We had pizza for dinner, it must be Grocery Day, and the Feed

Yep, grocery day means cheap frozen pizza for dinner. Not that that’s bad, just routine. We didn’t have to buy much this week because of all the stuff we got last week.

The Big Story today is a hit-and-run in WA. BELLEVUE POLICE SEEK VEHICLE THAT HIT, BADLY INJURED BICYCLE RIDER and Bellevue cyclist nearly killed by hit and run driver also Injured woman found on Bellevue bike path; police searching for hit-and-run driver and the one that grabbed my attention Motor magazine readers help police ID hit-and-run car Yep, a bunch of gear-heads went out of their way to identify the weapon vehicle used to injure a cyclist on a bike path. If I’m reading the narrative correctly the cyclist was either hit standing in the bike path waiting to cross an intersection, or hit crossing with the right of way. Whichever mode was in effect, I really don’t see any way for a human cyclist to avoid this wreck, especially the one where she was waiting to cross. BOLO for the weapon vehicle, a 2013-15 Honda Accord with a broken headlight.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Connecting the dots in LA doping scandal; bike routes through Camp Pendleton closed next week I ask you, would car drivers tolerate the only safe route through an area getting closed with no alternative designated?

First of several infrastructure articles from America’s Copenhagen. Neighborhood association demands immediate investment in Cully Blvd after latest fatality The street in question is basically a speedway built when engineers were applying highway construction standards to city streets to make then “safer”.

More infrastructure on a larger scale of mind. Janette Sadik-Khan replays her ‘Streetfights’ to a sold-out crowd You can’t think small when planing bike infrastructure, you have to think in terms of networks and interconnectedness. Individual projects to move that forward can be done in small bites, but there has to be a full meal in the plan.

And why we (and Portland) can’t have nice things. New Seasons customers visit new store — and park their cars in state’s new bike lane – UPDATED A big part of the problem is ODOT don’t know how to build a bike lane. To. Save. Their. Lives. (Or anyone else’s.)

Deadly hit-and-run in NOLA. Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run on Leon C. Simon Drive; NOPD seeks black SUV and Bicyclist dead after hit-and-run I think my antipathy towards hit-and-run drivers who kill is well established. This is one of those situations that I would strap the driver back into the driver’s seat and give him or her a last ride through a car shredder.

Halfway through the legal process on a MI wreck. Plea agreement reached for teen accused in bicyclist’s death while civil suit remains in court I’m of the opinion that the charges were way too lax, but I’m not the one extracting justice from the perp’s wallet.

Speaking of extracting justice through the wallet. Attorneys reach settlement over cyclist killed in 2013 Again, in a situation like this the only way to get any justice you have to go through the wallet.

Some (sorta) good news from AZ. Woman arrested in Gilbert hit-and-run that killed bicyclist Given the situation this was about as good as news could have gotten. I don’t know what the perp being pregnant has to do with locking her up… Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

FloriDUH! Cyclist, 54, struck, badly injured on St. Pete Beach If the driver “never saw” the cyclist, how do they know the guy was riding across the street? And ugh! “dark clothes” again.

OH infrastructure. City report recommends keeping Central Parkway bike lane issued, then quickly recalled I love when they try to hide good news about bike infrastructure.

CT cyclist becomes the voice of an entire population. Clinton cyclist finds herself ‘a voice for others’ after truck-bike accident I can relate to her situation.

A bit of US national infrastructure. Safer Streets Ahead for Bikers and Walkers with New Federal Safety Rule

How is your transit system running? A Mexican athlete races Mexico City’s subway in the latest man vs. machine showdown This can happen in a system with good walkability between stops, here in the Metromess there are only a couple of stops where this is even imaginable.

More infrastructure, now from the UK. Plans for dangerous Stamford Hill junction slammed in wake of crashes Crap infrastructure is crap. Whodathunkit?

And one thing that usually goes with crap cycling infrastructure is members of the political class who hate cycling. Senior Liberal Democrat says “Cyclists do not belong in towns” That sure is a funny way to spell “cars” innit?

Also infrastructure from Jolly Olde. Traffic lights that detect cyclists coming to York

Over on the Emerald Isle, a cyclist and a semi have an unfortunate meeting. Cyclist injured in collision involving articulated lorry and Female cyclist rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by truck

Another cyclist in Ireland is hit, and unfortunately killed, by a semi. Cyclist dies following collision with lorry in Lisburn This was an intersection that has been previously identified as needing improvement, but which hasn’t been done.

One driver takes out 2 out of 3 cyclists on a ride. Two cyclist hurt in Vic hit-and-run crash

And the lawyer thinks the new laws in NSW are just peachy. New cycling laws ‘controversial but safe’ Stockholm syndrome? Maayyyyy beeeeee?

And it is late and I got up early this (yesterday?) morning. In fact it’s after Gigi’s “bedtime” when she loses her internet (0300 CT) so she’s going to be mad she doesn’t get to review the post while it’s still “fresh”.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

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Another rough day on the road, and the Feed

I took advantage of accidentally including the first report for today’s Feed having been used yesterday to go out and make a run through the “mall” with my cell phone to get as many of the high point targets as possible so I get that gift card quicker rather than later. And I stopped at the grocery store to pick up coffee, soda, and I grabbed some Christmas Tree Cakes for stockings.

