3rd Friday Commute experiments with Multi-Modal

How many good things can happen at the same time? On Friday, we're going to see.

Here's a list of good things we think can happen:

• Breakfast with cycling friends at a new location for most of us,
• Check out putting a bike on a heated train (right about the time we're getting tired of 11-layer-cold-weather cycling),
• Have fun instead of going to work (well, we end up at the office eventually).

On January 15th, a group of us will be scoping out the details of a Breakfast in Buckhead. We've had a few guys ask if we could do this. This is our first attempt to meet with our Buckhead Bicycle Brethren (I'm not sure if we have any Cycling Sistern up there).

I used A-Train to plan out the transit connections.


So we'll get on the train in Decatur at 7:07, ride over to 5 Points to catch the train headed north (2 minutes between trains, nice). From there, we'll head over to the Flying Biscuit in the Terminus 100 Building.

Many of the cyclists work in Buckhead, but after filling our bellies with warmth, a group of us will ride down Peachtree to Midtown/Downtown.

There will be four places you can catch up with us:

• Meet station side of Decatur Square at 7AM to catch the 7:07 train.
• Northbound platform of 5 Points station to catch the 7:24 train.
• Breakfast at the Flying Biscuit shortly before 8AM (Terminus 100 bldg on the corner of Piedmont and Peachtree)
• 9AM or so, ride down Peachtree from Piedmont into Midtown/Downtown.

We'll be keeping score of how many successful things happen as we also note any failures we want to correct before trying this again in March.

Clear sky, cool temps, and SUNBEAMS

It was in August of last year that I stopped for sunbeams along this stretch of road, so I'm not surprised I'm stopping for sunbeams once again in August.

This image has a lot of blue light matching the sudden cool temps. Fall is on its way even though the dry air isn't here yet. Of course, we wouldn't have the sunbeams if there wasn't so much moisture in the air.

 

The few spots of light and warmth contrast with the coolness, a fitting visual for the sensations I felt riding through the shadows and bright spots.

As I travelled a few pedal strokes around the corner, the scene below unfolded.

 

These images are less than 100 yards and less than one minute apart, yet feel so different.

As I stopped to take these photos, a neighbor paused her walk to chat. How often can car commuters say this?

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 30 (14 inbound and 16 outbound)
In-bound Route: Goofin' 9.6
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: I was getting on my bike whether I came into the office or not. "Must ... Get ... Outside" sort of day.

Revival of 3rd Friday Commute

It's been 18 months since the last 3rd Friday Commute. A schedule change at work prevented me from organizing this ride for about a year, but Stephen recently asked if we could start it back up.

And here we go.



Thumbs Up was excellent as always. Lots of stories of poor behaviour by both cyclists and motorists and also some discussion about how to deal with poor behaviour. (There was also a TV show discussion, but my this isn't my best subject.)

Next ride will be Friday Sept. 18. There have been inquiries about other routes/destinations/breakfast spots. Much of this discussion is happening on Facebook's Bike Commuters of Atlanta group, but add a comment here if you're not on Facebook and would like to participate.

Commute Summary

Distance: 5.5 miles from Decatur Square to Thumbs Up Diner on Edgewood
Number of Cyclists stopping for breakfast: 9
Route: McLendon/Edgewood
Weather: Humid, but no rain as had been predicted

Something out of Nothing?

On my way home today, I rode along with cyclists #4 and #5. Together we counted cyclist #6 on the Freedom Park Trail. They were headed to the Pizza Ride. I was making my usual commute home, but the route afforded us a few miles of chatting.

As I approached the intersection of Springdale and the By Way, I came across cyclists numbered 15-19 headed down the By Way to the CVS ride. I frequently ride with these guys, but I didn't get the chance to chat since we were headed in opposite directions. Exchanging greetings would have to do.

On one hand, seeing our fellow cyclists on the road is nothing. We should expect see each other from time to time.

