There’s a great set of ideas and thoughts over at Commute By Bike on what cyclists liked and tried in 2007.  Check it out here: http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/28/tried-and-liked-in-2007/

There are lots of fun events happening this month. Here’s what we are doing:

January 10: Curb Your Car Month Planning Meeting: 6:00pm, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (115 W. Huron, 3rd Floor). Curb Your Car month is a getDowntown event that encourages employees to bike, walk, bus, carpool and telecommute to work during the month of May. Past Curb Your Car Month’s included a Commuter Challenge, bike to work day, and more! Bring your energy and ideas to this initial planning meeting so we can make this year’s event the best ever. Free. RSVP appreciated: 734-214-0100 or nancy@annarborchamber.org.

January 13: Allen Creek Greenway Walk: 1-2pm. Meet at Sweetwaters (123 W. Washington in Downtown Ann Arbor). Presented by the getDowntown Program. Stephan Szumko, the President of the Washtenaw Wanderers Volksporting Club will lead this interesting and invigorating walk. Tour some local shops and the proposed Allen Creek Greenway. Free. RSVPs appreciated to nancy@annarborchamber.org

January 18: Winter Cycling Skills Clinic. 6:00pm., Ann Arbor Police Department Garage, 100 N. Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor. Presented by the getDowntown Program. Learn how to make your winter bike commute safe and enjoyable. Cycling experts will be on hand to present winter cycling tips and equipment you’ll need for your ride. Bring your bike! Free. 214-0100 or www.getdowntown.org

January 18: Winter Commuting Social. 8pm., Arbor Brewing Company Tap Room (114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor). Free (you buy your own drinks). Presented by the getDowntown Program. Come converse with fellow winter cyclists, walkers, bus riders, vanpoolers and carpoolers. Swap winter commuting stories and learn tips from those in the know. 214-0100 or www.getdowntown.org

January 22: Walking in a Winter Wonderland. Start time: 5:15pm Starting Location: Eastern Accents (215 South Fourth Ave). Approximate Length: 1 hour. Presented by the getDowntown Program. Start your New Years Resolution off right with an after-work walk in downtown Ann Arbor. Join us and discover the hidden and eclectic shops of downtown Ann Arbor. Participants will receive valuable coupons, an LED light and the chance to win a highly accurate Digiwalk Pedometer from Fourth Avenue Birkenstock! Please dress for the weather! Free. RSVPs appreciated to nancy@annarborchamber.org

Check out these and other events here: http://www.getdowntown.org/programs/events/

Most of us have a Third Place that we like to visit occasionally.  Third places are those places that aren’t home and aren’t work and are usually places people hang out, socialize, and interact with others.  Think the Library, a coffee shop, or prison.

More on Third Places here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place

But what about the bus as a Third Place?  I’m sure it already is that for some folks.  But what if you could buy a latte on the bus, or take a class on jewelry-making?  Such are the thoughts of Rob Long of the LA Times in this article: Serve double lattes on double deckers.

Long asks the always freeing “what if” question, thinking of how we could get the most out of riding the bus.  Sure, he’s writing about double decker buses in LA, but I am sure we can dream the same dream in Ann Arbor.

Just Imagine:

•  A little coffee kiosk at the Blake Transit Riders with reduced-priced coffee for go!pass holders
• Free WI-FI on the bus
• A magazine/newspaper rack on the bus where you could check out some random magazine you’d never look at otherwise.
• Stich and Bitch and other crafting groups on the bus
• Book discussions on the bus
• A fairy door on the bus
• Art on the buses during Art Fair

I could go on and on.  How fun it is to dream!  And who knows, some of this stuff might even happen if enough people want it to happen (and the money is available).  Come on!  It’s fun to be optimistic!