Quadsville

I had a car-free day yesterday (May 28).    I rode to work and back, stopping at the drugstore on the way home, then stayed home and mowed my lawn.

Today, I rode to work, too, but had to take my van into the dealership, so I loaded my bike into it, and rode to work from there.    After I got home (driving from the dealership), I rode my bike to some friends' house to take them an anniversary card.    It was a nice day for riding both days, one cloudy and one sunny.      I rode a total of 41 miles both days.  

Ride safely and visibly!

Kathy

Another beautiful, cool morning for riding to work.    I caught up with another bicyclist near VanDerVeer Park this morning, asked if he was riding to work (yes), and asked where he worked -- he works in my building!    We rode together the rest of the way.   We were the 3rd and 4th bikes on the bike rack at work.   At least 1 regular rider is on vacation -- there have been as many as 6 or 7 bikes there some days. 

It was a car-lite day, kind of.   I rode to work and back (20.3 miles... I cut off 0.1 mile somewhere!)    Then, I had to drive to Muscatine -- I have a class there (tonight was the last class until Sept).  

I intended to ride to work tomorrow (Friday), and have it be a car-free day.    Even when I found out the forecast, I planned to ride to work before the rain started, ride to the Bier Stube for the wrap-up party, and then take the bus home (or ride if it quit raining).   I checked the bus route map, then went to qctransit.com and the CitiBus site, and the buses don't run later than 5 or 6, so that plan won't work.     From the forecast on TV, it looks like we'll get so much rain the paths would be flooded by evening.    I'm going to play it safe and drive.    :-(

This week has increased my interest in striving for car-free days.   When we get drier weather, I could do at least 2 car-free days a week, and more car-lite days.    I regularly walk to the grocery store, with 2 cloth bags, 3/4 mile each way.   I only drive when I need big, heavy items, or need to stock up. 

More tomorrow.   Stay dry!

Kathy

Bruce and Becky

The work on I-74 also makes biking to work more attractive!   I drove to work today because of the threat of heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, possible tornados.   Well, we did have heavy rain during the time I would have been riding home.    The Government bridge was backed up, too (for cars)  in the morning. 

Speaking of that, I really enjoy watching the span open and barges go through (especially when I'm on my way home and not in a hurry!).  It's fascinating, and really doesn't take very long.   

What I intended to be a car-free day ended up to be a bicycle-free day   :-(       I will ride tomorrow and Friday.   

Have a sunny day, no matter what the weather!

Kathy

Hi all!

I did much better today!   In fact, it was a car-free day!    I stopped at the commuter breakfast--right on my way.   Thank you to the ATW sponsors!   It was great.   My co-worker who rides to work almost every day, all year, was there -- he normally gets to work an hour or so before me.    We rode together from Bechtel park to work in downtown Moline on that beautiful (but a bit chilly for May) morning.    

On my way home, I was in a hurry, so went the short route, back through NorthPark.   My commuting total was 18.8 miles (usually about 20.5).     I had trouble tripping the light at Main and Kimberly -- I don't think I ever did -- some cars finally came to the intersection.   Any suggestions?   I try to ride over different points in the 'tripping pad' or whatever it's called.    I like the lights in downtown Davenport -- nicely timed.  

(normally, after work, I go west on the Duck Creek path to the spur to 35th street at Washington St.   I go up Sturdevant, through neighborhoods to Marquette, then E on 46th to NW Blvd.    

I had a meeting at Hickory Gardens tonight.   I debated whether to ride, since it would get over around 8:30.    I was a bit leery of riding the path at dusk/dark alone.    I decided to ride, to be car-free, and had no problems.   It wasn't very dark when I left, and just getting dark when I got home.  I have a light and a strobe, and wore a reflective jacket (and had pepper spray with me).    I forgot to put my reflective leg bands on, tho'. That trip was 9.1 miles.   

I won't be riding at all tomorrow.  :-(    I golf after work at Countryview (between Colona and Geneseo).     I promise I'll be good the rest of the week, car-free Wed and Friday and riding to work on Thursday!  

Happy trails and roads!

Kathy

Biked to the local library and checked out some other local things. It was a beautiful day, but starting cool, along the river for watching the pelicans and herons.I haven't used the car since Friday afternoon.  Got good news that more Great River bike trail ( avoiding the highway 84 segment  on the way to Savanna) will be built this summer.

