Please, sir, we want some more infrastructure

You've probably heard that the American Society of Civil Engineers grades American bridges a C and roads a D-. Does it make you nervous that the ones with the better grade seem to keep noticeably falling down and killing innocent people? Yeah, me too. And since we're about driving here, I won't even go into the deplorable state of aviation, water systems, dams, levees and so on.

So what is the deal with an economic stimulus package that devotes $300 billion to tax cuts and a measly $18 billion to badly needed infrastructure spending? Who hasn't noticed that our generous government has knocked itself out (and pretty much bankrupted the country) in its efforts to bribe the voters with tax cuts over the past several years? That worked out well, didn't it? Wasn't it Einstein who said something like: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Oh, but they're all smarter than Einstein down there in Washington, right? Wrong!

Look, I'm sure we all appreciate the extra few bucks, but you can't give us enough to solve our financial problems, so please put the money where it will do some good, and create jobs so we can solve our own financial problems. Stop pandering and start doing the work we hired you for! Give us more infrastructure now! Please. Thank you.

Bikers, we don't want to kill you guys

Or hurt you, or even scare you, really!

So for our biking friends in the Denver area, check out this terrific website called BikeDenver.

It's full of smart bike safety advice, including a description of the Smart Cycling: Traffic Skills 101 course, and plenty of other biking activities. And yes, we'll try to be more careful too.

Almost makes me wish I still lived in Colorado. Well, that and the warm, sunny winters.

Mother R's Inauguration Message

What a special day! Yet amid the celebration I can't help wondering, how do I connect this monumental occasion with our official topic: salubrious driving. Hey, what about the fabulous new Cadillac? This guy must really care about the people if he's willing to get out of a warm comfy presidential office/car with lots of bulletproof glass, several presidential seals and Lord knows what all else (GM and the Secret Service are not saying), to walk amongst them on a chilly afternoon. With no hat! I sure hope he doesn't come down with something, because this man has way too much work to do to be taking sick days any time soon.

On a more practical note, at least from our point of view out here on the road, President Obama has promised us a very nice inauguration gift. Here's how he described it in a speech last December: We will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.

Will we be thrilled to have fewer potholes and bridges that don't collapse under us? You bet! Thanks, Mr. President!! We will also appreciate the extra jobs, although we may get a little cranky about the construction delays. We will try to remember to relax with The Rider Method!

And finally, as if the inauguration wasn't special enough all by itself, today is also the birthday of my favorite niece and part-time little sister. Happy Birthday, MaryBeth!!!