Pam’s Blog

The National Bike Challenge runs from may through September this year.  Somehow it gets people to ride their bike more.  It's funny and silly that logging your miles and seeing them on a Leaderboard against other riders gets some people in rivalries.  There's 2 guys on The Charlotte Spokes People team who keep trying to best each other.  Then there's people who want to be the top man or woman on the team or in Charlotte or whatever.  I remember the first time I did the Challenge a few years back.  I was surprised how many miles accumulate just riding here and there a few miles at a time.  It's way more miles than the person who talks about loving to ride their bike 50 miles occasionally.  The people who ride the most are the most consistent riders.  The ones that NEED to ride to have a good day.  It's therapy.  It keeps them sane, happy, smiling, etc. So there's 61 more days of the Challenge.  Let's keep riding.  And smiling!

Take a look at the stats on the Local Challenge and see how everyone is doing.  We have a lot more riders than last year.  And the miles we've ridden is great!  

I'm glad to say there's a lot of fun and cool stuff going on in Charlotte.

PMTNR is at the top of the list.  I am constantly amazed at how many people show up and bring their friends to ride with us.  I'm always meeting new people and am continually encouraged that we are making a difference in getting people to ride their bikes around Charlotte.

And now we have rides almost every day of the week every week.  In addition, there's monthly stuff and annual events as well.  Make sure you check the calendar for a full listing and details.

Monthly

First Friday Bicycle Takeover in South End in the Brakes for Less parking lot on the corner of Park and South Blvd. each first Friday. This month will be the second one.  There's tables and tents, giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, giant checkers.  Just lots of fun and games and the food truck rally is right down the street.

Critical Mass is the last Friday of each month.  The rides leaves from Common Market in Plaza Midwood at 8 pm.

Upcoming

Yard Art Day is August 8th.  There will be a map posted so you can ride around and see all the art around town.

The "Back of the Line" free screening is also August 8th at the International House.  It's a great and timely film about immigration issues.

The God Save the Queen Charlotte music festival at the Chop Shop is August 9th at 2:30.  Tickets are on sale now.

The 48 Hour Film Project is August 21st.  Teams will be showing their entries and the audience gets to vote.  Tickets are on sale now.  I'll be riding from Common Market if anyone wants to join me.  I think if we leave around 5 we'll have time to get a quick bite before the show.

We're getting a group together to ride out to the Whitewater Center.  We've been talking about it for about a month.  The date that seems to work is August 24th.  We'll be meeting at Queen City Bicycles around 9(?).  

Ride ideas

And then there's the rides I want to do but haven't planned yet.  

Here's the list:

S24O is a sub 24 hour overnight bike camping trip.  We talked about riding to either Lake Norman or Lake Wylie but haven't set a date.  The idea is to do a ride out, camp overnight then ride home.  It gives you the experience of bike camping without taking a week to see if you like it.  And since it's only overnight, you don't need all kinds of stuff and if you forget anything it's not a big deal.

The Silver Comet Trail is a paved trail from Marietta, GA to Alabama.  It's a rail to trail project that's about 80 miles.  It would be nice to do this when it's not so hot.  I think it could be done in a weekend.  I'd like to go with a few people so we can carpool and have one car at each end in case we don't want to double back.

The Outer Banks stretches from Ocracoke to Duck.  I don't think it'll be there much longer due to severe weather and global warming.  It's a beautiful ride between the beach and the sound.  

I'd like to take my bike on the train and ride home.  I think Salisbury would be a good destination.  The train fare is only $11.50 and we could ride back to Charlotte.  

Let me know if you want to help plan any of these and come ride.  

The most beautiful sunsets are seen from the seat of a bicycle.  Get outside at sunset and watch the sky.  Breathtaking!

First Friday South End Bicycle Takeover

Friday August 1st

Charlotte 48 Hour Film Project

Thursday, August 21st

We'll plan a ride to Uptown, have a quick dinner before the screening.  We'll be meeting at Common Market for the ride.  Details to follow.  Keep an eye on the calendar.

Charlotte Tweed Ride 2014

Sunday November 22nd

Meet at 1:30 PM at Eco-Licious. Leave at 2 PM. Stop to be determined. Wear your best tweed and English clothing. Vintage bikes encouraged but not required. Party pace ride, all fitness levels encouraged to participate. Additional details to follow. This is a Sunday Slow Riders ride with a theme.

I've noticed some people wonder where or when to ride.  So I'll post where I ride everyday.

Common Market for a meeting about building a map to help bicycle riders

Library to return some books

Post Office to mail a letter

B Cycle Hub for a meeting to build a bicycle powered parade float

The Liberty for dinner – And I used my Bicycle Benefits sticker

Target

Total mileage today 10 miles.

But you can see my daily miles on https://nationalbikechallenge.org/rider/14169

Get on your bike and ride where ever you need to go anyway.  And while you're at it, support our local Bike Benefits businesses.  You can see the full list here.

I am a bicycle driver. I use my bicycle to drive whereever I want to go whenever I want to go.  I don't request bike lanes because I feel they subject me to more danger than riding in the middle of the travel lane.  There are way better explanations and concise use of terminology of the traffic nomenclature than I can give so I'll provide links to the real articles and explanations and I'll just summarize this issue from my perspective.  Before you decide where to ride, please take the time to read these articles I've linked.  They may help prevent an accident or save your life.  

My reasons for not using bike lanes

1.  Right hook – This is when someone passes you on the left, turns right and cuts you off.  Since most bike lanes are the right most lane, there is a higher likelihood of getting right crossed in a bike lane than being in the line of traffic in a travel lane.

2. Left cross – This is when a driver turns left in front of you.  Generally drivers of cars understimate the speed of bicyle drivers or they don't see the bicycle driver.  If you are in the bike lane, you'll be further removed from the peripheral vision of the oncoming driver turning left because you are in the next lane over.

3.  Intersection conflicts – Bike lanes introduce complexity to intersections and neither drivers of cars or bicycles know what either party is supposed to do.  Did you know drivers of cars should turn from the curb and why lanes are dashed at intersections?  Read the links below.

4.  Drive out – When a driver pulls out of a driveway or side street in front of you. Using the bike lane decreases your visibility and maneuverability on a bike in this situation.  Hopefully, there will be a sidewalk, no telephone pole, no guardrail to avoid getting hit.

5.  Decreased visibilty – out of the main focus of the driver of the car.  Remember drivers of cars sit in the left hand side of the car.  If the minimum travel lane is 11 feet wide and a bike lane minimum width is 5 feet wide.  You are probably about 14 foot right of where they are sitting.

6.  Dangerous merges – Many of our bike lanes in Charlotte (NC) are installed when roads are resurfaced.  So even if there is a bike lane, it may only last 50 or 100 feet and there is no sign to let you know when the lane ends.  Therefore, as a bicycle driver I am subjected to forced merges at some not so opportune times such as at intersections.  When you're in the bike lane, neither the driver of the car or the driver of the bicycle is alert to the merging situation ahead of time.  

7.  Decreased safe (lateral) passing distance.  Many bike lanes installed meet the MINIMUM standards.  That means a travel lane of 9 feet can be placed next to a 5 feet bike lane.  You know the 3 feet safe passing distance that you always hear about?  Guess what, you probably won't get 3 feet safe passing distance.  Do you realize some trucks are 8 1/2 feet wide and the mirrors stick out another 10 inches on each side?  Some lanes in Charlotte (NC) such as Randolph Rd near town are 9 feet wide?  Because of the speed differential, a higher margin of safety is needed.  Reserve some room for yourself to maneuver out of a bad situation.

8.  Door zone bike lanes – Some bike lanes are next to parked cars.  If a car door is opened and you are in the middle of the bike lane, you will get doored.  And you may fall into the lane of travel.  

9.  Expectation to use the bike lane – If a bike lane is there, drivers of cars and even bikes expect all bicycle drivers to use the bike lane.  If a bike lane is there, some drivers of cars act with hostility toward bicycle drivers who leave the bike lane to avoid hazardous conditions and bicycle drivers will remain in the bike despite hazardous condition.

10.  Debris and trash – Due to the motion of cars sweeping debris into the bike lane, bike lanes generally collect debris, sand, glass and need to be swept more often due to the decreased natural sweeping action that cars provide to normal travel lanes. Don't risk losing control of your bicycle, get a flat and get stranded or delayed.  Ride where the street conditions are the best.  In the middle of the travel lane.