Up first a cyclist is hit just feet before reaching the relative safety of a bike lane in Austin, a couple days’ ride south of WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. Man Killed in Crash Between Vehicle and Bicycle on Brodie Lane They didn’t say the victim didn’t have lights, just that they couldn’t verify the cyclist had lights on. Nothing confirmed about the mode but as the initial impact was just off the road on the shoulder and the bike ended up in the grass off to the side I would say there’s a real good chance he got hit from behind, so the usual protocols apply.

Over in NYC they killed another one, but wonder of wonders they actually arrested the driver. MTA Bus Driver Arrested For Killing Pedestrian In Brooklyn Crosswalk You would think that bus drivers would be more careful what with all the forward-facing video cameras recording every move.

Just outside NYC another hit-and-run driver kills another cyclist. Ramapo police ID bicyclist killed in Rt. 202 hit-run The description of the wrecked bike indicates either a right hook or a left or right cross, and the moment the driver left the scene it became his fault.

Over in Portland a demonstration of the biggest problem of bike infrastructure shared with motor vehicles: They tear shit up and it needs to be replaced. Paving project adds gravel, bumps and closures to 50s Bikeway route Again the biggest hurdle is motor vehicles tearing things up and getting in the way.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: LA cyclist dies from heart attack, Finish the Ride comes to the Valley, and I talk bikes on Bike Talk

Still in CA. Is a raised bike lane a protected bike lane? Why go through all this expense just to replicate what has been done in the Netherlands?

Victim statement from a trial in the Great White North. Parents, widow describe anguish over death of cyclist Tom Samson The words of the survivors are haunting.

Still in the GWN. Cyclist seriously injured near Grande Prairie At this point they know it was a hit-from-behind, but they haven’t determined why (aside from the fact that the driver was not paying attention to what was on the road in front of him).

Over in Jolly Olde a guy hits and runs against a cyclist. Hit-and-run driver Alexander William Coombes gets suspended prison sentence for A29 accident that left cyclist badly injured and Rustington driver left cyclist seriously injured in hit-and-run crash in Shripney also from Road.cc Speeding motorist who hit cyclist and left him at the side of the road sentenced I’m just going to quote a comment left at the second link: ““he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months; ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work for the community; disqualified from driving for 15 months and required to take an extended re-test.
He was also ordered to pay £6,382 compensation to the victim and costs totalling £3,500.”
So he barely received any punishment for a collision that left someone with serious injuries. Mr Bumble was right: ‘the law is a ass – a idiot’ [sic].”

And on the same island. Man arrested over alleged hit-and-run in Corfe Mullen This article shows why I hate UK media laws, there is nothing in here aside from the fact the wreck happened, not even the names of the victim or the perp.

More on that bizarre package of laws passed in Oz. NSW cyclists face big increases in fines – and will have to carry photo ID

Still in Oz, a cyclist dies in mysterious circumstances. Cyclist found critically injured by Sunshine Coast road dies of his injuries They still don’t think he was hit by another vehicle, though.

It’s official, cyclists need to eat moar choklit. Official: Daily chocolate consumption makes you a better cyclist Curious that they used the exact same dose of dark chocolate as I got in the depression and BP trial. (BTW bitter chocolate works great at fighting depression and reducing blood pressure.)

There’s more to cycling than can be found in your philosophies, to mangle a quote. The Three Worlds of Cycling To answer the debate about working cyclists, I put them in a similar category to commuters trying to get from A to B so they could work, their work is going from A to B. Sometimes by going through points C through Z’ inclusive.

I can honestly say that I have never been in a situation where I could use any of this advice. Crash Course: How to Handle a Car-Bike Collision All of my wrecks have either been hit-and-run, something I could ride away from, or both. and most were from times when I didn’t have a cell phone, much less a cell phone camera.

And I think I’m probably done now.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Another day another $0.70 after Medicare and SS, and the Feed

For the self-employed even when we don’t make enough money to actually pay taxes, we still have to pay taxes on income specifically the Social Security and Medicare taxes, which come to roughly 30%. Interestingly enough if I made enough money I wouldn’t have to pay any SS or Medicare taxes… But my income is so low that I’m almost off the bottom of the scale for paying it. My income from wages is so low that I’m not actually paying all that much in SS or Medicare, I think maybe $2 or $3 a year, and the rest doesn’t count as “wages”. Kinda like those hedge fund guys that pay a fraction of the income tax and none of the SS and Medicare tax on their incomes because they don’t count it as “wages”. I mean really, the amount quoted in the headline is about how much I make in “wages”.

Up first, a TX man gets so drunk he forgets that he has the perfect weapon and uses a gun instead. Texas man went on deadly shooting spree while drunk driving in Oklahoma, killing two motorists I would say he’s a dumbass, but he would have to gain about a dozen IQ points to get that smart.

Meanwhile in Sin City. Car Mows Down Pedestrians On Las Vegas Strip, Killing 1 And Injuring Dozens and Driver who mowed down crowds on Vegas Strip asked valet to call 911, police say More than 50 injured or killed, and people scoff at me when I call motor vehicles WMD.

The driver that ran down a cyclist in S.F. CA is in court on murder charges. Man accused of murder in Tenderloin car theft collision back in court

Since we are in CA anyway, here’s Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Hard-hitting real-life safety PSA, and Big Blue Bus leaves bike-riding boy stranded in the rain

Still in CA. On the Mobility Plan and rush hour bus bunching: equity for bus riders? Good transit helps make streets safer for cyclists, too.

