Hit the Ground Rolling

If you've been following the blog posts while I was bicycle touring the US (list of posts), you'll already know that a community bike space, BiCi Co., is in the works at the Center for Latino Progress.  For those that are just now joining the party, we'll bring you up to speed.   

The BiCi Co. logo was designed by Hartford resident, Kyrima Colon

BiCi Co Membership Campaign on Indiegogo

The City of Hartford does not have a single bike shop.  How can that be?  Large numbers of Hartford youth ride for transportation and recreation, but they don’t have brakes, helmets or lights.  Bicycle safety training is nonexistent in our schools.  How can we address that?  The Center for Latino Progress sees this as an opportunity to improve youth safety, while also increasing our community’s mobility and jobs access.  The Center of Latino Progress has teamed up with Breakfast Lunch & Dinner to launch BiCi Co., a community bike space that is key for a healthy, sustainable, and economically vibrant Hartford.   Bici is shorthand for bicicleta, and Co. represents the community benefits of healthy, active transportation.

 

The bicycle station in Washington DC.  Why not in Hartford?

Bici Co. will host after-school programs teaching bicycle history, safety and mechanic skills to Hartford area teenagers..  BiCi Co. members will have access to the mechanic space during member hours and receive discounts on repair parts and accessories. Members will learn how to maintain and repair their own bike with the help of experienced mechanics. Bici Co. will offer community bicycle safety and repair classes.  Bicycles build community, connect residents to jobs, increase local spending, and respect the Earth.  And don’t forget, they’re just plain fun.  BiCi Co. can’t wait to be a bustling hub for those excited about bicycle culture in the Hartford area.

A parallel parking spot bike corral in front of a bike shop in DC

This summer, the Center invested in a community, teaching bicycle shop at 95 Park Street for thirty teens completing their Summer Youth Employment service learning project. During the seven-week program, the teens repaired bikes for the CRT Generations Program and confirmed a need for additional bicycle programs year round. BiCi Co. needs funds to open the shop and staff the initial youth and adult programs.  BiCi Co. is raising funds by securing annual memberships and donations to cover the expenses of the continuing programs from October through December 2015.  A successful crowdfunding campaign will keep this big wheel rolling. 

Beautiful urban mural art in Baltimore.  Near the ravens stadium, an otherwise desolate area.

 Hartford has a rich history of bicycle manufacturing and culture. In the 1890's, Colonel Albert Pope and the Columbia Bicycle Company manufactured the most bicycles in the world in Hartford.  BiCi Co. goes back to those roots with social purpose and community focus. You have an opportunity to support the growing wave of sustainable and healthy bicycle commuting in Hartford and its surrounding cities.  Anthony Cherolis, the Center’s Youth Coordinator says, “You can’t imagine the joy on a teen’s face when they fix their own bicycle.  That bicycle opens up their world.”  Be a part of our community - BiCi Co.

Baltimore has a separated bikeway going through downtown

About the Center For Latino Progress: The Center for Latino Progress – CPRF (formerly Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum, Inc.) mission is to advance the socio-economic conditions of the community at large, with emphasis on Hispanics, through education, training, supportive services, leadership development, and advocacy. Since 1978, we provide competent and culturally enriching services and programs that foster individual and community growth, and create economic opportunities for all.  More information is available at http://www.ctprf.org.

BiCi Co Membership Campaign on Indiegogo

 Mural art in Philly

 The two Fall programs that will be supported by the campaign include the teen Build-a-Bike / Earn-a-Bike program and Member DIY Hours.  In the next couple of weeks we'll be opening up Demo Member hours for those that want to see what BiCi Co. is all about.  Like the Facebook page to get the latest announcements about member hours.  Right now, we're looking for feedback on which times work the best for folks.  Please chime in.  It would also be awesome if you invite other Hartford metro bicycle loving (or bike curious) folks to also like the page.  The more the merrier!

We found the largest crawdad ever on trail.  Aggressive fellow.

Elizabeth joined me from Trenton, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ

Multi-modal to Monclair, NJ.  Rolled on board the train.

Of course there's a bike corral in front of the Philly Whole Foods

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Stuff no one will steal

At one point, I was a man who had nothing made by Campagnolo. Then, I bought this old raincoat off of eBay. Now that I'm rich, I've bought actual Campy components (from the 1990s). They're pretty good.

I still use my mediocre raincoat. Last Friday for instance, I wore it and only got 96% soaked on the way to work. There's a coat rack next to the bike racks in the parking garage and I left the coat there, forgetting about it when I left on Friday afternoon. I remembered before I left for work that I left it there and then when I got there, it was still there. Well, looks like Campy isn't attractive to thieves as you think it would be. Better not leave my SRAM raincoat, though, might not be so lucky next.

