CarPark or Bikepark
Carpark or Bikepark? Saturday, 20th September 10am-12 noon Positive advocacy group Healthy Transport Hobart is putting on a car park celebration of bicycle transport this Saturday. All road users are invited to come down, enjoy some fresh fruit, a coffee and a variety of newspapers. Anyone can make use of the complementary valet bike parking and show Hobart’s support for healthy, sustainable transport options. The group will be occupying two car parks just north of the Elizabeth St Mall, opposite Banjo's from 10am – 12 noon on Saturday 20th September. Healthy Transport Hobart (HTH) is a recently formed group of concerned students who seek to promote cycling as a healthy, sustainable and alternative mode of transport. HTH advocates that cycling can help improve society by reducing stress on the health care system through improved fitness; reduce traffic congestion and demands on infrastructure; and help to create a sustainable environment through greatly reduced carbon emissions. The group would like to congratulate the Hobart City Council on recently announced new bike lanes for Argyle and Campbell Streets. They look forward to future support for developments by all tiers of government to help make cycling a safer and easier option for all members of society. The group would like more people to be aware that: - Cycling for 30 mins each day reduces the risk of Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes and Obesity by 50% - WHO. - Congestion costs the Australian economy $21 billion each year – Bureau of Transport & Regional economics. - Cycling as transport has zero green house gas emissions. All are welcome whatever the weather to this event with a subtle reminder of what great use can be made of spaces usually occupied by stationary cars!

Sounds like a good excuse to give the bike a polish, lube and run. Also, spare a thought for Pink Floyd's keyboardist, Richard Wright. Pink Floyd are actually influential in getting me cycling (as well as a musical influence), with the Syd Barrett song, Bike, being one way I keep my spirits up in the harder sections of longer rides. An unlikely branch of cycling advocacy, but I read somewhere once that more fans of early Pink Floyd are more likely to ride bicycles than fans of any other supergroup. ;)

Floyd are one of the few rock groups I will listen to. Had nothing to do with me riding though. What happened to Wright? ComplImentary. Grrr.

Pink Floyd founder member Richard Wright has died aged 65. The self-taught pianist formed the band with bassist Roger Waters and drummer Nick Mason in 1965 at London's Regent Street School of Architecture. In a statement, his spokesman said: 'The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.' With David Gilmour on guitar, the band released its biggest hit, Dark Side Of The Moon, in 1973, selling at least 34million copies. It is in the Guinness Book Of Records for being in the charts longer than any album - 591 consecutive weeks in the top 200. Wright's spokesman did not say from what form of cancer the star had been suffering. In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Syd Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote and sang several songs of his own. The Great Gig In The Sky, and Us And Them, both from 1973's seminal Dark Side Of The Moon album, were his most well-known compositions. He also made essential contributions Atom Heart Mother, Echoes and Shine On You Crazy Diamond, the tribute to former band member Barrett. Wright recorded his first solo project, Wet Dream, in 1978. After his relationship with Waters became increasingly difficult, he left Floyd following sessions for the album The Wall. Wright was retained as a salaried session musician during live concerts in 1980 and 1981. In 1983, Pink Floyd released the only album in which Wright does not appear - The Final Cut. Wright played with the surviving members of Pink Floyd in 2005 at Live 8. He also performed at a tribute concert to Barrett last year, but Waters and Gilmour, who famously fell out more than 25 years ago, appeared separately. Wright had performed on every Pink Floyd tour. He officially rejoined Pink Floyd following the departure of Waters and contributed vocals and keyboards to the 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. In 1994, he co-wrote five songs on The Division Bell album, singing lead vocals on the track Wearing The Inside Out. Wright had mastered the trombone, saxophone, guitar and piano in his teenage years. He had wanted to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Miles Davis and John Coltrane when he was persuaded to study architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic. While studying architecture, he took private lessons in musical theory and composition. Wright left the polytechnic at the end of his first year, travelled and then enrolled at the Royal College of Music to re-join Mason and Waters, whose band had just added Barrett to become The Tea Set. He contributed vocals and keyboards to Gilmour's 2006 solo album On An Island, while performing with his touring band in shows in Europe and the US. Wright released two solo albums, including Broken China in 1996, but they never attracted the band's level of critical acclaim. In 1984, Wright also formed the musical duo Zee, which released one album, Identity.

Back on topic... Aside from me, anybody planning to go to this bike event?

Yeah, Richard Wright was, but he can't make it.

Not wishing to be accused of taking the thread off-topic but ... Maybe in appreciation of Richard Wright you might need to arrive wearing one of these shirts They (Second-Spin) have a great range of classic album based cycling jerseys. For Floyd fans there are also Dark Side, Wish You Were Here and Delicate Sound. Go to http://stores.ebay.com.au/SECOND-SPIN-AUSTRALIA and put Cycling in the store search They're even having a one-day sale with 10% off. There is also the tasteful cyclists favourite Queen Nude Bike Race. (no I have no connection with them at all, would like a Division Bell shirt though)

I will be most certainly down at the car park bike cafe! Looking forward to sitting on a nice park bench or bean bag, among some pot plants and ofcourse, fruit, coffee and awesome company. I'm also hoping to find out the real identity of iguanaman if he comes!

Look for a large iguana... riding a Cell...

That's just freekin' AWESOME!!!!! :D I'm also hoping to find out the real identity of iguanaman if he comes! Or look for an iguana riding a Giant Iguana* and wearing dark glasses to hide his identity ;) *Iggy's getting dusted off as rudimentary transport for use while on regular trips to Melbourne and will be relocated there on the next trip. If I've finished the servicing by tomorrow, I'll give her a shake-down run.

Then again, maybe he escaped. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/18/2368539.htm?section=justin

OK, making my apologies. I have a song in my head which, if I don't at least get some notation down, I'll lose forever. Hope the car park cafe goes well. Sorry I'm not going to make it. Still CM's this Friday, look out for the timid lizard there ;-)

Timid?? Since when are You timid??