On the other hand, why are we so happy to see cyclists and especially those we know? Is it simply seeing and being seen? Is it the conversation? Is it a bond we share with our fellow cyclists?

I really don't know why it feels good, but I'm going to keep doing it.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 26 (only 6 inbound, but 20 on the way home)
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: No rain for a change, but still rather humid

Spontaneous non-Combustion

It was over before I could pull out my camera.

Perhaps there will come a day when this is commonplace -- it certainly felt commonplace judging from the complete lack of any reaction -- but at the corner of Peachtree and 5th ...

Rewind several months: In April of 2007, one block away, three cyclists spontaneously met at the stoplight. The following Spring, five cyclists' paths converged upon the intersection. This morning, I followed a pair of cyclists approaching a third cyclist waiting at the light. Before I clipped out, another approached from the left and then another from the right. Six simultaneous, independent bicycle commuters. No internal combustion required.

I like when the commute turns into a group ride.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.8
Number of Cyclists seen: 25 (9 inbound and 16 outbound)
In-bound Route: Goofin' 9.6
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Maybe I should have worn long pants. Fingers stiff with no gloves. Must have been closer to freezing than I thought.

Goofin' 9.6-mile commute

Mon, Sep 22, 2008 - 9.60 mi [Cycling]
9.60 mi in 00:39:31 hours at 14.58 mi/h on Raleigh Sportif. [Cycling]

Somehow, while I wasn't looking, this has gotten to be my preferred route going into the office. I didn't plan it this way. Over time, the route just evolved into the present form shown below. Inadvertantly, the route has ended up high on the ridiculous scale:

First, it is more than three times longer than it needs to be. What sort of commuter would travel three times further than they need to?

Second, it goes up and down all these hills and I'm taking the heavy bike now. (Out-of-town visitors, sorry that I don't have a good way to show hills here. I'm working on that however.)

Third, I'm going in a big circle. I cover about a third of the way there before turning away from the office and pointing myself in the opposite direction. Where's the efficiency in that?

But -- as with all things cycling -- there are compensating factors.

There are several parks and green spaces: Orme Park, University, and Lullwater, Candler Park, and Freedom Park.

There are also two golf courses, a PATH trail, bike lanes and good company.

Changing hats from cyclist to motorist, it is easier for me to understand why non-cyclists think I'm crazy. When I think as a cyclist about why I'm riding 9.6 hilly miles however, it is all perfectly clear.

Things as they are, are not always what they are. Things as they are, are changed upon the two-wheeled fun machine.


Posted from My Cycling Log

Goofin' 9.6 commute

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Sept. 19 is a good day for Cyclists - Two years running

It was one year ago today that I posted a record number of cyclists during my daily commute. I spotted 38 cyclists that day. Today was 39, 31 over the 9.1 miles I rode home this evening.

For those that enjoy numbers, the evening commute saw 3.4 cyclists per mile and nearly a cyclist per minute.

I knew it was going to be a good day when I had spotted the first six at Peachtree and 5th. Most were commuters but one young lady looked like she was headed out for a night on the town. In my earlier years, I would have followed. I need to start wearing my camera on top of my helmet.

Peachtree was one place the cyclists bunched up, but there was also a cluster coming through the intersection of the PATH trail and North Highland, and then as usual, a group around the Emory campus.

September 19 falls on a Saturday next year so I'm not sure what to do. Do I go to work that day?

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.7
Number of Cyclists seen: 39 - new record for a day's commute, breaking record set one year ago today.
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Maybe it is the weather. Delicious day: sunny with low breeze around 72 degrees and air you wanted to gulp.

Stopping by Woods on my Way to Work

This park is a half-mile from my house. My daughters both learned sliding boards and swings here as well as practicing soccer skills and building sand castles. We've played chase, hide-and-seek, and stopped at the water fountain after running a few miles. It's been our neighborhood park.

