Evie Hemphill
@evhemphill.bsky.social
Artie has (too) many toys, but his sole devotion is to Target rope. Target rope has had to be replaced several times. He will play with rope for HOURS and then rest his head by or on rope until it's time to shake the daylights out of rope again.
Pictured here are perhaps my two favorite moments: 1) Spying one kid picking up her crochet project every time we stopped even for water or catchups ๐๐๐, and 2) the sea of bicycles, most of them ours, at Grant's Farm's entrance. Arrive by car, you're gonna pay. Come from the trail? Free! :) 2/2
Today has been a great day! I love our St. Louis BWorks family. We have been doing more and more "alumni adventures" which are free for graduates of our free bike programs and their family members and our volunteers. Today's took a group of 25 of us along Grant's Trail to Grant's Farm and back! 1/2
In other news I saw my first Cybertruck in the wild today ๐ Guy in orange was like, "what in the world," and I envy his innocence
Sometimes it's good to write down some thoughts while they're fresh! There are a few pictures from my day here too.
This is what a successful bike bus looks like
What a pleasure it was to get to tag along with the City of Edwardsville's Woodland Elementary bike bus crew this morning. The group I joined had 12 young riders, many of them hauling your typical gar...
eviehemphill.wordpress.com... as an alternative way for elementary and middle school kids to commute. The organizers took time out of their day to then ride to a local coffee shop with me and let me pick their brains about this fantastic, ongoing effort. 2/2
I'm off on Fridays (since Saturdays are busy workdays for our BWorks team), so I didn't bike to work on this national bike to work day; instead I got to bike to school w/ the City of Edwardsville bike bus drivers! E'ville has *five different bike buses* rolling weekly, both in the a.m. and p.m. 1/2
It's National Bike Month and there are many great efforts and fun things underway and I'm happy about all of it, truly...including the very cool Bike Bingo card that my friends at CarFreeSTL (see Insta) just rolled out. But it also reminded me that I made this in 2022. Sorry not sorry ๐๐ญ๐ฒ๐๐
Surveil drivers. All the time. Pedestrians and transit users are already constantly surveilled and no one freaks out, but omg, driver civil rights (rolls eyes)
Drivers worried about video being shared after they crash into a pedestrian are concerned about "privacy", in the same sense sellers at a gunshow are worried about "privacy" when they sell a gun to somebody who would fail a federal background check at a gun dealer.
Very very proud of Dizzy (our Corolla) for carrying three (3) bikes at once today (one smaller one in the back seat). Very grateful to now have a hitch and a platform rack! Gonna take all the bikes everywhere #BWorks
I love it when Artie and Hobo use pillows as pillows. ๐๐ค
I love it with Artie and Hobo use pillows as pillows. ๐๐ค
Joe and I are making a pretty big change this summer. Here are some of my early thoughts about it <3
To Edwardsville and beyond
Last weekend, Joe and I settled on a major change this summer: moving out of St. Louis. After 14 years in the city proper, we are soon headed to Edwardsville, Illinois. Joe grew up there, and his pare...
eviehemphill.wordpress.comMy brother shared this anecdote from our late paternal grandfather's writings some years back...popped up in FB memories today and it's great to be reminded of our excellent ancestry ๐
Sometimes Artie the dog has trouble staying on task eating his breakfast or dinner kibble. He just gobbled tonight's and I think it was because I was standing nearby chomping on chips haha
Oh no :( Michael is one of my fav podcasters. Glad he's ok
St. Louis has already lost more pedestrians in the first four and a half months of 2024 than we did in all of 2023. The GoFundMe link to support Floyd Lucas' memorial expenses is included in this KMOV report. cc @thewaroncars.bsky.social :-(
63-year-old grandpa killed in South City hit and run, family looks for justice and GoFundMe funeral help
Floyd Lucas is the ninth pedestrian killed in St. Louis City in 2024. He was struck and killed after trying to cross Chippewa Street Tuesday.
www.firstalert4.comCongrats to the Soulard School community for their enthusiasm and support for biking to school. Few things make me happier than adult cyclists devoted to helping keep kids safe and having fun.
Such fun to join the Soulard School bike bus this a.m.! I haven't heard final numbers, but I think it had to be over 100 cyclists by the time we reached the school. These wonderful elementary-age kids deserve all good things, including much more access to safe, active transportation!
This is not ideal ... how is it that we have hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay scofflaw drivers rather than make public transit free (like KC), set up a bike rebate program or pay the families of those being maimed and killed by drivers?
Got temp tags? St. Louis will spot you cash for real ones
The city says helping delinquent drivers get legal tags and insurance will ultimately make city streets safer for everyone.
www.stltoday.com
Traffic violence seems pretty much on par with gun violence these days, but we're less willing to hold horrific drivers accountable for the consequences of their actions, at least in some corners. I don't get it. Americans clearly are using their automobiles as weapons. They need stiff consequences.
