I’m feeling nostalgic today. My kids are growing up. Gone are the two-kid-hauling days when they read books and ate snacks and wondered and giggled with pure innocent joy while riding on my Xtracycle.
And took rides then ran a little bit and hopped back on:
Continue readingPosted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, family cycling, kids
Tagged growing up, kids, nikes, nostalgia
Grab a cup of coffee and take 8 minutes and 33 seconds to watch this trailer for a new documentary being created about cargo bikes.
More on the project here:
Do you love your cargo bike? Has it changed your life? Your family? Your town?
Join me in producing an authentic crowdsourced document of a cultural revolution in progress. I’m seeking submissions from cargo bike folk all over the world to combine in the form of a feature length documentary. Send me your video, audio and photos by uploading to Youtube and emailing me a link. More info at http://www.lizcanning.com. Watch the trailer, visit my site, send me an email and learn how to become a co-director!
via Matthew
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, family cycling, longbikes, sustainability, xtracycle
Tagged cargo bikes, documentary, Family Cycling, film
It’s been a year since we bought our matching yellow Bromptons.
Of all the bikes in our fleet, our Bromptons garner the most notice. Why? Obviously because of the tiny fold. And because they’re matching. And lemon-yellow. And we’re both quite tall and we look a little ridiculous riding them. And so on… basically they are not bikes for the shy.
Quite honestly, at the time of purchase Anne doubted our families’ need for Bromptons: we don’t travel much, we don’t have a shortage of bike storage space at home, and we aren’t big bus riders.
Tim’s purchase pitch smelled like bike lust to her: more of a want than a need.
But his negotiating skills (with Anne not the seller) prevailed and he eventually convinced her. He even pulled out the habitual-bike-purchaser’s classic line: “At this price, if we don’t ride them, we can easily sell them for more than we bought them!”
Anyone heard that one from a spouse before?
And we’re both glad he won the negotiation because in the past year, we’ve discovered so many uses for our Bromptons. Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bikes, cargo bikes, kids, kids' bikes, sustainability
Tagged Bike on Bike, Brompton, carfreedays, Utility Bikes
Val (in the hat) at the start of 2008 Labor Day ride at 20/20 Cycle
As many of you know, Val Kleitz was a driving force for the Seattle holiday cargo bike rides. For us, he was the spirit of cargo bikes in general. So it’s quite fitting that this year’s Labor Day cargo ride is honoring Val as a memorial ride.
The Labor Day ride traditionally runs (very roughly) from 20/20 Cycle on Union St. to Cowen Park in Ravenna. Plan on a slow, cargo-and-kid-friendly pace. Make sure you carry enough in the way of food, beverages, and picnic supplies. Just in case!
We’re hoping to see a lot local riders and family cyclists showing support for Val’s memory, as well as enjoying some transportation cycling on a lovely day. As always, a cargo bike is Not Required (If you are hauling yourself, you’re hauling a load!). So come on out and join the pallet.
Details: Meet at 20/20 cycles (2020 East Union) noon Monday. The Pallet leaves at 1:00 and should take about 90 minutes to arrive at the Cowen/Ravenna park picnic shelter. Later Monday night is a wake for Val at Pike Brewery.
More details about both events here….
See you there!
-Tim & Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, cargo bikes, Events, family cycling, seattle
Tagged cargo bikes, Labor Day, seattle, xtracyle
We found these stickers on our bikes today (outside of Goodwill in the U District).
When we got home, I looked up kickstandcampaign.org and found this blurb on their About page: Continue reading
Yesterday, while heading to REI, I heard my name and friendly shouts coming from a biker in the distance. It was something like”Hey Anne, you’re not normal” (referring to the post I wrote the other day) Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, family cycling, kids, longbikes
Tagged bikes, Family Cycling, I spy, kids, seattle
Yesterday, I got a Zipcar to pick up the 10-year-old at my parents house in the suburbs. On the walk to the Zipcar parking spot, the 8-year old negotiated a chance to play with my phone in the car. His excuse: “we never ride in cars, won’t you let me play games on your phone while we’re in traffic?”
It’s hard for me to resist that sweet boy at times, and he had a point, we would be stuck in traffic for awhile.
Later I found it kind of interesting that while playing with the phone, he chose to snap this photo to document something that seemed odd from his perspective: his mom at the wheel of an automobile. Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, kids
Clif Bar is once again sponsoring the 2 mile challenge.
To highlight a commitment to bike advocacy and the fight against climate change, CLIF BAR will award $100,000 in grants to support nonprofit organizations helping to lead the way. We’ve assigned each organization to a 2 Mile Challenge team: Red, Gold and Blue. All you have to do is register, pick your team and start pedaling your bike to earn points and help decide where the grants go.
Join a team today and start logging miles! I’m cfdanne and I joined the Red Team benefiting Safe Routes to Schools. Do you have a challenge for me?
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Human Powered Politics
Tagged 2mile challenge, advocacy, bikes, non-profit
We woke this morning to the sound of raindrops pounding the roof and splashing the windows. So hard to accept after the lovely sunny and warm weekend. Yesterday we were at the beach and there were kids in their skivvys playing in the sand and dipping their tiny toes in the Sound. We slathered on sunscreen and sat in the sand eating pizza and drinking beer out of plastic cups (and talked about how summer had arrived).
And today we woke to rain. Really? On day one of Bike to School Month? Can’t we catch a break?
I was ready to ditch the bike-to-school-plan and walk instead. (We only live 5 blocks from school, it’s easier to walk). But we _are_ the organizers and during Bike to School month, we ride. Continue reading
Here at Car Free Days HQ, we’re busy with preparations for the fourth-annual Bike to School Month kickoff (this Friday on the school playground).
look how little...and cute
Four years already? Seems like just yesterday, we were planning our first event.
Tim and I love planning Bike to School month: it’s become a much-anticipated spring tradition at our kids’ elementary school. We share the planning and execution with our friends and fellow family riders, Clint and Leslie. Each of us brings the perfect mix of enthusiasm, mellowness, last-minute surprises and creativity that makes the event a super fun spring tradition at our school. And this year we’ve recruited some new bike riding parents who will hopefully carry on the Bike to School month tradition long after our kids “graduate” from elementary school. Continue reading
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Anne & Tim
Tim King
Anne
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