MyWHaT

3. Name and describe the most memorable public park, anywhere in the world, that you’ve ever visited?

Central Park, due to its vast size,how many people use it on a daily basis and the numerous activities that go on there. My most memorable park is really F and M park. When we lived on Webster Street we spent hours a week there with my youngest daughter

4. What is your primary mode of transportation within the City limits?

car

5. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most likely, how would you rate your likelihood to increase your use of the following personal transportation methods?

(Answers in Bold & Black)

6. In response to question 5, what is your biggest obstacle to more transportation options?

moving traffic effectively with the least amount of disturbance to the neighborhoods

7. Please rate your level of participation in the following Traverse City activities:

8. What are your thoughts about large events, like those in question 7, in Traverse City?

They are great for our city, however not every weekend

9. Define, or give an example of, effective leadership that you have seen in Traverse City?

Richard Weiler (Sheriff).He took care of the needs of the community and instilled pride in the people who worked for him

10. What are you for?

Having the left and right find some common ground so we can get out of the mess this country is in

11. What do you fear for Traverse City’s future?

Same as I fear for the world. That we will leave loads of debt for our children and grandchildren

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This November 8th there are 3 commission seats and a mayoral seat on the ballot in Traverse City. To help us prepare, throughout this week we are running responses from the 9 candidates (7 commissioner, 2 mayoral) to the MyWHaT survey. These will run in the order that responses were received, one per day during the week and two each on Saturday and Sunday in the order of Michael Estes, Jim Carruthers, Barbara Budros, Robert Donick, David Ford, Patrick McGuire, Timothy Werner, Ralph Soffredine and Jeanine Easterday (names with embedded link have already been published).  

Please note, the answers are published unedited without annotation. The questions were generated by the MyWHaT advisory council and this contributor. We chose a different path than asking straight-up positions on specific policy or issues. We wanted to get a sense of the person, their individual approaches to life, the public sphere and how they might make decisions.

Comments and endorsements are encouraged on any of these posts. You may even ask questions directly of the candidate, but I can not guarantee that they will respond or even see it. I just ask that we keep it friendly, brief and in-line with our comments policy. 

Happy voting!

3. Name and describe the most memorable public park, anywhere in the world, that you’ve ever visited?

Red Rocks Park in Colorado – contains red sandstone outcroppings that form a natural amphitheater (attended Carole King and Aretha Franklin concerts there)and offers fabulous hiking and biking trails. Second would be Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

4. What is your primary mode of transportation within the City limits?

private car

5. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most likely, how would you rate your likelihood to increase your use of the following personal transportation methods?

(Answers in Bold & Black)

6. In response to question 5, what is your biggest obstacle to more transportation options?

I broke my right ankle in 2001 and had surgery on it twice. It limits my ability to walk long distances, especially on uneven surfaces.

7. Please rate your level of participation in the following Traverse City activities:

8. What are your thoughts about large events, like those in question 7, in Traverse City?

I do not mind large events but it seems all we do in TC is host large events. Large events do not build community.

9. Define, or give an example of, effective leadership that you have seen in Traverse City?

Tom Menzel is an effective leader. He has brought BATA back from the brink of financial collapse and has created an organization with a cohesive mission, vision and program.

10. What are you for?

I am for Traverse City and the people who view it as a whole and work to preserve its unique character.

11. What do you fear for Traverse City’s future?

I fear that Traverse City will become another large city with a busy, hectic downtown with no character, surrounded by dilapidated neighborhoods and defunct commercial corridors.

_

EDITOR’S NOTE: This November 8th there are 3 commission seats and a mayoral seat on the ballot in Traverse City. To help us prepare, throughout this week we are running responses from the 9 candidates (7 commissioner, 2 mayoral) to the MyWHaT survey. These will run in the order that responses were received, one per day during the week and two each on Saturday and Sunday in the order of Michael Estes, Jim Carruthers, Barbara Budros, Robert Donick, David Ford, Patrick McGuire, Timothy Werner, Ralph Soffredine and Jeanine Easterday (names with embedded link have already been published).  