Traffic violence seems pretty much on par with gun violence these days, but we're less willing to hold horrific drivers accountable for the consequences for their actions, at least in some corners. I don't get it. Americans clearly are using their automobiles as weapons. They need stiff consequences
NBD, just biking to work in a region where multiple pedestrians were killed in the past 24 hours ... choosing a calming album to play on my basket speaker to block out the unending anxiety
We are moving out of the city, after 14 years here, and this is perhaps the biggest reason why. I'm exhausted and freaked out all the time trying to commute outside of a car to work and various schools and other parnter locations. I can't keep pushing my luck.
I'm so tired of the level of anxiety and worry I and so many others are experiencing, and I can't stand by silently while people in my circle (along with so many St. Louisans I've never met) continue to be physically and emotionally harmed. 2/2
After nine-year-old St. Louisan Codi Walker was pinned between two cars literally beside a playground, while just trying to get a toy out of his mom's correctly parked van, I helped write this letter, pleading for change. I do not think we are asking too much. www.bworks.org/blog/2024/05... 1/2
Walk on the sidewalk downtown, lose your legs. Get a toy out of your van at the playground, on the right side of a bike lane, get pinned by a racing pickup truck driver and critically injured. Try to cross a street in St. Louis, die. www.ksdk.com/article/news...
Man dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver while crossing street in south St. Louis
A pedestrian was critically injured Tuesday in a hit-and-run in south St. Louis.
www.ksdk.comThis is a suuuper-in-depth piece, about a single event ... it seems like there are lots of factors leading to the event's demise. Among other things, though, I think it speaks to a broader lack of political will, and sadly reasonable fear, around active transportation. www.stlpr.org/culture-hist...
The Tour de Belleville annual bike ride will end after 19 years in the Metro East
Belleville's Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled the last ride, dubbed the Sunset Tour de Belleville, this coming June.
www.stlpr.orgSometimes I have to drive a pretty big truck, and this is why ๐ #EarnABikeDay4 #BWorks #NewBikeDay
I first met Alison Flowers when she was three and I was four. I have always been in awe of her, always known she's brilliant. But especially today I am so proud to count her a lifelong friend. She and her team just won a Pulitzer!
How a Tiny Chicago News Organization Won 2 Pulitzers
The Invisible Institute, a nonprofit newsroom with roughly a dozen journalists, was recognized for local and audio reporting.
www.nytimes.comI first met Alison Flowers when she was three and I was four. I have always been in awe of her, always known she's brilliant. But especially today I am so proud to count her a lifelong firend. She and her team just won a Pulitzer! www.nytimes.com/2024/05/06/b...
How a Tiny Chicago News Organization Won 2 Pulitzers
The Invisible Institute, a nonprofit newsroom with roughly a dozen journalists, was recognized for local and audio reporting.
www.nytimes.com
We watched Scorsese's "Bringing Out the Dead" on Criterion tonight. Ebert's review upon its release is spot on. Also, what a cast. (Also, how was 1999 a quarter century ago?)
Bringing Out the Dead movie review (1999) | Roger Ebert
I came to realize that my work was less about saving lives than about bearing witness. I was a grief mop.
www.rogerebert.comTwelve years since we got married in Forest Park. Today was jampacked with bike rides and other good stuff and a somewhat shocking downpour....and a wonderful dinner at Polite Society. Tired but happy.
I don't know what my face is up to in that first photo, but otherwise I like it. Thanks to Buder Elementary for inviting BWorks talk to the students about staying safe on their "wheels parade" after school today! Sidenote, in exchange for a sticker one child insisted on giving me a dandelion ๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฅน๐
The way wonderful @michaelhobbes.bsky.social pronounces "Tamagotchi" in the latest episode of "If Books Could Kill" just made me laugh so hard while cooking. It 's fantastic
This photo was taken in 2013, when they inadvertently dressed alike for church one day. Shirley and Jean were fierce, precious ladies. Kristin and I were so fortunate to have them in our lives for so many decades. 2/2
Speaking of friends, one of my late grandmother's dearest friends passed away yesterday. Her granddaughter texted me this morning, because we are now dear friends, having been introduced as teens and then going to college together & even working as reporters together in Colorado after undergrad. 1/2
This has been an incredibly challenging week in some ways, and it's not over yet, with special events this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon along with our regular shop and education responsibilties tomorrow. But I am actually doing OK, thanks to really kind friends and family and coworkers.
How we speak or don't speak about traffic violence matters. BWorks team members are among those in our community crying out for real change.
An open letter to Circuit Attorney Gore concerning escalating traffic violence in St. Louis | Saint Louis BWorks
St. Louis BWorks shows local kids what's possible. Our volunteer-run programs build confidence and character through educational programs rooted in teamwork and responsibility.
www.bworks.org