This morning I saw it anew. The sun was just right. The air smelled just right. The stars were aligned.

My bicycle wheel just kept going around the park until the goodness had filled me to overflowing.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 24.8
Number of Cyclists seen: 5 inbound and 25 outbound.
In-bound Route: Orme Park then Lullwater/PATH Trail
Out-bound Route: Inman Park, Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Decatur then back through Emory Village.
Weather: whoa

Would you stop for a mailbox?

 

I've ridden past this mailbox for years without stopping to take a look. It brightens my morning every day on my way to the office, but it wasn't until recently I actually stopped.

Walking or riding a bike it is easy to pause long enough to view from different angles, inspect the materials, and snap a photo. Who would think to do this while riding in a car?

Is it because we ride in cars that our appreciation of simple pleasures is diminished, or is it because we overlook small pleasures that we're OK with riding around in cars?

Slowing Down

I've been riding a lot lately, and the energy drop from inadequate rest has me reconsidering how I ride. I've been logging my miles for years, but only in the past two days have I realized how attached I'd become to average speed. I was happy to find I don't have to worry about my average speed dipping if I don't enter a time for the trip. I still get credit for the miles, but I don't wear myself down trying to keep a certain pace when what I really need is rest.

And today, for the first time in 10 days, I didn't get on the bike at all. (I do have an itch to get out, though.)

It is perhaps for this reason, the following blog caught my eye: Slow Bicycle. I wouldn't have given a second look to a site about riding slow on 3-speed bikes if I hadn't reached my personal epiphany regarding average speed. The "style over speed" perspective brings into sharp focus a lot of the reasons we ride and don't ride in the US.

Slow Bicycle goes hand in hand with another recent development I need to post about: since early July, I ride a heavy commuter bike to work instead of my road bike. It's another trusty touring frame, but instead of 9-speed indexed shifters and aluminum frame, this commuter is a steel-framed friction-shifter from the early 80s. Complete with kickstand. A fellow rider donated the frame because it matches my size better and I've been happy to put it back into service.

But it is heavy and I ride to work a good 10% slower on this bike even with more effort. It's the extra effort that has been wearing me down. The old bike is helping me adjust my attitudes.

So speed has been one of my barometers for how much I'm getting out of the miles I put in and how smart I am with my rides, but I'm also reminding myself there are other ways to measure the rewards of time spent in the saddle.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 0
Number of Cyclists seen: 0
In-bound Route: bedroom downstairs to office
Out-bound Route: office to kitchen
Weather: Outside the window, looks pretty warm.

Air you can see

 

I'm such a sucker for sunbeams.

I took a slightly different route this morning that brought me past this wooded stretch of road. The sunbeams were irresistible.

Now, Atlanta isn't known for the best air. A million 30-mile automobile commutes each day will toss a few particles into the air, but most of the particles catching light in this photo are water droplets not yet burned off by the heat of the day. It's an otherwise invisible fog revealed by light and shade's contrast.

If you didn't grow up with this humidity, your body may take a while to adjust. My body likes the moisture almost as much as the trees do. The sunbeams allow me to visibly measure how much of this good thing I'm getting. The sunbeams are also showing you how happy the trees are.

I like smoky sunbeams too. Those have a pleasant smell, but on this morning, the moisture amplifies the smell of the few remaining plants that are blooming.

I hope I don't see any smoke-less sunbeams on dry days, but I'll probably still stop to take a picture.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 18.8
Number of Cyclists seen: 24
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail with extension over to University
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton with extension over to Sage Hill
Weather: Mild and moist on the way in; somewhat drier air, but still warm on the way home.

Bit by Bit - Easing into Bike Commuting

When I first started commuting by bike, I rode on days when I had plenty of time, the sun was shining but not hot and I had not gotten exercise in a while. I had a car which could conveniently get me to work and operating the car was relatively cheap back then, but I thought it was a good way to get exercise and to enjoy a ride during the middle of the week. I was getting good miles on the weekend, and wanted to ride during the week, so an occasional commute to the office gave me an extra 15 miles per trip.

