Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Useful Bike Lockers
Last weekend I took a ride with a friend on the Palmdale/Lancaster Bike Path. We started from the Palmdale Metrolink Station just off of Sierra Highway. The Metrolink, which runs from Palmdale to Los Angeles, was active and had many people in the station.I was very happy to see a large, traditional, bicycle rack in plain view just outside of the station's waiting area. Better yet, about 50 feet away was a row of fiberglass bicycle lockers. Many of them were in use with bikes locked inside of them. I was so excited to see this. People can ride their bikes from home, secure their bikes in the lockers, and then ride the train to Los Angeles to work. How cool is that!?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bike lanes in the works for Victorville
This is the article I found in the free Daily Press Review this morning. I was astonished that there were people out here thinking about the need for more bicyle lanes and dedicated bike paths. Thank God! I'm so excited!
DAILY PRESS, VICTORVILLE, CALIF. | BROOKE EDWARDS | Sun, Jun 20, 9:41 AM
--Wheels are turning on a plan to fashion bike routes along most major roads in the city.
"Many of my customers that come in are transplants from other areas and the first thing they ask me after purchasing a bike is, 'Where can I ride?' " said Carol Kraatz, who owns Victorville Cycles on Hesperia Road with her husband. "And it's difficult for me to explain to them that the city doesn't have any bike lanes, and they're pretty shocked about it. They kind of feel like we've fallen behind as far as the whole alternate transportation goes."
But with a unanimous vote of the council last week, Victorville took its first steps to establish as many as 62 bike routes on existing roadways, plus four major earthen paths that would accommodate cyclists as well as walkers, joggers and equestrian enthusiasts.
Victorville got a $125,000 grant from the Southern California Association of Governments in July 2009 to do the non-motorized transportation plan, with extensive research, workshops and more leading up to Hogle-Ireland Inc.'s presentation before council Tuesday.
The city isn't in much of a financial position to start work today on the proposal, which came in with a total price tag of nearly $73 million. But by approving the concept, Victorville is now eligible to compete for federal, state and local funding that could make the plan a reality.
"We've been missing out on a lot of those funds, by the way," Jenny Wilder, with the Sierra Club's Mojave Group, told the council.
Several people turned out Tuesday to speak in favor of the plan, including local bike enthusiasts Chuck and Pat Hanson.
Chuck Hanson was reintroduced to biking in his 40s to lose weight he'd gained when he quit smoking, according to a statement read by his wife. He's now clocked more than 220,000 miles by bicycle and holds the record for the only 70-year-old to complete the 508-mile Death Valley race.
The study recommends creating a network of safe bike routes in three phases.
The first would cost an estimated $3 million and include dedicated bike lanes along Hesperia Ro ad , Mo j ave a n d Seventh streets, Green Tree Boulevard and Village Drive. It would also include signed bike routes along more than a dozen city streets, including La Mesa and Seneca roads, Hook Boulevard and Third and Seventh avenues.
DAILY PRESS, VICTORVILLE, CALIF. | BROOKE EDWARDS | Sun, Jun 20, 9:41 AM
--Wheels are turning on a plan to fashion bike routes along most major roads in the city.
"Many of my customers that come in are transplants from other areas and the first thing they ask me after purchasing a bike is, 'Where can I ride?' " said Carol Kraatz, who owns Victorville Cycles on Hesperia Road with her husband. "And it's difficult for me to explain to them that the city doesn't have any bike lanes, and they're pretty shocked about it. They kind of feel like we've fallen behind as far as the whole alternate transportation goes."
But with a unanimous vote of the council last week, Victorville took its first steps to establish as many as 62 bike routes on existing roadways, plus four major earthen paths that would accommodate cyclists as well as walkers, joggers and equestrian enthusiasts.
Victorville got a $125,000 grant from the Southern California Association of Governments in July 2009 to do the non-motorized transportation plan, with extensive research, workshops and more leading up to Hogle-Ireland Inc.'s presentation before council Tuesday.
The city isn't in much of a financial position to start work today on the proposal, which came in with a total price tag of nearly $73 million. But by approving the concept, Victorville is now eligible to compete for federal, state and local funding that could make the plan a reality.
"We've been missing out on a lot of those funds, by the way," Jenny Wilder, with the Sierra Club's Mojave Group, told the council.
Several people turned out Tuesday to speak in favor of the plan, including local bike enthusiasts Chuck and Pat Hanson.
