A Fresh Start and Trendy Taillights

With my stepfather safely in treatment and unable to harm himself, at least for the time being, I feel it's once again safe to focus on other matters. And now that Bike to Work Week is a thing of the past, hordes of commuters can finally find their way back to lazier modes of transportation. This will allow the two or three people among millions in our city to ramp up for Segway to Work Week, which will kick off a week from Sunday with an electrically-powered rolling rally beginning at the T.G.I. Friday's downtown. Don't forget to bring your flair because, as you can see, last year's rally was quite an event...


...even if the actual Segway turnout wasn't that strong.

If you were unable to make it to yesterday's sold-out Eli's Cheesecake Father's Day Bike Ride, maybe it was because you don't have a bike. But maybe, just maybe, you have a passion for cheesecake. You can see the dilemma, no? In this case, it should come as a relief that Chicago's Bicycle Share Program appears to be moving forward. While the scope of the program apparently is still being negotiated, the public got a view of the bikes Friday, and The Streets of Chicago posted a review of the equipment. These are utilitarian machines, and they will not be bikes for riding enthusiasts.


The Streets of Chicago noted that the bike-share program was originally intended to encompass an area just outside of downtown -- with the northwestern point being North and Damen, but negotiations are in the works to expand the program citywide and beyond.

This bike-sharing program will need to bridge the philisphical gaps between the grassroots programs that previously sprouted across the city. This will be a hefty task indeed and Mayor Daley may or may not be in the process of enlisting a former Middle East negotiator. Add to that the cheesecake lobbyists at Eli's, who are certain to be pushing for an extension of the program up to their corporate headquarters on the Northwest Side. (However, common sense would also dictate that the Eli's and Segway could strike up a more harmonious marriage.)

The inevitable rise in Chicago bike traffic precipitated by a bicycle-sharing program will highlight the need for effective safety training. So it is particularly good news that the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Police Department have "tag-teamed" on a new training video. I'm sure you'll agree that the cover image of "Traffic Enforcement for Bicyclist Safety" draws you in and compels you to click "Play." From the first bit of action and the gripping theme music, the video does not disppoint.

In terms of safety, one of the most vital accessories is a taillight and, thanks to one or several nerds who took some time away from their Dungeons & Dragons game, you can now use your iPhone as a flashing rear bike light. Not only that, you can put personalized text on your flashing iPhone light!! If you have yet to purchase an iPhone but you're currently contemplating one, this bit of news will surely put you over the top. And if you've been debating the purchase of a new rear bike light, you can be the only person at the office whose bike light comes with a complimentary two-year contract and roaming charges.

In fact, while biking home the other night, I came to the Hipster Triangle at North, Division & Milwaukee, and stumbled across an early adopter with this on the back of her bike:


I don't know about you, but I'd venture to guess this will fast become the chain-link license plate frame of the hipster crowd.

-TGOTB