Recently I retired from a decade of maintaining Skatepark.org. I gave the domain over to Skaters for Public Skateparks so they could continue the work of skatepark advocacy. They give me a plug on their history page in return.

In the end I was ready to let go and the new group is taking the website to a new level that I'm proud to be associated with. But the actual switch-over was rather anti-climatic, a forgettable day.

A more personally meaningful milestone came out of the blue last week by e-mail:

My name is Ben, you may still remember me. I used to live around the corner from you on NW H st. with my mom, and we used to skate together every now and then. I am contacting you because you were the first person to push me in the direction of ramp-building, and were to show me my mistakes and what not. This time, however, I have finally gotten it right. I have just recently finished a mini ramp in my backyard, not a shoddy ramp like what I used to try to build, but a very nice ramp. Since you were there at the beginning of my building days, I would be quite honored if you would skate it with me. I dont know if you still skate or not, but if you do, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to have a session with you.

Although I don't think I'd been skateboarding in over a year, I promptly took Ben up on his offer. Skating together with and old neighbor who had grown up to to build an excellent backyard halfpipe was a day to remember. Thanks, Ben.

Here's Ben on his new ramp:

This year I noticed a not of photos of people hauling Christmas trees by bike. Click through the Santa photo to see them. This season even UPS is delivering some packages by bike.

. Photos by Jim Hair and Kurt Ritchie
Journal Date: December 22nd, 2007
Added: 2007-12-22

I contrast this behavior with The Center for a New American Dream, which also works on sustainability issues. Not only did they resist buying mailing lists to send unsolicited mail, on multiple of occasions they have sent mailings that consisted of just a 1/2 sheet of paper, demonstrating that they are not only preaching sustainability, they are living it.

The alternative gift fair we've had in Richmond the past couple of years is based on the model provided by newdream.org.
Journal Date: September 29th, 2007
Added: 2007-09-29

A sampling of other bike-related videos I like on YouTube is here.