Hey, Fat Girl…
I stumbled across a post from Flintland titled “Hey, Fat Girl…” shared by a Facebook friend. Reading through that post reminds me of thoughts I have when I see overweight cyclists out on the road. I won’t expand on Flint’s post other than to say: If you are overweight, are trying to get into shape, and feel self-conscious about what others are thinking, try not to worry about it. Keep doing what you are doing. Who knows? You might be surprised if you could read our minds.
Do take the time to read Flint’s post, it’s a short read and well worth your time.
Like this:
Comment to Sound Transit on ending of the Ride Free Area
One of the most frustrating issues I see, both as a driver of Sound Transit routes and as a passenger, are the delays created by accepting cash payment on the bus. Even the most thoughtful and organized passengers can cause delays by inserting multiple $1 bills or small coins, into the fare box. To see exactly what I am describing, watch a 550 unload at any of the busier stops in Bellevue. The delays can be especially noticeable on a busy weekend when there are more passengers paying with cash.
I urge Sound Transit to study and implement ways to further reduce cash payment including:
. Have the next fare increase be for cash payment only. ORCA users will use current fare structure
. Offer a $.25 discount for ORCA payment
. Provide more outreach to non-English speaking customers about ORCA, how to get one, and how to use it
. Adopt Metro’s RapidRide off-bus payment system, either for the entire route or for selected high-volume areas.
. Provide change machines that dispense quarters and $1 coins at high volume locations. These would allow passengers who need change to get it easily and dollar coins coupled with quarters are almost as fast to use for payment as ORCA passes are.
. Partner with Coinstar to load change onto and/or distribute ORCA cards.
With the discontinuation of the Ride Free Area coming, it is even more urgent for Sound Transit to look at ways to reduce or speed cash payment. Please consider these ideas to keep buses moving and leverage the limited transit funding that we have.
Thank you,
The VeloBusDriver
Taking the car-lite plunge in Suburbia
I have been contemplating ditching our 2nd car for several years but have been reluctant for various reasons. While we have decent bus service near our home, many routes aren’t in service when I need to be at work. Additionally, while the base is only a 25 minute bike ride away, there are hills, a high school with inexperienced teenage drivers, and misty eye-glass obscuring conditions between here and there from time to time. Most days I’m fine riding into work but there are times where a “cumulative disincentive” builds up to the point where I just drive. Lastly, there are the memories of several heavy snow days where only our trusty Subaru could get me into work. Well, maybe a Salsa Mukluk could too. Or I could walk. And then there are those snowshoes gathering dust in the garage.
All that worrying aside, we’ve only driven our Subaru 2,000-3,000 miles per year since we bought our Prius. Additionally, many of those miles were for what I call “pity” drives – Times where I could have used another mode of transportation, or our Prius, but decided to take the Subaru to keep the fluids moving and the battery charged. But all in all, I really don’t need a car to get to work. My wife, on the other hand, does. Thankfully she is able to work from home many days which means I’ll still have access to a car at home from time to time. Additionally, I have 8 Zipcars within a 15 minute bus or bike ride as well. I’ve also been meaning to try out the many taxis I see in Bellevue as well.
I’m sure this decision will require some sacrifices such as getting up a little earlier to ride in every day or figuring out how to ride in sub-freezing temperatures – something I’ve been reluctant to do because of a combination of hills, ice, and knowing a fellow bus driver who broke his hip riding into work in icy conditions. But I’m excited to give it a shot and will keep you all up to date on the highs and lows of being car-lite in the suburbs.
A folding bikeshare
While cleaning out my email inbox in a futile quest to reach “Inbox Zero”, I came across an email from Brompton about their new and innovative bike sharing system (aka Cycle Hire Scheme in the UK). Currently deployed in 2 train stations in Manchester, the Brompton Dock is a collection of small lockers that contain Brompton folding bikes. After registering on their web site, you are able to send a text message to Brompton Dock’s number which will then text you back with a locker number and access code. I’ve not been to Manchester to see the system in place, but it looks pretty easy to use.
According to BromptonDock’s web site, the docks are deployed in partnership with Virgin Trains and the rental rates are designed to encourage longer-term use. (Bromptons are the only bikes allowed on trains in the UK since they can be folded to a very small size).
Wouldn’t this be handy at stations along the Amtrak Cascades? I’d sure use it!
