Comments for Commute St. Louis

Comment on My “Friendly Friday” Story by Karen Loethen

Karen Loethen — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:21:45 +0000

Lovely story!
*opens basket wide*

Comment on Choosing a bike that works for you by Karen Karabell

Karen Karabell — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 01:25:23 +0000

Some day I hope to try riding a recumbent, Jerry!

Comment on Choosing a bike that works for you by Jerry Krinock

Jerry Krinock — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:10:10 +0000

I’ve commuted on a recumbent bike since 1990, except for a few weeks when circumstances forced me onto a mountain bike. I was terrified during those two weeks because I was up SO HIGH. I knew that anything went wrong, I’d fly through the air, and probably break my collar bone again, as I had twice earlier when riding a regular “upright” bicycle. My point is that being low to the ground is not a safety disadvantage of a recumbent. It’s the #1 safety ADVANTAGE. Going down a recumbent has resulted in a skinned elbow, or a twisted knee that hurt for a few months when I swam breaststroke. Going down on a regular upright bicycle results in broken bones, serious head injury, etc. Actually, my recumbent, an Easy Racers’ Tour Easy, is lower than the one in the picture above. I’m about as high a a sports car. Visibility is best handled by putting lights on your bike and using rear view mirrors, not by putting yourself in a dangerously high position.

Comment on Kudos to city for lowering speed limits on Magnolia & Arsenal by Karen

Karen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:47:10 +0000

I’m a fan of the 25 mph speed limit on the sections of Arsenal and Magnolia between Kingshighway and Grand because even though Magnolia and Arsenal are arterial roads, they are almost completely and heavily residential between Grand and Kingshighway.

I didn’t realize that the speed limit was lowered on Morganford–though could understand if this has been the case on the section between Arsenal and Chippewa. I’m sorry to hear that the lower speed limits have hurt your business. This seems ironic for two reasons: One would think that new customers in particular would be able to find a business more easily when they’re *not* zooming by at high speeds. Also, as I recall, the speed was lowered by 5 mph (from 30 mph to 25 mph). Does this really make that much of a difference?

Finally, I agree with you: Crazy (or drunk or otherwise irresponsible) drivers should have their licenses revoked, and be encouraged to use bicycles for transportation instead…

Comment on Kudos to city for lowering speed limits on Magnolia & Arsenal by Ken Tucker

Ken Tucker — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:24:16 +0000

As a owner of a business on Morganford, our business has been way down since the new lower speed limits went into effect last year, with numerous former customers lettting us know that they now avoid Arsenal and patronize establishments elsewhere in the city. We have now started a petition drive to get the speed limits returned to a reasonable driving speed. This horrific accident was caused less by the driver’s speeding and more by the driver running a stop sign (as well as drinking while driving), so punishing the whole neighborhood was a short-sighted approach that will soon be rectified. And as a cyclist, I accept the reality that you could lower the speed limits to 5 mph and there would still be crazy drivers out there.

Comment on Beth Chooses Hanley by Karen

Karen — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:12:30 +0000

It is uphill most of the way to Clayton, which is St. Louis County’s business, financial and government center. This location probably was chosen because it is a high point in the county. St. Louis and its environs are somewhat hilly anyway, perhaps because this area is the “foothills” to the Ozarks? Riding around here makes our legs stronger! Thanks for your kind words, Eliot.

Comment on Beth Chooses Hanley by Eliot

Eliot — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:21:00 +0000

For those of us not familiar with Hanley, is it uphill? Looks like it’s a lot of work!

Great video post, Karen!!!

Comment on Going “anywhere” by bike by Karen

Karen — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:28:33 +0000

Thank you, Merryl! I find it fascinating that we’re considered “bold” (and sometimes “fearless”) for using arterial roads when necessary, and for using a prominent position on those roads (which is more often than not the middle of the lane). The truth is that this is usually the safest and “dullest” choice

Comment on Going “anywhere” by bike by Merryl Winstein

Merryl Winstein — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:44:08 +0000

What a fascinating account. I think it was very bold of you to make this type of trip. I wish my family would too. As always, I love reading any article that you write, Karen. Since everyone thinks of all the “other drivers” as impeding traffic, nobody can report it.

Comment on Going “anywhere” by bike by hkarabell

hkarabell — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:16:41 +0000

Folding bikes? Most definitely!
Biked from the airport! Indeed!
Mileage? We didn’t keep track of our miles, but I estimate that we averaged c. 25 miles per day.
Public transportation or cab? No bus or cab or even the famed downtown People Mover. But one morning we lingered in bed and at breakfast and so got a very late start. Because of the lateness of the hour, we made use of the free shuttle service offered by our “boutique hotel” to haul us and the bikes five miles north to Eight Mile Road and the Palmer Woods neighborhood. We then began the day’s adventure with a visit to the site of Mitt Romney’s boyhood home, ironically the only vacant lot on an otherwise very well preserved and well-maintained street.