Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[LeahFoy]

School begins on Monday, and we have before us a number of challenges. The school is in its second year, and it has exploded in population. There was nearly no parking to begin with, and with the second school in the neighborhood also convening in the morning and with the canyon's whole workforce trying to get out for their 25 minute commute with but one single road that we all must share, biking is a NO-BRAINER. But nearly no one, excepting us, has done it. The school is 2 miles from my door (too far to walk), all downhill to school, and all uphill on the way home. The hill is so steep that a child really needs brakes of good quality for the downhill, and a bike that isn't too heavy (these are just kids, remember) and has GEARS for the way uphill. Also ideal would be a bottle cage for water since we live in Vegas and a rack. But a rack is probably asking too much.

I mentor the junior high girls from church (I heart teenagers!), and one of my little favorites, L, will attend our school. She and her little sister plan to use their electric scooter and bike to join us. She babysits a boy who will ride with us on his own bike. Another family I'm acquainted with asked if their 5th grader could join us. As I was leaving campus after the meet and greet today, I heard L yell, "Leah! We have some more coming!"

"More what?" I asked.
"More girls!" she called.
"Riding bikes?" I asked, incredulous.
"Yes, my mom's getting all their information, I'll tell you later!"

So, there you have it. Leah's Bicycle Bus is born!

You might imagine I have some anxiety about the logistics. Even more about the liability. I have a plan worked out, and I'll tweak it as need arises.

Now, for the question.

My only-5th grade-son has been reclassified as a middle-schooler. He must carry all his books/folders/etc in his backpack. They tell me, "Oh, and here's his Chromebook for the year. It goes home with him every night."

SERIOUSLY?

My Betty Foy has a Nitto Big Front Rack with the biggest Wald they make. The back has a lighter duty rack that was acting as a support for my medium Saddlesack. This is not going to carry both sons' bags and lunches now that my "middle-schooler" must schlep around everything he owns. Also, what happens if one of the neighborhood kids needs me to haul something? I called Riv and Will listened and we both thought I would need the Big Back Rack, so I ordered it. Now, I wonder if I should continue to use my medium saddlesack or if I should order the large. Or maybe just add Back-a-Bike-bags, which are out of stock for now. Will suggested: http://www.carsickdesigns.com/products/large-pannier-set but I don't love them very much.

Someone chime in and tell me what's the best way to carry all this weight.

Thanks once again! L

[John Aydelotte]

Sounds like you might be in cargo-bike territory.  Xtracycle or Yuba make good ones -- even battery powered for that climb going home.  They aren't cheap though...  You could convert your Betty to a longtail with an Xtracycle kit, but that might ruin it for other riding.

Attach a trailer to the back?

[Bill Lindsay]

Do you have bags on the sides of the front rack?  I'm running the Big Front rack on my Appaloosa.  I have the huge Wald Basket with the Large shopsack on top and the Large Backabike panniers on the sides.  Here's a shot of an S24O setup, with the bike weighing about 75lbs.  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45758191@N04/26121289280

A Big Rear would allow another set of panniers plus a large saddlesack if necessary.  

[dougP]

If your load hauling requirement relevant to the kid's stuff is limited to the bicycle bus, I'd just pick up a pair of used panniers.  You should be able to get a serviceable pair for under $50, and likely someone around here has an old set for even less.  Expect them to be ugly & beat up but consider the service.  If you then find you are using them more & more, invest in a nice set.  REI sometimes has Ortlieb end-of-year specials for $100 for the big back ones.  But they'd be serious over-kill for what you describe.

Where's cargo box guy?  He sounds pretty handy.:). 

dougP

[Mark in Beacon]

I think possibly your best bet is a used bike trailer hooked up to the Betty engine. Maybe not as sexy as some other options, but hey, it's a school bus, and you can often get them cheap. As kids join the train, they can simply toss in their backpacks, books, whatever, saddle up, get in the paceline, and then grab 'em right out at the school. No fussing with opening and closing bags, buying expensive stuff, whose thing is in what etc. No worries about kids precariously loading their bikes. (Though the older ones should be schooled in rackage and baggage. A good after school activity.) I have a Cycle Tote that would be perfect for this--basically a big open box with soft canvas sides. Has a thing for when it rains. Even a basic kid's Burley would be fine. Also good as a traffic calming device for the trip. And it goes on/comes off in under a minute. Maybe a few of the parents will even help fund it, since you will be saving them the hassle and trip! Or apply for a Bike Train To School grant!

[Scott Henry]

Why wouldn't the kids carry whatever they need in their own backpacks on their backs?

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Cheers,
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Dayton, OH

[drew]

the crust cargo fork would look ridiculous on the betty

https://www.crustbikes.com/products/clydesdale-fork

[Mark in Beacon]

Kid's backpacks are often overloaded, and can cause muscle strains, imbalances, and other problems. A small kid with a big backpack riding a bike down a steep hill is probably something to be avoided if possible. Most adults don't ride with backpacks. But sure, I'll bet some kids will. This allows for options, especially if the conductor feels a kids' baggage, whatever it might be, will be a hindrance or a safety issue on the train.

[Deacon Patrick]

Mark's trailer idea is brilliant! It overcomes most all logistical challenges that could otherwise be barriers to ride, namely "what to do with a new kid's gear?". How many parents are going to buy a Isla or Cleary bike, figure out a rack system, including panniers. Yeah, I know. I rode the 1 mile to elementary, 2 miles to jr. high, then 4 to high school growing up and I just strapped everything on my MTB rack (talk about a heavy Diamondback beast!). But without a barrier to ride, more kids are in, drivers become more aware, and more kids are riding a bike for fun and getting somewhere.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Jeff Lesperance]

I tend to agree that a bike trailer is a pretty darn good solution for your use case. If you do decide to go the pannier route, I have a spare set that I have not been putting to good use since I picked them up from a fellow listmate a little while back - they're Swift Industries waxed canvas tan/maroon. I've been watching them hang around in my parts bin thinking I'll use 'em more some day but I use my Carradice Camper saddlebag daily and for s24o's and when I go longer I tend to use my matching set of four Ortliebs.

Here's a link to pics listmate John took, and they still look the same now:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jbusteed/sets/72157660475769437/

If they'd look right for your bike and give you the function you need I could pass them along for under $100 as John got them to me at a really nice deal - we could just sort out shipping to figure out the right deal.

-Jeff

Silver Spring, MD

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[Leah Peterson]

Bill - I like your idea, but I worry about overloading the 30 lb on the rack. Maybe it will be ok, though. Do you find the Backabike to be roomy? Are they awkward on the bike? Easy to take off or not? I'm including a pic of my current set-up.

I can't see myself hauling a trailer on that uphill, guys. And I don't mean to carry the neighborhood kids' stuff completely, only in dire situations. I will carry my boys' stuff, though. I'm 135, the bike isn't light, and I've got a lot of pounds in cargo (oh, and sometimes, a dog!). Not a trailer up that hill, too!!!

Sent from my iPhone

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[Mark in Beacon]

Riv gearing was made to pull trailers up hills! (By the way, John up there mentioned it first.) And think how fast you will go up that hill when the trailer is not attached!

Re: Backabike bags. I love mine, the best bicycle accessory I've bought in years. A pleasure to use, and I use them a number of times almost every day. I regularly carry 25 to 35 pounds, books, heavy stuff--and they will fit a laptop. But they are not the bags to get if you are planning lots of on and off. I would not even want to do it once a week. Not that it's all that difficult, or takes all that much time. But on-off lots is not really in its design dna. I use them in combination with cloth shopping bags and a Jumbo grab sack--sort of a liner concept. It may not directly help, but I took a couple pics for a fellow iBob/RBW who asked about Jumbo capacity a while back:

[Deacon Patrick]

Panniers and you're good then!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Corwin]

I agree with Mark. A trailer is the best solution. Keeps the weight low (can't get lower than a trailer), is more stable than panniers, and can be attached and detached in a matter of seconds if you get a trailer like the Burley Nomad. I had one for sale recently for half the price of a new one. I bought mine several years back and carried many loads of groceries home in it. It even held several loads with power tools. And a trailer will make your whole group safer with it's orange flag flying about head height.

Regards,

Corwin

On Friday, August 26, 2016 at 2:27:25 PM UTC-7, LeahFoy wrote:

[Garth]

     Yes, since when do kids have their parents carry their stuff for them to school ?  That's all part of "growing up" , is it not , taking home what you actually need to and leaving at school what does not need to go .

