YellowBottle: Superhero In Training

Ways to adapt to car-only development: ride with others and take one for the team.

Generally speaking, going to Smoothie King should be a no-brainer for a commuter cyclist. Real good that is low fiber, low fat, what fat is there is healthy fat, and can control how much you need by way of carbs, calories, and protein.

Only thing missing? About three bike racks and a tree.

When you ride as a pair or a group, one person can go in to do business. While the other watches over the bikes.

Often times in Wichita, a cyclist has to overcome customer service in order to do business.

Nomar and YellowBottle have a mutual admiration happening.

Earlier this week, YellowBottle combined commuting, fitness training, and exploring. During his 47 mile day, YellowBottle uses the Redbud Trail to get from Downtown to Eddie Bauer at Bradley Fair.

Along the way, he went to check the 9th street improvements west of Hillside.

YellowBottle approved! More please!!!!

After burning about 1000 calories in 20 miles, YellowBottle needed to refuel. On weekends, YellowBottle often drives to Delano. Since car parking is easy to find. While bike parking is often already full. But since it was a Monday afternoon, the odds were good that Picasso's would have solid and secure bike parking available. So he decided to visit the doorman Berry Bear.

Berry told YellowBottle's that the latest plan to Delano more walkable and active is to build a six story parking garage. Making the tallest, signature building in the neighborhood dedicated the sole purpose of occasional storage.

Wichita can be a very strange city.

One of the icons of Wichita is Century II. And an icon of Century II is it's rare and world famous Wurlitzer Organ. Wurlitzers are powered by large air pipes and elaborate valve systems. As a note is played, are is directed to a specific pipe that is tuned by pitch. Giving the Wurlitzer it's distinctive volume and sound.

YellowBottle is backstage at the pipe chamber awaiting tonight's performance at Riverfest.

How does YellowBottle like to spend a day off?

Burn off some energy with a ride. Read a book. Learn. Great way to slow down life. Improve your physical and mental health. Take the money you save from the pharmacist, physician, and therapist and treat yourself by eating at a local diner!

YellowBottle is a "Car-Lite" bike commuter. Meaning sometimes he drives a car to his destinations.
Sometimes he bikes. Depends on circumstances.

One reason for skipping a ride is a variation of a much talked problem in Wichita lately. Which is lack of parking. But lack of BIKE parking. Which in turn creates a car parking problem. Today is an example.

With the great weather today, YellowBottle wanted to ride to Delano. But anticipated many others having the same idea. Sure enough, he found 23 bikes from Picasso's to the Monarch. With enough racks to park 10 bikes. Having seen this problem many times, YellowBottle drove to Delano. In order to park at one of dozens of open car parking spots in the area. Taking up a car parking spot he didn't really want in the first place.

Meaning that the routine lack of bike parking is likely driving a perceived car parking problem. A problem that doesn't even exist at this point.

YellowBottle needed a day to relax. So he went exploring new parts of Wichita before resting ay Yo-B's. Vanilla Custard with Butterfinger flakes, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips make for a relaxing rest in the shade.

YellowBottle had been curious about Leslie Coffee Co. for a while now. And Bike Walk Wichita wanted a meet up to discuss a book. One group meetup later, the coffee shop had made $26. And Yellowbottle found a yummy Blueberry muffin.

When he left, Yellowbottle noticed there was one bike rack and four bikes in front. A consistent problem in Delano!

YellowBottle noticed that the fine folks at the Wichita Public Utilities are Shocker fans. Go Shocks!!!!

Yellowbottle was going to a healthier food option, but found out they closed an hour earlier than expected.

Still, one benefit of a commuter cycling lifestyle is his Old Chicago meal turns an unhealthy meal into a not that bad meal. As he needs protein to rebuild muscle, moderate carbs to fuel muscle, and is eating about 1000 calories. While burning 1200 calories.

One of the built in conflicts with being a bike commuter in Wichita is that for at least the past 60 years, Wichita has been intentionally designed as a car-only city. Alot of progress has been made. Especially in the past decade. But the fact remains that if you are a commuter cyclist, this town is not made for you in mind.

Bike Parking is one place where this conflict comes up. When a business doesn't make accommodations for you or your bike, you generally have 3 options:
1) Bring awareness to the business and hope it results in accommodations.
2) Find your own solution on behalf of the business. And try to do so in a way that doesn't disrupt the business.
3) Go to a competing business.
4) Quit commuting.

Here we see YellowBottle and friends giving up on method one and resorting to method two. Creating their own secured bike parking.