October 6, 2010: International Walk + Bike Day rocks!

Weather deities smiled upon Portland for International Walk + Bike to school day. Great turnout. My six-year-old summed it up succinctly: 'Walk day is fun!' Well, except for Heather's son, who accidentally stepped in dog poop.

Why do we walk or bike or board or scoot?

• Green and human powered school trips lessen traffic congestion. Did you know that 20 to 25% of morning traffic is adults driving children to school? Ack!
• It improves air quality. Exhaust from motor vehicles is the largest source of air pollution around schools.
• It contributes to student health. Human powered trips to school on a regular basis reduce obesity rates and lessen the risk for heart disease and depression. Plus it's just darn fun to see all your peeps first thing in the morning.
• It improves academic performance by helping students concentrate and do better in school. Nothing like a little bracing autumn air to wake your mind before that school bell rings.
• It increases student safety. Here's a scary one -- 50% of children hit by cars near schools involve cars driven by parents of other students.

When the kids got to school, there were some tokens to acknowledge their efforts and a poster to sign. Love that!

Baby step: remember all your transportation options

Heather and I were chatting the other day, and I told her that I wished I was a person who rode her bike more often for little errands around the 'hood. But in reality, I'm far more likely to jump into the car to pick up the groceries, and later have it dawn on me a half mile into my drive that I really could have taken my bike instead.

So here's a simple idea akin to the little reminders that help form the habit of bringing reusable shopping bags. Put a little kick in the pants in your driver's seat, and see if it motivates you to remember the transportation pyramid.


I'm going to give it a try. And see if I can cut down on the driving I do, and up the amount of bike trips and walks in my daily outings.

Portland: Bike Commute Challenge, September 2010

Portlanders -- looking to share the love of bike commuting? The BTA's Bike Commute Challenge is a friendly competition to encourage biking to work during the usually warm and dry month of September. My husband participated last year, and had a blast with it. Sign up!! Should be fun.

Electric bikes? Anyone, anyone...

I was out for my evening walk last night, and just on the last leg heading into my street when coming up fast upon me were two bikes. Now, living in America's second most bikey city, fast bikes on our hilly residential street are no surprise. You wouldn't believe the Lance Armstrong look-alikes who make our street a training route on a regular basis. Mostly, they're 80 percent male and dreamy in that tight bike shorts thighs of steel way. (The females are just as impressive, but I'm not going to go there, ok?)

But hold on! These folks were not spandex clad. And, get this: they were wearing normal clothing and IMPRACTICAL shoes. Because they were riding electric bikes. I have been seeing more and more of these newfangled (my goal is to use the word 'newfangled' in as many posts as I can this July) contraptions. I've read about eBikes. I've never test ridden one. But, damn. They seem pretty kick-ass. I cannot emphasize enough how hilly our neighborhood is. Not exactly San Francisco, but darned close. HILLY! And these middle-aged people in regular clothes and impractical shoes were just shredding up the hill, and not even winded and going 'Oh, hello. Nice evening, isn't it?' Whereas, a serious bike rider on these hills would still be shredding but huffing and puffing like all get-out. A not so serious biker (ahem, like myself) would probably be walking the bike and seeing stars and trying really hard not to have a heart attack or pass out.

Now, I realize that many serious Portland bikers think eBikes suck because they are like cheating. What I think is cool is that they bring bike riding to a practical level for almost any rider. So many people say they can't ride a bike -- they're too old or whatever. Balderdash! Poppycock! Price tags for eBikes can be hefty (in the range of $500 - $3,500). But when you compare to the price of a car, that doesn't look so bad.

Riding an electic bike yet? If you're planning to ride the Sunday Parkways in SE Portland this weekend, there might be some test drive opportunities for electric bikes as at the last one. Would love to get your feedback!

Sunday Parkways: Let's ride! (or walk! or hoop!)

Yesterday, our family participated in the first Portland Sunday Parkways event we could fit in this summer, and it was awesome. Glorious sunny day. So many families out biking, running, roller skating, strolling babies, skate-boarding, or just plain old walking.



We've always used the occasion to bike ride, as it gives our young riders a chance to safely practice their still developing riding skills. There weren't that many sudden stops that nearly caused a pile-up among the riders behind us. But I sure did witness and experience a few of those and even caught myself blurting: 'Hey kid! You can't just stop in the middle of the road!' Learning experiences, with no blood lost. Yet, I need to remember that wheels are not required. It'd be just as fun to show up in some running or walking shoes, and take Sunday Parkways at a slower pace.

For the kids, the music and playgrounds and park activities are probably the best part. Not to mention the VooDoo donuts.