On Friday, August 26, 2016 at 6:39:29 PM UTC-4, Skenry wrote:

[Leah Peterson]

When your school provides neither desks nor lockers, you have to schlep all your possessions, nomad-like uphill, 2 miles to your doorstep. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Robert Barr]

Leah, I will chime in with some observations from Indianapolis. I live in an area with several schools that don't provide transportation. A number of parents, mainly moms, ride back and forth to school with groups of children. There is a wide variety of bikes and engines. A number of the moms use old Burley/BOB/... child trailers to carry school stuff. We don't have any steep hills in the area, but given the amount of gear I see being transported and the bikes and engines, I think a trailer of some type would work well for you. Best of luck. Bob

On Aug 27, 2016 9:48 AM, "Leah Peterson" <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

When your school provides neither desks nor lockers, you have to schlep all your possessions, nomad-like uphill, 2 miles to your doorstep. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 27, 2016, at 5:59 AM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

     Yes, since when do kids have their parents carry their stuff for them to school ?  That's all part of "growing up" , is it not , taking home what you actually need to and leaving at school what does not need to go .



On Friday, August 26, 2016 at 6:39:29 PM UTC-4, Skenry wrote:

Why wouldn't the kids carry whatever they need in their own backpacks on their backs?

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[Patrick Moore]

Children's habit of carrying all of their worldly possessions in their backpacks all of the time is very strange; my daughter does this (tho' she refuses to let me carry her pack, or to shove it into a pannier). But it seems indelible. Why is this?

I recall HS: I'd carry 30 lb in a canvas WW 2 backpack carrier of some sort -- it had no top flap -- but I'd get my mother to carry it home in the car, along with my sister, while I took the long way home on my bike.

As to Leah's carriage, I'd recommend a heavier duty rear rack (Tubus, from their 12 oz models up are well able to carry 44 lb and more) with 2 big, well made, panniers, like the Ortlieb Packer Pluses. With capacity for 40 lb in back and -- what can your present front setup carry? -- you should have the carriage space you need.

Me, I've long wanted (seriously) one of these. No pissant Wald Newsboy or Porteur rack for me! Room for family and supplies.

[Patrick Moore]

Forgot to add that those butchers boys' bikes were still used in Nairobi -- by butchers -- in the late '60s and '70s (and a local expat dry cleaner did his deliveries in a wonderfully restored box wagon pulled by a beautiful team of chestnut Shire horses).

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[Surlyprof]

I would tend to agree with the trailer idea as well.  We used a Chariot for a while and it worked quite well and several friends use the BOB Yak.  The BOBs are nice because they easily hang in a garage when not in use but it is expensive.  We bought the Chariot at one of the REI garage sales for a fraction of the retail price (maybe $75?).  Later, we sold it on craigslist for a profit (Not profiteers... we honestly forgot how much we had paid for it.)  Worked for kids, dogs and errands.  The nice thing about the trailer is that it doesn't effect your pleasure riding.  There is often a simple attachment piece that attaches to the axle or seatpost depending on the brand.  It was very easy to take on and off.  I'd do a little research to identify a few trailers that would work and then surf your local classifieds, craigslist or online sales.  A quick search of the REI Garage (previously Outlet) showed no trailers but they might in the future (https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/search?q=trailer&pagesize=84&queryRule=outlet-only&ir=q%3Atrailer&outlet=true).

Good luck with the school year.

John (also back in the classroom after a pleasant summer)

On Friday, August 26, 2016 at 2:27:25 PM UTC-7, LeahFoy wrote:

[Scott Loveless]

On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 9:48 AM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> When your school provides neither desks nor lockers, you have to schlep all
> your possessions, nomad-like uphill, 2 miles to your doorstep.

Well, I was going to suggest purchasing copies of his most-used text
books so he doesn't have to carry them home every night, but the no
locker thing kinda kills that idea.

Our 8th grader tends to carry a lot every day. Backpack and field
hockey gear at the moment. The logistics of after school practice
means she has to lug that stuff home every day. We settled on a
grocery pannier two years ago. Hockey gear goes in the pannier,
backpack on her back. When it's not hockey season, the backpack goes
in the pannier.


--
Scott Loveless
Camp Hill, PA USA
http://www.twosixteen.com/fivetoedsloth/
__o
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(*)/ (*)

[Leah Peterson]

Over the weekend I made a sketchy plan and carried it out. I ordered the Nitto Big Rear Rack from Rivendell HQ on Friday, and it will arrive Tuesday. I then contacted John at Rivelo, and he had the Backabike bags in tan. I don’t think those bags are too pricey, so I ordered a pair and if they don’t work out, you’ll see them for sale on the List, I suppose. Anyway, I’ve always liked these and I’m excited to try them out. They’ll be here sometime this week, and they can’t come soon enough. 

Today was our first day on what I call Leah’s Bicycle Bus - Ding Ding! (See photos of my kids only, below.)

Right on time, my boys and I were out the door. We pedaled around the corner and met the first kid, who was waiting with her mom. She has a Raleigh mountain bike with a questionable rear rack. She was trying to use a rubber bungee with hook to attach a canvas briefcase-like thing. She planned to carry the backpack on her back. She ended up having all manner of trouble dismounting the bike at stops because she has to get her leg over her rear load, which wasn’t terribly tall. By the time we arrived at school, her back hurt. And that was the ride DOWN, folks.

After she joined us, we met a pair of sisters a quarter mile down the route. The older sister had her mom’s clunky (but very cute) beach cruiser and little sis had her Target bike, crooked seat and all. They joined us and almost immediately the rear tire on the Target bike went FLAT. Like, as a pancake. Like a joke when my mother-in-law tells it. Like FLAT. The internal struggle ensued - do I make us all tardy and try to do something about this? Do I call her mom and wait for her to come? Do I dare leave her to wait and take everyone else? After about 30 seconds of deliberation I said, “It’s all downhill, G. You’re going to have to keep riding it.” She brushed away the tears and we made it, though heaven knows we broke no time records! We racked the bikes and I said, “You deserve an award! You’re the only person ever to do that commute on one tire!” She laughed.

So, you might imagine I’m eager to receive my packages this week. I will carry the odd thing or two for these kids, but I’m not letting their parents completely off the hook. I’m not going to pack mule it for 5-7 kids. I figure if I’m taking this responsibility off the parents' backs, they could part with a little money to outfit these kids with gear and bikes that will make the trip possible. And maybe a little pleasant.

It’s going to be a learning curve. These kids need to know not to cross intersections until they know a driver has made eye contact with us, they need to stay closer together - they were strung out over a block, I bet - and they need to figure out how to carry their stuff. We were SLOW today, and that was even before the flat tire. Excepting mine, these kids aren’t cyclers. They didn’t grow up riding bikes, but rather riding in the back seats of SUVs and family sedans. Flat-Tire-G is a 5th grader but a novice at cycling. The boys and I used to just dance up that hill - load and all, always racing home to see if we could beat yesterday’s time. I’ll have to put that away and settle in to spending a little extra time with these new kids.

Say a prayer for me this afternoon! It will be their first ride home and it’s going to be uphill and over 100 degrees! Ha!

Ding ding,

Leah

[Patrick Moore]

This is epic, and I hope for further installments, with alliteration in the manner of Beowulf. 

The equipment troubles make me think that you need some sort of huge trailer where you can simply dump 7 backpacks plus en-route repair supplies. More photos, please.

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[Ryan Fleming]

Good on ya Leah

Yes, you are doing a great thing with this, but you should not be the packhorse for  all the other kids and I think  their parents definitely should pony up if their kids' bikes are inadequate for the task at hand. It's too bad there are no lockers and the kids do have to schlep things back and forth...I'll be interested to see how things work out

[Shoji Takahashi]

Inspiring, Leah. Kinks will work themselves out after a few runs, and I hope others will join your lead. 

Tailwinds,

shoji

[Surlyprof]

You could always go the Butchers and Bicycles route.  Coolest cargo ride ever!  So fun to ride.  http://www.butchersandbicycles.com/  They even have electric drivetrain options.

John

[dougP]

Hope the afternoon run goes well, but you still have that bike with the flat tire waiting for you.  I think each family needs to be responsible for their student's load carrying as well as bike condition.  Just digging their old bike out of the cobwebs & pumping up the tires isn't enough.  If you're on the street with this group, the bikes need to have been serviced (cables? brakes? chains?) and the kids need to have some idea of what their supposed to be doing.  With a wide disparity in ages will come a wide variety of average speeds, esp on that uphill run home in the heat.  Maybe a Saturday get together with all the families?  A couple of practice runs?  All things considered it's a great idea and you're doing a good thing by shepherding these kids to school. 

dougP

[Leah Peterson]

I only have three kids on the ride home. Flat Tire and her sister are tossing their bikes in the back of Dad’s pick up. Sweet relief! I so agree with you on the parents needing to take some responsibility. I’m going to talk to Raleigh Girl’s mom first because her family will probably not bat an eye at paying for a new rack or a new bike. The other family will be more difficult. I’ll have to choose my methods carefully…

John, one does not ride another bike when one has The Best Bike in the Whole Wide World! No matter how ill-equipped! Haha!