I didn't have a rack, lock or other accessories. I just put everything in my backpack, rode in my work clothes (keeping a pair of shoes at the office), and parked the bike inside my office. Since I could pick and choose which days I would ride, weather or sweat was rarely an issue.

Over the years, I would add accessories such as the rack and panniers. I started with the panniers when I began making camping trips by bike and soon found I could carry groceries in those panniers. The recreational riding often seemed to lead to more utilitarian uses. That was 20-30 years ago.

Then, for several years, I had gotten away from cycling: I was coaching my kids soccer, my job was 25 miles away with no mass transit, and my 25 year-old bike needed a great deal of work. But a few years ago, I switched jobs, my kids outgrew my coaching ability, and I got a new bike. I immediately started riding with fellow soccer dads on Sunday mornings.

As before, the weekend rides had me looking for miles during the week. Since I had done this before, commuting to the office was an obvious first choice.

I'm still riding for fun, but over the years, bit by bit, I've expanded both my array of accessories and my repertoire. This has allowed me to abandon the car completely for trips to the office. I can deal with weather, sweat, transporting my laptop, customer meetings, you name it.

This didn't happen overnight. I've reached daily bike commuting by increments over a period of years. It's been driven by my desire to get exercise and my enjoyment of being outdoors, but over time, I've come to recognize a multitude of other benefits. I'm hooked now. Even if gas were to go back to 1980 prices, I'd still be riding.

If a bike is your primary means of transportation, you know what I'm talking about. If you've ridden recreationally, but haven't tried getting to work, pick a favorable day with favorable conditions and try it out. If you choose well, the experience will probably have you looking for more opportunities to enjoy the trip by bike.

If you've tasted the fruits of bicycle commuting but have found some obstacles, try working through some alternatives. I know a few people who put their bike on the back of the car, park a reasonable distance away from the office and then ride the remainder along a nice route of their choice. One guy I work with brings his bike on the bus in the morning and then rides home in the evening.

There are all sorts of ways to commute recreationally. You'll be taking it one trip at a time.

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

File this under fun: Take the Long Way to the Office.

VaHigh/AT&T - via Emory & PATH Trail

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I've mentioned before that I start my ride to the office by going in the opposite direction.

Instead of turning onto the road that would take me directly to my building/home, I go straight or even turn the opposite way. It's like I'm sneaking up on my prey.

I've got a puzzle where you try to take the ring off without breaking the chain. Sometimes you have to get the ring more tangled up before you can untangle it. To solve the puzzle, you move away before getting closer. One step back, two steps up.

On hikes, we would sometimes come across a stream too wide to step over but narrow enough to jump over. You take a few steps back to get up some momentum.

The direct route doesn't always deliver the best results. It's a dance step: one step back, two steps up.

Get on the bike and give up some convenience, but gain bigger rewards.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.4
Number of Cyclists seen: 17
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Warm, but not too warm. Most of the sweat resulted from carrying laptop on my back.

Lullwater Shade Tunnel

When I go to heaven, it's going to be like this. I'm riding my bike along a quiet road with a few other walkers and cyclists, the sun is filtered by a tunnel of trees, the air is cool and crisp, except the left-most portion of the image won't be a little out of focus. I rushed to get the pedestrian in the photo before the traffic came by and captured the wrong focal distance on the first frame of my stitched panorama.

This is Lullwater. Even the name is restful. It's part of my daily commute and one of the big reasons I start my commute by heading in the opposite direction of the office. It runs by a creek and on the other side of the creek and trees is a golf course. This shade tunnel stays cool even at the height of summer.

At night, the lack of streetlights gives you the impression you're far away from town. That's when I like to run along this road and listen to the creatures in the woods.