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Secret Art in Hartford

Sad?  Resigned?  Bored?

Freedom or security?

Day of the Dead

Ambling around the less traveled Hartford by foot and by bike, one finds amazing works of graffiti art.  The best pieces often the least accessible or exposed.  I find this really interesting.  It's as if those that wander off the beaten path in urban Hartford get rewarded with private viewing of secret art.  I'm thinking that wasn't necessarily the goal of the artist.  Most graffiti is put up without permission and under threat of vandalism and  trespassing charges.  Putting the piece up in a seldom used train tunnel gives the artist much more time than what could be slapped up on a visible overpass or abandoned building facing the street.  The artist has time to layer, add detail, and go large.  If they don't like something, they can fix it.

Another interesting aspect of graffiti art in Hartford and some other cities, is when the previously illicit art, honed in the shadows, becomes an accepted art form and finds its way onto buildings as advertising and decoration.  When graffiti is seen for the value it adds, instead of the value it detracts - and it can do both.  Park Street has several "legal" graffiti based signs and art, as does Homestead.  I recently came across a huge piece on Windsor Street.   Certain entrepreneurs, public organizations, and arts organizations have identified the talent and recognized the visual draw of well executed urban art.  Every time I pass Pelican on Park Street, the Sophia Maldonado work on the front of the building makes me want to get a tattoo, and someday I'll actually do it.

You may have seen these modified crosswalk signs around town.

Hartford has a little slice of Heaven for lovers of graffiti art.  Its actually called Heaven, and this legal graffiti zone / park is located just north of downtown Hartford.  If you haven't been there, you are missing a dynamic art hot zone.  Pieces may last a week, or several months.  There are small quirky works and stencils and huge sprawling burners and artworks taking up entire walls.  The Hartford Graffiti ride that I'm doing on Friday, July 19th starts (@ 7:30PM) and ends at Heaven.  If you show up, make sure you bring fat tires, pumps, and spare tubes.

*** The Hartford Graffiti Ride has been subsumed by the RAW Real Ride due to rescheduling of that event for the same evening.  Still riding, but starting from Real Art Ways on Arbor Street.  Meet at 6PM, and roll when it starts to get dark. ***

This bee was hanging out in Heaven a couple weeks ago, but he's gone now.

A friend from Urbana, IL just forwarded me a photo of a Kickstarter funded public art piece in an underused and previously boring alleyway.  This is a great business model for public art in times of contracting municipal budgets!  Find a building owner with a vacant and boring wall, pitch them an idea for a piece, start a kickstarter campaign to pay the artist.  Graffiti artists that had been forced to do their best work in secret could make some inroads into exposed public spaces, with the time needed to put up the best - and get paid.

Found this unexpectedly well populated wall in Stafford Springs.

Heads up to Tavis / Skan duo (or someone that knows them can give them my contact info).  I've seen a lot of your work and chatted with a certain arts organization.  What would you think of a Kickstarter type campaign and piece on a large wall associated with the arts organization?  I would love to help make this connection and could even help with the Kickstarter stuff.  Drop me a line either through Beat Bike Blog, or you can email me directly (acherolis at gmail.com).

Nice burner by the river.  

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Can you handle more graffiti?

Because if you can't, that's okay.  Regardless, I'll be riding around on Friday,  July 19th looking at notable urban art.  Hartford has amazing graffiti, if you know where to look. Following the train tracks yesterday I stumbled across these hidden gems.  Unfortunately the works shown below won't be on the bike ride, as the extended length of sketchy, rough train tracks would be punishing.  That said, the ride may include some short segments of train tracks and off road riding.  Fat tires will be appreciated, and spare tubes / patch kits invaluable.

The informal bicycle wander will meet and end at Heaven, a well used and dynamic legal graffiti zone just north of downtown Hartford on Main Street.  Meeting at 6:30PM and shoving off by 7PM.  Brendan is working with folks to get a skate park built at heaven to complement the existing vibe and give the kids something to do.  After the ride I'll be heading over to Sully's for Past\\Forward.

Disclaimer - This is not an organized ride.  In fact I guarantee that it will be very disorganized.  I'm not sure how far I'll be riding, but expect to be back at Heaven 1-2 hours from when I shove off.   There is no cue sheet, and I don't plan on watching out for your safety.  If for some reason you choose to ride around and look at graffiti, it is of your own free will and you are assuming the risks inherent in riding your bike on roads, various terrains, around other vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.

If you missed it, I've heard there is an Alley Cat planned for June 22nd.

