Let's Get This Party Started!

New definition for "party"

par-ty

[pahr-tee]

-noun

3. a group of people riding bikes: a party of bikes.

Origin:

.... PDX, Phil @ Metrofiets, chosen as #1 choice by a small sample of people over a few days (what? not scientific enough?)

--Synonyms

1. hub (Copenhagenized, Cycle Chic). 2. revolution. 3. saddle. 4. pallet (cargo bikes)

--Examples

1. Let's take this party down the street.
2. What we need is a party to move this warehouse of independent books.
3. As a party of bikes, we rode in the Naked Bike Ride.
4. When you go to Filmed by Bike, you will arrive in a party.
5. It was a party party.

--Usage note

Collective noun. A noun such as herd, flock, school, troop, or ream, that appears singular but denotes a group of persons, animals, or objects. Whether the collective noun, singular in form, is used with a singular or plural verb is up to situation. If the collective noun is used to denote a group of individuals, then the verb is plural. If the collective noun is used to denote a group, a single entity, then the verb is singular.

There are exceptions and variances depending on the situation or region. In American English, a collective noun is usually seen as singular as in That herd is going to trample little Timmy. In British English, a collective noun is usually seen as plural as in That herd are going to trample little Timmy.

For most (Americans), a sentence like The family are going to visit their relatives in Wisconsin sounds weird; most preferring The family is going to visit their relatives in Wisconsin. In the latter, the collective noun is singular. For this reason, it is likely that Americans will use party as singular, preferring The party is helping George move his stuff to his new apartment rather than The party are helping George move his stuff to his new apartment.

--Side note

With regard to collective nouns I have noticed that a number of DJs use a music group as a collective noun, plural as in Metallica are going to rock the Convention Center tonight! I am unsure why this is, but have noticed that Gustav from 94.7 NRK consistently does this.

Now for party to achieve status as a word, it has to be used in a number of print forms over a great period of time, showing its longevity and clarity to the point that it becomes known. And I expect Phillip Ross & Jamie Nichols over at Metrofiets to head the push of this new word for the Portland area (regional use), and hopefully America, because if you have ever seen a party of bikes cruise down the street, it truly is a party.

I remember when floppy was a word used in manuals, but not a word defined in the dictionary. (I also remember computers having 64K and the need to load the system software off of a floppy, the BIG kind, and then saving to another floppy as there was not enough room on the computer to store word processing documents, but that is another story.)

TacomaBikeRanch, thanks for letting me swipe your title name; it is the one I am using now.

Party defined at dictionary.com

Photo by Sara Cross

(post draft for feedback)

A "Party" of Bikes

Word play is fun. That is why it is called play rather than work. Over the last few weeks, I was toying with the idea of what to call a group of bikes. After an initial post, I received a grip of information both in terms of what they would like to call a group of bikes as well as prior word play.

Hub is referenced by Copenhagenize (Mikael) in July of 2009, as a term to describe a group of bicyclists. On this post it is stated that "a while back" on Cycle Chic this word play game was started (looking for documentation).

If there is documented usage prior to this, regarding hub or any other collective noun, please let me know.

"Hub" has a nice mechanical, urban feel to it. It implies a central feel with a group about a center. It gives a nod toward bike parts but has a philosophical bent as well. It works and I will use it.

Prior to getting the link to the Copenhagendize post, a number of folks sent me their picks for what they would like to call a group of bikes. The top two choices are party and revolution.

More than one collective noun can exist. Perhaps this comes about based on geographic or regional differences or the need to specify a specific aspect of the group. For example, a flange of baboons could also be a troop or a congress. And if you have followed politics in America over the last decade, a congress of baboons is quite true.

You may see me vacillate between hub and party because I think our bike culture in Portland, in its infancy compared to Copenhagen, is a bit more party.

Yes, I think I like party. I think it will do well as a term to denote a group of bikes, if only in Portland.

I will write up a dictionary entry for party of bikes.

(a distinction could be made between a group of bikes w/o people and a group of people on bikes. One is clearly more of a party.)

This is a follow up to original post, A ???? of Bikes.)

A list of collective nouns, or should I say a survey of collective nouns?

Photo by Sara Cross

A ???? of Bikes

The English teacher in me pondered whilst sipping coffee with my family, staring at a bike rack full of our bikes, What do you call a group of bikes?

We all know that a group of cattle is called a "herd" (perhaps you have heard). And that a group of fish is called a "school." And a group of paper is called a "ream".

As a side note, I have 4 sons and I call a group of boys a "concern."

This term, the name given to a group of similar nouns, which is itself a noun, is called a collective noun. But what about bikes? I cannot be the only one out there to wonder.