Patrick wanted more photos, and I’ll get those this week, Patrick, but every one I took today had identifying info (street names, school name), and since they aren’t my kids, I won’t post those. I’ll get some more anonymous shots this week, I hope. But here’s a photo of the cars trying to LEAVE campus this morning. Flat tire or not, we got the less frustrating end of the deal!

[Patrick Moore]

I look forward to other photos. Nostalgia follows; bail out now while you have a chance.

Reminiscing about my own elementary school boyhood (Oh! So long ago!), I recall carpooling in rather (at the time; now very much so) declasse Clinton, MD, Prince George's county MD, where we lived for 4 years until my father was transferred overseas. St, John the Evangelist RC parish started its school in 1961, when I entered 1st grade. We carpooled between my father (Renault Dauphine! -- sold the Peugeot 403 hoping to net some cash) swapped transport duties with my best friend's mother (excessively large Irish Catholic working class family) late '50s Ford SW) and another aspiring white collar professional (vague 7 year old recollections of semi-Euro compact and pretty 9 year old babe daughter). 

But what about the setup below? I recall seeing many such transportation arrangements in Bangalore when we lived there, 1st Q 1966 - end of 2d Q 1967. I remember hailing a rickshaw to carry me home from my 2d Form (7th grade) classes at St. Josephs (Jesuit) in Bangalore (the Prods went to Bishop Cotton) -- odd, because usually my father's driver picked me up, next stopping at the local Sacred Heart franchise to pick up my sisters and little bro --at any rate, the skinny old man who pedaled the rickshaw was very irate because he had to pedal me all the way to Palace Orchards, then a dirt-road wilderness some (I guess) 7-8 miles from the school. I recall having to argue with him and chivvy him along as we got further and further from the downtown school. I myself started my long career of bike commuting shortly afterward, when my parents let me ride my pimped Hero rod braked roadster to school, and park it with all the other students' and staffs' bikes in the Bike Shed (where I dangerously kick started the PT Teacher's Vespa, then -- thank God! -- discovered the kill switch before he appeared with bamboo cane in hand). 

[franklyn]

When I read the title of the thread, I thought of this story on BikePortland a few years back: 

Mom carrying 6 kids in her bike.

Best,
Franklyn

[René Sterental]

Nice bars Leah, how do you like them?

Love your stories, looking forward to Day 2 and wonder how many kids will become regulars or will nag at their parents to drive them and pick them up. Not many kids today are used to handling a new challenge.

And kudos to you for doing this. My wife sabotaged all my attempts to have my kids ride to school, all flat and tons of kids doing it every day, and my youngest two definitely took advantage of that. Oh well...

René 

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[LeahFoy]

René, ooh, I LOVE the bars. They do let me sit up nice and high, and unless on a steep climb, I rarely think about them, which, like saddles, means they're great. I got Riv's new long, skinny cork grips! I watched the twining video 100 times and finally got what Mark was doing there. I just kept thinking, "Leah, you can braid hair French, Dutch, upside down, standing on your HEAD; you can figure this out!" And so I did. Then I shellacked it. I'm super good at shellacking. And to prove it, I did it four times. Then I noticed my husband's Clem over there and attacked it with a fresh coat, too. I looked around for more stuff to shellac but there was nothing, so reluctantly I put imy brush away. (Side note: do you all think it's spelled "shellac" as a noun but "shellack" as a verb? It looks right to me.) The bars have 3 quirks: 1. They make the bike want to tip over more easily. 2. I have caught myself veering off a bit and it was not a quick an easy correction. It scared me a bit. 3. The width works totally different muscles on a climb. My triceps and trapezius muscles are working. Fine with me.

But I digress.

The Ride Home. Well, you all didn't pray for me because it was AWFUL. It was hot. Hot, hot, hot. Sweltering, stifling, oppressive heat, with nary a cloud in the sky for help. I arrived early because one of my quirks is a continual fear of being late. So, there I stood. In triple digit heat with no shade. Like a fool. I finally collected my 3 charges, only to have one say he forgot his Hydroflask and would be right back. We stood there forever. He comes back with no Hydroflask. Alright, I guess I'm sharing my water. The boys looked a little wilted at the start, but the girl, T, was just about done in by the second block. I kept promising it would get better as the weather cools and her muscles adapt. But she insisted on walking most of that mile-long hill. I had to wear my little guy's backpack, and haul my 5th grader's heavy beast of a pack in my basket. I shoved some of T's notebooks in my saddlesack to lighten her load. She had no kickstand, so I had to hold her bike at water breaks, while fighting to keep mine from toppling with its huge front load. Something was wrong and she couldn't shift to an easier gear. She had her enormous backpack on her back, and it was way too much. The boys' style was severely cramped by all the waiting, but they have kind hearts, so wait they did without complaint. She walked a lot. Slowly. I waited a lot. The boys found shade a ways up ahead and laid on the sidewalk like homeless kids. Not wanting to leave her too far behind, I stood in the blazing sun while she plodded along, and suddenly strange things started happening to me. As I poured sweat (highly uncharacteristic), I noticed my lips had gone completely, uncomfortably dry. I got goosebumps - as if I was becoming cold. I started to get an impending sense of doom, like I might not make the rest of this darn climb, and I began wracking my brain to remember the signs of heat exhaustion/heat stroke. I was past the point of feeling like water was helpful. I had very little left in me. Near the end, I sent the boys ahead so at least they could get home and get cool.

I honestly don't know how, but we all made it. I dropped T off, unloaded my bike, got inside, laid on cool tile and ate a lime fruit bar and drank water. I could have wrung the sweat out of my shirt. The boys and I jumped in the pool and were good as new. T has decided she no longer wants to do the ride. Her mother REALLY wants her to do the ride. She wants to practice with her this weekend and get her a front basket. I said if that doesn't work, I had a new bike suggestion. "Anything that would help!" she said. I think an Islabike in her size with the rack, which holds 39 lbs and Ortlieb panniers would work. And it's light and she can even have a kickstand. I sent the info and we'll see. The mom believes T is being lazy (I don't think so) but she's from South Africa, and maybe in that country this is not much to ask of a South African child. American kids, on the other hand...well, they were all surely pointing and laughing at us from the back seats of their air-conditioned motherships.

René, sorry you missed out on cycling to school. I envy your kids' flat commute! Thank you for my new bars. I'll have great triceps, thanks to them!

[René Sterental]

Wow!!! Heat stroke and babysitting that ill-equipped girl who In spitenif everything made it even though she walked. Needless to say, bring more water and don't let it happen again. Luckily the kids didn't have such a close call. 

She'll either decide she can make it happen and get a better bike or will give up. Hopefully you can inspire her. 

Aren't there some items you can wet with water that can keep you cool, especially wearing them around the neck? I forgot the name...

Regardless the new muscles the bar is working, do you feel you need to change the height of the bar? Is it lowered all the way? A little experimentation might pay off. 

Rode to work this morning. Forgot my bottle of water and it was a flat 15.5 miles @ 57F. Dry throat... And thinking of your bus! 👏👍😎

Keep it up and laugh at those stuck in the traffic!!!

René 

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[Ryan Fleming]

Well...I was certainly thinking of you...I cannot imagine climbing in that 100F heat. I hope you and your charges are recovered fully. Heatstroke sure can happen quick as a wink. Are these Bosco bars you are using?

Take care and good luck!

[Deacon Patrick]

I know you are joking but ... Oh? If discomfort and challenge is a sign no one is praying for us than our God is too small. Grin.  I am thankful everyone got home safe and has the amazing opportunity to learn from discomfort and challenge. All part of the adventure. Often the opportunity to grow IS the answer to prayer. Grin. 

With abandon,

Patrick

[Evan E.]

Leah,

Yikes! Your latest installment is harrowing and funny, rich in detail and awesome. 

Please post a new story daily. Leah's Bus Blog!

Evan E.

[Brian Campbell]

You could try this, as I did with my kids when they were smaller!

[Clementine59]

Good for you!!! One of major my goals in life is to life a care-free life and forgo my driver's license renewal when it expires in 3 years. Your photo of the cars leaving school is so sad on so many levels. You are teaching your kids as well as the other kids (and hopefully their parents) in your neighborhood a great life lesson. Keep up the great work!

[LeahFoy]

Brian, your kids! How SWEET. Love your setup. I didn't have quite that setup, but I did pull L on a Trek tag-along for a few years. I was happy when he became independent because I could finally take the ugly black hitch off my seat post and let the Betty be as beautiful and unfettered as she was meant to be.

