Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Latest Happenings

Published on November 17, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

I have been silent on this blog for around a month and a half. Firstly, I apologize to all my readers for being inconsistent. I pledge to post at least once a week. If not, you can hire someone locally to blow the air off my bicycle tires.

I have been partly ashamed to post here and partly have no material to write about bicycling or conservation. I am ashamed because I have bought a motorcycle. Though the justifications are solid, it has taken me away from bicycles. I have barely ridden a bicycle three times since I bought the Kawasaki. This is in stark contrast with my car free life since November 2008.

I am very close to moving to a part of town with a walk score of over 80. That will allow me to have a high quality bicycle usage than my current suburban hell hole. Moreover, that part of town recycles.

Since September, I have not ridden the motorcycle to any place other than work, errands between commutes to work and a friend’s dinner party so he could see it. I did ride to Downtown once to see how the longer commute would feel. I am not comfortable cycing in this zip code yet.

As time passes, I get closer to my move and a new life, namely a new life surrounded by beautiful historic houses with tons of character and the friendly people who live and walk in those neighborhoods. I will be closer to my friends and Laya will have access to several parks and barky friends.

Getting over 65 miles per gallon on the motorcycle is not bad either. As the engine breaks in more and the carburetors get smoother, I hope to reach the 80 miles per gallon mark.
Gas Buddy Mileage Tracker

Farmers market in the rain.

Published on August 15, 2009 in Car Free, Commuting, Living Green and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I bought some red tomatoes, green tomatoes, egg plant, cucumbers, lemon, shrimp from the farmers market at the St. Johns Town Center.

Having left work at 5 PM, I rode over to the ATM to pick up some cash. The rain was a little more than a drizzle but my rain gear was adequate. Cash in hand, I made it to the farmers market. After a quick browse, I started pickng up the vegetables. I think they were quite reasonably priced. It wasn’t organic but it was local. This means my vegetables did not travel a couple thousand miles to my kitchen.

Shopping at your Local Farmers Market is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint. The best part about shopping there is one gets to come home and make a delicious Tomato Sandwich. Toast a couple of slices of bread apply mayo while the bread is hot so the mayo can melt a little. Lay a variety of tomato slices on top. I like how the crunchiness of the green tomatoes compliment the taste of the red. Top with salt and pepper. Eat open faced.

Posted via email from shek’s posterous

Atrocious! 11 yr old child killed on bicycle. No charges filed against motorist.

Published on August 13, 2009 in News and Uncategorized. 0 Comments
Death is the consequence-free price cyclist pay for not following the law.

Yet another case where the motorist faces no consequence for KILLING a person. 

The child was not wearing a helmet. He was riding on neighborhood streets.

I am waiting on the police report for Jack Hartleys death. The motorist was not charged for killing him. He was riding a bike with no lights or reflectors at night on a well lit street. See Bikejax post here: http://www.bikejax.org/2009/04/chastity-rettinger-jack-hartly-ghost.html

This news is from the Delaware AP below 

11-year-old Killed In Bicycle Accident

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (AP) ― Delaware State Police say an 11-year-old boy has been killed when he was riding a bicycle and was struck by a pickup truck near Bridgeville.

It happened about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers say Trevor Kuntzi of Georgetown was riding his bicycle east on a private drive when he entered the northbound lanes of Wilson Hill Road.

Kuntzi was hit by a pickup truck operated by 44-year-old Charles Quillen of Georgetown.

Kuntzi, who was not wearing a safety helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma.

Quillen was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for contusions and lacerations. He was wearing a seat belt.

Troopers are still investigating the accident, but do not expect to file charges against Quillen.

Posted via email from shek’s posterous

Uses of a Folding Bike & Multi-Modal in Jax

Published on June 30, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Rental Car Pick Up:
I have had to pick up a rental car in the morning from Avis a mile down the street from my apartment. I did not want to leave my bike at the parking lot of a strip mall all day. So, I had to ask for rides from friendly neighbors whose good deeds were well compensated by dinners. Now, I can ride the folding bike to the car rental and put it in the trunk.

