ELDERBERRY Bike Rides

Sussex County Delaware Bike Ride Notice 10/11/10 Roll Off at 10AM

2010-12-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

Weather is looking great for a ride tomorrow!

start time: 10:00 AM
from: M&D Bird Farm
Distance: 25 + miles
Pace:16+ mph
Call Jay if riding 302 258 7374

Bicycle Hand Injuries & Winter Bicycle Riding

2010-12-04T18:33:00.000-05:00

Since I'm left-handed, my right hand is often used as a notepad.

Now that I'm logging about 2000 miles a year with bicycle commuting instead of driving a car, my hands are beginning to complain.

Last night I took myself out to dinner to celebrate my 65th birthday. It was a clear night, but unseasonably cold for Delaware and the temperature dropped to the low 30's by the time I left the restaurant and pedaled four miles in the dark to my home.

Cyclists know about hand pain when cycling for long distances or in cold weather or just because you happened to turn 65. The tingling. The sharp hot pain as if someone is poking your hands with a cattle prod. It's ugly and enough to discourage cycling under such conditions.

With only a mile left to go on a dark, cold night, my hands threw in the towel and stopped working despite the cashmere-lined, lamb skin gloves I was wearing. And despite the paddle shaped hand grips on my handlebar that takes the pressure off the heel of your hand.

Here's the scoop on such injuries from two sources, one from THE HUGHSTON HEALTH ALERT and one from SPORTS INJURY BULLETIN. Both sites offer some very good information about the causes of hand pain and possible solutions.

The Hughston Health Alert offers the following graphics to explain why it HURTS.

So, what are we to do about hand pain when cycling? Complaining doesn't help and only serves to alienate your friends who aren't cyclists. Drugs are only a temporary reprieve and not much of solution.

There are always the bar mitts by CozyWinters.

There is always taking some tips from Molly on winter electric bike riding. This should be a very strong hint at what I bought myself for my birthday that will arrive next week. Be still my heart.

Another solution that I'm pursuing to alleviate the hand pain comes from Grab On Grips. Mike Tillay of Grab On Grips loves two things, God and his bicycle grip business. Bicycles and God happen to be my two favorite things as well, so I'll be emailing him about his reference to Romans 8:28. Glory Be.

Historic New Castle, Delaware Bicycle Photography Ride December 11, 2010

2010-12-04T04:35:00.000-05:00

Elderberry Bicycle Photography Ride in Historic New Castle

Saturday, December 11, 2010

1:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Ride begins at Battery Park parking lot (corner of W. 3rd St. & South St.)

Join us for a leisurely day pedaling around New Castle Delaware for their Spirit of Christmas events. Scheduled events sponsored by New Castle City includes: House tour, musical groups, special museum events, plus items for sale in the church fellowship hall at 25 E. 2nd St. Santa's Workshop at The Velocipede.

Dust off your camera and lenses, pack them in your panniers with an extra layer of clothing and take your time discovering all the hidden photogenic treasures on New Castle's cobblestone streets.

Walk the same steps that our forefathers walked. Packet boats from Philadelphia met stage coaches and railroad for Frenchtown, Maryland, chief line of communication from north to Baltimore and South. Andrew Jackson, David Crockett, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Lord Ashburton, Sam Houston, Louis Napoleon, Stonewall Jackson, Indians (led by Osceola and Black Hawk) en route to visit “Great Father” in Washington all passed this way.

To register for the ride, contact Caroline Honse, VP BikeDE Advocacy group.

Delaware Road & Trail Map for Bicycles - Online & Interactive

2010-12-01T19:48:00.001-05:00

BikeDE Advocacy Group Creates a Delaware Online Interactive Road & Trail Map for Cyclists

The most commonly asked question that members of BikeDelaware Advocacy group get from the public is, "Where can I ride safely in Delaware?" Most non-cyclists in Delaware avoid taking up cycling because they mistakenly think the roads in Delaware are not safe for either adults or children.

BikeDE wants to correct this misconception by providing a thoroughly researched rating of roads and trails that will help people decide where to ride for leisure or commuting to work or shopping.

Every road in Delaware will be rated by cyclists for cyclists. Ratings will be designed to match a cyclists riding ability level with roads and trails that match their needs and skills in riding a bicycle.

By left-mouse-clicking on a road, a pop-up window will appear with information about the road that will be updated as conditions of the road changes.

Additional information will be provided for families looking for places to take children of all ages for safe, off-road bicycle riding. Delaware can boast of many such family-friendly places to ride.

Areas that may have safety issues or other causes for concern will be noted.

The map is created through Google Map "My Maps" and can be viewed in multiple formats such as satellite version, map version, or terrain version. A printed version will also be produced annually for distribution by BikeDE.

Over 130 roads and trails in New Castle County have already been rated. BikeDE plans to have all New Castle County roads and trails rated by the end of January 2011 and Kent and Sussex counties completed by April 2011.

A link will be provided to the map for general public use by February 1st and posted on this website and the BikeDE website.

If you would like to assist with rating the roads and trails, please contact Caroline Honse, VP of BikeDE. She wants to assure anyone who helps with the project that they will be surprised with finding new and exciting places to ride.

If You Stripe It, They Will Come - The Bicycle Infrastructure Controversy

2010-06-10T23:09:00.001-04:00

On Facebook, John Brooking wrote:

We simply want to ride our bikes wherever we need to, right now, without

asking for special structures to be built or painted for us. We are

traffic, and we ride as lawful drivers. We are your co-workers, friends,

and family. We are you. Please join us!

We don't need bike lanes.

A very lively discussion resulted in what might be surprising to some people. Not all cyclists want bike lanes and bicycle infrastructure. Not all cyclists care one way or the other. Not all cyclists have thought the issue all the way through. Not all cyclists are rational...on either side of the issue. Not all cyclists are polite.

I don't agree with John, but I'm grateful for his post since it challenges us to not make assumptions based on what we think is probably a good idea or what fits in with our comfort level of biking. Don't assume all cyclists want the same thing and don't assume that all cyclists have actually studied, or are interested in studying all points of the compass on bike safety.

It also points to the fact that there can be no one answer to the bike lane or not bike lane question. It will always be a regional matter that depends on the road conditions in that area; what the local government is able or willing to do about it, and what the residents want and if they are willing to spend the time and energy to follow through on working in an useful way to implement what is best for their area.

Delaware, from Governor Markell all the way down to most residents are interested in having a state that provides safe access and use of our roads for all "traffic" (pedestrian, cyclist, motorist).

I'm glad I live in Delaware.

I've given up my slot in the John Brooking discussion since it's pointless to debate the issue with those who just keep stating over and over again that "you just need a little practice biking on the road" to know you don't need bike lanes.

Here are some links to studies done about road modifications for cyclists. It is a good starting place if you wish to begin further study on what's been published.

Bike Lanes: Pros & Cons from Michael Bluejay's BicycleUniverse.info

International Bicycle Fund: Infrastructure Policy, Planning and Design Digest

Study done in Cambridge, Massachusetts

University of Texas Study

BicycleInfo.Org Case Study Report

U.S. Department of Transportation - Accomodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach

Bicycles Rock the Newark Night Festivities in Delaware

2010-06-06T21:19:00.003-04:00

The throngs of people, the threat of thunderstorms, the bipolar humidity, turbulent wind that nearly blew the tent displays down did not deter this young man from talking to us about his passion. BICYCLES!

Newark, Delaware recently awarded the Bike Friendly Community award by the League of American Bicyclists, closed down Main Street for a town-wide festival of vendors, organizations, and non-profit groups to share a day with thousands of Delaware residents.

Bike Delaware Advocacy Group (BikeDE) shared information with cyclists and families looking for information on where to bike in Delaware, how to bike in Delaware safely, and where could they find other cyclists to bike with on slow, medium, or fast bike rides.

A sweet Dad offers his fashion-conscious daughter advice on the correct placement of a reflective bicycle safety anklet she got from our shared tables of Bike Delaware Advocacy, Newark Bicycle Council, and DelDOT Bicycle Committee.

Another young lady thought my bicycle might be a lot more fun to take home than a safety anklet.

Meanwhile, a third young lady wasn't particularly interested in bicycles. She was far happier in her Mercedes Benz stroller. When interviewed she stated that she firmly believed in the "Share the Road" philosophy and right after kindergarten she was planning to enter law school to uphold the equality of pedestrian, cyclist, and motorists rights.

On the other side of the age spectrum was this delightful 80-something cyclist who was visiting from the Southwest. When she returned from her vacation she was scheduled for a Sierra Bicycle Tour, though she admitted that these days she limits herself to only 10 mile bike rides.

Though sunny all day, the Newark skies were so windy that we resorted to strapping our bicycles to the poles of our tents to keep the tents from launching like hot air balloons. The effect of $6000 worth of bicycle mechanical ballast added an artistic touch that we found very pleasing.

This young man took Amtrak down from his home in New Jersey to enjoy Newark Night festivities and then compete in the 29'ers Endurance Bike Race at Iron Hill State Park on Sunday.

Jeff Riegner, the President of the Newark Bicycle Council, is a very persuasive fellow. I eavesdropped on this conversation. Perhaps I misheard, but I think Jeff just talked this fellow into signing over the deed to his property to turn into more bike paths.

While that drama was taking place with Jeff, Frank Warnock, BikeDE's PR Chair was pondering the wind factor and calling for more ballast. He's the kind of guy you want to have in your bomb shelter.

Just as Frank, Rachel, and I were beginning to fear that we were going to spend the rest of our life on the table with no relief and no time off for good behavior, the Cavalry arrived in the persona of James Wilson, BikeDE's Analytics Chair. As a Materials Science Graduate Student at the U of D, he quickly assessed wind speed, venturi effect, did a few calculus formulas in his head while swinging his delightful 5 year old in the air, carried on three simultaneous conversations with cyclists, deemed the tent would hold, and then took up my post so that I could determine if I was still capable of walking or talking or was I going to have a senior moment meltdown. He's now known to us as Jamie Venturi.

Last to arrive was our President, Drew Know. The man knows how to make an entrance. How? Come bearing a double dip of double deep chocolate ice cream cone for his Vice President. That's how. Relieved of duty on the table, I wandered in the crowd.

The crowds were very large this year and extremely friendly and well-behaved. This gave Newark's Finest a chance to relax for a minute and listen to a highly-amplified band playing in the Newark Shopping Center Parking lot.

The band supplied VERY loud and not unpleasant music; however the most notable thing to me was that the portapotties were located about 12 feet from their monster speakers. I suggest you try that experience just once. Before you die. It's like being trapped inside a very smelly, VERY LOUD drum.

By the time I made it back to the table, Delaware's Congressman Mike Castle was visiting with his wonderful smile and personable demeanor.

A few minutes later, Chris Coons, another extremely likable guy and candidate for the U.S. Senate joined us as well.

Bicycle Advocates are lucky. Everyone, it seems, likes bicycles. I mean really, what is more American than a bicycle, an ice cream cone, and a sunny Saturday afternoon in a town street festival? Bicycles are not a partisan issue. Everyone from any party can agree that improving the bike-friendly nature of our towns and states only serves to improve the lives of pedestrians and motorists as well.