I j want to ride where I want to ride and where I am safest.  Bicycle drivers need to be forewarned and ride in the bike lane at their own risk.  But at least share the risks with them.  The number one rule of all drivers whether in a car or on a bicycle is to operate the vehicle in a safe manner.  And you must make these decisions as the operator of your vehicle.  I just want to get home safely.  I am a mother, wife, friend.  

http://cyclingsavvy.org/hows-my-driving/

This is a link to why I drive in the middle of the lane.

http://iamtraffic.org/news-views/china-cups-and-butterflies-options-and-ethics/

This is a link to the full-blown explanation of what is wrong with bike lanes.

Thank you to the following people who made suggestions to improve this post: John Brooking, Karen Loewen, Eli Damon, Tim Cupery.

Just a few things on the National Bike Challenge.  The Challenge begins May 1st and goed through September 30th.  Click here for the FAQ.  The main thing is you ride your bike.  Try to ride everyday.  It doesn't matter if you ride one mile or 20 or 50 in a day.  Just ride.  Keep track of your mileage.  The easiest way is to jot it down.  You'll bascially know how many miles it is to most places you go such as work, grocery store, wherever.  You can choose to use Endomondo, Strava, Garmin… but those all suck the power out of your phone or device because of the GPS.  (This is anecdotal since I don't use a phone).  You have until the last day of the month to enter your mileage for that month.  I try to enter mine at least weekly so I don't forget and then the 1st rolls around and you can't enter your mileage.  

To enter your mileage, go to the home page for NBC and click on the middle flag to log your miles.  

We've since added a Local Challenge to make it easier to check your ranking.  Click in Local Challenge then Leaderboard then Rider/Team/COmmunity etc.  So far our team is doing great!  Keep it up!

Thanks for joining the team.  There's an African proverb that says "If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  So we'll all go together.

There’s a new ride on Wednesdays. Here’s the info from the facebook page called Klunk and Disorderly. Click here for the link.

This is a Slow riding, Fat tire Cruiser Bike ride. Bring out your Klunkers, Townies, Low Riders, Beach Bikes and Sting Rays.
Leave your carbon fiber road bikes, Fixies and Mountain Bikes at home. It ain’t that kind of ride.
Our tentative plan for now is to meet at The Bulldog Beer and Wine located at 2447-B Park Road every Wednesday night at 7:30pm and leaving at 8pm sharp, when the weather is best. We won’t have a planned route. The plan is to cruise around and stop when the group feels like it.

1.  Don’t pass the leader or you’re on your own (ride).

The leader is designated by a reflective triangle.  If other people know the route, they will also have reflective triangles.  Only follow the large crowd or the reflective triangles.  Ride leaders are familiar with the route in advance and are designated with a reflective triangle.  Only follow the designated leaders.  Or use Glympse to find us.

2.  Ride in one lane – May use full lane.

I believe the safest place in the lane is in the middle of the lane for maximum visibility.  We like to stay in one lane to allow motorists to pass in the other lane.  If we are turning left, we will be in the left hand lane.    Always ride on the right side of the road (in the road, and not on the sidewalk).

3.  Obey all traffic signals.

When the group is large, the group will get divided up.  It happens.  Stop at the light and wait your turn.  Do not try to stop traffic.  Do not run lights.  Find us at the next regrouping stop – every 2 miles or so.

4.  Communicate passing, turns and slowing with hand signals.

Make sure everyone around you knows where you are.  Do not get hit or run into someone.  Communication is very helpful to everyone.  If someone calls out a hazard, please call it back so others will be aware behind you.

A helmet and lights (front and rear) are required.  If you ride a tall bike, brakes are also required.  If you ride fixed, you need  to be able to stop your bike.  You need to be able to stop at ALL times -especially in a big group.  Be prepared to stop at all times.  Use BOTH brakes for maximum braking power.

Rider responsibilities:

Each traffic decision you make is YOUR responsibility.  Only you can decide whether each intersection is clear to cross.  We plan the ride and the route.  Your riding is your responsibility.

Ride responsibly.  Open containers are against the law and are not allowed.  Wheelies, bunny hops, hopping curbs are frowned upon.  If you fall and someone runs you over, that’s your problem.  Do that on your own ride.  Hazardous riders will be asked to leave.  The safety of the group is important.  Let’s all have fun.

We generally plan regrouping stops to make sure the group is together along the way.  We do not want anyone to get left or lost.

Updated: 3/25/16