I’m Schrodinger’s Millionaire again, and the Feed

Yes I am once again simultaneously filthy rich and dirt poor until 2045 local time when the Powerball drawing takes place. Seriously, Schrödinger didn’t need to use a cat in a box to illustrate something being two things at once, he just needed a lottery or sweepstakes drawing. And he could have saved the trouble of building a cat-killing chamber triggered by radioactive decay for his random event. But I suppose Schrödinger’s Sweepstakes wouldn’t be as memorable as the cat experiment. And I know that Schrödinger’s Cat was a thought experiment, not an actual physical experiment involving a real cat. That would be silly, and cruel to the person that had to put a cat in a box with all its claws. OK and cruel to the cat in the box too.

Up first is Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: 75-year old cyclist cuffed and ticketed for riding legally on I-15; Specialized says they’re sorry

Still in CA. DEVORE: Ghost bike honors cyclist killed in crash with car

This is going to be a major theme in today’s post. Parents of children killed in DUIs call for tougher laws Incredible as it may seem more than 40 years after the founding of MADD it is still only a misdemeanor no matter how many you get in the state of PA.

And over in AK, they’re having hearings in reaction to the death of a cyclist. Daughter of cyclist killed in 2014 hit-and-run testifies against bill to soften sentencing laws

And Bike Portland weighs in on language used to describe bike wrecks. Dear fellow journalists: This is why you should use #CrashNotAccident

And today we get 4 days of wrecks from NYC. Hit-And-Run Driver Fatally Struck Man Who Was Allegedly Lying In East Harlem Crosswalk Video of the crime scene posted showed the victim just “appearing” in the intersection. One second he’s not there at all, the next he is lying on the street, having been dragged from someplace as he slides into the intersection.

And another NYC ped is hit and killed in another crosswalk. City Blames Pedestrian After Cop Fatally Runs Him Over In Crosswalk The video of the fatal wreck is just nauseating when seen after reading NYPD blaming the victim for his own death.

Well one out of 3? Hit-And-Run Taxi Driver Says He Thought He Hit A Pothole, Not A Person I’m sure every pothole makes your car go up first instead of falling down into a hole.

A KY girl misjudges the speed of the cop car that stops in front of her. Young girl injured after riding bike into the side of a police cruiser Yeah, this has happened to me minus the impact. Approach the intersection with the belief that slightly slowing will cause you to pass behind the car, and the car stops. I had to slam on the brakes to prevent a wreck, the girl had no place to go and hit the car.

More on a wreck in Scotland. VIDEO: Tributes left at roadside for tragic teen cyclist killed on Moray road

More on an Oz truck driver who saved a cyclist. Ettalong Beach truckie recognised for heroic act on M2 motorway

And possible fun times. Polish Moon Ride Registration Open The post-ride festivities look to be as much fun as the ride. Enjoy!

And I’m out of links again.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

Mrs. the Poet is back, and the Feed

Amazingly enough with all the bad weather we had, Mrs. the Poet returned on time tonight to DFW airport. We stopped off at the Whataburger down the street to get dinner instead of heating up leftovers which would have been too much cooking for Mrs. the Poet after her day of travelling. I had a Bacon Jalapeño and Cheese Whataburger, Mrs.the Poet had a Grilled Whatachicken, and our son had the regular Whatachicken. And of course everyone had fries and a soft drink. I also ducked into the neighboring grocery store to get coffee and milk so that there would be caffeine in the morning.

Up first is Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: UCLA cyclist screwed by insurance company needs your help; team track cycling league comes to LA She should countersue for intentional infliction of mental duress, and triple the amount she would get for the initial wreck, plus attorney’s fees. No check that, the dollar amount should start with 6 zeroes between the initial digit(s) and the decimal point, plus attorney’s fees. Unless she gets allowed to meet them in a back alley with them blindfolded and her with a u-lock.

Still in CA, more on the cyclist hit by a trolley. Cyclist killed by trolley identified and Cyclist Wearing Earbuds Dies on Trolley Tracks in Barrio Logan I said all there is to say about this wreck yesterday.

Moving north and a bit east of San Diego to NV. 13-year-old cyclist critically injured after hit by car in southwest Las Vegas Kid trying to get to school and not adequately trained in how to use the road cuts off a car.

Portland debates implementing “Vision Zero”. No more road deaths by 2025? Here’s the latest on Portland’s Vision Zero progress Maybe by then there will be many self-driving cars to reduce human error, and take car of most of the problem for them without drastic infrastructure changes.

Second infrastructure link from America’s Copenhagen. County’s new mobile app tells you if the bridge is up or down For those of us who live in the flatlands this doesn’t sound like that big a deal, but knowing which bridges are going to be impassable because thay are up to allow tall river traffic to pass can literally be a life-saver.

Promises of small mercies for a hit-and-run driver in MN. ‘Come forward,’ Dakota County sheriff says to hit-and-run driver who critically injured cyclist Doctors think the cyclist will survive but with a drastically changed lifestyle.

Awaiting the governor’s signature in VA. ‘Dooring’ law in Va. would fine motorists who open car doors in front of cyclists

Infrastructure in NYC. NYC On Pace To Build A Record 15 Miles Of Protected Bike Lanes In 2016 Wow, 16 miles in only one year. Meanwhile here in the Metromess they rebuilt a freeway from 4 to 6 lanes in each direction in about the same time. It didn’t help, of course, and it cost billions of dollars to build, but hey, they were doing something to reduce congestion. And side-street congestion did go down on the through streets immediately adjacent to the freeway, so far. But, Woo! yeah, 16 miles of protected bike lanes.

More NYC infrastructure. Bratton: “We’re Not Going To Get To Zero” Traffic Deaths Not with that attitude billy boy.

