Category Archives: Communication

E048 – [at]doctor_jeff

October 24, 2011Bicycling, Communication, Technology, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

We speak with Dr. Jeff Guardalabene, better known to his Twitter followers as @doctor_jeff, about his observations on the Portland Metro area public transit scene and his cross-region daily commute.

We discuss: a brief history of dr. jeff riding TriMet, the acclaimed twitter feed, TriMet diaries writing: I Ride, totalling the car: what mobility will look like from here on out, LifeHacker features Dr. Jeff!

Headlines
BikePortland: Dave Weber logged 1,096 miles in September for the Bike Commute Challenge!
BikePortland: Jake Ryder’s custom build tallbike sports a sidecar for photo equipment
BikePortland: local company builds heavy duty hunting/adventure trailers
Taking the Lane: Elly comments on how hitchhiking could save the economy via Freakonomics
The Atlantic Cities: to win riders, mass transit should get wired (-less)

Mailbag
Patrick from Davis CA donates (thank you!) and sponsors a month of drinking!
says of the show: “it’s informative, fun & quirky. A bit like Monty Python with a purpose.”
“I work at UCD & live in Winters about 17 miles away. I mostly ride the Yolobus 220 into work with my bike then pedal home.” Also recommendsPepperPedlers as a guest.

Sally from ILoveTheBus.com says of E44: “I love Street Books, it is such a great way to serve the community. We all love a good story, right? Books bring people together and build community.”

Peggy says of E47: “Great interview – told the fuller story of Zenger Farm, which is an AMAZING organization doing so much good work in the community! Nice to see it getting more than the 3-minute soundbite typical news coverage.”

As mentioned on the show: the progression of Brandon’s Beards:

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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E045 – Lillian Karabaic

October 3, 2011Bicycling, Cargo, Communication, Downsizing, Housing, Transit, Travel, Walkingsprocketpodcast

We engage in a lively discussion of bicycles and transit in everyday life with Lillian Karabaic, producer of the Portland Afoot Podcast and, as her card states, “bicycle advocate, photographer, and transportation wonk.”

We discuss: Brandon’s back!, Orcas Island, bike trailer crash, tallbikes and chunk 666, the Portland Afoot podcast, cycle wild, the carfree cities conference in Guadalajara (referenced in her latest podcast), world naked bike ride, and other things.

Headlines
Taking The Lane: Elly Blue briefly describes a rural bike community in California
BikePortland: new senic bikeways approved by Oregon State Parks
Bicycling Magazine via Ethan: is a cargo bike the coolest bike ever made? probably so.
BikePortland: Rejuiced Bikes makes incredible special function bicycles out of scrap
BikePortland: Best e-bike ever? The IDEO/Rock Lobster Oregon Manifest entry

Mailbag
donation from Blayne in BC: “You should be able to buy a 24 of PBR for that I imagine.”

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E044 – Laura Moulton: Street Books

September 27, 2011Advocacy, Bicycling, Cargo, Communication, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

This week we speak with Laura Moulton, most recently recognized for her work in launching the Street Books project, a mobile library on a cargo trike that lends books to people living outside in downtown Portland, Oregon. Aaron Flores from Team Sincerity fills in as co-host in Brandon’s absence.

We discuss: inspiration, urban shelter, park blocks & Skidmore Fountain, MercyCorps, when and where, Haley Tricycles, forming culture around the library, library cards for patrons, language and blurring the lines between people, a false dichotomy between deep thought and homelessness,Second Glance Books, Sue Zalokar assists, connections with Street Roots, other projects, married to Benjamin Parzybok who authored “Couch”, working on her own novel. Brock & Aaron also discuss handcarts, blues legend Billy Bob Thornton, long bicycle rides, and the last Hillstomp show ever.

