Category Archives: Advocacy

E232b – David Griffiths: The Cascadian Ministry of Transportation & Mobility

April 9, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Air Travel, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Handcycling, Simpler Living, Touring, Transit, Travel, Urban Design, Walkingsprocketpodcast

David Griffiths took a trip to Colombia with his handcycle for the World Bicycle Forum after his first visit to our studio, and returns to share some of his experiences there, as well as some new ideas on transportation and mobility! Also Brock tries to come up with a way to tie this into #boatmonth.

Fine Print
email us: thesprocketpodcast@gmail.com
twitter: @SprocketPodcast
phone in or SMS: 503-847-9774
web: http://thesprocketpodcast.com
music: Ryan J. Lane (intro & outro) & Hurtbird (headlines)
beverage sponsor: The Beer Mongers

Thanks to our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky, Tim Mooney, Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Peanut Butter Jar Matt, Patrick Archain, Gabriel Trainer, Sebastien Poule

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E232 – Brandon Rhodes, Mychal Tetteh, Scott Davison: Rolling Oasis Expansion

April 7, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Cargo, Communication, Kitchen, Simpler Living, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Brandon Rhodes is The Sprocket Podcast’s former cohost, and founder of the bicycle-based local organic produce delivery business Rolling Oasis Grocers.
Scott Davison createdVocoform, an organization that helps people with barriers to advancement find their calling in meaningful work, and powered the startup of Rolling Oasis.
Mychal Tetteh is CEO of theCommunity Cycling Center, a Portland nonprofit with the goal of “broadening access to bicycling and its benefits” that is partnering with Rolling Oasis to expand grocery delivery service to other Portland neighborhoods, particularly those with less access to affordable produce.

This week we discuss how to put the heart and soul back into local business to help people thrive. Hint: It involves bicycles! Find the Rolling Oasis Crowdfunding page here.

We’d like to welcome our new beverage sponsor, The Beer Mongers! Many appreciations to Sean Campbell for keeping us socially lubricated. And as always, thanks to our generous Patreon donors that keep us going!

Also: Spinlister credit contest: “When did you most need a bike but not have one?”Inspired to Ride film is coming soon & the trailer is now available (4/18 in Portland).

Headlines
copenhagenize.org: Make Life Shine – Yes, You Volvo
Lovely Bicycle: The Bicycle Safety Check: from Mnemonic to Automated Ritual
bikeportland.org: Dear everywhere else: This is how to do a detour. Sincerely, Multnomah County

Mail
Logan finds Volvo Lifepaint, a spray-on reflective for your clothes and bikes.

Twitter thread: James suggests alternate names for private combustion engine vehicles: “carcoon,” “carcophagus;” Orange & Purple add “Sensory Deprivation Chamber.”

Lisa Nims checks in from the field with taxidermy in a bike shop.

Dion sends in some ol’ bullshit from ABC news.

On Overnight Oats, PBJ Matt & Jeremy Mendelson.

On Ski Trains, Jeremy.

On infrequent bus service, Matt.

My Bike Won’t Fit Here: Ethan Georgi photographs “limited” bike parking.

JohnnyK weighs in on oldies & alternate transport.

Update: Path Less Pedaled met a Sprocket listener in Alabama! His name is Dan!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E230 – Glenn Kubish & Darren Markland: #YEGbike Pocket Sprocket

March 23, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, History, Simpler Living, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Glenn Kubish is a longtime listener and supporter of our show. He’s well connected in the Edmonton, Alberta bicycling community, and when he recommended a guest, we knew that we’d never make it up to Canada in time to interview him, so we asked, “would you be willing to do the interview?” A resounding positive answer meant that we now get to deliver this gem of an interview with a man who, in Glenn’s words, has “the spirit of the @SprocketPodcast” in him. “Plus,” he adds, “he’s a doc, built abamboo bike, roasts his own coffee.” Darren Markland also sports a wicked ice beard in the winter!

