Our Northfield Area Task Force on Nonmotorized Transportation is preparing to make some recommendations regarding on-street bikeways, including signage. The photo on the left is from Portland, Oregon (credit: BikePortland.org) and includes distance and time information as well as destination. I took the photo on the right in Duluth, Minnesota, and it includes only the names of destinations. I particularly like the Portland sign.

Although I was driving in Duluth with my family, I was pleased to see they have an extensive bike route network throughout the city. I also saw trails and lots of bikes near the waterfront area of downtown, on Lake Superior. Did not see any bike lanes.

I took this photo of a double rainbow yesterday evening . Can you see the second rainbow above the more visible one?

It was a great sight, following quickly on the heels of a storm that had passed overhead from west to east.

I’m teaching my class, “The Practical Cyclist,” again this Saturday, July 18, 11 am, in Welch, Minnesota (see Google map). The location is the Welch trailhead facility on the Cannon Valley Trail. The class will be approximately an hour, then we’ll take a ride on the trail. Weather forecast: partly sunny, 72 degrees. Perfect!

Here is a course description:

The Practical Cyclist

Designed for those who want to replace car trips with cycling trips or simply travel sustainably and enjoyably, this classroom-based course will examine the advantages of cycling; potential obstacles; equipment and strategies; safety issues; and cycling advocacy. This is not intended to be a road skills course. Taught by Bill Ostrem, who has been a “practical cyclist” for over twenty years and has served as chair of the Northfield Area Task Force on Nonmotorized Transportation.

Minnesotans are heaving a sigh of relief that the election is finally over and we now have two U.S. senators. Thank goodness Coleman did not push his case further.

Who would have thought that the wild-haired young comedian on Saturday Night Live would one day become a senator? Only as Al Franken began to write books responding to the dominance of the political right did he emerge as a potential politician. Now I pray that he governs wisely.