And what is it with drivers who can’t stay off of the freaking sidewalk? Taxi Driver Hits Two People On First Avenue, Crashes Into Building

Still in NYC a man assaults a cyclist riding in the bike lane and gets bashed in the head. New Video Shows Pedestrians Ignoring Bloodied Bike Lock Assault Victim According to comments they were ignoring him because he instigated and took one to the head in response. Not that I advocate violence against pedestrians, but when one jumps out into the street to start wailing on you, you are within your rights to return the favor with prejudice. I mean the idiot went up against 3:1 odds, he can’t be all that bright.

A man in West Canuckistan is charged in the death of a cyclist. Man, 29, charged with causing Richmond cyclist’s death and Driver charged in Richmond cyclist’s 2013 death It took them 2½ years to charge this lowlife? It’s almost as if they were waiting for the SOL to run out or something.

A recurring theme in this blog is “Don’t hit the pedestrians” for a reason. Pedestrian hit by cyclist on Princess Parade Hythe As of this posting they don’t yet know if the injured person was the cyclist or the pedestrian.

Infrastructure demands made after cyclist hit, again. Repeated calls for traffic calming as young cyclist injured on “deathtrap” Horndean road I know this is another one because the previous call for infrastructure was from a city that started with an “M”, this one is a “P”.

And apparently driving while blind is still OK as long as you get a jury with no cyclists on it. Coach driver cleared of killing cyclist by careless driving How are they going to get drivers to pay attention to where they are going unless there is a substantial penalty for failure to do so?

The guy wasn’t even riding the bike yet. Hit-and-run driver kills cyclist on Madrid shared bike scheme The victim was just at the pulling the bike from the rack portion of the transaction when he was hit. I see this as much an infrastructure failure as a driver failure, because if you can get hit using the system as intended before you even get a bike, then someone has screwed up majorly.

Another link about Milan paying cyclists to reduce pollution in the city. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/milan-italy-pay-bike-commute-smog-pollutionMilan Commuters Could Get Paid to Bike to Work If I didn’t work from home I would say this would be a great deal for me.

Two vulnerable road users were injured in Oz. Skateboarder and cyclist injured in two accidents last night Of course it’s now Friday night over in Oz… and I don’t know what led to the cyclist hitting the lamp post, if he had help from a motor vehicle “guiding” him or if he somehow did it in his own.

LEO are blamed in part for a wreck that injured a cyclist in Enn Zed. Police should have pulled out of pursuit that killed Whanganui man, report says The cyclist was not seriously injured in the first wreck according to the report, although I’m sure he would disagree with that.

And no more links. And I’m beat.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

We had some wind damage to the trees, but are otherwise unscathed, and the Feed

Yep, it were windy out here in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell, with one tree losing a branch to the wind. Otherwise things are just fine. Still doing good on edibles, I have about a half pot of beans and rice seasoned to my preference, plus Pop Tarts, ramen, Spam (I’m having the teriyaki flavor tonight with my ramen), and a fresh jar of peanut butter that I just opened this morning to put on my bagel. So food I got, and Mrs. the Poet will be returning from NY tomorrow evening.

Up first is Our Daily Ted, Part 1. Morning Links: LACBC wins national award for work on Mobility Plan; Sadik-Khan says the bikes have won That’s right, we won! All that’s left now is mopping up isolated pockets of resistance. So I guess I can quit this blog and go build models…

Part 2. San Diego cyclist killed in pre-dawn trolley collision and Cyclist hit, killed by trolley in Barrio Logan Damnit people, what did I just tell you yesterday about staying off tracks? Don’t cross when the arm is down, how hard is that to do?

Still in CA, but covered in one of Ted’s posts yesterday. Bicyclist Hit, Killed by Moving Truck in Rancho Palos Verdes Right hook but the cyclist was riding hard in the bike lane. At least I think that was a bike lane. The cyclist’s speed had a great deal to do with this wreck, both in the fact that it happened and in the severity of the wreck as to how for under the truck the cyclist got squished in the initial impact. The fact the cyclist was dragged for miles under the truck more than likely only changed the condition of the body, he probably died in the initial impact.

More Portland infrastructure. Counting votes at Metro: Will the region invest in walking and biking near schools? Don’t want the kids getting too independent and thinking they don’t need a car to get around.

Another update on the MN cyclist injured in a hit-and-run. St. Thomas student critically injured in bike accident returns to class “The St. Paul Police say that since January of this year a pedestrian or cyclist is hit by a driver in St. Paul every other day. And they think it’s the cyclists and pedestrians are the problem?

A little CT infrastructure change might be in the works. Connecticut Cycling Advocates Urge Stiffer Penalty For Drivers Who Don’t Share The Road The comments section is in rare form today. I lost count of the times I saw people complaining about cyclists “not paying” for roads, like riding a bike gets you a tax refund or something like that.

From CT to MT, a fallen cyclist is remembered. Tuesday morning vigil honors cyclist killed in wreck, reminds riders of traffic danger

I think this was national but reported by a PA media outlet. Early data suggests pedestrian deaths surged in 2015 There were more deaths across the board but it looks like peds took a larger share than previously lending more ammunition to the need to get drivers out from behind the wheel because the cars are great at protecting people inside the car but utter crap at protecting people outside the car.

Ran red, killed cyclist, needs to spend rest of life working to repay victim’s family after long prison sentence in the Great White North. Trial begins for man accused of running red light and killing cyclist For those not fluent in metric, bystanders estimated the speed before the wreck at 55-65 MPH, the reconstructionist put the speed at 41.6 MPH at impact with heavy braking.

More on Canada’s helmet fetish. Bike helmets are safe, but here’s what really makes cycling safer

From Jolly Olde a car doesn’t stop at the sidewalk, but goes right inside the building. CCTV VIDEO: Man ‘lucky to be alive’ after Coleshill crash – watch footage I though it was from NYC with the car driving at such a high speed on the sidewalk. 😛

One of the 12 people likely to get killed by a cyclist in Jolly Olde this year (if this is an average year). ‘Wonderful’ woman killed after crash with a cyclist at Old Street Nothing on what happened because it’s a UK media outlet, but so far no charges have been filed.