We’re grateful for this little window into the #YEGbike community! Many thanks to our friends up north, and here’s to hoping there will be a new podcast on the horizon. Who knows? With enough friendly encouragement, they might just do it…

If you enjoyed this Pocket Sprocket format and feel like you know someone interesting in your town, be sure to get in touch. We want your positive vibes to spread, and would love to help bring someone’s story to the rest of the world if you’d like to help us find it. See below for our contact info!

We’ll be back next week with more Portland-produced episodes! See you then.
(oh yeah, and there was that time we met Glenn at Filmed By Bike)

Thanks to our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky,Tim Mooney, Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith, Christi Caister, Caleb Jenkinson, JP Kewley, Matt B., Patrick Archain, Gabriel Trainer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E229 – Jenn Dederich: Portland Pedal Power

March 17, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Cargo, Kitchen, Touring, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Jenn Dederich is the CEO of Portland Pedal Power, a bicycle delivery service that is focused on delivering local goods to hungry people. We talk about the mechanics of the operation, the value of working with local businesses, and a few adventures that Jenn’s had when not running the company.

Also: Spinlister credit contest: “When did you most need a bike but not have one?”Inspired to Ride film is coming soon (4/18 in Portland), Brock had beers with a few listeners and got yelled at on Foster Road, and Aaron’s posterior is sore.

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

Headlines
Oregonian: Portland’s rents rose at nation’s sixth-fastest rate, study finds
realtor.org: NAR Study: Accelerating Housing Costs Have Renters Feeling the Squeeze

Mail
Ed in Phoenix wants to stick up for his city!

Matt B shares overnight oats.

Andrew shares good news about Colorado’s Ski Train.

Patrick takes his first commute of the year on the east coast.

Logan shares a map of reported bike thefts in Portland.

Marcus thinks this Toronto Blue Jays pitcher is pretty awesome. He lives in a van.

JohnnyK points us toward a human powered ferris wheel.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E225 – Stephen Szucs: #RETHINK Tour

February 26, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Cargo, Communication, Downsizing, Fun, Housing, Simpler Living, Skateboarding, Technology, Touring, Travel, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Stephen Szucs is fascinated by more sustainable living solutions that the average Joe can implement. He rode one of Organic Transit’s ELF trikes, Rita, on his #RETHINK tour from Canada to Florida. We also talk about transportation choices such as longboarding, housing choices like Craig & Connie Cook’s earthship, and other kinds of choices we can make to create a better world for people now and in the future.

follow this link to Brock’s ELF trike test ride from a year ago.

Also, this is what a conch shell sounds like.

Thanks to our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin, Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky, Tim Mooney, Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows, Lars V., Chris Smith

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E224 – Alex Reed & Kari Shlosshauer: Bike Loud PDX

February 24, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Communication, Family, History, Simpler Living, Technology, The Law, Transit, Urban Design, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Alex Reed helped to launch and coordinate Bike Loud PDX. Kari Schlosshauer is a concerned and involved bikey mom who lives near SE Clinton street. We talk about starting an advocacy movement, the case study of Portland’s first neighborhood greenway, the nature of advocacy vs. that of activism (and are they the same thing?), and innovative experiments such as Better Block.

Want to support a Safer Oregon? Buy some Clinton Street swag inspired by Bike Loud PDX!

Also: Brock takes an 80 mile pub crawl ride & borrows a Bike Friday, Aaron rents a fatbike.

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

Headlines

OregonLive.com: Modest Mouse releases music video shot on MAX

Mail

Logan shares the xtracycle megarack that converts standard frames to longtails!

Antonio shares a map made by EEG-enabled helmets of Manhattan

Tim Mooney shares Brock & Adele’s tour journals from 2012 on Pedalshift Project

Harm in NZ shares Portland news: sustainable electricity harvested from city water utility pipes

Zoe asks: ”We want to ride from Portland to the coast this summer so I’m looking for the best, most beautiful route with the lightest traffic.” Brock likes Oregon’s highway 6 to Tillamook, but Alex prefers the idea of the Nestucca River Road (Path Less Pedaled did this a while back)

Gerald likes chemical handwarmers in his gloves.

