Habitat for Humanity + Bicycles = Awesome.

Since I was a small child I have been interested in home building. Later came architecture, skyscrapers, city planning, and so on. I love watching anything go from bits and pieces to a fully functioning something. Legos were my favorite toy ever, so much to create, limited only by your imagination.

This later, when I was in college, led to a fascination with the idea of Habitat for Humanity, but I have never taken the time to figure out how/when to volunteer: until now.

This week the Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter project for Habitat for Humanity is focusing on rehab'ing and building in a North Minneapolis neighborhood. Local non-profit TLC (Transit for Livable Communities) put out a call for people with bicycles and trailers to form a pedal powered delivery team to deliver tools and supplies to the various sites around the neighborhood. You BET I signed up!

On Wednesday I will finally have my chance to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, all the better, it's practically in my back yard and I get to participate while on my bicycle. Not to mention this will be the FIRST thing for which I bust out the Burley Honey Bee trailer that was gifted to us at one of our many baby showers prior to Baby Dubs arrival. (Baby Dubs will get his first ride in it next spring!)

Excited does not even begin to describe my emotion over all of this.

hdb,

Mackenzie

Nice Ride

(Photo: Courtesy of NiceRidemn.org)

I finally did it.

I finally went for my first post-prego bike ride, and it was on a Nice Ride bicycle.

Here in Minneapolis, during my maternity leave, a new bicycle share system was launched. So far as I can tell, it is amazing.

* Nice Ride *

The bicycles are comfortable, the seats are big and easily adjusted up and down, the frames are step through, making them more functional for more people, they have three speeds, a bell, integrated headlights, and a nice basket/bungee set up on the front for carrying purses, briefcases, shopping bags, what have you. Oh yes, they also have skirt/coat guards (!).

My ride from a meeting in Downtown Minneapolis to my office at the University of Minnesota really was a nice ride. I was stopped in the left turn lane awaiting the light change, and a man in a car next to me asked how I like it. Seriously, if these bright green, can't miss 'em, bicycles just might be our answer to world peace. OK, maybe not, but everyone sure is interested in them!

Now, I have only one request for improvement: a conscious effort to educate Nice Ride users on the unlawfulness of sidewalk riding. Tall order.

I can't wait for this thing to expand! The first 30 minutes are free (for annual members). It is a way to keep the bicycles in circulation, because most people will try to make short trips, within the 30 minute window, rather than hogging the same bicycle for hours on end.

Can you tell how I feel about all of this? I'm totally sold. It will be interesting to see how things go on campus once all of the students return for fall semester. Good thing those clever Nice Ride folks went with bicycles that are sturdy, easy to use, but also difficult to rip off, and OBVIOUSLY not anyone's personal bicycle.

hdb,
Mackenzie