Plus Obstacycle and other thoughts of the day

There have recently been a few items I wanted to share but didn’t necessarily warrant separate posts. Marcus might have done this as a news roundup, but I’ll just submit this random assortment of ideas.

Transportation Secretary says he’d be just as happy being in charge of agriculture

When President Obama was elected, a lot of alternative transportation proponents and new urbanists rejoiced because at last we had a president who understood the obvious: cars are as much a problem as a solution and our communities would be better if we all drove less. There was much speculation about who Obama would pick for Transportation Secretary with some really great innovative names on the short list. Instead of any of those people, Obama picked Republican Congressman Ray LaHood, an odd choice as he had relatively little transportation background.

The Transportation Secretary who doesn't care about transportation.

Now, we know LaHood was not chosen to lead any great initiative, but instead to mend fences with the GOP. In an article posted yesterday at the New York Times, LaHood and the administration admit the secretary’s main job is to be an ambassador to Congressional Republicans. LaHood shares that he’s not that interested or knowledgeable on transportation issues and would be just as happy being the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Bipartisan outreach is an important part of any savvy administration, but to sacrifice transportation policy for this seems like madness. Nearly half of the pollution in this country is produced by transportation to say nothing of how providing good transportation alternatives helps improve the quality of life of those hurting in this economy. In fact, I’d say perpetuating the car culture is making this country short term rich, long term poor. For all the focus on the green economy by this administration, it sure seems like we’re missing half the picture here.

Get that obstacycle out the door

I have a cousin who is a writer, and she often shares new words posted on Wordbirds, a site dedicated to defining new words in the lexicon. Today’s word is obstacycle.

N. ‘ob-sta-sy-kul   Bike stored in a city apartment, where it takes up space, gets in the way, and is rarely ridden-as it’s so heavy to carry up and downstairs. Usage: When he first moved to Brooklyn, Rob locked his bike on the street. After it was stolen, he bought a new one and kept it at the foot of his bed in his 4th-floor walk-up. It soon  became an obstacycle-something he tripped over daily, and hardly ever rode.  

How many of you out there have your own obstacycle? We’ll it’s Bike Month and you need make that obstacycle your get-there cycle. Tonight there are bike commuter classes, a bike shop concert, and a bike-in movie night so there’s lot’s to do by bike. Get on out there.