Welcome!

It's a new year and time once again to give a new look to this blog. New graphics and colors. Same bike writer!



This blog is created not only to track my own progress on my biking journey but it is intended to also assist others who have either osteo or rheumatoid arthritis or both like I do. I hope as you read about the progress I have made that it gives you inspiration and hope that you can overcome the dibilitating effects of these conditions.



If your doctor agrees that you should be capable of expanding your limits read on and don't be afraid, just listen to your body and give it challenges. Biking is a great non-impact form of exercise and greatly enhances flexibility and range of motion.



It's not a substitute for Doctor visits, taking your meds or otherwise getting off your health plan but it auguments what your Doctor does for you and can give you a better quality of life. Go for it!





Monday, September 9, 2013

Bikes On Trains

Not exactly news in some parts of the country but it's big news in Michigan that Amtrak  is finally on board with bikes on trains.  The project is the work of Amtrak and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) along with lobbying efforts from League of Michigan Bicyclists, Complete Streets Coalition and other bicycle advocacy groups.

Photo courtesy of LMB website
The League of Michigan Bicyclist has long lobbied for this much needed feature and it's finally here. One of the popular routes from Port Huron to Chicago is ready to go with bicycle transport racks installed. For $10 you can take your bicycle to any one of the stops along the Blue Trail line. I've hopped that train many times for a trip to Chicago because an automobile is more of a liability than a necessity in that town that is unfriendly to cars. There is a lot of traffic to deal with and if you are staying downtown plan on big bucks to park that car overnight at a hotel. Most people walk, take the el train, taxi or bicycle. Walking is fine for a shopping trip because you can find ample shopping in a small radius from the Miracle Mile but for touring a bike will be a handsome feature to have with you.

The service started rolling out on September 6, 2013.  John Lindenmayer, LMB Advocacy & Policy Director has worked hard to make this happen. The feature is currently available on the Port Huron Chicago run and I can't wait until they include the Detroit Ann Arbor Chicago run also as boarding that one is much closer to home. The current route ferries passengers through two major college towns that are both bicycle friendly, Lansing home to Michigan State University and Kalamazoo home to Western University. Once the Det-Ann Arbor-Chicago run allows them this will also include Ann Arbor that is home to University of Michigan another bicycle friendly campus town.

For now, I'll have to head up to Flint to catch that train for the next Chicago trip.

For an article on this from the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) site click here.
For the press release from Amtrak click here
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