alternate mode each day (although this year it's looking like 4 months out of 12).
So what would those alternate modes of transportation look like? More about transportation alternatives in another post.
My goal for the winter is to bike to work every day the bike lanes are clear of snow and ice, regardless of the temperature, assuming I am not traveling for work. (I've signed up for the Winter Bike Challenge, so we'll see how I do.) So far that's worked out to just a half-dozen rides since mid-November, and winter hasn't officially started yet. (I missed a good week while on travel for work or I would be doing better.)
Today was fairly typical ... when I woke up our side street was fully covered with a packed 1/2 inch of snow. While the main arterials were largely clear where the cars were driving, the bike lands were not totally clear. The forecast suggested snow late in the day, so I didn't risk it. However, looking at the roads on the way in and looking out my window at lunchtime, I think it probably would have been fine.
I'm still trying to figure out how to do better at guessing whether to ride or not. A coworker told me about a fellow who works downstairs from me whose bike slipped on some ice. Apparently he broke his hip and he will be out of commission for six months. That put a major damper on my enthusiasm to risk it. One option is to get winter tires for my bike, but I'm not sure whether that would be a good investment or not. Would they really make me feel comfortable enough to ride in any conditions? Comments from other winter bike commuters would be very helpful.
Complicating things is that I try to avoid having my kids walk to and from school when it's sub-20 degrees, as they are so thin and get cold so easily. If I'm going to drive them to school, I usually just drive on to work.
As a result, I'm increasingly convinced that going "car-lite" or even "car-free" and relying on one's bike for most intra-city mobility in Ann Arbor requires a supplementary mass transit option to handle the winter commute, at least for the majority of potential commuters. In my case, that would mean having the option to shift to walking and mass transit when I didn't feel comfortable riding my bike due to weather or conditions on the road. Normally there would be about 3 months out of 12 where I might consider an alternate mode each day (although this year it's looking like 4 months out of 12).
So what would those alternate modes of transportation look like? More about transportation alternatives in another post.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Planning an Upgrade
I want to make it a full year before I invest in a new bike and associated bike paraphenalia that might better fit my commuting needs. My plan is to get used to the characteristics of each season and its impact on my biking before making a decision.
For example, initially, I thought I'd need "fall biking clothes", so I bought a pair of shins from Chrome Bags, as shown here:
While I love them, and they are great for biking in cool fall weather, they were quite expensive. I've since figured out that I actually prefer to cycle to and from work slowly in my work clothes, following the principles of the Slow Bicycle Movement and Copenhagen Cycle Chic.
To date, other than ice and snow, the biggest complication to my 3.2-mile commute is that I need to get my two small children to school before going to work. It's two blocks to the first drop-off and two blocks beyond that to the second-drop off. At present, I walk the four blocks with my bike and kids in tow, and then start actually riding after the second drop-off. As small kids walk slowly, this process takes 30+ minutes, including going into both schools, making my total door-to-door commute take about 60 minutes. My thought is that I could get this down to 45 minutes if I ferry the kids by bike.
I was initially considering a Bakfiets, as shown here:
I even test-drove one out in Seattle on a business trip. While I love the bike, it's pretty pricey.
Now I'm leaning towards an Xtracycle Electra Townie, as shown here, with the idea that two kids could straddle the rack:
Of course, even this is pretty expensive, so I'm also looking at a solution for one child, such as a Novara Afterburner 7-Speed Trailer Bike as shown here:
Not sure how this would work for two children, but it would speed up the second half of the drop-off.
So, the lesson learned to date is that patience is a good thing. By taking time to figure out what will work for my situation and searching for alternatives, I've realized that my initial impulses would not have necessarily been the best investment for my bike commute.
Let's see how the winter goes.
For example, initially, I thought I'd need "fall biking clothes", so I bought a pair of shins from Chrome Bags, as shown here:
While I love them, and they are great for biking in cool fall weather, they were quite expensive. I've since figured out that I actually prefer to cycle to and from work slowly in my work clothes, following the principles of the Slow Bicycle Movement and Copenhagen Cycle Chic.
