Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (a.k.a. JKT) is a representative for the 34th district in the Alaska State House, which encompasses many Southeast Alaska communities including Sitka, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, and Craig. While the legislature is in session in Juneau, he often commutes to his office by bicycle.
In our wet Juneau environment, our bikes need a little more TLC than those ridden in dry weather. Regular maintenance involving cleaning, greasing and lubricating is important. Chains, cables, seat posts, nuts and bolts will show evidence of rust quickly unless we keep them lubed or greased. A quick rule of thumb is: if it …
Riding always makes me feel like a little kid. There is a freedom and a lack of conformity that only a mountain bike brings. As I see it, riding my mountain bike is limited only by my imagination. I can be happy riding anywhere on my mountain bike. I have been known to ride for hours inside my garage on a cold winter’s day, just doing track stands or hopping over and around obstacles of shoes, tools, and dogs.
The City and Borough of Juneau is looking for volunteers to help count bikes and pedestrians at intersections throughout the city. The counts will take place next week from May 11th through May 17th. Since the weather has been so good, and the Governor has declared it Bike to Work week in Alaska, there could be quite a few people to count!
Samantha found out that an adult family friend, Amy, did not know how to ride a bicycle. She took it upon herself to write a lesson plan and teach Amy to ride. Samantha told Amy that it was important to learn to ride a bike because "then you are free." After Amy finished her lessons, Samantha presented her with a completion certificate, declaring her an official bicycle rider.
Chances are good that your bike has been languishing in your garage/shed/living room during these last few soggy winter months. Now that it's Spring and Bike Month is upon us, it's time to do a safety check to make sure it's ready to roll. It's a good idea to perform the quick version of the …
At Gastineau school, I noticed there were just a few kids who did bike to school. Though we had two bike racks, there were rarely more than two to three bikes in them daily. Each spring, I would ask students, “How many of you have bikes and go biking”? Not very many would raise their hands. And as their P.E. teacher, I would send home monthly calendars where students would log their weekly fitness activities. Few calendars would include biking.
Visibility is a known key safety factor on the road, and lights are an important way to make yourself more visible to motorists. Most of us are familiar with using lights at night or in low light conditions, but can they also make a difference in broad daylight? Be Safe, Be Seen is a ground-breaking …
According to KTVA Alaska, there is a bill in the works in the Alaska legislature to create a new "Share the Road" license plate: An Anchorage woman is hoping a new state license plate will make Alaska a little safer for residents who ride their bikes on the road. Julie Saddoris is asking the Alaska …
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Cyclists in Juneau know that this can be a wonderful place to ride a bike, and now the community is even receiving national recognition as a biking city. For the second time since 2011, Juneau has been designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Juneau is one of three communities …
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Juneau Rides 