Cycle 20Ten Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Internship

Day 66

2010-08-18T14:24:00.003-04:00

I finally have had time to post some of the information I've collected to the blog! Those Cascades can sure be a pain for a quality internet signal.

We are now relaxing at a Dairy Queen now with only 25 miles between us and the Pacific. We are sure to remain here for at least a 2 hour period enjoying our last moments together as a group. I will post more on this amazing experience later, but I can say for sure now that this has truly been one of the most fun tasks I've ever undertaken.

Next stop: the beach at Anacortes!

Day 65

2010-08-18T14:05:00.006-04:00

Aug. 16th—Washington Pass to Concrete, WA Bikeability Assessment

The Cycle 20Ten crew finished up the Cascades recently by bicycling from Washington Pass to Concrete, WA (approximately 72 miles). The conditions in the mountains were dynamic ranging from beautiful, uninterrupted descents to areas requiring evasive maneuvering to avoid rocks and/or potholes. Traffic wasn’t too obnoxious given we were averaging nearly 25 miles per hour and the presence of fairly large shoulders. Coach B (group leader) shot some great footage of the descent I can hopefully use to illustrate these conditions upon our return. The following is the bikeability assessment with photos for our route that day.

Washington Highway 20 (38 miles east of Newhalem, WA) 8:30 AM

1. 5
2. 4
3. 4
4. 2
5. 4 foot shoulder present

Washington Highway 20 (23 miles east of Newhalem, WA) 9:20 AM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 1
5. 2 foot shoulder present with guardrails and some rock debris

Washington Highway 20 (17 miles east of Newhalem, WA) 10:30 AM

1. 4
2. 4
3. 4
4. 2
5. 4-5 foot shoulder present

Washington Highway 20 (8 miles east of Newhalem, WA) 11:45 AM

1. 3
2. 2
3. 4
4. 2
5. 4-5 foot shoulder present with some rock debris

Washington Highway 20 (8 miles west of Newhalem, WA) 1:30 PM

1. 2
2. 4
3. 2
4. 2
5. 1-2 foot shoulder present with vegetation/ tree branches often in shoulder

Washington Highway 20 (10 miles east of Concrete, WA) 3:15 PM
1. 3
2. 4
3. 2
4. 2
5. 2 foot shoulder present

Day 64

2010-08-18T13:58:00.003-04:00

Group Meal Washington Pass

Price $27.21

Satisfaction:
MC:5
CL: 4.5
MR: 4.5
JD: 5
AJ:4.5
MF:: 4.5

-5 Western Family Penne Rigate
Serving size 2 oz (6 total)
Calories 210, 10 from fat
Total fat 1 g
No sodium, vitamin A or C

-3 Muir Glen Organic Vodka Sauce
Serving sz ½ cup (6 total)
Calories 90, 40 from fat
Total fat 4.5 g, sat. 2.5g
Sodium 360 mg
Vit A 10%
Vit C 10%

-1 loaf of Wheat French Bread

Waste: pictures attached. ¼ can of pasta sauce not consumed

Day 63 (cont.)

2010-08-18T13:53:00.004-04:00

Twisp, WA Individual Meals

JD (restaurant)
Price $9.75 Satisfaction 4
-Chicken Ranch Wrap
White chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, flour tortilla
Half a plate of French fries with ketchup
Mug root beer (2 glasses)

AJ (grocery)
Price $7.00 Satisfaction 4
-1/2 pound of chicken salad
-1/2 package of Triscuit Roasted Garlic
Serving Size 6 crackers (10 total)
Calories 120, 40 from fat
Total fat 4.5 g, Sat. 0.5 g
Sodium 135 mg
No Vit A/C
Bearclaw Danish
Serving size 1 piece
Calories 380, 160 from fat
Total Fat 17 g, Sat. 3 g, Trans 3.5
Sodium 560 mg
Vit A 8%
Vit C 0
-1 banana
-1/2 Sunny D
Serving size 8 fl oz, 8 total
Calories 80
Total fat 0
Sodium 170 mg
Vit A 0
Vit C 100%

MF (restaurant)
Price: $9.10 Satisfaction3.5
-3 flour soft shell tacos with salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and ground beef
-2 glasses of Mug Root Beer
-1 glazed donut

MR (restaurant)
Price: $10.00 Satisfaction: 4.5
-1/3 lb burger with mayo, lettuce, mustard, onions, ketchup, cheese, on white bread bun.
-Half plate of French fries with ketchup and pepper
-2 glazed donuts

MC (restaurant)
-Caesar Chicken Wrap with flour tortilla, tomatoes, lettuce, ranch dressing.
-Half Plate of French fries with ketchup
-2 glasses of Mug Root Beer

CL (grocery)
-5 oz of Baby Spinach with Kraft Ranch Dressing (4 fl oz)
-1 lb of chicken salad
-1 orange powerade
Serving size 8 fl oz, 4 total
Calories 50
Sodium 100 mg
No vitamin A, C, fat
-Tyson Chicken Strips
Serving size 3 oz, 2 total
Calories 120, 30 from fat
Total fat 3 g, sat. 1g
Sodium 310mg
Vit A/C 0

Waste Pictures from grocery meals:

Day 63

2010-08-15T19:22:00.002-04:00

Absolutely exhausting day.

Today the Cycle20Ten team biked up and down Loup Loup Pass to the town of Twisp, WA. We arrived to town after a 20 mile climb and 46 mile day. I finally had the opportunity to post the three previous blogs I've compiled over the last two days (limited service in the mountains of Washington). Now, everyone is relaxing poolside and enjoying flat land.

With only three days left, I hope to conduct one more group/individual meal comparison and one more bikeability assessment. As of now, the towns we've traveled through in Washington typically have some form of grocery/supermarket thus limiting the usefulness of a corner store assessment in other town food establishments.

Two more passes and some rolling hills before the Pacific. Pretty hard to believe.

Day 62

2010-08-15T19:07:00.002-04:00

Riverside, Washington Corner Store Assessment

Background: Riverside is a small community in eastern Washington. It has only 1 small grocery store/convenience store and one bar/restaurant. Most locals purchase groceries from the neighboring town of Omak (7 miles). Although Riverside does not sponsor a local farmer’s market, Omak does hold a biweekly market seasonally. No out-of-ordinary activity levels were witnessed, yet water recreation may occur during earlier hours of the day.

Riverside Grocery (convenience store/grocery store hybrid) 102 North Main Street

1. Healthy Cereals: Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies
2. No skim or 1% milk in stock
3. No baked chips in stock
4. Cracked Wheat (4) and Whole Wheat (4)
5. 100% Juices: orange, apple, cranberry, V8 tomato
6. Fresh produce: carrots, celery, lettuce, tomato, lime, lemon, onion. and potatoes
7. Canned Vegetables: beets, carrots, peas, mixed, corn, green beans, red beans, chili beans
Canned fruits: pineapple, peaches, pears, cocktail

Day 61 part 2

2010-08-15T18:59:00.002-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

August 13th Biking from Colville, WA to the top of Sherman Pass—Approximately 37 miles. Highest everyday used road in Washington...

United States Highway 395/Washington 20 (intersection with Spanish Ferry Rd) 7:30 AM

1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 2
5. 8-10 ft shoulder present

Washington State Highway 20 (intersection with Bisbee Mountain Rd) 9:30 AM

1. 3
2. 4
3. 2
4. 2
5. 2 ft shoulder present in mountainous terrain

Washington State Highway 20 (13 miles east of Sherman Pass Summit) 11 AM

1. 3
2. 3
3. 2
4. 2
5. 1-4 ft shoulder present varying drastically.

Washington State Highway 20 (6 miles east of Sherman Pass Summit) 12:15 PM
1. 3
2. 3
3. 1
4. 2
5. 2 ft shoulder present with sand mixture alongside

Day 61 part 1

2010-08-15T18:45:00.003-04:00

Sherman Pass Individual Meals
---------------------------------------------
JK
Price: $3.87 Satisfaction:2
-2/3 Package of Italian Chef Pasta
Serving size-2 oz (8 total)
Calorie 210 (from fat 10)
Total fat 1 g (0 trans/sat)
Sodium 0 g
Not significant source vitamin A/C
-Western Family Sharp Cheddar
Serving size 10 oz (8 total)
Calories 110 (from fat 80)
Total fat 9 g (Sat-6 g, Trans-0g)
Sodium 180 mg
Vitamin A 6% DV
Vitamin C 0% DV

AK
Price: $4.57 Satisfaction: 4
-Kroger Mac n Cheese
Serving Size 2.5 oz (about 2.5 total)
Calories 380 (from fat 150)
Total fat 1 g (Sat-.5g, trans-0g)
Sodium 570 mg
Vitamin A 15%
Vitamin C 0%
-Knorr Parma Rosa Mix
Serving size 2 tbsp (2.5 total)
Calories 50 (from fat 10)
Total fat 1g (0 sat/trans)
Sodium 560 mg
Vitamin A-4%
Vitamin C-4%
-Barilla Tri Color Rotini
Serving size 2 oz (6 total)
Calorie 200 (from fat 10)
Total fat 1g (0 trans/sat)
Sodium 0
Vitamin A/C 0

RB
Price: $4.70 Satisfaction:4.5
-Pasta Size Cheddar Broccoli
Serving size 2/3 cup (2 total)
Calories 300 (from fat 70)
Total fat 2.5 g (sat-1 g, trans-0g)
Sodium 600 mg
Vitamin A 10 %
Vitamin C 15 %
-1/4 Summer Sausage
Serving size 2 oz (7.2 oz total)
Calories 200 (from fat 150)
Total fat 17 g (Sat 7 g)
Sodium 720 mg
Not significant source of Vit A or C

BB
Price: $4.79 Satisfaction: 5
-Knorr Parma Rosa Mix
Serving size 2 tbsp (2.5 total)
Calories 50 (from fat 10)
Total fat 1g (0 sat/trans)
Sodium 560 mg
Vitamin A-4%
Vitamin C-4%
-Lucerne Monterey Jack (1/2 block)
Serving size 1 oz (8 total)
Calories 80 (from fat 50)
Total fat 6 g (sat-3.5, trans 0)
Sodium 220 mg
Vit A 6
Vit C 0
-Coste Pasta Rigate (1/2 package)
Serving Size 56 g (8 total)
Calories 210 (from fat 10)
Total fat 1 g (0 sat/trans)
Sodium 0
Vit A/C 0

CL
Price: $1.70 Satisfaction: 2
Knorr Pasta Size Cheesy Cheddar
Serving Size ¾ cup (2 total)
Calories 290 (from fat 70)
Total Fat 2 g (Sat 1, trans 0)
Sodium 670 mg
Vitamin A 6 %
Vitamin C 0%

Waste Pictures

Day 60

2010-08-12T21:46:00.003-04:00

Group Meal Analysis

Vegetarian Burrito Group Analysis ($24.72)

---Serving 5 individuals

Ingredients:

-Guerrero Flour Tortillas (2 packages of 8)
Serving size 1 tortilla (8 per package)
Calories=200, calories from fat 50
Total fat=6 grams (Saturated=3 g, Trans=0)
Sodium=330 mg
Vitamin A=0 percent
Vitamin C=0 percent

-3 avocados (no labels)

-Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2 packages)
Serving Size 1 oz (servings 8)
Calories=110 (from fat 80)
Total fat=9 g (sat=6 g, trans=0)
Sodium=170 mg
Vitamin A=6 percent DV
Vitamin C=0 percent DV

Progresso Black Beans (2 cans)
Serving Size 0.5 cups, about 3.5 per container
Calories=100 ( from fat 5)
Total fat=0.5 grams (Sat and trans =0)
Sodium 400 mg
Not significant source of Vitamin A or C

-Pasta Sides, Taco Rice (2 packages)
Serving Size: ½ cup (2.5 servings per container)
Calories 270 (from fat 50)
Fat=1 gram (Saturated and trans=0)
Sodium 800 mg
Vitamin A=10 percent
Vitamin C=4 percent

-Pace Picante Sauce
Serving size 2 tbsp (about 14 servings)
Calories 10 (0 from fat)
Fat=0
Sodium 250 mg
Vit. A=2 percent
Vit. C=0 percent

Level of Satisfaction (out of 5)

JK-5
RB-5
BB-5
AK-4.5
CL-4.5

Waste- photos provided. 1/8 salsa not finished, 1 tortilla, and 1/4 of 1 avocado

Day 59

2010-08-11T19:33:00.006-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Our 62 mile day brought us from Sandpoint, ID to a campground just outside of Ione, WA. We fought a little nasty section of the route with heavy traffic in poor, rainy weather conditions; however, we did enjoy low traffic volume, moderate road conditions, and beautiful weather after our initial 23 mile start. Arriving into camp rather early, many bikers played cards and snacked on sandwiches while discussing the mountains looming in the distance. We have our first "mini" pass tomorrow that will be followed by 5 other legitimate passes. The Cascades will be tough, but I think most people in the group are looking forward to the challenge. As far as internship duties, I am eager to see what Washington holds in terms of bikeability and food access over the next week. Additionally, some guys in the group (mainly Coach B) were finally willing to do a group nutritional analysis tonight at our campground. On the menu... vegetarian burritos. Stay tuned!!