Please note, the answers are published unedited without annotation. The questions were generated by the MyWHaT advisory council and this contributor. We chose a different path than asking straight-up positions on specific policy or issues. We wanted to get a sense of the person, their individual approaches to life, the public sphere and how they might make decisions.

Comments and endorsements are encouraged on any of these posts. You may even ask questions directly of the candidate, but I can not guarantee that they will respond or even see it. I just ask that we keep it friendly, brief and in-line with our comments policy. 

Happy voting!

3. Name and describe the most memorable public park, anywhere in the world, that you’ve ever visited?

I would have to say my most memorable park experiences have been hiking (3-week camping trip) in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, walking along the Great Wall in China (amazing!), trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (outstanding) in Peru and touring the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (incredible!).

4. What is your primary mode of transportation within the City limits?

I balance my transportation within the city on foot, on my bike, motor scooter and economy car. Depending on the weather and my schedule. In winter. I admit, I drive a jeep for safety.

5. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most likely, how would you rate your likelihood to increase your use of the following personal transportation methods?

(Answers in Bold & Black)

6. In response to question 5, what is your biggest obstacle to more transportation options?

Convient times and routing for BATA. The ability to use BATA and get from point “a” to point “b” quickly and reliably.

7. Please rate your level of participation in the following Traverse City activities:

8. What are your thoughts about large events, like those in question 7, in Traverse City?

When I was on the Parks & Recreation Commission (8yrs) we developed a park usage plan the limited the number of large, multi day events to two while allowing smaller single day events. Since that time a number of smaller events have taken place. I have little problem with the smaller single or two day events as long as they do not limit the general public from using the parks and do not close of access. Managing large week long events is important and the number of these events should be limited in our premier parks.

9. Define, or give an example of, effective leadership that you have seen in Traverse City?

Increase discretionary spending on streets and sidewalks from $100K to $1M, Elmwood Ave, Barlow and Kelly Streets are a direct result of this policy. Single Hauler trash system for the city reducing truck traffic on streets and alleys and reducing waste hauling expenses to the citizens. Unanimously passed a non-discrimination ordinance. Division Street Steering Committee formation and Complete Streets policy. Build the Pedestrian Bridge over the Boardman River along the TART trail and working to expand the trail on the east side of Boardman lake and eventually around to the east side. Eliminate the 1% administrative fee and cut the tax rate by .5 mills.

10. What are you for?

Keeping our city government open and transparent. Supporting essential public services such as our police, fire and public works departments. Expand park use by moving the Bay Front Plan forward and supporting expansion at Hickory Hills. Protecting our unique neighborhoods and the small town atmosphere that makes Traverse City such a desirable place to live. Manage our growth based on development that makes sense.

11. What do you fear for Traverse City’s future?

Loosing our city’s unique character is my biggest fear for our future. This includes the scale of our downtown, removing our historic features and buildings and the over development of just two blocks of our downtown, without expanding development to other blocks and streets in the urban core and to other business districts through out the City. By expanding other business areas, we can create more walkable features for all our neighborhoods such as along West Front Street, 8th Street, 14th Street and Garfield Ave. Also protecting our natural resources, fresh water and open space so as not to spoil either for future generations. We are the stewards of our land and water and we must protect them.

_

EDITOR’S NOTE: This November 8th there are 3 commission seats and a mayoral seat on the ballot in Traverse City. To help us prepare, throughout this week we are running responses from the 9 candidates (7 commissioner, 2 mayoral) to the MyWHaT survey. These will run in the order that responses were received, one per day during the week and two each on Saturday and Sunday in the order of Michael Estes, Jim Carruthers, Barbara Budros, Robert Donick, David Ford, Patrick McGuire, Timothy Werner, Ralph Soffredine and Jeanine Easterday (names with embedded link have already been published).  

Please note, the answers are published unedited without annotation. The questions were generated by the MyWHaT advisory council and this contributor. We chose a different path than asking straight-up positions on specific policy or issues. We wanted to get a sense of the person, their individual approaches to life, the public sphere and how they might make decisions.

