Did you know?
Nine out of 10 cyclists killed in 2008 weren't wearing a helmet.
Wear your helmet to increase your chances of surviving a crash.
For more tips to safe cycling, visit this post in Bicycling Magazine.
Thanks to team member Jerry Pentin for sending along this link.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
July results are in!
We had our best month ever in July 2010! Miles commuted by bike totaled 3,312, consisting of 332 trips!
Our mega-mileage girl for July is Alma Schiefer who commuted 342 miles by bike, followed closely by Mike Rushford at 328 miles and Mark Szymczak at 324. Neil McGovern had a very respectable 300 miles.
For shorter-distance commuters who simply can't rack up the big miles, we had a good showing from a number of members this month, including Amador High teacher Tom Hall at 25 trips, the Casamajors at 22 trips, and Ursula Goldstein at 20 trips.
If you don't see your name above, please know that every mile and every trip you ride adds up. YOU are a role model for how we need to commute in the Tri-Valley. I know that many of you ride often and regularly. Without you, there is no BCC.
Something new! Our first ever BCC book review, submitted by Neil McGovern:
Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public by Harry Wray.
Neil writes: "I've read several books on biking over the last few years. Some are the 'How Lance Won the Tour' type books, some are history books (The Tour, History of Bikes, etc.), but the ones I enjoy most are the ones about regular people who go sorta nuts about their bikes in a happy way (I'm not really into the Critical Mass 'confront drivers' thing, being as how I am a driver myself and all that - and so are most of them I suspect).
Anyway, Pedal Power is one of the books I read that I enjoyed and want to recommend.
This book focuses on bikes and politics. The good thing about bike advocacy is that we don’t ask for too much (it is really cheap to paint some lines on the road and the letters ‘Bike Lane’ and it makes a lot of people happy – politicians LOVE this stuff).
The book also has a great picture of the future – let’s face it, we all like a happy ending
Keep pedaling,
Neil McGovern"
Our mega-mileage girl for July is Alma Schiefer who commuted 342 miles by bike, followed closely by Mike Rushford at 328 miles and Mark Szymczak at 324. Neil McGovern had a very respectable 300 miles.
For shorter-distance commuters who simply can't rack up the big miles, we had a good showing from a number of members this month, including Amador High teacher Tom Hall at 25 trips, the Casamajors at 22 trips, and Ursula Goldstein at 20 trips.
If you don't see your name above, please know that every mile and every trip you ride adds up. YOU are a role model for how we need to commute in the Tri-Valley. I know that many of you ride often and regularly. Without you, there is no BCC.
Something new! Our first ever BCC book review, submitted by Neil McGovern:
Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public by Harry Wray.
Neil writes: "I've read several books on biking over the last few years. Some are the 'How Lance Won the Tour' type books, some are history books (The Tour, History of Bikes, etc.), but the ones I enjoy most are the ones about regular people who go sorta nuts about their bikes in a happy way (I'm not really into the Critical Mass 'confront drivers' thing, being as how I am a driver myself and all that - and so are most of them I suspect).
Anyway, Pedal Power is one of the books I read that I enjoyed and want to recommend.
This book focuses on bikes and politics. The good thing about bike advocacy is that we don’t ask for too much (it is really cheap to paint some lines on the road and the letters ‘Bike Lane’ and it makes a lot of people happy – politicians LOVE this stuff).
The book also has a great picture of the future – let’s face it, we all like a happy ending
Keep pedaling,
Neil McGovern"
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
May's miles, new team members, and a video
Way to go BCC!
Our miles in May totaled 1,657 (which beat April's 1,382 miles), and we took our cars off the road saving 211 trips (better than April's 139).
Thanks to everyone who cycled on May 13 for Ride Your Bike to Work Day!
Through May 2010 we've now ridden a grand total of 12,226 miles and saved 1,957 car trips. Based on the EPA's calculation that one gallon of gasoline produces 19.4 pounds of carbon emissions, and assuming 20 car miles to the gallon, Be the Change Cyclists has spared the Tri-Valley's air of 11,859 pounds of carbon emissions.
Welcome new team members!
We're pleased to welcome Bob Carling, Director of Sandia National Laboratory.
Bob's been riding his bike to work every day for many years. As a director at Sandia, Bob oversees the Transportation Energy Center in California, and recently traveled to China to speak at a conference about major public-private initiatives designed to accelerate innovation in low-carbon transportation through domestic and international partnerships.
We're also pleased to welcome Nadine Horner, External Relations Officer, with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Nadine is very active in our community, serving on various boards. Her husand is Doug Horner, Livermore City Council member. Nadine commutes to her office by bike on a regular basis!
We now have 39 team members!
