Fuck Gas

Louisville will be hosting it’s first Hardcourt Bike Polo Tournament Saturday, October 16 at Noon in Shelby Park. This will be in conjunction with a Bicycling for Louisville party welcoming their new HMFIC, Andy Dyson out of Philly. No clue what his background is, but it’s bound to be an improvement. Regardless, being a public park, alcohol is frowned upon so keep that in mind for the tourney. When I say keep it in mind I just mean try to be descreat you know? So yeah, the tournament. No clue how where gonne run this or what we’ll have up for grabs as I just got started on this about 10 minutes ago. Just be sure to mark that shit on your calendar and get your punk ass to Louisville for the weekend. We’ll have updates of the various pick up games, parties, shenanigans and sponsors to come.

Unite Bike is an effort to to support and promote bicycle riding in your city. The idea behind it is to mark a time (5pm, October 3, 2010) and place (your city) for as many bicyclists to meet up and have a group picture taken. I would assume shortly after all the cities pictures will be posted at UniteBike.com for the world to see and revel the solidarity of bicycle riding, left winged hippy bastards the world around. Cheesy, yes, but the more awareness the better right? And why not, all the more that brings all of us douche bag bike riders together a bit more and say hello. Speaking of which, don’t be scared to wave to one another while pedaling your go-green ass around…

Take a second to RSVP to an event in your city or if your city isn’t listed, get in touch with UniteBike.com and they’ll be happy to add it.

Ditch the Van Bike Tour - Chapter 1 from marty benson on Vimeo.

So I just couldn’t help myself. Cricket Press posted this video yesterday of Ben Sollee’s Ditch the Van Tour and got me even more stoked than I was before. You can keep up with how the crew are doing through DitchTheVan.tumblr.com and I’m going to assume over at Marty Benson’s Vimeo page as well. As far as the September 30th event here in Louisville, you can call the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts box office at 502-584-7777 and they’ll mail them to your house for free. Get on it!

You can check Ben’s additional tour dates at BenSollee.com

Ben Sollee has been touring around the country on his Xtracycle for a bit now. I’m pretty sure the above pic is outdated however, I think he’s riding around on a Big Dummy these days. Either way, he’ll be here in Louisville Thursday, September 30 for IdeaFest. The event is free, but tickets are required. Ben will speak and do a performance regarding the idea of sustainability in music touring….community-based approach to performing, and how the physical limitations of the bicycle transcend social and economic boundaries. If you’re a fan of the cello, bicycle touring or hippie green shit, go check it out, I’m putting my money on awesome.

THE weekend is upon us my children. The 2010 World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships go down this weekend in Berlin, Germany. The best teams from around the globe will be swinging mallets and talking shit today thru Sunday. Look for updates throughout the weekend over at WHBPC2010.org.

Liberty Tattoo & Art Parlor is seeking out photographers for their next show coming up at the end of this month. Contact Suzanne at 502-637-4777 for more information. Submission deadline will be August 28. Get on it!

So basically like last year, we’ll meet up and see what happens. Regardless, we’ll hit up 5 or 6 of the public fountains throughout Louisville and probably one we shouldn’t be in but is a great spot none the less, St. James Court. Meet up at Hogan’s Fountain in Cherokee Park this Sunday, August 15 at 6pm. We’ll finish up at the Swan Dive for some outdoor grilling, indoor beer and a showing of Wet Hot American Summer. Yes the Swan Dive is closed on Sundays, but we’re getting the hook up. No menu, that’s why we’re grilling, but beers and a movie inside. You know how we do shit around here. Hope to see you there and don’t forget your skivvies.

Alright, Becca is super busy remodeling her house and can’t really handle taking on an additional night at the bar so that just fell through. She has however said I can borrow the projector to play the DVD off of and we can just hang a sheet or use a wall for a screen. We just need someone’s place to cookout and watch the movie at now. If you’re willing, email me. I would, but my one bedroom apartment isn’t gonna fit all of us.

Well, if this doesn’t sound like a cluster fuck of bureaucratic nightmares, then I don’t know what does. Regardless, shit got done last time around so I guess you’d getter high tail your ass on down to the South Louisville Community Center (2911 Taylor Blvd.) on Tuesday, August 10 to get yourself heard from 6:30-8:30pm. If you can’t make it then, written comments can be submitted to Greg Rawlings at the following location:

Greg Rawlings
FHWA
330 West Broadway
Frankfort, KY 40601
or by email to Gregory.Rawlings@fhwa.dot.gov

Still confused as to what the crap I’m talking about? I’m sick of typing so here:

This is YOUR CHANCE- IT ONLY COMES EVERY FOUR YEARS- The U.S. Department of Transportation only checks with the public every four years to see if our local planners are doing a good job, even though hundreds of millions of dollars are used during those four years. Four years ago hundreds of people wrote or attended and change occurred. This is your chance to create change again by giving your input on transportation planning for our Metro Louisville area.

The Metropolitan Housing Coalition knows that public transportation is a key part of fair and affordable housing. MHC has, for years, proclaimed that the current planning meetings take place in secrecy because they happen mid-day at Decimal Drive, virtually excluding those who use public transit or ride bicycles - or anyone else from the public, for that matter. Here we are in 2010 and the meetings where multi-millions of dollars are spent are not even televised. How can we advocate for public transit at meetings that are not accessible by public transit and not available for view? The public relations staff wrote Cathy Hinko saying that it only took an hour and a half to get to the meeting by transit.

Now I know this is recreation based, but can we get some polo court money out of this?

This months Car-Free Happy Hour includes a bike ride from the downtown YMCA (2nd & Chestnut Streets) to the fabulous La Rosita for awesome Mexican food and drinks. The ride leaves around 4:30 and don’t forget your lights just in case. If you’re getting to La Rosita by some other fashion take note it is located at 1515 East Market Street in downtown New Albany, Indiana. Get out there and enjoy the company of other non-car enthusiasts.

Stop Injustice: 5 Weeks For Freedom from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Thanks to Justin at U of L for the heads up on this one…

5 Weeks for Freedom is an awareness and advocacy campaign covering 1800 miles of the Underground Railroad to support International Justice Mission’s work and give a voice to victims of modern-day slavery and other forms of injustice. Saturday, July 17 the riders will roll into Louisville for some live music, an exhibit of local artists, screenings of IJM’s documentary At the End of Slavery and more.

The event happens at the Muhammad Ali Center (144 North 6th Street) from 10:30am to 3:30pm. Also, be sure to check out 5WeeksforFreedom.org for more info.