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Bike People [bicycling]
Jul. 25th, 2024 10:16 amAmazing things: both the bike co-op and the bike advocacy organization that started when I lived in Tempe are still going strong! The main reason I know this is because last night I went to a Bike Happy Hour that TBAG organized.
That is not Princess TinyBike in the front of the picture; another person is my bike twin!
It was good to have an excuse to get out of the house, drink a beer, and meet and talk with other people about bikes. I managed to convince everyone to go around and say a couple words about their bike stories, which is how I learned a couple people there were also involved with the bike co-op.
I may or may not have ranted a little bit to everyone there about the state of bicycling, bike advocacy, and terrible driving in upstate New York.
My main complaint in upstate New York is that it feels like it's at least 20 years behind the times compared to Tempe. When I first moved to Tempe, I did not know any other people who were car-free, and had to devote a lot of energy to learning my way around and rebuffing well-intended but misguided efforts to give me a ride to various places. There's a similar vibe in Albany. It is socially isolating.
Many people in New York seem astounded at the idea that someone would ride a bike through the winter, and yet, just look at Minneapolis or Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not impossible, just as it's entirely possible to ride a bike in the summertime in Arizona. Yes, it's a lifestyle choice, but there are a lot of good reasons to make it.
At least there are people who have started up a weekly social ride in Albany. I can't single-handedly change the bike culture, but I will definitely keep supporting it where and when I can.
If you haven't spent time in the suburbs in the Greater Phoenix Suburb-o-politan area, I'm not sure I can adequately convey what this region is like, compared to elsewhere. Transformation and density increases are continuing to happen along the light rail corridor, and nearby areas where it's lucrative to build - e.g., next to the lake:
But on a practical level, most of the region is cul-de-sacs and strip malls. There are not really any good ways to reduce car dependency in this kind of suburban sprawl, and the major roadways are very dangerous for a person on a bike due to the speed differential (45 mph speed limit on wide, straight surface streets).
And there are a lot of lingering connectivity issues for people on bikes or on foot or on one of the zillions of small mobility devices that now exist. Still no Alameda bridge over the I-10, for instance. And that dead-end of the Western Canal at I-10, also, which should really be a massive amazing tunnel.
Historically, both of the above organizations received a big annual funding boost from a bike and beer festival organized by New Belgium Brewing. However, as of last year, the festival is over. I just have to hope that resourceful people here will continue to figure out how to keep these endeavors going.
That is not Princess TinyBike in the front of the picture; another person is my bike twin!
It was good to have an excuse to get out of the house, drink a beer, and meet and talk with other people about bikes. I managed to convince everyone to go around and say a couple words about their bike stories, which is how I learned a couple people there were also involved with the bike co-op.
I may or may not have ranted a little bit to everyone there about the state of bicycling, bike advocacy, and terrible driving in upstate New York.
My main complaint in upstate New York is that it feels like it's at least 20 years behind the times compared to Tempe. When I first moved to Tempe, I did not know any other people who were car-free, and had to devote a lot of energy to learning my way around and rebuffing well-intended but misguided efforts to give me a ride to various places. There's a similar vibe in Albany. It is socially isolating.
Many people in New York seem astounded at the idea that someone would ride a bike through the winter, and yet, just look at Minneapolis or Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not impossible, just as it's entirely possible to ride a bike in the summertime in Arizona. Yes, it's a lifestyle choice, but there are a lot of good reasons to make it.
At least there are people who have started up a weekly social ride in Albany. I can't single-handedly change the bike culture, but I will definitely keep supporting it where and when I can.
If you haven't spent time in the suburbs in the Greater Phoenix Suburb-o-politan area, I'm not sure I can adequately convey what this region is like, compared to elsewhere. Transformation and density increases are continuing to happen along the light rail corridor, and nearby areas where it's lucrative to build - e.g., next to the lake:
But on a practical level, most of the region is cul-de-sacs and strip malls. There are not really any good ways to reduce car dependency in this kind of suburban sprawl, and the major roadways are very dangerous for a person on a bike due to the speed differential (45 mph speed limit on wide, straight surface streets).
And there are a lot of lingering connectivity issues for people on bikes or on foot or on one of the zillions of small mobility devices that now exist. Still no Alameda bridge over the I-10, for instance. And that dead-end of the Western Canal at I-10, also, which should really be a massive amazing tunnel.
Historically, both of the above organizations received a big annual funding boost from a bike and beer festival organized by New Belgium Brewing. However, as of last year, the festival is over. I just have to hope that resourceful people here will continue to figure out how to keep these endeavors going.