Bruce and Becky

Sunday, May 10

Nothing to report -- it was a busy day, with lots of activities, and no time to bicycle to any of them.   

Tomorrow, I will be riding to work, stopping at the breakfast by the Government bridge.    I started riding to work (when I could) during Bike to Work Week 2 years ago (I think that was the first one).      

 Here's my morning route from NW Davenport, north of 53rd:  Ride SE on Northwest Boulevard (which has blacktopped shoulders--nice, except for some spots in need of repair) to NorthPark Mall.    Ride on the mall road (past Olive Garden, etc) to Main.   Cross Kimberly, ride past Ethan Allen, cross Welcome Way (still on Main).   Go right into Lujack Hyundai, cutting through there, down a small sloped drive, to 35th St.   Cross, ride behind the STAR gas station, past Pat McGuires onto the sidewalk on the bridge over Duck Creek.    Left onto the bike path, then right on the spur path through the park.    Continue on Fair Avenue (actually should be Main Street? -- it's between Harrison and Brady) to VanDerVeer Park.    Ride on the park road to the sidewalk marked with the bike symbol and continue on Main Street.   Cross Locust, ride down Main Street.    I go left on 2nd St and get on the Government bridge that way (shorter and not much traffic in the morning).   Then it's over the bridge, and left on the Illinois path to downtown Moline.   It takes me about 45 minutes. 

Kathy

Hi!   I'm Kathy and I'm participating in Alternative Transportation Week and have been asked to blog about my (semi) car-free week.    

This is how my day 1 (Saturday May 9) went:

I rode from my NW Davenport home to the Freight House Farmers Market (great tailwind on NW Blvd), signed up for ATW and talked to Chuck and Jeff for a while.    Then I shopped.   I rode home later with asparagus and rhubarb in my lightweight backpack and spinach in the bike bag on my rack.    (12.4 miles total)

I had lunch plans and had to get water softener salt at Lowes, so had to take my van, so it wasn't a car-free day.   I did do all my errands for the day in one trip, and all in E. Davenport.

I went to church this evening, and rode my bike (the 'Bike to Worship' event, a little early).   (4.4 miles)

So, it was a car-lite day.

I plan to ride my bike to work 4 days this week. 

More tomorrow!    Happy Biking!   Go Car-Lite or Car-Free!

Kathy

I have equipped my bike with a rear rack and saddle bags.  This allows me to wear heavier clothing while on my way to work when it's still cool out and then stuff it all in my bags on the way home.

I've also bought a backpack so I can carry even more but I've found out that it can get pretty warm while carrying it.
I can't imagine using it when the temps get up into the 80's or 90's.
The whole point is to make the use of my bike more functional for everyday use.
I've seen bikes with "trailers" attached, and of course I've seen those with  "baby carriers" many times.  Sometimes the kid in the carrier is much larger than just a "baby" and I wonder how that affects the handling of the bike and the effort it takes to pedal it.

I think it's a good idea for the city to make "bike lanes" on the roads but sometimes the area designated as the bike lane is so rough and strewn with debris that it makes it almost impossible to ride in it.  And then if I stray outside of the bike lane, I take the chance of getting yelled at or worse by someone in a motor vehicle.

As I am not working I will try, as I did last year, to not use the car that week. We expect to do more split car use now through the fall. Becky drives in with her bike, I bike in, use the car for errands. I leave her bike for her to bike home when her work ends. At this point, bike access to commercial establishments is problematic when you live in Port Byron. During the summer I  look forward to riding down river and occassionally meeting her for dinner "out" at one of the restaurants along her return route.

 Bruce and Becky

Of course, when I was in my 20's and 30's I was in the best shape of my life.  While in my 40's I backed off a little and it cost me a lot since I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and I gained some weight. 
Now I'm in my 50's and the habits that I developed earlier in my life are coming in handy.
I knew I had to get back out and remain active.  Winter time is tough on me but as the warmer weather comes on I've been out more and more.
I've been riding to work and then after work I take off on the Davenport riverfront path. 

Today, I rode all the way to the I-74 bridge and then back home in West Davenport.  I say, "all the way" but I know that to many, what I did isn't really that far...

The wind was coming out of the South so I didn't have a hard time riding either way.

It was a wonderful ride but I have to admit to being somewhat out of gas by the time I got back to John O'Donnell....I mean, "Modern Woodmen Park".  :-)

I haven't any excuses anymore.  I can't blame the cold for not riding, at least for the next 5 months!