Category Archives: Car Sharing

E177 – Maria Schur

Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Racing, Train Travel

Maria Schur loves bicycles, lives in Portland, and works for Western Bike Works.  She enjoys gravel rides and doesn’t own a car, and likes pink but doesn’t want to be stereotyped.  She also writes on her blog about the various adventures she gets into.  We talk about all of this and more!

Also: Brock, Aaron & Adele recap their California touring adventures.

Mail
Ethan becomes a new sustaining donor.  Thanks!

Doug in Duluth (another new donor – thanks!) suggests another bicycle shop equivalent of Stairway.

Jolene & The Stickman enjoyed hearing Madi & Katie’s chat on family rides.

Jake enjoyed the episode with Phil B; Phil also fills in the blanks on our gun-toting question.

Nick & Sue from the Bay Area are fans wishing us well!

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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)

Thanks to our sustaining donors for supporting our show costs:
Logan Smith
Shadowfoot
Kathrina Mellemgaard
Roger Grigsby
Wayne Norman
Doug Robertson
Ethan Georgi

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E170 – Steve Gutmann: Getaround

Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Technology, The Law, Transit

Steve Gutmann is a sustainability genius and regional pointman for the peer-to-peer carsharing service Getaround.  We talk to him about the history of carsharing, beginning with Dave Brook’s Carsharing Portland, and its evolution into the systems that are available today, including the ability to leverage your personal car’s potential into additional income and an incentive to drive it less.  We wrap up with a surprise discussion of self-driving cars and how they might make cities more friendly to people in general (click to read Steve’s article on this subject).

Also: snowpocalypse!  snow anarchy, the sliding truck, and enjoying an unexpected holiday.

Headlines BikePortland: Chicago brings Portland’s bag of biking tricks to Bronzeville’s ‘Black Metropolis’ BikePortland: Brandon Rhodes, Lents’ new bike-powered grocer

Mail Kirk twitters about Iowa & #godshandkerchief

Scott Cohen from the City of Portland writes in to clarify how demand for bike parking works, including a link to the guide to installing bike racks in the public right-of-way.

Chris in Arcata asks about Brooks saddle vendors in Portland.  We mention these options:

• Wallingford Bicycle Parts, in Louisiana, has a 6 month trial guarantee on saddles •Gladys Bikes has a saddle library • Clever Cycles • Velo Cult • Universal Cycles • Joe Bike

And we watched Chris’ film recommendation Riding Bikes With The Dutch.

Bill Lascher finds it, Doctor Jeff predicted it: speed dating on public transit’s “singles car.”

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) Thanks to sustaining donors Logan Smith & Shadowfoot for supporting our show costs.

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E161 – Cathy Hastie: Those Arrogant Bikers

Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Family, History, Racing, The Law, Transit, Walking

Cathy Hastie is a BikePortland lifestyle contributor who has written about comparative car sharing, fashion & clothing on bikes, and an article on “those arrogant bikers” recentlylabeled by Bike Snob as “possibly the smuggest article posted to [Bikeportland] to date.”  She’s also a lifelong Portland resident who has been downplaying personal car use her entire life, so if anyone has claim to the right to be smug about transportation, it’s her!  We taped more great conversation than you can shake a stick at.

Aaron & Brock also discuss Portland’s poet laureate, cold weather, and, later, the drinking club with a running problem (hashing!)

Headlines
RowdyKittens.com: Tammy Strobel launches A Simple Year: 12 months of guided simplicity
Oregonian: TriMet on the verge of sending vintage trolley cars to St. Louis, MO

Mail
Glenn in Edmonton clarifies #YEGbike, and inquires about GoPro, citing an archive on the topic both here and here.

A text: “Hmm a 40oz and Prince and The Revolution!”

Listener Dion twitters this article about Specialized’s suit against Cochrane bike builder; “but they won’t try that with Fuji, they sell a roubaix road bike”

Beercycling.com sends us their press release for the Ardennes Trappist Challenge – July 2014 will contain bikes & beer!

And iTunes and Stitcher reviews from our listeners!

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)
Thanks to sustaining donor Brian Logan for supporting our show costs.

