Green Wheels is excited to announce our first Bike Lane Inventory for the City of Arcata is finally complete. After a year and a half of volunteer effort the Green Wheels team has created something to be truly proud of. The Inventory was begun after members began noticing discrepancies in the lane repair process throughout Arcata. This Inventory takes a holistic approach to understanding the current state of bike lanes throughout Arcata by rating lane segments across the City and using geographic analysis to assess where the greatest need for maintenance exists. The criteria we used considers the Caltrans standards put forth in the Arcata Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan and implements totally original qualitative analysis that allows participating cyclists to give input on the quality of riding for each lane segment. Check out all these details and more in the full color pdf.

On occasion, standing over my bike at a stoplight, I begin to think about myself situated in traffic. How do other cyclists feel when they’re standing, walking, riding in traffic? Do they stand up tall with some sort of steadfast bravery? Do others feel exposed? How about righteous? Comfortable? Are there a few who don’t even notice the traffic around them? Green Wheels is always interested in the thoughts and feelings of local commuters so I thought I would start asking a few questions through our blog. One of the things I like about blogs is the generation of a wide variety of responses to a central idea or post. It’s a great way to learn about others who have similar interests. So what about the questions above? What do you feel when you’re commuting? Do these feelings change with a change in the type of transportation you choose? What other factors might dictate how you feel when you’re in traffic?

In a recent meeting with Tom Mattson of Eureka Public Works, the speed trailer was recommended as a great multifaceted traffic calming device. Now, I thought this was an obvious choice as a quick and low-cost solution because the City just had to drag one out to a problem stretch of road and turn the thing on. Boy did I learn different. NOT ONLY does a speed trailer show people how much faster over the speed limit they're going, it will also sit there appearing 'off' to passing drivers for days when first set at a location and be taking important data on speed and time of day to be reported to California Highway Patrol.

I just wanted to publicly thank Revolution Bicycle Repair in Arcata for taking time out of their busy schedules to do a last minute fix on one of my bikes again. These guys have been nothing but helpful. I've worked at a bike shop before and there is plenty of stress built up when everyone is pushing to get their bike back ASAP. Revolution has always taken good care of Green Wheels and I think the least I could do today is thank them publicly on our blog. Thanks to Justin and the crew for looking out. Revolution is located at the top of G st in Arcata. They are great mechanics and good people who take the time to invest beyond their business in the community. They also offer 10% on parts and accessories to all Green Wheels members. Sweet!

Regions of transition between one set of traffic conditions and another are usually hotbeds for conflict and creative traffic engineering. With the onset of the road widening for Myrtle and Old Arcata, while many residents are complaining about their front yards disappearing, a certain group of citizens are resurrecting concerns over the intersection at Myrtle and Hall.

Chad Johnson and I decided last minute to meet for breakfast and a good, punishing bike ride. Hey, what are Sundays for anyway? So after steak and french toast we set off toward Snow Camp summit through Korbel. One of my favorite day trips, this route taxing with plenty of dirt climbs and false summits and ends with a high-speed spin down the 299 back into Blue Lake. This time Chad and I encountered a pleasant addition: We didn't get passed by a single motorized vehicle from Blue Lake all the way over the mountain to the 299. Yes! We also encountered three run-ins with less-than-model canines.

Some of you may already be familiar with the website: http://www.bartrage.com/. If not, you should definitely spend some time and read through the rants people post about this San Francisco rapid transit system. Its not only amusing but would make a great model for a site we could have for HTA, etc. Sure, we don't have wifi access around every corner so its harder to blog on the fly but it might be a fun way to vent and see what types of experiences other users are having. Who knows? We might even get a clearer idea of what the actual problems really are. At least from the points of view of those who own computers and have access to internet. All those other people? Well, they're probably forced to ride the bus anyway:)

Strolling around the perimeter of Golden Gate Park I noticed something unusual and, what appeared to be, slightly uncomfortable: cyclists riding down the center divide of two-way vehicle traffic through an intersection. “What the heck is this?” I wondered. Then I laughed. The city had created an intersection where, on one side, the median had nice landscaping and a bike path and, on the other side, the median was just a concrete median where they ran out of the necessary width to continue the path.

Cyclists were intended to enter the path via crossing halfway in the crosswalk and riding down the center of the intersection to the opposite side where the path begins. Exiting the path cyclists where intended to cross down the center to the opposite crosswalk and cross to ether side when the light changed. Now notice to get to or from the bike path there is going to be some sort of delay because you're waiting for a phase change before you can proceed.

When bicycling around town, commuting to a destination, or getting some exercise I frequently take the same route or similar routes depending on the location and purpose. Subconsciously I select the route that works best, is the fastest or least interrupted, or has the least traffic. But would I select a different route if I really analyzed my path of travel? Would I realize I may enjoy a different route entirely?