Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Biking in Iowa is more than RAGBRAI, it’s regular transportation. And with gas seen at $3.29 a gallon in Coralville on Friday, Bike To Work Week couldn’t come at a better time than this Monday through Friday. As a regular bike to worker I’m planning extensive coverage.
For me, the highlight is Monday’s annual bike-bus-car mall to mall race from Coral Ridge to Old Capitol, Our great racers are all politicians this year:
Other highlights for the week:
Monday, May 14
7-9 a.m.
Bicyclists’ Roadside Pancake Breakfast at College Green Park, Iowa City.Tuesday, May 15
7-9 a.m.
Bicyclists’ Roadside Pancake Breakfast in front of Coralville New Pioneer Co-opWednesday, May 16
5:30 p.m.
Old Pi to New Pi” Mayor’s Ride
Join Mayor Ross Wilburn in a casual bike ride from Iowa City’s Chauncey Swan Park to the Coralville New Pioneer Co-op. Refreshments and prizes hosted by the Co-op, live music by Irene and the Mad River Band. Free bike bells to be given away courtesy of World of Bikes.Friday, May 18
5:00 p.m. (prize drawing at 6:30)
After Work Bike Rally
Fitzpatrick’s on Prentiss Street in Iowa City, mixing cyclists, food, the live music of New Beat Society, and a prize drawing for a new bicycle, a shopping spree at a local bike shop, and many bike accessories!
The Bike To Work Week site offers plenty of tips, including free locations for showers and park and ride (if you can manage part, but not all, of the commute).
I lived with no car for periods of several months in 2003 and 2005, and the biggest barrier was groceries. The corner markets we used to have in every neighborhood have died off, but I still managed most everything in a backpack and side baskets. Except kitty litter. Just couldn’t do the kitty litter.
But that was in midtown Iowa City. And even the Iowa City area still has a fair number of businesses that haven’t managed a basic bike rack.
How would living with no car work in small-town rural Iowa? Answer is: it wouldn’t. Which begs some more questions. With the planet heating up and gas creeping up, should you really be living a long car commute from work? And how could we more effectively structure our societal layout for more bike-friendly transit? And why are there no jobs in our small towns and no affordable homes in our larger towns, so people have to commute dozens of miles?
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