Still thinking

One of the things that has been gnawing on me a little is I missed another Ride of Silence this year. For those new to my blog since I dropped the bike wrecks click on the tag RoS or Ride of Silence to see previous posts about it. I started missing the RoS when the tumor on my neck got so big that I couldn’t ride any bikes. But after Chris Christie was removed from my neck I got to the point I could ride bikes with a very upright riding position or recumbents, but not very far. Well now I can’t ride anything except a bus or car because Arthur Dent is causing troubles. I have a pain that starts in the middle of the dent and radiates to the end of the trapezius in one direction and up the back of my neck in the other, and makes my deltoid and rotator cuff tingle like they are trying to go to sleep. It’s very annoying but not much of an impediment except to bike riding at the moment, but it feels like it is trying to get worse.

I’m stalled on the Mid-Bucket (aka the Thunderbolt Grease Slapper 2) ATM because I lack cash for parts or raw stock. I still haven’t replaced my ID since the last time I lost my wallet, because I needed my ATM card to get the cash to pay for it. ATM card should finally get here this week and I will renew my ID early so I can go to Nashville and see the eclipse this August. When I get stalled on one project my mind starts on a new project immediately, in this case a lighter weight version of the Sprint-T with the Pentastar V6. Basically it is just the same as the V8 version with lighter components because of less weight and lower power. Remember the vicious circle of too heavy so other parts have to be stronger and heavier making the car heavier so other things need to be stronger…? Well this is the benign circle of less weight allowing for less heavy supporting and connecting parts. And the weight came to under 1400 pounds with the balance almost 50-50 I can use all the same size wheels and tires on each corner. If I could have gotten one of those free things would have been a lot easier.

Pole Day for the Indy 500 is on the idiot box so this is time to wrap this up. Congrats to Kyle Busch on winning the All-Star race last night in a masterful performance. Condolences to Sebastien Bourdais on that wreck at Indy yesterday and wishes for a quick recovery.

Opus the Unkillable

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I didn’t ride in silence tonight

As much as I wanted to I still was not able to participate in my local Ride of Silence, the Mother Ride. I still lack the ability to hold my head up enough to ride the 10 miles of the Mother Ride, and that’s not counting the additional 12 miles to get to the ride. I feel like I have let Larry Schwarz down, and I never even met the guy.

Next year for sure.

PSA, Opus

That was a lovely service, and the Feed

My friend Alice has been sent to the Summerlands in true Pagan style, blessed be her memory.

In the meantime “Arthur, Arthur Dent” is being a pain as that muscle is still tied down and won’t move right when I try to turn my head. It doesn’t hurt any more (except for tiny twinges at the edge of the dent) but because it is tied down I just can’t get full range of motion to do things like look over my right shoulder, much less look behind me. I can almost look straight up now which is a major improvement over when “Chris Christie” would hit the back of my skull, but still a ways off from what I could do before things got bad.

And I’m going to miss Alice…

Up first, that driver given a cell phone ban is drawing national attention for the punishment, not so much for the fact that she killed a cyclist to earn that ban. Distracted Michigan driver who killed cyclist mom sentenced to jail and banned from owning cellphone and Woman who killed cyclist can’t use cellphone for 2 years also Driver Gets 2-Year Cell Phone Ban For Killing Cyclist I reported the wrong gender for the driver yesterday, who is in fact, female.

And continuing the jurisprudence theme of killer female drivers, the drunken MD cyclist-killing bishop went to court today. Trial of former bishop Heather Cook postponed as attorney considers a plea We are far too lenient with killer drivers, even drunk ones. The fact that this driver has a bail commensurate with both the severity of the crime (killing with a motor vehicle while impaired) and charges that are not a joke (the crimes she’s charged with can get up to life in prison) brings hope that cyclists will no longer be treated as disposable in at least one state.

That CO cyclist shot might just be another notch in the gun handle of a serial killer. Colorado police check if killing linked to 2 other shootings and Colorado Shootings Spark Serial Gunman Fears On the one hand this could break the case if it’s the same guy, on the other hand we may have multiple people shooting at people at random or worse targeting people for their modes of transport.