Comments and endorsements are encouraged on any of these posts. You may even ask questions directly of the candidate, but I can not guarantee that they will respond or even see it. I just ask that we keep it friendly, brief and in-line with our comments policy. 

Happy voting!

#TCVote: Candidate Survey

3. Name and describe the most memorable public park, anywhere in the world, that you’ve ever visited?

Grand Teton National Park when I scaled the summit at 13770 feet.

4. What is your primary mode of transportation within the City limits?

Auto

5. On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most likely, how would you rate your likelihood to increase your use of the following personal transportation methods?

(Answers in Bold & Black)

6. In response to question 5, what is your biggest obstacle to more transportation options?

My residence in on one of the largest hills in the city

7. Please rate your level of participation in the following Traverse City activities:

8. What are your thoughts about large events, like those in question 7, in Traverse City?

In favor, with limits that contol duration, times and other factors that have a negative impact on our neighborhoods

9. Define, or give an example of, effective leadership that you have seen in Traverse City?

Three years ago the city commission reallocated expenditures and increased street and sidewalk spending from $100,000 to $1.1 million. Also the cooperative effort between the city and the country to begin the process of removing the Boardman dams.

10. What are you for?

Making Traverse City the best that it can be.

11. What do you fear for Traverse City’s future?

Electing individuals to public office who would either stagnate or reverse the positive changes that have occured over the last four years.

_

EDITOR’S NOTE: This November 8th there are 3 commission seats and a mayoral seat on the ballot in Traverse City. To help us prepare, throughout this week we are running responses from the 9 candidates (7 commissioner, 2 mayoral) to the MyWHaT survey. These will run in the order that responses were received, beginning with Michael Estes’ responses above. The remaining schedule will be one a day during the week and two each on Saturday and Sunday, in the order of Jim Carruthers, Barbara Budros, Robert Donick, David Ford, Patrick McGuire, Timothy Werner, Ralph Soffredine and Jeanine Easterday. 

Please note, the answers are published unedited without annotation. The questions were generated by the MyWHaT advisory council and this contributor. We chose a different path than asking straight-up positions on specific policy or issues. We wanted to get a sense of the person, their individual approaches to life, the public sphere and how they might make decisions.

Comments and endorsements are encouraged on any of these posts. You may even ask questions directly of the candidate, but I can not guarantee that they will respond or even see it. I just ask, we keep it friendly, brief and in-line with our comments policy. 

Happy Voting!

Editor’s Intro: MyWHaT’s guest contributor, Peter Spaulding, is working on the Cherry Republic Center as an urban planner, design consultant, and project assistant. Peter lives and works in Traverse City. He is co-founder of Placework DG and a graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Michigan. As the Cherry Republic Center is set to move forward after the latest city commission vote, Peter explains below why he is encouraged by its potential. 

The Cherry Republic Center Opportunity 

by Peter Spaulding

If you have followed the news, you may be aware that the development known as the Cherry Republic Center (RE) has made a step forward (IPR) through the approval process. Thanks to the City Commission, the state will now be able to look at the Brownfield plan approved by the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. It is a major milestone and we are happy that the next stages of project development can move forward.

Corner of Front and Cass Streets.

There has been a lot of work done already to wrangle numbers and respond to concerns in order to provide the best project possible. Luckily the process has all been for the best; the time simply doesn’t seem right to make flashy improvements downtown. The project has gotten lean and mean, and will instead pay to upgrade electrical infrastructure, complete preventative street light maintenance, improve streetscapes, and clean-up environmental contamination on Lot O. Cherry Republic is donating the construction, operation, and maintenance of public restrooms to the city for 20 years.

We can now tackle the mountain of work remaining and really bite into some of the fun stuff. The design team can further develop form and the function, and how the project will interact socially and physically amongst its surroundings to leverage and celebrate this corner for all of Traverse City. As designs are finalized, the building itself will reflect the deep dedication to the belief that investments in good design, construction, and materials pay long-term dividends. Minimizing the costs of heating, cooling, and electricity, and limiting the maintenance required to keep a building looking and performing great for years is a benefit to residents and citizens alike.

