This Week's News, and Time-Saving Pre Long Ride Recipes

Lanes:

Bike lanes have become an issue politicians in DC have to address in their campaigns.  This is a welcome development, though if you believe what politicians say, you may qualify for public assistance afforded to people with low intelligence.
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24223/david-catanias-platform-supports-metro-streetcars-bus-lanes-bike-lanes-transit-oriented-development-/

Share:

Capitol Bike Share had a banner year, and now they are expanding.  In a city that is filled with people who have never learned to share, this is great news.
http://dcist.com/2014/09/capital_bikeshare_announces_new_sta.php

Citibike has racked up late fees.  (A lot of puns.  Arguably too many.)  Hey, we have all been there.  So, to the tardy, lingering cyclist, who is keeping the system afloat, thanks.  I'm sure you were warned that your procrastination or indolence would not pay.  But that was wrong.  Your contribution has helped society.  Please keep up the slow, leisurely work.
http://dcist.com/2014/09/capital_bikeshare_announces_new_sta.php

Policy and Advocacy:

You knew it was coming, but here it is.  Of the new DC households, 88% are car free.  Which is great, like being lice free, or drug free, or pox free.  Only better.
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/24180/88-of-new-dc-households-are-car-free/

The helmet debate continues.  In Canada, one post argues that scrapping helmet laws is the key to adding cyclists.  The likelihood we will do this in the litigious United States - 0%.
http://www.the-peak.ca/2014/09/we-must-scrap-helmet-laws-to-encourage-and-improve-cycling/

Have bike lanes actually sped up traffic and reduced congestion in New York.  Indeed Grasshopper (or detractors, or Dorothy Rabino'-you-know-who-you-are).
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/8/6121129/bike-lanes-traffic-new-york

The Techonomy Conference is happening in Detroit and Jeff Olson, founder of Alta Bikes, the one that provides the bikes and docks to many bike shares, has written a post about how bike sharing is essential to a sustainable world.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/techonomy/2014/09/14/sharing-bikes-can-lead-to-a-sustainable-world/

The North American Bike Share Association hopes to help bike share programs to avoid problems, like when the San Francisco system discovered its software company had declared bankrupcy.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/national-association-may-help-bay-area-bike-share/Content?oid=2898653

Events:

If you love Baltimore, if you love John Waters or Barry Levinson movies, F. Scott Fitzgerald's writings (sober and post success-caused-depression), or those crab cakes they serve at the place nearest third base at the stadium, then you can ride the Charm City Cyclocross on September 20.  It starts at Druid Hill Park, which provides you with an opportunity to use the word "Druid" in a sentence without some wild construct that no one else can follow.
http://charmcitycross.com

Recipes:

Basic French salad dressing
1 cup olive oil
2 table spoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup to 1 cup white wine vinegar  (must be a balance that you like)
Put it in a small glass container, like the one that holds Dijon mustard
Shake until it emulsifies
Store in the fridge
Toss it on mescalin/spring mix/rocket
Add Herbs du Province to taste or not
Shave hard cheese on the salad with a vegetable grater
Put in fridge
Make it Thursday for a Saturday ride
It will last a week

Fast Quiche

Buy an unsweetened pie crust at the store
mix 6 eggs with about a half a cup of half and half or whole milk
take frozen spinach out of freezer
microwave 1 cup frozen spinach until warm, press the spinach with a spoon and drain the water off of the heated spinach
crumble about 1/2 cup of feta cheese into the pie crust
whip the egg and milk mixture with a fork until it looks uniform in color
add salt and pepper (very little)
put the spinach in the pie crust
pour the egg mixture on top, put it in the oven on 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until a knife comes out without goopy egg mixture on it when you put it into the quiche
store in fridge and eat after long ride by heating in the microwave for about two minutes
Make Friday night and forget about it until after your long ride when you become ravenous and crazed

So if I see you in the bike lanes, easing traffic, or dilly dallying with a share bike, let's be smug.
Elisa P.