James F. Hall Trail National Recreation Trail Designation Ceremony

2010-06-06T15:11:00.002-04:00

The James F. Hall Trail is named for the late and long-time Newark Parks and Recreation Director. The trail is 1.76 miles long and runs east to west across the city of Newark in New Castle County. For its short length, the trail is jam-packed with a variety of distinctive features and is itself a popular downtown destination. Open for public use since 2003, the trail accesses three City parks which feature several active recreation facilities.

It passes through a pristine wetland area and the Old Newark Train Station wich is the home to the Newark Historical Society. The trail features footbridge crossings of two streams that are tributaries of the the White Clay Creek, designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

The trail provides safe and easy access to the outdoors for more than 28,000 residents of Newark and the surrounding suburbs, 20,000 students of the University of Delaware -- with access to student housing units and a child care facility -- the Delaware Technology Park with 40+ tenants, and the College Square Shopping Center.

The trail is hard-surfaced for multi-use and ADA accessible, lighted for 24 hour use, and allows for intermodal access to Amtrak and SEPTA rail service.

Thanks are due to the many partners that helped make the trail a reality. The City of Newark partnered with the Newark Bike Committee, University of Delaware, Amtrak, and Delaware's Department of Transportation and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to make the project happen.

The Newark Bike Committee was an early driving force, developing the trail concept in 1996. $1.95 million in funding was provided by the City of Newark, Federal Highway Administration TEA-21 Program, Delaware Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund, and Delaware Department of Transportation.

This section of trail designated as a National Recreation Trail will become part of a larger 2-mile trail system that includes the Pomeroy and Newark Rail-Trail, currently under development for walking and biking. The trail will extend north into White Clay State Park and link to trails on Pennsylvania public lands.

The Unlikeliest of Friends (Motorists & Cyclists Take a Lesson!)

2010-06-03T22:09:00.005-04:00

Surya, the orangutan, loves his bicycle but he REALLY loves Roscoe, the hound. Motorists and Cyclists take note of Roscoe/Rodney's plea, "Can't we just all get along?"

Noticed While Commuting by Bicycle in Delaware

2010-05-31T15:18:00.002-04:00

Frank Warnock, our PR Chair of BikeDE, was commenting on all the bizarre things that cyclists see on the road while biking in Delaware. Being a technogeek he seems to notice an inordinate number of abandoned cell phones smashed against the side of the road.

What I seem to find are mysteries. What is it? Why is it there? And who on earth put it there? Case in point. Here are some clues.

Noted on Harmony Road near 273 abandoned by the curb.

My Transeo kept pulling to the right, wanting to go back and invite it home with us for dinner.

Beng a glass-half-full kind of person, I have decided that someone bought a real bike and has joined the growing ranks of Delaware leisure and commuter cyclists. So now, their exercise bike, no longer needed, waits to be carted away to bike heaven. Do you suppose there are bike lanes in heaven? I wonder if there are handicapped trails for bikes who end up in heaven without all their parts.

New Castle, Delaware History Mysteries Scavenger Hunt Bike Ride, Saturday, June 26, 2010 3PM

2010-05-30T15:47:00.010-04:00

Explore Historic New Castle, Delaware and the surrounding wetlands river path with Elderberry Bike Rides for a History Mysteries Scavenger Hunt suitable for bicycle riders from 12 years old to Seniors.

New Castle, Delaware is one of Delaware’s greatest treasures with landmark events and historic sites that shaped the future of our nation.

Leisurely pedal the cobblestone streets of New Castle with colonial vistas preserved for your pleasure.

Walk the Packet Alley path in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin.

Find the spirits of those who gathered on the Green in the name of freedom or the sad gathering of an execution.

Unearth the secrets that New Castle still holds for visitors who take a moment to find them.

Stroll your bike down the multi-use path along the river for a calming view that will recharge your soul.

Stop for a few monents, take off your shoes and squeegie your toes in the sandy beach.

Pedal as a group or venture out alone as you search for the answers to secrets that New Castle holds for us. Prizes will be awarded for those who solve the most history mysteries of New Castle, Delaware.

Gather at the end of the day for a fried chicken picnic at Battery Park as the gentle surf laps against the rocks.

Ride Route maps (similar to this but with more details and close-ups), Scavenger Hunt information, and camaraderie will be provided by Elderberry Bike Rides, a community outreach program of Bike Delaware, Delaware’s Bicycle Advocacy Group.

The ride will begin and end at the parking lot by Battery Park. The ride starts at 3PM and the picnic will begin at 4:30PM. This will give you plenty of time to ride, stop and take photos, and get a feel for what life was like in the late 1600’s in Delaware.

Bicycle helmets are required for all riders. Riders 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Ride as much or as little of the 5 mile route as you are able. This is not a race but an opportunity to bike with your family and make new friends.

To register for the ride (so we can plan the number for the picnic) please email with the number of adults and number of children for the ride. The ride is free! Donations of $3 per adult would be appreciated to help cover the picnic costs. Kids eat free!

Noticed While Leisure Bicycling in Delaware

2010-05-30T13:53:00.000-04:00

A house decorated with hats. WHAT? NO BICYCLE HELMET????

Smart Grocery Shopping with a Bicycle

2010-05-30T13:04:00.001-04:00

SAVE THE PLANET AND YOUR WAISTLINE WITH SMART BICYCLE GROCERY SHOPPING!

Don't think that you are just limited to grabbing a loaf of bread and a quart of milk from the grocery store with your bicycle. No indeed! The recipe for successful grocery shopping with your bike is simple.

Add 1 bicycle with a rack and inexpensive medium-sized panniers (~$30 for the Sunlite bag)

Fold in $30 dollars worth of groceries and you have dinner for 4

(Note to the frivilous food police: Yes, I KNOW those are York Peppermint Patty Cookies. So shoot me.)

With a set of Axiom larger panniers (also inexpensive at ~$60), you can do a week's worth of grocery shopping by bicycle. They expend to gigantic proportions and easily hold 50 pounds of groceries.

Mysteriously you will discover that your shopping habits change. Instead of selecting canned items and highly processed food (which are bulkier and heavier and less nutritional) you'll find yourself drawn to fresh foods, fruits and vegetables, and fresh unfrozen cuts of meat. Not only is this kinder to your waistline but it also serves as a boost to your immune system and sense of well-being.

The monstrous bi-weekly shopping trip by automobile that everyone dreads can be replaced with space-limiting trips by bicycle. You'll buy wiser, you won't select as many frivilous foods (like pictured above in my first bike-shopping trip) and getting to the grocery store and back home is a pleasant adventure you can share with your family.

Bike Delaware, Delaware's bicycle advocacy group, will be working over the next several months with local grocery stores to make this process easy and appealing to Delaware residents with the installation of convenient bicycle racks and discount shopping incentives for customers who shop by bicycle.

Lemonade Stand - Still a Cyclist's Best Friend

2010-05-29T20:17:00.001-04:00

Curb service on my bicycle for a cool drink from a few enterprising young ladies. The lemonade was so good that I suggested they consider raising their prices.

Cyclists & Motorists Share the Road

2010-05-29T12:24:00.000-04:00

The League of Illinois Bicyclists video on tips and tricks for bicycles and cars riding safely together.

The Sweet Face of DelDOT Responding to a Delaware Resident Request

2010-05-27T23:37:00.005-04:00

Steve Treut, (pronounced like “troyt”) is a SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE MANAGER, in the Trans Sol-Traffic-Systems Maintenance & Construction Department of DelDOT. He and Rob Kern, a SIGNAL MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN for the same department arrived at the stroke of 1:30 PM on May 20th just as I was pulling up on my bike where they would troubleshoot a traffic light sensor that would not respond to a bicycle at 273 and Brownleaf Road in Newark.

The result of this sensor failure was that cyclists are trapped inside the Birchwood Park subdivision with no safe way to cross the very busy 273 highway, because our bikes wouldn’t trip the sensor to change the traffic signal to green and we were forced to either spend the rest of our life waiting at the intersection or hold our breath and charge across the highway against a red traffic signal and hope that we survive.

I had filed the “highway trouble” report on DelDOT’s handy website that makes it easy for Delaware citizens to quickly alert DelDOT to road problems that need to be addressed.

Steve is one of the nicest guys you ever want to meet. He asked me to be present for their repair call so that we could test out the sensor with my bike.

Rob was just as nice in the level of attention he brought to this problem and reminded me of my electronics repairman father who furrowed his brown and bent to the task of troubleshooting a problem and who could tune out everything else around him. Like my father also, you could tell Rob was a bit of a worrier who feared the aging sensor that had been in the pavement for quite some time might just be beyond repair.

If that turned out to be the case, it would require about $3000 of replacement parts and a major overhaul of the asphalt section to replace the wires and sensor. Given the budgetary constraints facing all departments of Delaware government that could mean a delay of a year or more before the repairs could be done.

This news furrowed my brow as well and also the brow of Rachel, a cyclist friend of mine who came to cheer the process on.

Rob fiddled with wires, tested a thing or two, drummed his fingers on the electronics box and fiddled with things again. I began to pace. The scene began to take on the appearance of family members outside an operating room pacing back and forth and wondering if their loved one would survive.

“She’s not working,” intoned Rob. I sighed and paced some more and to occupy my mind, I took about 40,000 photos of Steve and Rob, cranking my telephoto lens all the way out to see just how much detail I could wring out of my Pentax 14.6 megapixel dslr camera.

We heard, “Still not working” a few more times from Rob. By this point even the unflappable Rachel began to pace.

I’m certain that in a former life, Steve was either Socrates, a college Philosophy professor, or the best Vaudeville song and dance man on the planet. I think, more than anything, in order to distract us from our hand-wringing, Steve began to talk about his family, his Father who was a POW, the mechanics of traffic signals, the price of tomatoes, how my neighbors kept circling around us in their cars wondering what on earth we were doing. And boy oh boy can that man do a mean soft shoe dance!

Rob sighed again as if it was the end and our patient was dead on the operating table. And then he smiled and said, “But I did bring this little thing along, just in case.”

It was a newer model of the old printed circuit board in the sensor control box. The theory was it just might have enough more “juice” to bring the sensor back to life.

Well that moved us all into action. Rachel was poised on her bike ready to ride over the trip wire upon command. I was shooting thousands of photos to memorialize the event; and Steve had his hand folded behind his back, leaning over just a bit like a baseball umpire with a grin on his face.

Ooops. Bad start out of the box. The neighbors were still circling us in their cars, surveying us and tripping the wire with their cars. Steve laughed and said, “I just may have to put up a roadblock to clear the place out.”

Second try was the charm. Rob said, “IT SAW HER!” He actually looked astonished and repeated the test several times. Then we sent Rachel across the street to make sure the trip wire on the Pilgrim Garden subdivision side was working too.

Like me, Rachel uses this intersection multiple times a day on her bike, so I believe she was pausing here to say a little prayer that the sensor on the other side of the road was now also working properly.

And there she blows after tripping the sensor.

The patient is going to live after all. Glory Be.

Before he left, Professor Steve gave us a little lecture on the care and feeding of aging sensor wires and how to have the best chance to trip them if they are being ornery.