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GHGT and RR - Be there.

So.  Tomorrow evening (Friday, June 29th) I'm going to ride around Hartford and nearby environs to peruse some choice graffiti.  The not so organized ride will be dubbed - the Greater Hartford Graffiti Tour (GHGT).  You are welcome to tag along (pun intended?).  There is a Facebook invite, but I've heard some people out there still shun Facebook.   Meet up at 5:30PM at the carousel in Bushnell Park.  We'll roll around Hartford, then branch out.  The Hartford bit will be short.  Bring fattish tires and don't expect to ride fast.  It's going to be warm out, so beverages are probably a good idea.

Also, the Real Ride approaches.  Saturday, July 7th a raucous group of lighted revelers will roll about Hartford and converge on the riverfront to watch the Riverfest fireworks from an undisclosed prime location.  Show up at Real Art Ways at 6PM to start the festivities and decorate your steed.  The ride begins at 8PM and we'll catch the fireworks at 9PM. Real Art ways has concessions if you're hungry or thirsty.

Bring your own materials or use those that will be available to bling your bike.  The more glowing, flashing, lighted-ness the better.  This is the fifth one of these, and they keep getting better.  If there be rain, the rain date will be July 8th - same as Riverfest.

Oh yeah.  Both rides are FREE!  So even if you have a horrible time, you didn't waste any of your hard earned dough.  See you there, and spread the word. Read more!

ATVs and Trains

I'm not going to lie: I don't like ATVs. As a mountain biker and periodic hiker, I don't see the need for a engine to get through the woods. They also ruin parks in my city, race dangerously down the street and tear up trails in the woods. Often, other people and I think that if they had their park, they wouldn't abuse and destroy trails and parks where they don't belong.

So, yesterday as I rode past the Connecticut River Motorcross Park, I was thinking to myself about how it must be nice how ATVs and dirtbikes stay out of the nearby parks because they have their own park. Then, I entered a nearby park (Quarry Park) to find that the trails had all recently grown ruts because morons on ATVs were riding through the park.

Oh, also, you may recall that El Presidente had written about some kind of weird train/bike/walk thing that he wanted to do. I don't know what ever happened with that, but I have been exploring much of what his proposed route would be along the river. Last week, Salem (lover of Sun Tour and winner of The Eel) and Dario (Trinity professor and rider of a fixed gear Fat Chance) went north and I learned that there's a trail through Windsor Meadows State Park up to Loomis. I also learned about the crazy Hockanum River Park! And yesterday, I went south towards Cromwell and discovered the very boring Bukley Park in Rocky Hill.

Here are some pictures:

Wethersfield's river mud is nasty, but fertile.

I also signed up for the D2R2 today. Read more!

Two news items about getting around

I saw a guy walking down the street today having this problem.

Over at urban compass, Robert Cotto writes about that New Haven to Springfield commuter train.

The Courant wrote about the short lived Asylum Ave bike lane. At least Kevin Burnham tried.

It's nasty outside today. Read more!

Bikes on MetroNorth

In a decision that flew largely below the news radar and is first mentioned here almost a week after its occurrence, Governor Rell announced that she was requiring MetroNorth to make increased accommodations for bicycles on 380 new trains currently on order. Following previous Beatbikeblog discussions and discussed in this article, the move attempts to address the increasing demand for a bicycle infrastructure connected to rail transportation. The Governor's order calls not only for more bike-specific spaces on trains but also for bike racks at Connecticut stations and a review of policies regarding transporting bikes in rail cars.

As is its tendency, the comment section of the article provides a heated debate not only of the state of these resources but of the inherent right to take bikes on the train.

One commenter writes:
"I guess the Gov doesn't ride the train to NYC during the rush hour, the commuter train is for commuters not bikes, but If thats what "SHE" wants the people should buy it for her.
JUST DUMB"

Following this argument I guess the commenter does not consider bike commuters actual commuters but of some lower class of transients as he continues stating,

"Well I'll come right out and say this I'm a conductor for this RR and being on this side of the fence, I can look at the issue from both sides, Yes it is a great way to help the the gas problem,and global warming and all that. but from the other side we cater to the working class that as of now take Buses,subways,taxis,and walk the "last mile" the last thing this city needs is people trying to get though NYC traffic on bikes."

Supposedly, as this conductor states, the rail system "caters to the working class" which is not interested in bicycle transportation and furthermore this policy is doing New York a favor by keeping bike of its streets as well. Both comments, I assume, are hard for (you) the bikeophile to swallow yet the poster is quickly agreed with by another commenter who writes,

"As someone who had nearly been run down by careless bicyclists who ignore red lights, AMEN!!
As to the bikes on the train, why should someone whe has paid hundreds of dollars for a monthly ticket have to stand because the new cars have fewer seats so a small percentage of people can bring their bikes on."