Bike Path (2 miles west of Sandpoint, ID, adjacent to U.S. Highway 2) 8:15 AM

1. 5
2. 5
3. 5
4. 5
5. Bike lane approximately 8-10 ft wide, multidirectional. Also, construction prevented bicyclists from riding upon it for several miles.

United States Highway 2 (approximately 18 miles west of Sandpoint, ID) 9:15 AM
1. 3
2. 2
3. 4
4. 3
5. 5 foot shoulder present with guardrail

Le Clerc Road (beginning of the road at Washington/Idaho border) 11:30 AM

1. 3
2. 4
3. 3
4. 4
5. 4-5 foot shoulder present

Le Clerc Road (intersection with Berry Road) 12:30 PM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 3
5. No shoulder or bike lane present

Le Clerc Road (intersection with Loop Cr. Rd) 2 PM

1. 5
2. 3
3. 1
4. 3
5. No shoulder or bike lane present

7 days and counting...

Days 57 and 58

2010-08-10T18:29:00.002-04:00

The crew cycled into Sandpoint, Idaho yesterday. It was a short, 25 mile day following a late start. A cycling group called Ride Idaho was actually in town prior to our arrival, so we had an eventful evening of storytelling.

Today, many of the guys either went to the movie theater or lounged around our campground's beach. I'm sure that we'll have a big group dinner this evening as well. Tomorrow, we'll get restocked and ready to hit the road as we complete the final stretch of days before reaching the Pacific.

8 days and counting...

Day 56

2010-08-08T23:07:00.003-04:00

Clark Fork, ID Corner Store Assessment

Background: Today we biked 70 miles from Libby, MT to Clark Fork, ID. Clark Fork is a border town that has an approximate population of 500+ people. Most people purchase their groceries from a small market in town that is analyzed below. Additionally, there is one gas station also discussed below. Clark Fork has no locally sponsored farmer's market, but the neighboring town of Hope (8 miles) does host weekly markets during the summer season. Activity levels appear to be high with many children biking around town, playing basketball at the school courts, etc.

Monarch Market (small grocery store) 118 4th Ave.

1. Healthy Cereals: Rice Crisp, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran, Oats and More
2. All types of milk available
3. No baked chips in stock
4. Large selection of wheat breads
5. 100% Juice: apple, orange, white grape, V8, tomato
6. Fresh produce: apples, oranges, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, bell peppers, onions, bananas, onions, potatoes
7. Canned Vegetables: fully stocked
Canned fruits: peaches, fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, pineapple

Clark Fork Beverage (Cenex gas station/liquor store) 218 4th Ave.

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios, Raisin Bran
2. All types of milk
3. Lays baked chips (no single sizes)
4. Multiple packages of Wheat bread (approximately equal to other breads)
5. 100% Juices: orange, pineapple, V8
6. No fresh produce
7. Canned Vegetables: peas, mixed vegetables, green beans, corn, kidney beans
Canned Fruits: pineapple, pears, oranges, peaches

Riding into an off-day tomorrow... Sandpoint, ID here we come!

Day 55

2010-08-07T16:42:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Our 71 mile day took us parallel to the Kootenal River along a high ridge. Needless to say, the scenery and views were breathtaking. We began our travels in Eureka, MT and finished up the day in Libby, MT. With the exception of the portions closest to each of the cities, the route was excellent. We had little traffic, large shoulders, and fair road conditions. We move into Idaho for a couple days tomorrow before beginning the mountain passes in the Cascades!

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 1.5 miles from beginning of road)7:45 AM

1. 2
2. 2
3. 2
4. 4
5. 1 foot shoulder present in poor condition

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 14 miles from beginning of road) 8:45 AM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. 6 foot shoulder present with a guardrail

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 25 miles from beginning of road) 10 AM
1. 5
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. 6 foot shoulder present with a guardrail

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 34 miles from beginning of road) 11 AM
1. 5
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. 6 foot shoulder present with a guardrail

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 18 miles north of Libby, MT) 12:45 PM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. 6 foot shoulder present with a guardrail

Montana State Highway 37 (approximately 6 miles north of Libby, MT) 1:45 PM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 2
4. 3
5. 1 foot shoulder present

Day 54

2010-08-06T23:36:00.003-04:00

Eureka, MT Corner Store Assessment

Background: Eureka is a 1,000 person city in northwestern Montana. It has one convenience store within the town limits that is analysed below. The city also has a grocery store and organic food store within the downtown area which both serve as the main food shopping locations for locals. One citizen stated that the town puts a relatively large emphasis on organic, fresh foods whether it be by purchasing them at the local store or driving outside of the city to one of the many produce gardens. Although it appears that Eureka has a large demand for such foods, it actually does not sponsor a farmer's market. Activity levels seemed moderate with many locals walking around downtown during our stay.

Town Pump (convenience store)Intersection of U.S. 93 & 1 St.

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios, Special K (individual sizes)
2. All types of milk
3. Single sized Lays Baked
4. 2 packages of Wheat
5. 100% Juices: orange, V8, apple, and pineapple/peach mix
6. Fresh produce: oranges, apples, celery, carrots, and fruit cocktail
7. Canned vegetables: green beans and corn
Canned fruits: pineapple, all others in heavy syrup

**The relatively close proximity of the two groceries to the local convenience store likely has an effect upon the low amount of nutritious options.

Day 53

2010-08-05T23:04:00.007-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

The crew started the final stretch of our journey today by biking 72 miles from East Glacier Park, MT to Columbia Falls, MT. Our route took us along United States Highway 2 the whole time. Although the sights were beautiful, the ride was fairly dangerous with high speed drivers and limited shoulders for most of the day. Many bikers mentioned several instances of close encounters at our breaks. Naturally, inadequately sized shoulders and close proximity to vehicles defined the day for us. However, we all made it safely to our destination and enjoyed a variety of fresh fruits with our dinners courtesy of Dr. Alice Ammerman. All the guys said thank you, Alice!

United States Highway 2 (2 miles west of East Glacier, MT) 7:45 AM

1. 3
2. 2
3. 2 (speed limit of 70 mph)
4. 3
5. 2 foot shoulder present

United States Highway 2 (12 miles west of East Glacier, MT) 8:45 AM

1. 2
2. 1
3. 1
4. 3
5. No shoulder present

United States Highway 2 (29 miles west of East Glacier, MT) 10:10 AM
1. 2
2. 3
3. 3
4. 3
5. 6 foot shoulder present

United States Highway 2 (44 miles west of East Glacier, MT) 11:15 AM

1. 2
2. 2
3. 1 (speed limit of 70 mph)
4. 3
5. 3 foot shoulder present with guardrail

United States Highway 2 (4 miles west of West Glacier, MT) 1:45 PM

1. 1
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. 7 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Days 50-52

2010-08-04T17:37:00.004-04:00

Off days at Glacier National Park.

A few photographs of the beautiful scenery:

Day 49

2010-08-01T18:21:00.003-04:00

We made it! One of the biggest milestones on the trip has now been scratched off the list. The Cycle 20Ten crew cruised into East Glacier today after a 52 mile day. The terrible winds, traffic, and heat of Montana has been put behind us now as we begin our 3 day break. We look forward to going on a couple hikes, performing some bike maintenance, and spending more than 7 hours off of the bicycle per day. Laundry, daily showers, and nightly Mexican food will also be on our agenda.

What waits for us on the other side of this respite? Thirteen days of intense biking across the difficult terrain of Montana, Idaho, and Washington. That can wait though.

Congratulations to all the crew members for making it this far under such time constraints. I would also like to thank the parents of the young men on this trip for setting up a rental car for us to travel around the National Park. Time to enjoy some time off!!

Please check out the Cycle 20Ten main website for updates on our adventures in Glacier. I am sure that Coach B will be posting an epic update describing our many fun times over the last couple days. Link may be found on the right hand column of the page.

Some pictures of today's biking:

Day 48

2010-08-01T18:09:00.002-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Sun River to Depuyer MT (70 miles)

United States Highway 89 (intersection Deerfoot Trail, approximately 4.5 miles north of Sun River, MT) 8:30 AM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 3
5. 1 foot shoulder present

United States Highway 89 (intersection with 4th lane, approximately south of Fairfield, MT) 9:45 AM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 3
4. 4
5. 4 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

United States Highway 89 (8 miles north of Fairfield, MT) 11:15 AM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 1
4. 4
5. 1 foot shoulder present in poor condition

United States Highway 89 (6 miles north of Choteau, MT) 3 PM

1. 3
2. 2
3. 1
4. 4
5. No shoulder present

United States Highway 89 (16 miles south of Dupuyer, MT) 4:15 PM
1. 2
2. 3
3. 1
4. 4
5. 0.5 foot shoulder present

United States Highway 89 (7 miles south of Dupuyer, MT) 5:15 PM

1. 3
2. 3
3. 1
4. 2
5. No shoulder present

Day 47

2010-07-30T22:10:00.004-04:00

Corner Store Assessment- Sun River, MT

The crew enjoyed excellent riding conditions today biking from Geyser, MT to Sun River, MT (67 miles). The wind finally cooperated allowing us to arrive to town in plenty of time to enjoy the river and a couple games of spades without being exhausted. We're camped at the local fishing spot right on the river with a huge horse in a pasture being our only visible neighbor. Everyone in the group is looking forward to the three days off in Glacier.

Background: Sun River is located in central Montana and has a population of approximately 100-150. Most locals work in Great Rapids (20 miles away) and buy their groceries there as well. There is no local farmer's market, but the town of Vaughn (8 miles away) does sponsor one weekly. Activity levels appear normal.

Sun River Grocery(convenience/grocery hybrid) Highway 200

1. Healthy Cereals: Corn Flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats, Raisin Bran
2. Only 2% milk
3. No baked chips
4. 2 packages of wheat bread
5. 100% Juice: Orange, Vegetable
6. Fresh produce: onions (not locally grown)
7. Canned vegetables: peas, corn, tomatoes, kidney beans, red beans, chili beans, sweet potatoes
Canned fruits: sliced peaches

Day 46

2010-07-30T21:57:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

The Cycle 20Ten crewed started the day from Judith Gap, MT with a lovely 22 mile ride that took a little over an hour. The pace slowed greatly throughout the rest of the day as we faced terrible headwinds coming out of the west at over 20 mph. Finishing the day with 66 miles, we set up camp in Geyser, MT. Our route today generally had a large amount of traffic, fair to good road conditions, adequately wide shoulders, and fair sightlines. The rolling foothills of Montana would not have been too bad had it not been for the winds we faced. The following is the bikeability assessment for the route along Montana Highway 3 from Judith Gap to Geyser.

Montana Highway 3 (1 mile North of Judith Gap, MT) 8:15 AM (Under Construction)

1. 2
2. 1
3. 1
4. 3
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Montana Highway 3 (17 miles North of Judith Gap, MT) 9 AM

1. 4
2. 5
3. 5
4. 4
5. 8 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (intersection with Harvest Rd, 8 miles North of Eddie’s Corner, MT) 10:15 AM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 3
4. 3
5. 4 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (1 mile South of Windham, 42 miles north of Judith Gap) 11:30 AM
1. 4
2. 3
3. 5
4. 4
5. 8 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (intersection with Running Wolf Rd) 3:25 PM

1. 4
2. 4
3. 4
4. 3
5. 5 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (7 miles north of Stanford, MT) 4:25 PM
1. 4
2. 3
3. 3
4. 3
5. 4 foot wide shoulder present with rumble strips

3 days until Glacier!!

Day 45

2010-07-28T17:56:00.003-04:00

Corner Store Assessment

Finally, the winds took it somewhat easy on us allowing us to bike approximately 65 miles from Lavina, MT to Judith Gap Montana. Taking only two breaks, my group of bikers arrived to town pleasantly early at the time of 2:45. We then walked around town to give me an opportunity to scope out the food access scene in Judith Gap.

Background: Judith Gap is described as a retired couple's town. With only 100-150 people, there were only a couple bars/cafes, one service station, and one grocery/convenience store. Given the small selection at this location, most locals travel to Lewistown (47 miles away). Also, there is no local farmer's market. Local's activity levels seem to be greatly hindered by the large amount of construction inside the town. It appears that well over half of the streets and sidewalks are closed with the rest being in very poor condition as a result of the dramatic increase in use. Construction has been occurring for a couple of months according to one local and appears to be in its middle stages at best.