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“B” is for “Beer”, “Black Raven”, and “B-Line Beer Run”
A while back I spent several days conducting “research” on establishments for a B-Line pub crawl event. Of all the drinking establishments I visited, the Black Raven Brewing Company was by far my favorite. Located in an office park a 1/2 mile from the B-Line, Black Raven’s taproom has all of their beers in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. They don’t serve food, other than free peanuts and pretzels, but you can have pizza delivered by Flying Saucer Pizza to enjoy with your fresh beer. (I think Zeek’s also delivers but that is unconfirmed, check with Zeeks and/or Black Raven). Lastly, you can get growlers and kegs to go. (A keg on the bus. Now that would be interesting)
To get there, take the B-Line to the stop at 148th Ave NE & NE 87th St in Redmond, just before/after the intersection with Willows Road. From the bus stop walk east on 90th and then north on Willows Road using the large sidewalk on the east side of Willows. Right before 95th turn east and scramble over the bark covered berm and walk into the parking lot next to the inactive railroad tracks. (This avoids walking along NE 95th which doesn’t have a sidewalk. It’s also a shortcut since the driveway for Black Raven is located past the entrance to the Tap Room) You can also find directions here on Google maps.
This area isn’t normally someplace you’d think of walking around, given that it’s a bunch of office parks in a very suburban and car-dependent setting. But the sidewalks are wide and comfortable and it’s not that long of a walk. If you bring a bike, Black Raven also has a small bike rack out front. (Note: While biking while intoxicated is not technically a crime, it IS pretty stupid. Drink responsibly and be prepared to walk your bike back to the bus.) If you’re up for a little transit/beer adventure, why not give Black Raven a try?
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons…
Here’s another bumper sticker from my bumper sticker watch. The version of this sticker I found on Amazon is even better than the one I saw on the road:
“Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy & good with ketchup”
“Free” parking, only $45,000 per stall
Know your audience. It’s a common phrase but sadly, many fail to heed those wise words. Case in point: A herd of bicycles with helmet-clad riders standing in front of the King County Library in Bellevue listening to a talk delivered by an official from the library system. A statue of Ghandi, commissioned by the Indian government, is pointed out as is the award winning architecture. The library already has very respectable patronage but is underutilized, given it’s size. The solution? A new parking garage. When you learn that these cyclists are touring the city of Bellevue brainstorming ideas for improved bicycle access, you may wonder if there is a bicycle-themed speech being delivered to a group of patrons who arrived by car.
Even after setting aside the “know your audience” issue, the facts presented do not convince us that a garage is truly needed. One example: Many parking spots were freed up after the Library hired a parking management company and asked patrons to register for visits longer than 3 hours. Additionally, 25% of visits to the library are to drop off or pick up reserved materials and yet there are were only two parking spots reserved for short visits. To top it all off, charging for parking was considered but rejected since the library board has a philosophy of services being available “free to all”.
Let’s dig into the numbers a bit. The parking facility currently being built will house 362 cars, up from 199 before construction started. The cost of the additional 163 parking spots will be, depending on the number you use, anywhere from $7.4 and $11.3 Million. Using the lower cost estimate of $7.4 million, which is more recent and presumably reflects lower current construction costs, that works out to over $45,000 *per additional parking spot*. Read that number again: $45,000 per additional “free” parking space. I’m left wondering how many books or librarian hours that $7.4 Million, not including financing costs, would buy.
I’m not suggesting that the majority of Bellevue library patrons will always be able to take the bus, bike, or walk to the library. But plenty of viable alternatives to the private automobile exist today. The Bellevue Transit Center is a short walk from the library, 4 Metro bus routes have stops within 2 blocks, and the highest ridership route on the eastside, the Sound Transit 550, terminates at the library. Looking out further, SoundTransit’s light rail will serve the Bellevue Transit Center, a bike facility along NE 12th will connect to the mixed development slated for the Bel-Red corridor, and people are already moving into homes in downtown Bellevue just a short walk away.
All of this comes after the Library asked for and voters approved a tax increase in 2010 to continue funding library services at current levels. Given all of this, is it really that difficult to contemplate a library parking lot with reasonable restrictions and fees? If the Seattle central library, with only 143 parking spots and 20 minutes of free parking for patrons picking up materials, can do it, why not the Bellevue library? I have always been an outspoken supporter of the library system and have voted for every library ballot measure that has been put before me. But I’m more interested in books and the online databases the library gives me access to. If I really need to stash my car at the library I don’t expect the taxpayers of King County to pay for my parking, especially since there are so many other ways to get there. For me, the days of reflexively voting for additional library taxes are over: More library services? Yes. More publicly subsidized “free” parking? No.