“Now, Caroline, the run you made was interesting”. He was being very kind in trying to get across to me that you don’t trip the wires by riding on top of them….you have the best chance of tripping them by riding in the middle of the box or diagonally across the corners.

I never can quite figure out where the wires are so I tend to stagger my bike down the box trying to hit as many rows of lines as possible. I’m sure from the rear it must have looked like I was either more disabled than I claim to be or I was intoxicated.

Steve drew diagrams on his imaginary chalkboard marking the best point to pass over with your bike. I took notes because I have a feeling he’ll be emailing me a test on the information.

Rachel and I actually hated to see Steve and Rob drive away. It was a successful service call and a delightful opportunity to see such positive representatives of DelDOT personnel taking an interest in assisting Delaware residents and, you know, I’m certain they enjoyed the experience as well. That’s the thing about kindness, and compassion, some humor, and the desire to do a good job. It’s synergistic and comes back to us magnified.

A teddy bear for Michael, one of a few dozen mementos left in his memory.

Michael Gropp died at this intersection a little over a month ago. His tragic death that rocked the world of our Birchwood Park/Fox Chase subdivision was the result of someone, never apprehended, who was drag racing down 273, ran the traffic light and struck Michael as he was walking his girlfriend home to the other side of 273.

Not one of us at the sensor fix meeting brought up his name or looked in the direction of his roadside memorial. There is still no way to adequately process the senseless death of a child. And yet, of course, his presence was heavy in the air.

His death was not a result of the faulty sensor, he was a pedestrian, not a cyclist. But it does remind us that there is still so much to be done to make our roads safer by providing pedestrian cross walks and countdown crossing lights at the very least.

Delaware is in an interesting position by being small enough to make forward movement faster and less bogged down with layers upon layers of strangers distanced from one another. We also are one of the few states where bicycle advocates and government officials are forming first-name basis positive alliances without adversarial undertones.

We have a stellar Governor in Jack Markell, a cyclist himself, who will not rest until his Executive Order No 6 to improve traffic conditions for pedestrians and cyclists is fully realized. All the pieces are here we just have to move them into place.

Having a traffic sensor fixed will not bring Michael Gropp back to us but it is one thing we can do. Followed by another thing. We can never know the full effect of the changes we help bring about.

At our recent Delaware Bike Summit on May 21st, I was talking to someone who described a revelation he had that rocked him to his core. He had been advocating for years to help get the bicycle helmet law passed that required children under 16 to wear a bicycle helmet.

What struck him suddenly was that through his efforts that were sometimes boring to do, sometimes incredibly frustrating, he realized that there are children alive now who wouldn't be if they had sustained a traumatic head injury from not wearing a bike helmet.

For me, the intersection at 273 and Brownleaf Road is ground zero. Today we now have an operational traffic signal sensor. Soon we will have pedestrian crosswalks and countdown crossing signals. Farther down the road the speeding motorist issues will be addressed. And after that the entire 273 corridor will be safe enough for the disabled, the children, the cyclists, the senior citizens to travel it and someday, long after I'm dead and gone, there may be a teenager named Michael as well, who walked his girlfriend home at night and returned home alive because of some boring detail I did for pedestrian and bicycle advocacy.

The same kinds of feelings drives our government officials. They must demand much of us as citizens to do our part and we must demand of them the same thing. That is an alliance that can't be vanquished.

The Romance of Bicycles

2010-05-26T01:38:00.002-04:00

I love my bicycle. There, I’ve said it. I love every inch of its aluminum body and every greasy gear of its triple ring. I love the comfort of my well broken in bicycle seat, how the headlights illuminate my path home at night, and how the pedals grip the bottom of my shoes. I love coasting downhill. I adore how quietly it travels the roads. Not a sound! I even love my helmet because wherever it is, so is my bicycle. I’m besotted with my bike. And I am not alone in this love affair between a human being and their bicycle.

I came to this revelation two weeks ago on an unseasonably hot spring day. It was too hot to continue biking so I stopped and sat under a shady tree. That’s the nice thing about a bike. You just put your foot down and stop at a moment’s notice and then you can notice other things. Like the fact that I was sitting in the middle of a bed of clover.

It’s surely been more than 50 years since I sat down in a bed of clover blossoms. Who knew that there are pink clover blossoms? Why didn’t someone tell me this? What a revelation and it’s all thanks to my bike, and putting a foot down and noticing things.

I’m a coaster on a bike and a ponderer under a tree. It was time to ponder things from pink clover blossoms to our love affairs with our bicycles. And bicycle advocacy and how was I going to get a hundred pound German Shepherd to a vet appointment on my bike.

I have never met a person yet who does not have two stories to tell. One about the first time they rode a bike all by themselves; and the other story about getting their driver’s license. Both feed into and nurture our primal instincts. An automobile fans our primal nature about the technology of speed and power, while a bicycle empowers us with a sense of freedom generated by the mechanical power of our own body. With both we can fly. And yet, with both we’ve crashed.

In the early days of bicycle advocacy, a troubling offshoot developed with the thinking that CARS are BAD and BICYCLES are GOOD. Black and white thinking. Automobiles should be driven from the face of the earth in order to allow the saintly bicycle to take its rightful and primary place on the landscape of our fragile planet. The problem with this untenable proposition was that for as great as was our love of bicycles, practically every cyclist also had an unrequited love affair with automobiles. It’s in our American genetic coding.

Out of this schizophrenic dichotomy within all Americans, voiced or unvoiced, understood or not, grew the ugly roots of the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s blood feud between motorists and cyclists. It raged unchecked for decades where no one took cyclists seriously (not even the cyclists themselves) and few, if any, gave heed to the need for modifying our national transportation system that was rapidly making us prisoners in our own housing developments if we did not have access to an automobile.

Meanwhile the bicycle was still mistakenly viewed as a luxury item or toy of a privileged few rather than the trusted economical transportation friend and leisure companion it is in so many other countries. With the advent of disposable income so readily available to most college graduates in the 70’s and 80’s, custom high-end and high-priced bicycles became the norm and were strapped to custom high-end, high-priced automobiles. Meanwhile, lower income citizens found the whole charade especially offensive. They were working people and proud of it and these mama’s boys and weekend warriors who never worked a lick in their life in a “real” job and all dressed in Spandex and on their titanium bikes just better watch out. The gap widened between the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s.

Fortunately at this point, two things happened. Behind the scenes, cooler-headed advocates were making slow but steady inroads with their efforts to harmonize transportation systems to include all forms of “traffic,” motorized and non-motorized. Also, fortunately, our economy nearly collapsed forcing us to rethink our spending habits, question whether six trips in a car every day was perhaps too much, reassess our life goals, wonder what were our real inalienable rights, and how were we going to proceed with an economy in shambles and our cities strangling us to death.

The most intense love affairs are born or prosper exponentially during times of greatest strife. We now have an opportunity to fall in love again with both our bicycles and our automobiles, and ultimately then fall in love with ourselves and others. Both the automobile and the bicycle has a rightful and useful place in our life if we choose it to be so.

It’s hard to figure out how to take a 100 pound German Shepherd to a vet appointment on a bicycle. It’s even harder to stop on a dime and be able to pick a bouquet of pink and white clover blossoms with an automobile.

Bicycle advocacy has finally come into its own day in the sun where it’s not an either or situation. If we want it to be so, we can have communities and our entire nation as an open source solution to providing every citizen with equal access to their surroundings in a safe and life-affirming manner.

Do YOU love your bicycle enough to join Bike Delaware and pick a few clover blossoms with us as we fly to the privilege of changing Delaware forever into the 1st State for Bicyclists?

Delaware's Bicycle Commuter of the Year Award - Frank Warnock

2010-05-25T00:45:00.002-04:00

Frank Warnock has a shy smile that grows quickly to an infectious laugh whenever anything reminds him of bicycling, which given the amount of time he spends on a bike or with other cyclists makes him and anyone around him happy most of the time.

I first met Frank two years ago while I was sitting in Panera Bread Cafe in Newark enjoying a cinnamon roll and wondering why this tall lanky fellow kept studying me and my bike helmet. At 64 I generally don't warrant that much attention and I was beginning to wonder what was the cause of his intense interest. Just in case, I grabbed my cell phone for a quick call to 911 if needed. .... Just kidding. When you meet Frank, even at a distance, you know he's not only a good guy, but one who will more than likely become a very good friend.

The guy never sleeps!

Finally, he wandered over to my table with a Henry Fonda kind of walk and snapped down a Bike Delaware business card in front of me. "Glad to see your biking," he said. "Come join us at Bike Delaware!"

And so, I did.

On May 21st at the Delaware Bike Summit, Frank very deservedly won the 2010 Delaware Bicycle Commuter of the Year award. Amy Wilburn, of the Delaware Bicycle Council stated it best with her introduction of Frank:

"Our Commuter of the Year Award goes to a man who commutes by bike on most days to his job at Siemens. While his ride is significant and he must deal with traffic, it's not his commute that is exceptional. What is exceptional is his commitment to using his bike for transportation. Day after day, year after year, for most of his life, he has chosen to ride on his bike instead of in his car. He has commuted by bicycle from his childhood job as a paperboy, through changes in his employer and state of residence. When chronic pain and injury would have caused others to hang up their bike, he continued to put his tires to the asphalt. I am truly honored to present this award to Frank Warnock."

Frank has been active in bicycle advocacy all the way back to decades ago when neither bicycles nor advocacy was considered "cool." He has been a leading force in bringing about many improvements for cyclists in Delaware and still never misses an opportunity to locate a problem and find the solution.

Frank attending one of the Bike Summit conferences

The guy just doesn't seem to have an "off" switch when it comes to cycling and the residents of Delaware are the recipients of this gift.

See what I mean about that smile. He has Amy laughing.

Congratulations, Frank! No one deserves this award more than you.

Bad Dogs & Englishmen on Bicycles

2010-05-15T21:41:00.005-04:00

Even the tiniest among us cyclists will eventually face a BAD DOG

If you hang out with cyclists for very long, you will hear multiple harrowing stories of their encounters with gigantic dogs with flashing and blood-dripping fangs chasing them. (Our version of "how big the fish I caught was.") However, it's no laughing matter when an unrestrained dog lunges at you on a bike. Most bike clubs have posted articles on how to deal with the dog problem.

One of my favorite sites is RoadBikeRider.com. Their articles are geared for serious, fast, or competitive road cyclists but much of their information can be adapted for the casual "leisure" cyclist. I have printed (with their permission) their article in its entirety (in purple text) and injected a few comments (marked as Pardes) whch are geared to family cyclists who may encounter a dog on a road.

How to Deal With Bad Dogs

By Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com

Dog attacks are high on the list of cycling fears. Maybe you can’t stop Fang from giving chase, but you can outsmart him if you know how dogs think—assuming that stinkin’ mutt even has a brain!

Know dog psychology. The majority of dogs who chase cyclists are merely defending their territory. When you pedal off the section of road that they consider their turf, you no longer pose a threat to their ancestral instincts and they lose interest. Incidentally, this is why you’ll rarely be chased by a dog you encounter way out in the boonies. He’s not on his turf so he couldn’t care less about you.