Judith Gap Mercantile (convenience store/small grocery/cafe) 109 High Street

1. Healthy Cereals: Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Corn Flakes
2. No skim milk in stock (2% and 1% in stock)
3. No baked
4. Wheat (1), 7 Grains (2)
5. 100% Juice: Orange, Apple, Vegetable
6. Small selection of produce available. The freshness of the products was somewhat questionable. The produce included: oranges, apples, onions, lemons, cucumber, tomato, potato, bananas, and garlic.

7. Canned vegetables: mixed vegetables, pinto beans, kidney beans, corn, peas, green beans, and carrots.
Canned fruits: N/A-- all in heavy syrups

Day 44

2010-07-28T00:00:00.004-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

The Cycle 20Ten Crew had a short trip today from Billings, MT to Lavina, MT. The 46 mile day was delayed for major bike maintenance issues such as tire replacements and chain cleaning. The roads were fairly good today with a shoulder typically being present and traffic slowly tapering as we distanced ourselves from Billings. The biggest complaint voiced by the bikers was the poor conditions of the road with some of the pavement consisting of loose gravel. Additionally, the wind was brutal for a 15 mile section of the trip.

North 27th Street (exiting Billings, MT) 1:15 PM

1. 2
2. 1
3. 2
4. 2 (large hill)
5. 3 foot shoulder present in poor condition with large amounts of debris

Montana Highway 3 (intersection with Alkali Creek Rd) 2 PM
1. 4
2. 3
3. 4
4. 4
5. 6 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (intersection with David Rd, 23 miles north of Billings, MT) 3:30 PM

1. 4
2. 2 (loose pavement surface)
3. 4
4. 5
5. 6 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

Montana Highway 3 (2 miles north of Broadview, MT) 5:45 PM

1. 4
2. 2 (loose pavement surface)
3. 4
4. 3
5. 10 foot shoulder present with rumble strips

We now have to average a very manageable 60 miles a day to arrive in East Glacier National Park in 5 days. There we will take a 3 day break to enjoy the beautiful scenery and rest up for the final 2 week stretch of our journey. Looking forward to it!

Days 42 and 43

2010-07-26T20:58:00.005-04:00

Corner Store Assessment

Yesterday, we biked from Broadus, MT to Busby, MT (83 miles) on the Crow Indian Reservation. Unfortunately, there was no internet signal to provide a post. The following is the Corner Store Assessment for the small, Indian town of Busby.

Description: Busby has a fairly small population (approximately 600-700) of mostly Native Americans on the Crow Indian Reservation. There was only one convenience store in town that provided mostly food and beverage products. It did not supply gasoline. There is no farmer's market in town, however, there is one in Ashland, MT (approximately 37 miles away). Most citizens travel 17 miles to Lame Deer to purchase groceries. The town did not have much of a park or recreation area to promote physical activity.

D&D Trading Post (convenience store)

1. Healthy Cereal: Honey Bunches Oats, Corn Flakes, Cheerios
2. Only Whole milk and 2%
3. No baked potato chips available
4. 6 packages of wheat bread
5. 100% Juice: Apple, Orange, and Fruit Punch
6. None available
7. Canned vegetables: carrots, pinto beans, mixed vegetables, green beans, corn, peas, and potatoes.
Canned fruits: pineapple, pears, and mixed

We just finished biking 95 miles from Busby to Billings. It was a very long day of biking through the heat and hills of Montana. Some highlights for the day include touring Little Bighorn and being escorted into Billings by the local sheriff's office. Now, my time will be spent fixing up my bicycle (which has an enormous slash in the rear tire), washing clothes, and resting. Special thanks goes out to Zach Jansen's family of Billings for putting up with our crew for the evening.

Little Bighorn Memorial

Day 40

2010-07-24T17:35:00.005-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Yesterday, we biked from Newell, South Dakota to Alzada, Montana. We traveled approximately 66 miles through a total of three states (Wyoming being the third). The roads varied in terms of the level of bikeability, but no stretch was worse than the 20 mile ride through Wyoming. We went head-to-head with 20 mph headwinds that slowed us down to 7 mph downhill! I would like to apologize for the tardiness of this assessment due to no internet signal within the town we stayed. Additionally, we may be going through some pretty bare areas for a couple days so my posts may be delayed. Enjoy!

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (2 miles west of Newell, SD) 7:30 AM

1. 3
2. 2
3. 1
4. 3
5. 2 foot shoulder present, but large rumble strips prevented bicyclists from riding upon it.
**Picture taken on bridge. Does not represent assessment results.

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (11678 Highway 212, 17 miles west of Newell, SD) 8:30 AM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 1
4. 3
5. 2 foot shoulder present with rumble strips.

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (4 miles west of Bella Fourche, SD) 9:45 AM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
5. 8 foot wide shoulder present in fair condition (contains uneven stretches and some tire debris).

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (Wyoming/South Dakota State Line, 17 miles west of Bella Fourche, SD) 11:15 AM
1. 4
2. 3
3. 5
4. 4
5. 10 foot wide shoulder present separated from road with rumble strips.

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (13 miles west of Wyoming/South Dakota Border) 12:30 PM

1. 2
2. 4
3. 4
4. 4
5. 10 foot wide shoulder separated from road with rumble strips.

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (1 mile west of Wyoming/Montana border) 1:45 PM

1. 3
2. 3
3. 4
4. 4
5. 6 foot shoulder present separated from road with rumble strips.

Day 39

2010-07-22T20:03:00.003-04:00

Newell, SD Corner Store Assessment

We had an off-day in Newell, South Dakota today after an 8 day stretch of biking. Everyone enjoyed sleeping in and having a late breakfast after the midnight pranks played against Brian for his birthday. The crew then performed routine maintenance on their bikes and caravanned off to Newell Lake for a picnic courtesy of some of Brian’s friends visiting from Colorado. Later, I luckily had time to fit a corner store assessment into the schedule.

Background: Newell has a locally owned grocery store that is fairly well stocked. The only area where selection may not have been up to par was the fresh produce section. Hence, I automatically assumed that most locals purchase their groceries from this downtown store, however, one local stated otherwise. She thought that most Newell citizens purchase their groceries from Spearfish, Bella Fouche, or Sturgres (each approximately 25-30 miles away). The rationale for the traveling could be attributed to better prices and selection in these towns. Additionally, she stated that many locals had to travel to these towns daily for work, thus allowing routine grocery stops. It should be noted that locals do make infrequent purchases at the downtown grocery store and sorely missed it when it was out of business for a year as ownership passed between two different parties.

There are two neighboring convenience stores located on the outskirts of town adjacent to the major highway. Their food selection is discussed further below. Newell has no locally sponsored farmer’s market, yet many people do buy fresh fruits and vegetables from farms outside of town depending on the annual crop’s success. No atypical activity levels have been witnessed during our stay.

Sinclair Gas Station (traditional convenience store with take-out pizza parlor addition)

1. No cereals in stock
2. All types of milk available except skim
3. Single sized portions of baked Lays, larger sized portion of baked Lays and Ruffles
4. N/A
5. 100 % Juice: Orange, apple, and vegetable
6. N/A
7. N/A

Conoco Gas Station (traditional gas station with antique shop addition)

1. No low sugar/high fiber cereals
2. Only 2% and whole milk in stock
3. Single sized baked Lays in stock
4. 2 packages of Sara Lee Wheat Bread
5. 100% Juice: vegetable, orange, apple, and pineapple-orange
6. N/A
7. 1 can of whole kernel corn shelved

Hitting the road again tomorrow and traveling through three states: South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana!

Day 38

2010-07-21T20:22:00.004-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Our group experienced some of its best biking conditions today as we biked from Faith, SD to Newell, SD. We covered approximately 75 miles in four and a half hours with a 15-20 mph tailwind! We most certainly enjoy the rare occasion of an east to west wind especially if it’s as strong as this one. Averaging close to 18 mph the entire trip, many of our riders bicycled without iPods to soak up the beautiful South Dakota landscape of prairies, rolling hills, and cows. With several ominous clouds hanging over us much of the day, most of the riders arrived to town with little more than a damp shirt and pannier covers; however, two of our less enthusiastic bikers for the day (Aidan and Rourke) were caught in the frenzy and resorted to Bear Grylls’ tactics of doing multiple pushups at the pinnacle of our hills to keep warm.

Most of our route was fairly similar all day as you can tell from the below rankings (please observe earlier posts from the trip if you are unaware of the rankings for the various listed numbers). We typically had a low amount of traffic, good road/shoulder conditions, poor proximity to vehicles, and great sightlines. The following photographs of our day on U.S. Highway 212 clearly exemplify the previous description.

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (2 miles west of Faith, SD) 7:45 AM

1. 4
2. 4
3. 2
4. 5
5. 2 foot shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 (17 miles west of Faith, SD) 8:45 AM

1. 5
2. 4
3. 2
4. 5
5. 2 foot wide shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 (34 miles west of Faith, SD) 10:10 AM

1. 5
2. 4
3. 3
4. 4
5. 3 foot wide shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 (50 miles west of Faith, SD) 11:15 AM

1. 5
2. 4
3. 3
4. 5
5. 3 foot wide shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 (9 miles east of Newell, SD) 12:15 PM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 5
5. 1 foot shoulder present

Day 37

2010-07-20T19:31:00.002-04:00

Easy day of biking with only 42 miles under our belts. I was hoping to do a food availability analysis in our home for the evening (Faith, SD), but they have a well stocked grocery store right in the middle of town. Thus, the two convenience stores in town fail to operate as corner stores with the supermarket easily accessible with plenty of food options. There is little doubt that all the locals purchasing groceries within the area buy their groceries from the grocery store rather than any corner store given the close proximity of all of the establishments. In addition, another impetus for locals to purchase their groceries from the larger store would be attributed to the low supply of "grocery type food" in the convenience stores. I believe that the convenience store owners recognize the lack of potential economic gain by including such items in their stores.

I hope to conduct a bikeability assessment tomorrow while crossing the vast South Dakota prairie. Then, with a day off in Newell,I should be able to perform an additional food availability assessment in town.

A special happy birthday to two of my roommates in Chapel Hill, Mary and Ethan. They are both turning the big 21. Hope you guys both have an enjoyable and safe evening.

Day 36

2010-07-20T00:09:00.003-04:00

Relaxing at Eagle Butte, SD on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. A nice 73 mile day took us across hot terrain and in contact with some very nice people. We are spending the night at the local Catholic Church where we are able to cook our own meals using the stove and oven for the first time in quite some time. Taking the day off from internship duties after a full previous week.

I would like to give the Hickory Daily Record a big thank you for the article they wrote up about the trip. I hope that the tour and my blog picked up a couple more supporters from this exposure. The article can be read at the following link:

Hickory Daily Record

I encourage all readers to go donate to the Lineberger Cancer Center in honor of the Cycle20Ten ride. Every donation counts and means so much to so many individuals.

Another thanks to all the hospitable people of South Dakota thus far. It has been tough riding, but these individuals have helped us through it.

Here is a picture of the beautiful overlook prior to the reservation.

Will blog again soon!

Day 35

2010-07-18T23:11:00.007-04:00

Welcome to South Dakota!!

Today we biked a total of 105 miles from Doland to Gettysburg. The roads were in fair condition overall and traffic was non-existent. Bikers have to worry about very large farming machinery(tractors, etc) more than cars. One of my few complaints would be the relative close proximity of motor vehicles with their high speed. Typically, shoulder size was minimal if existent. Overall, it was a very enjoyable day.We crossed the halfway mark in our journey in miles and days today! Tomorrow we head into the Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

U.S. Highway 212 (intersection with 404th avenue) 4 miles outside of Doland, SD, 6 AM

1. 5
2. 4
3. 2
4. 4
5. Approximately 1-2 ft shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 (intersection with 391st Avenue) 5 miles east of Redfield South Dakota, 7:15 AM
1. 5
2. 3
3. 3
4. 4
5. 3-4 ft wide shoulder present

U.S. Highway 281 (intersection with 167th St.) 7 miles north of Redfield, 9:20 AM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 5
4. 4
5. 8-10 ft wide shoulder present

Faulk County Road 10 (intersection with 373rd Avenue ) 11 AM

1. 4
2. 2
3. 2
4. 5
5. No shoulder present

Faulk County Road 10 (intersection with 362 Avenue) 12:15 AM
1. 4
2. 2
3. 2
4. 5
5. No shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (intersection with 347th Avenue) 7 miles west of Faulkton, 4:30 PM
1. 3
2. 3 (large drop off in shoulder)
3. 1
4. 4
5. No shoulder present

U.S. Highway 212 Westbound (intersection 333rd Avenue) Seneca, SD 5:45 PM

1. 5
2. 3
3. 3
4. 4
5. 2 foot wide shoulder in good condition, but with dramatic slope beside shoulder

U.S. Highway 212 (intersection with 316 Avenue) 6 miles outside of Gettysburg, SD, 7 PM

1. 4
2. 4
3. 2
4. 5
5. 2 foot shoulder present

Day 34

2010-07-17T21:22:00.002-04:00

Doland, South Dakota Corner Store Assessment

Background: Doland is an approximately 300 person town in rural South Dakota. There is only one convenience store in town and one bar/restaurant. Older locals drive to closer cities including Clark and Redfield (smaller selections) to make grocery purchases whereas younger locals drive to larger, further cities including Aberdeen and Watertown to buy groceries. There aren’t any organized farmer’s markets, however, people from Doland do drive to surrounding area farms to purchase fresh produce on occasion.

