Biking in Baltimore
The first 1:40 is a really slow moving ad for “Grip Reaper” [personal note: I think straps that go across the pedals like this (various brands) are not as good as clipless but a lot better then toe cages. So now you know you have options depending on your comfort level.
So skipping to 1:40 for something close to “New York Messenger” style action (I just love to see bikes going faster then cars, what can say?)
Grip Reaper – JBC Take Over from amirul.izwan on Vimeo.
from TheWashCycle by washcycle
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Ray LaHood spoke at the Bike Summit. Part of what he said was “The President’s 2012 budget would boost funding for pedestrian and bike-friendly communities to $4.1 billion. And the Administration would like to see these essential resources included in the next six-year transportation legislation….there will always be cars and trucks, and DOT will always be committed to keeping America’s roadways the safest and most efficient in the world. But those roads belong to all of us, including those who get where they’re going on two wheels instead of four.” Which again the National Association of Manufacturers and American Trucking Associations complained about. “While very substantial increases in funding are proposed for high-speed passenger rail, transit, an infrastructure bank, and a ‘livability’ initiative, the proposal gives short shrift to our nation’s highways, which Americans overwhelmingly rely on for their daily transportation needs and goods movement.” “You know what really makes all communities more livable? Safe and efficient transportation of freight.” That’s what I always say I love about my neighborhood is how efficient and safe the freight delivery is. It’s the first thing most home buyers look for I hear. You know what really soaks taxpayers? Shipping things by truck.
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Continue reading “The President’s 2012 budget would boost funding for pedestrian and bike-friendly communities”
The poll says 63 percent of young people acknowledge driving while using a cellphone, and 30 percent say they have sent text messages while driving.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030704676.html
In this report, Arizona police officers "explain" a cycling fatality:
"Maricopa police spokeswoman LaTricia Woods said an investigation is ongoing but added that it appeared Meyerhoff, 27, failed to yield to oncoming traffic at the intersection."
How does one "fail to yield to oncoming traffic?" Was the cyclist: making a left turn, running a light, failed to stop at a stop sign for an oncoming left turning traffic? Or did left turning traffic fail to yield to the cyclist right-of-way? Most likely they can’t say as the "investigation is ongoing" but then how can they already fault the cyclist if they can’t say the circumstances?
Is making premature cyclist is at fault statements part of police officers training? I really have to wounder.
Continue reading “Please explain biased statements before investigation is finished”
Forget texting and driving or talking on the phone and driving: Those extremely dangerous habits are old hat. The new worry, says a survey released by State Farm this week, is what the insurance company cleverly calls "webbing while driving."
That means looking up Web pages, following driving directions, reading and composing e-mails, checking Facebook, and twiddling with smart-phone apps — activities that require sustained concentration and multiple key presses.
Among the 912 smart-phone users State Farm surveyed, more than 19% of them "webbed" while driving, the company said. For those who prefer fractions, that’s one smart-phone-equipped driver out of every five.
"We are working to prevent crashes and save lives," Cindy Garretson, State Farm’s director of auto technology research, said in a statement. "This research takes us one step closer to understanding the driver distractions that affect everyone on our roadways."
As an insurance company, State Farm has an interest in minimizing accidents and damage payouts, but who can argue with minimizing hazardous driving?
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Continue reading “Quit Googling yourself and drive: About 20% of drivers using Web behind the wheel, study says”
[B’ Spokes: why does “blame the victim” seem to only makes sense when we are talking about cyclists?
From Dave Moulton’s Blog
I am usually reluctant to post stories here about cycling deaths; there often seems little purpose on dwelling on the negativity of these tragic events.
However, this morning I read of two cases where not only have cyclists been killed, but the families of the deceased have been denied a proper investigation into the incident, and police going out of their way to blame the cyclist for their own death.
If there is any good to come out of these tragedies it has to be a push by families, friends, and cycling advocates everywhere, to bring an end to this “Oh well, it’s only a cyclist” attitude. Especially by law enforcement, who after all are there to serve and protect.
The video above [now via the next link] shows the mother of Alice Swanson, a bicycle commuter from the Washington, DC area who was killed in July of 2008 when a garbage truck made a right turn at a light and ran over her.
Police failed to file a proper report at the time of the incident, and then later placed the blame on the dead person to cover up their own inadequacies.
The second incident I read of has just happened this last Saturday in San Diego. Cyclist Ben Acree was riding east on Friars Road when he was hit by a large commercial vehicle that was exiting a freeway off-ramp. San Diego Police Lt. Dan Christman said:
“It appears at this time that the bicyclist traveled in front of the truck violating his right-of-way and was struck by the commercial vehicle.”
[Police said the driver of the truck would not be cited at this point in the investigation.]
All Lt. Dan Christman had to say was that a truck struck a cyclist, but instead he is already expressing an opinion that Ben Acree was somehow responsible for his own death.
Unless they have some different rules in San Diego, Friars Road is a through road, and vehicles merging onto that road from an off ramp, have to yield to traffic traveling along Friars Road, not the other way round.
The cyclist was clearly in a bike lane; the picture above shows it marked on the pavement between the truck and the bike lying in the road.
With the San Diego incident just happened, I hope that all cyclists and cycling advocates from that area will push for a swift and proper enquiry into this tragic death.
There are lessons to be learned from the Alice Swanson case; don’t let this one drag on unresolved for almost three years.
More details of the San Diego death on Biking in LA
Continue reading “Bus Crashes Into House, "house was built too far into the yard" say police”
Via the Onion {Yes, this is satire]
HAMPSTEAD, NH—In his 36 years of life, Gary Widmer’s greatest contribution to humanity has been not causing any fatalities while behind the wheel, sources close to the Hampstead man confirmed Thursday. "Overall, I’ve got a lot to be proud of: I worked my way through college, I’m a good friend, I have a solid job," said Widmer, whose most enduring† deed thus far is never having sent a pedestrian rolling over his hood or slamming his car into a bus full of schoolchildren. "And I try to give back to the community, too." …
Continue reading “Area Man’s Biggest Accomplishment Not Ever Killing Anyone With His Car”
