Biking season is (finally) here
So get out there -- but mind your cycling etiquette
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008
Chris and Teresa Payer of Sioux City ride bicycles along the Sioux City riverfront with their children, Luke, 4, Ben, 9, and Emily, 6. (Sioux City Journal photo by Jim Lee)
Scott Goodsell of South Sioux City was pedaling his bike early Monday afternoon on the Sioux City riverfront trail as the temperature rose to the upper 60s.
Alternately bucking and enjoying a strong southerly wind, Goodsell was bound for many miles, about a month into his bicycling season. A quick-talking, fit former Marine, and the type to refer to his age in dog years (357), Goodsell generally takes off from September to April from biking.
But when he's biking, he's definitely piling up miles, in spite of having a new titanium knee after replacement surgery. Goodsell pointed down to his odometer, showing how he put on 2,348 miles in 2007.
"I wanted 2,345 miles, so I could remember it," he said, alluding to the sequence of the numbers.
Goodsell acknowledged he's got competition for trail space in Sioux City and South Sioux City, noticing many more bicyclists in May with the improved weather. While many Siouxlanders lamented what they felt was a long winter and too chilly spring, the time finally appears to be at hand for the 2008 bike season.
Doug Albrecht, owner of Albrecht Cycle Shop in Sioux City, said lots of customers have grumbled about "the spring that didn't come... It was kind of unanimous, everybody is just kind of fed up with it."
He noted last year the bicycling season started in March. Albrecht said 50 degrees seems to be the tipping point for most Siouxlanders to undertake biking.
"For a lot of people, they just don't want to ride when it's cold," he said.
And now, finally, "it is starting to pick up, with people realizing it is May," Albrecht said.
Kathy Ridnour of the Iowa Department of Transportation said the rise in fuel costs and concern for health and the environment has resulted in more Iowans biking to work
As unleaded gas prices reached a record $3.60 per gallon over the weekend in Sioux City, Briar Cliff University biology professor Brian Hazlett is among the biking commuters.
Hazlett said he bikes to work for four reasons -- to save money on gasoline, he leaves a parking spot open for someone else, it's healthy and "it sets a good example, especially as the director of the environmental science program."
He said it doesn't take much longer to bike his two-mile route to work, with the timing about 15 to 20 minutes by bike compared to 10 to 15 minutes to drive. Hazlett doesn't bike year-round, so with the advent of the warmer weather, "it is nice to be able to do it."
Goodsell had one gripe about biking on the Sioux City riverfront trail. He said it's great that usage goes up on the warm weather weekends, but said bicyclists, walkers and all other users need to display more trail courtesy and stay to the right. He said more signs on trail etiquette should be erected.
And he had another solution.
"You've seen the Soup Nazi on 'Seinfeld?' We need a Trail Nazi out here," Goodsell said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Eight ways to be a friendly biker
New to cycling and want to make sure you uphold the 'codes' of the road (or trail)? Here are a few tips:
1. Stay to the right, except to pass. Pass on the left only.
2. Be cognizant of the riders behind you. Allow the person behind you to pass. Don't weave or swerve. Keep a predictable line.
3. Never ride against traffic.
4. Honor all street signs, lane markings and lights.
5. Use hand signals.
6. In traffic, ride in single file.
7. Use lights and brightly colored clothing at night.
8. Don't needlessly block the road or trail.
Alternately bucking and enjoying a strong southerly wind, Goodsell was bound for many miles, about a month into his bicycling season. A quick-talking, fit former Marine, and the type to refer to his age in dog years (357), Goodsell generally takes off from September to April from biking.
But when he's biking, he's definitely piling up miles, in spite of having a new titanium knee after replacement surgery. Goodsell pointed down to his odometer, showing how he put on 2,348 miles in 2007.
"I wanted 2,345 miles, so I could remember it," he said, alluding to the sequence of the numbers.
Goodsell acknowledged he's got competition for trail space in Sioux City and South Sioux City, noticing many more bicyclists in May with the improved weather. While many Siouxlanders lamented what they felt was a long winter and too chilly spring, the time finally appears to be at hand for the 2008 bike season.
Doug Albrecht, owner of Albrecht Cycle Shop in Sioux City, said lots of customers have grumbled about "the spring that didn't come... It was kind of unanimous, everybody is just kind of fed up with it."
He noted last year the bicycling season started in March. Albrecht said 50 degrees seems to be the tipping point for most Siouxlanders to undertake biking.
"For a lot of people, they just don't want to ride when it's cold," he said.
And now, finally, "it is starting to pick up, with people realizing it is May," Albrecht said.
Kathy Ridnour of the Iowa Department of Transportation said the rise in fuel costs and concern for health and the environment has resulted in more Iowans biking to work
As unleaded gas prices reached a record $3.60 per gallon over the weekend in Sioux City, Briar Cliff University biology professor Brian Hazlett is among the biking commuters.
Hazlett said he bikes to work for four reasons -- to save money on gasoline, he leaves a parking spot open for someone else, it's healthy and "it sets a good example, especially as the director of the environmental science program."
He said it doesn't take much longer to bike his two-mile route to work, with the timing about 15 to 20 minutes by bike compared to 10 to 15 minutes to drive. Hazlett doesn't bike year-round, so with the advent of the warmer weather, "it is nice to be able to do it."
Goodsell had one gripe about biking on the Sioux City riverfront trail. He said it's great that usage goes up on the warm weather weekends, but said bicyclists, walkers and all other users need to display more trail courtesy and stay to the right. He said more signs on trail etiquette should be erected.
And he had another solution.
"You've seen the Soup Nazi on 'Seinfeld?' We need a Trail Nazi out here," Goodsell said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Eight ways to be a friendly biker
New to cycling and want to make sure you uphold the 'codes' of the road (or trail)? Here are a few tips:
1. Stay to the right, except to pass. Pass on the left only.
2. Be cognizant of the riders behind you. Allow the person behind you to pass. Don't weave or swerve. Keep a predictable line.
3. Never ride against traffic.
4. Honor all street signs, lane markings and lights.
5. Use hand signals.
6. In traffic, ride in single file.
7. Use lights and brightly colored clothing at night.
8. Don't needlessly block the road or trail.
Story Comments
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John V wrote on May 18, 2008 1:50 PM:
We do need a good trail system & a good public roadway bike route system. The Siouxland Trails Foundation is working on the trails end of it. The city, SIMPCO & other groups are working on the public roadway part of it, though not all at the same time & sometimes not knowingly. The improvment of the infrasctructure for motorists also has a somewhat of a positive side effect. They are also improved for cyclists as well & if sidewalk improvements are part of it, improved for pedestrians. Unfortunatly a lot of the time these improvements are only for motorists & usually not intended for cyclists or pedestrians.
I would like to discuss this with you further. Can you please email me at freemasoncyclist@gmail.com
John "
Scott Goodsell wrote on May 17, 2008 11:36 AM:
John V wrote on May 17, 2008 12:00 AM:
Today I rode through North Sioux City & DID NOT use the trail, once. I was riding solo & motorists had no problems passing me safely.
Oh & we DO NOT rudely block the road intentionally. "
Someone wrote on May 15, 2008 8:17 PM:
John V wrote on May 15, 2008 10:44 AM:
When cyclists are riding on the roadways motorists are to give them benefit of the doubt because they are larger & faster moving. Well the same thing apply's to cyclists, being larger faster moving vehciles on the trails. We are to give the slower traffic the benefit of the doubt, even if they do something wrong. "