Suburbia Bar Hopping:
Bar hopping in suburbia usually spans over 5 to 10 miles and ends in a friend’s apartment or house far away from bar infested neighborhoods. With the folding bike, I can meet my friends at a bar and car pool with them to the next.

Multi-modal transportation:
If I ever muster up the patience and an unreasonable desire to plan a trip via the infrequent and insufficient JTA bus service, I can fold up the bike and take it with me. I am no longer limited to two bike racks on a bus. Moreover, planning a route on the JTA website is best done leaving the ‘Bicycle’ button under ‘Special Accomodations’ unselected. JTA does claim that all their buses are equipped with bike racks.

Most multi modal trips in Jacksonville FL are efficient when accomplished completely on a single mode: motor vehicles or bicycle.

Multi Modal – Dinner Plans:
To meet a friend for dinner at 8 PM at a favorite Thai restaurant on University Blvd, the bike ride is 6.5 miles away which takes 30 to 45 mins. To accomplish a multi-modal transit, JTA suggests I board S1 at 6:53 PM (next bus at 8:03 PM!!!), get off FCCJ station at 7:40 PM, Board P4 at 7:46 PM (next bus at 8:20 PM!!!), arrive at my destination 63 minutes after starting my trip at 7:56 PM. JTA denys me any transportation back once I have finished off the Penang curry followed by homemade coconut ice-cream by 9 PM and am ready to head to my comfy bed to peacefully digest the delicious meal.

Multi Modal – Visiting the Art Walk:
Lets look at longer trips. Tomorrow, the first Wednesday of the month is the Downtown art walk. I like visiting the art walk to see the vibrant local art scene and plan my next purchase. I also like meeting my friends and making new acquaintances as the art walk nurtures an atmosphere unlike any suburban bar and club. It usually starts at 6 pm and ends by 10 pm.

I want to leave work at 5 pm, ride my bike home, walk my dog and feed her, then take the bus to downtown by 6 pm and want to make the last JTA bus back home. The JTA trip planner suggests I ride my bike to the corner of Baymeadows and Southside, board B7 at 6:23 pm and arrive in Downtown by 7:18 pm. Having spent a couple of hours, when I try to leave at 9 pm, JTA denys any service at that late hour.

The bike ride to Downtown is 12 miles long and easily accomplished in an hour. Longer rides like this can be gradually worked up to. The return journey can be made on the bicycle I brought along. Such inconvineances however strip off enthusiasm from beginners wanting to reduce their dependency on cars.

On a personal note, the only bike I own worthy of a 12 mile trip is an xtracycle and wont fit on a bus rack!

Folding Bike Test Ride

Published on June 27, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Matt about a folding bike for $20. I was busy battling the sweat while walking Laya in the hot evening weather and dismissed the email prematurely. Matt was persuasive and $20 was a cheap price. Three hours later, I was unloading an all american, made in Allentown PA, chrome moly framed B. C. America folding bike from Matt’s truck.

I took it for a short test ride to the old Baymeadows Golf Club a few days back. The bike came with a three speed internal hub gear with coaster brake. For the most part, I rode the bike in the tallest gear. The short crank length combined with the short seat height at full seat post extension made it a little cumbersome to pedal at slight inclines. My legs were not fully extended at the bottom position of the crank. I may need to find a taller seat post. The 20 inch wheels pleasantly cushioned on most cracks and portholes on the dilapidated golf cart pathway.

The goose-neck handlebar is supposed to flip down. The previous owner has it screwed on too tight for me to loosen it by hand. The grips are made of cheap foam and are coming apart. I have considered changing the handlebar but it will be a future project. As is, the bicycle fits nicely inside the trunk of a taxi cab.

This brings me to the topic of intended usage of the folding bicycle which will be the next post.