Another cyclist memorial. Family pays tribute to cyclist killed in ‘hit-and-run’ accident

Trying to find answers in a cyclist’s death. Inquest opens into death of cyclist killed in Doncaster Road crash The UK version of a left cross since the drive on the wrong side of the road.

Another blind driver takes out a cyclist. Coach driver accused of killing cyclist on A9 heard ‘a bang’ Never saw the cyclist until they were scraping him out from under the bus.

Well this can’t be good. Police investigate spate of cyclists being pushed into London canals Getting wet in winter in the UK is not as bad as getting wet in winter in MN, but it’s still not pleasant.

This is a frequent symptom of TBI from a traffic crash. Young cyclist ‘cannot remember’ how she got facial injuries in Crawley Much of what I know of my wreck is from the police reports and witnesses who ran into me later. Except the being dead part, that I remembered on my own.

Over on the Emerald Isle. Garda appeal for witnesses after cyclist (19) killed in road collision The narrative sounds like a SWSS at the moment with the driver failing to process the cyclist in front of the car until impact.

This sounds more like pressing the gas thinking it is the brake than brake failure, but hey I’m just a hot-rodder doing a bike safety blog. UPDATE: Taxi that slammed into traffic light knocked down cyclist prior to major crash I think this was South Africa, but I’m not sure.

What’s 130 miles on a bike when you have done a full Ironman? NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson to join PeopleForBikes’ Ride on Atlanta

And last link if you think mash-ups are a recent phenomenon, here’s a mashup of “Rock And Roll, Pt.2” with the theme for Doctor Who from the ’80s. The Timelords (The KLF) – Doctorin’ The Tardis (12-inch mix)

And that’s all I go tonight. I’m going to try to get to bed early.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

Got my toes done in preparation for paying my taxes, and the Feed

I just returned from getting my toenails cut so that when I walk from one tax office to the other I don’t get the nails pressing against the inside of my shoes. The walking I did over the weekend was very uncomfortable because of this. So because I’m paying the taxes tomorrow I’ll be running a bit late again for posting to the blog.

Up first is a low-information wreck report from about 40 miles to the west of WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. Boy riding bike hit by truck in Haltom City As of this posting nothing on the victim’s injuries or on the mode of the wreck. I sincerely hope the little guy is not injured too badly. More Haltom City man arrested on DWI charge after boy hit by truck

This is another thing I have to deal with as a TX cyclist. Injured cyclist hopes trial will lead to state ban on distracted driving That’s right someone cab run me over with their face stuck in their cell phone and it’s all like “whoopsie!” because there is no law against distracted driving in TX.

Another link to the cyclist killed by a hit-and-run driver in Houston. HPD: Hit-and-run driver kills bicyclist near Southwest Freeway at Westpark

Our Daily Ted, part 1. Morning Links: Glendale driver brake-checks cyclists; Newport Beach legal settlement could fix deadly intersection

And Part 2. Update: Bicyclist killed in Santa Ana collision Monday evening

Over in AZ the family of a cyclist killed by bad infrastructure as much as by the inattentive driver hopes to get the infrastructure fixed. Family of cyclist hit, killed by car hopes to make roads safer The intersection has a smooth wide-radius turn that puts drivers across a bike lane at high speeds. The solution is to keep the separate right turn lane but to extend it closer to the cross street and make the radius about 4 feet instead of the 50 or so feet of the current lane. And to confiscate and crush the cars of anyone who hits a vulnerable road user. We gotta protect those pedestrians, motorcyclists, and tow truck operators along with the cyclists.

Over in America’s Copenhagen, a bizarre infrastructure problem. Willamette Greenway path north of Steel Bridge closed “until further notice” – UPDATED The “problem” here is not cyclists but homeless campers, but cyclists are the ones that have to suffer for it. The really aggravating thing is the campers are not even in the area that cyclists are being kept from accessing, but are just off of it. I don’t know what could be done to remedy the problem, homeless people are kinda out of my field of specialty.

Still in Portland and still on infrastructure. Gap Week: Westbound Burnside Bridge between Naito and 3rd The most dangerous thing about bicycle infrastructure is when it ends, partcularly when it ends wothout warning or directions.

And our third infrastructure article from America’s Copenhagen (I keep thinking about tobacco products when I use that name, too much time in the SE USA). Guest article: The 20s “bikeway” project through the eyes of two 12-year-old girls

That guy who decided to ride a CitiBike across the country from NYC to LA has completed the trip despite getting attacked outside Tulsa for riding a bike somewhere near an idiot. Cyclist Punched, Injured In Sapulpa Finishes Cross-Country Journey This trip showed one of the problems I faced when I was planning a trip to the World Human Powered Speed Championships a few years back, as I would have been crossing the Rocky Mountains about the end od October with sub-freezing temps during the morning hours.

A NC cyclist severely injured a few years ago finally succumbs to injuries he never recovered from. Cyclist known for support of downtown Winston-Salem dies

Cyclist killed in bad road conditions in PA. DUI not suspected in Wilkinsburg crash that killed bicyclist There was a ot of angle in the hit-from-behind wreck, and the impact showed the cyclist was in position to be seen by the driver as he impacted the windshield directly in front of the driver.

Infrastructure from WI. To Fix Roads, Use Conservative Approach This guy is saying that if you want things you have to pay for things, not get them now and let someone else pay for them later. Since cars tear up the roads let gas taxes pay for keeping the roads up, not borrowing.

Another link about that strange bike wreck in far West Canuckistan where a man going through a garbage can for recyclables threw out something that hit a cyclist on the head and killed the cyclist. Composite sketch released in bizarre incident that killed cyclist He wasn’t throwing anything at anybody, just not paying any attention to where things went when he tossed them from the can.

Still looking for that person with the black coat, white pants and black shoes spotted in the area where a cyclist was killed in Jolly Olde. Witness appeal after dad-to-be killed while out cycling

And speaking of bizarre wrecks, this cyclist wandered off after getting hit, leaving his bike behind? Urgent search for injured cyclist hit by car this morning in Hounslow A car hit both the cyclist and a pedestrian in the same intersection, but the cyclist just wandered off and they fear he may have been severely injured but in too much shock to realize it.