Cenex Gas Station (convenience store with grill/deli attached)103 East Dakota Street

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios
2. No skim milk in stock
3. Single size baked Lays were available; no larger sizes
4. 1 package of wheat bread
5. 100% Juice: orange and apple
6. No fresh produce
7. Canned Vegetables: corn and green beans, no canned fruits

102 miles tomorrow so it is about time to hit the sack.

Day 33

2010-07-16T21:54:00.003-04:00

Clara City, Minnesota Corner Store Assessment

Clara City is located in a rural section of western Minnesota about 50 miles from the South Dakota border. Having a relatively small population of approximately 2,000 people, Clara City has a surprisingly large food network within their town limits. It has several restaurants, a medium sized locally-owned grocery store, and one convenience store in the downtown area.

Rhodes Family Foods, the medium-sized grocery store, had all the items listed on the corner store assessment. However, it should be noted that a local believed that the store was struggling economically. She stated that most Clara City residents typically chose to drive 20 minutes to either Wilmer or Montevideo to purchase weekly groceries for pricing reasons. There was also a trucker stop located outside of town on Minnesota Highway 7 that I did not visit as it was fairly far away from the downtown area. There is no official farmer's market in town, yet fruit and vegetable stands do appear sporadically throughout the year. Activity levels in the town seem fairly high as many people were walking, biking, and skating around the park where we were camping.

Kwik-N-Ezy (traditional convenience store with deli inside) intersection of Minnesota 23 & Main St

Physical Description- the property looks exactly like a traditional convenience store. It is surrounded on two sides by two major roads into the town and by wooded areas on the other two sides. The store had two gas pumps located outside. Also, it advertises its deli on the outside of the store in solid, bold lettering.

1. Healthy Cereals: Special K, Cheerios
2. All types of milk
3. No baked chips
4. 4 packages of wheat bread
5. 100% Juice: Orange and Grape
6. No fresh produce
7. Canned Fruits: pineapple, mixed fruits (concentrate), pears (concentrate), peaches (concentrate)
Canned Vegetables: peas, corn, green beans, and mixed vegetables.

Day 32

2010-07-15T20:59:00.002-04:00

Please check out my blogs from Days 29 and 30 to hear about my internship studies in the Twin Cities. Hope everyone had less wind blowing directly into your face than I did today.

Thank You

2010-07-14T20:48:00.003-04:00

I would like to extend a very big thank you to the fine folks of the Twin Cities area during our 3 day stay.

The Rice Family (Dean, Carol, David, Olivia, and Jordan)- Our biking group thoroughly enjoyed your hospitality and kindness during the stay. All the vehicle trips, great food, and amazing sleep (especially on the couch in the basement) will not soon be forgotten. These acts of generosity will help to power us across to the Pacific regardless of the many obstacles in our way.

MNDOT- Special thanks to both Fay Cleaveland and Lisa Austin for giving their time to have an excellent discussion within the shadows of the Minnesota Capital Building. You two were very informative and engaging. It's no wonder Minnesota's biking is ranked so highly with people like you working in the Bicycling and Pedestrian Section!

Melissa Laska- Although we didn't get to meet in person, I really enjoyed our extended phone conversation. It was really interesting to see how dynamic corner store research is depending on the geographic area it is being conducted. I really appreciated your insight into the future of the field as well. I look forward to reading some of the publications when I get a chance!

I can't tell everyone enough how much your time and generosity has meant to me. It's people like you that make this internship not only feasible, but something really unique and special as well.

Day 31

2010-07-14T20:23:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

We abruptly ended our stay at the Rice's home today as we biked from Andover, MN to Silver Lake, MN. Our 65 mile journey along state and county roads took over 8 hours and was packed with severe thunderstorms flashing up all around us. We luckily avoided adverse weather like the 3 tornadoes and fist sized hail that many Minnesotans witnessed all day. Below is the bikeability assessment for our route today:

Anoka County Road 14 (Downtown Anoka, intersection with 3rd Av.)7:30 AM

1. 2
2. 3
3. 2
4. 3
5. Small 1 foot shoulder present

Hampton County Road 101 Southbound (11150 Hampton County Road 101) 10:45 AM

1. 3
2. 3
3. 2
4. 4
5. No sizable shoulder present

Hennepin County Road 10 (4890 Hennepin County Road 10) 11:45 AM

1. 4
2. 2
3. 2
4. 4
5. No sizable shoulder present

Wright County Road 17 Westbound (5576 Wright County Road) 1:15 PM

1. 4
2. 5
3. 4
4. 3
5. 6 foot wide shoulder present

Carver County Road 27 (intersection with Penn Av.) 2:15 PM

1. 4
2. 5
3. 4
4. 4
5. 8 foot wide shoulder present

MN Highway 25 Westbound (5120 Highway 25)4 PM

1. 4
2. 3
3. 2
4. 3
5. 2 foot shoulder present

MN Highway 7 Westbound (intersection with McLeod County Road 9) 5 PM

1. 3
2. 4 (score would improve if rumble strips on flat ground were not present)
3. 5
4. 4
5. 8 foot wide shoulder present

Day 30

2010-07-14T20:21:00.002-04:00

During my stay in the Twin Cities, I was fortunate enough to schedule a phone discussion with Dr. Melissa Nelson Laska, a faculty research associate for Healthy Eating Research (HER). Based in Minneapolis, HER is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program specializes in researching environmental policy issues relating to nutrition. The majority of my discussion with Dr. Laska focused upon corner stores as they are an important component of the work HER does and obviously very relevant to my internship studies.

From her, I learned that corner stores may be defined according to certain criteria: the numbers of aisles, cash registers, sales, or employees. They can differ by city according to such definitions. HER initially conducted research on corner stores in the Twin Cities area by using such an identification system to determine and target appropriate establishments for study. Following this procedure, HER researchers performed observational work (similar to what I am doing for my internship) on healthy food options within these corner stores. Their results varied, with some stores having a multitude of healthy options for customers while others were severely lacking.

Laska stated that stores lacking healthier foods should not be judged too quickly. She stated that most corner store owners are members of the community themselves and want the community to benefit from their store. However, at the end of the day, the owners must follow an appropriate business model in order to stay in business/make a profit, and healthier foods are often associated with certain risks. Healthier options may need more storage/shelving space, may require special care (fresh produce), or may call for a wealthier customer base to afford such purchases.

Interestingly enough, WIC policy requires that stores carry a certain amount of healthy foods (specifically fruits and vegetables) in order to participate in the program. Minnesota’s HER focuses on training vendors at corner stores in a variety of ways, including awareness of existing food policy/regulations, as well as the possible economic benefits of offering healthy foods and the proper ways to handle certain healthy foods requiring special care.

Laska pointed out that many of the corner stores in the Twin Cities vary in the availability of healthy foods according to ownership. Locally owned stores are less likely to stock healthy options, whereas larger chain models are more prone to carry such foods. The difference can be attributed to better and greater infrastructure, capital, displays, and economies of scale for the chain stores. I found this topic interesting because it is congruent with my observations thus far on the trip. For example, our bicycling group was having a very tough time finding fruits at convenience stores until we arrived in northern Iowa and Minnesota where the Kwik Trips chain has stores. These convenience stores all stocked fruits and vegetables.

An interesting difference between the corner store research I’ve conducted thus far and that of HER in Minneapolis/St. Paul is how certain stores take on different roles according to their urban/rural setting. For example, HER does not identify discount stores like Family Dollar or Dollar General as legitimate corner stores. On the other hand, I’ve found many discount stores in rural areas that would clearly be classified as corner stores. It is intriguing how various businesses take on different roles according to their environment and how researchers employ different definitions on this basis.

Finally, Laska believes that most people are generally aware of basic food availability in corner stores. Communities have become increasingly conscious of corner stores within their towns, but citizens typically lack the resources to promote any major change. The general public certainly has little access to the rigorous research and scholarly publications concerning this issue. Additionally, individuals that hold decision-making power often do not realize or appreciate the significance of issues surrounding corner stores and the individuals and families they affect: racial/ethnic minorities, those with low socioeconomic status, and citizens living in rural areas. A vicious cycle ensues with these groups having higher obesity rates, worse health outcomes relating to nutrition, etc. More research is necessary in order to determine proper methods to effectively promote healthier, affordable food options in corner stores.

Laska also teaches at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. Her research interests include nutrition in adolescents, obesity prevention, and food access in underserved areas. Please read more about Dr. Laska and Healthy Eating Research at the links provided below:

Dr. Laska

Healthy Eating Research

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-07-13T16:38:00.003-04:00

I would like to take a moment to wish my mother a Happy Birthday. I know that she has been spending a lot of time thinking about me while I've been on this trip, but I hope that she able to take some time today to enjoy and think only about herself as it is her special day.

Happy Birthday Mom. I love you so much. Thanks for everything.

Day 29

2010-07-13T16:35:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I had a very informative meeting with some fine individuals from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT), Bicycle and Pedestrian Section. Both Fay Cleaveland and Lisa Austin were gracious enough to welcome me to the city by spending over an hour discussing their section and why it has led Minnesota to the forefront in most bicycling rankings.

One of the main reasons for their high ranking: the people of Minnesota. According to both Cleaveland and Austin, Minnesotans are well known for their love of the outdoors and the recreation it offers. They accordingly support such initiatives that allow them to get outside and be active. When the winter months end and enjoying the slopes, skating, or ice fishing are no longer viable options, Minnesotans typically hop on a bicycle or find the closest trail to take a walk. Our bike group’s host for the past couple days said that he thought the reason Minnesotans have such a love for biking is that they can only do it 4 months out of the year. “When the weather finally becomes warm, EVERYONE grabs their bicycles and takes advantage of the weather.” I believe it too. As we cycled into town for our multi-day respite, we must have passed at least 5 separate groups of cyclists,all of them cheering us on.

MNDOT has 9 separate districts that are responsible for the actual project planning and construction. The state’s central office, including the individuals that I met, is typically used to provide the policy framework and guidance necessary for the individual districts to perform their tasks. The central office, being one of the main resources of the districts, collaborates heavily with the districts especially when it comes to matters dealing with bicycling or pedestrian areas. Cleaveland and Austin both stated that this was necessary in that the smaller DOT districts do not have experts or personnel devoted totally to those sections (bike/ped). Boasting one of the nation’s largest sections of employees for bike/ped issues, MNDOT has 4 full-time and 4 part-time employees that collaborate with the individual districts with regard to bicycling and pedestrian matters across the state. Each of these employees brings something unique to the table whether it be through a formal education in urban planning or years of experience in the field.

Today, the section has quite a few projects on the agenda. Below is a summary of some of these initiatives or other programs taking place in the region:

1. The Bikeway Plan- MNDOT hopes to complete a plan that identifies and describes which roads throughout the state need to be constructed or reconstructed for bicycling or walking based upon vehicle/bicycling traffic, routes between cities, etc. The plan will also include an appropriate time table for these actions based upon the derived necessity. There was a similar plan in place a few decades ago that has little relevance in that it has grown outdated.

2. Share the Road Program- MNDOT began a huge public awareness marketing campaign nearly five years ago hoping to enlighten the public to the laws relating to bicycling in the state. Called Share the Road, this initiative attempts to educate both drivers and bikers with regard to such laws as who has the right-of-way in certain situations and that a vehicle must pass bikers with at least 3 feet of distance. MNDOT created large quantities of educational materials for the program and uses various venues including public events (Minnesota State Fair), bike tours, rest stops, libraries, police officers, and their website to distribute these items. The program has proven successful, as based on annual MNDOT marketing surveys.

3. Bike Map- MNDOT does have an outdated bike map of the state that they are hoping to make current over the coming months. They also hope to incorporate their map with technological advancements such as GPS devices into their map design. With the growing popularity of these devices, including them on bicycling and pedestrian maps will make the maps more familiar and user friendly.

4. Cyclopath.org- Although not exclusively attributed to MNDOT, this new website gives bicyclists in the area the ability to research the conditions and characteristics of certain routes in the Twin Cities area, based on the findings of other cyclists. It allows users to have a greater understanding of the routes they are thinking about riding.

