I rode my bicycle to and from the Rosedale park-and-ride (about three miles each way) both Monday and Tuesday. From there I took an express bus to work in downtown Minneapolis as I usually do. I gave my knees a break yesterday and drove to Rosedale, but I was back on the bike this morning. I hope to manage 3-4 carless commutes each week through the summer and early fall.
Long ago I read an article arguing that per passenger mile the bicycle was the most energy-efficient form of transportation known, not only to homo sapiens, but throughout the animal kingdom. It was in a reputable scientific publication, Physics Today IIRC, with plenty of numbers, equations, and graphs. I wonder if I could track down a copy of it.
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Thu, May. 8th, 2008, 05:45 pm
Bicycle and bus
Mon, May. 5th, 2008, 08:19 am
Bicycle Commuting Note
I rode my bicycle to the Rosedale park-and-ride this morning, instead of driving there.
The standard belt clip on a Blackberry is not suitable for cycling. The upward hip motion while pedalling tends to dislodge it.
Fortunately, I discovered this before the thing fell on the pavement. From now on I will keep it in my briefcase or a bag while riding.
The standard belt clip on a Blackberry is not suitable for cycling. The upward hip motion while pedalling tends to dislodge it.
Fortunately, I discovered this before the thing fell on the pavement. From now on I will keep it in my briefcase or a bag while riding.
Fri, Apr. 4th, 2008, 05:11 pm
Gamma
I have read the first seven chapters of Julian Havil's Gamma, mostly on the bus to and from work (a benefit of public transportation that does not get nearly enough attention, IMHO). It is slow going because I am working through all the mathematical derivations. These are very clearly presented so this is going well, but it still takes time. A couple modern proofs by Paul Erdös left my head spinning, but I have been able to follow (with appropriate awe), the classic results of Leonard Euler. I suppose this is appropriate given my historical interests :-)>
Fri, Nov. 16th, 2007, 09:25 am
Progress on various fronts
( Read more... )
Current Mood: 
okay
okaySun, Oct. 28th, 2007, 07:42 pm
Parking problem and solution
I had to go into downtown Minneapolis in the early afternoon. Unfortunately, the Vikings had a home game downtown. Parking was up to at least $25 near the stadium, $15 near my office, and $10 on the other side of downtown. I had $6 in my pocket, and there was no convenient drive-through ATM to get more cash.
So I drove a few miles south, found street parking near the light rail line, and took the train downtown. It took less than two hours to finish my work, so my inbound ticket was still good when I took a southbound train to retrieve my car. Total cost: $1.25.
I did what I had to do, and was feeling quite satisfied on the ride south. I must confess to some schadenfreude when I saw the long faces of the fans who boarded at the Metrodome station: The Vikings lost.
So I drove a few miles south, found street parking near the light rail line, and took the train downtown. It took less than two hours to finish my work, so my inbound ticket was still good when I took a southbound train to retrieve my car. Total cost: $1.25.
I did what I had to do, and was feeling quite satisfied on the ride south. I must confess to some schadenfreude when I saw the long faces of the fans who boarded at the Metrodome station: The Vikings lost.
Wed, Oct. 17th, 2007, 01:51 pm
Need a break
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
colgaffneyis dance guild is meeting tonight, but we are not going to be there. ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
mia_mcdavid has a Garden Club meeting in Roseville. Without her, I think I will just stay home. In post 35-W Minneapolis the Westward trip from Roseville is still rather grim at 6:30 PM. Also, there may be heavy rain when I would return after 9 PM. I made that trip through storms three times in the last month. That is enough for now. The fact is I really need some time at home. Sunday was busy and I have been out the last two evenings. I have not fully unpacked from the last two weekends of camping with
colgaffneyis. I am looking forward to a relaxing evening, working on a couple simple projects while watching the Mythbusters blow up things on television.Current Mood: 
tired
tiredThu, Aug. 2nd, 2007, 01:16 pm
The Morning After
As mia_mcdavid wrote, we are OK.
The bus I take to work had not been using the 35W Bridge across the Mississippi, so I was able to ride it to work downtown as I have been doing. It was slower than it had been: There was a lot more traffic on Central Avenue and the 3rd Ave. bridge than before, as you might expect with one of the other major bridges gone. Looking out the bus window I could see the cars were bumper-to-bumper. I could only see one with more than a single occupant. Sigh....
A few yards away from my cubicle here I can look out the window and see the broken bridge in the distance.
mia_mcdavid wrote, we are OK.The bus I take to work had not been using the 35W Bridge across the Mississippi, so I was able to ride it to work downtown as I have been doing. It was slower than it had been: There was a lot more traffic on Central Avenue and the 3rd Ave. bridge than before, as you might expect with one of the other major bridges gone. Looking out the bus window I could see the cars were bumper-to-bumper. I could only see one with more than a single occupant. Sigh....