In this image, you should find the bridge crossing the creek. The small concrete bridge isn't as easy to pick out as the weight-limit sign at its foot. There is also an approaching cyclist. I didn't catch the other cyclist that was 50 yards behind.

For those that are movie buffs, this is just down the road from the house they filmed for "Driving Miss Daisy". There may have been some shots along this stretch in the movie.

Certainly the moments and impressions I treasure have changed over the years, but making my way along this road has always been a favorite.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.4
Number of Cyclists seen: 23
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Wow! Sky goes all the way up and cool, crisp air. What a break from last week.

How to Commute when there isn't a Shower

 

OK, this is a picture of a bike rack that doesn't appear to go with the title of this post, but it really does. It only requires a modest amount of imagination which I'll promptly explain.

This is a picture of three bikes on the rack from Friday, and although there were also three bikes on the rack today, it wasn't the same three bikes. Today's bike that is not shown in the picture above was walked up rather than ridden. I met the owner as he was walking up and he admitted he cheats.

Admitting you cheat isn't how most conversations start out, but it was effective at getting things rolling.

The gentleman was dressed in business casual while I was dressed in moist salt. I suspected something was up before he admitted he cheats, but he quickly explained that he rides the bus with his bike on the way in, and then rides his bike home in the afternoon.

Nice. I'm glad our public transit has bike racks installed on the buses.

I've always taken it a little easier coming into the office to avoid too much sweat and then let it all out on the way home. This guy had a pretty good plan worked out.

If AT&T had showers, we'd miss much of the richness of experience that cycling to work provides. We'd ride the same way all the time and make boring commutes. Well, not as boring as the people we see inside the steel cages with really wide tires, but close.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 17.3
Number of Cyclists seen: 32 (11 in the AM, 21 in the PM)
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH trail
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Warm but not as hot as last week (80s)

Georgia Rides to the Capitol - 2008

In March of each year, hundreds of cyclists from around metro Atlanta converge on the Capitol to show legislators our numbers.



And they were turning into bicycles, all across our nation -- from Joni Mitchell's early version of Woodstock

It was just one big celebration.

Lots of kids were riding this year. I wish I had gotten more photos of them.

The Emory T-Shirts (Blue with a white dot "Why Not?") were out in strong numbers. I think the Georgia Tech guys need to respond.

I had joined the Decatur group that approached from the East. When we got to the intersection of Edgewood and Courtland, we waited for the group from the north and then merged into a massive surge. I felt like I was rushing onto the field after a big win.

My co-worker who rides recreationally joined us for the trip in today. I also spoke with another neighbor who was riding for the first time. The emotional support and the enthusiasm for what can happen when cyclists take to the roads may win over a few more commuters.

All of this was great, but my best part was when we rode past the playground full of adoring fans (kids) at the Atlanta School in Inman Park. Last year I overheard a couple of boys talking to each other: "It's a bicycle race".

"No", said the second kid as he looked straight at me, "it's not a race."

This year I passed the school and my ego was bouyed instead of deflated.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 20.0
Number of Cyclists seen: billions (ok, only 1500 or so)
In-bound Route: Georgia Rides to the Capitol
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Missed forecast. We were supposed to have sunny skies and warm temps, but it was cloudy and cool (but not so cool I couldn't wear shorts though).

Not Green, just Optimizing

Much of engineering is optimization: getting the most out of any expenditure of resources. Optimization is something I'm good at.

I don't buy sandwich bags to take my lunch to work. When you buy a loaf of bread, they give you a plastic bag that works great. Money aside, why would I transport baggies into my house only to turn around and have to transport them back out with the garbage? At work, they think I'm being "green" by re-using the bread wrappers.

They don't know I also throw away the twist ties after opening the wrapper because the twist ties take more effort than simply twisting the wrapper itself.

When faced with an unfamiliar microwave I look clumsy. What I'm doing is figuring out the fewest key-presses required. Usually there is a "cook for 60 seconds" button, or "add 30 seconds and start if not already running" button. Also, why press 60 if you can press 55 or 66? It's all about efficiency, simplicity and utility.

