Traveling in Canada for work....

I know it's been lame around here.  Work is nuts and now I'm on the road for the next 3 weeks.  Ok, I'm on the road right now, and then I'll be in the middle of nowhere for weeks.  As it is, I'm in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Its exactly the same and totally different.

I can't even begin to describe it....and I don't want to take the time to dump photos.  Let's just say this.  I've walked/run over 8 miles in the last two hours in this city.  I've crossed highways (4-lane each direction) and when you push the pedestrian crossing button.....wait for it....the cars stop and wait for you!  I had two cars back up to avoid being partially in the cross walk!!!  One was a cop car!

This is definitely not Reno....and I'm thinking not America!!!

Ok....I totally see the typo on "their" as opposed to "there".....It's too much of a pain to fix!

Have you lost your freedom to roam?

Here's an interesting commentary on how kids get around (now vs. then) from Streetfilms.org.

Weekend Mountain Biking - Emigrant Trail.

Ok, so there was nothing new here yesterday.  I was out sick and writing about biking didn't sound like fun.

On Saturday, the Preacher and I headed out to do the Emigrant Gap trail.  We wanted a bit of a longer ride (22 miles vs. 18 miles) so we started from the picnic area parking lot and headed for Stampede Reservoir.  As you can see we did officially make it to the reservoir. 

En route to this turn around point only minimal gears were used.  You see that pretty red bike that the Preacher recently acquired only has 1 gear.  To be a good sport I chose not to shift (ok, I shifted between 2 gears...19 and 21 tooth respectively....the Preacher has a 20 tooth cog).  This endeavor proved to be an ass kicking experience for me.  I don't know what was up, but the energy just wasn't there and the Preacher was out front and apparently riding on the almighty's coat tails! 

This was about as close as I could keep him!

Amazingly, on such a beautiful day for riding, traffic was almost non-existent!   The scenery wasn't too bad either.

We always keep a few "carrots" to motivate us to finish the ride strong.  In this case they were in the form of Sierra Nevada Torpedoes!  For the record, after a granola bar and a GU at the turn around I preformed a lot better on the return trip.  The Preacher still had the stronger legs though.

Interestingly, this new bike is his first 29er.  His downhill skills definitely improved compared to his full suspension 26er.....so whether it's the geometry, wheel size, or suspension, this bike is definitely his friend!  So anyway, that was my weekend exploit.  Hope yours was just as much fun!

Pancake feed at Reno Bike Project!

Sorry, another crappy cell phone pic.  This was the scene at RBP this morning for free pancakes, bacon, sausage, and coffee!  Good times and a great way to finish off bike to work week.  Now just remember that you can keep riding even when it's not "officially" bike to work week and you're all set!

Gonads and Strife Poker Run.....it's time to ride!

If the Mayor can bike to work (or breakfast)....so can you!

I missed it (because I can't keep track of things), but I heard from an old buddy (thanks Mr. Clark) that it did happen.  The Mayors both rode bikes yesterday and met for breakfast down at Rail City.  Here's a little blurb from KTVN:


KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video -

It might not seem like that big of a deal, but Mayor Cashell hasn't always been too into the bike movement.  To even see him getting out there (he's not young and recently had heart surgery) is a step in the right direction.  So a big thumbs up to both Mayors for being a part of Bike to Work Week!  And an awesome side note, they used the Moon Buggy from the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology here in Reno!

Driving Trends, which way do you think they'll go?

Here's a little graphic from the most recent publication of Transportation in America.  Basically, the trend in the last 8 years shows people are continuing to drive less even as the GDP per capita has been rising.  The real question is which color is the new "trend"!?

I'm guessing there are two factors to the trend, 1) Baby boomers are retiring and driving less, and 2) young people just don't care to drive as much.  So I'll bet on somewhere between green and red.  What do you think?

River path upgrade!

Ok, so I skipped the first day of bike to work week....cause I played hooky from work yesterday.  More on why later.

The big news today is the river path closure is already over!!  I mean most of them last for months so I am really shocked.  This one was apparently done in a single weekend and here are the results!

This section was notorious for knocking a few fillings loose due to all the bumps from the tree roots.  Now it's pretty darn smooth.  I hope they put down a good base beneath the new asphalt so it stays in good condition for years to come!  So kudos to the City of Reno and the Tahoe Pyramid Bikeway group for getting this new section in so quickly!
 

River Path Construction.....with real detours and signs!!

Well, it must be the good weather and the increased use (I mean next week is bike to work week)....so the river path is under construction again.  Besides the inane timing, they are working on a section I would describe as the bounciest, most root infested, narrowest portion of the trail (behind the automobile museum).  And they have actually posted a clearly signed detour that leads you out around the museum on Mill and back to the trail (it's exactly one block), so kudos to the company involved. 

Here's what it looked like this morning (sorry, crappy cell phone pics):

Keystone Canyon housing project has been pulled!

Whooo....hooooo!!!  The plan to build on top of Keystone Canyon has been pulled by the developer.  Don't know too much about why yet (other than the huge outpouring of public concern), but I'll try to dig into it.