Over in KY. Family of Lexington cyclist killed in accident donates bikes to kids

US infrastructure on the Federal level. U.S. Gov’t. May Get More Serious About Cyclist/Pedestrian Deaths in 2016 They still don’t know if the problem is huge, really huge, or enormous, and when they find out they might actually do something about it. Or they could just buy the CROW manual and follow that and everything would be wonderful.

Low information article about a bike wreck in the Great White North. Cyclist struck, injured at Dufferin and Davenport The headline contains most of the actual news in the article, which is kinda sad, really.

Three years, and they still haven’t reached sentencing yet? Man in 2012 hit-and-run that killed cyclist could face year in jail The really annoying thing is the maximum sentence is still less than half the time the cyclist has already been dead. He died more than 3 years ago, the maximum sentence is 18 months, which he won’t even start serving until next year.

More on the insane suggestion that cyclists should be charged congestion fees when there are too many cars for the roads. ‘Cyclists should be considered for a Cambridge congestion charge’, says highways boss Since you can move 8 people on bicycles in the same space as one in a car, if there is a congestion charge for bicycles it should be ¹/₈ as much as for a motor vehicle, or since bicycles are smaller than motorcycles charge what they would charge the motorcycle, which was nothing. And that right there shows the hypocrisy of charging bicycles for congestion. It has been suggested the “expert” who said bicycles should also pay congestion charges was Keith Peat, noted anti-cycle motorist.

Meanwhile in Oz, they are almost s insane but they carried through. Cyclists in NSW can now be hit with massive fines and have to carry photo ID and NSW cycling laws: metre passing laws a win, but others are bewildering I’m trying to figure out why “raising of the fine for riding without a helmet from $71 to $319 – an increase of 350 per cent” is a good idea while the fine for failure to wear a seat belt remains the same… What is it about the Aussies and their weird compulsions about bicycle helmets?

And that’s all I got today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

My brain hurts, and the Feed

I tried to watch the GOP debate from yesterday before filtering the Feed, and then I filtered the Feed. Now my brain hurts from all the Stoopid and H8 to quote Gigi’s commentary from Facebook. Seriously, how can anyone believe the lies and half-truths that get spread around? How can people just run over cyclists like they aren’t even there? Like I said, it causes me pain to think about it.

Up first, can concepts and technology win the Nobel Peace Prize? Bicycle ‘should win Nobel Peace Prize’ I certainly hope so.

On the same idea, bicycles as vehicles for change (no pun intended). Designing a Bike Path to Global Health So, healthy for the driver of the vehicle, healthy for people not using the vehicle immediately outside, or people halfway around the world…

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Turning Vision Zero into an unfunny joke, adventures in traffic blocking, and CicLAvia the Musical

Still in CA. Two Bay Area Cyclists Cut Down By Drivers in One Day Why do allow this level of CARnage to continue?

Now that the relatives have been told we can finally know the name of the OR cyclist killed by the deadly combination of bad infrastructure and an impaired driver. Portland police identify 38-year-old bicyclist struck and killed in NE Portland The sentence that chills me was “There was a transfer of blue paint from his car on the guardrail near where the bicyclist was discovered.” after I posted this “And then there was this,”We may never know, but it’s entirely possible the victim knew he was about to be hit and was trapped against the guardrail.” So now we know that is what probably did happen. Basically the infrastructure would work only as long as the drivers paid full attention to not running into the cyclists at the pinch points, which means that every driver has to be awake and free of chemical or physical impairment. Fail even one of those criteria and add in a cyclist, you end up with a high risk of dead cyclist. A risk that failed this time.

And in the ABQ a cyclist killer gets caught driving drunk shortly after getting released from prison and still on parole from the killing. Drunken driver who killed cyclist in ’05 suspected of 7th DWI You think that after 10 years in prison/jail he would have stayed away from alcohol but that was not the case. Somehow he still managed to get hold of a vehicle and excessive amounts of alcohol. “He was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, and breath tests later showed he a BAC of 0.21 or 0.22 percent.” So, how do we as a society keep confirmed deadly drunks from gaining access to the most deadly devices we have common access?

Another link to the wreck of the FloriDUH drunk motorcyclist running a red light into a cyclist. Two injured when motorcycle runs red light, hits bicyclist near Clearwater Mall Nothing changed, the motorcyclist is still a drunk idiot riding on a suspended license.

Oz infrastructure news. Brisbane City Council to announce cyclist clearways for Sylvan Road

And this was a friend of my son who got hit by a car in his apartment. Gamer Hit By Car While Playing Fallout 4 In His Home Survives I keep telling people that motor vehicles are artillery shells, and until something like this happens where a vehicle goes through 3 walls and still almost kills someone nobody believes me.

And I’m all out of links.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Surviving the next 6 weeks, and the Feed

This is usually a very deadly time for cyclists as the days are short meaning more commutes are going to be dark in both directions, fewer cyclists are on the roads so drivers aren’t looking for the ones that remain, and the weather is worse for driving meaning idjit drivers are going to be in even less control over their machines than usual as not only are they going to be driving faster than they can see to stop in good weather but stopping distances are going to be longer and that “swerve” away has a much better chance of just breaking the front tires’ traction and just plowing straight ahead.

In addition I have links from Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to filter as well as the first report from Saturday so that next Monday isn’t so much of a battle. And on a food-related note I’m still suffering from yesterday’s excesses so I’m having a cup of coffee for breakfast and nothing more until lunch, when I will probably be able to consume a sandwich. On cat-related notes, does anyone have any suggestions for gassy kittens? Clint has a real bad gas problem today. On the other hand kitten farts are hilarious sounding squeaks.