Development is Personal

The Grand Vision is recognized throughout the country and is one of the reasons I even considered moving back to the area in the first place. The goals established are exciting to imagine, and I’m thrilled to have a hand in realizing them. The ways in which this project speaks to my own values and adheres to the goals of the Grand Vision are impressive:  this project fosters unique and vibrant communities and strengthens the local economy; it helps to create a more diverse mix of housing choices while minimizing environmental impacts and advancing sustainable construction and transportation. And, it supports local farmers!

I am biased toward this project, but I am biased because I have faith in the values that guide the people behind it. I know what the big picture is, and look forward to exciting changes everyone can get behind. In the coming weeks and months we will be sharing our vision, and listening to your input. My hope is that we continue to improve the project, and that when the time comes to break ground, this will be a project everyone can be biased toward.

NOTE: If you are harassed while sharing the public right of way, call your local non-emergency police number and report it. In Traverse City that number is (231) 995-5150.

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Sharing Streets With Angry People: The Front St. Incident

Hi gang,

I was in a bike-car, angry driver incident last Friday on Front Street as I was finishing up a ride and I’m looking for your input….Here’s what happened:

I had just ridden past Running Fit on E. Front St. and was riding in the right tire track of the right side car lane. I was going the same speed as the rest of the traffic–around 18 mph if I remember correctly. All of a sudden the car behind me starts laying on the horn. HONK!! HOOOOONK! HOOOOOOONK!!!!

I looked over my shoulder and the driver was waving his arm to tell me to get out of the way. I couldn’t have gone any faster, as there was a car in front of me. Again, I was travelling at the same speed as the rest of the traffic. I wasn’t slowing him. I turned my head back around and continued riding, knowing that I was not doing anything illegal, inconsiderate or dangerous.

When we got roughly in front of the State Theater, that car behind me comes right up next to me and begins to pass me. It seems to me that he is really trying to be a jerk and show me who’s boss. If I recall correctly, I initially placed my left hand on the passenger window of his car to protect myself in the case that he were to swerve right and try to shove me off the road with his car. I then gave a solid “bang, bang, bang, bang” on his window as he continued to pass me, again leaving almost no room between us. He was so close that my left arm was bent as I was touching his car…it’s not like I was stretching out to touch it.

As he pulls past me, he moves right a bit, so he is now in front of me. He then slowed down, then sped up, slowed down, sped up a few times as if to try make me run into him. At this point I am staring at his license plate and trying to remember his number. He then comes to a stop, in the middle of the right vehicle lane and gets out. I un-clip one foot from my bike and I’m standing about 4-feet behind his trunk.

Dropping F-Bombs Ain’t Helping Anyone

FYI: Cyclists have the right to all 3-lanes on the one-way Front St. The left, right and bike lane. (photo GLHJR)

He comes right up to me and starts dropping F-bombs left and right, telling me not to touch his F-ing car, to get the F-out of the road and how I didn’t belong in the road, etc. I calmly responded that I had a right to be there and that I wasn’t doing anything illegal, and that I’d stay right there. He kept yelling at me and I just kept repeating myself saying that I had a right to be there. I was very calm in my responses and never once raised my voice.

Then, suddenly he shoved me. I had my right foot clipped in the pedal (left foot on the ground) and he shoved me from my left. I must have clipped out as I tried to catch my balance, because I didn’t fall over, but it was close. He continued to ream me out and finally started walking back to the driver’s side door to get in. As he walked away, I started repeating his license plate number aloud, as to not forget it and he kept yelling at me.

He pulled away, and I pulled off the road and called the cops. The police came, recorded my story, and said they would try to contact the driver.

Initially, I wasn’t inclined to press charges. The guy was an A-hole, but I’m over it. There are lots of jerks in this world, and I can deal with that. BUT, many folks have encouraged me to press charges. Personally, as I already mentioned, I’m over this. But I also feel that, as a member of the cycling community and the broader community in general, that I should do something.

What are your thoughts on this?