This is astounding, amazing, dumbfounding. Cyclist injured in crash; driver says she didn’t see the bike LEO actually gave the driver a ticket for driving while blind, I mean whodathunkit?

Next town over from WoaB. Bike To Work Day Energizer Stations 2015 – Recap and Pics This was right after I bid “Chris Christie” adieu, so I was still not “bikeable”.

Our Daily Ted. Weekend Links: Koretz keeps fighting Westwood bike lanes, while Ryu fights for Glendale-Hyperion sidewalks

L.A. is trying to get more people on transit. L.A. Metro Is Trying to Redefine the Transit Trip The problem is L.A. decimated its transit system in the ’50s and ’60s while sprawl was at its worst growth stage resulting in rather sparse transit sheds. As a result they have a serious “first-last mile” issue, getting people to and from the bus and trains. Bikes are among the solutions.

A child is struck inside the apartment complex where he lived. 3-year-old boy on bike struck and killed by van

Another child hit in MA. Friends gather, united in grief over death of Mansfield boy

Another RoS story about a ride delayed by really bad weather. Monday’s Ride Of Silence In Elk Grove Remembers Fallen Cyclist

More on the victim of a London wreck just feet from the hospital where she worked. Esther Hartsilver: Sister pays tribute to ‘wonderful’ cyclist killed by lorry as hundreds turn out for vigil celebration Hang in there UK cyclists, you are starting to make a difference.

When the laws don’t work in far West Canuckistan, change them. Lawyer wants changes to make the Motor Vehicle Act more cyclist-friendly

One of the things UK cyclist might have to look forward to is adaptive traffic signals that don’t just detect cyclists, but adjust timing to give them a bit of a jump on cars where there are more cyclists. London Tests Smart Bike Lanes to Improve Rider Safety

Another example of crap UK infrastructure. People living in Castell Road, Loughton, claim dangerous drivers are putting lives at risk Seriously, drivers that drive salmon on a one-way street? Aren’t cyclists supposed to be the only ones that do those things? /snark

Why improved infrastructure is vital in the UK. More cyclists on London’s roads than ever before, figures show

Something that might make UK bike infrastructure less expensive. BAN ON RUSH-HOUR LORRIES ‘URGENTLY’ NEEDED AFTER ANOTHER CYCLIST DEATH

This cyclist was sorta lucky, there was prosecution of the driver. Veteran cyclist injured in horrific smash vows to ride again Three words for the cyclist, rehab, rehab, and recumbent.

Someone helped this cyclist and then just melted into the crowd. York crash cyclist seeks heroic helper, and tells of long recovery battle ahead Who was that masked man woman?

This might be a fun activity for a cycling family. Bicycle Camping Means Fun On Two Wheels

And its now 0323 and I can barely see the screen to type.

Opus

Strating to filter the Feed, and I’m alredy only semi-coherent

I’m recovering from not remembering to carry water with me on what turned out to be a very long trip today, but we have the bus ticket for Mrs. the Poet’s trip to NY, and the storage unit rent is paid. The trips involved for that were Home to Downtown Garland to get the money, Downtown Garland to Downtown Dallas to get the tickets (round trip TX to NY and back involves 11 separate tickets), the Downtown Dallas to North Garland to pay the storage unit rent then walking home from the storage unit because it’s only like a mile and a quarter and there are sidewalks the entire way. Total travel time was about 5 hours. Whee!

Up first because this is a stand-alone link and I need as much space in the Feed window as I can get with 5 days of links in there, Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: KPCC calls LaBonge a bike advocate, CicLAvia rolls, Kerry breaks a leg and Hövding sort of works

More on that CO cyclist shot to death. Colorado police link two shootings and Colorado Hunting for Shooter Who Killed Cyclist, Injured Driver in Two Attacks also Fatal shooting of Windsor cyclist linked to shooting of Milliken woman driving on I-25, police say There seems to be ballistic evidence connecting the two recovered bullets from different shootings. Otherwise there is nothing connecting the two victims.

