BikeSkirt » this is where we live

The wheels on the bus (keeping me dry) go round and round

Elisa — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:57:57 +0000

Scary thunder and lightening!

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We are being dumped on by Katia currently with flood warnings all over the place. When the rain is insane, I ride the bus for a few reasons: 1) it is drier, 2) riding through puddles here is dangerous as they could be an insanely large pothole. Flats or wrecks in the rain are no fun.

potholes will attack in New Orleans!

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Today started nice enough, but I knew it was coming so I took the bus to the office after lunch. The wind was getting crazy and the thunder was rumbling. Rain boots, a dress and an umbrella was all I needed to get home dry(ish) and stylishly!

Singing in the rain (in the office)

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After my stop, I took a rest at my favorite pizza joint for $5 pizza and pint while watching folks go in and out of the neighborhood bike shop, Mike the Bike Guy (who is awesomely cool).

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Beer in hand (no open container laws here!), I stopped by and said hello to Mike and company, then walked home in the rain. A few puddle jumps later and I was home and drying off.

What do you do to make the best of a stormy day? Do you ride even through flood warnings? Do share!

Tornadoes in Alabama

Anna — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:32:12 +0000

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photo by Alan Barton

The Bici Coop anniversary celebration was this past weekend and I was all bogged down with getting through that, but as most of you probably know, Alabama has been dealing with a serious weather disaster. I am very thankful that I, my family, and friends are alive and well, and most came through without property damage. However, many untold numbers are suffering tremendously, and I hope you will take a moment to consider helping with disaster relief in any way you can. Money, supplies (human and pet), time, blood, and more are all needed during this time. Here is just a small list of organizations working for the relief effort that you can donate to:

Red Cross

Christian Service Mission

Convoy of Hope

Greater Birmingham Humane Society

United Way of Central Alabama

Tuscaloosa Tornado Donations list

I’ve been asked about donating bicycles in particular, and right now I think the best place for that would be the Christian Service Mission. That is a few blocks away from where I live and where Bici is located – we can help attend to the bikes if needed and they’ll distribute.

If you want to send something down, call them first and let them know that you were told by me (Anna Carrigan, with the Bici Bicycle Cooperative) to send bikes to them. I don’t have any particular instructions from them yet other than a “yes we will take them”, so I don’t know when or how or what would be best.

Christian Service Mission

3600 3rd Avenue South

Birmingham, Alabama 35222

205.252.9906

Peace, hope, and bike love to you all!

edit: For bike donations, it might be best to just email me directly and I’ll keep a running list for when I know for sure that they are ready to take bikes – anna{at}bicicoop.org

This is where we live: Progress!

Elisa — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:12:48 +0000

Dear Birmingham,
Thank you.

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These sharrows are on 14th Ave, from 3rd to 7th South. That may not sound impressive, but that goes from UAB, our University, to Railroad Park, our newest awesome Birmingham thing! 14th is also a connector to the North side, so it is doubly good!

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In addition to the sharrows, there are “Watch for cyclists” signs at all the stoplights.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, let’s keep going!

Want to see another (hilarious) photo? Check out Let’s Go Ride a Bike’s post!

My dream: a community powered life

Elisa — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:48:32 +0000

shot from Community Garden Bike Tour

Yesterday as I was riding home from work, sweaty and exhausted from the many hills in our city, I was tempted to think “What the hell am I doing?!”. I had worked all morning, Freddy was in the shop (headset issues again) and Big Girl was so cumbersome with a full pannier and myself on it, plus the wind was fierce and seemed determined to keep me at a snails pace.

Then I realized that I am walking the walk (Or biking the walk?) when it comes to transportation. My biking harms little, damages nothing and truly cares for my city. If I need to get somewhere it is dependent only upon me to make it happen; no gas companies or struggling company in Detroit, just me.

This got me thinking that I am getting closer to my real dream: to live a community powered life. A life where my food is grown locally, my transportation is me-powered, my entertainment is in small, locally owned theaters and venues, my beer is bottled nearby and my morning coffee is roasted mere miles from my house. Some of these are a reality for me, and others a hope, but all are getting closer and more real.

I understand that we must get things from afar, be that another country or another state, but I want less of that and more of my community in the things that I consume or enjoy.

Funny what a little bike ride gets you thinking, isn’t it?

This is where we live

Elisa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:48:51 +0000

Due to an unfortunate gatorade helmet spill situation, I walked to the shop Thursday. This is an intersection that I ride through often in the Forest Park area. The glass has been there for days. I both liked the way it looked and was so mad it was still around that I had to record it. Enjoy. (forgive the blurriness…iphone night photos are a bit dodgy)

This is where we live

Elisa — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:14:00 +0000

We have been slacking on this feature, please accept our apologies.

These are photos that I have taken from the saddle of my bike in the past few weeks, between travels here and there.

Future site for Railroad park

Sloss Furnace as seen from 4th Ave on a clear fall day

cycling fellow enjoying Brunch at ZaZa's (I couldn't resist)

This fellow looked so very Judd Nelson ala Breakfast Club

Seen anything good in your city lately?

This is where we live

Elisa — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:48:06 +0000

An awesome new restaurant opened up downtown, Zaza‘s. We had a group ride that ended there about a month ago. It is so good that we sat outside and waited an hour for them to open. Oh, and they gave us coffee and pastries while we waited. If you are here, check it out.

207 A 20th St. N
birmingham, al 35203
(205) 202-5612
mon – fri 6:30am – 6:30 pm,
friday night and sunday brunch

This is where we live-Woodlawn

Elisa — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:45:38 +0000

I recently wrote about Woodlawn, the place where my commute takes me daily. This Saturday, T Scott and I took a lovely ride to photograph some of the area. I forgot my camera battery (oops), so only T was able to take photos. Let’s face it…his are tons better than mine anyway. I call this Freddy Mercury’s Photo Diary

Enjoy

we found a community garden!

T's bike on the railroad tracks (same ones where I took a spill!)

Graffiti wall-loved it

Woodlawn United Methodist Church

the new Birmingham Dream Center

Freddy on the rocks.

More freaking awesome graffiti

I pass this everyday on my commute. Sad.

Purple!

Elisa — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:08:49 +0000

This is taken in Irondale, a small suburb outside the city. It also happens to be where I work. i took these photos on a walk down to The Whistlestop Cafe’s covered train stop, where I enjoy lunch with friends every Friday.

This just shows you a taste of our infrastructure situation. I think I have found Where the Sidewalk Ends…

Birmingham is covered with train tracks, some abandoned and some in use today. Although they make riding more difficult at times, I truly love them. We have incredible graffiti artists who make them beautiful and the fact that I work so close to the tracks (I often see the conductors at shift change…hanging out on the side of the tracks, bags in hand, talking) makes me happy!

Elisa — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:04:20 +0000

Bikeskirt friends, I would like you to meet….my nemesis. This stupid hill kills me. I don’t know what it is. I get to the top and start wobbling all over the road. Now that I am stuck in my highest gear (to be changed soon, btw), I actually had to walk it once. What?!

Oh, and after I get to the top (where this photo was taken), I take a left and hit another effing hill. All the way to my little house where I arrive a mess.

One day this hill will be my bitch, mark my words. It has it coming.