Clementine59 - I hope you can make your goal! I wish I could do most of my errands by bike, but I am not able (or ready) to give up the van just yet. (Side note: I do think more people will do just that, however. The advent of driverless cars and Uber and such wonders will make drivers' licenses rather unnecessary. So, if you can't get there by bike, those options are wonderful. Maybe I'll give up the van yet!) Do you live in a bike-friendly place? How I envy you if you do. Everything is here car-centric and spread out for miles, and then there are the mountains along the way. I told my husband the next time we move, I want to live somewhere bike-friendly. We do have great weather most of the year, though, so there's that!

Have you shown us your Clementine yet? We'd love to see it!

[Clementine59]

I meant to write 'car-free' not 'care-free' life, although that would be nice too. My town is preparing to implement infrastructure changes that will make it bike- and pedestrian-'friendly.' Since I live on a main thoroughfare into town, I hope to have a bike lane in front of my house. The infrastructure changes will certainly be welcomed, although driver behavior needs to change as well - something that I point out at town meetings and which is largely ignored. We'll see. I also live a 1/2 mile from a 7 mile round trip greenway (former railroad line) which connects three nearby towns and hopefully more in the future. We have a Whole Foods coming to town next year, which will be adjacent to the greenway. I'm not sure how I feel about that (would prefer a regular old grocery store with good selection and working people prices). I expect the new store to increase car traffic in the area, so that might be a mixed blessing. If it seems like a good fit for my family, that will be a major step in the car-free direction. We could also walk with a cart in the snow. The only hardware store in the area closed and the owner sold the property to make way for the Whole Foods, so that's a bummer. Travel to the nearest Home Depot and decent mom and pop hardware store isn't bikeable, without a way to avoid a nasty state highway without a usable shoulder. I can bike to everything else. We also live along a commuter train line with a station a 1/2 mile away, which gets us to a major city for work/fun in about an hour. At any rate, we can go for several days at a time without touching the car so we are getting there. 

A picture of the Clementine is attached. Brooks B-17 Imperial, ODI clamp-on grips, Banjo Brothers panniers and tool bag, Riv German mirror (don't like), Pletscher Clem rack, SKS fenders, Incredibell Omnibell and lights. It arrived July 6 and will have 1,000 miles on it by this time next week. I removed the front derailer and related gear as I do with all of my bikes as it is superfluous. I'll never need that small chain ring and can always move it by hand if required. I am a recovering recumbent rider (rode exclusively for 4 years prior to this spring) and the Clementine is the best riding, best handling bike I've ridden. I'd grab a 59 cm frame from Riv if they had any in stock. I believe that I bought the last ready-to-ride 59.

Cheers!

[Deacon Patrick]

How progresses the Bicycle Bus?

With abandon,

Patrick

[Leah Peterson]

Ah, the Bicycle Bus. Thanks for asking! T is out of it for now, pending a new bike purchase and/or better ways of carrying her load. The pair of sisters will be back at it again in the morning. I asked Mom to replace that tire; she said she would refill it again and see if it holds. No word on that, but I’m a bit scared to take that child on that lousy bike down that huge hill again. 

We biked every trip until this afternoon. It was dreadfully hot (104) and humid to boot. That was a losing combination and not worth the risk of heat exhaustion. We did do the morning commute but for afternoon I parked off campus and took the boys and their bikes home in the van. 

It was really too bad, because this afternoon I got my Nitto Big Back Rack AND my Backabike bags on the bike! I plan to take photos tomorrow when I’m not in cleaning clothes and we’re out on the road again. I think Little Guy’s backpack will fit in one Backabike, and I will stow my own stuff in the other. The big backpack can either go in the front basket or maybe I can lash it to the rear rack. We’ll see. There was some wailing and gnashing of teeth when I realized I couldn’t also use my Saddlesack - I couldn’t open the Backabike bags. I really don’t know how I got this ridiculous, but maybe I have Rivendellitis, which is characterized by attempts to employ all your Riv stuff at once and then stare lovingly at it while proclaiming this is the best setup yet!

We have a new family joining us on the Bicycle Bus next week! Lots of other people have stopped to chat about biking and how maybe they should, as well. As I waited on campus today, there were cars honking and angry drivers doing their best to show their frustration and other drivers trying to cut in line while the harassed-looking crossing guard volunteers tried to regulate the mess. So grateful for my bike!!!

PS Here are some photos from yesterday, before my new bags and rack. 

PPS I had to attach my Backabikes to the top rail of my rack. The bottom clip won’t work if I string the bags on the pannier rails. Anyone else have this issue? Am I doing it wrong or what?

1. Looking down the hill we just climbed. We're halfway done!

2. Resting. Then more climbing. 101 degrees and only that one cloud in the sky! Troopers!

3. The grips I shellacked and twined.

4. My now unusable Saddlesack. 😩 Too much stuff in the front basket.

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[Deacon Patrick]

With your exuberant, happy-go-lucky, slap-stick comedy on wheels you'll have those cars lines down to nothing sooner than later! Grin.

You CAN use the SaddleSack with panniers, but the panniers are awkward to access, so load them with stuff you don't mind having difficulty accessing (aka when the saddlesack is less loaded, aka at home or school, but not during the ride, if that makes sense). I've does this setup bikepacking and loved it, just keeping stuff in the panniers I needed at camp.

With abandon,

Patrick

[dougP]

104 degrees, plus humidity!  That's really tough. You guys are all troopers but esp. those kids.  That break in the shade looks inviting. 

The loading problem is common when you have both panniers & a trunk bag or saddlebag.  The idea of the lower (second) set of rails on the rack is to separate the side bags from the top bag.  It sounds like the backabike ones don't allow this?  Do they go on the lower rail?  Ideally you'd get one kid's worth of school stuff in each pannier & have the front basket for your stuff, maybe not have to mess with the saddlebag. 

RE:  kids bikes conditions:  if those tires are typical kids bike tires & they've been baking in the garage in southern Nevada for a few years it would be wise to replace them, worn or not.  Even if they hold air, the rubber is aged & brittle.  Look at it this way:  $100 at the LBS is a lot cheaper, more convenient & less stressful than a trip to the ER, and they can check the rest of the bike over, i.e., brake cables, other crash inducing stuff (ever seen a kid's pedal fall off?). 

Even if you have to take the van part way, you & crew will be cycling away from the madness.  My wife & I do a regular ride on Wednesdays that takes us by 2 schools.  In our district, the kids are out at 1:30 on Wednesdays.  Nothing like massive SUVs and not-so-mini vans jockeying for pole position in the kid pick-up zone. 

dougP

[LeahFoy]

Doug, you know what? The rubber on the Specialized's tires IS dry and brittle-feeling! We got the bike Easter of his 1st grade year and he is now a 5th grader. Yikes. Ok, I'll take it in this weekend. The Islabike is new and should be fine. My tires are from 2012. I have wondered how I will know when it's time. I don't think they feel as bad as the Specialized, though.

I'll take a closer look at the rack tomorrow, but I think I'm stuck. If I lower the bag, the clip on bottom that secures the bag to the rack becomes too low. It sits lower than the rack and there is nothing for it to grab onto. The little backpack gets one Backabike.The huge backpack will never fit in the other Backabike. It has to go in the basket or rear rack, I think. The Chromebook will probably go in the other Backabike bag when he gets it next week. I guess I need another bag for ME 😜.

Leah, who feels every pleasure center in her brain light up over bags

[dougP]

" If I lower the bag, the clip on bottom that secures the bag to the rack becomes too low. It sits lower than the rack and there is nothing for it to grab onto."

Got it.  Any way to secure the bag to the rack with a bungee around it, down low?  The idea at the bottom is to keep the bag from flapping outward from the rack. 

dougP

[Takashi]

Leah, I've been enjoying reading your great story. Thanks for sharing!

About Backabike Bags:
I think there are loops on your bags through which you can run straps.
You can secure the bottom of your bags to the rack with John's Irish Straps which Riv sells.
(ANY strap will work for that matter, but Irish Straps are best-looking, right?)
Attached picture is of my Hunqapillar with Hub Area Bags on front, smaller version of Backabike Bags, secured with Irish Straps.

Good luck.
I'm looking forward to reading more of your stories.

Takshi

[Deacon Patrick]

That Back-a-Bike bottom buckle isn't weight bearing and, as Doug points out, prevents flapping. Flapping and clapping panniers may not be an issue for you, so you could either go without connecting the bottom buckle (at least it's a sewn on buckle on my lassie's bags) or you can clip it round any part of the rack/frame that doesn't interfere with the chain. I often just secure my panniers at the top of the rack for grocery runs, and that includes some jouncy and bouncy dirt, so you'll be fine just anchoring the top of the bags. Also, you can get in and out of the panniers with a loaded SaddleSack, it's just a bit of work.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Leah Peterson]

Thanks, guys, I’ll try these hacks! 

