http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/bike-path-next-to-water-funny.php

  I see where you are going with this photo, Peter, you naughty boy.  Okay, maybe those Europeans aren't so enlightened, afterall, but we Americans can still do a good job pretending to be GREEN on Earth Day.  Ride a bike.

The more we make cycling a priority, the closer we are to realizing bike transportation systems that actually favor bikes and not cars. 

Consider this--if you work downtown, the best place to live is downtown.  But, say you have kids and you want more of a residential tree-lined street.  South Hills offers good schools and beautiful housing.  You can hop on the Treadway Creek trail and down through the scenic flats to downtown without breaking a sweat and with very little vehicle conflict. 

Believe it or not, I have found truck drivers, especially in the Flats,  more sensitive to cyclists than auto drivers.  We can share the road through the Flats, but I hope to see it become the cycle "superhighway." 

Following the water, in this case, the Cuyahoga River--makes sense--and if a few of us get wet and fall in, it's all GOOD. 

  From Lois:

Are you an experienced cyclist?  Can you help others learn about cycling?

Bike To Work Week is May 12-16 and ClevelandBikes is planning BTW events for each morning that week.  We need your help as a Ride Leader to show new bicycle commuters how to get over their initial fear of riding in traffic.  It would be simple and it would be fun: we have a number of scheduled starting points and you would meet at there.  At the scheduled time, you lead the group to downtown where ClevelandBikes and the YMCA has set up a temporary BikeStation.  There are free showers, bike storage, food and coffee waiting for you.  NOACA has also donated a ton of bicycle accessories, so you might just get some new gear, too.  You’ll be having fun while doing a good deed and helping a new bicycle commuter.

Bike shop folks – most of your stores open at 10:00, so you could be a Ride Leader and still get to the shop…what do you think?

Nurses, physicians, firemen and others who might have a weekday off – can you volunteer for one morning that week?

People who work from home – this is a chance to get out for a morning – what do you say?

Attorneys, consultants or professionals who can set their own schedule – want to break out of the routine?

If you can volunteer to be a Ride Leader, e-mail Kevin Cronin kevin [dot] cronin [dot] ohio [at] gmail [dot] com" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:kevin [dot] cronin [dot] ohio [at] gmail [dot] com" rel="nofollow">kevin [dot] cronin [dot] ohio [at] gmail [dot] com your name, where you live, the days you are available, your cell phone number and any other pertinant info.  For example:

Lois Moss, I can volunteer for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri, I live near Metro Hospital , I can be a Ride Leader from Tremont or from Ohio City , 216-870-0057

Thanks everyone!  Pass the word if you know a cyclists who could help.

Bear vs. bike: Teacher riding to school runs into bruin above Miller Creek
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Missoulian

Jim Litz has a broken bike helmet and bruised ribs to show for the 25-mile-per-hour collision with a 300-pound black bear Monday morning while riding his bike to work from his home in upper Miller Creek. “I was lucky. I was truly lucky, because I accosted the bear and he let me live,” Litz said, while recovering from his injuries Tuesday afternoon at his home.

Jim Litz is accustomed to pedaling past 300-pound black bears on his morning commute to work.

“I've come close to them this time of year,” Litz said, clutching his side and grimacing. “I know bears. The entire creek bottom is just hammered by bears. That's the beauty of living here. But typically, they're crossing the road and I have plenty of time to avoid them.”

That wasn't the case during Litz's Monday morning ride down Bear Run Creek Road, up above Miller Creek. The 57-year-old man passes slender serviceberry branchlets and dogwoods festooned with bear feed, and frequently spots the animals noshing berries on his way to work at Target Range Middle School, where he teaches science to seventh- and eighth-graders. Usually, the animals barrel off the road and out of sight.

“I didn't have time to respond. I never even hit my brakes,” Litz said.

He tumbled over his handlebars, planting his helmeted head on the bruin's back, and man and beast went cartwheeling down the road.

The bear rolled over Litz's head, and its mass cracked his helmet. As the duo toppled over one another, the bear clawed at Litz's cycling jacket, scratching his flesh from shoulder to buttocks before scampering up a hill above the road, where it stopped and whined.

Litz's wife drove by soon after and took her husband to Community Medical Center, and he immediately called Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to report the unusual collision. Game wardens told him they didn't think the animal was seriously injured, but was more likely suffering from some bruised ribs - just like Litz.

“Yep, that's my bear story,” Litz said Tuesday afternoon, too sore and bruised to go to work, but certain that he'd be back in the saddle by Friday. “That day it just happened to be on that particular corner of the road, and all the stars were lined up against me.”

The rib contusions are painful, and the scrapes down his back aren't pretty, but Litz figures he made out on top given the circumstances.

Litz's wife rides her bike to work, too. But she drives down past the feeding gauntlet on Bear Run Creek Road and parks along Miller Creek Road before pulling her road bike off the roof of her car.

As for Litz's bike, a cyclo-cross, it survived unscathed aside for the front wheel coming slightly out of true. But pointing to his cracked helmet, Litz hopes the story inspires his students to wear their helmets.

“I was lucky. I was truly lucky, because I accosted the bear and he let me live,” Litz said. “I truly respect them. They're beautiful creatures.”