Attemp #1

My husband:  "You should really go. I know it's one of your goals for 2013."

Me:  "I know, but I'm a little nervous. I don't have all the gear (and I know that I talk about that not mattering). And I'm not really in shape. And I've never done one before."

My husband:  "You should do it. I'm take care of things around here if that means you'll get to ride. I support you doing it."

Me (with nerves, interpretation and great reluctance):  "...Alright, I will."

This was the conversation we had on Saturday morning about my going on my first group ride. So, I pumped up my tires, slipped my riding shorts and shirt on and headed out. Only to find I was about 5 minutes late. So, there was no group ride. I was a little relieved - and disappointed. Trying something new takes courage and humility.

Getting into a grove of a regular group ride is something that's on my list of things I'd like to do this year. Never having done one, and not being in shape for long rides, I'm a little nervous. But challenging yourself and expanding horizons is good for the soul. So, despite missing out on the group ride, I still decided to go and do a little solo riding. And a hour and a half and 20 miles of rolling roads later, I decided it was for the best. I felt refreshed, satisfied and a little sore, the good kind of sore.

During the ride my mind wandered to the idea that advocates should make sure they get out to ride a bike every so often, and that the hard-core cyclists should make sure they take time to be a part of the advocacy scene. It's about the idea that the love of biking - for whatever reason - should bring us closer together.

My daily commute is the way I typically use my two wheels, but I'd like to shake things up a bit this year. How will you get into a new groove in 2013?

Conversations

Ever notice what happens when you ask someone about riding their bike? A smile starts to creep over their face, and it's like they are suddenly back on the bike, mid conversation.

When bike riding comes up in conversation, I like to sit back and listen. Hearing the way people describe their experiences riding a bike has become one way that I have begun to quietly, secretly elevate the role of the bike in daily life. Riding a bike to get around is not very common in this part of the country - the rural South. People may roll out their two wheels on the weekend on local trails or to get a good workout in, but their are far fewer who bike to get around. And I'm hoping to change that by changing the conversation.

When folks find out that I get around by bike, they look at me, and one of three things usually happens:

1. They look at me like I'm crazy. It usually gets all quiet, and they mumble something about me being crazy. My response:  A little smile and shrug of the shoulders. They'll come around eventually.
   
   
2. A smile comes over their face. They talk about how that's pretty cool. And then there's the explanation of why they can't or don't. My response:  I tell them that not everyone has to ride a bike every day or for the same reason. I encourage them to ride when they can.    Or...
   
   
3. They delve into a story about riding in a past part of their life, and they're off into a reminiscent story-telling mode. I love this story-telling mode. My response:  I just sit back and let them go.

They talk about how it started, the way it made them feel, typically with words like "freedom" and "fun." They also talk about the good of shape that they were in. The type of bike they rode. Then there's the the reason why they stopped:  they moved, got a job, got a car, had a family. All good reasons why life changes change life. However, after some adjustment period of weeks, months or years, I encourage everyone to get back on, no matter when they rode last. (Or if it's their first time!)

Next time a conversation about bike riding comes up, stay quiet and listen. There's a lot to learn about the local bike culture. It could help you figure out important points to talk to or rally around. And, you'll make some great friends.

The Vacuumist

There’s an interesting way that individuals suddenly become the “other” when they choose to ride a bike. Here’s an interesting way to think about this idea:

I don’t think people think of themselves as bikers or cyclists. The bicycle is just a tool. It’s something that everyone has. I’ve heard one person refer to it as a like a vacuum. Everybody has a vacuum but nobody talks about it, nobody calls themselves a vacuumist. 

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this argument. When someone chooses to ride a bike more often than not or when there’s talk about improving bicycle facilities, we’re suddenly talking about “them,” “the other,” or “bicyclists” like they are some intangible entity.

Sure, I ride my bike. But I also drive my car. I also take public transportation from time to time. Is there a label for folks who drive? Calling them “motorists” makes it sound like we’re in the UK or somewhere British. When talking about public transportation, the people are just people who take the subway, metro or bus. They aren’t “metro-ists,” “subwayarians,” “bussers,” or any other weird version of these names.

