The Old Joe Bike Gets New Life

UPDATE 9/12/17: After serving Community Cycles, the Joe Bike was purchased by another cycling family! We are so excited to see this bakfiets log as many miles as possible!

Today (12/6/2016) is Colorado Gives Day, so it seems fitting to post about Community Cycles, a great non-profit cycling organization in Boulder. Our old Joe Bike cargo bike is now their shop bike! They spruced it up with electric assist:

I think they're enjoying it. It looks great, too:

Non-profit never looked so money.

Happy Colorado Gives Day! Please consider donating to BicycleColorado, BikeDenver, or any of many cycling organizations participating in Colorado Gives Day!

Bike to Work Day

Mr. Rogers said that "play is really the work of childhood." So, it seemed fitting that today this guy biked to his play/work at SPREE camp like a boss.

He loves riding on those pink rumble strips! It was mercifully overcast today, making for near perfect riding conditions. We got a lot of smiles from other cyclists, and a few people encouraged or complimented him. On my ride home with his red bike in the empty box bike, I also received a comment from a stranger: "Good work, mom."

Good work.

I hope everyone had a lovely ride to work this morning. I know that our sometimes excessively long bicycle commutes help our whole family stay happy, healthy, and more productive, for which I am grateful.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

#BikesOnBroadway

A fast-acting member of Jolon Clark's team makes way for an eager cyclist before the ribbon cutting!

I had a lot of fun at the kickoff of a great weekend of protected bike lanes on South Broadway! The pop-up lanes are a model of what could be the future of this bustling boulevard, currently on display between Bayaud and 1st Ave. If you have a chance this weekend, check 'em out by bike! Stop by Sweet Action Ice Cream, hit the sidewalk sales from 1-5 PM on Saturday, shop for Halloween costumes at thrift shops, and join our group ride from Washington Park to the pop-up lanes on Sunday afternoon! We're meeting at the Boat House at about 2:15 PM, and should get to Broadway in plenty of time to decorate bikes and take part in the closing parade!

Molly North of Bike Denver

One of my favorite parts of the protected bike lanes are the vertical dividers provided by Bike Denver. Metal planters with trees and tall grasses demonstrate how a buffer zone between bikes and motor vehicles not only improves safety, but can beautify the street as well.

Mayor Hancock, Councilor Clark, Crissy Fanganello, and Chris Nevitt

Mayor Hancock cuts the ribbon!

Broadway + bike lanes, with downtown Denver in the background

Two Problems and a Solution

Recently I read this article by Julia Belluz on Vox which answers the age-old question: If there were more time in the day, what would you do with it? According to the 2015 Food and Health Survey, 36% would use an extra 4 hours per week to exercise more. Belluz gives suggestions for incorporating exercise into one's day, but missed an important opportunity: cycling as an alternative to driving. Moreover, the survey also found that 31% of respondents would spend more time with friends and/or family. As a parent, a lot of my "commuting" (getting kids to and from school and activities, as well as running errands) is done with my kids, and sometimes with friends and/or my spouse.

The very same day, the New York Times published an article by Jane E. Brody on the "Well" Personal Health blog, outlining the price children pay for screen addiction. Among studies showing myriad health effects, from stunted social development to increased violent behavior, one personal anecdote jumped out at me:

"Two of my grandsons... stay plugged into their hand-held devices on the ride to and from school. 'There’s no conversation anymore,' said their grandfather, who often picks them up."

What struck me was the the image that came to mind as the obvious alternative, and my own reality:

I use this bike (unfortunately no longer available from Joe Bike) to run errands and take my kids to school and day care. Instead of weaving through the city by car with kids fighting in the back seat or plugged into electronic devices, I get my workout and my kids engage with the world... especially if we pass a construction site!

This week, I rode to the Botanic Gardens to see "Stinky" the Corpse Flower and avoided parking hassles as thousands flocked to see the rare bloom. My husband and I frequently cycle for "date nights," stopping at a nearby restaurant and taking a long route home if the weather is nice. There are so many ways to incorporate cycling into daily life that eliminate hassles (parking especially) and really don't take much more time than driving or taking mass transit. So cancel that gym membership, put away the iPads, and put the time you would've spent in your car to good use!