And this has nothing to do with bikes but there is a terrorist attack going on at a CO Planned Parenthood as I type this. It is a pretty good bet the shooter is not a Syrian refugee.

Here is a pleasant image to start your weekend.

Note the drillium brake levers.

Up first because it makes me feel good. Lafayette man formally charged in hit-and-run incident that injured cyclist Can I just say that the fact that LEO took this case seriously and didn’t just sweep it under the rug because the victim was a cyclist warms the cockles of my heart. I think they have a pill for excessively warm cockles now. Anyway, the alleged perp is being kept far away from motor vehicles until someone comes up with $$ for his bail…

Along those same lines but in the Emerald Isle. Man due in court after death of cyclist in June and Man in court charged in connection with death of cyclist in Clontarf Again Ireland’s media laws are patterned after UK laws that prohibit releasing details until after they are disclosed in open court when criminal charges are filed so we don’t know anythinf aside from the bare facts that the driver has been charged.

Back to CO for this missive in the “war on cars”. Dom Nozzi: War on cars? If there is a “war on cars” it is one of the most lopsided “wars” in history.

Charlotte NC residents are starting to get tired if the death and destruction on their streets. Residents ask city council to make neighborhood streets safer This was where the man was killed in a pinball wreck while riding a bicycle, then his Ghost Bike was destroyed less than a month later in another pinball wreck at the same intersection.

Meanwhile in TN, a wreck during an Ironman triathlon was caused by poor traffic management. Report details crash that severely injured Ironman Chattanooga competitor The truck driver was watching the guy directing traffic, and the guy directing traffic didn’t see the car getting towed and did not allow enough room for both the truck and the cargo.

Bike wreck in LA with limited information when I filtered the link. Sulphur man killed riding bike Monday Now the link reads like a SWSS wreck at night by a driver overdriving his headlights. One could ask how a cyclist could swerve hard enough to get hit from behind but get thrown into oncoming traffic.

And up in OK. Bicycle Rider Killed By Car In Miami The cyclist was hit from behind in a place where another fatal wreck happened about 4 months ago, implying this might be infrastructure related. At least the driver stayed at the scene.

In NYC you really have to watch out for the buses, because the bus drivers will not watch out for you. Mother-Of-Six Fatally Struck By MTA Bus Driver In Brooklyn

CA infrastructure report. San Francisco’s Raised Bikeway Won’t Make Cycling Safe He’s half right, the one raised bikeway won’t make things safe, they need a connected network of bike infrastructure that goes everywhere. It’s just that the headline makes it look like the writer is against bike infrastructure.

Still in CA a really strange bike wreck. Coroner IDs man hit by truck on I-5 while riding bike The cyclist was riding ninja on the freeway at night. As much as I’m always about the basic speed law, I’m about half in the driver’s court on this one.

Another report on a PA driver getting jail time for a drunken killing of a cyclist. Man set for prison in cyclist’s death He’s going to get some serious prison time for this wreck.

A NJ cyclist is killed giving a ride to a friend. Clifton High School student killed in bicycle accident Nothing about the mode, but the narrative suggests that it might have been a cross or hook situation at an intersection.

Wreck in the Great White North. Police investigating after cyclist, 18, struck and killed in Chatham-Kent, Ont. and Cyclist struck and killed by SUV in Chatham Nothing on the mode, but nothing blaming the cyclist for being the author of his own death, so ??

My younger brother was born in this town. Cyclist injured in multi-vehicle collision in St. John’s It sounds like there was a general fluster cluck from the first impact. The bike shows definite signs of getting hit from the side but I can’t tell from which side as the indicators are almost equally biased from either direction. The bike may have been hit more than once.

Update on a wreck out in West Canuckistan. Injured cyclist out of coma Left cross and the cyclist had complications while waiting for surgery.

Those extendable leashes are potentially deadly. Elderly lady in her 70s who tripped up a cyclist while walking a friend’s dog on holiday pays out £65,000 compensation after injured biker spends three years tracking her down At yesterday’s conversion rate that comes to $97704.75 US. The cyclist is still undergoing rehab for the head injuries sustained in the wreck.

Drunk driver charged in Jolly Olde. Man charged with causing death of East Molesey cyclist in Walton whilst under the influence of alcohol and Man charged over cyclist’s death in Walton-on-Thames Despite my strong antipathy towards drunk drivers I’m not going to put anything inflammatory here.

They finally found the person who helped an injured cyclist. Successful appeal to track down Apperley Bridge Good Samaritan The person in question provided transport on her barge to a crossing point where an ambulance could take the injured cyclist and saved valuable time getting the cyclist treated.

Well this shouldn’t take long to crack. Hunt for ‘blue vehicle with pink wheels’ after cyclist injured in hit-and-run Couldn’t be more than a dozen of those in town…

Another infrastructure protest in Jolly Olde. Cyclist die-in: Campaigners stage protest outside TfL headquarters in Southwark This used to happen about twice a week.

Infrastructure protests in Oz. Cyclists seek Vineyard Road solution Bike path on one side of the bridge, bike path on the other side of the bridge, no bike path over the bridge. I wonder whose bright idea that was…

I think we have a sociopath here, or a potential serial killer. Woman who caused the death of Kings Park cyclist may have caused another crash intentionally Let’s hope that there are no cars where they lock her up.

And we have another report that says helmet laws do not have a significant impact on head injury rates for cyclists. DO BIKE HELMETS SAVE LIVES? In short terms the answer would be no, longer terms the answer would be no, and they might make things worse.