Another story generating lots of links is the US secretary of State falling off his bike on a planned assault on the Col de la Colombiere. Kerry breaks leg in bicycle crash; returning to US Monday and Kerry hurt in bike accident; rest of Europe visit canceled The col is a frequent climb on the Tour de France most years, but the wreck was in a crowded peloton in the town at the base of the pass and Kerry never even got to the Col de la Colombiere. That’s rough.

Another big story is a drunk driver in far West Canuckistan hitting and killing 2 out of 3 cyclists riding as a group, and killing the passenger in his car. Three killed as alleged impaired driver hits cyclists on scenic road north of Pemberton and Three dead after vehicle hits cyclists also Cyclists killed in Pemberton crash mourned by friends this too Whistler cyclists Kelly Blunden and Ross Chafe killed in collision The third cyclist was initially reported among the injured but later reports state he was not hurt. You know what I think they should do to the drunk murderer, but Canada is much too polite for that.

Bicycles are so dangerous in Japan! Bicycles can be weapons, victim warns and Revised law obliges reckless cyclists to attend safety lectures

Why do you sometimes break road rules? Survey of 17,000 Asks Why Bicyclists Break the Rules of the Road I do because obeying the law 100% of the time will get you killed. I firmly believe in following road rules to be predictable and safe, but there are some things that if you do them as a cyclist you will get hit eventually because they laws were made for cars and bicycles cannot physically do some of those things even though they are required. Merging is one of the big ones for me, since I just can’t get up and go on my bike like someone can in a car. Someone very shortly after I merge is going to have to either slow down behind me or go around me, which is a violation of the merge law. And of course when they follow me I can’t see past them so I can do my next maneuver which is normally another merge to the next lane over so I can make a turn.

More on the UK cyclist killed by a HGV in London. Tributes paid to female cyclist who died after collision with lorry in South London And Health specialist is latest cyclist to be killed by HGV You know if six different kinds of cyclists were all killed by the SAME KIND of vehicle in less than 5 months in just one city I would be looking mighty hard at if maybe one of those vehicles was not suited for use in an urban environment, and I’m not talking about the cyclists.

Since we are discussing the UK anyway. Man arrested over Walton-on-Thames cyclist death and Updated: Arrest made after female cyclist in her 50s killed in tanker pile-up in Surrey The van driver was driving a commercial vehicle without license or insurance.

And still in the UK. Man who killed Horsham cyclist convicted of causing death by careless driving After they let him out of prison they are going to deport him. Harsh, but not as much as he deserved.

I think we have found the poster child for the Asshole Association. Cyclist Hit by Vehicle on One Year Anniversary that Matthew Harker was Struck and Killed Seriously dude, don’t hit-and-run and then get on Facebook and claim the victim was at fault. When you left the scene it became your fault. You might have been able to claim the victim was the author of his own demise had you stayed at the scene, but as soon as you ran you assumed the fault in the wreck because under the law the innocent don’t run. And don’t post about it on Facebook

This is another wreck at a spot that has seen several this year in Portland OR, America’s Copenhagen. Driver cited for crash that injured bicyclist on SE Powell Blvd. This was the same intersection as the cyclist who lost his leg was riding when he got hit just a few weeks ago and not very far from where a cyclist was killed last week. Some people think there may be a problem. Is Biking Getting More Dangerous in Portland? Just for the record I don’t think cycling is getting more dangerous, I think this is what happens when you have something that doesn’t happen very often in the first place and sometimes you get a dry spell and some times you get a few more. What I also think is this area was overdue for a serious bike wreck because of the infrastructure.

Here’s another surprise, a former highway department that still thinks its primary job is to build highways. Coalition Accuses Los Angeles Transportation Authority of Tunnel Vision Gee, build a tunnel under a city in one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world, or move more people more safely for $4 BILLION dollars less. What to do, what to do…

Bouncing all over again today because too many open links makes navigating the composing page a nightmare, a cyclist in Canuckistan makes a claim for injury after hitting a pothole in the dark and crashing heavily. Cyclist suing City of Edmonton for $152K; claims pothole-related injuries This is apparently a different cyclist from the one last week that was only suing for 5 figures instead of the 6 that this one is suing for.

