Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Tim Butterfield]

In addition to the camera search, especially by the mall, there is also
theft of public property, the traffic cones.  I wonder if that would be
sufficient for a warrant to search.  Or, just wait for garbage collection
day and check the can at the curb for disposal of them.  Depending on
jurisdiction, once placed on the public curb for disposal, they are no
longer protected from search.  If found, they might have fingerprints that
would identify the perpetrator.

Tim

On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 5:26 PM, REC  wrote:

> 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
>
> On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 8:15:41 PM UTC-4, Ray Varella wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 8:15:41 PM UTC-4, Ray Varella wrote:

> 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
>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Ryan Fleming]

Good advice, Ian and that's what I usually try to doi.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

On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 1:09:48 AM UTC-5, Ian A wrote:
>
> 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.
>
> On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:44:17 PM UTC-6, Ryan Fleming wrote:
>>
>> 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).  ButI'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  :)
>>
>> On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:46:53 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>>>
>>> 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!
>>>
>>>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, May 15, 2017 at 12:09:48 AM UTC-6, Ian A wrote:
>
>  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.
>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.

On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:44:17 PM UTC-6, Ryan Fleming wrote:
>
> 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).  ButI'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  :)
>
> On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:46:53 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>>
>> 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!
>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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  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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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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. 

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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?

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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."

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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).  ButI'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  :)

On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 5:46:53 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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!
>
>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Joe Bernard]

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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Friday, May 12, 2017 at 4:12:38 PM UTC-5, Joe Bernard wrote:
>
> "Well mom, I have to get in and out of the car. This involves being in the 
> street.."

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Joe Bernard]

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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.

On Thu, May 11, 2017 at 6:46 PM, LeahFoy  wrote:

> 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!
>
> --
> You received this message because you a

Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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. 

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

['Mark in Beacon' via RBW Owners Bunch]

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.

On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 8:46:55 PM UTC-4, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 9:51:26 PM UTC-4, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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*

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 5:46:55 PM UTC-7, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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. 

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 7:51:26 PM UTC-6, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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*

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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*

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:46:55 PM UTC-6, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Lungimsam]

@Steve:
https://youtu.be/oEUm3VzF_Z0

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[René Sterental]

Ahhh, great story!

René

On Thursday, September 29, 2016, LeahFoy  wrote:

> 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
>
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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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


On Monday, September 26, 2016 at 11:06:17 AM UTC-4, Bob K. wrote:
>
> 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
>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 3:40:11 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> *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 t

Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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



On Monday, September 26, 2016 at 6:29:33 AM UTC-4, islaysteve wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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



>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 9:20:38 PM UTC-7, Evan E. wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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


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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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  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!
>
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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Patrick Moore]

Sorry, that should be "narsty barstid."

On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Patrick Moore  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).
>
>
> --
Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews.
By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching.
Other professional writing services.
http://www.resumespecialties.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/
Patrick Moore
Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique,  Vereinigte Staaten
**
**
*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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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).

On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 2:40 PM, LeahFoy  wrote:

> *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.*

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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 

Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Brian Campbell]

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




On Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 3:19:22 PM UTC-4, Evan E. wrote:
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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.




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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 11:58:08 PM UTC-6, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> Well, you all didn't pray for me because it was AWFUL. 

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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!

On Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 12:58:08 AM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>
> 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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, August 29, 2016, LeahFoy  wrote:

> 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, 

Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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!

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, August 29, 2016, franklyn  wrote:

> 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
>
> On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 2:23:19 PM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:
>>
>> 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).
>>
>>
>> [image: Inline image 1]
>>
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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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



On Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 12:52:58 PM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:
>
> 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.
>
> [image: Inline image 1]
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 6:59 AM, Garth > 
> 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 .
>>
>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Shoji Takahashi]

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

Tailwinds,
shoji



On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 2:53:09 PM UTC-4, LeahFoy wrote:
>
>
> 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
> [image: image1.JPG]
> [image: image2.JPG]
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 29, 2016, at 6:37 AM, Scott Loveless  > wrote:
>
> On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 9:48 AM, Leah Peterson  > 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
>  _'\<,_
> (*)/  (*)
>
> -- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the 
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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 1:53:09 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:
>
>
> 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
> [image: image1.JPG]
> [image: image2.JPG]
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 29, 2016, at 6:37 AM, Scott Loveless  > wrote:
>
> On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 9:48 AM, Leah Peterson  > 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
>  _'\<,_
> (*)/  (*)
>
> -- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to a top

Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Scott Loveless]

On Sat, Aug 27, 2016 at 9:48 AM, Leah Peterson  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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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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"  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  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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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[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

> On Aug 27, 2016, at 5:59 AM, Garth  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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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

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

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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

['Mark in Beacon' via RBW Owners Bunch]

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.

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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Re: [RBW] Leah's Bicycle Bus! (and question)

[Scott Henry]

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





On Friday, August 26, 2016, LeahFoy  wrote:

> 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
>
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-- 
Cheers,
Scott Henry
Dayton, OH

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[RBW] 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

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