Bike advocates offer free repairs at library

Via I Love Libraries, relating news reported by The Red and Black in Athens, Ga.: BikeAthens, a bicycle advocacy group, offered free bicycle repair, safety checks and helmets at the Athens-Clarke County Library. The news report relates that BikeAthens’ goal is to “promote walking, cycling and public transit as solutions to transportation needs in Athens through education, advocacy and community service.” This is a great melding of advocacy for bicycling with the importance of libraries.

Service expansions aboard RVTD

Image source: Rogue Valley Transportation District on Facebook

As a regular rider of Rogue Valley Transportation District’s Route 10 that travels between Ashland and Medford, I look forward to a resumption of Route 10 frequency to every 20 minutes.

RVTD offers free bus service July 9

Source of image: RVTD on Facebook

If you haven’t yet tried public transit in Jackson County, Oregon, the Saturday-service “grand opening” celebration on Saturday, July 9, offers a perfect opportunity. July 9 is the first day that Saturday routes resume following successful passage in the May 17 election of a levy supporting the Rogue Valley Transportation District. In celebration, RVTD will offer free bus service all day on July 9, and a party takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at RVTD’s Front Street Station in Medford. Live music, games and activities, food, community booths and more are part of the planned celebration.

Calistoga and Santa Rosa need genuine bus connection

Source of image: County of Sonoma

As a former area resident who relied on public transportation, I’ve been interested in the subject of public transportation between Santa Rosa and Calistoga. So I read with interest as the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce established its Employee Shuttle Program for Santa Rosa residents aboard Beau Wine Tours’ luxury coaches.

Hat from ‘cycle-hacked’ garments

Talk about a win-win situation: I chop the hemline of a dress or long tunic so that I can wear it, paired with pants or leggings, while I ride on my bicycle. This saves garments that, while loved, might otherwise never be worn because they weren’t biking-compatible. Here, leftover fabric from recent alterations found purpose of their own when assembled into a “newsboy” hat. The crown, band and brim of the hat were assembled out of fabric from a sunflower-print dress, an embroidered long tunic and a long lace skirt. Shown with it are “cycle-hacked” garments that contributed its fabric.

Who needs a car when we’ve got a wagon?

I don’t mind in the least if we become known as those people who walk around town pulling a “little red wagon.” Sometimes hauling gear is inevitable — as in this instance of walking home with gardening supplies. The cloth-over-steel-frame wagon is lightweight and collapsible; it takes up next to no space when it’s being stored but when set up, it can carry up to 150 pounds. During this weekend alone, we brought donated books down to the Ashland public library and, on on the return trip, brought home a gardening pot. Who knows how many wagon sales we are responsible for; seems whenever we go out, someone who is on-foot like us, comments that (s)he needs one too.

RVTD: Saturday bus service resumes July 9

Saturday service returns July 9, 2016 aboard Rogue Valley Transportation District buses. Unofficial results for the May 17 election in Jackson County, Ore. show 61.44 percent in favor of a levy to support RVTD. Speaking as someone who commutes full time by either walking, bicycle or bus, I look forward to being able once again to ride the bus on Saturdays between Ashland and Medford. It’s certainly proven doable to hop on our bicycles to make this round-trip, and the ride is especially enjoyable along the Bear Creek Greenway. But to make what essentially becomes a several-hours’ trip, we have to budget effort and time. It will be nice to have the option again of being able to travel by bus, with or without our bicycles.