Showing posts with label 22nd June 2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 22nd June 2014. Show all posts

Sunday, 22 June 2014

22nd June 2014, Anthony shares some ideas to promote biking to work

Secure Bike Storage Could Make all the Difference to Commuters

Anthony writes:


I found that participating in Operation Transportation was a great way to discover areas around where I live that I wouldn't have bothered to go to.
 

Cycling opens out  the wonders of your world and provides new perspectives on life, as realised by Anthony and Calvin's father in the cartoon above from:
http://usjgreenriders.blogspot.ie/2011/10/cartoon-of-week_20.html
I’ve also just been given a key to the secure bike shed at work (in Arup) where they have been having meetings on how to encourage their workforce to cycle to work. A few minutes a day does make a difference to your overall cardio fitness I think. 

As bikes can be quite expensive these days it’s good to see companies making an effort to secure your bikes while you're at work rather than just providing a bike shelter.

There are many Bike Shelters to choose from some more secure than others..
3rd down on Left: 
 Underneath to the right: a runner up in London Cycling Campaigns best Cycling Facility Awards 2011, Lambeth Council's Vauxhall bike lockers: http://lcc.org.uk/pages/best-cycling-facility 
Second photo below on the right:  http://www.bikecare.co.uk/cycle_shelters.html

















I'm afraid it’s too easy to cut a bike lock and steal the bike, so I hope that other companies may review the security of their bike storage areas and advertise it to their staff. 
If you have a bike that lingers uncycled in a shed
 for fear of bike theft elsewhere, why not ask your
employer or colleagues to invest in some secure
bike storage? Image from:
 http://blog.supersizedbikes.com/2010/12/bicycle-lore/bike-in-garage-cartoon/
I think this could make all the difference in people’s attitude to cycle commuting.













Anyway, I hope that Operation Transportation is just the start of a series of measures to promote cycling and not simply a one off.  

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK and keep us posted of any other events.
Regards, Anthony

Editorial Footnote:


Bike lockers are only as good as the lock that secures them. Some secure bicycle stores are locked electronically  like the bicycle parking facility in Lexington, Baltimore, where over 50 bicycles can be parked in a fenced area, accessible only with a keycard pass. 

However many of the lockers depicted in between Anthony's text, require padlocks -which may be broken with varying degrees of ease. The following video gives some advice on choosing the best padlock:


22nd June 2014, Michelle Concludes her Urban Biking Experiences

Biking Brings News of 

Baby Boy's Birth


Michelle writes: 

We’ve been having the busiest week ever. It seemed like there were not enough hours in the day for cycling . :(

However, the relatives we’ve been visiting by bike in Rochestown had a baby boy on Sunday morning: Daniel David. :)
 
The arrival of a baby boy succeeds cycle trips to relatives in Rochestown.
Image is taken from a webpage dedicated to cycling fowl: 
http://www.johnnypayphone.net/chvcken666/
I am completely new to cycling in urban areas, and have been disappointed at how motorists regard cyclists – I think there should be more focus on making motorists aware of our entitlement to be on the road as well.

The new cycle-lanes are generally great – though not too good along the South Douglas Road (across from the school) as cars are constantly parked there, blocking the cycle-lane.
 
Parking in Cycle lanes is a problem all over the world as the photos above from Scotland show. Source: http://drpetermatthews.blogspot.ie/2012/06/bike-to-work-week-what-my-council-is.html 

Thanks to everyone for organising Operation Transportation and helping with advice and tips etc.

Editorial Comment:


Do you have any bike tips or advice to share? If so please comment below.
Alternatively, if what you have to say is too much for a comment box. Please email wileywheeler@gmail.com and I will post your idea, according to your specifications!

22nd June 2014, The cycling just gets easier and more enjoyable as John's love for it deepens.

You don't know what you are 

missing if you don't cycle...  


John writes: 


Margaret is writing a blog on her tablet as I write.  

Meanwhile, here is a photograph of us cycling by St Peter's Church, Carrigrohane, this (Sunday) evening at about 8pm.  

The foreground is not so sharp but I think the background with the church and grounds looks well. 

I'm really enjoying cycling now and find I no longer dread climbing hills.  It is amazing how quickly one gets used to cycling and enjoying it again.  I'm converted to returning to cycling — thanks to Operation Transportation.  So glad it gave me the incentive to buy a bike. 

John  has been discovering reasons to cycle like the one celebrated above from the blog and e-card site: 





I look forward to cycling in the coming years, something I thought I had finished with years ago.  Cycling is so exhilarating.  People don't know what they are missing when they don't cycle.  


Take the workout outside, as this art invokes: 


Editor's Comment:


Did you think you had finished with cycling years ago? Re-discover the excitement and exhiliration of cycling like John and the man below on: http://wheelywheel.blogspot.ie/p/resources.html and sourced at from: http://www.seppo.net/cartoons/displayimage.php?pos=-735


© Seppo Leinonen, www.seppo.net
And check out even more reasons to cycle here: http://www.bikeminded.org/about-campaign/reasons-to-cycle/ 

Last but not least: Don't forget to sponsor John and Margaret's chosen Charity PIETA HOUSE @ http://www.mycharity.ie/event/operationtransportation2014 

Only 3 people have sponsored so far, even though many many more have seen this notice...










22nd June 2014 Siobhán is on a High as She Hits Sixty

Got no Motivation? 

Siobhán's Got the Answer...


Siobhán writes:
“On Sunday, I went for a cycle with my dad. He is in training for the Ring of Kerry cycle, which I had signed up to a while back. However, I hadn't any training done for it, so I was convinced up until I started this operation transportation that I wouldn’t do it.


I was kicking myself for not getting up and going, but had no motivation to train. Now I’m inspired again, and I’m going to chance it, see how far I get…

Today we cycled from Millstreet back to Killarney; we stopped for a coffee and a sandwich and continued on.  

In the end, we covered 60km in total…

And I was delighted after it, but I do now have a very sore bum, and am wondering how I will triple that cycle in two week’s time.

Still, saying that when I started this operation transportation challenge I struggled with 10km and look at me today: 60km.. “


 
In between these words are “a few pics of today and also one or two of the ring of Kerry which I completed two years ago (I had months of training done two years ago for it, so I am very apprehensive this time.)

 But I will go as far as I can, and might even cross the finish line, thanks to operation transportation: I am going to attempt it.”









Editorial Comment:

Go Siobhán!!

Best of luck with the 180km cycle. Do let us know how far you get on the Ring of Kerry trek and send on a  few photos…

Also... if anyone else is lacking motivation to undertake a seemingly impossible challenge just do something similar but really easy and see how you feel. Remeber Siobhán only commmitted to cycling for 10 minutes each day!

 

The image on the left is from fitness ocaching blog: http://irisaveryfitness.wordpress.com/tag/gym/
and the image on the right is form organisational app: www.homeroutines.com 
Both are stills from the movie " What about Bob?"

If that doesn't work- go for a refreshing cycle. When you return with the rush of endorphins and adrenalin pumping through your veins, you may find that the mammoth tasks seem more manageable!