After yesterday’s massive linkfest I got Nuttin today, and the Feed

I didn’t finish up and get to bed yesterday until 0200 because of the number of links and having to do a little site maintenance that WP doesn’t do because it is blog-specific, keeping the place the way I like it. When I got up there was next to nothing in the feed folder. I have a few sites on the web I go to when this happens but the news there is usually older than what I get from the Feed.

Up first is more from/about the SXSW wreck/murder. Third victim of SXSW rampage dies This is exactly the same as if someone shot up the street, except he drove through a pedestrian area and got a lot more with the one bullet than mass shooters get with multiple high-capacity magazines. Also We’re Shamefully Bad at Protecting Pedestrians at Events Like SXSW

This person committed multiple “crimes” when she recorded a police action for her criminal justice class and was not driving a car. Backlash: Student alleges SAPD officers trashed bicycle to punish her

In CA police actually worked with the owner of a stolen bike to recover it. Woman Recovers Stolen Bike Via Sting With Help Of BART Police That would never happen in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. Our local PD’s response to bike thefts begins and ends with the completion of the theft report.

Infrastructure of the legal kind to protect people in cars and out from people being zombies on their phones while driving. ‘Jake’s Law’ addresses penalties for distracted driving Until we realize that motor vehicles are weapons of mass destruction when misused and can make ourselves punish people accordingly this will go on. It isn’t the phone people, it’s the car.

First of a batch of bike stories about non-mainstream bicycles is about e-assist bikes. Event will highlight e-bike trends in Oregon

A reflector that doesn’t look dorky, and can’t be removed or stolen after the wreck. Brilliant Bike Glows Like the Sun When Headlights Hit It Maybe not quite as effective as the standard bike reflector, but visible from all angles unlike the CPSC reflectors.

I’m not sure if this is a lean steer trike or a unicycle with training wheels. Would you ride the Halfbike? Bizarre one-wheel invention claims to make city cycling more practical (even though you have to steer using a pole) What I do know is this is a very un-aerodynamic vehicle, and that your full weight is on your feet the entire time you are riding the vehicle. Also if the brakes are on the front wheel the high center of gravity of the vehicle is going to result in a faceplant, if they are on the back than the center of gravity means the brakes will be minimally effective without some major rider gymnastics to keep the back wheels planted.

Some race footage from the Australian International Pedal Prix, an endurance racing series and a proving ground for recumbent tricycle vehicles. Australian HPV Super Series – Pedal Prix 24 Hour I love to watch these vehicles in action because they are nearly perfect for road vehicles if cars had never been invented. The rules require multiple riders, many of differing heights and widths especially in the mixed teams where the female riders are usually several inches shorter than the males. Also there are effective headlights and taillights that run for as much as 12 hours straight out of the 24 hour race. About the only thing these vehicles lack is storage for cargo on the road, but that could be fitted behind the rider.

Last link is from Ted Rogers again with a life lesson. Today’s post, in which a terrified little dog reminds us what it means to be brave in the moment

And those were all the links that gave me fits today.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

After a long day, the Feed

Well I’m back from my expedition to the pharmacy. I left the house at 0900 and returned about 1810, mostly because catching transfers on the way back is a nightmare of watching busses go by just before the bus I was riding got to the stop. Then I get to sit and wait almost an hour for the next bus in that direction, twice (I missed two transfers). Add to that the processing time to fill my prescription and we’re talking an all-day trip just to fill one prescription. And one very tired blogger at the end of it.

Anywho, Happy St. Paddy’s day! Here at Casa de El Poeta we had a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner with potatoes and carrots to accompany. Mrs. the Poet got to prepare a meal without having to remove the flavor first or work from a package and it was delicious.

Up first after a long weekend is more on the SXSW wreck. Small vigil held for Dutchman killed in SXSW tragedy and Cyclist vigil for SXSW crash victims postponed even this from Houston Vigil honors victims of South by Southwest tragedy This wreck has literally left me without words. Well I have words, but they are so inadequate to express the magnitude of what happened. If something like this doesn’t lead to calls for car control and restrictions on car possession, waiting periods for car buyers and all the other things that go with having weapons of mass destruction, then I don’t know what will. Latest I hear on TV is they are not expecting at least 2 more of the injured to survive, raising the death toll to 4 out of the 25 hit.

Omaha was a bad place to be riding a bicycle last week as we get more on that wreck where a vehicle crossed the road to hit a cyclist head-on. Retired teacher, athletic trainer killed in collision west of Omaha and Woman, 82, identified as driver who struck cyclist also Driver who killed cyclist identified When a driver veers all the way across the road to hit you on the opposite shoulder there is not much you can do about it, except maybe bail to the right if you have time to react. Infrastructure might have prevented the cyclist from being there to get hit if it was completely up to Dutch standards.

A MI cyclist is injured in a hit-and-run. Bicyclist Injured in Wyoming Hit-and-Run Wyoming, MI… This appears to be another hit-from-behind hit-and-run from the narrative and the description of the debris so protocols to avoid or mitigate damages, and get the infrastructure right to prevent.

More on a vehicular assault in MD. Cyclist Injured In Hit-And-Run Speaks Out As Riding Partner Remains On Life Support Once again we have the familiar hit-from-behind combined with the hit and run. Protocols and infrastructure, we really need that infrastructure.

You don’t need to get hit with a car to get really hurt riding a bicycle. Clearwater cyclist badly hurt as three bikes crash during ride Bobble in a peloton and you might end up like this guy eating concrete. The problem I see is there is no way to practice riding in a peloton at speed except to ride in a peloton at speed. It’s dangerous until you get enough experience, and there is only one way to get enough experience. Y’all be careful out there.

The wreck (and other) news from SoCal courtesy of Ted Rogers of BikingInLA. Morning links: LA cyclist is shocking collateral damage, fatal San Diego bike-by, NC writer gets it so wrong Ted has a few duplicate links to mine.

A cyclist in far West Canuckistan gets a judgment in his favor after getting partially wiped by a motor vehicle. Injured Nanaimo cyclist awarded $1.2 million after being hit by car

Lots of bad news out of Oz today, as another mass assault with a motor vehicle takes 7 cyclists down sending at least 5 to hospital. Cyclists injured after collision with car and Vicious cycle: injured teen Bryce Dean searched for his father after 4WD ploughed into cyclists The cyclists were hit from behind after the weapon vehicle drifted into the shoulder where they were riding in accordance with Australian law. Notice there is a Jersey Barrier to the left of the cyclists making hit from behind protocols moot as there was no place to go when the weapon vehicle came into their lane.

Trigger warning, this set my PTSD off like a bear in the face. Caught on camera: The moment when a car hits cyclist from behind I do not understand this wreck, the driver ran right into the cyclist who was almost directly in front of the driver.

Infrastructure! news from BikingInLA. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day — Main Street Santa Monica goes neon green Isn’t it lovely?

And those were all the links that gave me fits today this weekend.

Billed @€0.02, Opus