Bad enough to have to worry about getting hit by the vehicle without having to worry about getting hit by the people inside the vehicle. Cyclist Knocked Off Bike In Brentwood After Helmet Grabbed That could have gone so bad, they are very lucky the cyclist’s neck wasn’t broken.

DON’T HIT THE PEDESTRIANS! Boy, 4, injured by cyclist in Grimsby underpass who then sped away Especially don’t hit-and-run the pedestrians.

And this just makes me want to strangle the idiot driver. Death crash driver told police he ‘did not see’ cyclist, jury told and Louise Wright death: Cyclist ‘dragged underneath lorry’ The cyclist was sitting at the intersection before the truck, they aren’t sure if the truck was signalling or if the cyclist was in position to see the signals if they were in use, and the driver “couldn’t see” the cyclist because you could hide the horn section of the UCLA Trojan Marching Band in the front blind spots of the truck. The truck/driver combination should not have been in the city in the first place…

Infrastructure news as a debris net is hanging down enough to snag cyclists on the bank and rowers on the river. Network Rail’s bridge net by River Cam ‘dangerous’ to rowers and cyclists – video

This looks interesting. Have you seen KerVelo’s front-wheel-drive recumbent? This drivetrain could also be used to make an 18 speed unicycle 😀

Meanwhile in Oz. Cyclists are climate-change heroes but we are often treated as villains

And infrastructure from Oz. Sydney Road gets safety upgrades to cut car doorings one year after cyclist’s death

And once again I’m tired and ready for bed because tomorrow will be a busy day.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Grocery day again, and the Feed

After doing the post last night I did a little model building for the Mini Sprint-T, to try to wind down and get the brain to shut off when I went to bed. I thought I would show the results.

You can see the right side of the cowl isn’t vertical like the left side and needs to get narrowed and straightened when I make the mold.

I just have to apply body putty and use a sanding board to make this end look right.

Up first the Big Story is WTF is up with trying to get rid of bike lanes in Portland? What the heck is going on with the 26th Avenue bike lanes? and City has two years to make the case to save 26th Avenue bike lanes, it says Seriously, why is PBoT allowing the state to dictate what infrastructure gets removed from a city-controlled street? No really, the bike lanes are on a city street controlled by PBoT but ODoT is demanding they be removed or they (ODoT) won’t allow a signal to be installed on an intersection 2 blocks away that also has bike lanes. Why not just shut down motor vehicle traffic because there is another street 2 blocks over? Same philosophy, just reversed from ^cars/_bikes to ^bikes/_cars.

Meanwhile the efforts to keep transportation corridors clear of ice and snow in Seattle falls a little short for bike/ped transportation. SAFETY: Icy bicycle path near the low bridge, despite above-freezing temps The part I find amusing the use of language that implies there is only one bike path, and only one low bridge.

Another double dose of Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Bike-friendly David breaks the law a little, and something’s rotten in SoCal bike racing and Describe Your Ride: A “Tour de Two Parks” along the San Gabriel River Trail

Making L.A. bike infrastructure more contiguous. Closing the Exposition Bikeway Northvale Gap, Meeting Next Week Why is it so hard to get contiguous bike infrastructure instead of a bit here and a bit there with huge freaking gaps in between?

Still in CA are these hardy commuters. San Diego Cycling Today!

Also in CA. Climate Justice Leaders Concerned by Brown’s Budget, Urge Investment in Underserved Communities

Dang there are a lot of links from CA tonight. Google Wants To Make Silicon Valley As Bike-Friendly As Copenhagen

And here’s some good news for people who use the sidewalk as intended, for walking. New Philly Mayor: Politicos Can No Longer Park on the City Hall Sidewalk One warning ticket, then boot them.

Legal battles in CO. Monday sentencing for Lyons may who hit and killed a cyclist I hope they give him the maximum 12 years.

Watch out for flying garbage. Cyclist dead after ‘bizarre’ incident on Vancouver Seawall A non-malicious death.

“Faces” jail? Driver faces jail for killing cyclist while driving at 70mph in 30mph zone Why not life in prison? He was more than double the speed limit.

Rotten cyclists running rampant over pedestrians, and nowhere to be seen in their picture of the event. Cyclists fail to hit the brakes on canal path As many cyclists as pedestrians were injured in their dataanecdotes, and not many of either. Actually after a second read of the article, those were all the same incident, where the cyclist was worse off than anybody else after getting pushed into the canal.

And those were all the links I had today. Ima go work on the Mini Sprint-T some more.

Billed @$0.02

Now that bills are paid it’s Grocery Day, and the Feed

Yep, another day to spend money! We had a bunch of loyalty card savings and coupons that stacked with the loyalty card, so we ended up saving almost as much money as we spent. And we have an ample supply of candy for the kiddos this Halloween. And then for me 11/01 and later. 😀

Sad news from just up the road, the cyclist hit on a group ride in Allen back during the summer has died from his injuries. I don’t have a link, just a PM on FB from a relative who is aware of this blog. This link was the next ride he was to lead but couldn’t.

More news about the CA cyclist crushed by an errant shipping container. Long Beach Cyclist Dies in Freak Accident and Bicyclist crushed by falling shipping container was Long Beach resident As previously reported the container was loaded onto a flatbed instead of the trailer actually designed to haul shipping containers and was “secured” with cargo straps instead of getting mechanically attached to the trailer, because they were trying to break a drivers’ strike at the port.