Me? I just like riding along, feeling the wind on my arms. Checking out electric bikes up close. Seeing different neighborhoods of our great city with little gardens everywhere. Being a part of the community of family friendly Portland bike culture. Observing all the bike boulevard and bike lane improvements that happen in a year's time. Seeing the friendly smiling faces of the Portland police as they manage the dicier intersections, and getting the chance to thank them and the countless volunteers who make these events possible.

There's three more Sunday Parkways coming this summer. If you can, put on your really flattering bike shorts (ha, ha!) and ride! Or walk, or hoop or what-have-you. Just get outside. Good times!

May is Walk + Bike Month / Transportation Pyramid / Portland Sunday Parkways

The Oregon Safe Routes to School promotes May as Walk + Bike (to school) Challenge Month. We usually participate by walking most mornings when the sun shines. On those rainy mornings, I'm usually cursing the fact that I never really managed to get quality rain gear that fits the kids, and expected them to limp along in water repellent wind breakers and hope for the best. You'll also find me muttering under my breath: 'April showers bring May flowers… So quit raining already, and bring on the blooms!'

Participating schools get cute little score cards where kids dig checking off the days they participate, by marking the appropriate icon: foot, bike or skateboard:

One of the goals of the program is to promote walking and biking for life. The brisk morning walk seems to wake up my kids' brains. Mine too.

Of course, walking and biking is not just for kids. Here's a great little concept from Portland's bureau of transportation: The Transportation Pyramid! Just like the Food Pyramid, only better for you!!


Your car is like the fats and sweets -- use only once in a while! The bases? Walk + Bike! Get 5-9 servings each of those every day. OK, I just make that part up. Love it!!

One last thing while we're talking about healthy walking and biking stuff. Portland's got FIVE, count 'em, FIVE Sunday Parkways events planned for this year, starting on May 16, and going through September. Keep your fingers crossed that the whole April showers thing will be done by May 16! Or just be tough like real Oregonians and bike/hike in the rain. We've tested this a few times already this year, and have gotten caught in some downpours. Although our little girls are assuredly made of sugar and spice and everything nice, I'm happy to report neither of them melted (or melted down!) in the rain.

EnviroMom says Woo Hoo! to sewer dollars for the Portland bike plan

Photo via BikePortland.org

Portlanders pay some of the highest sewer rates in the country, $50.75 per month, and it appears that the city council will approve $20 million worth of this sewer money to go to funding the city's ambitious bike plan. The plan calls for 962 miles of bike paths by 2030, fully integrated with a robust public transportation system.

By 2030...Streetcar, light and commuter rail, water taxis and bus transit are all planned and operated with the needs of bicyclists in mind and as high-priority customers who will reach transit stations by bike and partner to reduce reliance on the automobile. (From the Portland Bicycle Plan)

Cool. But a lot of people aren't happy about sewer money going to bike programs. There are other sewer-related projects that will now be on hold due to the diversion of funds (and we have yet to hear what these projects are). However, the $20 million is actually going toward a dual-purpose: projects like creating bioswales and curb extensions to manage stormwater run-off along the bike boulevards also serve to provide safer streets for bikes. So, technically, the money still goes toward sewer projects. I guess I'm not seeing what the fuss is all about.

If the Portland Bicycle Plan is successful (and with a total price tag of $600 million it damn well better be) our city could look radically different in 20 years. Fewer cars on the road means less congestion, better air quality and a dampening of the noxious greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Unbelievably, there are plenty of folks, even in Portland, who don't believe in any of it. They think bikes are a nuisance and are resentful that the city is willing to spend big bucks on this kind of infrastructure. (Have you ever read the comments on OregonLive? Scary.) Thankfully, they are in the minority.

We applaud our forward-thinking mayor and the city council for pushing the great green agenda and working out the creative financing to kick-start the Portland Bicycle Plan!

(P.S. Mayor Adams: I live along a bike boulevard. I'm expecting great things.)

EnviroMom supports Let's Move! Campaign

We took advantage of a gorgeous spring-like day yesterday, loaded up our bikes and headed to a nearby bike/walk path and logged… 8 miles on our family's first bike outing of the year. It's always a bit of a letdown how little actual biking we do given the amount of work it is to load up the bikes, fill the water bottles, find all our helmets, etc. But hey, it was fun. We were together as a family. We're weren't glued to the TV watching the Olympics (a crime on such a pretty day). We were outdoors. We moved.

I think it's awesome that Michelle Obama is heading up the national Let's Move campaign. I'll join the army of moms (and dads) it will take to make this program count in our country's fight to end childhood obesity. I appreciate that the stress is on movement, vs. 'eat your veggies.' As a mom who struggles to get her kids to eat their recommended daily allowances of fruits and vegetables every day, there's no question as to which of the following statements will be greeted with cheers:

• Hey kids! Fresh beets for dinner!
• Hey kids! Let's go on a family bike ride!