To date, other than ice and snow, the biggest complication to my 3.2-mile commute is that I need to get my two small children to school before going to work. It's two blocks to the first drop-off and two blocks beyond that to the second-drop off. At present, I walk the four blocks with my bike and kids in tow, and then start actually riding after the second drop-off. As small kids walk slowly, this process takes 30+ minutes, including going into both schools, making my total door-to-door commute take about 60 minutes. My thought is that I could get this down to 45 minutes if I ferry the kids by bike.
I was initially considering a Bakfiets, as shown here:
I even test-drove one out in Seattle on a business trip. While I love the bike, it's pretty pricey.
Now I'm leaning towards an Xtracycle Electra Townie, as shown here, with the idea that two kids could straddle the rack:
Of course, even this is pretty expensive, so I'm also looking at a solution for one child, such as a Novara Afterburner 7-Speed Trailer Bike as shown here:
Not sure how this would work for two children, but it would speed up the second half of the drop-off.
So, the lesson learned to date is that patience is a good thing. By taking time to figure out what will work for my situation and searching for alternatives, I've realized that my initial impulses would not have necessarily been the best investment for my bike commute.
Let's see how the winter goes.
Commuting to Work
I began commuting to work in July 2008 during the peak gas prices. My commute is 3.2 miles each way. My commute is pretty flat (sidewinding along the railroad tracks from the Old West Side to South State), with the exception of the hill up South State at the end on the way into work.
My motivation to finally start commuting by bike was less financial (I calculated I would save $8.00 a week if I rode every day) than health and wellness. I've always loved riding my bike, and I'm increasingly inspired by people who live far greener lives than I do. Moreover, with young kids and a demanding job (albeit one that has me sitting most of the day), I never seem to fine time to exercise. Riding my bike to work allows me to get a little exercise in each day, as well as be out and about in Ann Arbor, a city I really enjoy living in.
Here's my current ride:
It's a 15-year-old Bridgestone MB6 mountain bike. I replaced the seat and wheels last summer at Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness. I added front and rear lights from them in the fall. I bought new fenders in the fall from REI. Next I intend to add a rack and panniers.
My motivation to finally start commuting by bike was less financial (I calculated I would save $8.00 a week if I rode every day) than health and wellness. I've always loved riding my bike, and I'm increasingly inspired by people who live far greener lives than I do. Moreover, with young kids and a demanding job (albeit one that has me sitting most of the day), I never seem to fine time to exercise. Riding my bike to work allows me to get a little exercise in each day, as well as be out and about in Ann Arbor, a city I really enjoy living in.
Here's my current ride:
It's a 15-year-old Bridgestone MB6 mountain bike. I replaced the seat and wheels last summer at Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness. I added front and rear lights from them in the fall. I bought new fenders in the fall from REI. Next I intend to add a rack and panniers.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Raw Power
As a child, I fell in love with my bike. I used to bike everywhere and anywhere, taking wandering, 10-mile long rides through my hometown on the Jersey Shore, with no particular point in mind and no particular place to go. I spent most of middle school and high school atop a 10-speed brown Schwinn, only rarely touching the handlebars.
My favorite bike was a purple banana seat bike I had in elementary school. For Christmas one year, I got a "Raw Power," a replacement handle grip that would twist and make a roaring noise like a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
I was, without a doubt, the coolest kid in my mind. The "Raw Power" proved its strength one day when I misjudged a parked car and absolutely destroyed the driver mirror. (It was parked the wrong way on the wrong side of the street.) Fortunately the bike was fine.
My favorite bike was a purple banana seat bike I had in elementary school. For Christmas one year, I got a "Raw Power," a replacement handle grip that would twist and make a roaring noise like a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
I was, without a doubt, the coolest kid in my mind. The "Raw Power" proved its strength one day when I misjudged a parked car and absolutely destroyed the driver mirror. (It was parked the wrong way on the wrong side of the street.) Fortunately the bike was fine.
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