Chuck Hanson was reintroduced to biking in his 40s to lose weight he'd gained when he quit smoking, according to a statement read by his wife. He's now clocked more than 220,000 miles by bicycle and holds the record for the only 70-year-old to complete the 508-mile Death Valley race.
The study recommends creating a network of safe bike routes in three phases.
The first would cost an estimated $3 million and include dedicated bike lanes along Hesperia Ro ad , Mo j ave a n d Seventh streets, Green Tree Boulevard and Village Drive. It would also include signed bike routes along more than a dozen city streets, including La Mesa and Seneca roads, Hook Boulevard and Third and Seventh avenues.
Paving the levee creates Mojave bike path
Here is an article from 2007 about the construction of a concrete bike path along Mojave River levee. I plan to follow up on this to see if this ever happened.
November 07, 2007 10:11 AM
TATIANA PROPHET the Daily Press
VICTORVILLE — By the spring, there will be a concrete bike path along the Mojave River in Victorville, courtesy of San Bernardino County and the city.
Required by the federal government to bolster the flood levee along the river, the county is paying about $800,000 to pave the levee, while the city kicks in about $200,000 for extras like benches, railings and lighting.
“It’s not just going to be a concrete path on top of a levee,” said Victorville City Engineer Sean McGlade.
Stretching for three quarters of a mile from Interstate 15 to Sixth Street, the path will have a cul de sac on the I-15 side, where cyclists can turn around, and a parking lot on the Sixth Street side.
Eventually, it could connect with the city’s long-discussed River Walk Trail, a five-mile route that would run from downtown Victorville through the Mojave Narrows to Victor Valley College.
“This is a great project for High Desert residents,” said 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt in a county press release. “We’re creating an attractive recreational option and improving public safety at the same time.”
Public safety in this case means safety from flooding, which devastated homes on the west side of the river several years ago.
Long a stomping grounds for the area’s homeless, the levee sat graded Wednesday evening as homeless people walked past it along Sixth Street toward their chosen nighttime spot.
“We don’t care about a bike path,” said Brian Wilson, who lays his head every night down by the river. “People are afraid to come down here. If anything, they should put places for people to wash their clothes.”
Cristina Parra, walking to her home on E Street with her children, said it was a good idea.
Right now she does not allow her children to play behind the house at the levee, but in the future she might accompany them to the bike path, she said.
Mayor Terry Caldwell said the city cannot design a facility that is “totally immune” to transients.
“I think it will get heavy use,” he said. “And those who don’t ride bikes or walk, they should go some place else.”
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday awarded a $917,000 contract to Husker Engineering Inc Construction for the levee improvements, which will include raising and strengthening the levee and pouring concrete for the bike path.
November 07, 2007 10:11 AM
TATIANA PROPHET the Daily Press
VICTORVILLE — By the spring, there will be a concrete bike path along the Mojave River in Victorville, courtesy of San Bernardino County and the city.
Required by the federal government to bolster the flood levee along the river, the county is paying about $800,000 to pave the levee, while the city kicks in about $200,000 for extras like benches, railings and lighting.
“It’s not just going to be a concrete path on top of a levee,” said Victorville City Engineer Sean McGlade.
Stretching for three quarters of a mile from Interstate 15 to Sixth Street, the path will have a cul de sac on the I-15 side, where cyclists can turn around, and a parking lot on the Sixth Street side.
Eventually, it could connect with the city’s long-discussed River Walk Trail, a five-mile route that would run from downtown Victorville through the Mojave Narrows to Victor Valley College.
“This is a great project for High Desert residents,” said 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt in a county press release. “We’re creating an attractive recreational option and improving public safety at the same time.”
Public safety in this case means safety from flooding, which devastated homes on the west side of the river several years ago.
Long a stomping grounds for the area’s homeless, the levee sat graded Wednesday evening as homeless people walked past it along Sixth Street toward their chosen nighttime spot.
“We don’t care about a bike path,” said Brian Wilson, who lays his head every night down by the river. “People are afraid to come down here. If anything, they should put places for people to wash their clothes.”
Cristina Parra, walking to her home on E Street with her children, said it was a good idea.
Right now she does not allow her children to play behind the house at the levee, but in the future she might accompany them to the bike path, she said.
Mayor Terry Caldwell said the city cannot design a facility that is “totally immune” to transients.
“I think it will get heavy use,” he said. “And those who don’t ride bikes or walk, they should go some place else.”
