Led a monthly WTF (women, trans, femme) bike ride this morning. Used a queer history driving tour (https://nashvillesites.org/tours/lgbtq-driving/) put together by a local public historians to pick spots to visit this month, including a historical marker for Penny Campbell. She was the named plaintiff in the lawsuit that overturned the Tennessee's "Homosexual Practices Act” in 1996 (plus a longtime LGBTQ advocate, who also organized Nashville’s first Pride March). Small group, but great ride. #BikeTooter

Stopped in Milwaukee overnight, so got out for a bike ride there this morning. Last year, I checked out the northern part of the bike trails so this time, I rode the South Shore Line. Great time! Really enjoyed seeing what felt like thoughtfully designed bike infrastructure - including really helpful signage in a couple of spots with detours. #BikeTooter

Just drove by the Jesus bus getting towed. I don’t think it’s because they were parked in a bike lane. I think it’s just because it broke down. A metaphor in action.

It took a really long time, but my neighborhood finally managed to get a no parking zone moved from one side of the street to the other to increase visibility of pedestrians & cars coming from side streets. We’d really like all way stop signs, but our DOT is firmly in the grips of MUTCD (be happy if you don’t know what that is) so emphatically refuses. Wasting energy on stupid small battles like this makes me angry, but working together, we’re forcing action. #VisionZero

Bizarre data center news: someone wants to build a data center by the Nashville Zoo. The Nashville Zoo does really exemplary work in species preservation (especially clouded leopards, but some less glamorous animals too). If it seems ridiculous to you to build a noise and pollution generating data center right next to sensitive animal habitat, could you sign this petition from the zoo? https://c.org/PgRVVkH2wN #Nashville

In today’s mail: a postcard thanking us for having a Pride banner up on our house. The sender said it seems like there are fewer Pride flags out than in the past. So I hope they enjoy that we put up our Pride flag on Monday, after they mailed their card. Also, a great thing about being the people on the block with the progressive signs/flags is that people have sent really nice notes about it. You never know what your small action can mean to others.

Dropped off an embroidered piece at a new free little art gallery today! No idea if it actually “counts” as art, but decided to just do it. #embroidery

I had a whole plan for a long ride this morning but then encountered a triathlon near the start of my planned route. Turned back and ended up on the greenway closer to my house plus some random additions to make the ride longer. It was fine, but I wish there was better communication around this kind of stuff. Anyway, did have some nice nature encounters - or more exactly, non-encounters because rule #1 is stay out of the way of geese. #BikeTooter

Pouring down buckets this morning so we waited until the worst went thru before heading to the farmers market. @timcoffman had an accurate description - “It was really nice out for 15 minutes of every 20, but not next to each other.” Market was fab though! This time of year has it all here - the last strawberries & peas, the first cucumbers, tons of lettuce, carrots, lots of beautiful flowers, the first peaches.

Today is my birthday & also the date for our monthly WTF (women, trans, femme) ride. Decided there was nothing I would like more than to try to get some bike/pedestrian infrastructure fixed, so we stopped when we came across stuff like potholes, crosswalk issues, etc & reported it in the online system we have for general city requests/issues. Also admired some great/new infrastructure projects. Hot but good ride. #BikeTooter

Today was the big annual city bike ride, the Tour de Nash, organized by & benefiting a local advocacy group, Walk Bike Nashville. We did the 25 mile ride again this year & had a total blast. The teen’s shifter has been a bit dodgy & fell off at the 5 mile mark! Fortunately he was in middle gear so just kept going and got it fixed afterwards. Total of 30 miles on the day, my longest ride in a long while. #BikeTooter

Used my pizza rack for its intended purpose tonight. One of the local brew pubs is a “bring your own food” place, so we did. Played some Flamecraft Duals for the first time. Tonight was our last beautiful weather night before it heats up, so I really wanted to spend it outside. #BikeTooter #BoardGames

Started a new project at stitching class tonight.

Last night we biked to the David Byrne concert. Tried out a new greenway segment on the way. Perfect night for an outdoor concert! And local bike/walk advocacy group did a free bike valet, which was totally packed. #BikeTooter

After a really good run of not getting rained on, it rained every time I went out on my bike today. Also, I thought we were done with chilly rain for the summer but alas no. Rain ponchos look ridiculous but work better for me than a rain jacket. #BikeTooter

Finished one side of a baby blanket that I’m currently knitting for someone. Holding off on blocking it as I want I want to be able to compare as I knit side 2. Once both sides are done, I’ll block, steek, and then knit a border to connect them. Hoping to finish by the time the baby turns 1 😹 #knitting

Almost to the end of #30DaysOfBiking! For day 28, biked with the teen to school, with @timcoffman to a new small grocery in the next neighborhood over for lunch, and to a working session for our Vision Zero committee tonight. Got totally soaked on the bike ride home, but did not get hit by lightning so counting it as a win. #BikeTooter

What I thought I was doing today at the bike shop: general spring tune up, replacing my brake pads, repairing a worn shifter. Not zero cost, but nothing too bad.

What actually happened: see photo. Glad I have an n+1 bike because now I’m waiting while they order me a new rear wheel ($400).

#BikeTooter

An occasional reminder that if you’re 50 or older and haven’t gotten two doses of the shingles vaccine, this is an effective vaccine that helps to prevent an extremely painful and potentially debilitating disease. While the vaccine gets a bad rap for being rough to deal with (not my experience, personally), literally every person I know who has had shingles has talked about getting shingles being really horrible. https://www.npr.org/2026/04/06/nx-s1-5745209/shingles-symptoms-vaccine-treatment

Day 4 of #30DaysOfBiking was our usual ride to the farmers market. This market rotates to a different field in the park and changes their opening time from 10am to 9am at the start of April. I was happy to see so many bikes out! Really beautiful morning for a ride. What we got at the market: carrots, lettuce, green garlic, radishes, spinach, cilantro, hot cross buns, bagels, flowers (last of the tulips, first of the ranunculus), pasta, & breakfast to eat there. #BikeTooter