[Pardes: Yes, dogs are territorial and may lose interest once you've passed "their" property; but there are canines out there who hate bicycles just on general principles. Dogs like these have been known to move in packs wearing white sheets and chanting woofs about the supremacy of quadripeds.]

Know dog tactics. Dogs want to attack from the rear, coming up from the hindquarter. Even one who sits up in his yard ahead of you may wait till you pass before giving chase. You can use this to your advantage in the next tip because it gives you a head start.

Sprint! You often can outsprint Fido when he’s more interested in fooling around than in actually attacking. You can tell his intent by how hard he’s running and his expression. An easy gait with woofing and ears and tail up, no problem. A full-out sprint with ears back, tail down and teeth out, problem. Still, the territorial gene can save you. If the road is flat or downhill, stand up and sprint to get past the dog’s invisible boundary.

[Pardes: I couldn't sprint even if a saber-tooth tiger was breathing down my neck! "Leisure" cyclists need other tactics that don't require speed. Like finesse and understanding a dog's puppyhood that led to bad behaviors.]

Guard your front wheel. When a dog sees you coming, he might make a beeline for your bike, then attempt to turn up beside you. The danger here is that his poor little paws will skid on the pavement and he’ll plow into your wheels. If he hits the front one, you’ll crash. Sprint so that you move forward faster than he expects, and give him a margin for error by steering farther into the road—if traffic permits!

[There's that impossible "SPRINT" command again. "Leisure" cyclists can only pray for a steep downhill like Malcom Lee Smith was lucky enough to find.]

SCREAM! Most dogs know what happens when a human is angry with them. A sudden shout of “No!” or “Git!” or “Stay!” will surprise Fluffy and probably make him hesitate for just the second you need to take the advantage. If he’s hard of hearing, raise your hand threateningly as if it contains a rock. Outlaw mutts usually have had experience with bad things flying at them when a human makes a throwing gesture.

[Pardes: Try a little compassion and diplomacy first. My first instinct when encountering a dog is the "Awwwwww, aren't you the sweetest thing." This disarms many pooches into quivering masses of sqirumy slobber. When that doesn't work, SCREAM, "BAD DOG!!!!" and any other obscenities that come to mind. Do NOT assume that certain breeds are more dangerous than others.]

Lily is a lover of all things "people" and bicycles do not register on her Richter scale. Now, horses are another matter. Hence the cast on her leg.

Meanwhile, WATCH OUT for this ankle-biter, Magdalene.

Did you ever wonder what your dog is doing all day long while you are at work? I came home unexpectedly early one day to discover Magdalene using my sewing machine. She had organized a neighborhood support group for LDWATS, (Little Dogs Who Aren't Taken Seriously). At night they donned their little ninja masks and roamed the neighborhood to find bicycles to deface in a variety of unpleasant and aromatic ways.

There is one exception to this idea of not assuming a particular breed is more dangerous than another. Sometimes you need a little Pit Bull clout. You know, walk tall and carry a big dog to keep the other dogs away.

Play douse the Doberman. If you see big, fast Prince up ahead and know that he sees you, sprinting might not work. Especially if the road is tilting up. Take out your water bottle. Just having it in your hand may make him stay away. If he does come near you, give him a faceful and a loud yell. This distraction will slow him down, though he may come back for more. Just don’t distract yourself and ride off the road.

[Pardes: A "leisure" cyclist can't reach a water bottle in it's cage when the bike is moving; nor plunder through their panniers looking for a weapon. Nor hit a moving target on a moving bike even if they could reach a weapon. It's a simple fact that Roadies are genetically born with fast manipulative bicycle skills. "Leisure" cyclists can just blame their genes and continue to pedal along ploddingly, and very happy.]

Some riders swear by Halt pepper spray that they clip to their handlebar. This stuff works great—if you hit your target. That’s a big if when you and Spot are going different speeds, the air is moving, and you’re trying to stay on the road. Pepper spray stings a dog’s eyes, nose and mouth, but it doesn’t cause lasting damage. It also works on human attackers, but that’s a different story.

Give up and get off. If nothing works and Toodles has the upper hand, dismount quickly and hold your bike between you and those sharp teeth. Swing it like a weapon if necessary, and start calling for help. Someone may eventually come out of a house and yell, “Oh, he won’t hurt you!”

[Pardes: Great advice for "leisure" cyclists. That's right, ManUP, stop, and face your demon. Seriously, this is good advice, especially for a "leisure" cyclist who can't outrun a dog. Dogs, like most people get bored easily. If you aren't moving, you are no longer quite as interesting to them. And like any bully, when you confront them, they will usually slink away.]

Call the cops. If you are attacked and bitten, report it to the county sheriff or other authority immediately. Include the location, a description of the dog and the owner’s name and address if you know them. Get medical attention without delay. If the dog was rabid, you are at risk of serious illness or even death. Demand proof of rabies vaccination or insist to authorities that the dog be quarantined.

If the same dog accosts you every time you ride the road, report this to the authorities, too. You have a right to use public roadways free from fear for your life, liberty and pursuit of cycling happiness. Keep following up with calls to make sure steps are taken to put PupPup on a rope.

Receive a FREE copy of the eBook “29 Pro Cycling Secrets for Roadies” by subscribing to the RoadBikeRider Newsletter at www.RoadBikeRider.com. No cost or obligation!

[Pardes: Remember, not all dogs are bad dogs. Don't assume that a dog near a road is going to chase you, bite you, make your life miserable. That's like "leisure" cyclists assuming that all Roadie cyclists are unfriendly on the road and won't smile or speak to you. I have found that using, "Awwwwww, aren't you the sweetest thing," gets a friendly and safe response from both Bad Dogs and Roadies.]

Now go hug a Roadie, pat a dog, and get on over to RoadBikeRider to take a look at all their other wonderful and useful articles for cyclists.

A No-Brainer for Bicyclists

2010-05-15T13:29:00.002-04:00

Most of the time, my favorite dinner companion is my bicycle helmet.

It doesn't chew with its mouth open.

It doesn't argue about politics or religion.

It just sits there quietly, blinking now and then, so politely.

It's a no-brainer (no pun intended) that a bicycle helmet can often save you from a devastating head injury in a bicycle accident. Umpteen studies have been done that support this fact. However, for adults in Delaware, there is no law on the books requiring the use of a bicycle helmet. I suppose Delaware assumes we are smart enough to know what to do. It's up to us to decide if we want to protect our brain and life.

For more information on bicycle helmets and how to choose the best model for you and why, go to this site.

HARES and TURTLES Weighing In

2010-05-09T01:49:00.007-04:00

Part One: The HARES and The TURTLES

The sky was dark and threatening as we assembled for the first 2010 season Elderberry Bike Ride at Kells Park on the Hall Trail in Newark, Delaware on May 8th at 11AM in the morning.

Trevor Booz and Kris Heist were the first to arrive. Trevor is a Graduate Student of the University of Delaware, an experienced former Roadie who has recently switched from his feather-light all carbon road bike to a steel frame road bike that can be used for long-distance touring as well.

Trevor was piloting a tandem bike owned by Kris Heist. Kris, a therapeutic massage therapist and lover of cycling is visually impaired and took up the stoker position on the tandem with Trevor acting as pilot. Kris also has a four-seater surrey that she loves to use and is always looking for people to pilot it and enjoy a ride with her husband.

Jill Matthews and her thriteen year old son Connor were the next to arrive. Jill has been biking for about five years, has participated in the Bike to Bay ride, and now that Connor is showing an interest in biking, Jill wanted to find a regular group ride that would introduce him to other cyclists and give him the road skills he would need to potentially join her in future longer, more difficult rides if he wants to pursue biking.

At the stroke of 11:00, Bill Pfaffenhauser and his wife Debbie pulled into the parking lot. Bill has been biking for quite some time, has great road skills, and was hoping to introduce his wife to biking with him. They live in Milford, Delaware and he has been looking for a regular riding group with rides of 10 miles or more at an easy pace.

Bill had a sweet twinkle in his eye when he pulled out Debbie's brand new bike, still so new there was a bit of packing material still stuck to it. He flipped down the kickstand and intoned, "This will be its maiden voyage."

Debbie, didn't look quite as confident but you could tell she was up for the challenge.

At 11:01 as we rolled off down Hall Trail, the sky had mysteriously cleared to fluffy clouds and bright sunshine. Trevor and Kris, Jill and Connor took up the lead (I secretly thought of them as the HARES) as Debbie, me, and Bill (the TURTLES) brought up the rear. Mind you, Bill is no slouch on a bike and became a TURTLE by choice, the dear man.

I rode beside Debbie on the Hall Trail and admired her shiny deep Cranberry Huffy Bike. Debbie stated that it was "just a Wlamart bike," and added that she wanted to be sure she was going to like biking before they bought an expensive bike for her.

This is exactly what I advise beginner cyclists. Borrow a bike or buy an inexpensive one so that you can decide if you really want to be a life-time cyclist without the pressure of forcing yourself to like an activity just because you put out a lot of money for a bike.

I felt a bit wistful looking at her bike. It was EXACTLY the same color and brand of bike that I had bought five years ago from Walmart to see if I was going to like biking. Sadly, my little cranberry Huffy was stolen but now I have my beloveds, a Trek road bike and a Transeo hybrid.

We progressed very nicely down Apple Road, unto Elkton Road, then Casho Mill Road, and finally onto Barksdale road for a four mile ride to Milburn Orchard. I had promised Debbie that the route was "flat" but I soon discovered that "flat" is a relative term.

A 3% grade hill is nothing to a young or experienced cyclist. A 3% grade hill for a beginner or ahem...a more mature cyclist can be a challenge. Factor in also that by then the wind had picked up to a 20-30 forehead-smacking headwind that added a bit more discouragement.

Debbie and I were beginning to struggle. She had some gear and shifting issues that added to the distress but the calm and level-headed Bill tinkered a bit and got her going again. I was fairing less well at this point.

I've been riding alone 95% of the time for the past three years and never just RODE, you know, keep pedaling wthout stopping for photos, talking to cows, having a cigarette, drinking coffee, contemplating my navel, sticking my bare feet in a stream, etc., so the road ahead WITH NO BREAKS was giving me pause. Dear Lord, a Mensa IQ and it never occured to me that "regular" bike riding and the kind of riding I did were different and non-compatible to say the least.

I know, I know, those are only 0.3 mile segments. You tell my legs that, okay?

Once Debbie got her gears in order, she kept pedaling and got her second wind. She was moving slowly and successfully, but she was chatting less, probably pondering how she managed to get into this situation.....

They pulled a bit ahead of me on the Hell Hill.

See? Don't you feel sorry for me?

By the time we reached the entrance to Milburn Orchard, the HARES clapped us into the parking lot.

Sure, sure. The HARES were sweet and supportive. I'm ready to adopt all of them into my family and bequeath them my bicycles, cameras and dogs. They had stopped multiple times to wait for us on the road with smiles and such...not a shred of condescension, but I wanted revenge that they were so disgustingly healthy, fit, young, svelte, you name it. And worst of all that the HELL hill hadn't even registered on their discomfort scale.

Naturally, Bill and Debbie did not share my insane inner rantings. It was me, all me, and I shall have to go to confession for it. But not unitl after I gave Trevor a sweet, grandmotherly smile and said, "You guys go on up Jackson Hall Road and around. I think we are going to go back the way we came." I tried to look particularly pitiful and tired. And innocent of ulterior motives.

Trevor argued. "No, we all go back the way we came."

"No, no," I insisted. "It's a nice ride up and over to Cat Swamp Road. You'll enjoy it. We'll enjoy pedaling back the way we came."

Trevor argued again. "Okay, but we are going to wait at the intersection of Cat Swamp Road and Barksdale Road for you guys."

"Well, okay," I said, smiling sweetly. But if we aren't there in a while, just go on ahead to the restaurant and get a table for all of us. We'll be along eventually."

He finally agreed but I could tell he wasn't happy about leaving us. I almost weakened as I thought that they woud be biking uphill for 2.5 times the distance without a helpful tailwind. I did not share this information. Perhaps I shall have to turn in my badge as a ride leader.

So they took off and we took off. To be honest, I was sure that even with a disadvantage they were going to get to the Cat Swamp intersection WAYYYYY before we would. They were fast and steady bikers.

Oh the joy of it. Bill, Debbie, and I had downhills all the way back with a good very strong tailwind pushing us along. I went down the Hell Hill at 34 miles and hour and it was sheer bliss.

I clocked Debbie doing 22 miles a hour, definitely a first for her. That's the kind of biking you dream about and she was smiling. I think we've won her over to biking.

I was surprised that when we pulled into the Deer Park Tavern, we did not see the HARES bikes. We found a nice table on the second floor porch, settled in and downed a few gallons of iced tea and water.

The sweet HARES arrived a good twenty minutes later. They had waited for us. and waited for us. At Cat Swamp Road intersection.

I am deeply ashamed. I am contrite. I shall never again take advantage of my role as ride leader in order to fan my embryonically inmature ego.

I shall never admit to the HARES of the dastardly deed I committed. We won't tell them, will we? It will be our secret.

I must now go to confession.

Part Two: Weights and Measures of a Bike-Friendly state

There are many ways of measuring the degree to which a state or town is bike-friendly. The Roadies will speak of one thing in measusring how well motorists are kept from infringing on bike lanes as one example of their criteria; state governement officials will speak of executive orders and funding redirection from their point of view; and state agency personnel will measure how many bicycles pass through certain intersections or are carried on public transportation buses.

We need weights and measures such as these to know how far we've come and how far we have left to go. If you look at the history of the positive changes that have come about for non-motorized traffic in Delaware, we can take a deep breath and be proud of what has happened particularly in the last year or two.

However, with all this weighing and measuring going on; with national bicycle organizations now beginning to take a look at how far Delaware has come; and with the bicycle advocacy groups feeling empowered with their hard-earned work to stand as allies with state and local government officials in this mutually-shared arduous task, the risk is that we often forget the most important and neglected area. People.

The people of the general public who aren't aware how much the roads have improved. The people of the general public who are too afraid to get out on the roads on a bike because they don't know how to ride in traffic. The people of the general public who don't know how or where to find bike riding buddies to get back into biking. The people of the general public who never thought they could just as easily (with a lot more fun) run down to the grocery store on their bike or pedal to dinner as a family because no one told them that these things are now possible in many areas of the state.

Naturally we don't want the governmental and advocacy wheels to slow down; but while we are preaparing the roads for the people, we also need to be preparing the people for the roads.

Awards and commendations are nice; but no one is working this hard to make Delaware more bike friendly to win an award. What they are doing is working to make life more pleasurable, healthy, and fulfilling for all people in Delaware, such as:

...all the 13 year old Connors of Delaware who think hanging out with cyclists of all ages might just be a very cool thing to do;

...all the Jill's of Delaware Moms who want to see their kids widen their horizons with healthy alternatives and who wants to get fit and ready for long fund-raising charity bike rides;

...all the Debbie's of Delaware who would like to share a hobby with her husband and take on an activity that is a bit intimidating and enticing at the same time;

...all the Bill's of Delaware who want to share their love of biking with others and find companions for regular leisurely 10 mile bike rides;

...all the Trevors who love serious biking as a fast and competitive sport but who also gets a great reward in helping beginner cyclists launch their bike riding futures;

...and all the Kris's of Delaware who ignore what others might view as a limitation and demonstrate instead her delight and friendship in sharing her love of cycling.

Who can not help but love Delaware with these kinds of wonderful people pedaling down the road on their shiny new bikes.

Bad Traffic Signal Trip Sensor for Bicycles Reported to DelDOT for 273/Brownleaf Road Intersection

2010-05-05T22:08:00.005-04:00

If you see a road condition that needs attention, contact DelDOT at their maintenance request form site or through their DelDOT public relations email address. DelDOT depends on Delaware residents to let them know when road conditions need to be addressed.

Safe Passage Needed for Pedestrians & Cyclists in Newark, Delaware

2010-05-02T19:43:00.002-04:00

The intersection at 273 and Brownleaf Road in Newark, Delaware is a dangerous intersection for pedestrians and bicyclists. A bicycle is not able to trip the traffic sensor, nor is there a pedestrian crosswalk and signal to allow safe passage on this major Newark arterial road. This is particularly troubling to many cyclists since Brownleaf Road is part of the official Delaware bike route.

Less than a month ago, a pedestrian, sixteen year old Michael Gropp, was killed at this intersection by a speeding car that ran a red light.

Today, on a Sunday afternoon, a little girl waits in frustration and the 85 degree heat for a car to come along to trip the traffic signal. She waits in vain for quite some time.

She is joined by a friend who waits with her.

Traffic is particularly heavy on this Sunday afternoon as they waited and shouted greetings at a third friend who they were trying to join on the other side of the road.

The third friend finally made it across 273 safely.

I do not know what plans they had made for a bike ride today but it appears that the intersection problem and the sad reminder of Michael's roadside memorial dampened their spirits considerably.

It's hard for residents of Birchwood Park to pass this marker day in and day out. Some residents avoid it entirely and take the Harmony Road and 273 intersection exit instead which has its own pedestrian and cyclist safety problems.

Bike advocacy groups and local politicians are working to resolve this problem; but it in the meantime, it's impossible to know what to say to a family who has lost their child in such a senseless way.

Perhaps one of Michael's legacies that goes beyond the love he engendered in others will be that his passing is the impetus needed for Delaware to quickly provide safe passage for all citizens on all Delaware roads.

Bicycle Dehydration & Heat Stroke Prevention for Dummies

2010-05-01T22:47:00.000-04:00

subtitle: Pardes Practically Passed Out, the DUMMY

You'd think I would have known better. I did drink 52 ounces of liquids over a few hours before biking today; but I didn't take into account that it was 85 degrees and I don't do well biking in the heat. No matter, I blithely jumped on my bike as if I was 20 years old, fit, and used to riding in the heat.

After all it was ONLY an 8 mile ride I had planned with many frequent stops along the way. But somewhere at Brownleaf Road, the Lewis & Clark in me rose up with a vengence and I was determined to find the Northwest Passage between 273 and Churchman's Road without needing to use high-traffic roads.

Last year, I met with failure at an embankment steeper than I could manage.

However, this year I found a loophole..... I found an open patch of grass into the MBNA parking lot and wound my way around to Continental Drive which I knew would victoriously take me straight to Churchman's Road.

Except for this problem.

BIG BAD SECURITY GATE WITH NO ACCESS

So I had to turn around and retrace all my steps and go the long way around. Instead of thoughtfully and periodically drinking water and electrolyte solutions, I gnashed my teeth and plotted revenge on Contnental Drive and all its denizens.

By the time I rolled into Eastern Mountain Sports store shopping center, I could barely see straight, my head was spinning, and I was drenched in sweat. From behind me, I heard my name being called. I stopped and turned around and saw a handsome white haired, white bearded man who said, "I read your Elderberry blogs!" I asked his name. He told me and stated that he was from the White Clay Bicycle Club. I'm sorry to say that I can't remember his name. My brain cells were not firing. All I could think of was some Good Samaritan carrying me to the pond on the Christiana Hospital grounds and throwing me into the fountain where I would drink my fill and float in the cool water.

I could almost feel and see the spraying mists of water but it was only a mirage. I was in the first stages of heat stroke and dehydration when I rolled into Eastern Mountain Sports store. I headed straight for the sofa in their little resting area with magazines and plopped down on the couch. I could still barely see straight and the brain refused to function.

I asked this handsome young man if there was a water fountain in the store but he didn't reply.

However another young man asked if I needed any help. There was no way I could parade around the store shopping for what I had come for: a semi-padded bag to carry my Pentax dslr and spare lenses in on the bike. I indicated the size I needed and he went off to do my shopping for me as I licked the remaining ice cubes in my water bottle.

He returned with the perfect Osprey day pack that was a mystery of physics. It looked so small yet held my camera, spare lenses, filters, flash, you name it. Nick Lynch, my sales associate, is headed for greatness with his kindness and business acumen.

Feeling much revived, I headed for Marble Slab Creamery to replace my depleted glucose level. Any excuse is good enough for premium double dark chocolate ice cream!

It's sad that such a new and very busy shopping center didn't think ahead and reserve one or two parking spots for bicycles. Instead you have to strap your bike to a water down spout. Fortunately there was one near Marble Slab Creamery.

Inside, I revived with a plain single dip ice cream cone. It was sheer heaven.

They also gave me enough iced water to fill my water bottle for the trip home.

Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to spend some time on the Christiana Hospital grounds at the Graham Cancer Center Walk of Hope and pond. I had learned my lesson, and knew to make frequents stops, which for an eternal beginner like me, means every ten minutes of biking in hot weather. The pond was glorious.

A goose was waking up from a nap and doing some yoga stretches before taking a spin around the pond. This pose is called, "Smack dog in face with wing and foot."

I watched the geese and played with my camera until sunset.

The goose honked me a plantiff goodbye and then I biked home in the cool evening air. It was glorious.

For informaton on how to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration while biking, visit these sites:

Ken Kifer's Bike Pages

The Bike Whisperer

Remember: Beginner and Returning Bikers are more prone to heat and the exhaustion stress of biking, so plan ahead, stop often, take frequent sips of water and electrolyte solutions, and then you can enjoy yourself!

Another Reason Why I LOVE Newark, Delaware on a Bicycle

2010-04-29T14:45:00.001-04:00

A Video Investigating the U.S. Male in Newark, Delaware

press the arrow on the bottom left (not the top left) to start the video

Why I LOVE Newark Delaware on a Bicycle

2010-04-29T00:03:00.002-04:00

I've loved Newark, Delaware since I moved here in 1976; but it wasn't until I started traveling its roads and trails by bicycle that I've discovered additional nuances of its unique spirit that I never noticed before. Things I took for granted or didn't even notice when passing by car now jump forward into an array of sensory experience.

Half the fun is the DART ride from work in Wilmington to Newark for frequent dinners and a spin around town. Lonely motorists stuck in an interstate gridlock miss out on encounters with curious and interesting bus passengers.

