Wear a Helmet!

I've been getting into bicycling more and more lately, and expect that the warmer weather ahead will get a lot of people out on the roads and trails with their bikes for the first time this year.  I'm a fan of helmets, not for how dorky they make people look, but more for the practical reason of being an important part of cyclding safety. So today I want to direct readers of this blog to this post over at local blog Sweeter Salt. The author of Sweeter Salt had an unfortunate accident on her bicycle recently which resulted in fractured elbows (yikes!), but thankfully she is also pro-helmet and avoided any serious head injuries.

Some snippets from her story:

Basically the lock fell out of the basket and tangled in my front wheel, making it screech to a stop, tossing me over the handle bars. I landed on my hands, but banged my head on the ground. 

WEAR YOUR BIKE HELMET!!! Each and every single time you ride a bike. I don’t care if your hair looks cute – not an excuse. If I hadn’t been wearing mine I could have had brain damage. Seriously.

 Oh, and don’t have loose stuff hanging around. Secure your lock, don’t wear loose clothing, tie your shoes, etc. This all could have been avoided if I put my lock in my backpack.

Kudos to this local cyclist for sharing her story. Hopefully her pro-helmet message and bike safety tips are taken to heart by bicyclists of all ages and skill levels.

Google Told Me So

I've noticed that Google's walking and bicycling directions officially recognize this connection of Oxford Street across Franklin Street/Arterial. Time to put in some crosswalks (or maybe reconnect the street)!

Re: Metro QR Codes

To follow up on my last post, the QR codes on the Metro bus stop signs are now working. Scanning it with your smartphone's QR reader (there are my programs that do this, I use Google Goggles) provide a link to the corresponding bus route's timetable and map on the Metro website.

You can scan this code on your computer screen if you want to test it out from the comfort of your home. 

Metro QR Codes

I recently noticed a QR code on a Metro bus stop sign and took a few snapshots with my phone. Has anyone else seen these around town? I tried scanning the code with my Android smartphone (using Google Goggles) but it didn't seem to work.  I didn't see anything on the Metro website about this, so perhaps it's in the early stages or the code wasn't actually put up by them. It would be neat to have these QR codes at bus stops around town that would provide a direct link on your smartphone to a route map and timetable. If I was feeling ambitious I would also suggest that Metro provide open transit data to let riders track the location of buses in real time (but that's a topic for another day). 

The Right Direction

You might have seen it already, but you should be aware of a report published by the Alliance for Biking & Walking which found that "the number of Mainers who commute to work by bicycle increased by 120 percent between 1990 and 2009." Impressive! You should check out this press release by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine for all the details. Here are a few more highlights they noted:

• Maine ranks 10^th nationally in the number of people who bike and walk to work

• While 12 percent of all trips in the U.S. are by bike and foot, the report notes that only 1.6 percent of federal transportation dollars go to biking and walking.

I Go Metro

You might have seen my mug on the Metro website lately. I also provided a little testimonial:

Corey T. -- "As a car-free Portlander, I rely on Metro for transportation around town when I'm not walking or biking. I ride it every day and enjoy the financial savings and convenience of not having to own a car. On days when coworkers have to deal with traffic jams or winter weather, I can proudly say that I not only made it to work on time, but also finished reading a few chapters of whatever book I'm reading while on the bus. I recommend trying a trip on the Metro to everyone. Even if the bus isn't your only method of transportation, it can be a healthy part of a balanced transportation diet."Corey takes METRO to his job at UNUM.

Stop: Driving

Seen at the intersection of India and Fore Streets.

Back Cove Connection

As I learned via Rights of Way earlier this month, the long anticipated pedestrian/bicycle connection at Exit 7 has been completed. Hurrah! This short but valuable trail connects Marginal Way/Franklin Street/ The Bayside Trail to The Back Cove Trail. Here are a few photos of the $200,000 project that I took this past weekend:

Ignore the "Do Not Enter" signs, those are just for cars.

Gifts for Car-free Portlanders

Here are a couple last-minute gift ideas for the car-free Portlander on your list. 

Regional Monthly Bus Pass

Good for unlimited rides on the Metro and South Portland Bus lines. Only $45. 

Photo via Rights of Way

Portland, Maine Bike Map

"The first and only Portland Maine Bike Map highlights bike routes, lanes, and paths from Falmouth to Scarborough, Casco Bay to Westbrook - almost everyplace you can comfortably reach in an easy hour's ride from downtown Portland." $6.

Maine Running Company Gift Certificate

"At Maine's only running specialty store, you will find a welcoming environment where runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts of all abilities receive unparalleled service and support."

Living Without a....

This Google search autocomplete reinforces a general sentiment that a car is an inalienable part of people's bodies.