First, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation changed its name this week to the Active Transportation Alliance. This formalizes its shift toward supporting all non-car transit, which is, of course, cool. What isn't cool at all is lumping the concerns of cyclists and pedestrians with those of public transit riders. IMO, our number one concern is safety, whereas theirs is cost/schedule. The mammoth problems of the CTA aren't the losing battles that I want my advocacy organization trying to tackle, and clearly if they're to serve CTA riders we cyclists and pedestrians are going to end up in a back seat. Sure, it's an untapped membership base, but must we always make decisions based on $$$? I feel watered-down and unrepresented. I'm also insulted by the "start your own group" line that many who are intimately involved in CBF/ATA are taking to those of us wanting a bike/ped only organization. Seriously, what a shi+ response.
Day three of a week where I don't have to get on a plane on Friday and I'm really enjoying the nights at home and time to catch up, including...
Running. I logged just 15 miles last week, hoping to get up to 25 this week. Yesterday it was 22 degrees when I headed out the door, a 20 degree drop from my coldest run thus far this fall. The lungs, they don't like that cold and added a serious :40 per mile to my pace, but they'll learn. Today's 32 degrees had me back on pace. As of this week I've hit 1000 miles for this year... later than I would have liked but there was the whole wedding thing, and Ben's racing, and life...
Knitting. When the snow falls the needles come out, and this week I made a scarf for my mom. I think I'll go back to socks or something more interesting. Scarves are boring.
Baking. Audrey came over last night and we made tasty almond cookies, featuring amaretto in the batter. We had to taste the amaretto to make sure it was ok. Several times.
Cooking. I've been struggling to find something more original to make, but with little fresh produce available and the CSA over for the year, things are getting a little dull. Soups n' stews, baked omlettes, tofu concoctions... I should do some research.
Cleaning. The mud of many nations (OK, Canada and Jersey mostly) is piling up on our floors and things are just... ugh. I'll tackle that one later.
Ridden and Reviewed Kona Libre CR
8 months ago
2 replies:
I agree about the focus - I knew the direction that it was starting to go, and Chicago politics did make a big move to consolidate the efforts of all or don't get heard (the way most organized groups have to go to be heard at Daley Plaza). This is unfortunately the norm in this fair city.
Thankfully there are other groups already well formed taking on other battles - the dirty kind.
Hey Julie - I loved the pic of M. Hey, D cooked chicken soup last night. he got noodles called No Yolks, and it is super healthy and good training food. You should make some. YUM.
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