5. Nice Ride Bike Share- This program in Minneapolis and St. Paul is sponsored and funded by a bicycling group called Nice Ride. Similar to the Zipcar, Nice Ride offers individuals the ability to rent their product from a certain area of town, ride the product around town, and leave the product at any Nice Ride station. The only difference is the product is a spray painted green bicycle. For only $60 annually, subscribers may use a Nice Ride bicycle anytime and anywhere in the city.

6. Mississippi River Trail-MNDOT recently completed their portion of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). This 3,000 mile long trail runs alongside the “Great River” from Minnesota to Louisiana

The list above is certainly not all inclusive, but it gives one an idea of the multitude of projects that MNDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Section works with. As a final observation, I am confident in asserting that the state’s willingness to allocate funds to biking and pedestrian projects has tremendous impact on Minnesota’s high bicycling/walking ranking. For example, Minnesota used monies from the Tobacco Settlement to establish programs to construct roads/sidewalks to encourage more active living among residents when other states simply dumped the funds into building more roads. Additionally, Minnesota consistently spends more of their transportation dollars on bike/ped projects. This willingness may come right back to what my contacts originally said as the reason for Minnesota’s high ranking in bikeability: its people and their love of the outdoors.

Please read more about the MNDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Section at the below link:

MNDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Section

Days 27/28

2010-07-11T19:03:00.002-04:00

Finally arrived to our break destination in Andover, MN (a 30 minute drive outside of the Twin Cities). We made it just in time to catch the World Cup Final and smash tons of pizza and snacks. Naturally, naps and games of cards ensued.

Two days of relaxation and touring of Minneapolis/St. Paul are on the agenda for the group. Hopefully, I will be hooking up with some contacts (courtesy of Dr. Ammerman and Dr. Rodriguez) in the city to discuss Minnesota bike policy and corner store development plans. Additionally, a restocking of some biking/camping supplies is necessary as my mirror is broken (thanks Jonah), my sleeping pad has a "tumor", my camera is out of commission, etc.

Spirits are high as we know we have a couple days off and appear to be a day ahead of schedule. Our clothes and bodies actually lack the smell of BO. My "beard" is as bushy and patchy as ever as I have consented to continue growing it for at least a couple more days at the request of the younger riders. All is well.

I look forward to hopefully meeting up with the fine folks in Minneapolis and posting the results of the meetings over the coming days. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the relative "coolness" in comparison to the sauna like weather my friends and family are enjoying in good ole' North Carolina.

Day 26

2010-07-09T21:47:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

We traveled a total of 60 miles today from La Crescent, MN to Wabasha, MN. Overall, my fellow riders and I felt that these were some of the best roads of the trip thus far. A quick summary of our route is as follows: a four-lane highway with moderate to high volume of traffic, good road conditions, and above adequate vehicle to rider spacing with approximately an 8-10 foot wide shoulder. It was really quite an enjoyable ride as bicyclists could ride two abreast with comfort and relax without checking our mirrors for approaching vehicles every 5 seconds. There was the occasional bit of debris (tires, animals, wood, etc), but the level of sight and size of the shoulder allowed ample time and space to adjust the bicycle’s path appropriately. Our route was so pleasant that some of us actually arrived to town prior to 1 PM. The only negative of the day, in my opinion, was that my camera took a little spill after taking a photograph of a bike path outside of La Crescent. Following the picture, I stowed my camera in my handlebar bag where it soon tumbled out from the force of a large bump. With no signs of life besides a report of a lens malfunction, I must repair/replace it when we arrive in Minneapolis in two days (sorry Alice!). Thus, pictures will be limited until this problem is addressed. On the brighter side, I am looking forward to the rest, relaxation, and meetings with Minnesota DOT personnel and hopefully some corner store experts in the Twin Cities.

Bike Path 1 mile outside of La Crescent, MN, 7:45 AM

1. 5 (no traffic)
2. 3 (bumps and overgrown vegetation on/near path)
3. 5
4. 3
5. 6 foot bike lane present

Highway 14 West/Highway 61 North (approximately 16 miles outside of La Crescent) 9 AM
1. 3
2. 3 (glass present)
3. 4
4. 3
5. 8-10 foot shoulder present

Highway 61 North (intersection with 44th Avenue, Goodview, MN) 10:45 AM
1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 4
5. 10 foot shoulder present

Highway 61 North (intersection with Wabasha County Road 29) 11:45 AM
1. 4
2. 4
3. 5
4. 4
5. 10 foot shoulder present

Highway 61 North (3 miles south of Wabasha) 12:30 PM
1. 4
2. 4
3. 5
4. 4
5. 8-10 foot shoulder present

Day 25

2010-07-08T23:20:00.000-04:00

Off Day in La Crescent, Minnesota.

Day 24

2010-07-07T21:50:00.002-04:00

Harpers Ferry, Iowa Corner Store Assessment

Background: Harpers Ferry appears to be a summer home spot on the edge of the Iowa/Wisconsin/Minnesota borders. Most citizens travel approximately 30 minutes by car to either Wacon or Lansing to buy weekly groceries. There is a local Farmer’s Market that occurs every Friday in town where residents can purchase local fruits and vegetables. Harpers Ferry features two convenience stores discussed below.

Harpers Mini Mart (convenience store) 403 Chestnut Street

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios and Raisin Bran
2. Only 1% and 2% available
3. No baked chips
4. 8 packages of wheat bread
5. 100% Juice: grapefruit, apple, grape, orange
6. Fresh produce included bananas, apples, onions, and potatoes
7. Canned Vegetables: spinach, carrots, green beans, and corn
Canned Fruits: pineapple and mandarin oranges

J and L’s One Stop (convenience store/huting/fishing shop hybrid)125 Jefferson Avenue

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats
2. Only 1 2% jug available
3. Only 1 individual size baked Lays stocked
4. 3 packages of wheat bread
5. 100% juices: orange, apple, grapefruit
6. Fresh produce: onions and potatoes
7. Canned Vegetables: peas, green beans, corn, and mixed vegetables
Canned Fruits: peaches, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and pears

Sleeping in a restroom tonight because of storms, but Minnesota tomorrow!

Day 23

2010-07-06T19:48:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

We ventured 65 miles northward in Iowa today from Bennett to Dyersville. Unfortunately, the roads were not up to par on which we traveled. Most could be summarized as the following: a narrow, two-lane highway with moderate amounts of traffic, constant bumps, and a sand/gravel shoulder on which bikes cannot operate. Below is the bikeability assessment for the route.

Highway Y14 (2.25 miles outside of Bennett, IA, 7:45 AM)
1. 4
2. 2
3. 2
4. 3
5. Unpaved, sand shoulder (4 ft)

Highway Y24 Herbert Hoover Highway (intersection with 140th Street, 9:15 AM)

1. 4
2. 3
3. 1
4. 4
5. Unpaved, sand shoulder (4 ft)

County Road X75 (6684 County Road X75, 10:45 AM)
1. 2
2. 3
3. 1
4. 3
5. Unpaved, sand shoulder (4 ft)

Highway 136 (19394 Highway 136, 11:45 AM)
1. 4
2. 2
3. 2
4. 3
5. Unpaved, sand/gravel shoulder

Highway 136 (7741 Highway 136 Northbound, 2 PM)
1. 3
2. 2 (numerous bumps/drop offs in road)
3. 1
4. 3
5. Unpaved, sand shoulder (4 ft)

The above picture for Herbert Hoover Highway accurately portrays most of the roads traveled today.
Example of sand/gravel shoulder--

We are now enjoying the local pool in Dyersville. I might even try to stop by and see the Field of Dreams before we leave town!

Day 22

2010-07-05T13:19:00.003-04:00

Bennett, Iowa Food Availability Assessment

Background: Bennett has a total population of approximately 400 and is located in eastern Iowa. Most citizens get their groceries from another city called Tipton (11 miles away). This is also the location of the closest official Farmer's Market; however, during certain portions of the year, local families will open fruits and vegetable stands (mostly sweet corn) along major roads leading into Bennett. Additionally, there is one restaurant/bar and one convenience store.

Schrod's Corner Stop (Cenex Convenience Store) 2000 Highway 130

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios
2. Only 2% and Vitamin D Milk in stock.
3. No baked chips available (regardless of size)
4. Wheat Bread (4)
5. Individual sizes of orange juice and grape juice available.
6. No fresh produce
7. Canned vegetables: peas, green beans, and corn
Canned Fruits: pineapple

**Given that there is only one other restaurant in town, Schrod's has adapted into a hybrid store that offers not only convenience items, but also larger prepared meals such as sandwiches, pizzas, etc. Such purchases seemed to be as common as ordinary soft drink or snack purchases.

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We have now crossed the Mississippi into Iowa. The winds and ominous clouds were somewhat of a pain, but arriving into town at 11 AM courtesy of a short cut can always brighten my day. Relaxing and exploring Bennett should be nice.

Day 21

2010-07-04T20:50:00.002-04:00

Off day from internship duties. Hope everyone had a better Fourth than we did. First, the wind was not cooperative and blew directly in our face the majority of the day. Second, the town we are crashing in this evening celebrated the "4th of July" on the 3rd. Hmmmmm?

Well, we are crossing the old Mississippi River tomorrow into Iowa. Perhaps the winds will be more favorable. Look forward to blogging then!

Day 19

2010-07-03T12:27:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Our travels through yesterday’s cornfields took us from Ashkum, IL to Henry, IL. It was a long, hot day as we traveled over 90 miles to reach our destination. Now that I think about it, hot may be an understatement. The tar from the pavement actually melted from the heat and stuck to our tires as we pedaled. Most of the roads were fairly flat and lined with corn (again). The one section of our route that sticks out in my mind in my mind was a 2-3 miles stretch of gravel road in the countryside of Illinois. Below is a bikeability assessment I conducted for this stretch of the route.

Illinois Highway 116 Westbound (1.5 miles outside of Ashkum, IL, 6:30 AM)
1. 3
2. 2
3. 2 (close proximity to vehicles given the fast speed limit)
4. 4
5. 1.5 foot shoulder present, but isn’t capable to ride upon due to eroding areas.

Road 2700 North (0.1 miles from intersection with 700 East, 7:15 AM)
1. 5
2. 1 (gravel road)
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Road 3700 North (0.2 miles from intersection with 1700 East, 8 AM)
1. 4
2. 4
3. 2
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Road 2400 North (intersection with 3000 East, 9:30 AM)
1. 5
2. 3
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Highway 23 Westbound (intersection with Fitzsimmons Road, 11:45 AM)
1. 3
2. 2
3. 3
4. 5
5. 3.5 foot shoulder present, but dangerous to bike in due to sudden divots and large drop off.

Road 2900 North (intersection with 400 East, 1:30 PM)
1. 5
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Road 800 North (intersection with Century Road, 5:30 PM)
1. 3
2. 3
3. 2
4. 4
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Day 18 Part 2

2010-07-01T21:36:00.002-04:00

Ashkum, Illinois Corner Store Assessment

Background: Ashkum is an approximately 700 person populated town on the Illinois/Indiana border. With no local grocery store, locals typically travel to Kankake, IL (approximately 15 miles away) to purchase weekly groceries. For single items or small purchases, citizens may visit the only local convenience store (discussed below). There used to be a small supermarket located in downtown, but it recently closed due to a lack of business according to a local resident. The closest Farmer’s Market is also in Kankake and it occurs every weekend. Although the distance to buy groceries may seem somewhat extreme, a local believes the effects are minimized by the fact that many Ashkum residents work in the Kankake area and are able to make purchases before/after work. There does not appear to be any extraordinary amounts of pedestrians or bicyclists.

MKM Oil Inc “Fast and Fresh” Shell Station (Convenience Store) 410 North Front Street (adjacent to main highway through town)

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. No baked chips were available for purchase in the convenience store; however, there were single sizes for purchase in the conjoined Subway.
4. Wheat Bread (2), no tortillas
5. 100% Juice: Orange and Naked Juice blends
6. No fresh produce
7. Canned Fruits: none
Canned Vegetables: Peas, Corn, and Beans

***This store has a Subway located inside the store that happens to be only one of two restaurants in the town. Therefore, the store definitely sees a large amount of traffic.

Day 18 Part 1

2010-07-01T21:14:00.003-04:00

Below is my first individual food assessment. I will post the group assessment when all the below parties agree to partake. While I understand the attraction to restaurants, I would think that a free meal would be too great a temptation to pass up. Then again, 8 bikers may find a prepared, hot meal hard to resist. Hopefully they will consent sooner rather than later.