What I suspect is that these Zombie projects (to quote Jeff Mitchel) come back around as the economy continues to recover and they try to go forward with a host of permits that were issued 10+ years ago (literally 1998 in this case).  The real problem is that many of the permits and studies required expire after a certain time period.  When faced with the fact that the public wasn't stoked about the project and going to make noise....the developer probably worried the city might review the permits/studies and request that they come up to date with them.  And......things have changed a bit since a decade ago and so it might require they put more effort and $$$ in to the project to get it set up again.

Either way, we get at least a reprieve on this one folks!

Parklets....should be in Reno!

A few years ago when I started this blog I used to "steal" content from Reno-Rambler now and again.  I haven't been doing it much just because I seem to see enough on my own to fill this blog.  Today however, he found a great little gem of a video that I just have to re-post.  So with all credit to him for finding it and to the folks who put it together....her it is.



You can't tell me we couldn't do this in Reno and make down town significantly more friendly feeling!

Reno Pedicabs up for debate.

All right...this is my second attempt on this post.  The first one turned out too negative (something I need to work on).

The city of Reno will be discussing permitting pedicab drivers today.  There's a full article over on RGJ, but the gist of it is that each "driver" will have to take some type of test to get a permit just like a regular cab driver.  This part is great and will make sure everybody follows the rules of the road (to the extent that any cab driver does).

The real reason I think the city is doing it, is because through this system each "driver" will have to have a business license.  For which they will pay the city of Reno $250 per year....not huge, but I don't think it should be required that each "driver" is operating an independent business.  They aren't....they work for Pedal Express (the company that owns the pedicabs).  Therefore they are employee's and differ from traditional cab companies.

Anyway, it seems stupid (to me) to do this to a fledgling industry (at best) when there are things that could actually bring the city real $$$ (like collecting the taxes the baseball stadium owes).  I guess it's at least consistent behavior....they did go after the food trucks pretty aggressively last year even though they are one of the best things to kick of in Reno for a while.

So good luck Pedicab "drivers", I hope you make it through the debate!

Building roads....is it good for the economy!?

From Streetfilms.org:

Apparently my buddy Doug has gone into business!

I realize this will make no sense to 99 % of people.  However, if you know Doug the joke is unavoidable. 

How to get to work....a little variation!

We didn't ride to work today.....but we didn't drive either.  Instead it was time to stretch our legs (e.g. running)!  Wifey is definitely the real runner.  I just tag along on many of her runs because I like to eat and drink and I don't like being fat.

This whole saga started because we went to a good party on Saturday and therefore didn't feel much like the 10 mile run we had planned for Sunday.  Instead, since it was a dreary cloudy day in Reno we sat around and read books and magazines and watched some running movies.

So this morning I noted we could just run the 6 miles to work and the 6 miles home and we'd have knocked out the required miles.  Usually she doesn't like this (she doesn't like to show up to work sweaty), but she went for it today.  Here's how it went (in picture form).

Wifey in the lead.

Glamorous self pic.

Wifey is obviously still in the lead and killing time!

Now I know what you're saying.  Even if you have been convinced you can ride to work....you're surely not going to be running to work.  I mean at least the bike has paniers or room to carry a bag.  What about lunch and work cloths!?

The short answer is keep it simple and light and this is about all you need!

The smallest pack is all you need.  Skip the water bladder....it's cool out!

One little pack holds work pants, shirt, salad, hard boiled eggs, onion, tomato, sliced turkey, and a cup of dressing.  A perfect salad lunch and the whole deal weighs a few pounds!  And yes, that's a razor....we decided to run at the last minute and were pressed for time. 

So if your ride is getting a little stale and you need to stretch your legs give walking to work (or running) a try.  It mixes it up and makes the day go by a little quicker!

 

I found these to images this morning...(they use a bad word).

I found this first one very apt today because some guy in a Prius beeped at me when I moved to take the lane through downtown (4th St.).  He proceeded to pass me too close rather than brake.  The worst part was less then 5 seconds later he caught a red light....so he was just being a dick.  I let it go but I could see him nervously glancing in the rear view mirror looking at me.

This one I just thought was kinda cool.  So that's it.....have a good Friday!

Apparently blogger picture uploads is down....(updated w/ pics).

No pictures....yeah, that's a problem.  None of you just want to hear me ramble on about the morning commute or the 4th and Prater open house.  Since this is all I have, I'll give you the spiel anyway!  4th and Prater open house was pretty well attended and had a ton of huge print outs and posters on the current state of the street and the proposed project.  The short description is that we're all set to go on this one.....we just need $$$$!  So until those show up at the table we're in a holding pattern.

In other news, I rode my bike today.  I saw big construction equipment that was pretty cool!  I followed a bus down Mill St. (which was not that cool....mostly just dusty).  The bus had a bike to work week sign on the back (which was pretty cool)!  Later on Mill St. I had a semi-truck take up the whole bike lane at the intersection with Terminal (not cool).  And that is my day on the bike so far.  It's way more interesting with pictures (or perhaps not).  If Blogger gets their shit together I'll post the pics later!  Til then......

Cool large scale construction.

Stinky bus...not cool.  Bike to work week....very cool!

Ass Clown trucker using the bike lane to facilitate his wide right turn....NOT COOL!

How do you cross the road?

Interesting that they guy crossing the road in Canada looks happy to be a pedestrian, whereas the guy in America is posed as a downtrodden member of society.....or maybe that's just my take.  What do you think?