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday awarded a $917,000 contract to Husker Engineering Inc Construction for the levee improvements, which will include raising and strengthening the levee and pouring concrete for the bike path.
Apple Valley gets more bicycle-friendly
Here is a 2008 article from my local newspaper highlighting the addition of dedicated bike lanes in the area. I'm posting this as an archive. I want to follow all things related to bicycling in the High Desert. Also, just yesterday a new article came out stating that the same thing will be happening in Victorville over the next few years. I am VERY excited about this and look forward to watching the Victor Valley become more serious about bicycle advocacy.
July 04, 2008 1:26 PM
TOM RISEN Staff Writer the Daily Press
Photo by Monica Jackson
APPLE VALLEY — Finally able to respond to public demand, the Town of Apple Valley is adding bicycle lanes little by little.
The latest addition will be on Kiowa Road starting July 14. During work, traffic will be closed between Sitting Bull Road and Yucca Loma Road for a month and traffic will be detoured to Navajo Road. Also a continuous left turn lane will be added to the road.
The Town doesn’t have the money to add its planned bike lanes all at once, said Kathie Martin, public information officer for the Town of Apple Valley.
“It’s been a priority for the council for a long time,” said Martin. “Paths are included in construction whenever there is road work done in areas planned to increase bicycle circulation. The other bike lane section of Kiowa Road was done in 2006. We’re also continuing the lane we made from Bear Valley Road to Sitting Bull Road north to Yucca Loma Road.”
This is a step forward for Apple Valley since more cities are becoming bicycle friendly in California, said Chuck Hanson, 78, a bicycle advocate who used to commute to work by bicycle. Hanson helped organize the bicycle ride on Bear Valley Road in May to advocate for more bike lanes in Apple Valley.
“The city should’ve looked ahead. They keep approving all these projects without roads. The cities are growing faster than they can keep the roads up,” said Hanson. “Occasionally I meet people who commute to work at shops in Apple Valley by bicycle. Roads here are dangerous and as bike lanes get connected this will make their commutes easier.”
July 04, 2008 1:26 PM
TOM RISEN Staff Writer the Daily Press
Photo by Monica Jackson
APPLE VALLEY — Finally able to respond to public demand, the Town of Apple Valley is adding bicycle lanes little by little.
The latest addition will be on Kiowa Road starting July 14. During work, traffic will be closed between Sitting Bull Road and Yucca Loma Road for a month and traffic will be detoured to Navajo Road. Also a continuous left turn lane will be added to the road.
The Town doesn’t have the money to add its planned bike lanes all at once, said Kathie Martin, public information officer for the Town of Apple Valley.
“It’s been a priority for the council for a long time,” said Martin. “Paths are included in construction whenever there is road work done in areas planned to increase bicycle circulation. The other bike lane section of Kiowa Road was done in 2006. We’re also continuing the lane we made from Bear Valley Road to Sitting Bull Road north to Yucca Loma Road.”
This is a step forward for Apple Valley since more cities are becoming bicycle friendly in California, said Chuck Hanson, 78, a bicycle advocate who used to commute to work by bicycle. Hanson helped organize the bicycle ride on Bear Valley Road in May to advocate for more bike lanes in Apple Valley.
“The city should’ve looked ahead. They keep approving all these projects without roads. The cities are growing faster than they can keep the roads up,” said Hanson. “Occasionally I meet people who commute to work at shops in Apple Valley by bicycle. Roads here are dangerous and as bike lanes get connected this will make their commutes easier.”
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Chechu Rubiera
I'm just about finished uploading all of my ATOC 2010 photos to my Flickr page. Today I posted a few photos of Chechu Rubiera, one of the nicest guys in the peloton. I had the privelege of meeting him when he was on the US Postal team way back in 2005. He'd been left behind by his team while out on a training ride. He was sick and had to pull into El Capitan State Beach campground to find a phone. I was not following the Tour at the time so I was not familiar with him, but I sure recognized his bike and US Postal kit. I remember asking him if he was on the team and he said "yes, the team with Lance Armstrong". I asked him his specialty and he said "climber". I feel like such a dope that I didn't know who he was!
He ended up walking back to our campsite with us to use our cell phone to call his trainers in Solvang. If this happened to me now I would have insisted on driving him back to his hotel myself. I wouldn't care if I got sick.
He gave me a Trek/US Postal water bottle and rode up to the main highway to wait for his ride. Bye Chechu!
Here's video of his most recent interview with Versus:
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