Know your options: Green Pedal Couriers

Michael Baroni’s “smile is so constant that he probably has to scrape bugs off his teeth at night after a long day at work,” writes Dennis Taylor.

Taylor’s story, “Eco-friendly courier delivers the goods–from the Peninsula to Salinas,” appears in the Monterey County Herald, 7/13/12.

Michael Baroni’s Green Pedal Couriers is growing in popularity as an option for people who need help with deliveries, errands, materials distribution, and more.

To learn more about Green Pedal, see Christy Khoshaba’s “The Courier,” which appeared in the Monterey County Weekly, 5/12/11.

Green Pedal Couriers is also highlighted throughout the Bicycling Monterey website.  Click here for a summary post, 11/25/10.

Thank you to the Herald and the Weekly for spreading news of Monterey County’s bicycle-powered courier service!

Whazzup with the accidents?

Taylor reported that Baroni, owner of Green Pedal Couriers,  “at age 25, has never had a driver’s license, and doesn’t plan to get one,” and  “Baroni personally puts 50-75 miles on his bike in an average day.”

Baroni told Christy Khoshaba, “I get hit by cars all the time,” and Dennis Taylor’s story shares a few details on Baroni’s accidents.  Check it out.

The Bicycling Monterey website’s post “Bicycle culture and youth,” includes  a video link, “Beauty and the Bike,” which addresses why some people stop cycling. Main reason? Poor infrastructure and, as a result, not feeling safe riding.

Search the web and you’ll find thousands of takes on what causes car vs bike and other bicycle accidents.   Here are three key causes:

1. Poor infrastructure–failure to place a priority on bicycling as a transportation option when constructing transportation networks

2. Distracted or otherwise disrespectful drivers, pedestrians, skaters, and others–including distracted/disrespectful bicyclists crossing another cyclist’s path

3. Unsafe riding practices by bicyclists

All three of those topics are well covered on the Bicycling Monterey website, and elsewhere throughout the web.  How to improve things? For just a sampling on this site alone, see:

Improving infrastructure: 

Bicycle advocacy:  What you can do – Focuses on local advocacy, and includes links to state and national organizations

Staying aware and respectful:

Distracted? Watch out! We’re all family.

Making a habit of safe riding practices:

California Bike Laws and Personal Safety–with Tips for Kids

Please watch out for Mike and other cyclists in Monterey County, or wherever you travel.