Remember that time you found the remains of a dead cyclist half in the street and half on the sidewalk? ‘Disturbing’: Passerby recalls finding bicyclist killed in Ann Arbor hit and run Oh, that wasn’t you.[Emily Latella]Nevermind![/Emily Latella] More Police identify bicyclist killed by hit-and-run driver in Ann Arbor

Expensive justice is finally obtained in the death of a 3 YO crossing the street in NYC. Driver Who Killed 3-Year-Old Allison Liao Finally Admits Responsibility Allison would be entering kindergarten this year. The terms of this settlement are highly unusual, but as there is a video of the little girl walking with her grandmother in the crosswalk and the weapon vehicle just running right over the little girl while knocking the grandmother back on the behind, I think showing that to the jury would have head far worse results for the driver.

Still in NYC. Losing Your Fear Of Biking NYC: “Get Big” VC is not how to make cycling grow in mode share, VC is surviving the infrastructure we have to deal with now. Riding in NYC is mostly VC on steroids as drivers pretty much ignore the bike lanes except to park in them.

Not out of the city yet. In NYC, More Severe Injuries After Painted Bike Lanes Installed, Study Finds My take on the question: drivers in NYC are predominantly assholes who think any unoccupied spot of asphalt is “theirs” and flat out do not “see” cyclists as “occupying” that chunk of pavement.

From America’s Copenhagen in OR. Bike-friendliness and walk-friendliness are actually pretty different, study says My take: You can have bike-friendly, you can have walk-friendly, but the only way to get both is to make it not car friendly because you have to really slow down cars to mix all 3 modes in the same street.

Still in PDX, they are having similar problems as NYC, just not on the same scale because of fewer cars. People in Portland are driving cars where they don’t belong The lead picture is an SUV in the MUP of the Hawthorne bridge. There is a good 8-12 inch curb between the motor vehicle lane and the MUP. The people making the comments on the site think the front suspension is probably a jumble of twisted metal by now.

Still in OR they have discovered the joys of e-assist for going up hills. E-bike investment in Salem The secret is connecting the motor through the human gearing so the power stays pretty much the same even when hills make the going slower.

Time for Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: LA asks drivers to stay after they hit someone; suspect identified in North Fig hit-and-run

Some Letters to the Editor in CO. Cycling initiatives are beneficial to everyone

The ICBC keeps digging itself deeper and deeper. ICBC suggests cyclist at fault for colliding with allegedly impaired driver First rule of holes, when you find yourself unable to climb out STOP DIGGING DOWN! The ICBC does not appear to have heard of this rule.

More on the UK cyclist who injured a pedestrian and did not leave contact information. City police appeal after pedestrian seriously injured in collision with cyclist DON’T HIT THE PEDESTRIANS! If you do hit a pedestrian, don’t leave without making SURE that someone in charge (LEO or ambulance attendant) has your contact information. And don’t let them leave, either until that information has been exchanged.

A little infrastructure news from Scotland, where my elder daughter lives. Cycling accident map: Road incidents on the rise

The scourge is spreading to Switzerland. Road accidents: stay at the scene! Seriously, are we going to have to resort to doing to hit-and-run drivers what I have advocated for drunk drivers? Chain them to the steering wheel and run their car through a shredder?

Last link is perfect. Magic Hour Watch it in video form, it’s really good that way.

And I think I might be done.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

I paid bills and now my feet hurt, and the Feed

I spent most of the afternoon walking around Garland getting bills paid and banking done. My feet are killing me, especially that spot on my left big toe that always has a huge callous removed when I get my toes done. My feet feel like I have been beating on them, which tells me I need more shock absorption in my footwear. Oh, well, something else I need to spend money on. It will go somewhere in the middle of the list of things to spend money on.

Up first because links, and a cyclist killer gets prison time. Former Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook sentenced to seven years in drunk-driving death of cyclist and Bishop who killed cyclist while driving drunk gets 7 years also Judge sentences ex-bishop who killed cyclist while driving drunk this too Ex-Maryland Bishop Sentenced to 7 Years in DUI Death of Cyclist not done Bishop Who Killed Cyclist While Driving Drunk Gets 7 Years

Next because it’s strange and bizarre, and also has lots of links. Bicycle rider killed by container falling from truck and BICYCLIST KILLED AFTER CARGO CONTAINER SLIDES OFF FLATBED TRUCK, FALLS ON HIM IN LONG BEACH also BICYCLIST CRUSHED BY CARGO CONTAINER IN LONG BEACH IDENTIFIED AFAIK the wreck was caused by an improperly secured container on a trailer that was not designed to haul cargo containers being driven by a scab driver hired by a union-busting conglomerate. tl;dr The cyclist was killed by corporate greed.

This looks like a good place to put the link to Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Caltrans takes another step forward; CHP wants to improve bike safety, while cycling deaths up

Still in CA, more judicial bike news. Huntington Beach Man Convicted of Murder in DUI Hit-and-Run Death of Cyclist The minimum sentence is 16 years before parole.

More on the cop being in the right place at the right time to catch a DUI hit-and-run driver. Bicyclist killed in West Covina hit-and-run, driver arrested Pity he couldn’t have been in the right place and time to arrest her for DUI before she killed someone.

At least they didn’t call it a race this time. Injured veterans finish 500+ mile bike ride As a vet WoaB strongly supports our injured and wounded warriors.

Today seems to be the day for judicial news about bike wrecks, as this link from MI shows. Sentencing is Tuesday for Romulus woman who hit, killed boy riding his bike Killed while driving impaired by illegal drugs… Like the guy convicted of murder in CA a few paragraphs upstream.

Still in MI. Man on bike killed in hit and run in Ann Arbor overnight They are still examining the debris left from the weapon vehicle to try to identify it.

A couple of states over in MN they decided there wasn’t enough evidence to suspect another vehicle in the death of a cyclist. Ramsey Co. Sheriff: Vehicle No Longer Believed Involved In Cyclist’s Death “(D)octors determined that his injuries were not consistent with the bike accident.”

This CT link is just so full of “NO DUH!” Blunt trauma killed Torrington bike rider, state medical examiner says The guy was hit with a semi, that is pretty much the definition of blunt force trauma.

This NC wreck screams “assault with a deadly weapon” for the cyclist. Cyclist injured in Fayetteville crash Hit a cyclist, sideswipe a car, and hit a pole. The driver was either trying to kill the cyclist, or impaired.

