Month: January 2019

Austin Bicyclist Death 2019 #1: Anthony John Diaz, Run Over by a City Bus

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 10 Comments

I’m sitting outside a 7-11 late on a Wednesday, just down the street from the huge football stadium on the University of Texas campus. It’s where a cyclist, aged 39, with a helmet and lights on both the front and back of his bike, was hit, dragged under and trapped by a Capital Metro bus Monday night. It was there that he died. I just learned about this horrible tragedy tonight, and so I biked over here – a place I ride by regularly. I’m mad and sad, yet relieved it was not me. Because it could have been me. That doesn’t help Anthony, his friends, family and others who knew him. Continue reading →

Mmm… A Melange of Musings on Monday

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

Sometimes there’s no one theme that presents itself for a post.  Instead, a mixture of many motifs manifests.  (Alliteration apparently attracts A Dude. )  I’ve noticed myself thinking about three main topics:   1) creativity, especially the art of writing, and the necessity of commerce; 2) all the bicycling I do (and to a lesser extent, walking and yoga), and 3) issues about nutrition and health.  Of course I also consider weightier things like the temporary end of the federal government shutdown, the sad passing of a former neighbor, and the goings on in the lives of friends, family and my town.  So I’m gonna touch on the three themes, and perhaps we’ll stumble upon some insight or wisdom useful to you.  But sometimes, a blog is just a web log of what’s going on, and its not going to change your life.  To quote the farmer in the movie Babe, “That’ll do, pig.  That’ll do. Continue reading →

14 Years Not a Slave to Cars

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 9 Comments

In what’s become an annual post, now for the fourth year in a row, I am obligated contractually (by Mother Earth) to inform you that I am still carless.  Losing my car on January 25, 2005 was not my choice.  Continuing to do without one has been.  What does it all mean?  Well, I mostly bike (4,554 miles in 2018, to be exact).  I also walk to get around, though that’s more for exercise, 30′ a day.  I have also used the bus, ridden in friends’ cars, and twice last year I borrowed cars for extended periods.  So while I’m not 100% internal combustion engine-free, I still do not own a car.  I don’t want a medal, but I do think it’s an important accomplishment worth blogging about.  Thanks for reading.

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Some of the Bike Blogs I Follow – Part 2

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

After a couple of posts about creativity, I’m casting about for a topic more about my main theme of bicycling.  So, I thought I might talk about my free visit to a registered dietitian today.  But I can summarize that in four words:  less sugar, more vegetables.  OK, so that topic is deadly boring as cold toast.  And toast is something I gave up with all the processed grains last year, to no visible effect whatsoever in terms of weight loss, energy (actually it’s lower), or ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound.  Next! Continue reading →

Thoughts on Melissa McCarthy’s Movie About a Writer’s Struggle to Succeed

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

It’s the opposite of my last post about being inspired by creative people. The recent Melissa McCarthy movie “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” paints a bleak picture of a lonely, struggling writer who turns to forgery to pay her bills.  McCarthy was nominated for a Golden Globe for her moving portrayal of one author’s quest for respect and success.  It’s difficult to write about a movie without spoilers, but I’ll try.  This isn’t a review so much as some thoughts about the difficulties for writers to be creative and stay true to their vision while dealing with the realities of commerce.  This is a theme I often struggle with as I continue to blog and write my book without any compensation in sight.  A review in Town and Country was titled “Can You Ever Forgive Me Is the Funny-Smart-Sad Crime Caper You’ve Been Waiting For”  .  By the way, it’s based on a true story.

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Finding Your Muse: How Being Around Other Creative People Helps You Create

~ A Dude Abikes

Last night I attended my first Third Thursday free event held by the Texas Writers League.  I’d heard of the League, but it took me hearing their director Michael Nolin speak and also met him at another event, the One Page Salon, to get me to a TWL event.  After the panel, I went to a book release party for OPS host Owen Egerton, who has helped inspired me to keep on writing and to call myself a writer.  At the latter event I met a couple involved in the Austin film industry, and had a good long conversation with them about their art.  And then a fellow blogger made a really heartfelt comment about a recent post of mine.  A day later I still find myself energized by this synchronicity.  So I gotta write about it.

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A Dude Abikes in the News!: One Year Later…

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 8 Comments

…I’m Still Ready for My Close-Up

That’s right, A Dude Abikes was featured in the local newspaper.  I blogged about it on January 15, 2018, and since it’s exactly a year later today, it seems appropriate to remind older readers, new followers and visitors, too.  The blog is titled “Read All About It!  A Dude Abikes Featured in the Austin American-Statesman.”  While it did not catapult me to stardom or anything, I thought it was a pretty decent write-up.  It was by the now former reporter and author of the Fit City blog, Pam LeBlanc.  (She continues to write about her travel and fitness adventures at this link.)  In the year since that post came out, I have continued on my own journey.  Please click on through to read more!

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Austin, Texas Weekend Bike News: Around the Town

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A Visitor of Some Renown

Dr Lugo in town.png

Dr. Adonia E. Lugo, (maybe I’ll call her Doctor Wheelgood), who is Affiliate Faculty in Urban Sustainability at Antioch University Los Angeles, was here in Austin for the Imagine Austin Speaker Series.  Her talk was called, “Mobility Justice: People Power & the Future of Urban Transportation.”   Those in attendance said it was quite good.  I wouldn’t know.

That’s because unfortunately, I didn’t hear about it until after the fact, which really bummed me out.  A guy who knew about it said he was sure I was the one who told him — until he noticed I wasn’t there.  Well, duh!  I actually blogged about her recently in The Invisible Or Utility Bicyclist An Ignored Population.  In it I reference her book (which I need to get and read and review here).  It’s called  Bicycle/Race: Transportation, Culture, & Resistance, a memoir about racial justice and sustainable transportation.  The good news is that her talk was recorded on video and will be forthcoming at this City of Austin link. Continue reading →

The Austin Mobility Plan: Sounds Nice, but Will It Fly?

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Today’s main local paper Austin American-Statesman had an article titled “Austin’s strategic mobility plan hits home stretch.”  It looks at ways to improve bike lanes, sidewalks, public transit and even roads so that people can move about the city better.  The deadline for answering a poll about the plan is Sunday, January 13th, so the update is welcome.  It also reveals some cracks in the fuselage.  planes, trains and automobiles

(Is anyone getting my Planes, Trains and Automobiles reference?  Hello, anyone?  We miss you, John Candy.)  Minor things like how will it be paid for, and will people agree to give up car lanes.  A Dude has some thoughts, so let’s take off, eh, hosers? Continue reading →

Addicted to Biking (and Sugar) or Just Committed to Goals (and Earning a Reward)?

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 7 Comments

I’ve been reflecting alot about my third mega-mileage year in a row, since I’m seeming to continue a daily amount of bicycling and walking. 5,143 Miles in 2018: 4,554 Biking + 589 Walking. Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good for A Dude! I haven’t added or subtracted any New Year’s Resolutions, so I’m wondering if it’s still healthy for me. Especially since I’m generally sleep-deprived and tired if not downright exhausted. Also having a regular if not daily or more encounter with chocolately goodness going into my grocery hole. Then I saw a National Geographic article about addiction and this post about exercise addiction from follower A Better Man 21. It’s as good a topic as any so I’m going to address it, hopefully briefly.

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