Nearly two years ago when Sara Cross did a photo essay on biking in Portland and took shots of my family, one of her photos was simply titled a Flock of Bikes for lack of a better term. That is my sons and I in the front with our Bakfiets.

But now a term is needed.

Matt Newport of Tacoma, WA, who is always ready with help, was quick to direct me to a Val of Seattle, WA. Val suggested "pallet" for a group of cargo bikes as in "Look at that pallet of cargo bikes -- I wonder if someone's moving, or just having fun?" (you will find the reference and quote in the comments section of this Car Free Days post.)

On a side note, I think that "pallet" works great for cargo bikes as it implies work and carrying and is a word that is (1) not used by another group of like things and (2) is not a direct connection to cargo bikes.

But what to call a group of bikes (just generally speaking, not a pallet of cargo bikes)?

I did a Google search with few results. I threw the question out to Twitter and Facebook and the suggestions from today are:

• bevy
• confluence
• revolution
• saddle
• pedal
• wheel
• clutch
• laughter
• exaltation
• smile
• rack
• squadron
• party
• clutch
• phalanx
• basket
• wald (alt. to basket)

Share your vote with your top three, with #1 as the favorite. I will compile, write a dictionary entry, and then share.

12 Days of Cargomas: Merry Cargomas!

A head nod to all my cargo bike friends.

On the twelfth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ....

Twelve months of cargo

Eleven garden items

Ten shots of espresso

Nine fresh baked pizzas

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Twelfth Day

On the twelfth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Twelve months of cargo

Eleven garden items

Ten shots of espresso

Nine fresh baked pizzas

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Eleventh Day

On the eleventh day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Eleven garden items

Ten shots of espresso

Nine fresh baked pizzas

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Tenth Day

On the tenth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Ten shots of espresso

Nine fresh baked pizzas

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Ninth Day

On the ninth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Nine fresh baked pizzas

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Eighth Day

On the eighth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Eight feet of fencing

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Seventh Day

On the seventh day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Seven feet of evergreen.

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Sixth Day

On the sixth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Six chunks of lumber.

Five grocery bags..

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Fifth Day

On the fifth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Five grocery bags.

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Fourth Day

On the fourth day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Four types of gelato.

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Third Day

On the third day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me ...

Three sons a-talking.

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: Second Day

On the second day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me . . .

Two youthful hipsters.

And a baby snuggled in the box.

12 Days of Cargomas: First Day

On the first day of Cargomas, my cargo bike hauled for me . . .

A baby snuggled in the box.

Cargo bike calendar in the works

http://wiki.stevevance.net/cargobike/calendar2011#dsq-form-area

Travis A. Wittwer, M.Ed., NBCT
010101110100100101010100010101000100001101001111

http://twitter.com/BikeNounVerb
www.storiesfromschool.org
http://wittco.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wittcogmbh/

Written on a phone; please excuse any text-typing errors. I do not have the nimble, thin fingers of an adolescent.

Dutch cont.

New thoughts on "Dutch" as a term. Used to connote "poor": going "Dutch" on dinner or Dutch oven. However, not a cheap Dutch bike out.

Travis A. Wittwer, M.Ed., NBCT
010101110100100101010100010101000100001101001111

http://twitter.com/BikeNounVerb
www.storiesfromschool.org
http://wittco.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wittcogmbh/

Written on a phone; please excuse any text-typing errors. I do not have the nimble, thin fingers of an adolescent.

Dutchiness

I was scrolling through my tweets today when I came across one that mentioned great Dutch bikes for sale and then it hit me, clearly hit me. "Dutch" is now a word that holds adjectival qualities beyond just that of a location (Netherlands).

"Dutch" now has swaying power to many people interested in bikes. It also seems that Dutch carries with it power in areas where there is a strong biking population like Portland or Seattle (I can only speak to those two. Sorry NY or SF.)

"Dutch" has become synonymous with "quality" or "strong" or "pricey" or "specialty niche".

I think the tweet I saw was mentioning a "dutch style" bike.

Almost like an eponym/toponym (where a person or place's name becomes a thing, a noun). However, an eponym deals more with a thing having a name based on a person of place, e.g., Diesel (Rudolf Diesel who built an engine) or champagne (Champagne, France where a certain bubbly is made. If the beverage is not made there, it is usually called sparkling wine).

So what I am looking for is a term to describe when a name (person or location) has an adjectival quality or when a name (person or location) is used to describe the quality level.

These are just quick thoughts, likely to be revised or totally deleted. Until then, I am off to drink a cup of coffee, Dutch yummy.

(Maybe it is a capitonym, or