GRS 195: Bicycles, Globalization, and Sustainability. In recent years the bicycle has been enjoying a renaissance as a form of sustainable urban transportation in many major cities throughout the world, primarily as city governments and activists seek ways to reduce the social, health, and environmental problems caused by automobile pollution and congestion. In addition to exploring this global phenomenon, this course examines a number of issues relevant to understanding the complex connections between globalization and urban sustainability. These themes include: theorizing contemporary forms of urban mobility and how transportation technologies, specifically the bicycle, relate to social change; the dynamic role of the bicycle around the world (primarily Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America) as a form of transportation; and the current adoption of the bicycle by urban environmental movements. This course will offer many opportunities to directly explore how issues around sustainability and cycling play out in Burlington, through bicycle "fieldtrips" to local organizations involved in transportation and sustainability.
Wednesday Luis brought his class by to hear Glenn talk about the evolution of the bicycle. 3 credits or not I think this class is an excellent addition to any course catalouge.
I must admit I didn't follow the cue sheet exactly some of it intentional some of it not. There were some missed turns, some opportunity's taken, and some "hey let's see where this goes". but every road was a new adventure and I got to sample some of all three courses.
The D2R2 is certainly one of the most beautiful and challenging ride I've ever done. Designed to highlight some of the best roads and most scenic spots the Berkshire have to offer, ride designer Sandy Whittlesey certainly accomplished just that. My legs still feel the long climbs and bumpy desents two days later but, I can't wait to go do it again.
And at the end of the day...
after 90 miles of riding.
There is nothing better than good beer and good company to recount the suffering and glory of the day. You can check out more photos of the ride 
After some last minute mechanicals we were on the road by 5:10, rolling out as a group through Burlington to the bike path and out to the causeway. 
A chartered bike ferry from 
From this point on we were New York bound heading towards Rouse's Point. Make a wrong right turn here and you'll end up in Canada in about a mile.
After a much needed breakfast stop at Lakeside Coffee there were some long flat hot roads ahead and with the sun up,the tempurtures started pushing in to the nineties with no shade in sight.
At mile 80 the climbing started but the real steep climbs came between mile 92 and 99, heading up a 17% grade pushed everyone to the limit. But it was all downhill from there and another ferry ride back to Vermont was well deserved rest and recovery.
128.82 = 200kYou can check out more photos 
Enjoy the bike Liz. You can check out more photos of the restoration 
Take two asprin and call us in the morning. 
Since the time of the explosion a low estimate of 185,000 barrels to a high estimate of 925,000 barrels or 40,700,000 gallons of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. After several failed attempts from BP to stop the leak there seems to be no hope of stopping the spill in the near future. "Whose to blame?" seems to be the question of the day and fingers are being pointed in every direction. Is it BP's fault they operated the drilling rig? Is it Transocean's who built the rig? Maybe Halliburton, they poured the cement? Or is it the American public who feel entitled to drive giant gas gusling SUV's less than a mile to run errands?
Don't worry there is enough blame to go around.
So here's the solution.
By changing our way of looking at transportation we can solve several of this countries and the worlds most pressing social, economic, and enviromental problems. From our dependance on oil both foriegn and domestic, to childhood obesitiey, and urban sprawl. And by changing the way we move around we can reduce and eliminate the need to drill for oil. If we ween our demand for oil, BP will not need to lease a drilling rig from Transocean who will not need to have Halliburton pour cement, because people will be out walking and on their bikes breathing fresh air. 
This Wednesday cyclists will be gathering on State Street in Montpelier in front of the State House at 6:00 pm. Red and black armbands will be distributed and participants will be encouraged to wear them. We'll ride in respectful silence out to Middlesex and back on Route 2, a total of 12 miles.In light of the recent tragedy involving the death of a local kindergardner, we hope that this ride will open motorists eyes to the fact that they share the road with cyclists. In the past few years here in Burlington there have been sereral hit and run inncidents with major injuries and many more avoidable collisions.