A few yards away from my cubicle here I can look out the window and see the broken bridge in the distance.
Current Mood: 
shocked
shockedThu, Jul. 19th, 2007, 09:31 am
Commuting Trick
As I wrote Friday, I had to work until 4 PM that day, and so was late to Gaeltacht Minnesota's Weekend in Winona. I would have been even later, except for some planning ahead.( Read more... )
Wed, Mar. 28th, 2007, 08:10 pm
Some Cleanup
I cleaned out (somewhat) my briefcase last night. I had been carrying around way too much stuff, so much that I dared not open it on the bus. Long, long ago, in a metro far away, I counted on public transit as an opportunity for reading and study. I had lost that. So I took out most of the accumulated notes from a year of Irish classes, and pared those down to what I actually had been using--there is something of an 80/20 rule here. One pocket Irish dictionary and the smallest of my Irish grammar books should suffice for study while commuting. One other book, if I want to read something else.
After that I cleared some space on my desk downstairs. It can hardly be called "clean", but I have plenty of space on it now. It was my father's desk, and it is certainly cleaner than I ever remember it being in his life.
After that I cleared some space on my desk downstairs. It can hardly be called "clean", but I have plenty of space on it now. It was my father's desk, and it is certainly cleaner than I ever remember it being in his life.
Thu, Feb. 1st, 2007, 01:07 pm
An aimsir (The weather)
Tá an lá an-fhuar agus an-tirim, ach chonaic mé ar maidin bogha báistí!
(Today is very cold and very dry, but I saw a rainbow this morning--as Gaeilge)
[Our Irish instructors encourage us to use at least a little of the language every day, and yes, I really did see a rainbow while riding the 260 (a dó seasca) Bus.]
(Today is very cold and very dry, but I saw a rainbow this morning--as Gaeilge)
[Our Irish instructors encourage us to use at least a little of the language every day, and yes, I really did see a rainbow while riding the 260 (a dó seasca) Bus.]
Current Mood: pleased
pleasedThu, Jan. 18th, 2007, 08:00 pm
Who put the sign outside my cubicle?
...the one that says "Office Hours: 4-5 PM"
I can't see it, but apparently everybody else in the office can. In the late afternoon I get a parade of visitors coming by to ask technical questions. They are very nice, and the questions are intelligent, but I wish some of them would come earlier in the day. I don't want to miss my bus home!
I can't see it, but apparently everybody else in the office can. In the late afternoon I get a parade of visitors coming by to ask technical questions. They are very nice, and the questions are intelligent, but I wish some of them would come earlier in the day. I don't want to miss my bus home!
Sun, Jan. 14th, 2007, 09:35 pm
Driving--USA vs. Italy
See Italian Musings #2: Transportation, by one of my High School and College classmates.
Current Mood: 
thoughtful
thoughtfulSat, Jan. 6th, 2007, 10:03 am
A strange January in Minneapolis
Yesterday, on the way to work, I got off the bus at University avenue, wast of the River, and walked the last 1 1/2 miles or so to work. I was anticipating (correctly, as it turned out) a rough day at the office and wanted to get some exercise while I could. I was wearing my fall jacket and was perfectly comfortable. There was no snow on the ground. My initial idea was to get into the Skyway system as soon as I could reach it west of the Mississippi, but by the time I got there I decided not to bother and walked outdoors all the way to Government Center.
Tue, Jul. 11th, 2006, 02:22 pm
And you thought your commute was bad....
Fri, Feb. 10th, 2006, 10:59 am
I must really hate pledge drive!!
When I got up this morning I thought I would drive downtown, so I could stop by colgaffneyis P.O. Box in SE Minneapolis. I would then get to listen to more of Minnesota Public Radio's morning show. Started the car. Turned on the radio....they are having a pledge drive. Decided I would rather take the bus and read a book. The book: ( Read more... )
BTW, I am a pledging member of MPR.
colgaffneyis P.O. Box in SE Minneapolis. I would then get to listen to more of Minnesota Public Radio's morning show. Started the car. Turned on the radio....they are having a pledge drive. Decided I would rather take the bus and read a book. The book: ( Read more... )BTW, I am a pledging member of MPR.
Mon, Nov. 28th, 2005, 07:03 pm
Not just me!
I was driving home from the bus park-and-ride this evening, and, as usual listening to the local Classical station. They played Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyrie". As always when this happens, I found myself fighting the urge to press down on the accelerator.
Afterward the announcer apologized for playing it during rush hour. It seems someone in the UK did a survey of music that was being played when a driver was in an accident. "Ride of the Valkyrie" was at the top of the list!
Afterward the announcer apologized for playing it during rush hour. It seems someone in the UK did a survey of music that was being played when a driver was in an accident. "Ride of the Valkyrie" was at the top of the list!