Not mail but from the shift list: Tall Bike Tour!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E223 – Vivian Satterfield: OPAL Environmental Justice

February 17, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Housing, Simpler Living, Technology, The Law, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Vivian Satterfield is a representative of OPAL Environmental Justice, an advocacy group in Portland, OR committed to improving the transportation experience of people using buses and light rail to get around town. We talk about her bicycling experience, work around transit, and how being in public connects us to the world around us.

Also: Brock & Aaron led the Team Sincerity Ride on Presidents’ Day!

Donate at Patreon if you’re able to help keep us going!

Mail

Eric in GA inquires about cold weather cycling gloves; Brock likes Youngstown Glovesand Vivian is sponsored by Cestus Work Gloves.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E222b – David Griffiths: Handcycling

February 11, 2015Advocacy, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Communication, Handcycling, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

David Griffiths is a person on a bicycle using adaptive technology for mobility and transportation, and is playing to his strengths! We discuss all the aspects of that statement in this bonus episode. What is this town like for someone using specialized equipment? And how do people react?

Find David’s fundraiser for his trip to Columbia and the World Bike Forum here andchip in a few bucks if you can!

Read the extensive Friday Profile of David on BikePortland. David also hosts a weekly meetup at Velo Cult on Tuesday evenings for anyone involved in adaptive cycling or interested in learning about it!

Thanks to our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith, JohnnyK, Shadowfoot, Kathrina Mellemgaard, Wayne Norman, Doug Robertson, Ethan Georgi, Justin Martin,Eric Iverson, Cameron Lien, Richard Wezensky,Tim Mooney,Orange & Purple, Glenn Kubish, Matt Kelly, Jim Goodin, Eric Weisz, Doug CohenMiller, Todd Parker, Scott McAllister Morgan, Chris Gonzalez, Dan Gebhart, Zoe Campagna, John Blood, Alison Wiley, Andy Brunner, Dave Knows

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E222 – Bryan Hance: Bike Index

February 10, 2015Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Technology, The Law, Theft, Transit, Urban Designsprocketpodcast

Bryan Hance is one of the people behind the Bike Index, a database of bicycle serial numbers and traits that helps tie people to them when a theft occurs. We talk about the website, the situation on thefts (especially in Portland OR), avoidance tips, and their partnership with Spinlister. Bryan mentioned this inspiring story about some people who got their bikes back!

Brock also asked a few questions about the dialogue on bicycle theft as it relates to homelessness, and meant to mention this article from Street Roots, a newspaper published by and for people living outside.

Also: Brock got buzzed on an early morning commute (but refrained from u-lock justice a la R.A.M.B.O. [via JP]); Aaron is in Federal Way, WA for work. Gladys Bikesowner Leah Benson joins as this week’s co-host!

Join the Team Sincerity Ride on Presidents’ Day!

Donate at Patreon

Headlines

Washington Post via Tim Mooney: Portland is the only city gentrifying faster than D.C., report says
From bikeportland.org: Portland’s low-car transportation web ranks 7th nationally, study says
From Jackson Hole (WY) News and Guide via bikeportland.org: Bill would require neon clothes, government ID for cyclists

Mail

Eric Iverson’s call to action: join the Clinton Street ride

Alvaro recommends fw: thinking podcast on the future of bicycles

Logan alerts us to the presence of Rivendell bikes’ test fleet in Portland!

Nurse David asks how great smartphones actually are (or aren’t)

Glenn Kubish recommends a guest & signs up to be our foreign correspondent.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

E221 – Maren Souders: Open Ears, No Car

February 3, 2015Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Simpler Living, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel, Urban Design, Vegansprocketpodcast

Maren Souders has never, ever owned a car. That’s an achievement even for those who’ve tried! She brings us some inspiring stories and thoughts on low-car life, the value of listening, and trying to eat vegan while taking Amtrak trains across the country. Notably, she’s spent some time on a multi-city listening tour, sitting in public places with a “free empathy” sign! Her webistes:dreamintochange.com & happytolisten.com

click here to find her petition for easier access to vegan meals for Amtrak passengers.