Bike Fringe Benefit Info--Tax stuff

Tis' the season for your taxes--eh? So...I spoke with Deborah Jones from Sandag the other day. She gave me info on the 2 Fringe Benefits for commuters. This is all available on IRS website, but, she broke it down in layman's terms for me. Thanks Deborah. Here's the scoop:

Get the IRS Bulletin--132S is the document. This one of for a $230.00 pre tax payroll deduction that employers can take if they offer employees public transit. Employer can buy the tickets and give to the employee, or the employee can buy it and get reimbursed. This is new for 2009 and there's no limit to the number of employees in the system. So, if you want a monthly COMPASS pass which gets you on the bus/trolley--public transit in SD, your employer is eligible for pre tax payroll credit of $230.00. That means--it's free for you and somewhat beneficial for your employer. As your boss about it today.

Next--Bike Commuter Fringe Benefit--Employers can give employees $20.00 per month to help with bike expenses. $20.00 is taxable, so, employers can line item it in the payroll check. This is also new in 09. Benefit to employee--obviously--but the employer can write it off as a business expense...

Also...I learned that UCSD is trying to put a Bike Station up there.....I reached out to Curt Letz on Friday to see what their progress is...we'll get one here yet. Deborah was also helpful in giving me other Sandag contacts to talk more about a Bike Station in Gaslamp area.

We'll get one here come hell or high water.....

I was on auto-pilot today. I work from home on Thursdays and go to boot camp every Thursday at 6 p. It was 5:15, I hopped on my bike, rode down to boot camp..I got all the way down there and remembered, it's cancelled today. So, I took advantage of the awesome night sky and rode over to Harbor Drive for a peak at the sunset. I rode around the bay--it was awesome. The Port of San Diego needs to clean off the lights on the path. It's low light and there are wacky lil' twists and turns in that path everywhere. I had a bday dinner to go to so I began my ascent to Hillcrest. I took 5th avenue from little italy all the way up to University. I have not taken that route in a while and it sure does seem like there is a new sushi place every 10 feet. I counted 5 Sushi restaurants between 5th/Ash and 5th & Robinson.. I also glided past a bar called The Tin Cup: Alientown. Looked like a dive bar--and a place I want to learn more about...anything named Alientown has potential. After my dinner I rode through Hillcrest on Florida home. WOW, Florida street is so so black at night. I went up 26th street hill. I have been partially riding up that hill for 4 months. I normally ride and walk it. Tonight--I rode the whole dang thing...Oh Yeah...I did it. It was so dark at night and so scary...and freezing cold---but...I did it!

#2--Networking Zone....

So....dinner tonight was amazing. Picture this---awesome restaurant in North Park, great bottle of wine, stimulating conversation, and.......CONNECT 4..in the middle of the table. Oh yeah....we played rousting games of CONNECT 4. I won the first 2 rounds, then...I think I won round three out of gratuity. I took the win but I still think that someone threw the match--It was similar to the match thrown at the employee Olympics in the Teri Garr movie--Mr. Mom. It didn't feel like a real victory..but, I appreciate the thought....

We left dinner and hopped on the #2 bus. A favorite route of mine. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the San Diego Beer Mafia. There was talk of a 47 and a 41 license. The great thing I learned from ease dropping was that APERTIVO is now owned by our friend...and that it will be a TAPAS Style place with great Spanish Wines...nice move. We got off the bus....had 1 last glass of wine at Alchemy---and away I went...Home at last.... If you're wondering...my bike is STILL on that bike lock in front of C and 25th where I left it earlier today prior to the Zoo experience. Thankfully, I work from home today, so.....i can snatch it up at some point tomorrow....

Amazing Race Morning...

So...this morning I had to be at the San Diego Zoo at 8:30 AM. I had my Jansport all packed and ready to go. 8 AM I was on my way out the door and checked the Jansport one last time for the "Negotiation Scenarios" You see.....my boss had worked her bootie off on creating an AMAZING team outing for us. She used the book OUTLIERS, by Malcom Gladwell, as the backdrop for the day long outing. I read the book 2 years ago and fell in love with it...and was so excited for the adventure. She gave me 1 job, and 1 job only. I was suppose to create 3 negotiation scenarios, where we would break into teams, have an RFP, negotiate and "make the deal". We had 3 moderators, and had cheat sheets for each of us..... Guess What???? I forgot everything!!! I worked hard on Monday night to create the "scenarios". Tuesday was a real blurr...as work was pretty crazy.... I was sure I put the "scenarios" in the Jansport before the bike home on Tuesday night....and when I double checked Wednesday morning---POOF--they were gone... So.... it's 8 am, I have to be at the Zoo at 8:30 AM. It takes 11 minutes to get from my house to the hotel. It takes 20 minutes to get from hotel to the zoo. I've done this ride before, and it's all up hill...and a lady doesn't show up to the zoo from a bike from downtown in tact...so...not only would I be late if I went back to hotel to get these blessed "scenarios"..I'd be sweaty and gross from the hill and the speed. So...I called Amy--my trusted partner in crime... We agreed--she'd pick me up, we'd go to hotel, I'd get the "scnenarios" and we'd rush to the Zoo. She called it the "Amazing Race Morning..." and it sure was... She said, "I'm at 3rd and Laurel" what's my best course of action? I said, "Broadway", " I'll meet you at Broadway"...so...I hopped on my bike...and headed to Broadway... Amy found a shortcut and I bumped into her on the corner of 25th and C. I sped over, locked my bike at the corner, hopped off and jumped in her car. We raced to hotel, got the "scenarios"....and made it to the ZOO in the nick of time.... All was well..but, what a fun morning--AMAZING RACE

Loser Move....

