Do You Have Good Ideas About Transportation In Omaha?

C'mon... I know you do.

MAPA, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency wants to know what you think about transportation in the Omaha/Council Bluffs five-county metro area.

If you have any feedback to give to MAPA on bike lanes, bike routes, incentives to using alternative transportation, and other public transportation issues, be sure to voice it via the survey.

Keep in mind that bike friendly cities like Portland, Oregon haven't always been bike cities. Portland started with a plan in the 1990's and implemented it, and are now enjoying being cited in lists of bike friendly cities.

Saddle sores and tired legs

There will be plenty of both by the end of tomorrow. If you want to contribute, show up at the Blue Line no later than 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. By 7:10 a.m. we will be gone and on our way to the Wabash trailhead. We will depart the Wabash trailhead by 8:15 a.m. for a trip to the MO border. We will then turn around and ride north till we poop out. Then my wife will rescue me, and another guy that's riding with me, at whatever town we make it to at the bitter end. All other riders will need to make their own arrangements to get home, make it back under their own power, or turn around on the Wabash before it's too late.

Lancing your saddle sores will be your responsibility as well.

Easy Friday

Photo credit: Apres Velo

B-52s should only be enjoyed on a road trip.

After skipping usual weekly rides, I was convinced to do the TNTR upon leaving work late Thursday evening...

8:33 Leave Work

9:14 Leave Paper Street with EB pedaling East for Taco Ride.

10:03 Arrive at Wabash Trail Head

Put the hammer down following the 200 foot silhouette made by EB's lamp behind me.

... Pass hundreds of reflectors and head lamps headed back towards trail head.

10:33 Arrive in Mineola

Get beer, drink beer, find lame people, buy beer, ride back to Half-Way point

Find fire and friends

Hammer back via S.Omaha bridge

1:13 Tear bell from handle bar that quit working with one night of use. Probably scratch EB's Steam Roller in process with bell ricochet.

Launch off triple steps in front of business establishment on SS road bike.

1:23 Arrive at Donut Stop and have the best donut session ever. 7 pastries downed for me. Find out it's EB's birthday -- What a DB.

2:34 Leave Donut Stop enlightened, dusty and tired.

2:43 Cruise through the Zero Depth entry to the fountain on Creighton's Plaza strip.

2: Very Late. Sprint up hill and kick out, ghost riding bike into neighbor's bushes -- found curb in the mean time. Probably screwed up wheel pretty bad.

50 plus miles of pure pedaling goodness.

Omaha Cycling Issues Discussed on KFAB Talk Radio

On Monday, May 18, 2009, from 6pm to 7pm, Marty Shukert and Mark Siepker appeared on the Tom Becka radio show on KFAB. They spoke about bicycling issues, with a special emphasis on cycling as transportation, which unfortunately, seemed to be lost on the host.

Thanks to Marty and Mark for taking their time to talk about the issues on-air. Thanks to the Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club for organizing the coat drive leading up to the radio appearance.

The KFAB web site is difficult to navigate, so I present the direct link to the recorded interview here: KFAB 5/18/2009, 6pm (mp3)

See also:

• Mayors Ride Update - bring a coat!
• A note from the Omaha Pedalers

Easy Friday

photo credit: steephill.tv

Ivan Basso: where Easy Friday meets the Hurt Locker

Omaha Bikes to Works

The day was a good one. Coffee was drank, pasteries were devoured, and cranks were spun. Tip of the hat to all that put it on.

I've shot weddings with longer kisses than the ride took. It was like shooting a drag race-- one with spandex and a police escort? I didn't even have time to shoot faces of any of you individual clowns. I am pretty sure we need to make it an all day event. You took a half day off this year Scott, let's make it a full day next year!

In any case it was fun and I know we will all look forward to it again next year. Next year I will arrive earlier for breakfast so I can eat more of Redd's vegan sausages and drink more coffee.

Blog boys: Feel free to post links on your sites.

Cheers.

Anyone feel like moving to Germany?

Apparently there is a city across the water trying to go car-free.

Check it.

Photo Photo?

Caught in the act.

 

Thanks Rafal

Good friends! Good Food! Good Times!

 

 

 

Bring a coat to donate to the Mayor's Ride on Monday

Julie, from Activate Omaha, just emailed information about a challenge to bring a Coat to the Mayor's Ride to donate for the benefit of "Native Americans at South Dakota reservations, some of the most impoverished people in America. Coats will also be donated locally to the Open Door Mission."

The great part of this is that the challenge might give cyclists in Omaha a voice on a local radio show. Come on Pedal Omaha! Let's step up and show them how generous the Omaha Pedaling Public can be. I'll be going through my closet tonight to find some of those "retired" coats that are just taking up space.

Check out the story here.

Easy Friday

Pizza was made for Easy Friday

Redd spotted in the wild

I ran into Scott Redd on the Keystone this Tuesday. He was racing from one bus stop to another for some createve multi-mode commuting.

I must say he dresses much better than the rest of us slobs. Rather GQ I must say.



Hope to see many of you next Monday at the Mayor's Ride or at Rafal's for breakfast.

Bicyclist injured as he fails to yield to oncoming car

Be careful when riding out there, folks...


A 27-year-old bicyclist was injured Tuesday in Omaha when a vehicle struck him.

Quireese Hudson was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center shortly after 5:30 p.m. with a possible concussion. He was cited on suspicion of failing to yield to a Chrysler Sebring that struck him at 24th and Ohio Streets. Investigators determined that he violated a stop sign as he crossed 24th Street, according to Omaha police Sgt. Doug Klein.

Hudson’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The vehicle driver was not injured, Klein said, and alcohol and speed were not factors in the crash.

-- Katie Fretland

(We Won't Have A Mayor Yet) Pedal Breakfast

Happy May everyone. May is officially bike to work month. Activate Omaha is kicking of their Commute to Work Challenge on May 11th with the Mayor's ride.


Well, me being a thinking feller, I got an idea. I live pretty close to the starting point of the ride. Its near Bancroft farmers market on 10th and Bancroft.

What's better than biking around the city?

Doing so with a full stomach... Ah yes...Food Comatose!

That's right get your breakfast on at my house before the ride

Here's the scoop

• Coffee and Pancakes are on me (if you want you buy me an adult beverage sometime)
  
• If you want to bring some other food (feel free to do so)
• Please be there around 7:00 am ( not earlier I will be sleeping/getting ready you will be sitting on my steps)
• Where do you live? (email me for directions/ phone number info below)
• Do you have to go to the mayor ride (you do whatever you like after breakfast)
• Do you have to have a bike? ( yes... there might be a scooter exception rule :D)
• Can I park my car if I'm doing ride and then driving somewhere afterwords ( yes park off street I'm not responsible for your car though)
• Do I have know secret handshake ( eheheh what?????)
• We will be rolling out around 7:50-8:00 to the start point)

Still undecided on Suttle/Daub?
Get to Researching!
This position is important, Make sure and VOTE!

If you are interested in joining us on May 11th please feel free to email me rafald1 at yahoo dot com or call me or comment. Everyone is welcome let just hope I have enough coffee cups...

Toodles
RD

Good Luck and Happy Friday

This weekend is the kick off of Mountain Biking Racing in Nebraska and the epic Trans IOWA. Good luck to everyone participating and supporting either event.
It's Friday May Day to some Loyalty Day to others regardless you should go and enjoy nice weekend. Go pedal or look for morels or just spend some time with friends and family...