Have any of you been in similar situations?

_

Thanks – Joel

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EDITOR’S EXTRA: Joel original sent this out to a few of us via email, and I asked him if he’d mind sharing it as a guest contributor to MyWHaT because it is a timely story as we approach the peak season for active transportation. We could use a reminder that the streets are a shared space that we have a right to as people in automobiles, on bicycles and other wheeled tools and, in many cases, on foot–regardless of how angry and hostile someone might be who doesn’t understand that reality. It can be stressful out there, and we should all pledge to try harder to be better; more considerate.

The Pledge:

“I solemnly pledge to behave as considerately as possible no matter how I get around.”

Again, if you are harassed, call (231) 995-5150 (TC) to report it. You may recall last summer’s story by Bill Palladino that was very similar that didn’t result in a ticket or anything, but no one likes getting a home visit by the men and women in uniform. _

_

* Graphics by Gary L Howe

Let’s Call A Spade A Spade

~ by Megan Olds, Old Town resident

I went to Tuesday night’s meeting about the proposed Boardman Lake Avenue. I live in the Old Town neighborhood. I lean toward finding and testing network solutions that involve using the existing grid, rather than building a new road. I went to the meeting with the impression that scenarios were still being explored and that building the road was not a “given.” This is what the community was told at the last meeting about the proposed Boardman Lake Avenue project in February.

Here’s what I saw and heard at the meeting on Tuesday night:

• I read through the packet of data and heard the consultant describe and share a series of road design concept maps.

• I heard frustrated residents express their concerns about the Boardman Lake Avenue, questioning the impact to the natural resources, water quality and wildlife, the impact to recreational uses, and safety, aesthetics, noise, and air quality impacts.

• I heard other residents (far fewer) express commitment to the construction of the Boardman Lake Avenue.

• I watched as members of the audience were told that any discussion or exploration of city-wide impacts to the streets in Old Town was really outside the purview of the Boardman Lake Avenue road discussion (such as traffic patterns on West 8th Street, etc.)

• I heard City Manager Ben Bifoss affirm that the timeline to move forward with building the road is being driven by the purchase agreement deadline with the property owner of Copy Central and that the City does not see an opportunity to extend the deadline. A decision to purchase the property has to be made this spring.

• I heard the consultants who were facilitating the public meeting say that they were told not to include a “no road” scenario in their presentation “by the people who hired them.”

Green Dot Go, Blue Dot No

Tuesday night’s session gave the public an opportunity to comment about what they liked or disliked about specific road design scenarios. Unfortunately, that singular goal and intention was not communicated to the public prior to the meeting. Many (it felt like a majority) of the people that came to the meeting were expecting more follow-up and discussion regarding the questions and concerns that were expressed about the road at the last public meeting. This mismatch in meeting expectations led to a frustrating and unwieldy session. I left questioning the timing and content of the meeting. For example, if we are still debating the road’s approval for construction by the City (which I thought we were), it is premature to ask the public to review and provide input on road design scenarios. The format and content of Tuesday night’s meeting gave me the impression that the decision to build the road has already been made.

I wish that we could try some cheaper and faster traffic calming solutions to see what kind of impact that might have on users’ experiences of Union and Cass. It would be terrific if we could take some time exploring network-enhancement solutions that would cost virtually no money, like a scenario that would open up 7th and 8th street to two-way east/west traffic to test the impact for a year or two and see what happens to the north/south traffic volumes on Cass and Union. But if exploring these options (or others) due to neighborhood or city politics or a lack of staff or technical capacity is untenable, and if building the Boardman Lake Avenue road is a foregone conclusion, then let’s just call a spade and spade and move on.

How To Build A Road

If the City is committed to building the road, then let’s implement a quality public input process to talk about placemaking in this neighborhood. Let’s talk about land use and natural resource protection and recreation and safety and aesthetics, and about the needs of the Avenue’s users and its neighbors. It felt like that’s where the organizers of last night’s meeting might have wanted the dialogue to go, but because the City’s commitment to build the road is not being stated clearly, people were not coming to the table to have that type of conversation.