Individual Food Assessment, June 30
Dinner at L & L & J Bonnells Gas and Grocery (Convenience Store)
Royal Center, IN

A.J. 3 hot dogs (ketchup, mustard, onions)
44 oz. Mello Yellow (cal 649, fat 0, sod 181.5 mg)
Cost—4.80
Satisfaction—2
B.B. Ham Salad Sandwich 6 inch
Pasta Salad .5 lb
Jello .5 lb
32 oz Mtn Dew (cal 605, fat 0, sod. 220 mg)
Cost—8.67
Satisfaction—5
J.D. BBQ Pork Sandwich 6 inch
Pasta Salad .5 lb
2 32 oz Gatorades (Serving Size 8 oz, Total 4, Calories 50, Fat 0, Sodium 110 mg, No sig. vitamins)
Cost—10.54
Satisfaction—3.5
M.R. Bologna/Cheese Sandwich 6 inch
Orange Jello .25 lb
44 oz Pepsi (cal 550, fat 0, sod. 110)
Cost—6.09
Satisfaction—2.5
Z.J. Roast Beef 6 inch
Hot Dog (ketchup)
Watermelon .25 lb
Mini can of Pringles (1 can, cal 230, fat 15 g/sat 4 g, sod 240 mg, Vit c 6% DV)
Cost—6.46
Satisfaction—3
J.K. Turkey/Cheese Sandwich 6 inch
Sour Cream and Onion Chips (Serving Sz 1 oz, Total 2.5, Cal 400/fr fat 220, Fat 24 g/sat. 3 g, Sodium 520 mg, Vit C 25% DV)
MnM’s (Serving Sz. Package, Cal 45, Fat 5 g/sat. 3 g, Sod. 150 mg)
20 oz Lemonade (Serving sz 8 oz, Total 2.5, Cal 90, fat 0, sod. 70 mg, Vit C 10 % DV)
Cost—6.76
Satisfaction—4
R.B. 2 hot dogs (ketchup)
6 Donut Cremesticks (Serving sz 1 donut, 6 total, cal 300, fat 16 g/sat 8 g, sod 270 mg, 0 vit)
Cost—5.42
Satisfaction—4
B.S. Chicken Salad Sandwich
Pasta Salad .5 lb
2 packages of Rolos (Serving sz. Package, Cal 228/cal fr fat 90, Fat 10 g/sat 7 g, Sod 90 mg, Vit A 1 %, Vit C 1 %)
44 oz Dr. Pepper (550 cals, 0 fat, sod. 192.5 mg)
Cost—9.16
Satisfaction—3.5

Totals Cost—$57.90
Avg Satisfaction-3.44
Waste-

***See above for some nutritional information on food/beverage consumed. Note: some items did not have nutritional labels, but will be evaluated at the conclusion of the trip.

Day 17

2010-06-30T20:33:00.004-04:00

Royal Center, Indiana Corner Store Assessment

Background: Royal Center, IN is a small town located adjacent to Indiana Highway 16. There is no local, traditional supermarket, but there is a gas/grocery hybrid in downtown. Additionally, there is a wholesale butchery/locker in downtown where people can buy large quantities of meat. The closest traditional groceries are in Winamac and Logasport (both 15 miles away). Winamac has a small, 3-4 vendor Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. The gas station I analyzed was one of the nicer stops I’ve seen in terms of food availability. Many locals seemed to be purchasing their groceries at this location.

L & J Bonnells Gas and Grocery (Marathon Convenience Store/hybrid traditional food store) 106 N Chicago (inside downtown)

1. Healthy Cereals: Special K, Rice Krispies
2. All types of milk were stocked.
3. Baked Ruffles and Lays (regular and BBQ) in larger bagged sizes
4. Plenty of wheat, rye, pumpernickel, and 12 Grain bread available
5. 100% Juices: Orange, Grape, Apple
6. Fresh produce: Lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, celery, apples, and carrots were shelved (not locally grown)
7. Canned Fruits: Pineapple, mandarin oranges
Canned Vegetables: Corn, potatoes, spinach, green beans, hominy, mixed vegetables, and carrots

**There was also a fresh salad bar area behind the counter where individuals could purchase anything from a house salad to a chicken dinner. The atmosphere almost felt like a grocery store as well as they had shopping carts and conveyer belts at the checkout lines.

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I performed an individual food analysis today from the meal we purchased at the local convenience store. I will post the results of this assessment once the group analysis occurs.

Finally, for those of you that are interested in the roads we traveled upon yesterday, I've uploaded a picture. This photo looks amazingly similar to all of the ones I took yesterday: endless corn, open/unlined road, and no cars in sight.

Enjoy!

Day 16

2010-06-29T19:56:00.001-04:00

****NO PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE DUE TO REALLY BAD/SLOW INTERNET SIGNAL. ACCORDING TO COACH B, WE ARE IN A BIG OLE' HOLE. SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Bikeability Assessment

Summary: Our 60 mile journey through Indiana began in Monroeville and ended in Lagro today. The route took us on flat country roads surrounded by massive amounts of corn. Basically, all the roads were very similar in that they had little to no traffic, fair road conditions, great sight-lines, and no shoulder/bike lane. I believe that these similarities can be attributed to the fact that we are now on the Adventure Cycling Tour maps. More than likely, the fine folks from that establishment used the “low to no traffic” criterion when determining the recommended route. While these are some excellent roads to bike on with the low amount of traffic, they are not optimal in terms of the conditions (debris, potholes, gravel, etc) and the small size of the actual pavement. The following is my bikeability assessment of our tour today:

Indiana State Road 101 (0.5 miles outside of Monroeville, IN, 10 AM)
1. 4
2. 3 (trace amounts of debris in shoulder)
3. 3
4. 5
5. 2 foot wide shoulder

Hoagard Road (1.5 miles prior to Poe, IN, 10:45 AM)
1. 5
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

South County Line Road Westbound (9914 South County Line Road W, 11: 30 AM)
1. 5
2. 4 (potholes present on occasion)
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Highway 200 East (Intersection with 100 N, 12:05 PM)
1. 5
2. 4 (uneven/sloping pavement)
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present

Highway 200 South (2924 Highway 200 Southbound, 1 PM)
1. 5
2. 4 (patches of loose gravel)
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present.

Highway 750 East ( 7 miles outside of Lagro, IN adjacent to State Park, 2 PM)
1. 5
2. 2
3. 3
4. 5
5. No shoulder/bike lane present.

Lagro, Indiana Corner Store Assessment

Background: Lagro is an extremely low populated area with only one convenience store and one café. The closest grocery store is 5 miles away in Wabash. This neighboring town is also home to the only Farmer’s Market in the area which occurs on every Saturday. Given that the café was closed and the corner store held the only food available to our group, I decided to do a quick analysis.

Marathon Convenience Store (adjacent to Main Street, no sign available)
1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. Large sized Baked Ruffles were available, but no individual sizes were shelved.
4. Four packages of wheat bread; no whole grain tortillas.
5. 100 % Juice: Orange, grape, apple, V8 Fushion
6. No fresh produce, but did have pre-made sandwiches and cheese available in deli section.
7. Canned Fruit: pineapple, mandarin oranges
Canned Vegetables: corn, green beans, potatoes

****NO PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE DUE TO REALLY BAD/SLOW INTERNET SIGNAL. ACCORDING TO COACH B, WE ARE IN A BIG OLE' HOLE. SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Day 15

2010-06-28T18:04:00.005-04:00

Monroeville, Indiana Corner Store Assessment

Background: Monroeville is a small, rural town on the Ohio/Indiana border. It has no major grocery store, but is within a 15 minute drive of two (Wal Mart and a locally owned supermarket). The town recently begun a Farmer's Market in downtown that will be open every Friday. No out of the ordinary levels of biking/walking have been noticed, but they do have an excellent "Biker Hostel" that offers free lodging as a means to attract cross-country bikers.

Otto's Pit N Go (convenience store) 121 West South Street (inside downtown)

1. Healthy Cereals: Rise Krispies.
2. All types of milk were available.
3. No baked chips were in stock.
4. Wheat bread was available; no tortillas in store.
5. 100% Juice: Orange, Apple, Grape.
6. No fresh produce.
7. Canned Fruits: mandarin oranges
Canned Vegetables: Peas, mixed vegetables, sliced potatoes.

Dollar Dans (nontraditional food store) 133 East South Street (inside downtown)

1. Healthy Cereals: Raisin Bran.
2. No 1% or Fat Free milk were available.
3. No baked chips were in stock.
4. No bread products were in stock.
5. 100% Juices: Orange, Apple, Vegetable.
6. No fresh produce.
7. Canned Fruits: mandarin oranges, fruit salad, pineapple
Canned Vegetables: Spinach, corn, carrots, beets, mushroom, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, and green beans.

Mel's Deli (convenience store) 121 South Water Street (just outside downtown)

1. Healthy Cereals: Cheerios, Rice Krispies
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. No baked chips were available.
4. Wheat bread was available, but no whole grain tortillas were shelved.
5. 100% Juices: Orange, grape, apple, berry, V8 (single sizes)
6. Fresh potatoes were shelved (not local)
7. Canned Fruits: mandarin oranges, pineapple
Canned Vegetables: corn, green beans, peas, carrots, butter beans, and lima beans.

**There was also a wide selection of deli sandwiches (premade) that were available for purchase. According to the cashier, these items are popular purchases for many of the workers in/around the town.

We are now in Indiana! I wanted to apologize for being unable to post last night. I had a rough day of bike mechanical issues, bad weather, and sickness; however, it was nothing a little rest, Gatorade, oatmeal creme pies, and B's mechanical skills couldn't fix.

Day 13

2010-06-26T21:44:00.004-04:00

Clyde, Ohio Food Assessment

Background: Clyde is a small town in western Ohio. It is a fairly rural area that has fruit/vegetable stands inside the town everyday during the early afternoon according to one citizen. There are also Farmer’s Markets that take place in Clyde several times a week. The downtown area has two convenience stores, a drug store, a dollar store, and a supermarket in relatively close proximity. There are also two convenience stores outside of the town along major highways. Most citizens buy their groceries at the local supermarket or farmer’s market. Biking seems to be fairly popular amongst the youth of the town.

Ameristop (Convenience Store)417 North Main Street

Located at an intersection in downtown. Very low amount of items in stock.
1. Two boxes of Rice Krispies were shelved.
2. All types of milk were present except Skim (Nonfat) milk.
3. No baked chips were in stock.
4. Two loafs of whole wheat bread were available.
5. Only single (16 oz.) servings of 100% orange, grape, and apple juice were in stock.
6. No fresh produce in the store.
7. No fruits or vegetables were available for purchase.

Family Dollar (Nontraditional Food Store) 415 North Main Street

1. Healthier cereal options included Special K, Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran, and Rice Krispies.
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. No baked chips were shelved.
4. A large selection of wheat bread was available.
5. 100% vegetable, grapefruit, orange, and apple juice were in stock.
6. No fresh produce in the store.
7. Canned vegetables: green beans, corn, and peas
Canned fruit: strawberry, mandarin oranges, pineapples, etc.

Rite Aid (Nontraditional Food Store) 710 North Main Street

1. Cereal: Speak K, Cheerios, Fiber Plus, Rice Krispies, Grape Nuts, Corn Flakes.
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. No baked chips were shelved.
4. No bread in store.
5. 100% Juices: Grape, Orange Juice, Apple.
6. No fresh produce.
7. Canned vegetables: green beans, peas.
Canned fruit: Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges and Fruit Salad sweetened with Splenda.

** I found it really interesting that some of the fruit was sweetened with artificial sweetener. Such low/no calorie sweeteners have grown tremendously in popularity.

Speedway (Convenience Store) 108 West McPherson Highway

1. No healthy cereal in stock.
2. All types of milk.
3. No baked chips for sale.
4. 3 packages of wheat bread.
5. Orange Juice
6. No fresh produce.
7. Slice peaches in light syrup.

Should be able to do another assessment tomorrow evening. Bedtime now after an 80 mile day.

Day 11

2010-06-24T23:08:00.004-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Today we biked from Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH to Cleveland, OH(approximately 30 miles).

On a scale of 1-5, please rank the following factors in integer form given the below scale:
(1-very poor, 2-poor, 3-fair, 4-good, 5-very good)

1. The amount of motor vehicle traffic given the amount of through lanes.
2. The physical road conditions taking into account factors including pavement attributes, curb presence, railway crossings, storm drain grates, debris, etc.
3. Your comfort with biking given the speed limit and proximity of motor vehicles.
4. The level of sight and amount of curves of the road.
5. The size of the bike lane or shoulder if present (please circle which one). Bike Lane Shoulder Neither

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Ohio Highway 283, The Coastal Ohio Trail (0.5 miles outside of Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH, 10 AM)

1. 3
2. 3 (bike lane present, but often times had debris or water grate in lane)
3. 4
4. 4
5. 4 foot Bike Lane

Ohio Highway 283 (Downtown Euclid, 11:10 AM)

1. 1
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. No bike lane/shoulder present

Cleveland Lakeview Bikeway (1 mile before Cleveland, 12 PM)

1. 5
2. 5
3. 5
4. 4
5. 10 foot wide bike lane

Happy to be in Cleveland and have an off day tomorrow! We'll see the best way to conduct a food accessibility analysis in the next couple days.

