I realize you all are busy with other jobs, families and all.  That’s why I’m amazed with what BikeNet has accomplished!

As for Lewis Ave., I still can’t get over it and have to tell you how gratifying it is to have a bike lane there now.  I ride this route almost daily, the signage is now up, and there are even sharrows now down the entire length of the street in the older downtown area.  Excellent!  I did encounter several cars who continued stubbornly to park their cars blocking the bike lane.  I placed very polite, respectful notes on their windows pointing out that the schoolkids would be forced to swerve into the traffic lane to get around their cars and that they sure wouldn’t want anything to happen to the kids because their car was wrongly parked, would they?  Within a couple of days, all the cars were moved. No more blocked bike lane.  Politeness worked (sometimes…lol)

I would like to see more area folks use the lane, but it is still new, and the temps are getting colder now, so I realize there will be less riders.  And most folks are not nutty bike commuters like myself, lol.

Ales for Trails:  I wasn’t able to attend as I worked at Hospital that evening.  But that evening prior to work I was sitting in front of the Cherry Tree Inn and I saw hoards of bikes headed to the event, many riding in large packs, all kinds of riders and bikes.  It looked like a mini bike mass ride like they have in larger cities.  Great!!!  I understand it was a big success.

Bike Racks:  In many places, these seem to be forgotten in new construction.  I am focusing on a few stores in the West End here right now, as I live and ride out here, and these stores are smack on the major bike lanes.  I have sent really polite emails requesting bike racks, pointing out that they are on bike lanes, that it would send a very positive message to the biking community, and that it would be good for business with not much of a monetary outlay.  For Example:

City Brew at Shiloh Crossing:  This has a small patio as well as a small inside sitting area, a great place to sip coffee after or during a ride.  Right on the Shiloh bike lane.  I have had a couple of nice emails with the manager, they are checking into the situation.  Looks positive.

Candy Town at Shiloh Crossing:  No bike racks or anywhere to lock up.  A shame as they have a great old fashioned soda fountain inside, a great place to take kids.  I have emailed a request last week, I have not heard anything yet.

Walgreens at 3333 Grand:  This is right in front of the Shiloh North/South bike lane.  Very convenient to stop in for drinks or small things on the way to work.  No bike racks, absolutely nothing to securely lock up a bike to.  I have had to bring my bike into the store, the last time I did I was told I couldn’t, that it was against store policy.  I pointed out that there was nothing to lock up to, they were firm and not helpful.  I have sent three polite request emails to their local and corporate sites over the past couple of months.  What is frustrating is that Walgreens never answers these letters, no polite “Thank you for your suggestion” type of formletter.  Nothing, I am just blatently being ignored.  Of course I realize I am just one person, and this may be the only request they have gotten for this.  But it is rather cold and consumer-unfriendly to just blow off my requests like that without some type of acknowledgment.  I wonder if other BikeNet members would consider emailing them on this subject?  You have to dig a little on their site to find the “Contact Us” page.  Get the feeling they are too big to be bothered by little local requests like this.

This bike commuter appreciates all you folks have done.  I sure could use some help with the Walgreen thing, it’s kind of the principle of the thing, you know?

Marv Anderson
Billings