The City Master Plan was created through a public process and includes the Boardman Lake Avenue road’s development. It’s true that people have been promised this road for a long time. I do not like the idea of building the Boardman Lake Avenue. I am not convinced that it is going to solve the traffic issues in Old Town. In fact, I am pretty sure based on what I’ve learned that it is going to create more traffic issues within our neighborhood. But I’d much rather have a productive conversation with my neighbors and as a community about how we design the Boardman Lake Avenue and redevelop or restore the land in that corridor in a way makes Old Town and Traverse City a great place to live, work, and play than participate in a public process that feels like it’s built on false pretense.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: I continue to offer this blog as a place to clarify thoughts, document public comment and test out your ideas. Thank you to Megan for sharing her thoughtful reflections from Tuesday night’s meeting and pointing out that the BLA discussion is really about “how do we build a better community”– road or no road. As always, I invite others to contribute here. Many of the City Commissioners do follow the comments on this blog and they, as well, are encouraged to contribute. If you’ve never left a comment, it’s pretty painless and we really only ask that we keep it constructive and civil, but you can read the full comment policy here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Part II of contributor Sarna Salzman’s reflection on her first year of winter biking…We left off in Part I with Sarna ready to go shopping for a new ride. Considering the 9″-12″ of snow northern Michigan received last night, her story is still quite timely–stay upright everyone.

Comfortable Commuter: Gearing Up (Part II)

by Sarna Salzman

Shopping For The Right Bike

One of the points I negotiated before the move was help from my partner to extend my biking season. He’s a biker for sure, sporty too; a true cyclist. We started by looking to cities that have loads of bike commuters and loads of snow. In Copenhagen, a lot of people ride these great, stable tricycles with two wheels and cargo in the front. In this country one of these is a $3,000+ proposition. As I was still nervous about committing to the winter commute, this felt like too high a price.

Next, I went solo to local bike shops. We have great shops with great staff in this town, but every time I went in alone I was steered toward mountain bikes. Were those fat tires the answer, really? Then why did every winter biker I know steer me away from the fat tire? What’s the deal here? The answer to that question, I don’t know. The sporty biker beau, however, upon walking into McClain’s was immediately supported in his desire for me to have a simple cross-bike with all the fixings.

And so, the journey down this path began.

‘What is a cross-bike?’ was my first question. It’s a cyclo-cross bicycle, which is designed for a style of racing that demands the cyclist traverse a number of course features, often including mud. It has a nice blend of functionality like the child of a pure road bike mom and a grandma on the father’s side who was a mountain bike. It can wear a nice knobby tire and some extra accessories really easily. Just as easy for the bike is to get stripped down to bare essentials, wear slick tires and let the rider chase lunch 50 miles away. So far, so good.

Though less expensive than a car, a new bike is not cheap. There are a million ways to put together a bike purchase and this step really requires a proficiency in bike-lingo. Luckily there are many folks around who were happy to help with that barrier. My advice is to make sure that you feel comfortable with your guide and that they encourage the barrage of questions you are likely to have. The process definitely took some time and I am really happy with the results. One shout-out at this point needs to go to Dennis Bean Larson at the Fixed Gear Gallery who outfitted me last year with my first road bike. He introduced me to a bike frame that actually fits my body, which has revolutionized how my shoulders and back feel forever. McClain’s staff fitted me and my cyclo-cross bike together – another step that can take time and is worth every minute.

So, my season extender and primary commuter bike is a sweet, small-framed Motobecane CX with the dual brakes that I like and the strings up-top, which keeps them clear of all the muck on the roads. It has more gears than I need, but the price was right.

Other important dressings included:

• Studded tires:Worth the ducats. Bike tires are made by the same manufacturers of winter car tires.
• Fenders: : Absolutely necessary if one does not want to be forced into wearing rain pants everyday. Love them.
• Lights: : duh. I’m more concerned with ensuring that oncoming and passing traffic can see me, rather than light for me to see by. Make sure they are bright and that they stay bright.
• Rack for carrying paneers: They increasingly have some cute ones that can easily slip on and off the bike serving as an all-purpose bag that can come into commission chambers with me – keeping my gear theft safe and still looking good for work.