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E160 – Michael Andersen: The Real Estate Beat

Adventure, Advocacy, Bicycling, Business, Car Ownership, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, History, Housing, The Law, Transit, Walking

Michael Andersen is a writer for BikePortland.org who covers a wide variety of low-car lifestyle topics, including his Real Estate Beat which aims to explore how property owners are making it easier to live without a car in the city’s rental market.  We discuss presidential microphones and bike rides, low-car buildings & economic difficulties, how inclusionary zoning could help the situation, and the new micro-apartments being planned in the downtown and Hollywood districts.

Aaron & Brock also discuss the Critical Transit podcast, Bikecraft, renting a Prius, and dynamo lighting.

Headlines
BikePortland: the Oregon Outback gets organized
Diamond Cut Life: subtraction for the holidays

Mail
Tim in DC updates us on the Frontier Airlines bicycle policy.

Glenn in Edmonton on twitter has “become a big fan of the vibe of @SprocketPodcast” and links to a video of his snowy commute featuring birds! also, what does #yegbikemean?

Dan from MN texts in to say he enjoyed the show on bike moves!

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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)
Thanks to sustaining donor Brian Logan for supporting our show costs.

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E152 – Emily Finch & Sarah Gilbert Ride To Astoria

Adventure, Bicycling, Camping, Car Sharing, Cargo, Communication, Technology, Touring, Train Travel, Transit, Travel

Emily Finch is Portland’s most famous bicycling mom.

Sarah Gilbert is with Stealing Time magazine.

They both took a weekend trip to Astoria on bakfiets over the Labor Day holiday!

Aaron & Brock discuss a trip to Michigan, and getting into Hood River through the back door by bike.

if you like the show, nominate us at PodcastAwards.com during the month of October!

Mail
Former guest Sally from twitter wants to get back into biking.

Our friend Trent says “listening to the show with Dan Flores and laughing my ass off!”

JohnnyK found a boot patching kit on the internet.

Phoebe in Boston deals with helmets and hair.

Antonio shares a sweet randonneuring video.

Headlines
Sandy Post: new bus service makes trip to Mt. Hood by transit bus possible!
All Aboard! via Brandon: Google helps Amtrak share real time train locations

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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)

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E134 – The Blounts Move to Portland

Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Housing, Kitchen, Transit, Walking

Joshua & Melissa Blount are recent transplants to Portland (and Cascadia) who are simplifying their daily rhythms of life and giving low-car life a fair shake.  We talk about their transition and their experiences with the new paradigm.  Joshua also podcasts atinternetpodcasts.com with three culture-related shows and documents their Portland move at joshplusmelissa.com with a video blog.

Melissa wanted to inform our listeners of an opportunity to support a local non-profit through a bicycle tour this summer. In July ten riders will pedal from Portland to Crater Lake and back to raise funds for The Cupcake Girls as part of the Sweet Ride Tour. Riders are attempting raise $10,000 to cover their costs and fund operations for The Cupcake Girls for six months. The Cupcake Girls bring resources, empowerment, and delicious cupcakes to men and women in the local adult entertainment industry. All donations are tax deductible.
Brock & Aaron also discuss moving by bike and a myriad of pedalpalooza rides, with shouts out to listeners we met on the rides: Max, Vince, Sarah, and Josh!
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Logan references Business Insider’s article on a novice bicyclist’s experience with Citi Bike share system in NYC; he also recommends Darn Tough Socks out of Vermont and the Find Friends app for meeting up with friends out in the field.

Derek tells us about SwapServe, “a place where people can sign up to volunteer with local non-profits and get free stuff from local businesses as a thank you.”  He also offers to do a handstand.

Conservative listener Alisa writes in as requested to detail her take on our coverage of those from differing political backgrounds. (for those interested, her full letter is here)

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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)

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E122 – Alison Wiley: Diamond-Cut Life

Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Downsizing, Family, Housing, Kitchen, Simpler Living, Transit, Travel

Alison Wiley writes about simpler living in its many forms through her website, diamondcutlife.org, tackling the many challenging yet rewarding aspects of “chiseling our focus down to what really matters.”  We chat with her about her philosophy of life, work for the state in transportation, food and energy approaches, and her new book,Revelle: A Novel.