Hey, let’s blame the victims in MA. I-Team: Bicycle Citations Up, Accidents Down In Brookline Remember that line from a few paragraphs back: “bike accidents are so seldom that there is a lot of noise in the statistics about them”? Same thing applies here, there is most likely no causality between the tickets and the reduction in wrecks, only correlation. since most of the wrecks reported in the media the cyclist was not at fault, this large a reduction would mean that ticketing cyclists was changing the drivers’ habits. Exactly how that would work is a bit on the shaky side.

Now this is a clickbait headline that works. When Will the U.S. Embrace This Simple Change to Make Cyclists and Pedestrians Safer? I hate to be the ones that tell them but the UK law they are talking about has so many loopholes that all 6 of the HGV that killed cyclists in London this year were not equipped with the devices.

So many ghost bikes it takes a team from the local bike club to keep them maintained so they don’t get stolen or taken away by the city/state. Duke City Wheelmen refurbish bikes Someone once suggested that we chain white cars everywhere someone died in a car wreck, which I think would be a great idea. Just think how many cars that would take off the roads with 35-40K deaths a year. And the reminder that cars can kill inside and out…

How some of those wounded veteran rides are supported. Hundreds of cyclists support Ride 2 Recovery I would ride in one of these rides.

And then there’s this guy. Double Amputee Starts 52-Day Cross-Country Fundraising Journey to Arlington on Bike He’s not riding to Arlington TX from SD CA, he’s riding all the way across the hot part of the country, in summer, with only his arms to power the bike.

Two links from Oz. A simple request from a cyclist’s partner: there’s no contest between a bike and a car and Doctor Henri Sueke, killed in Rose Bay cycling crash, had just arrived from UK

I have been hit more times, but this guy definitely has worse luck on a specific date. Cyclist badly hurt in hit-and-run again, 5 years later to the day

Lifestyle in AZ. University mourns professor killed on bicycle RIP fellow cyclist.

And what I hope is the last new RoS link for this year… Friends, family of bike commuters killed in February joined hundreds in Thursday’s Ride of Silence

And I am beat, fried, toast, a cinder, past my freshness date… TIRED! and I need to get my toes done before I ruin another pair of socks. I’m just lucky that I haven’t ruined any of the bicycle socks I treasure, just the ones that don’t have any particular meaning or memories attached to them.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the unkillable badass Poet

Things just keep getting better for my neck, and the Feed

I can’t believe how much better my neck is feeling just 3 days post-op. It is like a whole world of difference between Monday and Friday in terms of pain and mobility. I can stand up straight, no back pain, and only a tiny bit of discomfort on the incision site. I am so glad I finally got this thing done. Even sleeping is better now…

Up first are a bunch of links to more RoS articles, this being that time of year. Cyclists blessed, ride in silence also Cyclists hit the road to honor past victims and Ride of Silence to Commemorate Death of Maui Cyclist not done yet Cyclists share message for drivers and another report from South TX McAllen event honors injured, killed cyclists and Event honors injured, killed cyclists from MI Holland Ride of Silence remembers, honors local cyclists killed while riding a bicycle and this even Ride of Silence to honor injured or killed bicyclists still more Ride in Silence draws 250-300 to Clermont not done yet Bicyclists ride in remembrance of those killed another one from Maui Bicyclists conduct silent ride to remember slain Kihei cyclist

Remembering one of ours killed in a terrible way. Funeral Friday in Windsor for murdered cyclist John Jacoby, service at Faith United Church of Christ Now they are calling the death a murder, but why not when a cyclist is just left to die after getting hit with a much more deadly weapon, a motor vehicle? A later report Funeral held for Windsor cyclist found shot, killed More Race Canceled Amid Anxiety Over Colorado Roadway Shootings This was not just about the cyclist who was shot, but all the other vehicles that got shot, too.

Our Daily Ted. LA County DA rules Gardena police were justified to shoot and kill the unarmed brother of a bike theft victim

Still in CA, we get another person failing to look both ways before crossing a train track with the crossing arms down. Woman Riding Bicycle Killed By Train In Riverside Not getting hit by a train is easy, you just have to not be on the track when there is a train on the track.