And for me, I also got a couple of pieces of fabulous gear:

Watching out for blind-spots

• Helmet: Mine is a sweet over-the-ears helmet and a gift (from the beau) direct from the motherland of winter bike commuting (Denmark) and has a nice girl-ish flare that I enjoy.
• Rear-view Mirror: Nerdy or no, the mirror that attaches to the helmet is the best. This piece of gear helps me feel safer than almost any other.
• Goggles: I found out these are supposed to be called “optics”. I wear glasses, and to effectively use a scarf without fogging up, these are necessary. I had to go to a ski shop to get the kind that fit over prescription glasses. I think my face might be smaller than the average because they nearly cover my nose. Oh well, more protection, I guess.
• Paneers: One of those cute paneers with a hard, washable bottom and a bonus bottle opener.
• Reflective pant-leg Velcro things:What are they called? They keep your pants from getting in your gears.
• More lights:Can’t have too many, really.
• Padded gloves: I don’t know about you, but I feel like a football player getting brain damage from the jarring of the road through my arms. Well padded bike gloves really help and I wear them under my winter gloves (instead of forking over for expensive winter bike gloves that don’t look very warm).

For a brand new bike that continues to bring me a priceless feeling of liberation, the price (well under $3000) feels reasonable. I’m fortunate too in that my employer footed a big part of the bill as part of my health & wellness plan. Ask your employer if they will do the same for you. The idea is increasingly main stream these days – just ask the Hagarty HR department.

Gear Taking Care Of, What About Infrastructure?

Now I’m back to noticing infrastructural choices that could improve the life of a bike commuter in this City. Winter brings its own challenges and I don’t enjoy certain sections of 8th Street no matter how I try. When I get nervous, I do what all bikers should do: I claim my lane, demand the attention of drivers (with smiles and waves) and use my rear view mirror a lot.

Overall, I feel safer not being tied to a car every day.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: First-time contributor Sarna Salzman made a move across town that lengthened her commute by 6 miles. As one of the few people I know in TC who has never owned a personal car and gets quite cranky after being around them for too long, she was left with little choice: gearing-up for winter biking. We will run part II tomorrow morning.

Comfortable Commuter: Gearing Up For Winter Biking-Year 1

- by Sarna Salzman Read: Part II

As a recent convert to ‘winter biker’, I offer you my perspective on making winter a bike friendly season because after my first day, I came home with a powerful appetite and a strong sense of liberation. I would like to help others like me feel comfortable making a similar move.

The author navigating the 8th & Garfield intersection (photo: glhowe)

Let me back up and say, I’m pretty much a scaredy-cat when it comes to biking.

I don’t like being near cars and I don’t like to fall. I am not one of those ‘sporty’ types. I don’t get excited to loop up-and-down Old Mission after work or travel in circles through Leelanau County. I don’t enter races and I certainly don’t do triathlons. Also, when I’m on my bike, I’m in street clothes not spandex.

I love bicycles. They are the most efficient form of transportation humans have ever invented. I’m a commuter and I ride my bike to get somewhere. That’s pretty much it.

The Big Move That Forced The Issue

I recently moved into a house with my partner on the very east end of Traverse City. Moving from the castle at Minervini-ville (The Grand Traverse Commons) took some convincing, not the least of which was that I had to give up my 4 minute walk-commute to my office, which is also at the Commons. The new 6-mile round-trip commute is a bit longer than I will willingly walk…on a regular basis. Yes, I’m experienced at organizing carpools for myself and yes, I am familiar with the BATA Cherriot. Still, once the snow started flying, I found myself ‘borrowing’ my partner’s car nearly every day for the commute. There are some strong positives for commuting by car: it’s warm, you can style your hair in an ‘up-do’ and wear long skirts. Still, not something I want to do everyday.

I needed a bike.

