Get with it, grocers

There are only a handful of grocery stores in Shawnee, KS, but at least one is clueless about bicycles.

While others have a bike rack outside, this one place does not. And at least one time each week, at right about the start of the a.m. 'rush hour,' I see this one bike locked to a quarter-driven merry-go-round in the store's entryway. (I don't know how long it stays there, this is just when I notice it.)

I know real estate in front of grocery stores is valuable, the bags of mulch, soda machines, flowers and hot dog carts remind me of that nearly every day. I wonder if this bike reminds the store management of anything?

Crowded Bus? Try A Different Time!

The bus I ride home has been packed lately. It has been common for several people to have to stand until we get to the first park & ride and all this togetherness was wearing me (and other riders) out. Rather than going back to driving I decided to catch a later homeward bound bus to see if it was as crowed as the first bus home.

My first clue this might be better was a completely empty bus stop. In fact I needed to flag down the bus driver because apparently he wasn't used to picking anyone up at this stop at this time. I was shocked to get on the bus and find it at about 25% occupancy. We picked up a few more people (including another bike/bus commuter!) and headed for home with less than 50% of the seats full. I had plenty of room to stretch out, read, and stay cool!

Even though the bus left 30 minutes later than the first bus I got to my park & ride just 15 minutes later than the early bus. Why didn't the 30 minute difference in departure time translate into a 30 minute later arrival? Fewer people means fewer stops so we made up half the time by simply stopping less. So if a packed bus is wearing you out check your bus company's schedules and, if you can make it work, try a later bus. You might be more comfortable and might not get home that much later!

It's Friday, I rode my bike today

It's been a while since we posted a "rode today" post, so here you go: I rode my bike to work today, and will ride home. (The photo at right was taken by my camera phone, and shows part of about a half-mile or so stretch on a "trail" that I sometimes take, and is not quite indicative of the entire route, but it did catch my eye today.)

KSHB posts carpool tips

One of our favorite local TV news stations, KSHB-41 in Kansas City, has posted a few helpful carpooling tips. Gas may be dropping a few cents in the past few days, but carpooling remains a great option every day.

Google maps gets it righter, again

Pretty slick! KCATA's folks tell us that now, all Metro bus stops are visible on the zoomed in Google maps. This occurs whether or not you are getting directions (for bus, car or walking).

Here how you can test it out:

1. Type maps.google.com in your internet browser.

2. Type in a location that you know is served by buses, such as 39th & Troost, Kansas City, MO or plaza library, kansas city, mo.

3. Zoom in really close!

And there you have it. BUS STOPS! Anybody who searches for a business or address will see nearby bus stops when they search for a location on Google Maps. For more fun, click on those bus stops icons. That brings up the routes that serve the stop, and the next scheduled times.

Thanks, Google and KCATA!

Ozone Alert Day!

According to the local air quality folks today will be an Ozone Alert Day. That means that bus fares are reduced for the day. A bus acquaintance who uses a 10 ride ticket saved a punch today and paid just $0.50 for his morning bus ride downtown. Even though gas prices have retreated a bit you can't beat that price for a ride from the suburbs to downtown!

Everything in its right place

Bike riding for the adult set isn't all Tour de France and lycra shorts, despite marketing efforts to the contrary.

This is addressed in links from the "Whoomp" post below ... the signs, right or wrong, that the US was starting to become a bit like Europe, and that expectations would likely need to shift when it comes to people riding bikes, rather than driving. We sweat! Hair (those of us who have it, anyway), can get messy!

Sounds like a bus ride, eh?

The Globe and Mail is on it, with Primp my ride. Check out how they're doing in Copenhagen at Copenhagen Cycle Chic. And if you really get it, spend some time at the Slow Bicycle Movement.

Alternately, you can ride "in the drops" on your new aluminum road bike. It's up to you.