More on the teen killed in a MA pinball wreck. Driver in crash that claimed young man’s life unlicensed and Boston man held on $250,000 bail in death of cyclist

Had he survived, the teen driver in a VT wreck that killed a cyclist and the driver while driving nearly three times the speed limit would have been facing murder charges. With raw candor, Hinesburg chief opens up

Does an intersection that encourages trucks to make right turns without stopping cause drivers to hit cyclists on the through route? Widow’s lawsuit aims to make Route 75 safer for bicyclists People are getting hit regularly, and the widow is offering to pay for a traffic signal to prevent another wreck but nobody is taking her up on the offer.

NYC continues to not meet their Vision Zero goals monthly. NYPD: Drivers Injured 991 Pedestrians and Cyclists in April, and Killed Seven They’re 7 shy of meeting the goal for April…

You can’t fix it when you don’t know where the problems are. Cyclists, pedestrians lack a good crash reporting system If you don’t know where people are getting hit…

This Canadian rider uses their legal system to get compensation for neglected infrastructure. Injured cyclist sues city for $152,500 over potholes The pothole had been reported repeatedly over a period of months and not fixed even after the cyclist wiped out…

A cyclist in Jolly Olde gets hurt in an attempted bike-jacking. Cyclist injured in attempted robbery in Doncaster

In NYC a cyclist uses a Citi Bike to maneuver through the streets and rob people. Video of Man Believed to Be Bike-Riding Thief Is Released

In other infrastructure news, this is why TX will never see Vision Zero as a priority. Speed limit signs installed around Denison High School Yes that is a 35 MPH “School Zone”. Moving cars quickly is much more important than keeping children alive in TX.

And the DIY DOT begins operations in TX. Residents of Big Lake Take Fixing Potholes Into Their Own Hands

Ghost Bike in the UK. “What happens if you don’t come home?” The White Bike script to debut at Edinburgh Festival of Cycling

Total waste of time and resources. Cyclist invents handlebar lights to signal safer future on roads For these to be effective drivers would have to be looking, and if drivers wre looking then we wouldn’t need to use flashers. These might work a bit better if only because the shape attracts attention. Cyclists attach testicle shaped Bike Balls to seats to improve road safety

And there probably won’t be a Sunday post because of 18 hours of televised motorsports, between Monaco, Indianapolis, and Charlotte… and the pre- and post-race shows… And 1400 miles of oval and road (street circuit) races… (drool)

And I’m out of links tonight.

I have an interesting new development, and the Feed

Something interesting happened after losing “Chris Christie” off my neck, my abs started hurting. I have finally been able to sit and stand straight for the first time in months if not over a year, and my abs are complaining about the extra work. On the flip side I haven’t had any back pain since the operation, so when my abs get back to their original endurance (I have been working them pretty hard to make sure they were strong enough before the operation) I will be pretty much pain free. This will be territory I have not recently explored, as the lump had me leaning forward so much that if my neck wasn’t hurting my back was or they both were hurting, pretty much constantly. What will I do with myself now that I don’t have any aches and pains? One thing I do have to complain about is all the adhesive residue left behind by the bandage. It couldn’t hold the bandage on, so why is it still sticking to my skin? It’s icky and annoying.

The big story today seems to be the cyclist shot outside Denver. Windsor employee on bicycle fatally shot on Weld County Road 15 and Bicyclist gunned down near Windsor also Park caretaker for Town of Windsor shot and killed while bicycling and this blurb TODAY: More May Gray; Windsor Cyclist Fatally Shot; Yelp Review Lawsuit not done yet FBI joins Windsor cyclist fatal shooting investigation Friend Of Cyclist Shot & Killed In Windsor: ‘I’m Mad’ At this point they don’t know if this was a road rage killing or a random shooting, but they are saying it was probably deliberate because of the second bullet wound. And I don’t know what a cyclist could do to avoid either scenario because some people just seem to lose their minds when they see a cyclist on the road.