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NOTE: To be continued…(shopping can be complicated)

EDITOR’S NOTE: I stumbled upon The Lion’s Whiskers blog the other day and their post “The 5-Minute Courage Workout: Navigating the Neighborhood” intrigued me. It immediately reminded me of my neighbor and her sons because I’ve noticed that every season her boys seem to have more and more freedom to roam. It’s a good thing; a sign of a healthy community and I wondered what Liz has done to raise courageous children. I asked and she responded. Thank you Liz!

Safe Communities Raise Courageous Children

~ by contributor Liz Berger

I asked Ethan, my 9-year-old son, if he was courageous- if he had walked to the store or the park on his own. He immediately said no he isn’t, he didn’t go anywhere by himself. He runs with a pack of kids and doesn’t realize the freedom and luxury he has of being in a safe neighborhood. He might be out for hours at a time in the neighborhood, without ever ‘reporting’ where he is and what he is doing. That would be pretty courageous in some neighborhoods.

I remember the first time, as a child, that I went to a friend’s house on my own. I had enjoyed playing with boys on my block in our Detroit neighborhood, but once in kindergarten I realized there was a GIRL on the next block over! I couldn’t cross a busy street on my own, so I needed to call home when I was ready to leave. I began to cry when I tried to dial my house because I couldn’t find the “-” on the phone dial. After this experience my mother encouraged me to use the phone, to learn to safely cross the block, and become more independent.

No Helicopter Parenting

I try not to be a ‘helicopter’ parent and to allow my children a great deal of freedom. Ethan, at 9 doesn’t go the store on his own, but Billy at 12 does. He will go to the grocery, drug store, or hardware store on his own. Some of these differences are age, and some are temperament. Just a few years ago I sent Billy out with his guitar to take a lesson from a neighbor just 5 doors away. He wandered the block for 10 minutes before coming home for more directions because he didn’t recognize the house from the front; he knew it only from the alley.

He wasn’t sure, but he was brave and persevered.

Freedom With Boundaries

As a family we bike ride to the beach, civic center or park. I have asked the kids to give me directions as we bike. They have gotten better giving directions, but they can still get turned around pretty easily. They need boundaries within which they can safely learn their community. I give my children freedom within boundaries.

We bike 4-5 days a week, weather permitting, to the civic center pool for swim club. Billy would like to bike on his own, but there is a group of people who shelter at the civic center pavilion because they are between permanent housing. The presence of this group has served as a learning opportunity for my kids. They are learning such things as compassion, intoxication, and caution. I am not scared that these people would harm my children, but I believe that their circumstances and habitual alcohol usage makes them unpredictable. We have decided that until the boys are a bit older they need a stabilizing presence in the vicinity of this type of challenge.

Power Of Community

I believe in the power of community and in the goodwill of strangers. I think that the presence of a child on a bike at a corner makes drivers more cautious. I hope and trust that if my child fell off their bike that an adult witnessing a fall would help my child if needed. I know that there are predators in the world that would hurt children, but I hope that by giving my child freedom within boundaries that my child would recognize aberrant behavior from an adult and seek assistance. The presence of children playing, walking, and biking in our neighborhood can allow us all to rise to the occasion to nurture our community by nurturing its children.

Children need courage to navigate our world, but I am optimistic that our sheltering neighborhood and my child’s self-preservation instinct will win out.

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The secret of happiness is freedom.  The secret of freedom is courage.”

~ Thucyidides via Lion’s Whiskers

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* Image: Youngsters in “Over the Rhine” Residential Neighborhood in 1973 by photographer Tom Hubbard. Made available by The National Archives.

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SIDE NOTE: Liz’s son Billy is certainly courageous. When North Traverse Heights neighborhood association was creating their by-laws one question raised was who would get to vote. Do renters have a vote? Yes. What about age limit? Do they necessarily have to be over 18? Billy, 11 then, stood up in a room full of adults, some of them quite cranky, and says, “I want to vote.” To my shock, the group acted like they didn’t even hear him. I would have voted for that!

If you’d like to contribute a post to this blog, on this subject or any other related to public space and community, we’re interested: send a message. How much freedom do your children have? Why or why not?

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