On For some, two-wheel travel is the only way
Posted on May 12 at 6:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Thanks to Steve Dean for representing bike commuters in Janesville, and thanks to the City Council for designating the week. Here in Janesville we have a great bike trail system reaching most of the city and we live in a Bicycle Friendly State, in fact, ranked second in the country. Nearby is Madison, one of the most advanced cycling cities in the US, with leaders who recently traveled to Europe to observe the bike infrastructure in cities where up to 30% of the population gets around on two wheels.
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If you're not sure what to do to get started, I have resources on the Facebook page (click through above), and some of them are on Steve Knox's blog this week:
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/gen-x...
http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/bett...
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Plan a route using Google Maps, choosing "Bicycling" in the left pane. (Google doesn't know about our bike trails yet, though.)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...
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Businesses can also buy bike racks through Grainger at a special price. Contact me and I will set this up. Let us know and we can make it a photo op!
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Please register online or at the Farmers Market on Saturday. We'll have certificates for everyone and giveaways to be determined later.
On Give it a try. Bike to work this week
Posted on May 10 at 4:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Steve is early! Bike to Work Week is May 17-21, and we're holding a kickoff at the Janesville Farmers Market Saturday morning. But this is still good -- people need time to prepare, plan a route, oil their chain, put air in the tires, and so on. Michaels Cycles will be doing tech checks at the Saturday kickoff, so bring your bike and they'll help you get it ship-shape!
http://www.veloclub.org/btww
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If you have access to Facebook, I've been posting lots of interesting articles and videos about bike commuting there. If not, here are some of my favorites:
http://vimeo.com/967732?pg=embed&sec...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_wDx96JZ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mylCmEB4_...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZgHYHmh-...
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Bike commuting can be safe as long as you learn to anticipate vehicle conflicts and pay attention. The most important thing is to wear a helmet (you only get one noggin) and strive to be predictable and visible at all times. For frogger and anyone else who worries about safety, try this site:
http://bicyclesafe.com/
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Some general links:
http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/bett...
http://www.peopleforbikes.org/
http://www.bikecommuters.com/
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There are some very exciting things happening worldwide in getting people to ride more. Wisconsin is actually the second-ranked Bicycle Friendly State in the US, thanks to things like our Rails to Trails network and the presnce of top-line bike businesses like Trek and Saris. Madison, Milwaukee, and LaCrosse are all Bicycle Friendly Communities, with Madison ranked gold and striving for platinum. Madison hopes to get 20% of its commuters using bikes by 2020. Places like Holland and Denmark already have figures approaching 30%, so this is definitely within reach.
http://20-by-2020.com/
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Being next to such great bike resources and cities, there's no reason that Janesville can't also become a Bicycle Friendly Community. We already have an excellent trail system. In these times of watching an oil slick cover the Gulf of Mexico, there's no better time to reconsider our dependence on fossil fuel transportation, and given Rock County's poor health rankings reported earlier this year, improving community wellness is an important goal we should all strive for.
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So get out that bike, and ride! You'll be the one thanking yourself. See you out there!
On ‘Safe routes’ proposal to be considered by council
Posted on May 9 at 9:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
More information on Safe Routes to School programs:
http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
More on walking school buses:
http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/walk...
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Anyone with a bicycle can participate in Bike to Work Week! Please join us at the Janesville Farmers Market on May 15. This is a community wellness event that combines fun and fitness, and helps the environment as well.
http://www.veloclub.org/btww
On Three teens arrested on robbery charges
Posted on June 1 at 1:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
peppermeister, drug deals have been known to be phony. I remember this bag of chives once ...
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Anyway, with all the arrests on Milton Avenue on Friday night, maybe Janesville has a new crime district.
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/jun...
On Three teens arrested on robbery charges
Posted on June 1 at 1:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
C'mon, tell us, was the food McDonald's or Wendy's? The public demands to know! This has to full under the sunshine laws.
Posted on May 28 at 4:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Last I heard, the skate park was approved, but not enough money had been raised to start construction. If the kids and their families do want this they're going to have to step forward and help pay for it.
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Ah, this article:
http://gazettextra.com/news/2007/nov/27/...
"Streich said fund raising for the skate park been inching along. So far, the Janesville Outdoor Skate Park Committee has collected about $20,000 of the approximately $400,000 Streich says is needed."
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NVgrl, that's 40-odd acres PER 1000 residents. The total acreage is 2580.
On Police, schools join hands to slow the spread of gang activity in Janesville
Posted on May 19 at 1:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
chemical_6, you are right. One of the most common factors in gang affiliation is having an absent parent, especially the father, for one reason or another. Obviously there is a need for parental action but many times by the point that a kid is seriously involved in a gang they feel powerless. There is also a vicious circle where if one gang starts pushing other kids around, they "gang up" themselves simply to feel protected.
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In the end gangs are a social affliction in every urban society, so the idea that Janesville is one place they can be "stopped" is not realistic.
On Heroin supplier to spend six years in prison
Posted on May 2 at 2:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Every case is different.
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Among other things the guy in Fond du Lac was two steps away from the victim -- he gave the drugs to someone who gave them to someone else who gave them to the victim. On the other hand, that last person only received probation.
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There are Wisconsin sentencing guidelines. The commission which monitored their implementation, however, has just been abolished (as of Thursday, actually; they met for the last time a year ago).
http://wsc.wi.gov/
On Wisconsin sees nearly 40 percent rise in Hispanic population
Posted on May 2 at 12:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If you wish to repeal the authority by which persons born in the United States are entitled to citizenship and all rights thereby accrued, you will have to have the 14th Amendment to the Constitution changed.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html...
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I hope I need not remind anyone of why it was passed.
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On Oh hell; It's cold again
Posted on December 4 at 3:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I've just received confirmation that Michael's Cycles will be running another Frozen Fools Challenge for 2011. That's right -- winter biking! Past participants have racked up an average of 1000 winter road miles between Jan. 1 and Apr. 1. That's about 11 miles per day, which is really not much (but then you have to be flexible on your definition of a good biking day). The web page will be updated soon.
http://michaelscycles.net/articles/froze...