The other topic that is generating links is the Ride of Silence. The local report of the Mother Ride of Silence. Ride of Silence to be observed Wednesday across the World Another TX report from the RGV Cyclists Bring Awareness to Sharing Roads Bend Event to Honor Injured and Killed Cyclists and from NC Wednesday’s Ride of Silence to honor injured, killed bicyclists from DC Bicyclists riding in silence to honor those killed on roads From CA A ride to remember those killed riding bicycles More CA MOVING TRIBUTE HELD FOR CYCLISTS KILLED, INJURED IN SAN FRANCISCO From the most deadliest state to ride a bike “RIDE OF SILENCE” TONIGHT HIGHLIGHTS DEADLY DANGERS FOR CYCLISTS IN MIAMI From AL Ride of Silence honors cyclists injured, killed on roads; promotes bike safety From UT Provo Ride of Silence: Keep bicycling from PA with an additional protest Capitol protest highlights Pennsylvania bicyclists killed in 2014 From Midwest corn country Ride of Silence Wednesday evening From the Great White North Ride of silence will remember fallen cyclists and Local Cyclists To Remember Those Killed While Riding Their Bikes also Silent ride honours injured, killed cyclists You can tell it was Canadian because they spelled “Honour” with the “u” A San Francisco Cyclist’s ‘Amazing Renaissance’ — and Sudden Death Remembering a specific cyclist killed in SF to highlight the RoS.

Along with the RoS are Ghost Bikes. Ghost Bike Dedicated to Topeka Woman Killed in Bicycling Accident also ‘Ghost bike’ memorial to highlight bike safety

Another cyclist shot in CA this time. Updated: Bicyclist shot to death in Santa Ana was in confrontation earlier And TN Nonprofit gives away bikes in honor of man killed in shooting

A cyclist was killed in a pinball wreck while waiting for a red light. Man riding bike killed in Boston crash and Man arraigned after death of Dorchester cyclist also Driver Arrested In Dorchester Hit-And-Run That Killed Teen The driver of the vehicle involved in the initial impact that sent the second vehicle into the cyclist attempted to drive away but did not get far as his vehicle was too damaged, and he was caught.

A major problem for cyclists when they get hit. Tim Flynn: Bias undermines cyclists’ safety When you get hit using bicycle infrastructure that is supposed to be segregated and a motor vehicle hits you crossing it from a parking facility instead of stopping and waiting to cross when safe and the LEO does not know the bike infrastructure has the right of way over the driveway, well then you have a problem.

You may also have a problem in Oz with LEO bias. Cyclist seriously injured in alleged hit-and-run criticises Victoria Police who ‘never came’ to scene The ambulance came to the scene but LEO never did…

Also from Oz about LEO. Alarm bells as more children hit on Victorian roads Pedestrians and cyclists on their ways to school are placed at the mercies of drivers that don’t care or who don’t see anything smaller than a late-model Mini on the roads in front of them. This is a problem that needs to be corrected somehow.

Infrastructure from PA. City bike-share program off to fast start I like to read about successful bike share programs.

Infrastructure news from the Great White North. Cyclists on safety along the Rideau Canal They’re talking to the wrong people for this one. It’s not the people who continue to ride there that are concerned about safety, it’s the people who won’t ride there. The people who still ride there think it’s “safe enough”.

“Safety” festival from CA. Bike health and safety expo to be held in Redlands Mall parking lot

UK lawyers are all about the bad parts of cycling. UK Claim Lawyers illustrate road dangers for cyclists

And why cyclists ride in the road, Part I have completely lost count now. Why Cyclists Ride Two Abreast

Our Daily Ted came in a bit late today. Morning Links: Koretz reportedly kills Great Streets bike lanes in Westwood Village; new Redondo bike lanes paved

I think I’m out of links (checks) yep all done now.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Going silent tomorrow, and the Feed

Because of the medical procedure I have scheduled for tomorrow I will not be doing a blog post for Tuesday, definitely, and maybe until Friday at the earliest. I know the last time I went under the knife I did not feel capable of writing for several days. And this operation is not as involved as my last operation as far as complexity, just taking off a lump from my neck as opposed to taking the Gamma Nail out of my hip for the last operation, but that operation I was on my back compared to this one where I will be getting anaesthesia through a hole in the table while I lie face down on the table. At least this operation there won’t be any power tools or slide hammers involved.