Headlines
EcoVelo via Logan: apparently bicycling is good for both your body and your anger issues
Oregonian: Joseph Rose edits his helmet cam footage to demonstrate Oregon bike lane law
BikePortland: a Hood River, OR company designs a “rainfish” device to keep bicyclists dry Bicycling Magazine: is a cargo bike the coolest bike ever made? probably so.
Portlandize: Dave Feucht writes about a vacation to the beach by bus and proves it can be fun BePortland: mobile music festival happens on the Portland Streetcar

Mailbag
Adele calls in to share her bus story (audio) Gus shares an interesting blog post about a homebrew club in CA, disagrees w/ point #5:

your friends may not actually tell you what they really think about your beer.

Blayne in BC successfully completed the Yukon tour, and may start a food podcast.

Also liked the crater lake tour stories and can’t imagine bicycling like that with the flu.
iTunes reviews – Carl and “Freedivers_33”

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E043 – Rob Sadowsky: The Bicycle Transportation Alliance

September 20, 2011Advocacy, Bicycling, Communicationsprocketpodcast

With more beard power than any city but Portland could summon, we welcome Rob Sadowsky from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to the show to talk about his journey to Portland and what he sees now that he is here. David Heddy, previous guest and friend to the program, fills in for Brandon during the honeymoon.

We discuss: the justly popular Flying Pigeon, getting to Portland, entering bicycle culture, rollerblades, local connections are the good life, the nature of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the tri-county area of the Portland Metro region, the Idaho Stop Law, Copenhagen problems, highs and lows of bicycling in Portland, neighborhood greenways, crusade against bollards, crushed limestone benefits, long range goals of multi-year funding, no death policy, fun, and good communication.

Headlines
RowdyKittens: Tammy participates in and comments on a move by bike event (also: likes it)
BikePortland: car sharing service Zipcar ruffles some feathers with new unbikey ad
PathLessPedaled: Russ gives a thorough and informative rundown of Brompton touring
BikePortland: readers submit amazing photos of cargo bikes in China
RowdyKittens: Tammy writes a great article about going cell phone-less

Mailbag and Announcements
– Susan from Texas shares a link on making your own grocery bag panniers for $4, and mentions the StreetBooks project whom we will be featuring soon as well as the Portland Alternative Dwellings site, builders of Tammy & Logan’s tiny house.
– Jeremy from Boston writes to say hello – he’ll be creating a transportation related podcast soon, and can’t decide whether he likes bicycles or buses better!
– Matt Picio of castironcyclist.com & cyclewild.org writes in to clarify his name’s pronunciation and the size of his skillet; it’s 9 inches and 4 pounds.
– Patrick on FB gives congrats to Team Sincerity for bringing kids along

Drinks
MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale, left over from Brandon’s wedding!

Music
“Bicycle Song” by David Rovics. http://davidrovics.com/

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E040 – Jonathan Maus: BikePortland

August 30, 2011Alternate Fuels, Bicycling, Communicationsprocketpodcast

This week we speak to Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org about his locally focused bicycle news service. We discuss: getting to Portland, getting bit by the bicycle bug, 12 year old completes a century, Santa Barbara mountain biking, BikePortland is six years old!, moderating a forum for people with so many differing opinions, the spectrum of cyclists & creating a “big tent” for all kinds of people, activism and journalism coming together, myths about bicycle infrastructure, a bird’s-eye view of the many subcultures in the bicycling world, language as it relates to media and perception, a favorite/ least favorite place to bicycle in town.

We hear from listener Carl about the “crazy vegan expresso” tour in Europe, listener Patrick who named his band after a bus route, and Amos from Bike Temple who is on tour to Vancouver BC and thwarted a dog attack.

Headlines
New York Times: Portland installs electric vehicle charging stations powered by solar panels
EcoVelo via Logan: 2008 Active Transportation report shows many benefits in depth
Brandon Rhodes: Apocalypse Puppet Theater operates a bicycle-towed stagecoach
BikePortland: ODOT plans to bridge a trail gap in the Columbia River Gorge
Urban Adonia via BikePortland: stripped Toyota chassis becomes a 7-person recumbent bicycle

Music
the fabulous Portland-based Hillstomp presents their unique blend of buckets-and-cans-blues on their latest release Darker The NIght and this week’s featured song, “Cardiac Arrest in D.”