Some Portland political news that could have an impact on other cities looking to Portland for guidance. Six bike-related issues that might take a turn with Hales out of the race

Still in Portland, something else that could impact bicycle safety in the rest of the country. At Wonk Night, County DA announces effort to change state law The change spoken of is the massive gap between a traffic ticket and vehicular homicide when someone with a car kills while breaking a traffic law. When the victim survives the gap is even worse as there is nothing that a driver can be criminally charged with.

Now this is an amenity. Portland Downtown Marriott adds in-room bike parking This would not work with Francis/es, but it might work with Blue or Gigi. I would bust a gut trying to get Francis/es up on that hook, cargo bikes are not meant to be lifted by the handlebars.

Infrastructure problems in SC. Charleston’s king tide floods are a sign of what the world will face as oceans rise Kinda hard to ride in the bike lane when the whole road is under water.

When they perfect driverless cars enough to replace human drivers, will they be allowed to drive? Will City Regulators Treat Driverless Cars Like They’ve Treated Uber?

Up north of Portland in far West Canuckistan. ICBC blames cyclist negligence for highway bike death Still trying to wrap my head around the concept that a cyclist hit head on by a vehicle driven by a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road while the cyclist is riding on the right side of the road with a chase vehicle(!) is at any way responsible for the wreck. The fact that the chase vehicle was hit and both occupants killed hasn’t even been entered into the equation yet.

Crap infrastructure is still crap in Jolly Olde. Killed Northumberland cyclist’s sister’s anguish as another bike rider hit This makes several cyclists severely injured since the wreck that killed the woman’s sister, all in the same intersection.

Surviving relatives of a UK cyclist killed by a driver who legally was banned from driving but the paperwork had not gone through yet speak out against what he did. Katy Charlton confronts driver Neil Urwin who killed her husband Andy

A rare cyclist-on-ped wreck in Jolly Olde. Schoolgirl injured after hit-and-run with cyclist in Sheffield DON’T HIT THE PEDESTRIANS! And especially don’t hit a pedestrian and leave the scene without making sure the pedestrian either isn’t injured or is getting care and you have left your contact information.

Last link is from Enn Zed. Cyclist critically injured in Tauranga crash This is the “We drive on the left side of the road” equivalent of the left cross.

And I really want to get to bed now and rest.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

#IStandWithAhmed and the Feed

There has been a national controversy brewing a few miles from WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell, where a 14 YO boy was arrested for building a clock and bringing it to school. In spite of telling his teacher it was a clock and demonstrating its clock functions, and telling everyone who asked that it was a clock, he was arrested and charged with bringing a bomb to school. I shudder to think what would have happened to me had I done some of the stuff I did as a kid today, given how much time I spent trying to build a model rocket that could exceed Mach 1 straight up (best I did was 0.98). I just did not have access to engines with enough specific impulse to get past the sound barrier in an airframe that could withstand the stresses of going Mach 1. These days I would be arrested for building missiles or something.

Our Daily Ted shows how nice cyclists are compared to drivers. Morning Links: Civility rules at Rowena town hall, and big active transportation bucks could be coming to LA County

The driver who triggered the wreck that ended up with a dead cyclist has been charged in the death. Cyclist killed in east Charlotte car crash, driver charged This was the driver that turned left into the path of the weapon vehicle, hitting it causing the vehicle to go spinning out of control into the cyclist. More Dozens remember bicyclist killed in crash in east Charlotte

They’re still killing cyclists in FL, the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike. Cyclist killed in Naples crash Pending toxicology reports I’m going to say this cyclist was among the 20% killed while riding impaired. So while riding drunk is still preferred to driving drunk, the best thing is to not get on the roads at all if you have been drinking.

Still in FL, construction in a busy bike corridor causes many minor wrecks and property damage. Construction leaves bicyclists injured This is an unavoidable part of rebuilding a road unless they close it and make temporary bike detours or lanes around the mess.

More on the NYC cyclist killed by a boat. Cyclist’s death draws stream of emotional tributes and YOUNG WOMAN KILLED BY BOAT WHILE RIDING BIKE IN STATEN ISLAND REMEMBERED AS BEAUTIFUL PERSON

People from the area blame crappy infrastructure for a cyclist’s death in IA. Friends call for changes after fatal CB bicycle crash No space for bicycles or pedestrians and too fast a speed limit combine for a death trap.

The Mother Road is unkind to cyclists. Cyclists rally to help fellow cyclists hit while on Route 66 ride The Old Route 66 is slated to become USBR 66, but they have a long way to go before it can be used as such. Particularly in CA, but just about everywhere along the route there are gaps caused by a lack of maintenance. And then there are the cars and trucks still using the road to get to places cut off from the nearby freeways.

A reported salmon cyclist is killed in MN. Bicyclist hit, killed by vehicle in Forest Lake early Wednesday Yeah, don’t ride salmon. And have lights and reflectors on your bike.

Infrastructure in Boston MA. Cyclists Call For Greater Barriers On Boston Streets The last two cyclists were killed riding in painted bike lanes, because drivers ignore paint for the most part. So the only alternative is to put something solid that will cause damage to cars between cars and cyclists.

Beautiful bike/ped infrastructure in Portland OR. The Bridge That Bans Cars

Interesting article on drivers complaining about “scofflaw” cyclists while breaking the same laws they are complaining about cyclists breaking. On Scofflaw Cyclists, the “Idaho Stop” and Lawbreaking Drivers, and Why It Works

Canada making life safer for active transportation? WHAT MOUNTING PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING DEATH STATISTICS DON’T SHOW

A driver’s pathetic sentence is appealed by prosecutors in Manx. Appeal lodged over sentence in cyclist death case

An important piece of cycling infrastructure in the UK “celebrates” its first year. ‘The Near Miss Project’ publishes its first year findings on cycle safety Surprise, slow cyclists are treated worse than fast cyclists.

