Reunion.....

Well, December has come and gone. I haven't written in ages...mostly because I haven't been on my bike in ages. I was in Mexico, then home for 5 days--my home for 5 days was littered with client events and work stuff--which made for 15 hour work days involving public transport and cabs...then--off to Ohio for holiday with family. No bikes there. I did manage to squeeze in a SD Bike Coalition meeting in the midst of my travels...and WOW--what an organization. The Big 5 was established and I am happy to see the addition of a focus on "The Urban Core" along with continued focus on "education". The biggest thing about education is really educating cars that bikes have same rules as cars, and educating people that commuting by bike is easy and can be done. We got to toss around some Bike Station talk too, which, always makes me happy. Come hell or high water, we are getting one of those bad boys in the Urban Core in 2010!! Mark my words..... So..I let Baby Blue have a sleepover while I was in Ohio. She's gingerly perched upon her bike rack at work. I wonder if she missed me? I know I missed her. AND.....Santa brought me the coolest hat. It's pink, and sweat proof, and in the shape of a baseball cap, but, it's a workout cap with a cool blinding LED light on the front. It's perfect for night time riding... It's made my Totes...and a portion of the revenue goes to breast cancer--it's a good will trifecta--well lit night riding, sweat absorbing, and philanthropic. That santa really knows a good gift for a bike commuter when she sees it! There's more thoughts of that awesome Bianchi bike too. My friends Kim and Bill brought me a catalog. I do need to consult with my neighbor friend--Curtis. I promised him that he'd be my shopping mate on the new bike adventure. So, between Bill and Curtis, we will have a great bike buying adventure. GOAL--new snazzy bike by President's Day!!

Bike Transportation Account....

Have you ever heard of this? I haven't. I sit here and type with a brace on my right hand and a left eye that is pink, along with a sniffle and a sneeze every 20 seconds. I went to the doctor semi healthy and came out with 3 ailments. Needless to say, I have a bit of time on my hands tonight to research something new I learned today--Bike Transportation Account. Apparently, there is one. And..apparently in 2007 San Diego got NO money from it. Big ole goose egg. In 2008, we got $135K for signage-thank God. 2009--$1.8 million??? Where do these allocations come from? For the past 3 years the state of California has allocated $7.2 million same amount...not a penny more or less. So...one of the other counties aren't spending their money, so they don't bump it up for the next year, or, no one asked for more...or we're broke. It's probably a bit of all 3. I'm just learning about this, but, wouldn't it be groovy if some of this money went to the Bike Station plan? I think it would.

I need to know...who establishes this BTA? How do we get some money out of it for a Bike Station? Who's in charge? That's our next step. In the meantime, I found that there are 2 allocations out of the BTA 2009/10 budget. 1. $425K Class 1 Bike Way San Luis Rey River by Tyler Street & N. Sante Fe Drive. 2. $1.4 million bones to construct 2 miles of class 1 bikeway between Vista & San Marcos. What is a Class 1 bike way you ask? I had the same question... The following is a list of bike paths in San Diego County.
Class 1 Bikeway provides a completely separated right of way for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflow by motorists minimized. So, how do these people get the money? What can we do to get the money for a Bike Station in San Diego? If I were a Bike Station jeanie...I would put 2 of them in San Diego. 1 in downtown San Diego and 1 in LaJolla/Sorrento Valley area. This is what I do when I don't ride my bike...I obsess about ways to make my bike riding life better in San Diego. Back to the bike. I haven't ridden my bike a ton this week because I have been working from home most of the week since I have this weird Mexican ailment. Saturday, it will rain. I need to be at work at 7:30 for a breakfast meeting. I then merge over to the Bike Coalition retreat. I love me a good brainstorm session. very exciting. Then....I go babysit for my friends. I will be on bike for all adventures. This may be my first activity day in the rain on my bike. Stories to follow...

Cold-Bike-Sick

Riding in was good. No rain. Nice brisk air. Riding home was a sitch. I had a client holiday party, then back to work for my holiday party, then dinner with Uncle Dan. Uncle Dan had to reschedule due to a late appointment with a client. So I thought I'd ride my bike home. It was cold. I felt sick. And...I was waiting at the worst bus stop--Broadway and Park. That place has some interesting charachters. I dialed 511 from my cel phone and found the next bus was coming in 11 minutes. So..I opted to ride. I rode up Broadway which is normally pretty easy for me. Since I have this wierd ailment...I had to walk my bike up 18th - 23rd...I finally got home and am in my snuggie..thank the lord.

Rain+Bike = Good Times...

The true test of this mission is to see if it can happen in the good times and the bad--sorta like a wedding vow. So--Dear Baby Blue--I vow to ride you in the sun, in the rain, in the cold and in the overly global warmed heat we have here in the thick of July and August. Tomorrow is going to be an experience. I've done 1 bike ride in the rain already--but--haven't done one to work yet. Tomorrow will be an adventure. If I am really serious about this lifestyle..I've got to go all the way. So--my bags are packed--slicker ready to go...extra time given in the morning...

I'll leave a wee bit earlier tomorrow for extra beauty bag touch up. Tomorrow I have work, then an after work event, then workout and grocery. If it rains at all during those adventures--I'd ready. The last time I rode my bike in the rain....I was so hot/sweaty when I got to my destination. I am hoping to manage the body temp sitch a bit better this time since I am on my way to work and don't want to be too gross when I get there. Wish me luck:)

Day 55--Not-on a bike....

I'm in Mexico, and am still not driving. There is a shuttle that takes us "into town" and bikes everywhere. If there weren't men with huge guns (not muscles--but armory) outside the hotel and galavanting on the street, then, I would be renting a bicecleta from the hotel. So...we are going "into town"...I wonder what the Mexican bike rules of the road are???

In other news....I saw BIKE STATION on Tuesday. WOW--it was amazing. The location was perfect--in downtown Long Beach--right on the marina. It's easily accessible. You use a magic key--it's a key card--but in my mind it was magic...and that gives you access to your car. There are german bike racks that make it easy to load your bike on level 1 or level 2. There's also a repair person in the "shop" part that engages you in the bike fixing process--if you'd like. If I wanted to learn how to change my tire or tune up my bike---I can--Or he'll do it for me. There's a new bike station coming online--2 floors--showers, the whole deal. It's like a MEGA Bike Station. We met their CEO Andrea--who is awesome--and really passionate about the product. We need to get one of these in San Diego. I am hoping to go back up to that Bike Station to ask more questions and get a strategy down to get this in SD. It will happen..come hell or high water. I still have many questions and I had a sales appt. to go too...so, I felt a bit rushed--I rushed myself--but--I would live to dive in and ask more questions about the public vs. private sector...and how we group them together to make this happen. I know it can happen, just have to get a game plan down.

My friend Bill found my next bike for me. It's an Italian dream. Biancci?? (sp?) She's mint and red and black--I've already named her Bianca.

Off to town...to peruse the cobble stone streets...more bike info on mexico to follow. Arriba!