And I’m finally out of links. And time, it’s almost 0500.

Billed @€0.02

We’ve been here 7 years now, and the Feed

November 23rd is significant for a number of reasons beyond being the day JFK was shot in 1963. It’s also the day I started posting my blog here after getting more or less kicked off of MySpace for having excessive links 7 years ago. I dual posted for about a month with the link to this blog at the bottom of the old blog on MySpace and went from 800 readers per day to about 50 (but on the other hand I’m still going, has anyone heard anything about MySpace in the last year?). I have gotten some recognition from my peers since moving to WordPress, sometimes had enough readers to actually get a few bucks from advertisers, and gotten some free stuff to review a few times. Overall it has been fun, but there have been a few times when it got so overwhelming I just wanted to walk away and read web comics and ride my bike. But I persevered, got some counselling, and just put my head down and kept going. Which brings us to today. But before I do today, 52 years ago I was rudely awakened from my nap in the kindergarten class of Iliahi Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI to be told that the President had been shot and killed in Dallas. My immediate question was what country was Dallas and when were we going to go to war with them.

Ordinarily I start inside the US and work my way out, but today the story closest to WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell is in Mexico City. Protesters demand traffic safety in Mexico City after cyclists’ deaths and Mexico City made itself more bike-friendly—and cycling accidents went up Part of the problem seems to be drivers as one of the cyclists was hit from behind by a bus in the shared bus/bike lane. I don’t see how cyclist education would do anything to prevent that.

Baby steps towards justice for a cyclist killed in NYC. City Fires Contractor Responsible For Tree That Killed Cyclist In Red Hook This is the first stage, firing the contractor. Then comes charges, prosecution, and eventually a brisk rap on the wrist, followed by a lawsuit that bankrupts the contractor.

Still in NYC a local newspaperfishwrap wets its pants over the prospect of an Idaho Stop law. The NY Post Is Terrified Cyclists Might Someday Be Allowed To Cautiously Run Red Lights Not the best picture to illustrate the article, a salmon cyclist holding a demitasse of espresso while riding with one hand and holding a shopping bag to the handlebars.

And in the meantime real killers are allowed to stalk the streets unimpeded. MTA Bus Driver Strikes Pedestrian In LES Crosswalk Since the victim was in the crosswalk I’m going to assume he had the right of way until proven otherwise.

Back to the other side of the country for Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: LAPD still looking for hit-and-run cyclist, and a bike rider critically injured in SoLA hit-and-run That “hit-and-run” should be in quotes in the headline, because the cyclist hung around until everybody else left and nobody took his contact data… Even the cop looking for him says as much.

Still in CA a memorial to a 9 YO cyclist killed with a van. Irvine grieves for boy, 9, struck and killed on bicycle Apparently they are assigning a large part of the blame to the driver on this wreck, because every time they mentioned motor vehicle operators the words “slow down” were in close proximity.

A bit of infrastructure news from the war zone in CA. Vineland Bike Lanes: So Much Space, So Much Failure It’s really hard to ride in bike lanes when they are full of cars. Too bad CA isn’t a “Stand Your Ground” state so that cyclists could shoot drivers in the bike lanes with their deadly weapons deployed against the cyclists.

A ninja cyclist is hit in PA. Cyclist injured in State College The cyclist had the right of way, but because he was riding ninja the driver couldn’t see him to yield he got hit and blamed for the wreck.

A driver failed to take care of his diabetes and killed a cyclist during a hypoglycemic blackout. Delivery driver who hid the fact he was diabetic from his employers at Currys PC World killed a cyclist when he blacked out at the wheel during a hypoglycaemic attack Yes they spell it with too many vowels, I think it’s to make up for the lack of them in Wales. Anywho they gave him almost 4 years (44 months) in prison for the killing (and I suspect for withholding the information about his diabetes).

A government official in the UK who seems to get most of his news from Fox gets called out on his misinformation. Cyclists pose more dangers than motorists, claims transport minister Fortunately, more rational heads prevailed and called his BS. There are in fact 63 pedestrians killed by motor vehicles for every one killed by cyclists, and 46 injured by motor vehicles for every one by cyclists. And even on sidewalks the ratio is highly skewed in favor of cyclists by more than 34 to one.

They caught a hit-and-run driver in Oz, and they don’t seem likely to let him go cheap or easy. Geelong man charged over alleged hit-and-run that killed cyclist “Azzopardi was remanded in custody and scheduled to appear again in March.” So Aussie cyclists will at least get most of the Austral Summer minus this threat to life and limb.

Another article on how your city could save $$ by increasing the bike share of traffic. Planning for Less Driving, Not More, Would Lead to Big Savings And it doesn’t take much to realize these gains, just enough people on bikes to slow down motor vehicle growth 1% will do it.

And vehicles like this will help it happen. HISTORY BICYCLE CAR

And I’m outta links again. Program note, I will be away from the internet for tomorrow and Thursday so no post until Friday.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

Feline interference with blogging, and the Feed

Clint and Clyde have been interfering with blogging this morning, mostly by attacking my feet, and my hands when I try to remove them from my feet. The rest of the time they spend chasing each other around the office and demanding head rubs. I would take a picture, but that would require at least one of them slow down long enough to point a camera at them, frame the shot, and push the button. I can manage the first two steps but by the time I get to the third the cat is out of the shot headed for parts unknown. So instead of pursuing a career as a cat photographer I shall fall back on something I sorta do well and write stuff.

