Matt Traverso Ph.D.

Cyclist entering WashCo

Northern-most Acorn Woodpecker granary in the world (?)

Map w/visited locations colored in

WashCo Grand Cycling Tour Update:
Visited 85 of 150
New: Tanasbourne, Rock Creek, Phillips, Lenox, West Union, 5 Oaks, Bethany, Somerset West, Oak Hills, Bonny Slope, Midway, Laurel
Soon: Buxton, Manning, Davies, Hillsboro, West Hills/Sylvan
sites.google.com/view/washco-cycling-tour
#bikesky

In my latest analysis, I explore Vehicle to Grid #V2G to show how we can use #EV batteries to solve intermittency, providing stable power from 100% renewables.

Full (free) article: medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub #EVsky 🔌🚗

Former Midway schoolhouse (now a home)

Laurel Meeting Hall

Laurel Store (closed)

12mi flat route

Latest WashCo Cycling Tour ride: farm hubs of Laurel and Midway.
sites.google.com/view/washco-...
#bikesky

Bonny Slope

Poor transit infrastructure renders Bonny Slope a biking dead-zone

Area 93 is high-density ZLL new homes with no shops or safe pedestrian corridors.

Latest WashCo Cycling Tour ride: Bonny Slope and the ominously named Area 93:
sites.google.com/view/washco-...
#bikesky

Bethany Church

John Marty Park near Somerset West

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53634809

Robert Rumer midcentury modern in Oak Hills

Latest WashCo Cycling Tour ride: Bethany, Somerset West, and Oak Hills.
Full article: sites.google.com/view/washco-...
#bikesky

Above Stubbs Stewart

Banks-Vernonia Trail

Bacona

Welcome, new followers who saw my profile on BikePortland. I thought I would post some of my best bike WashCo rides from 2025. Here are the photos from my gravel ride to Bacona, Tophill and Haydite.
Full article: sites.google.com/view/washco-...
#bikesky

West Union Church

Five Oaks Park

Schoch's Dairy: I thought this was historic Lenox. The original PO map marked the wrong location. It's a farm a quarter mile east of here

The McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern is approximately on the same site as Phillips, a lost Pioneer town. Now you know how Phillips Rd got it's name!

Latest WashCo Cycling Tour ride: West Union, Lenox, Phillips, and Five Oaks.
Full article: sites.google.com/view/washco-...
#bikesky

October update on my plan to bike to all communities in Washington County, Oregon
Visited: 38 of 139 (27%)
sites.google.com/view/washco-...
New rides: Cherry Grove gravel, Lost towns of Centerville & Harrison
I'll post some photos for individual rides soon.
#bikesky

My home county has over 100 communities, past and present. I'm going to visit every single one...on my bicycle.
This is the WashCo, OR Grand Cycling Tour!
I'll update this site with photos and history of each place as I go.
sites.google.com/view/washco-...

Our domino #cactus had its annual triple bloom last night, captured in time lapse. #bloomscrolling

It is inappropriate to block bike lanes with (irrelevant) construction signs, especially when the bike lane is up a curb. I have to veer into traffic just to avoid this hazard.

honeybee on a milkweed bloom

bumblebee resting on a milkweed leaf

🎶My milkweed brings all the #bees to the yard.🎶

Our wildflower lawn is in full bloom, including this showy milkweed that pollinators love

Interested in #naturescaping? Here's a (free) article to help you get started:
medium.com/the-new-clim...

#PNWNativeGardening #bloomscrollling

Also, it's a myth that rooftop pods are worse for hybrids/EVs than trucks.

Rooftop cargo adds the same amount of drag to every car (...kind of. aerodynamics is hard). The loss of mileage is just more noticeable on efficient vehicles.

In my latest analysis, I measure the rooftop cargo (boat, bike, box, or bag) hit to #EV efficiency.

Bottom line: junk on the roof wastes ~$100/year. If you don't need it, take it off.

full (free) article:
medium.com/the-new-clim...

🔌💡 #energyhub #EVsky 🔌🚗

There are plenty of alternatives to #baking in the heat, too. Custards, crepes, freezer jams, ice creams and instant pot claufoutis (or cobblers) are great ways to prepare fresh fruits without an oven.

It's strawberry season but it would be best to avoid the oven for a few days until the #PNW heat wave passes.

In the meantime, I'll share some photos of past creations along with the #realworldmath

medium.com/aha-science/...

🔌💡 🍜 #energyhub #baking

Yes, good idea for smoke (and humidity in some areas).
I experimented a bit with the opposite in the winter (overheat the home with a heat pump in the middle of the day, less heat at night/morning) and can confirm it reduced costs.

With the ongoing #PNW heat wave, It seems like as good a time for the reminder: open your windows at night! It's far more effect at cooling than the AC.
My #reallifemath:
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub

I've been tracking the vertical of every hike in my adult life. Last year, I finally passed the Kármán Line and climbed to space.

I'm looking for a new objective. Any suggestions for long-term goals based on your adventures?

#hiking

Yes, they've torn out every sidewalk and just pointed detour signs at each other.
When you're one of the hundreds of homes within a quarter mile, how are you supposed to leave on foot?
Imagine the opposite: if every car lane was blocked but the crosswalk passable, who would consider this "open"?

Was this worth obstructing the bike lane?

A left-hand turn to a connector road was getting resurfaced.

This road had _no_ construction (except this sign).

I couldn't find one instance of a jogger blowing through a stop sign, ramming a high-profile SUV, and killing all the occupants while emerging unscathed.
Reciprocity is appreciated.

I pieced this chart together from several different sources. Hardly a high-quality analysis but probably not grossly wrong either.

In the U.S., you're about 16x more likely to be struck and killed as a pedestrian vs. driving a car. The odds are worse for people like me who walk/run/bike more than drive.

A genuine "Toyota" Cybertruck spotted in the wild today.
#EVsky 🔌🚗

easier to read with white background...
🔌💡 #energyhub

In 4 mo, Time-of-Use pricing saved me $100, improved grid stability, and reduced emissions. It only took a few small changes to my consumption.
Here's a free article on my experience. Could TOU billing work for you?
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub

Electricity prices are up 40% since 2021 but fossil fuels are cheap. The power isn't any cleaner, either.
Here's a free link where I dig into the cost spike and show why normal improvements are passed off as sustainability initiatives.
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub

My $/kWh is up 40% in 3 years. The power companies say that's to support clean energy initiatives. If that were true, why isn't my electricity appreciably cleaner?

This graph leads me to believe that utilities are bolstering profits and blaming the eco-conscious.
🔌💡 #energyhub

I believe it! But don't gas cars also see some efficiency drop at those temps? Not as large, of course.
The article is mostly about cheapest per mile. At U.S. prices, a 50% hit to EV still beats avg ICE at optimal temp.
clarification: the points on the graph represent only 1 driver (me)