‘I started to take a deep interest in not only transportation but land use plans’ –Secretary Foxx
’embedded in our infrastructure are the values of past eras that accepted disconnections, that accepted a view of our country of folks that are in, and folks that are out, and I think we have to have a different idea of our country in the 21st century’ —Secretary Foxx
Or watch the video and view resources on the Ladders of Opportunity website–
A big thank you to my friends at Conservation Science Partners and the Landscape Conservation Initiative for supporting the Southwest Bike Initiative. They also brought their friends at Live Oak Associates, Inc., an ecological consulting firm, to strengthen our network. Because of the team CSP put together, they are my bike org. of the month for May 2016. Check out the article here announcing our collaboration promoting the role of cycling in conservation.
When I was choosing “categories” for this blog post, I started clicking every one. This partnerships embodies all that I’ve been doing up to this point, and connects a series of journeys that began long ago. I’m enthused to be working with such classy organizations and bright people. LCI’s philosophy of mobilizing science through collaborative planning, education and practical experiences has been influential in instigating new approaches for solving environmental challenges. CSP’s innovative structure and novel science applications has created a paradigm shift in how we do conservation. LOA’s ecological expertise delivers practical solutions fostering environmental sustainability throughout California and the Western United States. Together their collaboration is raising the bar for conservation science.
Cycling is a great practical exercise for improving health, the environment, and building lasting partnerships. Our cycling team builds grassroots coalitions, and increases collaboration between diverse communities around common objectives to achieve new vistas on what is possible. Please follow SBI’s website and media to keep in touch with our development.
“This is about the healing process.” –Rider from Kalamazoo
“The roads are back to being ours again…this ride is tremendously energizing. ” –Rider from Kalamazoo
The cycling community is amazing. 700 cyclists gathered in Kalamazoo to finish the Tuesday community ride. This is one of the most courageous things I’ve seen, to direct the energy toward peace and healing, and to pull the community together for proactive solutions.
‘We didn’t ride with Lance. Lance rode with us tonight,’ said a Kalamazoo cyclist.
Story here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lance-armstrong-rallies-kalamazoo-cycling-community-after-tragedy/
“Has the Japanese bicycle industry lost not only their production power but imagination as well?” –SimWorks custom bicycles, Imagination and Creation of Your Quality of Life
“We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I’ve been busy, so I’m catching up on designating my bike org. of the month for April 2016. I read about SimWorks in an article on handcrafted bicycles. I checked out their website and was impressed by their narrative. I’ve been wanting to write about them for months.
SimWorks suggests bicycles create a kind of social fabric between craftspeople and customers. They think a quality handbuilt bicycle can “guide the next generation” into being a more conscientious consumer. It’s bicycle manufacturing with personality and an intentional continuity between the manufacturing process and the user of the product.
The English translation on the website is not perfect, but the essence of the story still comes through. SimWorks taps into the cycling roots of Japan and builds products that communicate history and meaning with their style. As a sustainable enterprise it makes a lot of sense, with product quality and distinctness helping people be happier with what they have. Craftsmanship like this takes time and cultivates highly valued and skilled artisans.
The diversity and variety custom bikes offer make the world more interesting and exciting, and they seem to generate a virtuous cycle between the maker and the consumer. Cycling creates bridges to the future in a lot of ways, from rebuilding bonds between people and the environment, to connecting us to the integrity and identity of a manufactured product.
SimWorks sees themselves “changing the system”, encouraging us to look with precision and make decisions with care. Their products are imaginative, dreams on wheels, and humanely empower the life they carry forward. It’s never too late to build the kind of world we want.
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pictures from recent travels–
Bicycles and Reading are both grand adventures
the New Mexico sky up close, in person, is definitely worth seeing
the Sandia Crest road is great cycling
Bike Yogi 