I yelled out at a city worker today who decided to park his truck--horizontally--at the corner of B and 25th. I was on my bike, in a groove, and couldn't believe my eyes...I yelled, "Dude...you are a loser." "That park job is a loser move"....then I sped past and just yelled, "loser". I don't know what got into me but I couldn't believe that he didn't think he was obstructing traffic--people, car and bike traffic on a main drag in golden hill. Riding a bike gives a gal a new persona--it's the righteous yell out things at people and wave your finger at them in shame persona. I like it. Bike girl is much more bold than car girl. Try it--next time you're on a bike---just yell out wrong doings and change the world "loser" at a time.

Random Acts of Bike-er-y

Is it just me or are drivers super anxious & are there wierd things on the road in the month of January? I've seen the wackiest things on the roads the last couple of days..

Heading into downtown on C street under the bridge was a big bag of stale hoagie breads. Not one homeless person had claimed it--it just sat there, sad and staring up at me saying, "would you like a bite?" OR "can u feed me to a bird?" I did neither...but..it sure was weird.

On Island street heading into downtown yesterday morning was a bevy of shoes. No two matched, just a bunch of single shoes...hanging out--no rhyme--no reason--no homeless person in sight to claim the shoe....

The pigeons were stir crazy today---They should have hung out by that bread--at least they could have had a meal. Instead they were pecking around on the street--all casual and weird and then flying up at my face as I sped by.

Cars---I had to do the finger wag to at least 8 cars today. People were in a hurry, running stop signs, not paying attention, swerving all crazy--and all of a sudden, B Street from 25th to 22nd is super busy with really fast cars in the morning... I am normally used to a casual, slow saunter down the hill--not anymore--2010 has brought the NASCAR out in all the Golden Hill drivers. I have been ducking and bobbing and weaving more than Mohammad Ali in the mornings... It's good mental work though--keeps me sharp and ready for that morning meeting.

Turf Club--now serves lunch--so the flyer said in front of the building today.

Although I have a high power fancy LED light on my hat....Island Street at night is still so damn dark. That thing needs street lights from 17th - 25th. I am going to suggest that at our Urban Core meeting. So, the SDBCC has a new initiative in 2010 called "The Urban Core". It is going to educate people on bike riding, the ease of it, the safety of it, the laws, etc....to make bike commuting more friendly in "The urban core" I am involved in it..and can't wait for our first meeting. Of course--my soap box will be about getting a Bike Station in The Urban Core....but...I know other great things will come out of it.

Finally, as I left work today I saw in a distance 2 dogs fighting. Their owners were clearly stirred up and dishevled by the incident. Of course--I did not have my glasses on--so I couldn't see the owners--I only saw the spectical of hte 2 dogs. They were nipping and jumping at each other, their leashes were all tangled up. It was an out of control situation. AKA--OOO SITCH-- I almost went to the other side of the street b/c I was afraid they would lunge at me and try and snatch my Jansport. As I approached and rounded the curve, I realized Feisty Dog #1 was the dog of a fella I used to date. The last time I saw him he was super drunk and professed his undying love for me. I am confident he remembers nothing of the conversation, except for the couple of things that I told him about. Those things only scratched the surface of all the rest of the verbal vomit (some good & some truth syrm stuff--that i am sure he can't believe he told me about...definite--black mail) but...verbal vomit--none-the-less... Although he stayed quite connected while he was away on his recent vacation--I haven't actually seen him since he got back--so--I sped past--hoping he didn't see me in my workout gear and my bike helmet/LED hat and head lamp--out of fear for an awkawrd encounter...Then..I thought--this guy is dog fighting in the middle of the street like Michael Vic--what have "I" got to be embarrassed about? So, I made a lil' U turn--and missed him. Away I went back up the hill to go home. I had to drop my jazz off, unpacked my Jansport and head back out to the grocery. It sure was a nice night for a ride down 30th to IGA. Love that ride---got my goods--and here I am--at home--cooking my lunches for the week--I'll pack up my bags and start a new tomorrow.... Hooray for 2010

The weather has been awesome in San Diego---so--I haven't had to wear my bike slicker as much as I thought I would...which is good....Signing off for now...

First official commute of 2010

Well.....when they say it's "just like riding a bike.." they were right. Who is "they" anyway? My routine started back up today, and...it was just like riding a bike. I didn't forget a thing. We added an important piece to the wardrobe--it's a weather proof pink baseball cap made by TOTES. It has a small LED light on the front that is blinding. The flashing red lights on the back of my bike were stolen, so, I flipped that hat around, and wore it backwards so I had my bike front light and fancy new hat light in the back. I was well lit--all around. The weather is awesome in San Diego so the ride on was nice.