Saturday’s DRC police blotter reports that a biking woman riding thwarted a man’s attempt to kidnap a child on Cooper Creek Rd. I don’t know the details, but that is a popular route to ride up towards Lake Ray Roberts, the Greenbelt, and the Clear Creek Nature Preserve.

2700 block of Cooper Creek Road — A woman riding her bike Friday helped a teenage girl in distress, according to a Denton police report.

The woman said she helped the girl escape the driver of a pickup, who appeared to be trying to kidnap her, and took her to a nearby house to call police.

The girl told police that the bus drops her off at the corner and her brother usually picks her up from there, but he was running late so she decided to walk home.

The girl reported that as she was walking home a man exited the passenger door of the pickup and told her to stop. She said she then began to run away and the man chased her until the woman intervened.

 

It’s hard to say if riding a bike made a difference here, versus driving a car, but there’s no debating that you are more aware and connected to the immediate environment while riding bike. You’re usually traveling much slower and have more time to notice things. I’ve asked the Denton Police for more details, and if anyone knows the cyclist who protected the child, feel free to contact me at info@bikedenton.org.

Seen in front of Banter/SCRAP/Querencia.

Just before the new year, I went out and explored the Corinth mountain bike trails on my CX bike, and I snapped these photos on the  first section, just off the Denton Katy rail trail. It’s the least challenging section of the trails, but I really like the aesthetic. Creek, grazing horses and cows, barns, timber fence. The rest of the trail is twisty, as it has to be in such a small space, but it’s still fun to ride and easy enough that I’ve done it on wider road tires (32c). It’s the only real trail you can easily bike to from within Denton, and for that, I appreciate the hell out of it.

I ride with all kinds of different pedals and foot retention. I like the right tool for the job, and I don’t obsess about any one approach: SPD, platforms, clips, straps, powergrips. I found a new favorite combo this week: pedal straps + dress shoes. Velo City straps, Ecco shoes.

It. Just. Feels. So. Right.

Bike-specific clothes have their uses, but as I like to say:

Ride often, in normal clothes, to normal destinations. Replace even one car trip a week. Make it look fun and easy. Carry stuff.

While out moving tools to Querencia’s new shop on the square today, I ran into a friend wearing these perfect Avocet M20 touring shoes.

No, she didn’t get them on ebay for $70, she got them at Denton Thrift for $4. Score!

Last night, Denton’s P&Z board voted 7-0 to approve the Bike Plan after spoken support from 7 year old Zarian (pictured above) and Amber Briggle, and supportive comment cards. Nobody opposed the plan.

The next and final stop for the Bike Plan is at city council in February, and that is the public’s last opportunity to give input and show support.

The turnout (for the Bike Plan agenda item) at last night’s meeting was low, but that’s unsurprising given the number of public Bike Plan meetings held since the effort started in 2009. It just seems easier to get turnout for something people are fighting against rather than fighting for. Also, a general lack of controversy might convey an impression that the Bike Plan has enough momentum to carry itself all the way through to fruition. Regardless, the final passage will have a celebratory element and I’d wager that turnout + passage = party.

Strangely, the P&Z chair (Jay Thomas) somehow neglected to read the citizen comment cards aloud, ignoring a standard public hearing protocol. The agenda discussion was also halted abruptly and put to a vote, while it was obvious some commissioners wanted to continue discussion. While the resulting vote was positive, the process was stunted.

Commissioner Devin Taylor pressed engineering staff to ask how the public would continue to give input on the plan (for route preferences, etc), and the staff replied that citizens can continue to email in suggestions. That’s a bit guarded, and I think resurrecting the Bike Plan Advisory Committee is more openly engaging of the public. An official 311 system for reporting street issues (amongst others) could also be of huge value to Denton. Austin has it, Dallas has it, Plano has it, and we could use it.

Starting January 1st, 2012, we’re growing up and expanding indoors. This week, we signed a lease with the SCRAP (based in Portland, OR) nonprofit for a garage shop space on Cedar St, just off the Denton square. SCRAP is opening this Denton location for their recycled art-supplies, and they’ve graciously agreed to sublease the shop space to us. While much cozier in size than our existing shop, the new location has a roof, bathrooms, classroom, and a mailing address.

New shop facade:

You can suspend a bike by the saddle; just insert the seatpost between the two tubes on top of the repair stations.

On tonight’s Traffic Safety commission agenda, they’re set to discuss a bike safety education program for Denton. The agenda backup includes bike safety promotional material from the Austin Bike Plan, BikeTexas, and a Maine advocacy group. The commission will also preview road signs for the Safe Passing ordinance.  Since the federal road manual (MUTCD) doesn’t have a Safe Passing sign, this will be a preview of a proposed sign, possibly one used by another city or state.

Since tonight’s meeting isn’t a public hearing, there’s no opportunity for public input, but spectating is always welcome. 5:30 PM, Service Center Training Room – 901 A Texas Street.

One last tidbit: page 33 of the agenda mentions that the Bike Plan will go to city council for final approval in February 2012.

——

Wade Beauchamp of Vulture Cycles hammered this sheet metal into a fender on his shop floor.

Tommasini wormhole.

Nutcase helmet of Laura Crawford, A Path Less Pedaled.