Thoughts on 350 Climate Action Day - Life is just better without cars.

This past saturday marked the 350.org Climate Action day. Throughout the world, and even in Redlands, people gathered to voice there support of lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere to 350ppm - a level deemed to be safe to the environment.

During the activities I was a part of here in Redlands, I had the chance to talk to a geologist on her thoughts regarding climate change. Let's suffice to say that she had some interesting arguments about what our emissions are actually doing the the atmosphere, and thus the debate could have gone on and on and on...

This conversation was the highlight of my day, however, as I was reminded just why non-motorized transportation is so important - regardless of what you think about emissions alone.

Every evening from Los Angeles to Redlands and beyond stretches bumper-to-bumper traffic over 60-80 miles of asphalt which connects to roads which connects to more roads which connects to streets which connect to parking lots and so on and so on.

What a waste of space.

This repeats the next morning, every day, 5 days a week. Each of those people are in their cars upwards of an hour or more each way - each day. Some do this by choice, but some - like my geologist friend - because they have to. Each hour you spend in that car you have your hands glued to the wheel and your mind focused on the cars in front of you.

What a waste of time and your mind!

Cars are not allowing us to have you any exercise. You sit. You can't read. You can't talk on your cellphone (thankfully, though not everyone is obeying the new laws). You can't interact with anyone else.

What kind of 'dream' is that?

So again, what is the purpose of cars?

Is it to get to work? Well, as bikecommuter.com's Jonathan Baty and I discussed last night, NO!!

Your place of work that you drive to every day is only there so you'll drive to it! This is car culture at it's finest, and it's a world wide problem. It's cheaper to build overtop our precious agricultural land (we can import food from somewhere else, right?) and make you buy a car just so you can get to work to pay for your car!! Meanwhile you're family wonders why you're late, and you have no time to actually enjoy the house you're struggling to pay the mortgage for.

This is the real fight - ending car culture.

I'm so lucky to live and work in Redlands. I don't use my car unless I absolutely need to go somewhere further than I can ride and carry the things I need with me. I get the exercise my body needs and wants, and my 'footprint' is extremely low. I support local business to get my food and services (most towns, including Redlands, still have everything within a few miles ride of home).

Generally, life is a lot nicer on a bike.

I wish this life for everyone on the planet, and that is the reason why I went for a ride on Saturday.

350 Day of Climate Action - A Ride Around Redlands, Trails at 10, and more...

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: 12:00pm
Meeting Place: Redlands Bowl
What: Bike around Redlands and tour some of the "proposed bike lane" streets. If you want, we'll then ride around in groups to spread the word of what we can do locally to fix the earth's climate.

Got ideas? Bring 'em!

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bikeredlands
twitter: http://twitter.com/bikeredlands


View Larger Map

Other activities happening on saturday:

Trails at 10 with the Redlands Conservancy
Oakmont Park
google map search: south lane & sutherland, redlands, ca
10:00am

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Loma Linda builds underpass to accomodate bikes!

Underneath Mountain View Avenue there is now an underpass for bikes along the San Timoteo creek path!

This is an important piece of infrastucture for connecting this trail up with the Santa Ana River trail, and we commend the action of the City of Loma Linda! Nicely done!!

Photo by Steven Christensen:

From bikeredlands / misc

Map:

View bikeRedlands in a larger map

Redlands with Bike Lanes! A digital mock-up...

What would a safer, more bike-friendly Redlands look like? The photos below should give you a hint! Donny and I cruised around town and took some pictures. I then "digitally striped" the lanes - just to see what it would look like.

All the photos are along the Proposed Bike Lanes the city has already approved. The roads seem wide enough to accomodate bike lanes...what do YOU think?

Brookside hearding East towards Center:

From Redlands with Bike Lanes (digitally added)

...down Brookside...

From Redlands with Bike Lanes (digitally added)

Downtown on Citrus:

From Redlands with Bike Lanes (digitally added)

Citrus by Redlands High School:

From Redlands with Bike Lanes (digitally added)

Down Colton looking West:

From Redlands with Bike Lanes (digitally added)

View the map of the photos:

View Redlands Bike Lane Mock-up in a larger map

Leave some comments and let us know what you think!

I hope to present these to City Council in the near future...

Trees Cool the Streets - Redlands' BikeCommuter.com proves it!

Jonathan Baty at BikeCommuter.com has proven that trees cool streets - by up to 50F degrees!

Womens Wednesday Ride Continues...

Note: This will be a new weekly ride!

From Wendy Hoopes of Team Possabilties:

We would like to grow women's cycling in the Inland Empire, especially get rides going so we can help each other learn and have fun.

All bikes are welcome, however this ride will probably be on the road.

When: Wednesdays at 5:45pm.
End Time: 7:15pm
Where: Redlands Cyclery USA
Event: Women's Wednesday Ride "Come one, come all! "
What: Sports Practice
Host: Women's Cycling - Inland Empire

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=695031097&k=Z2ETX353WY3OUEAHYGVTXQ

Inland Empire Bike Commuters in Press Enterprise

This is good to hear, and definitely represents a shift in the right direction!

Trend favors a more pedal-happy method of commuting, Inland residents say.

Redlands to San Diego and back by bike and Metrolink

I'm back from a week in San Diego - but I had my bike this time! From Solana Beach I rode the 101 to Downtown San Diego. During the week it was great to ride around town and mix it up with the pedi-cabs and traffic. I was actually yelled at by a pedi-cab driver for not moving quick enough after the light turned green! THE NERVE!

Friday morning a friend and I made the ride up to Solana Beach, and I dropped her off and continued up to Oceanside - 52 miles in all.




I just caught the Metrolink back to San Bernardino. The train moves through Camp Pendleton and past Trestles then San Clemente, then heads inland.

The sun was just setting as I made the ride back through San Bernardino into Redlands, and the streets were pretty empty.

A great day and a great way to travel! It's definetely all closer than I thought...

Team Healthy Redlands // Meeting at Redlands City Council

When: Tuesday July 7
Time: 7 PM
Where: Redlands City Council Meeting

Patty Peoples will be presenting a wrap-up briefing to the City Council. Marianne Baldwin, Director of Marketing for Beaver Medical Group, will be doing the final incentive prize drawing ($250 debt card, courtesy of BMG) chosen from all the Team Healthy Redlands (THRED) members that qualified.

If possible, a group photo will be taken of all the THRED members that show up - the more the better!

Hopefully, you will be able to attend the City Council meeting on the 7th and show your support for this program and for Healthy Programs in general for our Community.


View Larger Map


You are free to leave after the drawing. It would be fabulous if the winner of the drawing is present, but it is not a requirement in order to receive the prize - if your name is drawn.

Patty will keep us posted of any new Challenges that Healthy Redlands endorses. Meanwhile, we hope you are continuing to exercise regularly to help insure a better qualify of life for yourself. We look forward to leading you in the future towards achieving your fitness/health/athletic or personal goals. Remember, every time you move, you are moving one step closer to a better qualify of life. Commit to your self and reap the benefits - feeling better about your self! When you work-out it's ALL ABOUT YOU! Schedule an "appointment" with your self and KEEP the appointment! Happy 4th of July Weekend to you and your families! Hope to see you at the City Council Meeting (7 PM) on July 7!

Keep Moving,
Patty Peoples
Team Captain
Team Healthy REDlands

GO *THRED*!!

4th of July Fireworks Ride to U. of R.

A special Red Asphalt Ride will head over to the U. of Redlands to watch the fireworks. We hope you can come join us!!

More details at the Red Asphalt Ride blog.

Here are some pictures from last year: