Tag: biking

Also known as cycling, bicycling, or riding a bike

Photo of folding bike with bags on back rack parked in front of giant metal sculptures of a banjo. In the background, stairs and escalator in front of glass walls and a high cement ceiling.

What’s In a Name?

October 2 happens to be Name Your Car Day. Who would have thought we needed a day for this? According to the National Today page on this, “Studies show that naming inanimate objects can make us feel more in control…Continue Reading

Real Life on a Bike

I rode my bike today. No big deal, do that quite often. The fact that it’s not a big deal sometimes feels like a big deal. I mean, I used to drive everywhere. Dang near everywhere, anyway. I lived in…Continue Reading

In foreground, sitting on a wooden table-top in soft lighting, white coffee cup with drawing of a turquoise upright bicycle and the words "Life is a beautiful ride". Background soft focus of kitchen with appliances.

Bike Delights

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Riding my bike always makes me happy. Always. Among my daily habits or near-habits (hey, pobody’s nerfect), I keep a journal. Each day I put a heading at the top of…Continue Reading

My Bad—Or Was It?

I recognized the move because I’ve made it myself: You rear (pronounced more like “rare” in some regional dialects) back on your heels, throw your hands in the air, and give the offending person The Look. It’s the look that…Continue Reading

Actions You Can Take for Active Transportation: Contacting State Legislators

When I served in the Idaho state legislature I quickly learned that many people didn’t really understand what level of government I served in (“Are you home from D.C.?”). If they thought about state lawmaking at all they thought about…Continue Reading

Graphic of medium blue box with white lettering "2025 Ahead!"

New Year Ahead

Objectively speaking if we step away from human-made calendars then every day is New Year’s Day. Which is to say, on any given day a whole year of days stretch out in front of you, just waiting for you to…Continue Reading

Photo of a peach-colored upright bike with a turquoise seat cover and panniers on the back rack (one turquoise, one black). The bike is parked on a boardwalk with water and sailboats beyond. Behind the bike, a gray statue of a tall woman with her head turned to kiss a man in a suit who's slightly shorter than she is.

How Many Minutes (by Bike) Is Your Neighborhood?

I don’t live in a 15-minute neighborhood or a 15-minute city, one in which I can meet the majority of everyday needs in a 15-minute walk. I find that an imprecise and unimodal measure, though, and implicitly ableist as well.…Continue Reading

Photo with a long stretch of green grass in the center pointing toward the dome of the Washington state capitol building against a blue sky with puffy white clouds. On the left, an asphalt path. At right, a road bike leans against a sign that reads Visitor Parking.

Actions You Can Take for Active Transportation: Homework

Being an advocate or activist can feel so, so exhausting. You phone and email and call. You show up for the events. You donate and volunteer. Change is slow, progress incremental, sometimes you feel as if you’re going backward rather…Continue Reading

Closeup photo of a bicycle derailleur. The bike frame is bright blue. The equipment is splattered with mud.

Riding in the Rain, Wheeling through Winter: Bike Gear DEFGs (to follow the ABCs)

Advice for gear to help you keep riding into the winter months.

Bike/Life Lessons Learned

Many of my stories about who I am and the way I operate in the world start with a story about my mom. This is true about my bicycling even though I never saw my mom on a bike. She…Continue Reading

Photo of two bikes unde ra tree. The one closest to the camera carriers two panniers, one turquoise and one black, on a back rack, and has a small paper license plate reading BARB with streamers. The other has a child seat on the back that sports a large bright yellow flower at the top of the seat back.

Earth Day Market Ride 2024

What a gorgeous day for the annual event! Unlike last year’s somewhat gray day, this year we got blue skies, sunshine, and warming temperatures. I kept up my streak for #30DaysOfBiking, which is rolling along nicely. People of all shapes and sizes…Continue Reading