Trying to change or reframe the conversation around the needs of bicycle infrastructure rather than the needs of bicyclists will take time. I say take the focus off of bicyclists and put it on the need for infrastructure and education. Once there are safe places for people to ride and the community accepts the role of bicycles as a way to get around, the option of getting around on two wheels won’t seem so foreign or something “someone else” would do. Changing or expanding the community of people who choose to ride their bike from time to time would come to include your neighbor, your child’s teacher or a co-worker. 

As I have continued to ride back and forth to work, there has become a growing number of community members who lightly honking their horns as they pass me as a gesture of recognition. And I love waving back to the growing number of familiar cars. It puts a smile on my face. I’m not a bicyclist. I’m their co-worker, their neighbor.

I’m not a vacuumist. I’m not a bicyclist. I’m not a motorist. I ride my bike, drive my car and take the bus. I’m a person making a choice in the way I get around, run my errands and move within my community.

Year End Blog Wrap Up

Time to take a look back over the last year. Hittin' some of the highlights is a good way to refresh and prep for the coming year. Let's recap the posts of 2012:

In the winter, there was a post about being visible on a bike. An important safety tip, especially during these darker months of the year. There was also a post highlighting the group Upstate Sorba, a regional mountain biking organization that takes to the trails in this part of the southeast. I also wrote about the bike box idea, creating a safer space at intersections for those on bikes. A favorite winter post was the push for being an agent of change:  it only takes a few small steps to get started and to make an impact in your hometown. (Perhaps a goal for a few of you to consider for the 2013 year.)

In the spring, I took a trip to Savannah, Georgia. Though it was a vacation, the adventures resulted in a post about Tybee Island and the cool, fun bike-related things to do, a shout out to creative uses of bollards, a pizza company who delivers pizzas by bicycles and meeting Peter from the Netherlands. With national bike month in May, there was a great article highlighted from the Greenville News about the role of bikes in neighborhoods past and present, reminding us that biking isn't a short-lived fad - it's been around for decades. I also wrote about the group of kids who ride bicycles around my neighborhood.

The summer brought a few more posts about Savannah, and a thought about the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Clemson University also adopted their Master Bikeways Plan, and soon thereafter installed the first bike lane since the mid-1990's. There was a post with photos of different styles of bike racks - mostly collected by my husband on a trip out to California. In another post, I also explored a few reasons why there are less women who ride than men, a rising topic in the bike advocacy world during 2012.

The Georgia-lina Bike Summit was highlighted in fall. As well as a favorite post (with lots of photos!) about the steps necessary to create a bike lane. Who knew that it all boils down to space, pavement and paint? In October this blog recorded the highest number of hits ever. Almost 1,300 people in October alone viewed Biking in the Upstate! Thanks, y'all!

Wrapping up 2012, there was a post about the change in national transportation trends, especially by those in Generation Y. The SC DOT Multimodal Plan was highlighted as well as exploring how to be a better bicycle commuter. This blog also turned two years old, which is kind of a momentous event. I had no idea where this blog would be when I started writing in December 2010, and it's fun to celebrate the anniversary of bringing biking news, exploring bike topics and being a place to explore and exchange ideas.

To spice things up a bit, a hit counter has recently been added to the bottom of the blog. If you've got any suggestions for stories to share or ideas to explore in the coming months, let me know. I'd also welcome any guest bloggers. And, as always, I appreciate your comments.

Here's to a great 2012! Thanks! Keeping reading, and keep bike riding!

What I Want for Christmas

All dressed up for Christmas

My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and, without thinking, I said “a safe route to ride my bike to work.”

I live 5 miles from where I work at Clemson University. The route is direct, a little hilly and is at that right distance where I get a nice, little workout in during my commute. I love it.