Day 10

2010-06-23T21:56:00.003-04:00

We enjoyed our first extended bicycling trip today with approximately 75 miles biked. Finally, we saw the blessed sight of flat, straight roads of Ohio compared to the hilly, winding roads of Pennsylvania.

Given our lengthy trek, I decided to take the day off from research and enjoy the crystal clean waters of Lake Erie upon our arrival.

Look forward to blogging from Cleveland tomorrow evening.

Day 9

2010-06-22T19:42:00.003-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Today we biked from West Sunbury, PA to Greenville, PA (approximately 45 miles).

On a scale of 1-5, please rank the following factors in integer form given the below scale:
(1-very poor, 2-poor, 3-fair, 4-good, 5-very good)

1. The amount of motor vehicle traffic given the amount of through lanes.
2. The physical road conditions taking into account factors including pavement attributes, curb presence, railway crossings, storm drain grates, debris, etc.
3. Your comfort with biking given the speed limit and proximity of motor vehicles.
4. The level of sight and amount of curves of the road.
5. The size of the bike lane or shoulder if present (please circle which one). Bike Lane Shoulder Neither

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Pennsylvania Route 173 (3 miles until Slippery Rock, PA, 10:30 AM)
1. 3
2. 3
3. 4
4. 3
5. Approximately 2 foot wide shoulder consisting of loose gravel material.

Pennsylvania Route 58 (2 miles until Mercers, PA, 12:15 PM)
1. 3
2. 2 (occasional gravel spots and rumble strips present on shoulder)
3. 3
4. 4
5. Approximately 4 foot wide shoulder

Pennsylvania Route 58 (6 miles until Greenville, PA, 2:50 PM)
1. 4
2. 4
3. 3
4. 5
5. Smaller, approximately 2 foot wide shoulder

Pennsylvania Route 58 (within town of Greenville, PA, 3:45 PM)
1. 2
2. 2 (numerous metal grates present on edge of road and no shoulder present)
3. 2
4. 3
5. No shoulder/bike lane is present

Last assessment in Pennsylvania! Next stop... Ohio.

Day 8

2010-06-21T19:30:00.003-04:00

West Sunbury, PA Corner Store Assessment

Background: West Sunbury is a rural area in Western Pennsylvania that has no local, traditional grocery store. Local citizens stated that they often travel to surrounding cities such as Butler or Slippery Rock to purchase weekly groceries. Each of these trips is over 20 minutes via car. There are also no official Farmer’s Markets in town; however, they do have 2 vegetable/fruit stands within a 5 mile radius of the town that citizens frequent on occasion. There is only one convenience store in the town that has been transformed into a hybrid traditional/ convenience food store to fit resident’s needs.

Thompson’s Country Market and Catering (136 Main Street)

1. Healthy cereal options available included Smart Start, Special K, Great Gains, Fiber 1, Raisin Bran, and Cheerios.
2. All types of milk were in stock (2%, Low fat, and Skim).
3. Only individual bags of baked chips were in stock.
4. There were several whole wheat bread options available. Also, the store has rye and oatmeal bread in stock. I have included the picture of the oatmeal bread (which I have never heard of) below. It should be noted that the store did have tortillas, but none were made of wheat.

5. There were only small, 16 oz. orange juice (100%) containers available.
6. There was a small selection of fresh produce available that consisted of bananas, potatoes, onions, peppers, celery, cucumber, and carrots. Some products were locally grown.
7. There was no canned fruit that didn’t have heavy syrup; however, there were numerous canned vegetable products like green beans, peas, carrots, corn, etc.

**There was a small deli section of the store that held different meats from larger distributers. Additionally, some pasta items, like lasagna, were available for purchase.

Days 6 and 7

2010-06-20T21:29:00.003-04:00

It has been a hectic two days as we navigate our way through the final (hopefully) stretches of the Appalachian Mountains. On day 6, I was unable to conduct a corner store assessment as I arrived to town (Ligonier, PA)at 6 PM separated from the group. I spent most of the remaining daylight hours attempting to find a meal and place to sleep. On day 7, I didn't have any better luck as my group got somewhat lost and finally made it to camp around 6 PM again. To make matters even more difficult, our camp was located in a friendly couple's backyard with no town in a couple mile radius.

Cross your fingers that tomorrow we'll arrive before the evening hours in an area conducive for such a study. In the mean time, enjoy the photo below which shows some of the Pennsylvania countryside after a 5 mile, 8% grade climb.

Day 5

2010-06-18T21:15:00.004-04:00

Bikeability Assessment

Today we biked from Mercersberg, PA to Bedford, PA (approximately 52 miles).

On a scale of 1-5, please rank the following factors in integer form given the below scale:
(1-very poor, 2-poor, 3-fair, 4-good, 5-very good)

1. The amount of motor vehicle traffic given the amount of through lanes.
2. The physical road conditions taking into account factors including pavement attributes, curb presence, railway crossings, storm drain grates, debris, etc.
3. Your comfort with biking given the speed limit and proximity of motor vehicles.
4. The level of sight and amount of curves of the road.
5. The size of the bike lane or shoulder if present (please circle which one). Bike Lane Shoulder Neither

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Pennsylvania Highway 16 (1.5 miles outside of Mercersburg, PA, 6 AM)
1. 4
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 3 foot wide shoulder that was not in good condition

Pennsylvania Highway 16 (7 miles outside of Mercersburg, PA, 7:15 AM)
1. 3
2. 3 (some shoulder erosion)
3. 4 (large shoulder)
4. 3
5. Approximately 4 foot, eroding shoulder on mountainous road

Pennsylvania Highway 30 Westbound (13 miles outside Mercersburg, PA, 8:20 AM)
1. 5
2. 3 (shoulder erosion)
3. 4
4. 4
5. Approximately 5 foot shoulder

Lear Road (Township Road 414, 5 miles after Harrisonville, PA, 11 AM)
1. 3
2. 3
3. 1
4. 1
5. No shoulder or bike lane present

The Old Pennsylvania Turnpike (check out piketobike.org for information, 12:30 PM)
1.5
2.1
3.5
4.3
5. The entire old highway is a 4 lane bike lane that is in very bad condition with many potholes and eroding portions of the road. Additionally, there are two large tunnels under mountain passes that require some form of lighting. Finally, getting onto and off of the road is very tedious as it requires the bicyclists to wheel his bicycle up a steep dirt path.

This road could be an excellent bike path if proper paving of the road and lighting of the tunnel occurred. Also, better signs directing patrons to the road would be helpful as well.

Highway 30 Westbound (10 miles before Bedford, PA, 3:15 PM)
1. 3
2. 4
3. 4
4. 4
5. 7 foot wide shoulder

Day 4

2010-06-17T15:20:00.005-04:00

Corner Store Analysis

The final location within the rural food environment of Mercersburg is a locally-owned, hybrid traditional/convenient store. It is located very close to the center of downtown and is very popular amongst residents especially for their meats. Often times called the "Cold Storage" by the locals, Mercersburg Market is an old food storage facility that was transformed into a "mini mart" that also offered many options of a supermarket including fruits, vegetables, deli meats, etc.

Mercersburg Market-- 19 North Park Avenue
-The store is located right off of Main Street and seems to be very close to a large number of houses. One may have a difficult time distinguishing that it was a convenient store were it not for the lottery signs.

1. Many types of healthy cereal were available including Grape Nuts, puffed rice, Wheaties, Corn Flakes, Cheerios, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Special K.
2. All types of milk were in stock.
3. They only had smaller bags of baked chips in stock (one sitting portions).
4. They had two different brands of whole wheat bread in stock.
5. 100% Orange Juice
6. They did have fresh produce including apples, bananas, oranges, potatoes, onions, blueberries, etc. Additionally, they had locally grown cantaloupe and watermelon available as well.

7. Canned vegetables: murshrooms, carrots, tomatoes, whole potatoes, green beans, and peas. They only had one set of canned fruits in stock (pineapple).

**It should also be noted that this store is very popular for deli meats, cheeses, sandwiches, soups, etc.

Mercersburg has given us a very enjoyable couple of days, but I think we are about ready to continue our journey westward.

Day 3

2010-06-16T23:41:00.005-04:00

Corner Store Analysis: Mercersburg, PA

General Information: According to a lifelong citizen of Mercersburg, there is a small Farmer’s Market that is open every Saturday just outside of town. Its popularity is typically low as the products are fairly expensive. Accordingly, backyard gardening is extremely common. Locals are renowned for canning their own vegetables after they ripen.

The local grocery store is a Food Lion that is also unpopular as it has a limited, yet an expensive selection of food items. Many city residents make the twenty minute drive to Greencastle or the thirty minute drive to Chambersburg for more varied, reasonably priced foods.

Downtown seems to be fairly active with bicyclists and pedestrians as there are several restaurants and a park in the area. The following list identifies and describes some of the rural food environment in Mercersburg:
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Uni-Mart (Convenience Food Store)-- 350 North Main Street
-No photos outside of the store are available due to owner’s request. Uni-Mart is located in a small strip of buildings beside a bank and McDonalds. It is a short walk from downtown.

1. No full size boxes of low sugar cereal were in stock, but they did have single, bowl size portions of plain toasted oats (Cheerios) cereal available.

2. All types of milk were available (large dairy farming industry in area).

3. Only 1 type of baked chips available.

4. Only 1 bag of whole wheat bread was in stock.
5. 100% Orange Juice was available.
6. No fresh produce.
7. Canned products included sliced peaches in heavy syrup (negative) and pineapples in 100 percent pineapple juice. Additionally, there were canned green beans and whole kernel corn.

Dollar General Store (nontraditional) – 11900 Buchanan Trail West
-Close in proximity to the Uni-Mart, but neighbors a Chinese Restaurant and Subway.

1. There was a large selection of healthy cereal including corn flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats, Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Fiber One, Crispy Rice, etc.
2. All types of milk were available.
3. No baked chips were available.
4. Wheat bread was in stock, but was located inconveniently on the bottom of the shelf.
5. There was a wide selection of 100 percent juice including grape, cranberry, apple, vegetable, orange.
6. No fresh produce.
7. A wide assortment of canned vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, etc) in no syrup and canned fruit (peaches, strawberries, pineapple, etc) in light or natural syrup were in stock.

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I will explore Mercersburg more tomorrow to identify any more food store possibilities. Thank goodness for off-days!

Courtesy of Dr. Alice Ammerman

2010-06-16T23:30:00.004-04:00

Publication

2010-06-15T20:59:00.002-04:00

An article written by HPDP Communications Intern Becky Bush:

UNC HPDP

Day 2

2010-06-15T20:43:00.002-04:00

Day 2 was very eventful in terms of biking, but the same cannot be said for research. We made our way through the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with two free meals (thanks to charitable fans)to a campground outside of historic Gettysburg, PA. Unfortunately, there aren't any convenience stores in the area, so I cannot conduct any corner store assessments. However, I am hoping for a solid analysis tomorrow/Thursday as we get to spend 2 days in Mercersburg, PA.

Day 1

2010-06-14T20:11:00.005-04:00

Today we biked just over 40 miles this afternoon from Havre de Grace, MD to Stewertstown PA. Below is my bikeability assessment for three sections of road in Maryland and one section in Pennsylvania:

On a scale of 1-5, please rank the following factors in integer form given the below scale:
(1-very poor, 2-poor, 3-fair, 4-good, 5-very good)

1. The amount of motor vehicle traffic given the amount of through lanes.
2. The physical road conditions taking into account factors including pavement attributes, curb presence, railway crossings, storm drain grates, debris, etc.
3. Your comfort with biking given the speed limit and proximity of motor vehicles.
4. The level of sight and amount of curves of the road.
5. The size of the bike lane or shoulder if present (please circle which one). Bike Lane Shoulder Neither
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Maryland Route 155 (2 miles out of Havre de Grace)
1. 3
2. 5 (very large shoulder present)
3. 4
4. 4
5. Approximately 6 ft shoulder

Maryland Road 543 (1.5 miles from beginning of route on road)
1. 1
2. 2 (fair amount of debris on edge of road)
3. 2 (very close proximity to traffic/no shoulder)
4. 3
5. No shoulder or bike lane present

Maryland Road 165 (1 mile from intersection road 543)
1. 3
2. 4
3. 4
4. 4
5. 8 ft wide shoulder

Pennsylvania Highway 24
1. 2
2. 3
3. 3
4. 3
5. No shoulder or bike lane present in addition to absence of lane markers on the right side of the road.

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The hills of MD and PA were pretty tough. Hoping that the rough day will pay off in the coming weeks.

In the news

2010-06-10T20:59:00.002-04:00

The Daily Tar Heel discusses our adventure in the following article. Check it out below:

DTH

Corner Store Analysis

2010-06-08T14:56:00.003-04:00

Investigating aspects of food availability in rural areas through corner store analysis is the second component of my research on this trip. Given it was the first component that I felt relatively comfortable with, I hadn't revisited the topic much until recently.