Up first are a bunch of links to Rides of Silence across the US and other countries. Ride of Silence for cyclists to be held in Medford and Special ride remembers injured and killed cyclists also Ride of Silence to commemorate fallen cyclists more Ride of Silence hopes to draw raise awareness of cyclists another Ride of Silence in Ypsilanti to promote bicycle road safety still more Ride of Silence to be held in Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami still more Silent riders to mourn cyclists killed on roads not done yet Ride of Silence returns to Bend I will not be making the RoS Mother Ride this year because I will still be recuperating from the surgery and I don’t have a bike I can ride. I have lots of bikes now, I just can’t ride any of them.

After that link blast, Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Ramsay endorsement, a way to measure 3-foot violations, and Sagan takes the AToC by 3 seconds

From NYC, my jaw hit the floor when I read this headline. Taxi Driver Charged After Critically Injuring Woman In Midtown That’s right, a taxi driver was charged with a crime for running over a pedestrian in a crosswalk and the victim didn’t even have to die. Maybe pulling the medallion off a cab that hits a pedestrian will cause owners to be a bit more picky in who they hire to drive? Or maybe requiring the owner of the medallion drive 51% of the time or miles the taxi is on the road so that medallions get more reasonable in costs. Nope, both.

Just a reminder that this is still Bike to Work Month, not day. Your guide to this week’s Bike to Work events

Should there be a mandatory 12 step program for non-professional drivers? Can a Classic Counseling Technique Get People Out of Cars?

And WTF? Another cyclist shot? Man riding bike shot and killed in Salinas Don’t people realize that running over a cyclist with the car you’re doing the drive-by from is less likely to get you in trouble even if there was a beef between you and the cyclist?

A different kind of cyclist memorial in AZ. Memorial for killed Gilbert cyclist on Sunday That’s the way for cyclists to remember someone, free food!

Really? It took three people to try to kill a cyclist and then to cover it up (badly). Three charged after hit-and-run crash that seriously injures cyclist in Clay Nope, it took FOUR people to cover it up. 4th person charged in cover-up of hit-and-run in Clay that critically injured bicyclist And if the cyclist dies, there is a possible murder charge pending partially because of the cover up.

I wonder who thought cyclists were not intimately familiar with the state of the roads? VIDEO: CYCLISTS TOUR HUDSON TO EXPERIENCE ROADS FIRST HAND Apparently this is Hudson OH, not NY.

More on a cyclist killed in Jolly Olde as they release the victim’s survivors’ statements. Widow of cyclist killed by rogue driver’s tipper truck: ‘My life used to be in colour…now it’s black and white’ All this, and they still only gave the stupid driver 3½ years in prison?

Another victim’s statement is published from another cyclist’s death. Family of cyclist Mark Robinson killed in collision with car say he was “number one son and mate”

From Oz, where human life actually means something, kinda. Man charged over hit and run Nice to see some jailable offenses were charged for leaving an injured person on the side of the road to live or die.

Infrastructure news from CA. How We Ran Off the Road It all can be traced back to the late ’30s when GM, Firestone, and Standard Oil conspired to buy up and dismantle public transportation in CA…

infrastructure from the Great White North. Cyclists on the sidewalk Sidewalk cyclists are an indicator group. They indicate you need bicycle infrastructure, and that you are not providing it. The only thing worse than sidewalk cyclists is no cyclists, that’s when you really have a problem.

I wonder where TX fits in on that survey? Where does N.J. rank among the best states to bike?

