Monday Afternoon Commute - 397.34

Good afternoon. Saw Bill Nye the Science Guy at work today. He's even sexier in person.

• Potholepalooza has started. Call (or email or tweet) in potholes. The rim you save might be your own. 
• Several bike projects should move forward in Arlington now that the weather is better. This inlcudes CaBi expansion, covered bike parking at the Clarendon Metro (see photo below), completion of the Washington Boulevard Trail, and the Army Navy Boulevard cycle-track. 
• A bike ride in Montgomery County focused on how to make the region more bike friendly.
• Paul's Ride for Life is next Saturday
• "A new map of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail being released on Monday — Earth Day — will show the soon-to-be-finished segment of trail through Keystone Metals in Hays and Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead, which will link the riverfront trails around Pittsburgh to the Great Allegheny Passage beyond." Beyond includes Washington, DC.
• Americans - and young people in particular - are driving less, biking more and taking more transit for a whole bunch of possible reasons. And, if data out of Cuba can be believed, that should improve health.
  • The data showed that, during the period of the economic crisis, deaths from cardiovascular disease and adult-onset type 2 diabetes fell by a third and a half, respectively. Strokes declined more modestly, and overall mortality rates went down.
  • The researchers say that [the  “abrupt downward trend” in illness] has more to do with simple weight loss. Cubans, who were walking and bicycling more after their public transportation system collapsed, and eating less (energy intake plunged from about 3,000 calories per day to anywhere between 1,400 and 2,400, and protein consumption dropped by 40 percent). They lost an average of 12 pounds.
• CycLAvia causes traffic jams. 

Comments

[Michael H.]

He's probably in town for the USA Science & Engineering Festival next weekend, at the convention center. It's free. I'm guessing you already know about it.

[freewheel]

Actually, Scifest does not return until April 26-27, 2014. So Bill Nye is probably here to work on a top secret rocket-propelled bike project with Washcycle.

[washcycle]

Earth Day/White House Science Fair/Trolling for college chicks at McFadden's

[Smedley Burkhart]

Re: Cuba, BMJ has an impact factor of 14 (very high). Shit better be true.

[Michael H.]

Oops.

[dynaryder]

Can anyone attest to the effectiveness of calling in potholes to Potholepalooza? I'm actually considering taking a day to ride around the city a call a bunch in.

[washcycle]

My experience has been very good. They almost always respond within a couple of days.