As is often the case this reader assumes that as their transportation arrangement trumps those of others as it may be considered more typical or "normal". Their payment of a monthly ticket (supposedly) suggests that their needs should be prioritized. Well what then I ask of the needs of another commuter who pays for a ticket, and even an additional ticket for their bike, and chooses to ride to work by a combination of methods? Are their needs not equal?

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Rick Green, stop pedaling ON 84 to get across the river!

I was excited to read about a column entitled, Grabbing Idea By The Handlebars. I usually like Rick Green's Column. I like this one except he really got something really wrong and so i gots to speak up and let people know.

Five paragraphs in, Green writes, “In Hartford, it is nearly impossible to safely ride to cross the river and easily ride through the city.” Huh? Sorry dude, but what the hell are you writing about? I assume, “to cross” was supposed to be “across” but who knows? Perhaps my assuming is making an ass outta me?

Have you ever even ridden across the river? Really? Or even walked across? What was so dangerous?! I wanna know. Please comment and answer, the people demand the truth!

There’s a freakin’ 20 foot wide pedestrian/bicycle lane on the Founders Bridge completely separated from the highway. And both the Charter Oak Bridge and the Bulkley Bridge have pedestrian/bicycle walkways that are also completely separated from the highway. Unless you are either crossing on the railroad bridge or riding a bicycle on the actual interstate; there is no danger from cars. None!

And then, whilst i am still wailing from the bridge comment, gasping and horrified at all the would-be commuters giving up their dreams of leaving the car at home; you hit me with, “I’m tired of hearing complaints….”

Me too! Especially complaints that aren’t even true! arrrggg!

Hartford certainly has plenty of bicycle infrastructure and idiot driver issues that need to be discussed and solved, but crossing the river is not one of them. I love my city. I love what's good, and seemingly unlike most people, I can also admit to what is bad. But lets not be saying that things are bad that aren't!

If you somehow only meant riding through the city was almost impossible to do safely, i must still strongly disagree with you. Send me an email and we'll meet up on bicycles and I'll show you a safe way to get where ever you need to go! And then, please, write about that!

ps. even with a 1/2 gallon of gin and juice, 3 of us were able to safely cross every bridge in Hartford at night!

bridges.

Bridges and Mud and Mud

No more to READ MORE

EDIT NOTE. my original post was a bit meanspirited due to me being angry about recent events in Hartford and the response from the media, city officials and people in general. my apologies to all. Read more!

Deja Vu

As our thousands of loyal readers may remember about a month ago we had a multi-installment segment on symbiotic bike and train travel as several Beat Bloggers journeyed to the Rotten Apple to partake in the 5 Boro. Their travels took them from the Beat to Waterbury by bike and from the Dirty Water to NYC by train. Well for those who didn't read the exciting "Burros," the tearjerker "Five-Borough Ride Prequel: Heartbeat to Dirty Water to Crooklyn," or the edge-of-you-seat thriller "The 5 Boro Walk Your Bike Tour," you may wonder why not take the train from Hartford or New Haven rather than trek to dark and mysterious Waterbury? Well the answer my friends is that our heroes made this trek due to the fact that Amtrack would not house their noble two-wheeled steeds in their cars. Well be it the pattern of the Courant but todays front page story is a mirror of the Beat Bike Blog's reporting a long month ago. Regardless, their story "Bicyclists Want to Take the Train, Too" is a good example of a growing consciousness of the lack of bike infrastructure and public transportation accommodation and is an opportunity to voice your arguments on the issue. So read the article, jump on the forums, make yourselves heard, and then head back here to dish our your ideas.

Select quotes from the article:

"Bikers have no more 'right' to bring bicycles on crowded rush-hour trains than I have to haul aboard a steamer trunk." - Jim Cameron: retired TV anchor.

"People are starting to get the message," "The roads are not just for cars."
- Tom Kehoe Tom Kehoe, Democratic lawmaker and local bike legislation hero.

"Mass transportation is a nice thing for people with simple schedules. However, our society encourages us to have complex lives." - Uncreative commenter.

"Based on how much cost overrun we are seeing for the refurbishing of the railcars on the New Haven line, I'm afraid to see any of my tax dollars go to mass transit.

Finish Route 7 & 11, expand the Merritt. Thats what the average person wants."
- Self-proclaimed Iron Sheik from Fayetteville, Mass


So lets hear it friends. What does the "average" person want?!?!
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