It all began with Dr. Alice Ammerman, linked in the previous blog, coming up with the idea of studying this while on the Cycle 20Ten Trip. She pulled some strings and of course got an expert in the field involved. Dr. Joseph Sharkey, of Texas A&M's Center for Environmental and Rural Health, was contacted by Dr. Ammerman and willing to help with this project. The group, including Cycle 20Ten group leader Brian Burnham, was supposed to meet over dinner at Dr. Ammerman's house while Dr. Sharkey was in the Chapel Hill area; however, flight issues resulted in a conference phone call being scheduled instead. After a very productive discussion including inputs from Dr. Ammerman's dog and Dr. Sharkey's parrot, we ended our phone call with a preliminary game plan. See details regarding Dr. Sharkey's research by clicking the link below:

Dr. Sharkey

With the aid of both Dr. Ammerman and Dr. Sharkey, I recently constructed the actual research plan for conducting my corner store analysis twice a week on the bicycling trip. It is listed below:

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Corner Store Analysis Plan

1. Determine town center according to Tom Tom GPS device. Record location coordinates.

2. Locate local food stores including traditional (e.g. grocery stores), convenience (e.g. gas station), and nontraditional (e.g. drug stores). Record location coordinates.

3. Photograph location to record the store’s physical surroundings.

4. Access the level of healthy food options available in these stores:
a. Low Sugar or High Fiber Cereal (e.g., plain cornflakes, puffed rice (Rice Krispies), plain toasted oats (cheerios), plain bran flakes, shredded wheat or generic)
b. Reduced Fat (2%)/Low Fat (1%)/Skim Milk (Fat Free)
c. Baked Chips
d. Whole Wheat Bread/Tortillas (it must say “100% whole grain,” “whole wheat,” “100% whole wheat,”, or “whole wheat.” If the first item includes the word “enriched”, it is NOT a whole grain product).
e. 100% Fruit Juice
f. Fresh produce
i. Fruits
ii. Vegetables
g. Canned produce
i. Fruits (in light syrup, juice, water, or calorie reduced syrup)
ii. Vegetables (plain – not in sauce)

5. Record these foods and photograph interesting features.

6. Possible informal interviews with town citizens to determine if local Farmers Markets or Fruit/Vegetable Stands exist.

7. Record general observations such as level of walking, biking, driving of the area, etc.

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Please excuse the formating above. With less than a week remaining before departure, I am getting very exciting about the trip. I'm hoping that the above plan will enable me to gather relevant data regarding food options in rural areas.

May 28th Meeting and Bikeability Assessment Draft

2010-06-01T23:29:00.004-04:00

Prior to Memorial Day weekend, I had a very early, yet very productive meeting with my internship director and an expert in city and regional planning. Dr. Alice Ammerman, Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, Director of the Carolina Transportation Program, both found time in their busy schedules to meet and discuss ideas with one another. After a solid hour of coffee and brainstorming, we mapped out a realistic format in which to conduct a bikeability assessment on the road. Using a very handy tool recommended by Dr. Rodriguez, I came up with the following assessment tool for my 10 week study. PLEASE NOTE: this assessment tool was derived from the Walking and Bicycling Suitability Assessment (WABSA) Project and should be credited to the individuals listed below.

Link to WABSA Project--- WABSA

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General Bikeability Assessment
(Adapted by Charles LePrevost, Health Policy and Management Student, from James Emery, MPH of WABSA from N. Eddy, 1996)

Date
Time
Road
Long/Lat

On a scale of 1-5, please rank the following factors in integer form given the below scale:
(1-very poor, 2-poor, 3-fair, 4-good, 5-very good)

1. The amount of motor vehicle traffic given the amount of through lanes.
2. The physical road conditions taking into account factors including pavement attributes, curb presence, railway crossings, storm drain grates, debris, etc.
3. Your comfort with biking given the speed limit and proximity of motor vehicles.
4. The level of sight and amount of curves of the road.
5. The size of the bike lane or shoulder if present (please circle which one). Bike Lane Shoulder Neither

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This short survey will allow roads to be properly assessed for bicycling suitability. Additionally, I would recommend referencing the WABSA website to conduct suitability assessments for walking and/or biking in your local town.

Below you can find information regarding both Dr. Ammerman and Dr. Rodriguez. They are both interesting people to read about.

Dr. Ammerman

Dr. Rodriguez

Best,
Charles

Interesting Figures

2010-05-27T23:29:00.001-04:00

The following information was collected from the Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report prepared by the Alliance for Biking and Walking:

General Characteristics

State	Population (rank)	Bike/Walking Levels (1-high)	Bike/Ped Fatality Rates (1-low) (deaths per 10K bicyclists)	Bike/Ped Per Capita Funding (1-high, 50-low)	Cycle to Work (1-high, 50-low) (Total %)	Estimated percent of all trips by bike	Bike Safety Rankings (1-best, 50-worst)
Maryland	5,618,344 (19)	32	35 (6.9)	45	46 (0.2%)	0.3%	36
Pennsylvania	12,432,792 (6)	13	21 (4.3)	16	29 (0.3%)	0.7%	21
Ohio	11,466,917 (7)	35	23 (4.6)	31	33 (0.3%)	0.6%	23
Indiana	6,345,289 (15)	37	28 (8.1)	21	30 (0.3%)	0.6%	40
Illinois	12,852,548 (5)	22	24 (3.0)	43	18 (0.5%)	1.2%	15
Iowa	2,988,046 (30)	12	12 (6.3)	9	24 (0.4%)	0.8%	32
Minnesota	5,197,621 (21)	18	9 (1.8)	14	12 (0.7%)	1.3%	8
South Dakota	796,214 (46)	7	11 (0.8)	24	20 (0.5%)	1.0%	2
Wyoming	522,830 (50)	6	4 (1.1)	4	3 (1.2%)	3.7%	3
Montana	957,861 (44)	4	15 (2.5)	5	2 (1.4%)	0.9%	12
Idaho	1,499,402 (39)	15	7 (1.4)	17	5 (1.1 %)	1.0%	4
Washington	6,468,424 (13)	16	16 (2.5)	12	10 (0.7%)	0.4%	13
North Carolina	9,061,032 (10)	43	44 (13.7)	33	43 (0.2%)	0.4%	47
Average	-	-	- (5.2)	-	- (0.5%)	0.9%	-

State Policies

State	Goal: Increase Bicycling	Goal: Decrease Bicycling Fatalities	Master Plan Adopted	Advisory Committee Formed	Public Bicycle Map	Complete Street Policy	Annual Statewide Bicycle Conference
Maryland	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Ohio	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Indiana	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Illinois	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Iowa	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Minnesota	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
South Dakota	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Wyoming	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Montana	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Yes	No	No
Idaho	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Washington	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
North Carolina	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Average	- (25)	Yes (32)	Yes (27)	No (20)	Yes (36)	No (18)	No (16)

State	Bicycle a Vehicle by Law	Legal to ride 2 abreast	3 ft passing distance for cars	Full use of lane regardless of sidepath/bike lane	Mandatory Helmet (age)
Maryland	Yes	Yes	No	No (bike lane)	Yes (<16)
Pennsylvania	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes (<11)
Ohio	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Indiana	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Illinois	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Iowa	No	No	No	Yes	No
Minnesota	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
South Dakota	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Wyoming	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Montana	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes (All)
Idaho	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Washington	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
North Carolina	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes (<16)
Average	Yes (43)	Yes (45)	No (14)	Yes (43)	No

Funding

State	Spending target	Fed. Transportation funds for bike/ped projects (5 yr avg)	Fed. Transportation funds per capita	% Fed. Transportation Dollars to Bike/Ped	% Transportation Enhancement to Bike/Ped
Maryland	No	$3,752,521	$0.67	0.7 %	13%
Pennsylvania	No	$24,740,241	$1.99	1.7%	61%
Ohio	No	$14,112,511	$1.23	1.2%	44%
Indiana	No	$10,128,848	$1.60	1.3%	51%
Illinois	No	$10,237,261	$0.80	1.0%	32%
Iowa	N/A	$8,490,443	$2.84	2.2%	54%
Minnesota	No	$11,487,168	$2.21	2.0%	81%
South Dakota	No	$1,160,072	$1.46	0.5%	35%
Wyoming	No	$2,445,508	$4.68	1.1%	56%
Montana	N/A	$3,708,734	$3.87	1.1%	59%
Idaho	No	$2,950,445	$1.97	1.2%	59%
Washington	Yes ($20,000)	$15,069,147	$2.33	2.2%	67%
North Carolina	Yes ($6,000)	$10,604,949	$1.17	1.2%	47%
Average	No	$7,793,010	$1.29	1.2%	48%

Staffing

State	Full time equivalent (2006-2008 avg)	Staff/1 million
Maryland	24.6	4.4
Pennsylvania	1.5	0.1
Ohio	2.0	0.2
Indiana	1.7	0.3
Illinois	1.9	0.1
Iowa	2.0	0.7
Minnesota	5.8	1.1
South Dakota	0.8	1.0
Wyoming	2.0	3.8
Montana	N/A	N/A
Idaho	2.0	1.3
Washington	10.0	1.5
North Carolina	9.8	1.1
Average	4.9	0.8

Notes

The Transportation Enhancement program provides over 800 million federal funds to distribute to community based projects that expand travel choices and enhance the transportation experience by improving the cultural, historic, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of transportation.

Pre ride Preparation

2010-05-26T21:28:00.002-04:00

With less than three weeks until the Cycle 20ten group departure, I have tried to properly balance my time between getting in somewhat decent shape before the nearly 4,000 mile trip and conducting proper preliminary research.

One of the main components of my in-field research will center around various elements of the bike route through all dozen states. For example, does the route have a bike lane and if so, how large. Additional things of interest may include shoulder presence, debris in route, speed limit for motor vehicles, comfort of riders, etc. The idea behind these actions is to gauge various details regarding the route in various states and then attempt to see if state/municipality policy may have some connection to what is observed. Thus, I’ve been collecting various data for the states we'll be traveling through including bike riding levels, bicyclist fatality rates, various state policies (e.g. helmet law), transportation funding distribution, etc. I look forward to completing this document and posting it during the next couple days. An interesting preview of some startling information: bicyclists and pedestrians are typically those left out in regards to federal transportation dollars with only 1.2% of total dollars going to projects dealing with biking or walking (Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010)

As far as the physical preparation, I was forced to bike indoors on this beautiful day. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the new bikes at the Ramshead Gymnasium on campus that have an interactive video component. It was beneficial to get in some hill training as well. Unfortunately, the 30 miles I biked pales in comparison to the 70 we'll be averaging when we get rolling.

Will post again soon,

Charles

Introduction

2010-05-26T19:33:00.010-04:00

Hello all,

My name is Charles LePrevost and I am a Health Policy and Management student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. This summer I will be partaking in a 10 week cross-country bicycle tour beginning in Maryland and ending in Washington. For more information regarding the tour group and our route please reference the below link:

cycle20ten

While most of the other 15 participants are going as a fundraiser for the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center (linked here: Lineberger), I am going not only to help raise money, but also to gather policy and health related information for my summer internship through the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP).

A general description of what I will be studying is included below. I will post my final document detailing everything in the coming weeks prior to departure.

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DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED FIELD ACTIVITIES and PRODUCTS

Bikeablity- Assessments regarding the conditions of roads traveled will
be conducted. Information gathered should include whether a bike lane is
present, its size, whether a shoulder is present, its size, condition of
bike lanes/shoulders, number of motor vehicles on road, speed limit for
vehicles, comfort for bikers, etc. Prior to and following field
analysis, more research will be conducted to whether state/municipality
bike policy may be associated with results of the assessment.

Corner store- Interviews, observations, and GPS mapping will be
conducted to gather data for the corner store analysis in certain rural
areas. Interviews with town locals and store managers will be conducted
to 1) determine the food availability for certain rural areas and 2)
gain insight into the decisions made by owners such as to why they do/do
not offer healthy food options. Observations will be conducted to
understand how these stores stand out in the landscape of a town (e.g.
does it look like a location appealing to individuals to make daily food
purchases for subsistence). Finally, GPS mapping will be used to
determine the exact location of these stores in relation to the town
(e.g. can people walk there or is driving necessary?).

Project Report- A report for possible publication will be
generated from the information and data gathered on the bike trip.

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I hope to have access to this blog throughout my travels. Thus, postings of discussions, photos, videos, interviews, etc. should be on here. If everything goes by plan, this should be an excellent experience that helps collect loads of valuable information while raising money for a very worthy cause. Below is a link to a local Chapel Hill newspaper that recently wrote an article regarding the trip:

Chapel Hill News

I look forward to gathering more followers for this epic journey.

Best regards,

Charles