I had a joyous morning of bike commuting today. The tree leaves are at postcard levels of beauty, and the balmy weather seems a bit unreal.

If you usually put your bicycle in the garage at the end of September, tomorrow is forecast to be grand. It could be a good day to get your bike out.

Did you ride transit to work? Your potential joys are at least equal of your bike commuting cousins. Why not get off the bus a few stops earlier and enjoy your neighborhood? You'll arrive home in a good mood from the autumnal beauty and the endorphin release that accompanies physical activity.

We know that we're in for a La Nina fall/winter season, but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the outdoors during your commute.

TriMet has some great tips for fall and winter riding.

 If you'd like to give fall and winter bike commuting a try, you can check out our free All Season Cycling workshop at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 20th at Ron Russell Middle School at 3955 at SE 112nd Avenue. This is part of one of the City of Portland's Fix It Fairs where there will be dozens of workshops on healthy living and saving energy costs by making your house more energy efficient.

If you learn by reading, you may want to download our Guide to Your Ride or Riding in the Rain and and Night Riding Tips. You can also order it here.

Photo reminder that it is indeed fall. 

Workshop Calendar – Join us! Or contact us for a workshop tailored to your school.

Nov 15 (MON), 3:45-4:45pm, N / NE Portland Safe Routes Conversation – learn, share, and network with your neighbors

North Portland Library (512 N Killingsworth Library, 97217)

Nov 16 (TU), 4:00-5:30pm, Safe City Cycling for Families

The Flying Rhino Building (1440 NW Overton)

Dec 6 (MON), 1:00-2:00pm, SE Portland Safe Routes Conversation – learn, share, and network with your neighbors

Belmont Library (1038 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, 97214)

Jan 19 (WED), 6:00-7:00pm, East Portland Safe Routes Conversation – learn, share, and network with your neighbors

Holgate Library Branch (7905 SE Holgate Blvd, 97206)

Jan 20 (TH), 12:00-1:30pm, Portland Bicycle Brown Bag, Safe Routes to School: Agonies of Defeat and Exultations of Success

Portland Building, 2^nd Floor, Room B (1120 SW 5^th Ave, 97204)

Feb 24 (TH), 3:30-4:30pm, Basic Bike Maintenance for Parents and Students

Location TBD

TBD, Walk on the West-Side – Walking School Buses for SW and NW Portland

Mar 1 (TU), 12:00-100pm, Walk + Bike Challenge Month – Getting Organized

Portland Building, 9^th Floor, Broadway Room (1120 SW 5^th Ave, 97204)

Mar TBD - Spring Break Safe Routes Summit

RSVP to Clay at clay.veka@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-4998.

Childcare and translation services provided upon request.

After the Thanksgiving break, our Safe Routes Ambassadors will be out teaching our Pedestrian Safety class to 2nd graders at 40 schools throughout the city. Will your second grader being receiving our class? Check out to see if your school is participating below.

This Friday at 5:00pm hundreds of people will don their brightest neon, blindingest reflectors, and luminescent lumens (aka bike lights) in Pioneer Square to raise awareness about being safe and seen on the roads. 

The aim is to fill the square with light so wear flashing lights, fun lit apparel and reflective gear. Light up your bike, too! There'll be a Best Lit Bike Contest winners will receive $75 gift certificates to Bike Gallery or Clever Cycles (report in by 6 p.m.).

Free flashing lights and other reflective bits will be handed out. Plus, the latest reflective wear and gear will be modeled. A fun, easy-paced bike ride around downtown will also be led by the BTA (start time is 6:30 p.m.). Bike Gallery will be offering FREE bike check-ups for those interested.

Entertainment provided by local LED Hoop Dancers with Sparkle Movement. Hot Chocolate and other get-you-ready-for-winter goodies will be served.

Let's rally together to get the word out about being seen and being safe!

Sponsored by Drive Less Save More, TriMet, BTA, Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, City of Portland, Metro, BTA, Bike Gallery, Clever Cycles, Sock Dreams and Portland Mall Management.

Fatherhood has brought a number of new experiences for me: not sleeping or having any free time just to name a few.  Because my wife drops our daughter off on her way to work in the evening and we take the bus home, being a dad has also changed my perspective on transit.

Before my daughter was born, riding the bus or MAX meant 30 minutes to read, listen to music, or just zone out.  But with Dehlia in tow, transit looks a lot different. 

She is entranced watching our fellow riders, and often they are quite smitten with her too. (I have to admit, she's pretty cute when she's flirting with everyone on board.)  And of course being a good dad, I try to talk to her about all the things that are going on.

For example, as the rain came pouring down during last Monday's evening commute I told Dehlia what everyone around us was doing: a crossword puzzle, reading a book, reading a Kindle, playing with iPhone-y-things (several people), one guy looked like he was holding his own mini-concert in his head, and the fellow next to him was voting!  Right next to them someone was diligently poring over some serious work - briefs from a court case, perhaps.  All that was happening within five feet of us on the back of the bus.

Transit really is a public space unlike any other we have in this country.  In so much of the US, transportation has become a solitary endeavor pursued in private space (even bicycles qualify under this definition).  But transit puts us all together if only for a few moments, while we continue pursuing our individual lives.  And in that space, creative, business, intellectual, and civic activities flourish.  That's pretty amazing for the evening commute home.