Today I was pleasantly surprised when I came around the corner from my house and found my neighbors mounted on their bikes and waiting for me! The mom and her two youngsters joined us seamlessly, and I moved to the front, she to the rear, and we had a lovely first ride together. We picked up our last two kids just a bit down the way, and everyone even had AIR in their tires! 

That new family will ride home with us, and her kids are 2nd and 3rd grade. Oh, I do so hope they don’t find the climb too miserable. Mom has an Electra Townie. No racks or bags. Camelback for water. 

If I can get photos from behind, I’ll put them up. 

Meanwhile, here is Betty, looking on approvingly at those crowded bike racks!!!

And here she is with her new bling:

ntg...@mac.com> wrote:

[René Sterental]

Good for you!!! 

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[LeahFoy]

*The below is really just storytelling about a neighborhood and its kids and their bikes. There won't be anything informative or life-altering. It's really just my reflections on bringing back cycling in the suburbs.*

We've been having a lot of new experiences on our bicycle bus. Lots of kids come and go, and no one rides every day, save us, but we usually have a a couple of kids join us. One day, we picked up a group of 3 girls. N is a 5th grader who was a guest of the regular pair of sisters who join us. N's little sister was being worked up for a possible cancer diagnosis, and her mother had sent her to stay with family friends for a couple of days. She was thrown into the bicycle bus without any say in the matter and when I met her that morning, she was white with panic.

"Are you scared?" I asked her. "No," she said, "I'm TERRIFIED."

Okay then. I tried to puff up her courage a bit, and we set off down the giant hill, traveling more slowly than normal. We made it to campus without incident and N took a deep breath and began to focus on more important matters. "I like your bike," she said, "because it has hearts and apples!" It's the little things.

A family of 4 has been joining us as we ride by their house at least twice per week. Both parents like to come when they can, and they have a 3rd grader and 2nd grader. Those kids are riding Diamondback bikes in their proper sizes, which are a major improvement from the cheap and too-small sized bikes the rest of the kids ride. But the Diamondbacks are still heavy what with their suspension forks and all, and they have no way to carry luggage or water. Mom rides an Electra and Dad has a Gary Fischer mountain bike. Mom and Dad take the backpacks and use a Camelback water system, which they share. I sent Mom a link to racks for her Electra, and she is looking into purchasing one.

The pair of sisters L and G may get new bikes for Christmas. L rides her mother's big, fendered cruiser-type bike, which has a rear rack. She's been to Walmart, dreaming of which bike she would like. I bite my tongue, but I really want to tell her to look for a Specialized on Craigslist. The Hotrock can take a rack and has been a great bike for my older son. G is on a Barbie bike that is a mere 20 inches and she is a 5th grader. It is painful to watch her wobble to school with her knees knocking her chin, and her lunch bag swinging madly from her bars.

The bike racks at school are now full to bursting with bikes and scooters. It's a welcome sight, but also gives me a pang of sadness. Almost none of the bikes are good for commuting. Most are woefully small for the rider. M is a kid who describes his dad as being a "bike racer." M was given a new lime green Specialized Hotrock to ride to school. The problem is that M is a 5th grader, and he is riding the 20 inch bike. It would fit my 2nd grader. He loves the bike; I know he does because he tried and tried to ride it, and lime green appears to be his favorite color. But wobbling home while having to carry your 35 lb backpack and Chromebook and lunch sack and eventually, a musical instrument wasn't feasible. So now he walks. He trudges along, laden with stuff and his shiny lime Hotrock sits, neglected in the garage.

We live in an affluent area. Most of these kids are shuttled to school with zero effort of their own, and zero discomfort. It's a valet line in the car loop. A school employee opens your door, and you jump out. That's IT. That's the end of your obligation to get to school, kid. Meanwhile, the kids who are trying to get there by bike are doing it on the most ill-fitting, ill-equipped machines. Their parents would say a quality bike is too expensive; but they don't say that when plunking down the money for their child's new iPhone. This is not a problem I can fix, so I am learning to let it go...

The new issue I'm seeing on our horizon is that of unhappy pedestrians. We had 6 kids and 2 moms bookending them on Thursday, and that's a lot of bikes. We live in a terribly car-centric area. Everyone commutes by car into the city, which means cars are heading down our mountain at around 50 mph. There is no shoulder, and no bike lane, and only one road and we all must share it. We were, however, blessed with extra wide sidewalks; they are actually called "trails" and given their width, I heartily agree. The problem is that pedestrians of all types - dog walkers, joggers, moms with strollers - often don't understand they aren't the only ones using the trails. They zig zag and walk on the left, or just take up the whole thing and walk right in the middle. This poses a problem. I really get the feeling that they think of bell-ringing as honking. No one has ever responded positively to it, that I can tell. So, rather than *ding ding*, before I pass, I call out, "Good morning!" They usually get the hint and either move over or hold their line. It's all mostly smooth until we hit the edge of campus. People really like to spread out really don't like to move over to let us through. I've mitigated this by calling out, "How are you, girls?" "I love that backpack!" "Have a great day today!" "What a cute dog!" and so on and so forth. But last week, the other mom in my bicycle bus caught a negative comment as she passed a woman pushing a stroller. The woman said, just loud enough for her to hear, "Just take the street!" Nothing else was said, but I've spent some time thinking about it this weekend.

1. There really is no safe way for us to take the kids into the street. It's dangerous, and instead of ticking off pedestrians, we'd be ticking off the drivers. Drivers are moving at a frantic pace, trying to get their spot in the car loop lanes. They would not welcome us on "their" road. The 2nd graders wouldn't handle riding in the middle of that chaos, either. Plus, they could die. So, that's out.

2. There is no state law against sidewalk riding. I don't intend to abuse that, either. Given the spacious, extra-wide sidewalks, there really is room for everyone. We just all need to be considerate of each other. That means pedestrians, stay on the right. That way bikes can pass you, and pedestrians coming the other way can move freely. We promise to let you know we are coming, and we will pass you at a slow speed. When the sidewalk shrinks, or there are too many people we walk our bikes. Simple as that. We intend to be considerate.

3. I think instead of arguing, I'm going to use kindness. The next time I hear a negative comment, I'm going to hit the brakes, jump off my bike and walk alongside the offender. "I heard what you said. So, you're displeased with me, now tell me why." I'll explain that we can't use the street, and that there's room for everyone on these wide sidewalks. Can someone really be angry because I'm asking them not to hog the WHOLE sidewalk? Are we REALLY inconveniencing you by passing you single-file at slow speed? Do you think your annoyance at having to be considerate trumps our right to keep our kids safe? Are you really so selfish that you would push 2nd graders into traffic so you can have the entire extra-wide sidewalk?

I think that about covers it. If you're still reading, congratulations. That took some gumption! Ha!

[Patrick Moore]

* Why do I read Leah's quotidien report about kids and bikes and parents riding 2 miles to school, when I'll sniff and put aside reports of epic adventures across inaccessible deserts half a globe away?

The quality of writing, my friends, and the liveliness of the descriptions. I remember reading "Miles from Nowhere," which should have been as exciting a travelogue as any written. But no, the pedestrian prose and even more pedestrian outlook made the book a bore.

Good work, Leah. Keep it up. Write a book and sell it on Amazon.

Patrick Moore, who has a well used 16" Diamond Back "Apex" fr/frk/bb bearing assembly/hs/sp/saddle that he will ship for postage.

Patrick Moore, reading Dervla Murphy and recalling Paul Theroux (nasty bastard, but writes well), Eric Newby (hugely funny in his earlier publication, but lost steam by the time of the bike trip 'round Ireland), and Evelyn Waugh (another nasty bastard).

[Patrick Moore]

Sorry, that should be "narsty barstid."

On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

Patrick Moore, reading Dervla Murphy and recalling Paul Theroux (nasty bastard, but writes well), Eric Newby (hugely funny in his earlier publication, but lost steam by the time of the bike trip 'round Ireland), and Evelyn Waugh (another nasty bastard).

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The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a circumference on the contours of which all conditions, distinctions, and individualities revolve. Chuang Tzu

Stat crux dum volvitur orbis. (The cross stands motionless while the world revolves.) Carthusian motto

It is we who change; He remains the same. Eckhart

Kinei hos eromenon. (It moves [all things] as the beloved.) Aristotle

[Patrick Moore]

3. I think instead of arguing, I'm going to use kindness. The next time I hear a negative comment, I'm going to hit the brakes, jump off my bike and walk alongside the offender. "I heard what you said. So, you're displeased with me, now tell me why." I'll explain that we can't use the street, and that there's room for everyone on these wide sidewalks. Can someone really be angry because I'm asking them not to hog the WHOLE sidewalk? Are we REALLY inconveniencing you by passing you single-file at slow speed? Do you think your annoyance at having to be considerate trumps our right to keep our kids safe? Are you really so selfish that you would push 2nd graders into traffic so you can have the entire extra-wide sidewalk?