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E035 – Raw Vegan Fixie Tour

July 19, 2011Bicycling, Communication, Downsizing, Kitchen, Touring, Travel, Vegansprocketpodcast

Adrian “The Vegan Cow” Stingaciu & Deanna Adams talk to us about their incredible Raw Vegan Fixie Tour!

We discuss: Ride the Divide, Surly’s Pugsley, snow riding, listener Carl in “Animalheim,”We Are Augustines, Super Vegan Cow & animal totem race identity, post-college experiences and the Ride Across America, 29 day trip to Costa Rica on a vegan diet, on the tail of Ride the Divide, travel in pairs for security and photography, no cargo, only raw foods to step up the challenge, no food drops, raw foods & nuts along the way, tapping into body fat, “dude, you look really bad,” sleeping in ditches and bus stops, relentless mosquitoes in the desert, “gassing myself out,” scary encounters while stealth camping,federales, confessions of traveling with a raw vegan, drinking Monster, “the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” breakdowns and pear cores, drug cartel worries, one set of clothes and no laundry, epilepsy, trouble with Montezuma’s revenge, American stomachs can’t handle bacteria, getting home after huge rainstorms, bicycles on slick surfaces and deep shoulders, deadlines, 700cm vs. 26in. wheels and tires, toll roads in Mexico, listen to theMexican Radio, Tyson Chicken plant and factory farming problems, Pacific NW nuclear plants, Deanna’s favorite beer

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E034 – Darren Alff: Bicycle Touring Pro

July 12, 2011Bicycling, Communication, Technology, Touring, Transit, Travelsprocketpodcast

Darren of Bicycle Touring Pro talks world travel, bicycle touring, and impromptu marathons.

Headlines
BikePortland: Creative fellow offers cookies to cyclists at controversial intersection
BikePortland: Peace activist releases book and rides handcycle 1,100 miles
Green Garbage Project: pros and cons of various lawn mowing options BikePortland:Portland resident runs rock shows by bike

We discuss: Portland beards, slow internet connections, coming home early, began cycle touring at 17, 11 years of big & wild adventures, working while traveling & self employment,Park City, Utah, what you can find on BicycleTouringPro.com, cold weather touring in Europe, stopping at every skate park along the way to skateboard and being told “you’re doing it wrong,” Darren’s sojourn in Peru, cheap bikes for rent, the trike adventure/challenge, Brandon’s visit to Peru, vegetarian options (no guinea pig), dignitarian, flexitarian, and freegan, stealth camping & hospitality is better in Peru, living and working while traveling, Europe can be done on a budget, supplementing your income by renting out your home, let the vacations come to you, running a marathon with absolutely no training, VersaEmerge powers Darren’s exercise, his other websites:DarrenAlff.com, motorcycletouringpro.com, silvermountainmarketing.com

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E028 – Memorial Day

June 1, 2011Communication, Downsizing, Technology, Travelsprocketpodcast

This week’s episode is short and sweet since that darned holiday weekend made us change our plans. We are, however, well rested and plan to bring you the next scheduled show without incident. Look for Ryan J. Lane’s interview in an upcoming episode to be announced sometime later in the summer. In the mean time, we discussed our weekends, long-winded wedding toasts, Washington State’s San Juan Islands, ditching your cell phone with RowdyKittens.com, etc.

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E026 – Michael Andersen: Portland Afoot

May 16, 2011Bicycling, Business, Communication, Technology, Transit, Walkingsprocketpodcast

Michael Andersen, founder of local life newsmagazine Portland Afoot, joins us to discuss his fine publication, transit culture, and transportation politics. And is also a fine, upstanding gentleman. (and he’s giving a discount subscription to podcast listeners! enter the code “sprocket” when you subscribe)

