Happy Easter!

Thought you might like to see my "Easter bonnet" in action! I get a lot of comments on my helmet flower.

Boston and Velib

There is an extensive Boston Globe article coming out on Sunday, discussing a bike share for Boston and comparing it to Velib in Paris. The comment section is already heating up! I hope that it doesn't turn into too much of a cyclist-slam, as previous Boston Globe comment sections have done.

I appreciated the author's ode to bicycling in Boston:

Boston is a different city on a bike. As the fresh air hits your face, you see things you would miss from a car: the sun reflecting off a historic church steeple; an old lady who wears a different, outrageous hat every day; intricately carved brownstone doorways. If you look closely, it doesn't feel like New York or Chicago or Los Angeles. I always swear I must be in London or Paris. No other American city has the history and architecture and grandeur of ours, and it's best seen on two wheels.

And I'm cheering for Menino, mayor of our compact, flat, historic city:

"Boston's not like other major cities; we're the most European city in America," Menino says when I meet with him. "We have 300,000 college students in Boston. One out of three Bostonians is 20 to 34. No other city can say that. We will follow Paris's lead, and Nicole (Freedman) will get us there."

Transportation cycling is important for so many reasons - community, health, the environment, financial liberation - I hope the rest of Boston can understand these multiple benefits to such a simple choice. One of the commenters touched on my position there:

"If you walk or drive all the time, you should want more people biking in Boston-- every biker means less traffic, more open parking spots, and fewer people on the T for YOU. Some people are so close-minded that they can't even think beyond their immediate reaction of "ooh I hate bikes, I'm never going to ride one, so I am against the whole idea" to realize that it's in their own personal self-interest to have other people ride bikes."

Three cheers for more bikes!

Impressionist Cruiser

All the cooler for the blur. At least that's what I tell myself.

Mountain Bike and a Suit

This gentleman does not look thrilled to have me taking his photo. I don't care that he was going the wrong way on Mass Ave, I was just impressed to see his suit on a mountain bike.

Flower Power

Bikes with flowers on them make me smile. Always.

Last night I saw the rider of this bike. A middle-aged woman who clearly doesn't take herself too seriously. I'd like to get to chat with her some time.

Feels like spring!

Wicked Boston

Musing about bikes in Boston this evening we had a brainstorm. What if you used a Bern helmet to approximate the iconic ballcap?

Could anything be more Boston than that?

You'd need the RedSox on the back of the helmet, and a big red B for Boston on the front.


Happy Opening Day!

REI has classy bike baskets this season

I'm liking the look and the price is right.

They come in large and extra large too. If I needed a basket I know what I'd be using my REI rebate to buy!

Wacky Bike Video

I have never posted a video here, but this old video (in Czech with German subtitles) is too wacky to miss. It has something for everyone - old recumbents which look just like modern bikes, baby trailers, bicycles built for 5, pedicab races, and even tall bikes.

I've never seen anything like it!

Spotted in the South End

I love her mixte! Great chrome there.
It's been a long time since I've seen someone riding in a relaxed manner wearing sunglasses.

Hurray for Street Cleaning!

April 1st is a great day in Boston/Cambridge, no joking. It's the first official day of street cleaning, the day the bike "lane" is passable again and the streets that much wider and accommodating.

It's like an exfoliation for the street, and feels just as refreshing!


When I'm on my bike the street cleaners are my favorite public employees. If I pass one who is looking around I try to smile/wave/blow him a kiss. I figure the more positive associations they have with cyclists, the better the job they'll do in my bike lane. Will you join me in adopting the street cleaners?