You go, girl! 

Patrick "Givem guilt complexes" Moore, who uses a more direct approach in ABQ, NM.

[LeahFoy]

Lol, Patrick Moore! That's high praise, indeed! My rides are not epic, but they are colorful! Thanks for the offer of the bike; I only wish I had someone it would fit!

[Robert Barr]

Thank you Leah. I had been waiting for the next installment of the "Bicycle Bus", and to follow Patrick, I much enjoyed it.  Bob

On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 5:16 PM, LeahFoy <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Lol, Patrick Moore! That's high praise, indeed! My rides are not epic, but they are colorful! Thanks for the offer of the bike; I only wish I had someone it would fit!

[Evan E.]

Leah,

Please post a bus update at least once a week! For one thing, it's just plain fun to hear about your adventures and read your observations. For another, it'll be fascinating to see how things change in your neighborhood, or perhaps don't change, as the weather cools, as your bus gains momentum, and as bicyclists and motorists and pedestrians try to coexist.

Evan

[Surlyprof]

Agreed.  I envision a future post about the lone car trying to eek its way into the massive line of parents on bikes dropping off kids at your school.  Wouldn't that be ideal!

John

[islaysteve]

Leah, I really enjoyed reading your report this morning over coffee.  You've given us an informative, well-written and even inspirational account of family cycling in the real world.  Please keep them coming!  As I read, I wonder if there might be some community education that you could provide (not that you need anything else to take on), aside from your proposed one-on-efforts.  I'm thinking about a presentation at a PTA meeting or such, maybe flyers, maybe even a simple website to get across some basic ideas like, "We all need to share this dangerous roadway," "We all need to share the sidewalk (stay on the right, etc)," and even some tips on buying bikes for your kids.  Just some thoughts.  Best of luck with the bicycle bus, and have a great school year.

Steve

[Shoji Takahashi]

Hi Leah,

I'm with the others-- I enjoy reading your posts for the writing, observations, and thoughtfulness. 

RE: PTA-- these posts are very much presentation ready with a few phone pics (or sidewalk and bike rack). Maybe there's a police officer or elected official or ??? in your neighborhood who would help press for improvements? 

Keep up the great work. Those children (and their parents) are fortunate to have someone like you as a neighbor.

shoji

[Ryan Fleming]

Leah, I was wondering how your bike bus was going.

Sounds like there are a few challenges

I find with pedestrians, some do take the bell as honking and get pissed off. But most appreciate it and I'll often say something like " I'm not trying to be rude, just trying to warn you; I'm approaching" ....still some people are unbelievably selfish or self-absorbed or plugged in. I mean, really, what choice do you have but to take your junior commuters on the sidewalk?..

Also too bad that some of the kids are on totally inadequate bikes...that's a tough one. I still think there are not a whack of choices for kids' bikes

Anyway, keep fighting the good fight

[WETH]

Dear Leah,
I share others appreciation for both the updates and your writing talents!
On the pedestrian issue, if the sidewalks are indeed trails, perhaps getting your community to place signs would help. Most of our "trails" have frequent signs reminding folks to walk/bike on the right and pass on the left, to announce they are passing, and to follow speed limits. Signs along with PTA presentations and individual conversations will help.
My love of cycling dates to 5th grade when I was allowed to bike to school. Keep up the great work and keep the updates coming.
All the best,
Erl

[Bob K.]

A letter to the editor of your local paper might be in order! With a slight change of tone and consideration for the potential audience, it would be a great way to raise awareness of the pedestrians and simultaneously tout the benefits of cycling to school with kids. Might start a revolution!

Bob K. in Baltimore

[islaysteve]

One more thought, Where is the school administration in this?  It seems like they would have an interest in 1) reducing car traffic in the morning and afternoon and 2) (Should have been 1), the kids' safety.  Cheers, Steve

[Lungimsam]

I bet the more the bike bus gets established in the eyes of the community, the more the drivers and pedestrians will help/move outta the way/assist/be aware of/cooperate/and respect the flow of the bike bus kids.

A friendly "Excuse me, I'm escorting these children to school." should suffice as you pass cranky pedestrians and drivers.

I mean, really, any adult who complains about or hinders the passage of children to/from school will probably be tossed right out on their ear by any authority figure called to the scene for any "grievance".

When a kid is involved all bets are off. Kid wins.

[Patrick Moore]

And if not, one of these things should help. I'm tempted to get on for grocery runs -- the parking lot at the nearby Albertson's is more dangerous than city streets at night.

Patrick "makem jump!" Moore

On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 11:19 PM, Lungimsam <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

A friendly "Excuse me, I'm escorting these children to school." should suffice as you pass cranky pedestrians and drivers.

 

[Steve Palincsar]

Yes, but isn't the message that thing conveys more along the lines of "DIVE!! DIVE!!" ?

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[Patrick Moore]

That works!

On Wed, Sep 28, 2016 at 4:06 PM, Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com> wrote:

Yes, but isn't the message that thing conveys more along the lines of "DIVE!! DIVE!!" ?

On 09/28/2016 05:50 PM, Patrick Moore wrote:

And if not, one of these things should help. I'm tempted to get on for grocery runs -- the parking lot at the nearby Albertson's is more dangerous than city streets at night.

Patrick "makem jump!" Moore

On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 11:19 PM, Lungimsam <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

A friendly "Excuse me, I'm escorting these children to school." should suffice as you pass cranky pedestrians and drivers.

 

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[LeahFoy]

Thanks, All, you are too kind. It's fun for me to type out my thoughts for the like-minded to read. I have zero real-life biking friends, so you all are indispensable!

Yesterday was near disaster for the Bicycle Bus. My oldest bus kid is in 8th grade and they don't come any sweeter. She was bringing up the rear as we headed down the Hill That Would Make Cipollini Cry. A ways down I heard my son call out to me, so I slowed and swiveled my head, trying not to lose control of the giant front load in my abused Wald basket. There was L, in the street where vehicles whiz by at 55 mph. The curb melted away and provided her a way back up onto the sidewalk and we were once again on our way. But close to campus, I noticed she was behaving oddly on her bike. When the sidewalk narrowed so that we must walk the bikes, I waited up for her to ask what kind of shenanigans had happened at the back of the bus. "I lost my brakes!" she cried.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I thought. It's like a quote.

Anyway, she continued, "And then this black piece of my shifter - it just FLEW OFF - and I called after it, 'Wait, come back!!!' but it was gone. And then my shifter wanted to be in 1 and I had to squeeze it tight the entire ride so it would stay in gear. And that made it hard to also squeeze the brakes. But then I noticed my brakes were no longer working. I was coming up on L [my little son] and I didn't want to make him crash, so I veered off into the road just as a big truck went by! I knew this bike was going to give me trouble. I looked at it this morning and I said, 'You're going to give me trouble today, aren't you?'."

Aghast, I said, YOU ARE NEVER RIDING THAT BIKE AGAIN OR I WILL HAVE 5 CORONARIES.

As I unloaded the Betty Foy, the kids all parked their bikes. L gave one final exclamation that got my attention. "My front tire is flat!" she squealed.

No, I'm not kidding. Folks, you can't make this stuff up. So, I hugged her, said a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus and I texted her mother and told her what had happened. I'm hoping and praying I never see that Schwinn again.

Today the Bicycle Bus was attended only by us. But we had so much fun because strange weather is moving through our neck of the woods, and it is lovely. Big, puffy cotton candy clouds floated over us. The sun left streaks of color in the sky. Dark and heavy clouds cruised by swiftly, having not yet decided to pour out their raindrops. And in the distance, hovering over our route was a RAINBOW. The boys were so excited because this one looked to end right about where the school would be. The boys have never given up hope of actually reaching a rainbow and discovering there really might be a pot o' gold for them there. The crossing guard near our house called out, "Save some gold for me!" We wouldn't have, though, because we would have spent it all at the bike store getting new bikes for the Bicycle Bus passengers. Rainbows are sneaky, and we were eluded yet again, but that didn't detract from the joy of the pursuit nor the fun of the ride.

