Donating Bikes to Kenya

Bikes for Kenya Project

I pedalled to my local downtown Coffee Shop to enjoy a strong hearty brew and this bright yellow trike caught my eye. Upon further inspection I found that when purchasing coffee, the shop will donate a portion of the proceeds towards these tricycles so the farmers in rural areas of Kenya can transport water and coffee to and from the villages. The farmers cant afford vehicles to transport the coffee and the roads are probably rugged and very narrow. It's nice to see bicycles and tricycles helping small businesses and small countries save money in an energy efficient way. *Ride Safe* *Ride for Fun* *Ride for Health* *Ride for the World* -Jimio

City Workers Doing Their Thing

City Workers spreading mulch at Consumers Energy Parking Garage

Another sign that Spring is here when you see City Workers [DPW means Dept. of Public Works I assume] spreading mulch. In the next few weeks other workers and private citizens will be planting flowers to make my town look so nice! What was cool was the workers shoveled the mulch out of the back of a city dump truck and when they could not reach it from the back, they closed the tailgate, then lifted the dumper in the air and the mulch in the front all settled against the tailgate. Then they lowered the dumper, opened the tailgate and had a huge fresh supply of Mulcherino! This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe-RideforFun* and get ready to smell the Flowers!

Spring means Cruisin

Man with Grand Daughter on a Sidewalk Cruise

This early Spring has brought a lot of people out into the streets and sidewalks and it's such a pleasure to see them all enjoying this wonderful weather. This Grandpa and Grand Daughter were on their way to the Ice Cream Shop to cool them down after a long Sidewalk Cruise. Here's to a Happy Safe Spring: *Cheers* -Jimio

Bikes a Way of Life to Some of Us

Bicycling sure beats Walking

Some of us ride a bike for fun while other ride a bike as a necessity to get around and while walking is probably the oldest form of transportation, the bicycle made its entrance in 1817 in the city of Baden Germany. I bet when the bikes were mass produced, many people were thrilled to get across town a lot faster than walking and no horse or donkey to feed and care for! The early bicycle didn't even have chains or pedals. The riders just used their feet for power. Doesn't seem very efficient. I'm sure though that after a while a few people managed to make a living on their bikes. Others found that their bikes gave them the freedom to discard other forms of transportation and in that sence their bikes became a fundamental part of their life, at least until the automobile was invented. Even today we have people who depend on these 2-wheeled contraptions to get them about their way of living. While some people buy $3,000 bicycles to either race or tour, the frugal riders can pick up bicycles at a garage sale for $20 and with a little oil and a few minor adjustments be ready to glide down Life's Highway. I just hope these often and regular pedallers keep their eyes open for the cars that are not really looking for bikes and as more bicyclers grace our roads, streets and boulevards, I look forward to the future of more bike paths and trails to ensure a safer riding experience. This is Jimmio saying *Ride Safe - Ride for Fun -Ride for Life*

Economizing

Bike parked at the Post Office

In this day of tight budgets and layoffs and new debt ceiling limits, one must find ways to save money. This person saved on a rear bike basket with this nifty plastic milk crate. *Bravo* I say to the innovators and the frugal creators. I also have resorted to such money saving endeavors with the use of scotch tape, duct tape, bundgy cords, string, wires, chain and the wonderful bread ties. Over my 57 years on this Earth I haved owned only 3 Bicycles: A 1966 black Schwinn Racer which I recieved for getting all A's in the 5th grade, a 1974 Fuji Finest that I did a few tours on and now, Betty Lou, a Murray Elk River mountain bike. Murray Bikes are no longer in business as Briggs-N-Stratton bought them out and use their name on Lawn and Garden equipment. I'm not sure of Betty Lou's age maybe 15 to 20 years old, but she gets me around to places I need to go. Only thing I done was new tires , tubes and pedals and take the bikestand off to save on weight [Betty Lou weighs a ton] Some innovate their bikes with lots of reflective tape. This hopefully ensures cars will see you at night. I admit I'm not good at reflective clothing or tape so I have to be extra care when I hear a car comming near me. Staying on the sidewalk at night helps a lot. Some people even innovate by making homemade carriers and extre seats to haul their toddlers in [just be sure its a safe sturdy connection to your bike] and pets also get to ride in some ingenious devices hooked to the handlebars. Also a good way to economize is go slow over huge bumps and dont jump off curbs, its hard on the rims and always go around potholes [your bike will thank you as well as your bones] -This is Jimio saying *Ride Fun* *Ride Safe* *Ride Frugally*

A Relaxful Ride

Mom taking young son out for a stroll

Oh what a wonderful first week of January I have seen! Upper 40s and low 50s most days and every day totally sunny, great for pedalling and picture taking. I'm enjoying this Global Warming, whether its true or not [I feel it is] and I hope to see less snow and ice covered streets this winter. As I was riding, I stopped to talk to this happy mom taking her son for a walk. She told me to have a safe ride and I said I had to be very careful because many drivers never watch for bikes here since they never encounter them often enough to really watch out for us. I told her we needed more bike lanes and paths and she said in Ann Arbor where she works there are many more bike lanes. I suppose this is true since the University of Michigan is located in the center of Ann Arbor and you have so many students getting around by bicycle. Im sure most Ann Arbor drivers are well aware of the bicycles pedalling about. When ever I drove to Ann Arbor to the U of M Chessclub I passed many a 2-Wheeled commuter and felt frustrated if they got in my way. Its only natural and I feel frustrated when I'm pedalling. Its only recently that I have a greater appreciation for pedallers since I have been riding Betty Lou these past 5 years. I now respect both cars and pedallers, but I do feel the cars must give bicyclers more respect due to their greater ability to inflict damage. It's very hard for a bike to hurt someone in a car but the opposite is quite the reverse. Well enough of this sad talk, I have noticed the streets have been unusually devoid of people this past week. No doubt it's due to them trying to recover from all the festivities. In a way that beneficial to me [less cars to contend with or pedestrians to swerve around but less people to take pics of] Anyways, here's hoping things get a little better and not a lot worse for here, there and everywhere [Universe Included] -Jimio saying *Ride Safe* *Ride Healthy* *Ride Happy*

Pretty in Pink Mrs. Clause

Mrs Clause's Underthingeys

It never fails to amaze me what imagination can spring wild from our local residents. The last bastion of decency has been eroded from the Santa Clause household with this display of tender undergarments[Santa probably wears bright red underwear so its only fitting the Mrs wears pink] Either this woman thinks she is Mrs Clause or that this is a relative of Mrs Clause, possibly a sister or a cousin. In any event I just had to take a picture for posterity for she might move next year to the North Pole being how the way economic conditions are. I just hope her Frilleys dry in time for the Annual Visit from her Uncle, Brother or Cousin St. Nick on Christmas Day. Im dying to know what will be put in that Stocking.  This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe-Ride Warm-Watch for Sleighs*