Bike safety tips
Here's a 12-minute video about safety tips when cycling near busses. The video includes many good reminders--both what to do and what NOT to do in traffic. Thanks to team members Alan and Julie Casamajor for sharing this!
http://vimeo.com/7949969
Our miles in May totaled 1,657 (which beat April's 1,382 miles), and we took our cars off the road saving 211 trips (better than April's 139).
Thanks to everyone who cycled on May 13 for Ride Your Bike to Work Day!
Through May 2010 we've now ridden a grand total of 12,226 miles and saved 1,957 car trips. Based on the EPA's calculation that one gallon of gasoline produces 19.4 pounds of carbon emissions, and assuming 20 car miles to the gallon, Be the Change Cyclists has spared the Tri-Valley's air of 11,859 pounds of carbon emissions.
Welcome new team members!
We're pleased to welcome Bob Carling, Director of Sandia National Laboratory.
Bob's been riding his bike to work every day for many years. As a director at Sandia, Bob oversees the Transportation Energy Center in California, and recently traveled to China to speak at a conference about major public-private initiatives designed to accelerate innovation in low-carbon transportation through domestic and international partnerships.
We're also pleased to welcome Nadine Horner, External Relations Officer, with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Nadine is very active in our community, serving on various boards. Her husand is Doug Horner, Livermore City Council member. Nadine commutes to her office by bike on a regular basis!
We now have 39 team members!
Bike safety tips
Here's a 12-minute video about safety tips when cycling near busses. The video includes many good reminders--both what to do and what NOT to do in traffic. Thanks to team members Alan and Julie Casamajor for sharing this!
http://vimeo.com/7949969
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Rush hour in the Netherlands
For a vision of what commuting and traffic at rush hour could be, take a look at this amazing clip shared by BCC team member Alma Schiefer...
http://www.flixxy.com/netherlands-rush-hour.htm
http://www.flixxy.com/netherlands-rush-hour.htm
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thank you Pleasanton Patch!
Thanks to the Pleasanton Patch for highlighting our bicycle commuter club and our efforts to "Be the Change" we want to see in the world. Readers of the Patch are welcome to join our club! Read about our philosophy and how to join in the menu to the right.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Vintage photos!
Reminder that THIS THURSDAY is Bike to Work Day. Let's have a good BCC showing! The weather should be good.
The vintage photos of a younger you with a bike are trickling in. Steve Kowalewski and Melissa Ott sent these great photos below. Don't be shy, send me your photos!
Here's Steve circa 1949. Is that an early Trek, Steve?
..................
Here's Melissa in 1997, along with a current photo. Melissa is our youngest BCC member and will be attending U.C. Santa Cruz as a freshman in the Fall. Her dad must be proud.
The vintage photos of a younger you with a bike are trickling in. Steve Kowalewski and Melissa Ott sent these great photos below. Don't be shy, send me your photos!
Here's Steve circa 1949. Is that an early Trek, Steve?
..................
Here's Melissa in 1997, along with a current photo. Melissa is our youngest BCC member and will be attending U.C. Santa Cruz as a freshman in the Fall. Her dad must be proud.
Monday, May 3, 2010
May is here - time to ride!
Our miles in April (1,382) exceeded March (1,095) as more of us opted for the bike in lieu of that massive ton of minerals and combustion we call our car. Our best month ever was 1,763 miles in October 2009. Can we beat that in May? YES WE CAN!
May 13 is Ride Your Bike to Work Day, so let's try to have a good showing!
New team members: We've had several cyclists join our cause recently. Although I posted these folks to our blog's member roster, we want to officially welcome them! They are Tom Hall, Alma Schiefer, Rick Beaumont, Rob Barnett, Steve Kowalewski, and Peg Miller. Thank you for being the change!
Team member photos: Remember to send in vintage photos of a younger you with a bike. Here's one of Steve Sherman in a photo from a biathalon from 1991. Check out the state-of-the-art helmet, the Magnum P.I. mustache, and the aerodynamic sunglasses. For contrast, I've posted below a more current photo of Steve during his latest Ironman. Send me your photos!
May 13 is Ride Your Bike to Work Day, so let's try to have a good showing!
New team members: We've had several cyclists join our cause recently. Although I posted these folks to our blog's member roster, we want to officially welcome them! They are Tom Hall, Alma Schiefer, Rick Beaumont, Rob Barnett, Steve Kowalewski, and Peg Miller. Thank you for being the change!
Team member photos: Remember to send in vintage photos of a younger you with a bike. Here's one of Steve Sherman in a photo from a biathalon from 1991. Check out the state-of-the-art helmet, the Magnum P.I. mustache, and the aerodynamic sunglasses. For contrast, I've posted below a more current photo of Steve during his latest Ironman. Send me your photos!
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