On another front I managed to match 3 of 6 in yesterday’s Texas Lotto, scoring me a massive $3 payoff on odds of 148,824:1 against. It has been said that the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math. I think it is a tax on the desperate and the dreamers and especially the desperate dreamers. As you can see, I can do math. I’m just a member of the third group. BTW I’m keeping $2.70 of this because I’m still following my agreement to give 10% of my lottery winnings to my church.

Up first from a fee that was mainly overseas today is a cyclist hit by a loose trailer in the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike. UPDATE: Stuart man in critical condition after bike wreck The cyclist was riding in the sidewalk when he was hit by a trailer that also took out a fence and 3 boats. This is not something anyone can avoid except to not be there.

Still in FL, they have an epidemic of blind drivers. UPDATE: Bicyclist dies in crash on 231; officer nearly struck securing scene How the hell do you “not see” a cop car with all the lights flashing? If they let that one slide, there’s no hope for anything as “small” as an adult human being with blinky lights.

KS cyclist hit by a car riding on the sidewalk, cyclist gets ticket. Injuries reported after woman’s bike hits car downtown Driver gets pat on shoulder for driving on sidewalk to hit cyclist, nothing for “failure to yield” to traffic on the sidewalk.

Another link to that awful story about the driver killing a cyclist and getting away with nothing more than a $260 ticket, or barely more than a cyclist gets for not putting a foot down at a stop sign. No criminal charges for driver in crash that killed Reed College grad on bicycle Running a stop sign on a bicycle gets a $220 ticket. Killing a cyclist should result in a much higher fine by at least an order of magnitude, not $40.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Savvy cycling in OC, keeping bike theft petty, and riding with the Ovarian Psychos

Still in CA, a memorial ride. Memorial ride honors Redding bicyclist

Wounded Warrior ride in NV. Ride 2 Recovery hits the Strip

Drivers having a hard time dealing with a parking-protected bike lane in IN. “Protected bike lane” causes confusion What they need is to run some parking stoppers between the bike lane and the parking lane.

Memorial ride for the couple killed by a drunk driver while riding a tandem bike. Ceremony held to honor husband and wife killed on tandem bike

Another cyclist hit in the Great White North. Cyclist seriously injured after being struck by vehicle in North York I really can’t tell what happened from the bike wreckage picture because both wheels have a small amount of damage, but the frame is buckled and the fork is broken.

How do cyclists die in Jolly Olde? How are cyclists most likely to die? I find it interesting that cyclists killed 4 pedestrians in the UK were killed in collisions with cyclists, from the ranting and raving in the comments section of the Daily Mail you would think it was a daily happening.

A negative review of the Volvo LifePaint reflective coating. Volvo’s hi-vis paint for cyclists is not such a bright idea To be honest I expected this result when the spray finally made it to the “wild” away from photo effects and digital editing.

From Oz an expensive but ultimately futile campaign to stop dooring. TAC issues ‘Rider Reminder’ rubber tabs for door handles to stop ‘doorings’ Why do I call this “ultimately futile”? Because in a few weeks or days drivers will no longer notice the textured applique on the door handle.

Cyclists in Oz are threatened by a persistent road terrorist attack that LEO refuse to take seriously. Cyclists protest lack of CCTV amid Yarra Blvd tack attacks These terrorist attacks have been going on nearly daily since January 2014. That represents a serious investment in the means used. Good police work would say, look for someone buying large amounts of tacks on a regular basis.

Still in Oz, a cyclist is hit from behind on a straight road with excellent sight lines. Cyclist killed I see LEO are trying to blame the fact the cyclist was riding a ‘bent for the fact that the driver ran him over from behind. Face it, if a driver can’t see an adult human being in the road they have no business driving.

Over in Enn Zed, a cyclist pushing his bike is hit. Young cyclist killed after getting off bike and A pedestrian killed by a motorist near Mapua may have been a cyclist reported by concerned motorists earlier. Cyclist discovers he isn’t as visible as he thought and gets off to walk, then gets hit because he’s still not visible?

A sad story about a dead cyclist. Dead Hamilton cyclist hoped to mend marriage The cyclist was using cycling to get his head back together, and a motor vehicle destroyed that effort. The real kick in the head was that had they managed to get him out from under the truck sooner he might have recovered with no lasting effects beyond the orthopedic injuries. He died from the hypoxia caused by the chest compression.

And I’m finally out of links before I ran out of patience.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

It’s Bean Day again, and the Feed.

Yep, I’m slaving over a hot slow-cooker, stirring and adding spices and seasonings, to make the perfect pot of beans and rice. Still working on that, but I’m getting closer. Now it just so happens that I’m making beans because I like this particular dish, not because I can make 3 dinners for 2 people for about $0.75, but the fact that I can make this for that small amount of money is a good thing right now… As in there was only $5 to spend for groceries last week and the pantry is getting mighty bare, and we are dipping into the Strategic Ramen Reserves… I will be so glad when the check comes in and we have a positive bank balance.

My mood today without coffee:

i hope you are all having a dark as hell national coffee day http://t.co/gYUGA5MdPd pic.twitter.com/JjMOnsu1gz

— rstevens Ʒ (@rstevens) September 29, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
BTW I want that coffee cup…

Up first are updates on fatal wrecks, this one recent. Driver charged in deadly cyclist crash and Driver charged in Brecksville crash that killed two cyclists It’s a pity that those are all misdemeanor charge in OH, and that this is about as severely as a driver driving on the wrong side of the road and hitting 5 people can be charged.

