I was amused and disturbed to discover what Google.com thinks of Des Moines.

Who knew we were subsidized by the Des Moines Carousel Foundation? Or that we were a streetpark with little bits of tranny? Tranny!?! Come on...

I was at a meeting early last week where folks were discussing trail development in central Iowa. And, when I say trail development, I mean they were talking about how to best pave sections of abandoned railway, etc. for bicyclists.

And I was uncomfortable.

See, I cycle *all* over -- RAGBRAI, quick spin to the grocery store, even raced mountain bikes for a bit...

But I especially pedal on roads. Yes. ROADS, my friends.

Why? Because they are the easiest ways to get from A to B in most cases. And because I'm afforded the same rights -- and must follow the same rules -- as SUVs on these roads.

So, I'm struggling with the amount of money that would be required to acquire the land and create -- fill, grade, pave -- these separate ribbons of asphalt for non-motorized transportation. And then there is the cost to maintain them...

Sure, I'm not *against* the idea. In fact, it would be great to jump on the trailhead a few blocks from my house and pedal to Indianola -- or anywhere -- and not have to think about cars. Really, who could be against trails?

BUT...

For those of us who will continue to pilot a bike on roads, all of this trail development is a reinforcement of the reign of the motorist over pedestrians and cyclists. And, going a step beyond, is among the reasons why I continue to see really bad things happen to cyclists. All types of cyclists.

Moreover, it is exceedingly frustrating to get kicked out of non-paved trail systems (see Brown's Woods, 1996) that cost comparatively very little while millions are spent to create redundant trails next to roadways.

Still, I'll support the development of paved trails -- vigorously. But I also want to see more non-paved trails in central Iowa and an effort -- Critical Mass or whatever -- to remind people that bikes belong.

Maybe it's because school is in session and the future DJs are spinning tunes again, or maybe it's because there's just a ton of music on my server that wants to be set free... Or maybe it's because I want to be sued like a 12-year old girl!

Anyway...

I felt inspired to bring dead moines dot com radio back to life...

Weird fact of the day: a guy named Mr. Dick who lives in Des Moines just changed his name to -- and I swear I'm not making this up -- Mr. Johnson.

Man...

Even before it has opened, people are doing drugs there.

Just wait until Cher (or Elton or ...) comes to town. Party time. Oh yeah.