And on a comical note, there is a goofy kid worth telling about. There is an elementary school close to my house, and those kids let out at the time I'm heading to get my kids at their school. This goofball kid, who I'd put at about 3rd grade, has gotten a new scooter. He has to take it down The Hill That Would Make Cipollini Cry, which even I would never attempt. There are a pair of blond brothers who do it every day on their scooters, and the goofball must be their friend. They are now a trio. The brothers are way more street smart, as they've been at it awhile. The goofball is a disaster. His scooter is pretty cool, with big, fat, black tires, and he knows it. As I came behind him, he began chirping about the splendor of his new scooter. Then, he did exactly what comes naturally to little boys with new wheels: "Race ya!" he called. He took up the whole path and would unpredictably swerve this way and that. I was stuck behind him, riding my brakes and looking on in amusement. He talked the entire way down the hill, not that I could make a single word of it out. He was blithely happy with himself, whatever he was chattering about, and I waved goodbye as he turned right into his neighborhood. I caught him again today. "You again!" he chirped. And then something about racing, and we started the whole experience over again.

You can't make this stuff up.
Leah

[René Sterental]

Ahhh, great story!

René 

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[LeahFoy]

The Bicycle Bus has been undergoing some infrastructure changes as of late, but what happened today really takes the cake.

There is a major intersection before our school, and the City decided to put up traffic lights and do away with the old 4 way stop. It is multiple lanes of traffic, and one of the busiest places in the canyon. The City has done away with OUR crosswalk, posting a "NO CROSSING" sign and has instead placed crosswalks on the remaining three sides. We must cross all three to get to school now, which is a great time-waster and has added considerable time onto our commute. My two sons and I had successfully navigated two of the crosswalks, and we were standing on the sidewalk with our bikes, waiting for the 3rd and final WALK light. There were two other children waiting with us. I was chatting with someone, when suddenly there was an SUV, coming from behind me, heading for me and my 11 year old boy. The SUV drove up onto the sidewalk, missing me and my son by less than 12 inches and CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THE SIDEWALK, taking out two orange cones, which became lodged under his chassis. He showed no reaction -never even swerved - and continued to drive up the hill. Two cars behind was a woman with her 3 kids. She had witnessed the whole thing, and yelled that she was calling 911 and that she had his license plate. She followed him up the hill. He pulled into the guard-gated ritzy community and she lost sight of him. She was parked near the end of our commute, waiting for police, so I sent my boys home (just a couple blocks away) and stayed to talk to her. Turns out, the driver had been driving on the sidewalk at the shopping center a mile away and managed to hit her car. He left the scene and would not stop even though she tried to wave him down. He drove erratically up the hill with her following him, and then she watched him nearly hit us on the sidewalk, which made her decide to dial 911. A policeman met us, and told us this is the 5th (FIFTH!!!) erratic driving report they have on this man. The officer left to confront the guy at his home address, and said we may hear from him. An hour later, my iPhone rang with a blocked number calling, and it was the officer, who now wanted a written statement and to interview my two sons. We gladly complied and asked what happened when he arrived at the residence. The man refused to answer the door, and the two traffic cones were no longer under the SUV. The vehicle had numerous dents and scrapes. The officer said all the other calls ended the same - the man wouldn't answer the door when police arrived. The officer said he is not the type to let this go, and that he will confront the man again tomorrow. He said if he can establish that the man was the driver, he will be arrested for damaging the other woman's car, fleeing the scene of an accident, and endangerment of a child - a felony. He has left me his email address and instructed me to find the kids that were with us and get them in contact with him, which I will gladly do tomorrow.

I can barely believe this happened. I always think I'm safe on the sidewalk. I never even saw that SUV until it nearly took out my left leg. I didn't even have time to feel afraid. I didn't see how close it got to my son, but he says it was closer to hitting him than me. I do know that I prayed for protection, as is my custom, on the morning bike commute, and I am grateful that my prayer was answered and that the Bicycle Bus lives to ride another day! Thank you, Jesus!

[Deacon Patrick]

Say it again, sister! Amen! Thank God everyone is safe. Wow. Sounds like you did everything correct. How infuriating!

Without seeing the intersection it is hard to say if these suggestions make any sense at all but a few ideas:

-- Short term: feasable to merge with traffic to cross as a vehicle in the right lane, then remount the sidewalk? Take it upon yourself to become a crossing guard -- get the reflective vest and stop sign, the whistle and you every present smile and cross that way (with the light of course). I bet you get attention for the problem. Grin.

-- longer term: request (demand?) a crossing guard; request and demand the restoration of crosswalks on all four sides.

I find it stunning how often bicycles are not considered (and even pedestrians of any kind) at various intersections. 

With abandon,

Patrick

[Deacon Patrick]

Here's your sign. Grin.

https://www.amazon.com/ML-Kishigo-5951-Reflective-Double/dp/B00AU7YL8U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494552847&sr=8-3&keywords=crossing+guard+sign

[LeahFoy]

Thanks, Patrick! I have thought of the exact same tactic - becoming a car. I just can't do it. I'm too afraid the cars will kill my kids. There is but one way in and out of the canyon, and there is no bike lane and no shoulder of the road, and everyone is traveling to work and school at that time. The cars move at 50ish mph. We would have to somehow leave the sidewalk and budge in front of cars moving at high rates of speed. And even if they didn't kill us they would HATE us. We need one of those flyovers like we had in California - an elevated sidewalk that bridges over the intersection! I think I'd get arrested for impersonating an official at the intersection, but I'm half-tempted, ha!!!! Should I get a sign and see what happens? *smirk*

[WETH]

Leah,
Yikes! Glad everyone is unhurt! Do stay in contact with this officer to make sure the police follow through. That is one driver who needs to have his car driving privileges revoked! Good luck and keep us posted.
All the best,
Erl

[Deacon Patrick]

Yeah, I thought that might be the case with your initial description of the intersection. Bummer.

No idea of the legality of becoming a self-nominated crossing guard, but the optics of Mom protecting the "bike bus" at new, stupid designed intersection (call the local newspaper?) who happens to have a safety stop sign if needed (even if you cross the three directions) sure won't have many against you.

Another idea: invite the principal and school board and city council and newspaper to bike to school with you. They can discover the "fun" for themselves.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Joe Bernard]

Oh my God, Leah! This makes my heart hurt at a level I can't even describe. What kind of lunatic drives like that so often that he collects dents on his SUV like it's just part of the deal?? This is very strange.

[Dennis Hogan]

WTF!!!  how can the police allow the driver to refuse to answer the door ? The driver has committed at least several violations if not felonies.

I am so glad you and your son escaped any injury.  

Dennis in PDX

[ascpgh]

Proof again that even a wide imagination cannot fathom the breadth of incompetence possible from a local population. Even if you could list all of the things that people might actually do, you'd fall short as this individual demonstrated. Good work keeping all safe, both you and good graces. Your situational awareness was better than a scroll of possible thing people might do.

Keep up with the officer, he can't go knocking down the door if not in unbroken pursuit of a high level of crime. I was T-boned in the driver's door by a drunk who continued off (without headlights) and pursued by responding state police. With personal information gleaned from a partial plate number by a witness they had the drivers address and two officers knew her and her favorite watering hole but could not act once the pursuit was called off when they lost contact with the fleeing vehicle. Implications for me were the total loss of my beloved and irreplaceable '96 5-speed Legacy wagon "work" car. If they had continued contact and been able to find her and the vehicle, her insurance (which I overheard them verify on the officers' radios) my remedy from her insurance would have differed greatly from what did occur (absolutely nothing). 

Law enforcement, or should I say the lawyering in anticipation of an offender's defense, necessitates that a seemingly very winding path be taken to justice. Be like Patrick on the ride to Rampart and keep the course, mud in the figurative fenders and all.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Mark in Beacon]

Frightening indeed. It does bring home the fact that we are not really in control of a lot. I'm sure you have figured out a way to talk about this with the kids that helps assuage their feelings while letting them know that just because we can't eliminate all danger, we can still enjoy the day; a version of get right back on the horse, I guess.  I am grateful this was not the tragedy it could have been.

[LeahFoy]

Thanks, All. Yes, I really don't know what you have to do to get arrested around here. Hit and run, nearly mowing down school kids *on the sidewalk with your CAR*, having an extensive record of prior incidents, 4 eyewitness accounts that put your car at the scene...

I called my Mom (mistake) who had a fit and demanded I stop my foolhardy ways of biking to get places. "But MOM, I was standing on the sidewalk! Not even on my bike!" IF YOU WERE IN A CAR YOU'D HAVE A BETTER CHANCE, she said. I cannot win.

[Patrick Moore]

Right on! Glad you were safe, and I hope that the son of a bitch gets slammed. 

I live on a little access street that feeds south into one of ABQ's busiest cross-river (E-W) arteries (Montano NW), just 1/4 mile east of one of the city's busiest intersections (Coors and Montano NW). There is no legal way for a walker or cyclist to cross to the south side of Montano to head east toward the river bridge, the bosque, and the paved N-S trail. Traffic is especially bad at rush hours.

Montano is 4 lanes, Coors 6. Montano is signed for 40 with traffic often at 55; Coors for 45 with traffic usually 60.