I also ride a bicycle, the ultimate machine for efficiency, simplicity and utility.

Being "green" is an idea I'm not always in agreement with because it has become a marketing term. I don't re-use wrappers or ride my bike to be "green". I do these things because they are less wasteful.

So, my office is 2.5 miles away and my usual bike routes are about 9 miles. "Where is the optimization?" the reader might ask.

I'm not optimizing my commute. I'm optimizing something else.

You see, I'm out for a bike ride and if I happen to arrive at the office in the morning, that's great. It's a matter of convenience that my morning bike ride ends up at the office.

I'm optimizing my investment of time by accomplishing multiple goals in one activity: exercise, traffic reduction, air quality, socializing. And -- at least in my imagination -- I'm setting an example of what is possible: a community less dependent on the automobile.

And a community less dependent on the car may be green, but to me, it is the best way to optimize your community's resources.

For further perspective on how to optimize your community's resources, see Noah's article on "Commute by Bike" about Getting to know your Local Village.

Wanderlust Commute

I rode a large figure eight this morning, headed away from the office at first, passing the office, and then swinging around behind the office to approach from the Georgia Tech side. If there was a homing device planted on me, it would have looked like I was trying to shake someone off my trail.

There was some purpose to riding 13.5 miles to cover 3 miles of distance, besides playing hooky, of course.

There is a hole in the pavement on the east end of the 17th Street Bridge. It happens to be right where the bike lane cuts across the right-turn only lane and is angled such that you are on top of the hole before you see how deep it is. Also, the cyclist could easily be distracted with crossing the lane of traffic and could miss (or rather not miss) the hole. I had wanted to get some pictures.

From 17thStreetHole

I thought my experiences getting this hole fixed would lead to some interesting posts. The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign has some contact information for people who can help get this fixed, but I understand it may need some updating. I may be able to accomplish multiple goals by pursuing this.

Just like my recreational commute.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 22.8
Number of Cyclists seen: more than I could count on the Georgia Tech campus; 13 coming back home
In-bound Route: Lullwater/PATH with extension to Atlantic Station and Ga Tech
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: 45-degrees with wind out of the west; warm enough for shorts.

February Edition of 3rd Friday Commute

We came. We rode. We ate breakfast.

Since we had missed the Faster Mustache crowd on multiple trips to the Thumbs Up Diner, we dragged a founder of FM along with us to be sure we couldn't miss this time. Well, he was on a fixie, so actually, he dragged us up the hills.

Once the food was brought out, this same guy showed me what I should have ordered. It was a waffle folded over eggs and eaten like a taco. I might have to beg pardon from my usual French Toast and reckon with the waffelaco next month.

This group gets along well, the cycling well-matched and the breakfast location is right on target. Another +1 for recreational commuting and another excellent start of the day.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 25.8
Number of Cyclists seen: lost count, but there were 5 of us coming in from Decatur
In-bound Route: Decatur/Midtown
Out-bound Route: Emory via Clifton
Weather: Started out in the 30s, no wind and warmed up quick.

Rats! Had to work from home today

The computer system I support has been cranky this past week. This morning it was crying for attention from the moment I got up and didn't stop crying until it was too late to get in the shower. Another work at home day. Third time this week! I'm missing my time on the bike.

At first, I consoled myself with the thought that I would have been riding in the rain, but by afternoon, it was sunny and I was looking forward to the spin back home. I guess I can ride my bike home even when I already am at home, right?.

Then, it occurred to me I could ride the indoor bike and console myself with a different thought: I'm addicted to something that's good for me and the planet.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 0.0
Number of Cyclists seen: I was looking out my window at cyclists going by
In-bound Route: N/A
Out-bound Route: N/A
Weather: Rainy in AM, but gorgeous in the afternoon (sorry I missed it)