OK that was a bit of a ride, and the Feed

I just got back from depositing older daughter’s B-Day money in her account with her US bank (elder daughter lives in the UK) which put about 14 more miles on Blue (with another 7 to come tonight) and it’s amazing what not having to fight a headwind for half a trip does for your average speed. I was only dealing with a light crosswind for most of the trip and had cruise speeds in the 18-20 MPH range. At my turn-around point I was averaging 13.4 MPH which is higher than my cruise speed on trips with a headwind (we get mighty strong winds in TX since there isn’t anything between the Gulf and here except a couple strands of barbed wire, ditto between here and Canada). When I have a route that is mainly crosswind, and fairly light crosswinds at that like today, well I just fly even with that garden shed on the back.

Speaking of Blue, I had some pictures taken with him that should be ready to assemble into the new banner for the top of the blog. I’m going to ditch the “Witch on a Bicycle” text and just go with bikes, witches, and me, because WP is so kind to announce the name of the blog for me I don’t need to put the name in the graphic. I’m sure many of you are wondering just what I have done to Blue, and want to see him, and others are just tired of the graphic that has graced the top of this blog for 3 years now. I’m a little tired of it too…

Up first a little justice for the victim of a hit-and-run in PA. Family of cyclist hit by socialite gets $635,000 That should cover most of the bills that come with a wreck like that, speaking as a victim of a serious hit-and-run myself.

A MA man is injured by a passenger side mirror. UPDATED: Bicyclist seriously hurt in Concord This appears to be a buzz job by an impaired driver on a narrow road with little escape opportunity for the cyclist. From what some people have told me this might be a popular place for cyclists. I haven’t pulled the location up on Google Maps, and I haven’t installed Google Earth on this box yet. Hit from behind protocols to avoid, get the infrastructure right including keeping drugged and drunk drivers off the roads to prevent.

A cyclist is injured riding outside a college in MI. GVSU swimmer hurt in car-bicycle crash at edge of Allendale campus No mode given, and the wreck site appears to be a road through a sea of parking lots. Not an ideal place to ride a bike what with all those driveways from the parking lots creating intersections and places for conflict between road users. Remember to use intersection protocols when riding in areas like this.

About what I expected to happen. Acquittal For Postal Worker Accused Of Killing Bicyclist Marilyn Dershowitz You just about have to be drunk or stoned to get convicted for killing a cyclist, even in NYC. Also blind driver syndrome is a valid legal defense (apparently) in NY. More Jury Clears Driver Who Killed Cyclist As Post Compares Bikes to Guns and Pedestrians & Cyclists Die While NYPD Focuses On Broken Headlights

Another teen killed in a wreck in Upstate NY. Teen Neil Hoover hit and killed while riding bike to school in Galen As the mornings are getting darker drivers are paying less attention to people in front of them. This is so similar to the other wreck except for the different day and place.

The defendant in a hit-and-run is continuing to claim he hit a deer and that he wasn’t the one that hit the cyclist, in spite of no dead deer being found in the area. Defendant will offer alibi in cyclist’s death And I have a bridge I would like to sell you…

From the Great White North comes a report that a man riding a bicycle and wearing a helmet has died for apparently no reason. Hamilton cyclist’s death deemed misadventure No apparent impact injuries not consistent with just falling from the bike, no cars seen in the area just before he fell, plus he’s like old ( 😛 ).

A wreck on Oz. ’15 minutes later, I’d have been killed’: cyclist’s lucky escape This was the cyclist that was run off the bike path and fell into rush-hour traffic after being knocked over a rail that was too low.

A different wreck in Oz with a much worse outcome. Child killed in cycling tragedy Wrecks like this are why I keep harping on every driveway from a parking lot being an intersection, and applying intersection protocols when you cross them.

Infrastructure! news from CA as people are starting to wonder if maybe the condition and layout of the roads has something to do with all the cars running into people riding bicycles. Cyclist Hit by Car on Port Chicago – Sign of Concord’s ‘Driver Culture’? There’s something about the first comment that really bothers me. I know what it is, it’s the “Drivers are too stupid to not run into people on bicycles even when the cyclists are obeying the law so we should just not even try” attitude… More Parents or Police: Who is the Best Authority on Bicycle Safety? Don’t get me started about helmet laws… Bike Safety Improvements Discussed at Residents Meeting

A little infrastructure news from the UK. 75 per cent of driving instructors approve of cycle awareness test I would be ecstatic if the blind driver syndrome was eliminated as a defense in a wreck

And final links from a day’s ride west of WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. White bike a haunting reminder for motorists to share the road and Memorial ride planned for Friday for Mineral Wells’ cyclist

And those are all the links that gave me fits today. Programming note, there may not be another update until Monday. Tomorrow is my B-Day, so I may just let the whole weekend go.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

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