The older wreck is at trial. Cyclist’s fatal injuries in hit-run detailed in court That sounds about right for a cyclist hit head-on by a car driving on the wrong side of the road in excess of the speed limit. I sincerely hope this driver is sentenced to the maximum permitted by law.

Speaking of drivers on the wrong side of the road, here’s a third. Cyclist killed after being hit by SUV and Superior man struck, killed while riding bicycle another one Cyclist Dies After Being Hit by Vehicle I’m sure there was no other meaning for the second headline than identifying the cyclist’s town of residence, but IMHO it also described the stature of the victim. Why the driver was not arrested and taken to jail at the scene is still up for question.

And refreshed and ready to go after taking a Mental Health Day it’s our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Gov. Brown signs hit-and-run alert law, bike park meeting Wed night, and SCAG says Go Human

Also in CA. Cyclist hit, killed in Mira Mesa “They” say the cyclist ran a red, but the only two people there were the cyclist and the driver that killed him.

LEO “proving” they are limited in IQ in the big city. Lee says he’ll veto legislation OKing rolling stops for cyclists Whoops, sorry that’s the mayor, Lee, not LEO.

Still in CA, in the same city as Duh Mayer up there. Mother Credits Police With Spending Time, and Money, to Help Injured Son Thus proving not all LEO are heartless. And if it seems like I’m a little hard on LEO most of the time, there is a reason for that: my son-in-law was recently promoted to chief of police in the town he serves.

More information about that cyclist killed during a time trial event in CA. Spoiler alert, it was the driver’s fault for making an unsafe pass. Cyclist Hit, Killed By Car During Time Trial Near Esparto The driver moved to pass a cyclist going one way, and ran head on into the cyclist going the opposite direction in the other lane.

Update on the ID kid hit and dragged riding home from school with his Dad. Boise 5-year-old boy injured in minivan-bike crash, slowly recovering after surgeries I’m still waiting to hear about at least a ticket for hitting a little boy riding legally with his father. Buehler?

And I’m with Maus on this one. Let’s find these tricycles stolen from a 65-year old wheelchair user The hand bike at least should have tipped the thieves that this was not a person that should get ripped off…

Another KY cyclist gets hit. Man injured in bicycle accident in Philpot Dogs are a constant problem in the rural South. And almost impossible to avoid.

Back in MI. Longtime physician at Bronson killed while riding bicycle Nothing on what happened, just who it happened to.

Back in Portland, infrastructure news. TriMet adjusts Orange Line crossing plans after community opposition – UPDATED Still planning on using the trailer-trapping gates at one crossing, but that is somewhat of an improvement. They had been planning on all three crossings having the bike traps installed. I still don’t see what the problem is with using the regular train crossing guards that have been in use for decades.

Still in PDX, I’m not certain how to classify this link. Portland company’s “Pot Tour” by bike includes free joint My brain chemistry won’t handle pot, I get a headache and then go to sleep since the wreck (even on the “contact high”).

Two links to a wreck in far West Canuckistan. Kelowna Cyclist Killed After Collision with Car and Cyclist killed in Kelowna car crash Some serious questions here, as they claim the deceased cyclist ran the stop sign, which can’t be proven or disproven after the wreck, but at the same time “don’t know” if the cyclist was wearing a helmet, which is easy to prove or disprove by just looking for the helmet at the scene. And for the sake of this particular wreck I’m going to go by the “car” version of running a stop sign, which is come to a stop then go.

A little infrastructure news from Oz. Cycling lane dividers have little impact on safety: government report

Also from Oz, the true story of how VW was brought down by 4 college researchers. The who, what and why of Volkswagen’s diesel scandal Yep, one of the drawbacks of the diesel engine is the high compression ratio and initial burn temperatures cause much more NOx emissions than spark ignition engines. There are catalysts that break up the NOx back into N₂ and O₂ but they can only do so much, which is where the delicate mixture control of the computer feedback controlled injection came in. It is my understanding that turbocharging is actually beneficial to this process by reducing the CR required to maintain the compression ignition and reducing that contribution to NOx production.

And those were all the links I had today.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

The Long Day just got longer, and the Feed

Friday is my day that doesn’t end until halfway through the next morning, because I wait until the midnight posting to my Feed Folder in my e-mail. Usually though I get enough links to filter that I don’t get a lot of downtime, or I go out and do something and get the post started way after 1800 so that I’m not just sitting around and waiting for links. But today I have the coincidence of nothing on my social calendar combined with nothing in the 1200 post to the Feed Folder leaving me with very few links and lots of time to look at them…

Because why not? I’m putting the Daily Ted first. Morning Links: Protect your bike on Metro buses, motorists behaving badly, and more kindhearted people

Just down the road from WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. Few Protections for Cyclists

Proving that it can be done, NJ demonstrates how. Man indicted in hit-and-run crash that killed cyclist Wow, three felony charges including two homicides.

And in the UK… Alan Cartwright murder: Joshua Williams guilty of cyclist’s fatal stabbing Proving that cyclist’s lives are only valued when they are killed by something other than a motor vehicle.

Back in CA, where is his bike? Man ‘Sleeping’ in Bike Lane Was Victim of Hit-and-Run Crash: Police I think the CHP officer that reported the man “sleeping” will be called in for re-training soon.

