Yesterday we participated in the WABA and Embassy of Sweden sponsored Vasa ride , which kicked off at the embassy in Georgetown. We opted for the leisurely Kort Vasa at 14 miles, a trip that took us through all four quadrants of the District. For the more adventurous (and well-trained), there were the 56-mile Vasa and the 28-mile Halv Vasa. Honestly though, we were sold upon the promise of hot blueberry soup at the completion of the ride — and it was well worth it. Click for more pics of the event.
The beautiful (in my humble opinion) images that you see below are my submissions to the 2010 DCist Exposed photography show. This is my third year submitting photos to the contest - fingers crossed! The entry pool for the show this year includes 1,130 photos from 435 photographers. Tough competition would be an understatement. Exposed will open on March 6th at Longview Gallery (1234 9th St NW). It is a great showcase of local photographers and most certainly worth visiting.
This image is taken with a Holga at the Dupont Circle North metro station. I love how the long exposure was able to pull a fire out of the evening sky.
We watched the fireworks from Meridian Hill park this year. The gentleman that climbed the Joan of Arc sculpture had the best view in the house. His focused gaze up towards the theatrics is the sky is eerily similar to the look on Joan of Arc’s face as she charges into battle.
My final submission was snapped during my morning commute. It is taken with a Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim, a junk camera with a wide angle plastic lens. Even in the blustery weather that we have had recently, my morning rides always put me in a good mood. I think this photo captures the pure enjoyment of a leisurely ride.
Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around
December 9th, 2009
Last night, Bruce Katz, Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, moderated an interesting discussion among three rock stars (sorry, couldn’t avoid saying it) in the world of urban bicycle policy at the Newseum. The panel was composed of David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, Earl Blumenauer, House Democrat from Oregon, and Janette Sadik-Khan, the Commissioner for NYC Department of Transportation.
Byrne led the night off by taking attendees on a visual walk through his cycling travel memories. I purchased a signed copy of his book, Bicycle Diaries, which chronicles these travels. Having not yet read the book, I’m hoping it will offer more insights then were gained during his portion of the lecture, which amounted to a vacation slide show, that I found to be a little bit shy on content. To be fair, Byrne contributed more during the Q&A session and he was sharing the stage with some intellectual and political heavy weights. Regardless, it is great to have a celebrity advocate for the cycling community. He obviously cares strongly for the cause despite the lack of articulation during last nights’ discussion. Admittedly, I did have to Wikipedia the Talking Heads to familiarize myself with his work - sign of my age I suppose.
The second talking head (da dum tsh! I’ll be here all night, folks.) to take the stage was the Honorable Earl Blumenauer. Blumenauer is one of the strongest voice for the cycling community in the Federal Government. He has helped to make cycling part of the national policy debate for issues such as healthcare, childhood obesity, and foreign oil dependence. Coming from Portland, Blumenauer’s discussion had a frequently west coast slant but he did bring up some great local ideas. These ideas included bike lanes along Pennsylvania Ave, stating that the most iconic boulevard in the US needs to be a place where all modes of transportation are accommodated. I’d have to agree, making PA Ave a “complete street” would be a powerful and symbolic action. In discussing Portland’s approach to automobiles, Blumenauer said “we haven’t made war on the car, but we are not going to surrender to it” emphasising the importance of giving people SAFE and balanced choices of transportation.
Third at the lectern was Janette Sadik-Khan from New York, New York. JSK has been responsible for huge push to increase bike lanes around the city, as well as the “pedestrianization of Times Square.” She is a progressive among progressives, who has passion for pushing the envelop (her favorite five letter word is PILOT). Echoing Blumenauer’s statement, JSK underlined the importance of increasing cyclist safety in enhancing the number of riders — “make it safe and they will come.” Further, she indicated that NYC may soon get its own bike sharing system. Next time you are in NYC, watch out for the new yellow checkered bike sharing fleet that might be joining their checkered cabbie friends. Last but not least, JSK announced the launch of Cities for Cycling which is a coalition of member cities aimed at updating the antiquated design standards to reflect the current needs of cities. Their website includes a very interesting series of “best practices” for bicycle facilities that is worth reading over.
The main call to action was just that: DO SOMETHING, TALK TO SOMEONE, MAKE CYCLING AN ISSUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
I’ll leave you with few quoteables from the evening:
David Byrne: “Frank Lloyd Wright was a great architect, but thank god he didn’t get to be an urban planner.”
Earl Blumenauer: ”How many people are stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike at the gym?” ”Our goal was to make Portland America’s best European City.”
Janette Sadik-Khan: “The only way to get around New York City is to be born there.” “Getting cross-town in NYC is impossible - so the only way to get to the West Side is to be born there.”
Bruce Katz: “I’m glad Brookings was shamed tonight” regarding the institutes lack of bicycle facilities.
2009 Bicycle Film Festival - Washington DC
December 6th, 2009
Since 2001, Brendt Barbur has been putting on the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF). In the years that followed the BFF has grown to include international showings in 39 cities and an annual attendance of a quarter million people. 2009 was the first year that the BFF was held in Washington DC and from what I could garner the DC cycling community was quite excited to finally have it in our city. The DC BFF was a one day festival held at the Navy Memorial Theater on 7th St. There were three showings, we attended the 9pm program which featured of 14 short films. Without futher adiu, I give you 14 equally short reviews:
On Time 1985/16mm/USA: racing through the streets, a special delivery of utmost importance leads to hilarity, danger, and a BOOM!
Safari London 2009/HD/UK: sexy imagry. If I shot video this is what I would want to do. Timelapse, motion blur, multiple exposure. Wonderful.