To legally get from the south end of my street, Winterhaven, across Montano, legally, you have to do a big loop: through the shopping center to the W of Winterhaven to Coors; light; south on Coors 1/4 mile to the very busy intersection with 2 left/east turn lanes. Of course a walker or cyclist can't do this

I'm experienced, I can make it across, but it's difficult; and it's what has prevented my daughter from riding the 1 mile south to her school.

And on the SW corner of Montano and Coors, adjacent to the school, they're going to add a shopping center to be completed in 2018.

The traffic division passed the buck; I'm going shortly to write my Councilor. We'll see.

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[Garth]

  You are Safe .

[Joe Bernard]

"Well mom, I have to get in and out of the car. This involves being in the street.."

[Ryan Fleming]

well , ironically , my accident last fall was a hit and run in a school zone (there are about 5 or 6 elementary - high schools within a 2 km radius)

I was in the bike lane (marked as a bike lane but can be shared) and as I was just about to cross the intersection a car swerved , cut me off , hit me and turned west. How the driver did not notice a 175lb body hit the passenger side, I'll never know. Lots of witnesses but no plates recorded unfortunately. I feel I was totally in the right but maybe a mirror would have helped...or a go-pro. Bike was fine , I didn't lose consciousness or anything but I ended up with a compressed L1 vertebra. Had to hang up the bike for 6 weeks of really superb fall weather. I'm not  lying awake  t spinning revenge fantasies, but really? No matter who's right, a car is a lethal weapon . Driver could have easily hit a kid...but a life is a life. In my case, I was very lucky but this was my first car/bike collision in about 40 years. Since I've resumed riding I'm  quite a bit more nervous around cars than I was before and I was never totally blase about mixing it in with cars at the best of times.

Geez...stay safe out there, kids

[LeahFoy]

Ryan, this is AWFUL. I'm not surprised this happened to you in a school zone - parents are distracted and rushed and just generally at their worst in school zones. It's a battlefield out there. I think that's why you see so many So-and-So-Memorial crossings by schools. Blood will run in the streets eventually as long as we have cars swirling around school zones. A compressed L1 vertebra is really something; so sorry this happened to you. Your thoughts on a GoPro are my thoughts, too - I wish I'd had one! I don't even know how they work or how to use one, but sure seems like it would have been useful yesterday.

I found one of the kids who was there on that sidewalk after school. The kid was really hesitant to give me any information (as he well should be) said he didn't know his mom's cell phone number, has no phone of his own but was willing to give up "my mom's house phone." Then he promptly told me he'd be really hard to make contact with. Sigh. I am also 99% sure he has special needs and am not sure how he will be at recalling and repeating events. I emailed the number to the officer and while I was at it, asked if he was ever able to make contact with the driver. Here is his emailed response: " Yes I was able to track down the driver. I issued him multiple citations for the violations. I spoke to him at length about your concerns and the safety of the public. He will have a future court date. Thanks."

I feel happy that the driver has been tracked down and dressed down, but not happy that he wasn't arrested and his license revoked, though I kept my opinions to myself. I also wonder what his side of the story is, but I dare not ask the officer any more questions as I feel I may be dangerously close to nagging, ha!

[Joe Bernard]

I'm pro nagging. We need to know what the douchebag said, Leah!

[Ryan Fleming]

Thanks, Leah

Physically , I am almost back to normal. Not doing long rides yet as there is still some residual stiffness. Mentally I'd say I lost more than  a little of my bike mojo. I am riding to and from work and afraid I haven't yet ridden the 2nd BBITW  (the first being your Betty).  But....I'm working on it. Accident affected me psychologically  more than I'd hoped and I tend to be a rider who is happiest on quieter,  emptier roads at the best of times. 

I won't give up riding though and I'll just focus on what I feel comfortable with for now and work up

I hope this driver has the book thrown at him because it sounds more like malice then stupidity/distraction and I am so  glad you and your sons and the other kids are safe. You are a tiger mother  :)

[LeahFoy]

I got the nerve to email that officer one last time and ask if the driver offered a reason for why he drives that way. Graciously, he replied.

"Leah,
He did not. He was heavily intoxicated when I contacted him so I speculate he may have been intoxicated earlier. But, I can't establish probable cause he was impaired earlier or else I would have arrested him."

[BenG]

Leah, because the car always wins, I agree with your use of sidewalks when available as alternate to busy or speedy roads, especially when riding with kids. He sounds like a driver bound for disaster, deserving special awareness. Wouldn't it be neat to track his phone location for the safety of your school bus? Alert you when he is within a specified radius? Better than a rearview mirror. OTOH, that sounds like one of the justifications for privacy violation that I read in Dave Eggers' "The Circle". Better to demand that the police enforce existing law than open that door?

[BenG]

Another scenario on the sidewalk: if I were to ride my bike past a mom and child who are walking that sidewalk, instead of dismounting and walking by them, is the mom's perspective that I am operating a vehicle illegally on the sidewalk and endangering her child not spot-on? Is riding with my child on that fast, narrow street not also endangering? Perhaps we don't always fit by right or by law, depending on available infrastructure.

[Joe Bernard]

The story is that Leah and her kid were standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross in a crosswalk. Riding a bicycle on a sidewalk has nothing to do with this topic.

[Leah Peterson]

Yes, what Joe said is true, actually. I was standing next to my bike, waiting with my kids and some others to walk the bikes across the crosswalk. The drunk driver drove up onto our sidewalk and nearly ran us down.

The path we ride home is a really wide sidewalk meant to be shared and rarely used, and we often are the only souls out enjoying it. There is no bike lane and no shoulder and the road we travel is the only route in and out of the canyon. If we dared take the lane with our bikes we would back up traffic for miles and lynched forthwith.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 14, 2017, at 8:37 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The story is that Leah and her kid were standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross in a crosswalk. Riding a bicycle on a sidewalk has nothing to do with this topic.
>

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[Ian A]

Ryan,

My own experience of being hit  was being struck from behind at speed which led to thirty facial stitches, but miraculously no broken bones. The face healed well and only faint scars remain. This happened in 2010. I resumed riding a few weeks after the crash as I had to recover from road rash and heavy bruising, but I was tentative. I ride a lot of miles each year, but the memory of the crash stays with me. It doesn't spook me or make me ride less, it's just there in my subconscious. One thing I do now is avoid "conflict zones"  - areas where traffic might be distracted or stressed. A  couple of km detour is worth the effort to avoid the risky bits. The mojo never goes away.  

IanA.

[Deacon Patrick]

Exactly, Ian. This works, except when it doesn't. Leah lives in a canyon, I live in a narrow mountain pass. Geography limits options. I'm blessed to have a MUP and good ol' CR21 that parallels the main artery, but it is fairly cobbled together with bailing wire and duct tape. And, if I need to get to town and back, my options require the use of the highway. Not bad heading down, as I can coast at 40mph and have a wider shoulder the whole way, but climbing back up has many tight canyon curves with no shoulder, making being seen by traffic going 60 (that's supposed to go 45, 25 in the curves, yeah, right!) difficult. The way round adds several hundred miles.

However, I think at this group's suggestion, I looked for alternative ways to go through Woodland Park, and that has opened up much better biking experiences, and far less risk of overloading my brain. 

With abandon,

Patrick

[Ian A]

Good point Deacon, that when geography or time of day cannot be avoided. I recall riding south from Mazatlan along the MX200 on a holiday weekend, with no shoulder and heavy foliage right at the road's edge. Narrow road, heavy traffic and frankly a reckless approach to driving safety put me in a very vulnerable position and it was a lot of miles before I was out of danger of being clipped. Interestingly though, along that stretch there was only one driver that was deliberatly aggressive, everyone else was just carried along in that mad traffic stream.

IanA

[Ryan Fleming]

Good advice, Ian and that's what I usually try to do....i.e. avoid heavy traffic. One thing I will NOT do is give up riding. To be fair my run-in happened at a time I usually don't leave work. I leave for work around 9 am and  start home around 6pm to avoid rush hour. On the day of my collision I left work about 3:20pm  so... a bit of construction going on and just the time when kids were leaving school. Had I followed my normal routine, I probably would have been fine.

I'm certainly glad you didn't break any bones and that you healed well; I also realize that I was very fortunate too and I'm grateful. Could have been worse. I just wish drivers would pay more attention...but to be fair it's not always the drivers' fault in these situations as I think we all know. However in a car-bike collision the cyclist is the loser

[Ray Varella]

Just out of curiosity, are there any traffic cameras or security cameras that can put this guy behind the wheel?
You won't get him for DUI but you may be able to put some pressure on the police to get him for some sort of wreckless endangerment.

Ray

[REC]

That's a great idea and I hope so.  Do they want to wait until someone is hurt to stop this, especially when it's not an isolated instance?

Roberta