Go to http://www.guardian.co.uk and search for "mangan bicycle". The article was
published on 24 Nov 2007.

I would have given this the title "sexual cycles" but didn't want to trip
people's spam detectors.

Simon Norton

San Francisco Chronicle

S.F. Caltrans station offers valet parking for bicyclists

Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A valet service for bicyclists who commute on Caltrain will get an
official welcome Wednesday in yet another acknowledgement by Bay Area
transportation officials that pedal-power has arrived as a viable
alternative to the private automobile.

The service, located at Fourth and Townsend streets next door to the
Caltrain Station in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, offers
free and secure bike parking for rail commuters.

Complete article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/08/BA2UUAQM1.DTL

Greetings...

Is anyone aware of a yahoo group or similar thing dealing with
recycling, composting, or landfill diversion? Any leads would be
helpful.

Thanks.

Mark Willard
Resident, Planet Earth!



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/08/BA2UUAQM1.DTL

=v= Something your Folding Society will appreciate: in addition
to providing valet parking, the proprietor of this store is
focusing on folding bikes. The more of us on folding bikes, the
more of us can fit on that train! Also, he keeps the odd-sized
tubes and tires and such in stock.

=v= The only real question is why other bikes shops nearby
transit haven't cottoned onto this!

http://www.warmplanetbikes.com/

Anyway, now a great place to send the folding-curious to.
<_Jym_>

Here is an excerpt from a message I sent to the BCHI (Bike Chicago) list
in December about why secure (or at least covered) bike parking at
transit stations is so important. This was in response to an initiative
to get a south suburb of Chicago to bike more. Since that suburb is
served by a commuter train line to Chicago, a no-brainer short bike trip
for lots of its residents is riding to the train station instead of driving.

"It seems the most likely people to draw into transportation cycling are
those that already have a bike for recreation. Most likely the
recreational cyclist has only one bike, and if they are at all serious
about their riding, it will be a bike shop bike worth $300 or more.
Leaving such a bike outside all day exposed to the elements and the
thieves is not a very attractive scenario. Now once people start cycling
for transportation they tend to buy other bikes for special purposes
such as a train station bike, a cargo bike, a folding bike, an icebike,
etc. But initially I'd say everybody starts out with one [probably
decent] bike and its security and protection from the elements is very
important."

-Bob Matter
Hammond, IN

Speaking of bicycles...

When spring rolls around, I'll want to start biking with my baby.
He'll be about 6 months old when the snow melts. I know the two basic
methods for bringing a baby along on a bicycle are a baby seat that
attaches to the bike itself, or a pull-behind trailer. Within those
two options I'm sure there's lots of variation. Is there anyone out
there who has experience to share? What works, what doesn't, etc?

- Alice

I routinely carried my son on the back of my bicycle back in the '70's
before they made baby carriers with safety in mind. I hit a patch of gravel
going around a corner and lost control. Naturally, my first instinct was to
protect my son and I took the brunt of the crash with my body. It was
summer and I was wearing a tank top and shorts. I had road rash from my face
to my ankles but my two-year old only got scraped knuckles. The question
is... Would a trailer flip over is this case or might it swerve out into the
street?

Another question with a trailer: Can you hear your child if there is a
problem? Five years later, I carried my infant daughter strapped to my
front where I could hear if she managed to get something into her mouth.
She was one that put everything into her mouth and I often had to dislodge
objects before she choked. Also, after the fall I had taken with my son, I
wanted to make sure I could protect her with body if we fell or were hit.

Riding a bike with a child is great fun and I haven't met a child yet that
didn't love it. My son was a little nervous about getting back onto Mommy's
bike after we fell but when I suggested walking instead, he climbed back
into the seat. As they grew, we enjoyed touring and picnicking on our bikes
and as adults both of my children ride. Biking with my children holds a lot
of happy memories. May all young parents enjoy the same.

Blessings, AnnaLisa

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm lurking and listening, but I hjave no firsthand experience since my "newest model" is only 35 weeks along and I'm hoping s/he won't be born for another month.

My understanding is that a good trailer would be safer. I've dropped my bike plenty, but the Burley solo I have been using for cargo has always stayed upright. I have a Graco Snugride (car safety seat) that fits in very nicely but will be secured even righter with nylon straps, a la :

http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/riding-with-baby.html

when we are ready. My main concerns are risk of shaken baby syndrome and the helmet laws in California, where we live. I feel like I'm in a catch-22 situation where following the helmet laws will put my baby at too much risk of shaken baby syndrome and if it comes down to ensuring his/her physical safety at the risk of a few tickets, there's not much choice: go ahead and write me the ticket.

I can certainly see AnnaLisa's point about the front carrier and the rebel in me sometimes wonders if I could get away with strapping the Ergo on front under my size XXL rain jacket for the first little bit.

I'm looking forward to hearing other responses from more experienced biker mamas.

~Heather in Humboldt

Thank the heavens I have nothing.Help me not to hate the ones I must destroy.http://www.crimethinc.com/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

We bought a Burley trailer and then put the car seat
in the trailer. Strapped the car seat to the frame of
the burley. My spouse was hit by a car with the Burley
attached. The car seat stayed tied to the frame of the
Burley. My son didn't even move and kept sleeping
through the whole event.

Carol

--- AnnaLisa Wiley <carfree <at> sonic.net> wrote:

> I routinely carried my son on the back of my bicycle
> back in the '70's
> before they made baby carriers with safety in mind.
> I hit a patch of gravel
> going around a corner and lost control. Naturally,
> my first instinct was to
> protect my son and I took the brunt of the crash
> with my body. It was
> summer and I was wearing a tank top and shorts. I
> had road rash from my face
> to my ankles but my two-year old only got scraped
> knuckles. The question
> is... Would a trailer flip over is this case or
> might it swerve out into the
> street?
>
> Another question with a trailer: Can you hear your
> child if there is a
> problem? Five years later, I carried my infant
> daughter strapped to my
> front where I could hear if she managed to get
> something into her mouth.
> She was one that put everything into her mouth and I
> often had to dislodge
> objects before she choked. Also, after the fall I
> had taken with my son, I
> wanted to make sure I could protect her with body if
> we fell or were hit.
>
> Riding a bike with a child is great fun and I
> haven't met a child yet that
> didn't love it. My son was a little nervous about
> getting back onto Mommy's
> bike after we fell but when I suggested walking
> instead, he climbed back
> into the seat. As they grew, we enjoyed touring and
> picnicking on our bikes
> and as adults both of my children ride. Biking with
> my children holds a lot
> of happy memories. May all young parents enjoy the
> same.
>
> Blessings, AnnaLisa
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>

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