Of course, we all know that optimal health is finding the balance between eating a variety of good foods (and not too much) and fun, playful exercise. The Let's Move program presents a balanced approach of four key components:

1. Tools for parents to make healthy choices. I love Obama's quote on this: 'It's time we all had a wake-up call. Our kids didn't do this to themselves...Our kids don't choose to make food products with tons of sugar and sodium in super-sized portions, and then have those products marketed to them everywhere they turn.'
2. Improving the quality of food in school lunches (yay!)
3. Making sure all Americans have access to affordable and healthy food (the quickie marts containing all the corn-sugar food-like products don't count)
4. Increasing and improving physical education and activity

Heather had written about the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution show starting up this month, and I caught a teaser video from it:

Given the (lack of) knowledge of fresh veggies from this first grade class, our nation is in grave trouble. We have our work cut out for us. Let's Move, indeed!

Walk (and Bike) to School Day is next Wednesday, October 7!

I have fond memories of last year's Walk to School Day. As we walked through the neighborhood we ran into other families on foot until there were probably 20 of us walking together. Have you ever experienced the power of 20 people on foot, walking through a neighborhood with no sidewalks? Cars slowed to a crawl. Children felt empowered. Adults relaxed and enjoyed the camaraderie. We were a force to be reckoned with!

My kids really want to bike to school next Wednesday, but when you bike with kids you lose the social aspect and the focus is entirely on safety. But it's still a lot of fun. I'm not sure what we'll do yet, but either way we all win. We get exercise, fresh air and the awesome feeling of generating our own carbon-free transportation.

I know for some people it is just downright dangerous to walk to school -- there are busy streets with no sidewalks or crosswalks. And distance can be a discouraging factor. But if it's within your power to do it, then do it! It's a great way to promote health and environmental awareness and draw attention to the fact that neighborhoods need safer routes to school! Who's in?

How a 2nd grader gave me the courage to ride a bike

This is my daughter.

 
She is 7 1/2 and has just overcome her fear of riding a bike downhill. This is an important development because we live in a very hilly area of Portland. You can't not ride down (or up) a hill on a bike ride around here. Two years ago when she still had her starter bike with the pedal brakes, I cajoled her into going down the steep hill at the end of our street, which is the gateway to our neighborhood commercial center and schools. Mid-way down the hill she got scared and wanted to stop. Unfortunately I didn't realize that it's really hard for a kid to both engage the pedal brake and put a foot down when they've stopped on a hill, so she ended up in a bruised heap on the side of the road. She hadn't wanted to try again until three weeks ago.

Age, experience and a big girl bike with hand brakes and gears combined with a desire to ride to the school playground gave her the confidence to try the hill again. Slowly she started down, riding the brakes, then faster and then we were at the bottom and she was smiling and squealing, and I was bleary with tears of pride. From that day on she's asked at least twice a day if we can go for a bike ride and explore more areas around our neighborhood. The hills? They are just part of the ride now. That's an attitude breakthrough for both her and me.

Because when she rides, I ride. I bought a new bike a little over a year ago and up until now could count the number of times I'd ridden it, mostly on the Waterfront/Esplanade along the Willamette River. Never for errands or by myself, which is what I'd always envisioned doing. Riding the bike has always been a planned event; I've never gotten comfortable enough to just ride it as an alternative mode of transportation. And the hills gave me plenty of excuses. But now I've ridden it more in the last three weeks than in the last year, and I've gained more confidence right along with my daughter. Yes the hills can be tough sometimes, but so what? God knows I can use the exercise. Plus I've got my son behind me on the tag-along, and now that he's almost five he's become a champion peddler. We almost go too fast sometimes.

 

As we ride, I coach her on safety. We try to stick to neighborhood streets, but there are a couple of areas where we have to ride a short distance on main thoroughfares. So far so good. She's learning hand signals and how to use her gears. I'm learning safer routes and the locations of bike racks. We're both learning to keep our mouths closed in certain buggy areas.

I'm excited about the possibilities. We can ride to school now. Both the kids will finally be at the same school, so I can leave the tag-along and my daughter's bike at school and ride back in the afternoon to pick them up. The co-op grocery store is near the school, so I'm looking for grocery bag panniers. (I'd love some recommendations on these.) Yesterday my neighbor and I rode from home to the river and back (my first ride up Terwilliger, PDXers!) so spontaneous pleasure rides now are completely manageable. I'm starting to love my bike and the freedom and strength I feel on the road -- thanks to the spirit and determination of a child.