But, I also loathe it. The road is full of fast-moving traffic, debris, aging pavement and is not for the light-hearted. I would be lying if I said that I don’t get scared sometimes or haven’t shaken my fist and said a few profanities when cars drive too close. For over half of my commute, there’s no bike lane so I get to share the road with traffic that sometimes passes me at 50 mph. 

About 80% of the passing traffic gives me wide berth, most sliding over to the far left lane. But when the traffic is moving or there’s a lot of it, I feel my heart rate increase and my breathing gets heavy – my body is reacting to stress and there’s a slight shift into fight or flight mode. 

When asked what I want for Christmas, there’s no thought about the latest gadget or the newest fashion trend. I’ve got what I need when it comes to personal items. What I want for Christmas is simple, yet so far from reality it sounds like the old cliché of “world peace.” But I’m not asking for the world. I’m only asking for one, simple thing:  a safe route to bike to work.

Upstate News Update, December 2012

My, how time flies! The last Upstate News Update was in August, and since it's now December, let's get updated with some of the great bike-related things that have happened.

City of Rock Hill. This fall, the City of Rock Hill was designated as a "bicycle-friendly" community, and won an award at the bronze level. Rock Hill joins other communities like Greenville and Hilton Head as being part of South Carolina's few officially recognized bicycle-friendly communities.

Doodle Line Update. Interest in developing a bike path on an old railroad line in between Pickens and Easley is moving forward. The 8.5 mile path would be similar to the Swamp Rabbit Trail that's enjoyed by many, providing a safe, fun place for people to walk and ride their bikes. A feasibility study is being completed to get a better understanding of the issues, cost and economic development boost it would bring to the two cities. A facebook page in support of the effort  has also been developed.

PELCOR Initiative. The Pickens, Easley and Liberty Corridor (PELCOR) has recently been awarded a substantial sum to implement the Town Creek Park plan. The plan aims to transform the 100-acre parcel of land into a great off-road bicycle facility. The park is one of three facilities that will be built in the PELCOR area for mountain bike riders of all abilities and skill levels.

City of Greenville. Bike share is coming to the City of Greenville. B-Cycle will launch this Spring 2013 with support from Upstate Forever and Greenville Hospital System. The same company operates the bike share program in Spartanburg. (Time to build a path between the two, right?)

City of Clemson. The City of Clemson continues to move forward with their bike plan. Some of the plan sections have been presented to the Planning Commission. Earlier in 2012, the community was invited to participate in an online bike survey. Stay tuned to the City of Clemson website for more information about the plan.

BITU Two-Year Anniversary

This month is Biking in the Upstate's (BITU) two-year anniversary. Two years ago I began charting the course for this blog, reporting on some of the biking-related news in the South Carolina Upstate and asked you to join me in exploring all things "bike." And thank YOU for your support, comments and help in making the area a better place to ride a bike.

It's been pretty darn cool to see development and implementation of local bike plans, the increased number of people take to two wheels and the rise in general support for biking. The advocates of and public officials in the cities of Anderson, Easley, Pickens, Liberty, Clemson, Spartanburg, Greenville and Rock Hill are working on bringing the benefits of bike lanes, shared roads and paths to their communities. There have been important meetings to attend, improved bikeways and more, improved places to ride a bike. There's also been a ground-swell of support over the last few years.

You've been an important part of this journey - participating in meetings, contacting friends, commenting on various blog posts and, maybe most importantly, riding your bike. Maybe you have recently gotten back on bike for the first time in years, maybe you've been riding for a while. All riders - recreational, family, long-haul, racers, spandex, weekend-warriors, tweed-riders, whoever - are critical in making biking in the upstate better.Where one rides, two are better. There is safety (and fun!) in numbers.

I hope this blog has also inspired you in some way to do something a little bit more:  maybe a post provided an alternative perspective to ponder, maybe you actually made time to attend a meeting, maybe you invited a friend to go for a bike ride. For me, I've enjoyed having a place to talk about important issues, highlight interesting stories and develop a storyline about biking in this part of the state. I think it's an important piece of building a stronger bike community locally, regionally and nationally.