Important active transportation infrastructure in S.F. CA. S.F. Campaign Makes a Difference in Pedestrian Safety

And those are all the links I had.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Why I’m not making money, and the Feed

I checked out my subscriber list recently and I think I know why I’m not making money on this blog. Too many people are reading my blog posts someplace that is not my blog. If everybody reading my posts was reading here at my blog I would have more than enough clicks to get shared ad revenues, but I’m getting less than 10% subscriber click-through. Now I’m not dependent on blog revenue for anything except things I could live without, so I’m not going to starve or anything if you continue to read my posts where you read my blog posts now. But I could afford things like Starbucks, or a massage, or getting my toes done (that one is on the verge of becoming a necessity since my hips started acting up) if y’all clicked through and read the posts here. Seriously, a 75% click-through rate would get me all of those things, at least once a month. Again, I’m not doing this for the money, but getting paid would be icing on the cake.

Up first because it is close and reminds me of my wreck. One year later: Injured cyclist shares status of recovery Her wreck was in August like mine and she spent about 6 months off the bike like I did. She still has hardware after a year and mine didn’t come out until at least 2 years after my wreck.

The Big Story today is the backlash on the driver hitting 3 cyclists in AL while admittedly driving distracted. Grand jury to review death of prominent businessman killed in cycling crash and Prosecutor: Grand jury to review crash that killed cyclist also ‘William would want us to cycle:’ Memorial ride planned for cyclist killed in crash Convening a grand jury for a wreck usually indicates the driver was seriously in the wrong for the wreck and “i”s are being dotted and “t”s being crossed. Since there is already at least one recording of the driver admitting driving distracted I’m sure there will be some charges filed as a result of the grand jury investigation. Or the driver is not even a ham sandwich (internet meme).

The next biggest story is the cyclist hit from behind crossing a bridge in LA. Bicyclist killed in Tangipahoa Parish crash and Unidentified bicyclist killed on U.S. 190 Tangipahoa River Bridge: State Police also Troopers identify woman killed in bicycle crash OK I agree with blaming the cyclist for not having lights or reflectors, but there is no more a requirement to wear reflective clothing (the glow in the dark clown suit) than there is for the driver to wear a firesuit while driving. Lights and reflectors people, everyone needs them at night.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: New study says bike injuries increasing, but without context; comedian rants riding through LA

A NJ driver admits to killing a cyclist back in 2012. Man Pleads Guilty in Hit-Run Crash That Killed Dad Riding Bike OK he hit a cyclist while driving salmon on the oncoming shoulder, then conspired to hide the weapon vehicle from LEO and the most he can get is 8 years!?!?! While his co-conspirator gets 5 years of probation?!?!? TANJ! Talk about deterrents against others for the same crimes, this murder conspiracy doesn’t have much deterrent at all.

Meanwhile across the river in NYC, a driver driving backwards on a one-way street hits a pedestrian then drives away. Video: Driver Runs Over Pedestrian, Gets Out To Look At Her, Drives Away OK I want the pitchfork concession, let someone else deal with the flammable fluids for the torches.

Someone thinks making bus drivers face punishments for hitting pedestrians crossing with the right of way like everyone else is too harsh. Should Bus Drivers Get A Break From The NYPD When They Hit A Pedestrian? I think the NYPD should give bus drivers the exact same number of breaks the drivers give to pedestrians they hit, and in the same locations: Arms, legs, ribs, skulls… pelvises might be a little hard without using a big hammer or a baseball bat…

Update on the driver who hit-and-run the passenger in his car. Source: Drunk Driver Dragged Dying Passenger From Porsche After Hamptons Crash & Drove Away I really wish that was a link to The Onion, but no it was Gothamist. “Put a bicycle near the victim and claim the victim was riding it. That’s a guarantee of “no criminality suspected””

And crazy people can write letters too. Readers sound off on cyclists, lions and guns

Meanwhile in MI. Police identify man hit, killed while riding bicycle in Davison Township Once again the cyclist is getting blamed for not wearing the glow-in-the-dark clown suit thus “causing” the wreck. If you look through the pictures you can see the headlight on the handlebars but the back is too damaged to tell if there was a light or reflector there before the wreck. I’m going to assume that at least one was present given the headlight, but even then with the LEO adding extra-legal requirements for the cyclist…

More victim blaming in WA. SPU official struck, killed while riding bike in Central Wash. Cyclist was headed east into the rising sun, so of course the driver “couldn’t see” him.

And you think this will result in charges? Bicyclist struck by SUV later dies at hospital in Herndon I didn’t think so either, their still blaming the cyclist for not wearing the glow-in-the-dark clown suit.

Since there are more cyclists, more cyclists are getting hit, but nobody can say for sure what proportion of cyclists are getting hit. As More Adults Pedal, Their Biking Injuries And Deaths Spike, Too

Driving is a public health risk? Driving to work as a public health problem Lots of Meta-data there.

Carrying the charger with you makes for a harder ride on your e-assist. Woman completes solar-powered bike ride across U.S. The panel put out 240 watts, the bike used 250 max and the difference was made up during breaks. The only time outside electricity was used was once or twice after hard rides in cloudy conditions.

Solving the “Where are the next generation of cyclists?” problem in DC. Why D.C. Wants to Teach Every Kid How to Ride a Bike

Still trying to tame the monster trucks in Jolly Olde. Family of tragic Alnwick cyclist Eilidh Cairns vow to keep fighting for safer roads So far they have the ones in London taken care of, but that still leaves something like 90% of the population unprotected.

Last link, Google cars are having problems with human drivers who don’t follow the laws, sound familiar? Google’s Driverless Cars Run Into Problem: Cars With Drivers Sounds like bike riders, and also that bike riders are not the biggest problem for Google Car.