CO cyclist is blamed for getting right hooked. Cyclist injured in crash with SUV “The motorist was not at fault, but the responding officer used “officer discretion” and decided not to cite the cyclist, Cunningham said.” Umm, driver turning across a pedestrian crossing and hitting someone in that crossing is most definitely at fault, unless the person is crossing against the light. And I bet the only one the officer talked to was the driver.

A driver left crosses 8 cyclists, hits 5, and kills one. Bicyclist killed in Brecksville truck accident, others injured And the comments section goes wild, blaming the cyclists… SMH

Update on a cyclist hit in the Great White North. Cyclist hurt in Oshawa collision expected to recover I hate that LEO are still trying to excuse the driver because the visibility was restricted by rain and darkness…

And update on a wreck in Canuckistan. Police seek more info on injured cyclist I don’t see what the problem is, the cyclist was left crossed. That is automatically the fault of the driver no matter what the cyclist was doing.

In Finland they take hitting a cyclist seriously. Motorist who hit cyclist to be indicted on manslaughter, other charges The driver was seen to deliberately hit the cyclist during a road rage encounter…

Meanwhile in Oz. Cyclist seriously hurt, man killed in Mandurah in horror night on WA roads How do you hit someone from behind with the driver’s side of the car and drive off? More Cyclist injured in hit and run in Mount Pleasant, Perth

I have been making this argument from the other side for years… Breaking the Cycle Nobody in their right mind these days would blame women for wearing the “wrong” clothes or being in a bad part of town, at least in the Western world. Well we need to stop blaming cyclists for not wearing helmets or glow-in-the-dark clown suits when they get hit.

And I am out of links, and also my mind 😀

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Yay! food again and the Feed

Yep, time to buy groceries again. Still trying to figure out how to stop doing this “eating” thing so we don’t have to keep dipping into savings to pay bills. Eventually savings will run out. I may have to start taking the laptop to the library and using the free WiFi and drop cable, phone, and Internet at the house. That would be a drag, but workable as I seldom watch anything except racing, and not much of that lately. Mrs. the Poet would probably have a harder time of it than I would, but once she got over her Pat Sajak and Vanna White withdrawal she would live over it.

Up first is massive schadenfreude unrelated to bicycles or infrastructure. Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Taken Into Custody She can be held up to 30 days after the expiration of her term if she does not allow her staff to issue marriage licences. I’m reminded of a Fleetwood Mac lyric, the second verse to “Oh Well”. I will leave looking up that lyric to the reader as I have already devoted too much space to this waste of skin.

The first bike story isn’t all that big and seems to be the same report from two different outlets of the same media company. Cyclist hurt in Southborough crash Yep, exact same report, just a different URL. So, no second link.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Avoiding bike/car collisions, too much bike theft news, and new bike coffee shop in DTLA

More on the trio of cyclists hit by a distracted driver in AL. Cyclist urges everyone to share the road after recent death of fellow rider in Blount County Back channel says serious criminal charges are pending against the driver in that wreck, if they can get past the grand jury.

More on the VA pair hit at twilight with no lights on their bikes. Fairfax police identify man killed after he was hit while riding a bike Unfortunately LEO never enforce the Basic Speed Law.

Portland doesn’t know how lucky they have things. Lane blockage on SW Stark presents a different kind of bike commute ‘challenge’ Here in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell we don’t have people parking in bike lanes that aren’t there.

Bike wreck in MN. Montgomery Remembers 8-year-old Killed Following Sunday Bike Accident Single bike wreck that a helmet may have made non-fatal had the victim been wearing one.

Hit-from-behind in MI. Man killed after being struck on bicycle Nothing on anything about this wreck except they haven’t charged the operator of the weapon vehicle yet.

We can’t get the mayor out of his car here, but that’s a different story. Here’s what happened when Mayor Hales biked to work for the first time I seriously think that every elected local official should have to interact with all of the infrastructure they are responsible for using the mode that infrastructure was intended for and then a mode that it wasn’t intended for but that has to use that infrastructure anyway, like crossing a busy street without marked crosswalk, or riding an arterial street with no bike lanes.

Now we segue to NYC traffic idiocy. SUV Driver Runs Over 4-Year-Old Girl In Brooklyn, No Charges Filed “No criminality suspected.”

Another cyclist is killed just a few blocks and few days away from another high-profile fatal bike wreck. Bicyclist struck, killed in west Modesto Salmon cyclist hit by a blind driver, we are talking about wrong² in this wreck. Obviously don’t ride salmon and get out in the lane where you can be seen to avoid a similar wreck.

A little UK infrastructure news. Calls for London’s safer lorries scheme to be applied nationwide It is appalling that death machines are allowed such free rein on the streets of the UK.

Infrastructure news from Oz. The tab heading is better than the headline. Our cities need to future-proof infrastructure to cater for those using alternative forms of transport Cyclists are awesome and this is why we need bike paths

Maybe we don’t really need Google Car. Adjustments in Already Available Auto Technology Could Reduce Frequency of Auto Bike Collisions I have a slight quibble with people who start suggesting “adjustments” that are complete reworks of the code used to run the hardware and require major research and development to get the new code right. When the only similarities between the two systems are one sensor and the CPU.

I have been debating for at least 10 minutes which order these last two links should go. I tossed a coin. Brompton CEO Will Butler-Adams on why the future of the foldable bike is electric A folding bike would probably be a good option on this train when the racks are full. Rolling onto Amtrak’s Capitol Limited Note that this paragraph would be equally intelligible no matter which link was first.

And I’m done, and I want to lay down and let the kinks unwind.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet