Commerce via the bicycle, Coming full circle

Escalating bike theft hits Sacramento hard

2012-11-20T18:33:12Z

It's been said that raw statistics do not lie. But what happens when only one out of 10 bike thefts get reported?

You would think crime statistics would be important for our sometimes fair city to get a handle on, but when a greater majority of its citizens would rather forget what just happened to them, it's time to change the communication lines of the most telling of all statistics: crime.

After several conversations with law enforcement about bike crime and about a recent bike theft from a few of our local bike shops, I’ve reached the conclusion that our police force is weary and stretched out.

Bike theft is very painful as most of this readership will tell you. But most all bike theives get a slap of the wrist and never see time behind bars. It’s a misdemeanor to steal someone’s bicycle worth under $1,000.

One officer said to not even bother pressing charges after a bike at my shop was recently never returned on a test spin. It will only cost you a lot of time from work, I was told. Another officer shrugged off the question with "it’s the justice system."

More concern from store operators would help address the problem, specifically the Safeway on 19th Street, which is known for being the epicenter of bike theft. On any given day, you can find a chopped cable lock or bikes missing wheels and saddles near the well hidden from view bike racks. It seems that store management could care less what happens to their customers’ modes of transportation outside as long as they spend their money inside.

The long and the short of it is far too many bikes are disappearing without a trace, and this calls for more, not less investigation.

I invite a discussion on what to do about this issue, as it really is one of our most chronic problems in Sacramento.

Disclosure: John Boyer is the owner of Edible Pedal, a bike shop and delivery service in Midtown

G.R.A.S. event brings awareness to the importance of composting.

2012-05-09T17:20:36Z

Please join us at our Compost Awareness Celebration! - Wed. May 9th @ Fremont Park with the City of Sacramento and GRAS restaurants like The Waterboy, Tuli Bistro, Selland Family and Hot Italian. We would love to have your organization represented at this event, which will be a fundraiser for GRAS, and have a free festival for kids. This is Sacramento’s premiere Food Cycle Celebration!
The event is to be 1) a limited $25 Tasting Flight provided by GRAS restaurants (to benefit GRAS); 2) FREE educational festival for kids and adults (with music and beer/wine sold separately in Beer Garden).
Including: Ella Dining Room and Bar, The Waterboy, Tuli Bistro, Mulvaney’s B&L, Restaurant Thir13en, Selland’s Market, Hot Italian, Sierra Nevada Brewery, local wineries, more.

“Compost Awareness Celebration - Wednesday, May 9th, 5:00-8:00 pm @ Fremont Park.
Celebrate composting, and the restaurants and farms who "Complete the food loop - Farm to Table /Table to Farm!" Demos for Kids! Beer and Wine for Grownups! This is an educational festival about composting, the local food cycle, and preserving our fertile Valley soils.

See what Sacramento restaurants, schools, residents and kids are doing to reduce food waste going into our landfills and keep our ground fertile. The event will be a fundraiser for GRAS, with a free festival for kids and may include music performances, and a possible showing of the movie Dirt! @ Hot Italian. This will be a “No-Waste” Event.

A Celebration by:
Atlas Disposal • City of Sacramento • Sacramento Community Gardens • CA Food Literacy Center • Slow Food Sacramento • Theodore Judah Elementary • Worm Fancy • Rosemont High • Pesticide Watch • Edible Pedal • EPA - Food Recovery Challenge • Edible Schoolyards • and More

Disclosure: Edible Pedal recycles cork from same restaurants partnering with G.R.A.S.

Wilie Weir comes to Sacramento

2010-02-07T19:40:14Z

Famed author from Carmichael Willie Weir has booked 3 shows for next week at REI. The world traveller by bicycle puts on a fine show that combines humor, drama and inspiration. The timing is perfect as Sacramento suffers through its economic woes. Willy brings answers to the dilema of how one can travel on the cheap.

When Willie gets on stage its clear his objective is to create pedal powered world travelers with every breath. The fear mongering intention that makes up the Media world of today is overmatched when it comes to Willies message. We have all heard it before, the family member who tells you "oh you mus'nt go there! Its too dangerous!" Simply put Willie Weir is a native treasure to Sacramento.

Shows are Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Very entertaining so dont miss it. Proceeds go to 3 fine nonprofits; SABA,the Sacramento Bike Kitchen and The Mustard Seed Spin

http://www.willieweir.com/

An old friend as an agent for change

2008-11-04T06:52:03Z

Steamers of Old Sac is pulling out an old friend to get the product out . If you see a bright orange Dutch delivery bike with big baskets for and aft full of salads,panini and homemade soup consider this the next revolution will not be motorized. Human power and the beautiful creation known simply as the bicycle, team up once again to save the day. Yep you got it. Steamers is going green and bringing to your workplace fine foods and drink to your door without fossil fuels. You will now be able to say I did something today for mother earth and the survival of mankind. Think I'm kidding? Think again. China now owns us financially and they did it with a population that uses the bike as its main source of transport.

'Just chew on that factoid a moment while you wash it down this winter with Steamers hot carmel cider. Riding your bike of course.