Made in Queens2008/Video/USA: tinkering teenagers from Trinidad create 300 lbs speaker bikes that will knock your socks off.
Polo Manual 2009/DVCPRO HD/UK: cycles, community, competition, and collision come together for a little game. No horses allowed.
Some Things Ride a Bicycle 2006/Video/USA: ever see an oaktree or an elephant ride a bike. Yeah, I didn’t think so.
An Apology 2007/DC/USA: some people get so bent out of shape when you pretend to get a mortal injury while demonstrating how to steal a bike with powertools.
Kant 2009/DVD/Japan: I most certainly can’t do any of the impressive fixie riding demonstrated by the Japanese crew.
Pixel Gear Bikes!! Ride Safe, Ride Fast, Ride Free 2009/Video/Spain: the familiar comfort of 8 bit video game technology meets some snazzy riding and a brutal dooring
What’s a Girl To Do 2007/Video/UK: syncronized cycling to music while riding down a dark wooded road at night and wearing giant animal masks. ‘Nuff said.
Ski Boys 2006/Super8/Canada: oh the things that idle hands, miscellaneous farm equipment, and some ingenuity can do to bikes and skateboards.
Belle Epoch 2008/Video/Italy: I’ve got an idea, lets ride up some of the hardest terrain in Italy on a bike with no handle bars or brakes, while playing various musical instruments. Brilliant!
The Scraper Bike King 2009/16mm/USA: “If it wasn’t for scraper bikes, I’d be either dead or in jail. I’m not sure which.”
Broadway Bomber/Bridge Battle 2009/HD/USA: 1st person helmet camera perspective on an addrenalin filled street race. See NYC in a whole new way.
Anima D’Acciaio (Soul of Steel) 2009/HD/Italy: a passionate life’s work. I just wish I spoke Italian so I could have understood it.
Yesterday I had the darling pleasure of being a participant in the 1st Semi-Annual Washington DC Tweed Ride. The ride was organized by the Dandies and Quaintrelles social club as a fundraiser for Arts for the Aging. I do not have any official figures but, by all accounts of those that rode, it was a smashing success and must have easily brought out a good 250+ cyclists.
The course was 6.6 miles long, relatively flat, and was cycled at the most leisurely and distinguished of paces. Riders, or wheelmen and women rather, rode as civilized group though the size of the pack did necessitate the running of a few red lights. I witnessed no particular angst or ire from any of the automobile drivers that we passed and may have temporarily inconvenienced. In fact, I received a number of high-fives from motorists while promenading down P Street. The riders convened at Marvin on 14th St. for proper libations after the ride.
As you might assume, unique styles were displayed by many participants. Some of the “period” accessories included handlebar mustaches (real and fake), pipes, and monocles. There was plenty of bike envy to go around as well. The two reproduction pennyfarthings (old time big wheel bikes) were my particular favorites. Despite seeing it first hand, I still struggle to understand how those bikes are mounted and dismounted. It seemed quite the treacherous task.
The DC Tweed ride was a very enjoyable time and for a good cause. I’d venture to say it was the most fun I’ve had on my bike in a while. Until the next ride (April 2010??) I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for more vintage garb to don on the outing. Many talented photogs were at the start and the finish of the race including flickr users, MV Jantzen , Tracy Clayton, Jim Darling, and Maxedapeture. Check out their photostreams for some great portraits. With that I will leave you with some good ol’ fashioned bike porn.
I hope friend and photographer Jim Darling doesn’t mind that I’m posting (stealing) this amazing photo he shot of Matt today at DC’s first Tweed Ride . (Yes you read that correctly “today,” as in 2009, not 1920). Check out the rest of the “dandies and quaintrelles” that he captured at the event. And while you’re at it, Jim’s 100 Stranger’s .
It appears that there has been an accident…
October 26th, 2009
…involving the painted bike lane guy. The wheels are all smooshed and his body has been “relocated” way too far away and upside down. Hopefully this is not the doing of a lazy driver not looking out for cyclists. I think he is supposed to look like this. (spotted around 5th and Q St).
This morning was one of those mornings where I really wish I was strapped with more camera fire power than my blackberry camera phone. But alas I was out doing a training bike ride and that is not the most conducive activity to lugging around a DSLR. The waters over the Washington Channel and the lawns of the East Potomac Park Golf Course had a very strange effervescent mist wafting along their surface. Combining this with the soft light of the morning and the reflecting lights from the SW Waterfront in the Channel brought about a very eeire scene.
The photo above I snapped on my way out of Hains Point when I noticed that the Channel was running extremely high, so high that it had flooded the banks along a large portion of the river walk that wraps the island (or is it a peninsula?). These benches are often utilized by older gentlemen getting in a morning fish/read/smoke and enjoying the sunrise. Clearly that was not an option today. Not sure what would be causing the high water levels, maybe a remnant of the weekend deluge.
Hip hip hooray, this photo won me DCist photo of the day! It’s really the little things yah know. Though the photo, or rather my recklessness in taking the photo, did garner a bit of hating in the comments. C’mon, I’m coasting to a red light, in a bike lane and taking the photo with a point and click film camera w/o looking through the view finder. No more reckless than talking on the cell phone while driving or blindly walking into intersections while in an ipod trance which it seems most everyone is guilty of.
Regardless it is always fun to see my photos up on a blog outside of Juxta or my flickr page.
This photo was taken with my plastic toy Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim 35mm camera.
A quick video that I put together of Matt’s bike part of the Dextro Sprint Triathlon from yesterday. He mounted his Digital Hero Go-Pro camera to the front of his bike, and set the camera to take an automatic picture every 5 seconds. Here is the result… enjoy!