We discuss: Brandon goes to Tacoma, Brock goes to Wonder Northwest, the Star Wars Holiday Special, Muppet Star Wars, Space Ghost Coast-To-Coast, CodeForGood.net,thesprocketpodcast.com, Amos suggests Portland Cascadia Pedicabs, Blayne on Vancouver Island is getting a tandem, National Association of Rail Passengers, Jeff’s excited, Steve in Glasgow’s wee nocturnal cycle, Rate That Beer, “The Dutch Country” (AKA The Netherlands), Michael chooses the gong for his friend Alisa, Swan Island bus story, driver Dan Christensen, ATU, what the media does best, Microcosm Publishing, band name, worst day at the magazine, Eberhardt Press, Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, bus people vs. bike people, Unified Field Theory of TriMet (which is actually a special case of his Unified Field Theory of Portland), articulated buses, open data policy & transit apps, texting TriMet at 27299, what makes transit worth its costs (have you heard about the Columbia River Crossing?), bike-curious, student ID bus pass program and its fate, discount subscription, beer talk.

Headlines
SF Gate via BikePortland: more and more people are wearing their office clothes on the bike commute
PathLessPedaled: 5 ways to be a bicycle-friendly business (Brock’s favorite? roll into the rooms)
Oregonian: Transit agency TriMet honors 3 generations of female bus operators for Mothers’ Day
Copenhagenize via BikePortland: nothing could be cuter than little girls riding tiny cargo bikes

Drinks
Brandon reprises the Miller High Life sans skanky pinup girl, Michael drinks the Fearless Brewing Company’s Scottish Ale, and Brock downs a Southern Oregon Brewing’s Woodshed Red.

Music
“Book of James” from the upcoming We Are Augustines project Rise Ye Sunken Ships.www.weareaugustines.com

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E021 – CJ Speelman: Wrench Raiders

April 11, 2011Advocacy, Bicycling, Communicationsprocketpodcast

CJ Speelman of Portland’s Wrench Raiders tells us about fixing bicycles and sharing time with less privileged folk, and how to get involved.

We discuss: Brandon rides to Salem and back, Oregon City Elevator, Burgerville, dot net, Logan is like our rich uncle, Statesman Journal via Brandon’s Dad: Lee the Horselogger travels cross-country in a horse-drawn cart, Streetsblog via BikePortland: NYC bike lane opponents hired a PR firm to talk trash, Streetfilms via BikePortland: another fascinating look at post-car culture, this time about highway removal, KCET via BikePortland: a fascinating look at Los Angeles’ bicycling history, including a 20 mile long raised bikeway!, Bike Snob NYC: hillariously written piece on NYC bike lanes, CycleWild: Adventure Cycling launches a new website dedicated to overnight camping trips (S24Os), Matt Picio’s cross country journey and gear, GoBicycleTouring.info: The Food Cyclist chronicles a global journey to research food systems, BikePortland: awesome Portland bicycle commuter portraits from Jim Golden, what Wrench Raiders is, coolest rigs in town, not trying to be sexy, disconnection, the crew & community, BikePortland article, reprogramming our relational skills, Brandon goes undercover as a homeless guy, support systems, the Tricycle Campaign, B-Line delivery trikes, busted stuff & star-rusted chain, DON’T USE WD-40 on your bike, chain link bike capsule thing, long distance travel, Portland to Seattle by transit, rainbow people, department store bikes sometimes DO hold up, buying new parts is better, Abraham Fixes Bikes, pulled pork pizza, volunteers and how talking not working is OK, building stereotypes, vietnam vets, everyone’s story is unique, connections

Drinks
Brandon & Brock each drink a 24oz Pabst Blue Ribbon, and CJ drinks a 22oz Newcastle Brown Ale.

Music
“After All Our Yesterdays” by Joe Poppino from his 2009 EP The End.

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The Sprocket Podcast

simplifying the good life

Category Archives: Communication

E048 – [at]doctor_jeff

E045 – Lillian Karabaic

E044 – Laura Moulton: Street Books

E043 – Rob Sadowsky: The Bicycle Transportation Alliance

E040 – Jonathan Maus: BikePortland

E035 – Raw Vegan Fixie Tour

E034 – Darren Alff: Bicycle Touring Pro

E028 – Memorial Day

E026 – Michael Andersen: Portland Afoot

E021 – CJ Speelman: Wrench Raiders