If you’re in Portland, drop by Rain OR Shine Cafe on SE 60th & Division on Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 for a reading from Alison’s novel!

Brock & Aaron also discuss Hillstomp’s concert last weekend & his crowd management experience, as well as Brock’s trip to Bend.

Headlines
Urban Adventure League: Ultra-Moderate Touring!

Mail
We get some iTunes reviews, Nick shares a song inspired by Hing Kong’s MTR underground transport system, and Jack tweets us regarding a recently observed irony.

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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)

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E121 – Transit Is Relative

Advocacy, Bicycling, Car Sharing, Communication, Family, Technology, Transit, Travel, Walking

Michael Andersen is the force behind the Portland Afoot, the city’s quintessential magazine on commuting and low-car life.  Doctor Jeff is a psychologist who once had a commute by transit of four hours a day and still propagates a highly entertaining twitter feed.  Together, we attempt to better understand how we deal with our automobile-dependent relatives and friends when we come for a visit, but not before we discuss hangovers, bike mishaps, and movies.  Then we assure ourselves of the security of Michael’s bicycle and describe our drinks, which leads to a shared commiseration on the disappearance of the classic drive-in restaurant.  Shit gets real when we turn to economic theory and find out who is or isn’t a Marxist, but we have a good laugh about how old we are while diving straight into the future of driverless vehicles (like in Vancouver, BC).  Then, finally: family relationships.

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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)

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E119 – Jonathan Maus: Portland Perspectives

Advocacy, Bicycling, Building, Car Sharing, Communication, The Law, Transit

Jonathan Maus is Portland, Oregon’s premier news source for all things related to bicycling through his blog at BikePortland.org.  We spoke last week about the good, the bad, and the upcoming in Portland’s bicycle cultures and communities.  Brock also learns that he’s recently gluten-conscious and a fan of Harvester and Omission gluten free beers!

Also, Brock & Aaron chat about the completion of bike work, car2go & cab rides, and how hybrid buses don’t rumble.

Headlines
Qualcomm takes a try at improving the transit experience. Pro or anti transit?
Oregonian: Is a passenger-rail renaissance picking up steam in Oregon and Washington?

Mail
JohnnyK shares a generous donation and says we are rockstars.  That’s debatable, but we are grateful nonetheless!

Tim in Washington, DC tells of producing a video segment for Amtrak eployees and thinks we “would have been in heaven with all of the Amtrak eye candy.”

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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)

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E116 – Chris Smith: Comprehensive Plan

Advocacy, Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Brewing, Building, Business, Car Sharing, Cargo, Communication, History, Housing, Mountain Biking, Technology, The Law, Transit, Walking

Chris Smith from PortlandTransport.com is a golden god of urban planning and transit.  He would never claim that title himself, but there is no person in Portland, Oregon working harder to make active and sustainable transportation a reality for the city’s near future.  We discuss the public process of crafting the city’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that guides the development and structure of citizen’s daily lives.  We touch on equity, gentrification and displacement, sidewalks and neighbor relations, modal hierarchy and freight movement, civic corridors and neighborhood greenways, New York’s High Line, telecommuting, and The Transit Appliance.

We warn you: it will get wonky.

If you’re a Portland resident, please consider joining one of the open house events designed to maximize public input into the process.  You can find more info on times and locations at this page:  http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/58191

Also, Brock & Aaron chat about bike wear & tear, brewery quality, meeting up with Tammy & Logan, and some technical business.

BONUS: after the show closes, we present a short chat with our new webhost Colin, owner of The Podcast Host, and also a fan of mountain biking!  We’re happy to have our show on his servers.

Headlines
Denver Post: Black Hawk, CO, famous for its bicycle ban, is corrected by the court

Mail
Dan in MN sends a picture of his new Raleigh folding bicycle.

JohnnyK mentions Burro Bags & Bar, and recommends Adventure Cycling andcyclocamping.com as travel resources.

Anthony says: “I too have been traumatized by growing up in a Florida suburban nightmare. Tampa was a hot mess of sprawl and mini malls.” 

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)

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