I’m outta links now, so ima go read comics after I proof and tag.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Already working on Halloween costumes, and the Feed

Some of the people in my RPG group are real big on Halloween, like REAL big. Start planning your costume and buying for it in August big. So I was out pricing and comparing body paint with one of them this afternoon. Body paint is sold in sizes from 4 oz. to multiple gallons in a bucket (not sure if that was a 3 or 5 gallon bucket, but that was a lot of body paint). The person I was shopping with would not need any of the large sizes, but depending on coverage she might need a gallon for the base color. Or she may decide to just go to a pro and get the job done right. I know I’m going to be busy that night because my church has decided to do a full ritual on that night. I’m not on the ad hoc for that ritual, but it will be a barn-burner (probably not literally as don’t have a barn to burn).

The Big Story tonight is a continuation of one from last night as the links and news on the drunk salmon driver who killed a cyclist in CO. Cyclist Killed On Lookout Mountain By Suspected Drunk Driver Leaves Behind Wife, Son and Cyclist killed after being struck by suspected drunk driver on Lookout Mountain Still the same story even with more links, it won’t get any better unless the perp hangs himself with a trash bag in jail.

The “new” Big Story is from the Most Deadliest State to walk or ride a bike in the US. Bicyclist dead in hit-and-run crash on U.S. 192 in Kissimmee and Search continues for driver in Kissimmee fatal hit-and-run on U.S. 192 The problem with drunk drivers who run is it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a drunk driver driving like a drunk, and deliberate murder. This case illustrates that difficulty, the cyclist was riding in the bike lane when the driver swerved off the road through the cyclist and hit a pole and another vehicle, then the driver got out of the car and ran, leaving the cyclist’s broken body in the grass in front of the weapon vehicle where it fell after the weapon vehicle hit the pole.

Still in FL, a SWCC wreck. St. Augustine bicyclist dies in U.S. 1 crash Not much in this one, just a cyclist hit while “crossing” a busy highway. Since the cyclist was dead at the scene when LEO got there there was no account from the victim of the wreck.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: More on Monday’s Vision Zero event, and a rider’s eye view of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix

Still in CA, why is breaking a car window a crime but running a bike over after knocking the rider off of it and dragging the bike several blocks not a crime? Especially when the car window was broken trying to get the attention of the driver after the knocking down and dragging? Driver, bicyclists tussle in Normal Heights Hit-and-run against the injured cyclist with the damaged bike, and they are going to charge the cyclists? TANJ!

Also in CA a cyclist is knocked 176 feet by a hit-and-run driver. Hit-and-run leaves Hanford bicyclists injured This idiot driver came within inches of killing 3 people, they should throw the book at him, pick it up, throw it again, then pick it up and throw it one more time. When they catch him that is. If you see the black Caddy pickup truck the driver is probably a poseur with “compensation issues”, treat him as armed and dangerous. And Stupid, a bad combination.

Not done with CA yet, we have a left cross wreck. Cyclist injured in Alpine Road collision There are a lot of people who don’t know the how to drive in CA as evidenced by the comments section.

Moving closer to home, another LA cyclist is hit. Teen riding bike to school injured by hit-and-run driver Since they never mentioned lights and reflectors in the story in spite of the early hour before sunrise, the cyclist was at least legally conspicuous. And I am so tired of hit-and-run drivers.

Another wreck in MI. Sheriff: Cyclist injured in Charlevoix County hit-and-run crash I still want to run hit-and-run drivers through a car shredder with the car they hit-and-ran in. I might be benevolent and allow the driver as much to drink as they wanted before the trip through the car shredder, or I might be an asshole and make them drink Red Bull and Monster so they are really wired and alert, and have to pee. Can you tell I’m really angry at all the hit-and-runs this week, and it’s only Wednesday.

And now we get to that great cyclist and pedestrian killing field, NYC. Woman On Mobility Scooter Killed By Driver In Sheepshead Bay The victim was crossing with the light in the crosswalk when she was left-crossed from behind.

This just makes me angry too. Police Seek Riverside Park Hit-And-Run Cyclist Who Hospitalized 2-Year-Old Asshole, you hit a little kid, you stick around and exchange information with the parents. Oh, wait a minute she tried, but the parents left with the kid to go to the hospital… See what I get from reading too fast?

A little NYC infrastructure change. These Scary Atlantic Avenue Intersections Are Now A Little Less Dangerous

Another “safety” article that begins and ends at “helmets”. NYS Fair bike helmet giveaway; Upstate Medical’s free lids not just for kids anymore I think every one knows how I feel about helmets, even though a major reason why I quit riding was I couldn’t get the helmet over the tumor on the back of my neck.

Lovely infrastructure article from West Canuckistan. More than 200 people killed or seriously injured on Whyte Avenue in 10 years The area is a 3 km long stretch that has an average of almost 2 wrecks with injury or death every month. That’s about 2 miles in “old money”, to use a Britishism. That is too many for too long a time. Something needs to be fixed there…

This is an insane assault on a cyclist in Jolly Olde. Man who pushed cyclist into path of traffic turns himself in to police I still don’t see how this isn’t attempted murder to push someone into traffic, bicycle or not.

Last link, instead of just adopting the CROW manual, they have to do things the hard way. New junction opens to save bike riders

As an aside, I composed this post while listening to the 6 hour complete soundtrack music to Cowboy Bebop on YouTube and my phone. You’re welcome. Seriously this is just a long silky ride on a cloud of jazz, blues, a little rock, some heavy metal, a little Western Swing, some pure J-Pop, all written by an enormously talented Japanese woman who could have made a small fortune composing new classical pieces and directing orchestras, Yoko Kanno. I hope she got boatloads of yen for all the anime she has scored over the years. She also wrote all the music to the Ghost In The Shell series, Brain Powerd, and a couple dozen others that are not coming to mind right now. Good stuff, and lots of it, even if it is an anime soundtrack, if you didn’t know it was you couldn’t recognize it from the music. Unless you watched the show, of course. Oh, Gawwds they just got to “The Real Folk Blues”… about 2:50 or so into the 6 hours, but not the version in the end credits, the one used in the final battle between Spike and the Mob Guy…

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Unkillable Badass Poet.