The Newark DART Transit station abounds with bicycles of commuters.

DART drivers like Eddie Thompson make riding the bus a pleasure. With so much practice, I can sling my bike up on the bus bike rack in 20 seconds; but not when Eddie is driving. He jumps off the bus with a big smile, teases me about my high fashion matching panniers, and loads my bike on the bus for me. I thanked him for his courtesy and he replied with surprise, "but of course. You are a lady."

Whether traveling on my svelte Trek road bike (often decked out with attached video cameras and still cameras) or my beloved, though somewhat chunkier Transeo hybrid bike, always loaded down with full panniers, the views of Newark present themselves sometimes shyly, like a dainty preteen and her puppy Riley;

and sometimes with twenty-something zest;

while other views catch you by surprise with faces that look back at you.

Other sentient beings present themselves as well, a dog whose laughter is infectious and a turtle who clearly is a Zen master of navel contemplation.

A U of D Agricultural Center tree reminds me that stopping for ice cream on the way home is probably not a good idea.

The historic Newark Train Station is oddly quiet with disuse now until a high speed train rushes by reminding us of the trade-offs of progress.

There are other spots on the Hall Trail that are uncommonly quiet like the Phillips Park area that abounds with wildflowers. I stopped to rest there and sat down in a patch of warm sunlight to drink some water and soak up the sun. What a surprise when I looked down to my left and only inches away from me was a Purple Trillium; and even more surprising was a May Apple flower only inches away from me on my right.

Eccentric and odd things can be found in Newark as well at the Antique Mall.

$75. Even so, I wanted it and yet it horrified me. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and seeing it looking at you. I didn't buy it. But I did buy a Nixon postcard for memory's sake.

Okay, I admit it. Not only did I VOTE for Nixon, I CAMPAIGNED for Nixon. But it wasn't my fault. It was the 1960's, and I was smitten by a Republican. Heck if he had been a Hare Krishna, I would have sold flowers at the airport with him. Even so though, Nixon had his fine points that are finally being recognized today, like his skill in foreign policy.....oh never mind.....back to Newark.

A tri-cycle?

There is much to see in Newark and even though I've lived here for 34 years, I feel as if I've only scratched the surface of what can be seen on a bicycle in Newark. If you would like to explore Newark and enviorns with Elderberry Bike Rides contact me soon for one of our upcoming rides. Visit the Elderberry website to see a schedule of upcoming rides with ride route maps.

Park that car for a while. Saddle up on a bike and go GREEN in Newark.

Elderberry Bike Rides 2010 Bike Route Maps - NEW UPDATED INFO

2010-04-25T17:02:00.002-04:00

FREE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDES in order to plan the route and refreshments. BICYCLE HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDES.

MAY 8TH 11AM PIZZA PEDAL BIKE RIDE WITH OPTIONAL RIDE TO MILBURN ORCHARDS FOR ICE CREAM

The Hall Trail in Newark, Delaware is a multi-use path protected from motorized traffic. It is 2.15 miles long round-trip. It’s a great trail for all ages, especially for toddlers on trike, teens on bike, family rides, beginner bike riders, and returning bike riders.

The Hall trail has three small city parks along its span, with playground equipment, and some with portable toilet facilities.

Part 1 of the ride includes: (designed for families with small children and those who can’t or don’t want to bike too far) See the Route Map HERE.

1.   Begin ride at Kells Park (You can park your car in the Kells Park lot or along Kells Ave)
2.   Take your time biking down the trail. Feel free to stop and take photos, pause at the mysterious bamboo forest and historic Newark train station, swing on a jungle gym, or admire the wildflowers and birds;
3.   Gather at Phillips Park for photos of you and/or you and your family. (Photos will be emailed to you to share with others or for your family scrapbook)
4.   Enjoy a Pizza lunch. (First 20 to register for the ride will get FREE PIZZA! All others will be asked to contribute $3 for adults – kids under 12 eat free)
5.   Kids bike games (if 6 or more kids are registered)
6.   Ride the Hall Trail in reverse back to the Kells Park starting point.

Part 2 of the ride – optional Bike Ride to Milburn Orchards for ICE CREAM (not suitable for small children since we will be riding on town and country roads with traffic) See the Route Map HERE. (Total Ride length 10.5 miles).

1.   Bike out Barksdale Road to Milburn Orchards (4.0 miles). This is a country road that doesn’t have a dedicated bike lane but the traffic is usually light. The road is essentially flat and doesn’t have any hills over a small 2% grade. It is a suitable ride for adults and teens with some experience in riding on public roads.
2.   Enjoy a 30 minute stop at Milburn Orchards. Some of their daily activities can be seen HERE.
3.   Bike up Appleton Road to Jackson Hall School Road and down Cat Swamp Road to Barksdale Road (2.5 miles). This is a beautiful stretch of country road with views of farms and lots of fresh air.
4.   Bike down Barksdale Road back to the starting point at Kells Park. (3.8 miles)

FUTURE 2010 ELDERBERRY BIKE RIDES BY MONTH (SPECIFIC DATE NOT SET YET)

JUNE 2010 DELCASTLE PARK & MILLCREEK ROAD BIKE RIDE

See Bike Route Map HERE. More Info coming soon! Part 1 takes place on a bike/pedestrian path free from motorized traffic and is VERY suitable for kids on trikes, and young children on bikes. Part 2 takes place on roads with traffic and is only suitable for cyclists who are experienced in riding in traffic.

JULY 2010 HISTORIC NEW CASTLE CITY & WETLANDS BIKE RIDE

See Bike Route Map HERE. More Info coming soon! There will be an area of bike route designed specifically for small children and a section around New Castle City designed for more experienced and older cyclists.

AUGUST 2010 DELAWARE/MARYLAND FRENCHTOWN ROAD & CHINESE BUFFET BIKE RIDE

See Bike Route Map HERE. More Info coming soon! This ride use public roads with traffic and is NOT suitable for small children on trikes or bicycles.

SEPTEMBER 2010 GLASGOW PARK FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT BIKE RIDE

See Bike Route Map HERE. More Info coming soon! This route is designed for family rides with small children and teens on a path free of motorized traffic.

OCTOBER 2010 BELLEVUE PARK AUTUMN LEAF PEEPERS BIKE RIDE & PICNIC

See Bike Route Map HERE. More Info coming soon! There will be an area of bike route designed specifically for small children and a section around Bellevue State Park designed for more experienced and older cyclists.

OTHER BIKE RIDES THAT ARE BEING PLANNED FOR 2010:

JUNE 2010 PHOTO BIKE RIDE IN NEWARK

Bike with local photography experts and get advice on taking digital photographs of nature and street scenes. Bike through Newark and down White Clay Creek Road

AUGUST 2010 JUNCTION & BREAKWATER TRAIL REHOBOTH TO LEWES DELAWARE BIKE RIDE

The Junction & Breakwater Trail is a fabulous trail for families and cyclists of all riding abilities. We are working on getting transportation of cyclists and their bikes to Rehoboth for this fun ride.

The Bouillabaisse Bicyclist Restaurant Critic Rides Again

2010-04-21T12:44:00.004-04:00

Restaurant Reviewed: Stone Balloon Wine House, Newark, Delaware

Imagine my surprise when I rolled up on my bicycle to the Stone Balloon Wine House and found their corporate manager, Richard was standing there waiting to valet park my bike.

Okay, I admit it. It was just a fantasy that someday bicycle valet parking would be as common as automobile valet parking. Though I hasten to add that the staff of the Stone Balloon Wine House are friendly enough, accommodating enough that I know if I asked they would park my bike.

I was a bit hesitant to enter the upscale Stone Balloon Wine House wearing a bicycle helmet and dragging along my bike panniers loaded with cameras, books and other life stuff gear. I needn't have worried. The atmosphere and the staff immediately put me at ease.

I admitted to Richard while he seated me that it was their on-line menu that drew me to their restaurant. I intoned the seductive words, "Butter-poached Center Cut Ribeye," fearing he would think me strange at the very least and perhaps alarmingly bizarre at the worst.

Obviously I struck a mutual carnivore cord in Richard because his eyes twinkled as he informed me that "we are very happy with our butter bath."

My server, Carrie, a delightfully charming young lady brought my iced tea, aligned my silverware, and she didn't bat an eye when I pulled out my camera and started taking photos of the restaurant. I confessed, almost with embarrassment, that I was The Bicyclist Restaurant Critic and I needed some photos for my blog. She beamed and told me to walk up the winding staircase for an especially good view.

My salad arrived just as I was finishing taking the photos. It was their Heirloom Salad and it matched its name perfectly. A salad is a salad is a salad. Right? Well not exactly. Sometimes a salad is like making an obligatory visit to your maiden great aunt who will smell of Bengay and too much Chantilly perfume and instead discovering a vibrant elder with a sense of humor and piquant opinions on the world. By the same token, the heritage greens, winter squash, apple, celery root, and bread chips were perfectly and sparingly misted with brown butter vinaigrette.

I sincerely apologize to the chef for this next photo. When the Butter-Poached Center Cut Ribeye arrived, all thoughts of being a restaurant critic flew out the window. I took one bite and groaned with delight at the superb cut of beef cooked rare. I knew I needed to take a photo of the perfectly beautiful presentation of the food, but I couldn't stop myself, I took another bite and savored it with closed eyes. And then a third bite...

I then had the task of somehow reassembling the sampled meal back into the pristine presentation of the chef. What I managed was a Tinker Toy and Lincoln Log assembly that looked terribly sad by comparison.

Many upscale restaurants like to mislead their diners with a plethora of ingredients that make up a dish. They throw out red herrings of "coriander crusted" and "finished with a blackberry reduction," or "saffron-infused." Often, however, what the diner discovers is a one-note taste.

This was NOT the case with the Stone Balloon Wine House Butter-Poached Center Cut Ribeye. Each note of the medley of ribeye, fingerling potatoes, French beans en crème, pickled shallot herb salad, and veal reduction trilled their individual notes as well as harmonized with one another. It's not often that you find a chef who understands the meaning of restraint and genius when putting together a menu.

Was the meal a complete success? Almost. There was an issue with the sugar; but bear in mind that I was raised in the south on iced tea so sweet that you could float a watermelon in it.

Carrie brought their version of a sweet antique sugar bowl and tiny sugar spoon.

I opened the cover to discover a mixture of raw sugar and refined sugar cubes. The tiny spoon could only transport one sugar cube at a time which for me meant 8 (okay I lied; 10, okay okay 12) trips back and forth.

Dissolution was another problem. The straw could not pulverize the hard rocks of sugar. They lay unmoving, undissolved in the bottom of glass clearly trying to mock and shame me into using less sugar. Notice the smug expression on the three artificial sweetener packets resting in the notch of a wine cork?

Hey, what do you want? I gave up my car for a bicycle; now you want me to give up sugar too? Never.

There is no problem though. I have decided that the next time I dine at the Stone Balloon Wine House; I'll just call ahead and have them hang an intravenous glucose bottle for a constant drip of sugar into my glass of iced tea.

In summary, I advise anyone to try the food at the Stone Balloon Wine House. I'm already planning on tasting their pan roasted local rabbit, duck confit salad, and braised short ribs. It's a wide and deep menu that will keep me coming back often. See their online menu.

