Category Archives: seattle

Grocery Getters in the Mainstream Media

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Anne | 3 comments

The Seattle Times reports that people are changing their shopping habits. It seems people are abandoning their cars in favor of—and this is really wacky—bikes and feet.

The article mentions Xtracyles and Bakfietsen as good grocery hauling machines. It’s great to see bikes in the mainstream media. Little by little people are realizing how simple it is to use bikes as transportation.

(btw The Times photo editor may need to be enlightened—the bike on the front page of the article is not an Xtracycle, it’s a bike with a rear rack and paniers.)

Have a good weekend!

-Anne and Tim

3 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, extravehicular activities, news, seattle, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, msm, seattle, transportation

Back to School (on Bikes)

Posted on September 9, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

School started in Seattle last week. Hurray. Yippee. Yahoo. I’m not even going to try to contain my excitement as I now have two kids in school full time. After seven years of kids-all-the-time, it’s nice to have some time to myself to do whatever I want.

And I want to ride my bike. Alone. (I’d also ride with a friend if the opportunity presented itself as long as they promised not to whine or bicker or proclaim, “it’s not fair” if I pedaled a little faster than them.) Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, kids, seattle, sustainability

Tagged bike-to-school, bikes, bikes as transportation, seattle

Labor Day Ride Update

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Anne | 3 comments

The Labor Day ride was a huge success. We didn’t get an official count but we’d guess the ride drew at least 50 bikes pedaling down Broadway, over the University Bridge and up University Ave to Cowan Park. All kinds of bikes were represented–road bikes, mountain bikes, kids on bmx bikes, Xtracycles, Bakfiets and trailers to name a few. It was great to see so many folks out riding on an early fall Seattle day.

More photos here

Traditionally the next ride is the day after Thanksgiving(or buy nothing day). Mark your calendars and we’ll see you out there.

– Anne and Tim

3 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, seattle, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, Cargo bike ride, cycling, Labor Day Cargo Bike Ride

Labor Day Cargo Bike Ride

Posted on August 25, 2008 by Anne | 1 comment

The Labor Day Cargo Bike ride will take place Monday, September 1st, 2008 at noon (we put it on our calendar for 11:30 so we won’t be late!). Meet at 20/20 Cycle, 2020 East Union on Capitol Hill. The destination is Ravenna Park via Broadway and University Ave.

We can’t miss this one since it’s in our neck of the woods.

We hope to see you all there.

– Anne and Tim

1 Comment

Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, longbikes, seattle, xtracycle

Tagged Cargo bike ride, cargo bikes, Group Ride, Labor Day

Sailboats, Sea Planes and Cool Breezes: You get it all at the South Lake Union Park

Posted on August 4, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

Tim and I highly recommend a visit to the new South Lake Union Park. Situated on the south tip of Lake Union, next to the Center for Wooden Boats, it’s a surprisingly serene locale to have a picnic and enjoy the hubub that Lake Union has to offer. While we lament the short-sighted Seattle voters each time we go there, it’s still a great spot even if it’s NOT as good as it could have been. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, extravehicular activities, seattle

Tagged bikes, carfreedates, dates, Family Cycling, kids, seattle, South Lake Union Park

Lowrider Bakfiets: Aero with Style

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Tim K | 5 comments

I took this video of Stephan from Dutch Bike while riding with him a sunny Ballard evening earlier in the month. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, seattle, shops

Tagged ballard, bikes, seattle, summer, video

Pedestrians 1, Cars 0

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Anne | 1 comment

Capitol Hill Welcomes you - Jason Anfinsen on Flickr

The Seattle PI reports that the Boren /Pine intersection is getting much needed pedestrian improvements. Seattle DOT is eliminating a car lane to improve pedestrian access. Early next year, a sidewalk will be added to the north side of the I-5 overpass on Pine street, the main route from Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to downtown. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in neighborhoods, seattle

Tagged walking Capitol Hill sidewalks seattle

Val Kleitz interview

Posted on July 9, 2008 by Anne | 3 comments

Alan of ecovelo posted this wonderful Cargo Bike Pilot interview of Val Kleitz. The video, by the Cargo Bike blog, shows why Val’s a legend around here.

He’s been an inspiration and a huge support of our move toward (and efforts to blog about) family cargo-biking goodness. Since we love the Val and all of his infinite wisdom, we thought it was worth posting here as well.

The group cargo ride images make us lament our late start for the July 4th ride even more. Who would have thought they’d leave close to on time for once! For what it’s worth, the photos from our cargo ride of two+two are up.

– Anne and Tim

3 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, seattle, sustainability

Tagged bikes, cargo cycling, cargobikes, interview, seattle, Val Kleitz

Elliott Bay Water Taxi – a great day trip

Posted on July 7, 2008 by Anne | 1 comment

Looking Back at Seattle

We’re always hunting for fun car-free day trips. Since our kids aren’t riding too far on their own yet, (they ride on the Xtracycle Snapdeck) we’re limited to one-way distances under 10 miles or so.

That’s why the Elliot Bay Water Taxi, which runs from downtown Seattle to Seacrest Park, is a great day trip. The ferry leaves from Pier 55 – roughly a seven mile ride from our house. Once the ferry docks, Alki is a quick 2.5 mile spin along the waterfront to all the sand, sun, cruising, and beach volleyball you can handle.

The fam on the Water Taxi

The bike friendliness of the Water Taxi is a bonus. There’s plenty of room for bikes inside toward the bow (that’s the front for you landlubbers). Just roll your bike on the boat, pay your $3 (or $1 with a Metro transfer), bungee it to the railing and enjoy the 12 minute crossing.

We have taken our road bikes on the taxi before but we weren’t sure if the crew was going to balk at the longbikes— transit workers can be cranky about bikes (especially really big bikes) sometimes. It turns out the Argosy (the tourist boat company contracted to run the water taxi) employees were great and loading the bikes was no problem—even on a busy weekend day.

The beach, bikes, and a big boat. All easy and hassle free. Xtracycles on the Water Taxi

1 Comment

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, seattle, xtracycle

Tagged alki, bikes, family, kids, seattle, water taxi

Fourth of July Cargo Bike Ride

Posted on July 2, 2008 by Anne | 10 comments

Val sent us the info about the Fourth of July Cargo Bike Ride. Sounds like fun. Meet in Pioneer Square at the Pergola – First and Yesler @ noon. The ride will commence at 12:30. Details here.

We’ll probably wander down and ride part way. We have Fourth of July plans so we won’t be able to linger. Hope to see you there.

– Anne and Tim