Sadly, they do not serve bouillabaisse. But I'm working on that.

Of course they have wine that I forgot to mention. I haven’t figured out how to drive a bicycle after testing several bottles of wine but I’m working on ironing out that wrinkle.

Oh, and some great news. I have it from a Newark Bicycle Council member that of the 15 new bicycle parking racks planned for Main Street Newark, one of them will almost certainly be placed next to the Stone Balloon Wine House. So, who knows? Maybe they will someday offer bicycle valet parking.

Perils & Pinnacles of Full-Time Bicycling in Delaware

2010-04-20T17:05:00.002-04:00

When gas prices hit $4 a gallon a few years ago, Pardes fell out of love with the convenience of driving a car that no longer out-shadowed being held hostage to rising gas prices and the damage to the environment that automobiles inflict on our fragile earth, not to mention the psychological hold that we've allowed a car to have over us.

Pardes wondered about the mob psychology that infects Americans with the notion that driving a car anywhere, at any time, for any reason regardless of the cost is a God-given right. So she asked a number of people about their need for a car in their life.

"But I HAVE to take Rachel to soccer practice, Stevie to daycare, and how on earth am I to bring home $200 of groceries without a car?"

Pardes got similar responses from everyone, the essence of which was that, "Automobiles were a necessary evil and there was absolutely no way to avoid the need to own and drive one if you intend to live a normal life."

Pardes is not a blossoming irate activist and she could understand the opinion of so many who saw no way out of their automobile entrapment. Politicians and their sycophants promised that someday we would have sustainable solutions to these problems and logically Pardes could not fault them for not INSTANTLY recreating already clogged and fuming American towns into a paradise for pedestrians and alternate forms of transportation.

Change takes time. But how much time? After all, Pardes was already 64 years old. It was time to try something different. It was time to see just how bad life would really be without a car. So Pardes parked her car forever and for the past three years has traveled everywhere, at any time of day, for any reason from trivial to important by bicycle.

What Pardes has discovered is that living as a typical middle-class American in Delaware is almost impossible without a car or access to someone else with a car. Almost impossible this is, but not quite impossible. It is in this narrow land of "not quite impossible" where joy, amazement, and the beauty of individuality and discovery lives.

Pardes invites you to experience the perils of full-time bicycle commuting in Delaware as well as the joy and beauty of it in a weekly column that memorializes both, often with humor, hopefully, and often with photos of her travels, travails, and triumphs.

The Perils and Pinnacles of Full-time Bicycling in Delaware

The Plan: Attend the 4/19/10 "Cool Cities Celebration" in Newark

"Celebrate the City of Newark's commitment to energy sustainability, complete streets, environmental stewardship and climate protection by endorsing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Festivities include a green ribbon cutting and special recognition of the honorable Mayor Vance A. Funk, III held at 7PM at the Newark Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 220 Elkton Rd. Newark."

Newark Mayor Vance Funk, III receives award from Delaware Sierra Club Chairman, Ron Zink

Full-time bicyclists in Delaware would be lost without the help of DART buses to access areas that are difficult to reach by bicycle. (In Pardes' case that means anything with HILLS over a 4% grade.) DART routes have increased significantly in the 26 years that Pardes has lived in the Newark area; but due to low ridership and budgetary problems there are still significant areas of Delaware that are not covered at all or are inadequately covered by DART routes.

Frank Warnock, PR Chairman, Bike Delaware Advocacy Organization

In order to attend this meeting, Pardes had to spend over 4.5 hours of time with 1.5 hours spent in a combination of biking and busing. Leave work in Wilmington at 4:00 PM, bike to the Riverfront to catch bus 33 to Newark arriving at about 5 PM; bike to a restaurant for a quick supper; bike to the Newark Municipal Building for the meeting by 6:45 PM. Leave the meeting still in progress at 8:05 PM in order to catch bus 33 (the next bus wouldn't come until 9:45 PM) to her Christiana development and then bike for 15 minutes (with 6 lights flashing on her bike in the dark) to her home.

Pardes is not alone in taking on the challenges of biking in Delaware. At least 1/3 of the meeting attendees traveled by bicycle.

Was it worth it? Of course it was! It was a beautiful spring afternoon and evening to be on a bike. It was a good meeting with the chance to network with other organizations and to be able to provide information and assistance to the general public who were interested in taking up biking again in Newark. Changes are happening every day. Pardes heard the news that 15 bicycle parking racks will soon be added to Main Street in Newark, with more to come in the future.

If you are interested in bringing about more changes to speed the bike-friendly nature of Delaware join us at BikeDE.org. If you would like to get back into biking join Pardes at Elderberry Bike Rides for leisure bike rides throughout Delaware.

The Bouillabaisse Bicyclist

2010-04-11T00:07:00.004-04:00

The World's ONLY 64 year old Bicyclist Restaurant Critic

Restuarant Reviewed: Eagle Diner, Newark, Delaware

Pardes is perhaps the world's only bicylist restaurant critic. Her mission is to find the most bike-friendly restaurants who also have the best food.

Today, on a 13 mile easy-paced first long bike ride in months, Pardes packed her panniers with cameras and water bottles for her plight of finding the world's best bouillabaisse.

Bouillabaisse is what she craves when hungry. Though she has yet to find the best bouillabaisse, or for that matter ANY bouillabaisse in Newark, Delaware, that does not deter her from the thrill of the hunt.

After a slingshot run down and back the Hall Trail to take photos for an upcoming family bike ride she is leading, Pardes pulls into the Eagle Diner parking lot.

Strike 1: NO bicycle rack. How odd that a restaurant catering to a college community does not have a bicycle rack for the many hundreds of bicycles used by students.

Undaunted, Pardes locks her bike to a jigsaw puzzle of water and gas lines next to the diner. A chef is leaning against the back door smoking a cigarette and smiling at her. Pardes takes this opportunity to pre-order her dinner. "Please sir, will you grill me a sirloin steak so rare that it will make the Public Health inspector faint?"

He laughs, stomps out his cigarette and goes inside. Pardes is sure it will be a memorable meal. Maybe not bouillabaisse, but the next best thing. RARE steak!

Eagle Diner is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is located on Elkton Road directly across from the University of Delaware.

The clientele is skewed to both ends of the age spectrum with few age points in the middle. The burgers, shakes, and gigantic breakfasts lure the college kids while the "Mini Senior Meals" lure the well-matured customers.

The prices are reasonable and the waitstaff is friendly and efficient.

Pardes instructs her waitress to make sure the chef knows that she really does want her steak as rare as possible. She also asks if the manager is available so she can let him know that Elderberry Bike Riders will be stopping by weekly for an evening Dutch Treat dinner after a few hours of biking. Also, Pardes wants to borrow a menu from the manager to scan for her blog.

Strike 2: Though reminded two times by the waitress, the manager never came to speak to Pardes. Business must be very good to ignore future weekly visits by a bicycle group.

The steak arrives. Pardes' lips pucker in anticipation as she cuts into the steak.

Strike 3: The steak is cooked well-done and oozes an ocean of murky brown juice. The potatoes are watery and lifeless. The corn is tasteless. The one ice cube in the iced tea melted thirty seconds after arrival.

To be fair, Eagle Diner is, after all, a diner and a customer would be ill-advised to expect a "Firebirds" grade steak. However, neither should a customer be led to believe the kitchen could produce at least a passable version of a rate steak.

Final Judgment on Eagle Diner on the 1-10 bicycle spoke scale.

                     Bicycle Rack Parking:                                                                   0 spokes
                     Waitstaff service:                                                                         7 spokes
                     Quality of sirloin steak:                                                                2 spokes
                     The possibility of Eagle Diner being a regular bicyclist's stop:      0 spokes

                                                                                                    Average   2.25 spokes out of 10

Without a shred of bitterness, Pardes amply tips the waitress and goes out into the evening with the hope that perhaps tomorrow, there will be the best bouillabaisse on her horizon.

Saturday, May 8 Pedal Pizza Picnic, 11 AM to 2 PM

2010-04-10T15:31:00.001-04:00

ELDERBERRY BIKE RIDES Launches their 2010 Spring, Summer, Fall Rides

2010-04-09T18:13:00.000-04:00

On many days in Delaware, you can see groups of serious long-distance bicyclists in their brightly-color spandex biking clothing power their way up and down the scenic hills of northern Delaware. Sadly however, you rarely see families with kids, senior citizens, or just "regular" people out on Delaware roads biking for fun, exercise, or to run errands. The good news is that is about to dramatically change.

Bike Delaware, an advocacy group of bicycle enthusiasts who promote biking as an alternative to driving is launching a campaign to get Delaware citizens back in the saddle again for safe and leisurely organized bike rides throughout the state. Bike Delaware's Vice President, Caroline Honse, a sixty-four year old bicyclist has organized Elderberry Bike Rides that is designed for people of all ages and bike riding abilities to participate in group rides where they can learn safe bike riding practices while enjoying the beautiful scenery and historical areas of Delaware.

The target groups for the 2010 Spring, Summer, and Fall Rides will be families with kids, senior citizens, and others who haven't biked in years and are a bit hesitant about taking on the longer, faster, group rides offered by other bike clubs in Delaware.

Planned activities throughout the year will include: Scavenger Hunt for all ages at Glasgow Park; Exploring Old New Castle historical areas and wetlands by bike; White Clay Creek Bike Ride & Picnic; Senior Sunset Ride Down Hall Trail with Dutch Treat Dinner; Junction-Breakwater Trail Ride in Rehoboth Beach; Nature & Street Photography Bike Ride in Newark area; Autumn Leaf Peeper Ride at Bellevue State Park. Safe Toddlers on Trike Trials and Kid's Bike Games will also be offered for the tiniest bikers among us.

For information on Elderberry Bike Rides and their upcoming rides schedule visit BIKEDE.ORG to be placed on the mailing list of activities. Bike Delaware members will be happy to assist new riders with gaining confidence and experience in riding a bike according to the Delaware Bike Rules of the Road.

Don't miss out on seeing Delaware up close and personal by bike, making new friends, and being kind to our environment. Park your car and go Green with Bike Delaware!

Milburn Orchards ICE CREAM Bike Ride Route Map

2010-01-08T16:57:00.003-05:00

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Delcastle Park and Milcreek Road Bike Ride Route Map

2010-01-07T16:01:00.002-05:00

Historic New Castle & Wetlands Bike Ride Route Map

2010-01-06T15:58:00.001-05:00

Frenchtown Road Bike Ride Route Map

2010-01-04T15:55:00.002-05:00

Glasgow Park Family Scavenger Hunt Bike Ride

2010-01-03T15:53:00.001-05:00

Bellevue Park Autumn 2010 Leaf Peepers Bike Ride Route Map

2010-01-02T15:47:00.005-05:00

Making Elderberry Wine

2009-09-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

Pardes was perturbed. 63 and perturbed. But rather than be petulant she took her parent's advice. At six years of age when her 1950's school wouldn't allow her to wear slacks to school on frigid Pennsylvania days, she stomped around until her pigtails stood straight out. Her mother said, "Be polite. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar." Her father added that "brains and a sense of pointed humor works well too."

Pardes used both methods to resolve a recent curbing of her individual rights, which she is thrilled to report was just a misunderstanding.

Follow the course of events below to see how everyone benefits from a healthy spin through determination, patience, cooperation, and communication.

Pardes, a 63 year old bicycle commuter, was ordered off the Christian Care Hospital access road by a security officer on Sunday afternoon, August 30, 2009. She had just come from Performance Bicycle, an extremely family-friendly bike store on Churchman's Road, where she had added a new set of dual flashing rear bicycle lights in preparation for the shorter winter days when she would be commuting home from work as the Laboratory Manager for the Controlled Substances and Arson Laboratories at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Pardes was on her way to the DART bus stop in front of Christiana Hospital where she planned to put herself and her GT Transeo bicycle on the bus, travel to a nearby park and get another 10 miles of biking in before nightfall. Unfortunately, she was told by the Delaware State Police sworn Constable that she was on private property and bicycles were banned from the Christiana Care property.

Pardes works with law enforcement officers in her job at the Medical Examiner's office and has the greatest respect for them in their often dangerous and thankless job. Rather than argue or protest, and taking heed that this hospital officer was clearly in no mood for discussion, she followed his sharp and humiliating directive, “Now you just turn your bike around and go back out the way you came in!”

Pardes, a Boomer who campaigned in the 1960's for Nixon (Who knew?) rather than partake in sit-ins and demonstrations felt certain that this was just a misunderstanding and that Christiana Care, so active in encouraging healthy lifestyles would never, in a million years, have something as archaic as a “bicycles banned” policy. Sadly however, when she called the President and CEO's office for his email address, his secretary confirmed that there is, in fact, a “no bicycles” policy.

But surely, this also was just a misunderstanding. She would investigate, clear it up, and everything would be fine again.

However, it just being a misunderstanding did little to dislodge the feelings of being insulted, harassed, and talked down to as if she was a three year old by a security officer taking his position of authority too far. Still ... maybe he'd had a bad day. It can't be easy being a security officer...

Still there were many questions Pardes had: A bicycle is her ONLY form of transportation! How was she going to:
1.go to a doctor's appointment on Christiana Care grounds?
2.Visit a patient at the hospital?
3.go for blood tests at the lab?
4.Get an xray or MRI?
5.Get an eye exam?
6.Pick up her new glasses at the optician's office?
7.Go the emergency room or medical aid unit?
8.Catch DART bus 33 or 63 that has Christiana Care Hospital on their regular route?

And since she was forced to miss the bus, there was nothing to do but pedal home, have eggs for dinner rather than the fresh salmon she'd planned to buy at the grocery store accessed by DART bus 33. So, pedaling home and planning on eggs for dinner and the other comfort to take her mind of of the “challenges” of life, she decided to scan the web for information on precedents of private facilities invoking their private property rights ..... but nawww that was just way tooooo boring. She was, after all, 63 years old and there were only so many hours in the day left to explore the interesting things of life and not waste them on plotting civil disobedience.

Of course this did not deter her from running through all the things she WISHED she had said to the officer like, “Well Officer, if I had been a ten year old kid on a skateboard who had just t-boned some pour soul on their way into the emergency room with a severed finger in a bag of ice, well then I could understand you metaphorically grabbing me by the scruff of the neck and ordering me to “turn your bike around and go back the way you came,” but since I was obeying all traffic laws and pedaling on the access road to a legitimate bus stop on hospital grounds, well in that case I just don't understand.”

Or, “Young man, is that how you were taught to talk to your elders?” (Except he wasn't young either.)

Or, “There are no signs posted banning bicycles. So bite me.” (Oh yeah, like she'd ever say something like that.)

Instead, Pardes is left to smolder in feelings of being unjustly harassed and she realizes how it's not the legality of it, or please forgive her all you bicycle advocates, it's not even that bicyclists are being treated unfairly. It's that she realizes that she has a vested interest and sense of civic pride in Christiana Care Hospital and feels as if a friend has just wounded her. Mortally.

In 1994 Pardes had a headache one day. The next day she was in surgery at Christian Care to remove a meningioma brain tumor. The capable staff literally saved her life. Don't think she doesn't think of that every time she passes the hospital grounds.

In a less overtly dramatic way, Christiana Care, once again had a significant effect on her life two years ago. She was overweight, had high blood pressure, was sinking into the depression of physical inactivity from extremely painful arthritis and feared she was destined to a life of walkers and wheelchairs like her mother. Then one day as her bus passed the front of the hospital, she noticed their “Wellness Walk” sign and a friendly MUP (multi-use pavement) trail that ran the perimeter of the hospital.

With arthritis pain that left her gasping for air after only ten steps, she knew she couldn't walk a trail back to health; but there, just across the street, she also noticed a bicycle store, Performance Bicycle. The rest is history.

Twenty-one gears of bike later with a frame light enough to lift unto a bus, she pedaled out of Performance Bicycle and onto the glorious grounds of Christiana Care Hospital. Scared to death of traffic, she pedaled the back areas of the hospital roads and figured out how to shift up and down, how to stop disc brakes without launching herself over the front wheel, and how to keep her pants legs OUT of the gear rings. On a particularly hot day, before she discovered the need for adequate hydration, and nearly succumbing to heat stroke, she comforted herself with the fact that she was only a hundred yards from the emergency room entrance.

That was almost two years ago. Pardes is now road-hardened and can claim a lane with the best of them. For the past 14 months, she's commuted to work every day from Newark to Wilmington by bike/bus combo no matter the weather. She's lost 30 pounds, lowered her blood pressure, decreased the debilitating arthritis attacks to almost nil, and she's now enjoying that moderate sweet buzz of endorphins that regular biking engenders. In part she has Christiana Care to thank for that by posting the encouraging “Wellness Walk” signs.

However, since the original posting of the sign, one of the signs has been amended to this.

How sad, that on one hand, health is being encouraged, and on the other hand, trespassers are threatened.

Okay, Pardes confesses. Without knowing it, she has been a trespasser. Cuff me, Dano and read me my rights. Pass me the legal pad and pen and I'll list the infractions of the law I've shattered.

Let's begin with the illegal photographing of an elderly egret in a pond on hospital property. How do I know it's an elderly egret, an elderly gentlemanly egret? Easy. That comb-over attempt of his tail feathers is a dead giveaway.

There are, of course, worse sins than that. Pardes has been known to tarry at the gazebo near the Helen Graham Cancer center. She's also been known to take out a notebook and write about the spot for her blog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Garden of Hope

The expansive Christiana Hospital campus is between my home and a major shopping area I frequent. Today I discovered the "Garden of Hope" that has been newly added outside a new Cancer Treatment Center. There is a gazebo next to a pond with fountains and a Canada Goose conclave.

I stopped for my lunch picnic in the gazebo.

It's very peaceful and quiet. The fountains in the pond drown out all traffic noise and random thoughts cluttering your brian. I noticed a memorial in the distance.

I went to investigate and found a memorial plaque that made me catch my breath as tears stung my eyes.

I sat there for a long time taking it all in....the intense poignancy of it, the scores of women who lost their babies, the women yet to come who would add a name to a bronze leaf.

The surroundings of the memorial tree plaque had a distinct feminine feel to it. The keens and ululating of centuries of women who lost their babies hung in the air from the collective consciousness.

The leaves of the bronze tree appeared to be rustling in the breeze and dancing in the sunlight. I had to stand very close to see that they really were not moving, they were reflecting the sun.

Suprisingly it was not an oppressively sad place for only a few feet away was the Garden of Hope and the Walk of Hope pathway. It's what women do....pick up and go on, often with the camaraderie of other women.

But sometimes, we must go it alone and when no one is looking, and after the acceptable time limit that others will give us, sometimes we need to go alone to a private place and place a wreath for the anguish in our hearts.

And then we come back from that private journey with the instinctive urge to be with other women who know where we have been and may go again. There is such joy and beauty in that.

I want to honor all women who has loved and lost, and women everywhere

I worked a photo through Photoshop of fountain sculpture I found in a park. Women of all sighs and sizes who draw strength, humor, and knowledge from other women on the same journey.

Yes, I'm sure of it. Those bronze leaves that seemed to move weren't just reflecting the sun.

No, indeed. It's the babies definitely dancing.

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If truth be told, I suppose the most egregious violation by Pardes that continues to this day is to sit on the park bench near the memorial wall and say a Rosary for all the dancing leaf babies who have passed on, their families, and all the patients and families journeying through their path of cancer.

Unfortunately Pardes is a criminal without remorse and regret for violating Christiana Care's private property.

Indeed, she is already plotting her next assault on the grounds of Christiana Care Hospital. It involves contacting Robert J. Laskowski, M.D., President and CEO of Christiana Care Hospital. He's reported to be “one of the 14 most influential people in Delaware” and surely must think outside the box for programs that support their mission statement of “caring for our neighbors, building a healthy community, and existing to take care of our neighbors in the community.”

Maybe Dr. Laskowski would be interested in an “Elderberry Bike Project.” Instead of emphasizing daycare for seniors, let's get 'em on bikes!

There are herds of thundering Boomers on the horizon with blown-out knees and hips from arthritis who could benefit from the charm, functionality, and health benefits of bikes. All that stands between Boomers and bikes as a way of life is getting over the hurdle of getting road-worthy.

So many people tell Pardes, “I used to love to ride a bike. I'd love to ride a bike again for exercise, but the roads aren't safe now.”

Well that's wrong. All wrong. It's knowing how to ride safely and make that leap of faith that you REALLY can get anywhere by bike. You really can go shopping and get to appointments and enjoy yourself in the process.

So what do you say, Dr. Lawkowski? How would you like to be the first and ONLY hospital CEO to initiate a program that will bring health and well-being to Delaware Boomers, a model program for all states? Biking is the best kept health secret there is. Just ask Pardes who is fond of saying, “I can barely walk fifty feet without pain but I can pedal forever!” What a thing to introduce to seniors who don't want to settle for less.

You will have everyone on your side, cheering for you....Pardes, all the local and national bicycle communities, a grateful Governor who bikes, and, perhaps there is even a remorseful security guard we could press into action.

Pardes will call and make an appointment with you. She really would love to be part of such a program. It would make her proud again of Christiana Care Hospital.

Of course there is that sticky problem of how she'll get to the appointment at the hospital on her bike since she's been banned from the property.... But don't worry, she'll get there. She's very resourceful.

September 6, 2009 update

Michele Schiavoni, Christiana Care Vice President, Development/External Affairs assures Pardes that there is no policy banning bicycles on Christiana Care grounds. Indeed, Christiana Care is a strong supporter of healthy forms of exercise. She added that safety is a significant concern but did not see where Pardes was in any way violating any safety concerns by pedaling on the grounds.

Additionally, Ms. Schiavoni, is interested in the potential of a senior biking program such as Elderberry Bike Rides, and offered to provide Pardes with individuals at Christiana Care who could advise Pardes in setting up a safe and healthy program.

Don't you just love it when life gives you lemons and rather than buckle under the weight of it, you make Elderberry wine!