A little LEO lifestyle. Police Week: ICE cyclists honor officers killed in line of duty

Another Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. moment from China. Electric Bicycle is a Viper SRT 10 in China For those not up on cars, the Viper SRT10 in the US is a race-ready street car, especially in the ACA version made for a spec series (the Viper Cup) that ran a few years ago. It had performance levels that were just below the limits for a street vehicle at the time. A 250 W e-assist bike is the antithesis of a Viper SRT10…

And I think I have run out of links… Thank [$DEITY]

Billed @€0.02, Opus the unkillable badass Poet

Slightly damp still, and the Feed

OK I got caught in the rain on the way home from the LRK, all the way from the bus stop to the house. I was soaked to the skin walking the 0.4 miles (0.6 km) from the bus stop home, had to have help stripping because the wet clothes were not coming off very easily. I had to have Mrs. the Poet grab the bottom of my T shirt and hag on while I walked away backwards bent over with my arms over my head. You know how baggy T shirts sometimes get when they are wet? This one the bottom was past my hands over my head and the fold was about mid-chest, not even close to coming off. That’s why I enlisted Mrs. the Poet’s assistance. Anywho, the LRK says my BP is on the bottom edge of what the study will allow, but they can’t reduce my dosage because I’m taking the smallest dosage the study allows. So yay for meditation and just “letting go” of stress. And here’s hoping I continue to skirt the lower edge of the study guidelines so I can still get free meds, and that free autopsy/cremation when I cork off.

Starting out with Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: LA’s DPW goes forward to the past, the Bike Week beat goes on, we’re #8, and a pretty bike painting

I debated on just linking the entire front page from BikePortland today, until I realized that today’s page would not be the same as tomorrow’s, just like yesterday’s is not the same as today’s. So, more backlash from bicycle advocates on that wreck where someone had to retrieve the cyclist’s mangled leg from the street Sunday. BTA statement on 26th and Powell collision questions state priorities and BikeLoud’s “die-in” this afternoon aims to keep safety pressure on ODOT not from BikePortland A Cyclist Lost His Leg to A Driver’s Inattention Yesterday. Activists Say SE Powell is to Blame also City hires project manager for high-profile downtown protected bike lane project Whoops, that one is just pure infrastructure, not specific to the maiming wreck on Sunday Support builds for walking and biking improvements on east side of Naito Parkway (updated) Not directly related, but undoubtedly given a major bump but the wreck. They could definitely use sidewalks and bike lanes, forget the MUP. The only places where MUP work are low travel density routes, with not many cyclists or pedestrians.

More from AK on the teen drunk driver who killed a cyclist. Biking community seeks ‘justice for Jeff,’ cyclist killed by teen driver and Plea deal for teen in hit-and-run death of Anchorage cyclist sparks backlash A year in jail, for killing a man while driving drunk…TANJ!

Moving to NYC, Hey more CitiBikes. Citi Bike Reveals 39 New UWS Locations, But Some Locals Want More Who wouldn’t want more bikes that you don’t have to patch the flats, clean the chains, or charge/change the batteries in the lights?

And this is late, by the time you read this it will be the day after so Meh! Bike Commuters: Here’s Where To Find Free Coffee & Snacks On Wednesday Morning

How many people have to be killed or maimed before crap infrastructure is recognized to be crap? Cyclist Fights For Life After Collision In Same Intersection Where Amelie Le Moullac Was Killed

Some good news from The Great White North. Driver that hit and killed cyclist near Okotoks could face charges”

Someone talking (writing) sense about the cyclist killed standing off the side of the road with his bike in Canuckistan. Babin: When we blame cyclists for being killed, it’s time for a rethink For those who don’t remember the cyclist was standing just off of the paved shoulder with his bike for some reason when he got hit. If you’re not safe from cars when you are all the way off the pavement, where on the roads would you be safe?

Another link to the story of the blind UK driver who is going to prison for killing a cyclist. Driver who caused cyclist’s death thought he’d hit wheelie bin Seriously, if yu can’t tell the difference between a human being in HiViz, and a garbage can with wheels…

Another link to the (possible) cyclist murder in Oz. Geelong hit-and-run that killed cyclist may have been deliberate

When everything is falling apart because there was never any money set aside to fix it… For U.S. Cities, Every Week Is “Infrastructure Week”

When your bike infrastructure sucks or does not exist, many cyclists bail to the not quite-as-bad thing. Opinion: Drawing a line with sidewalks and cyclists Hint: when you spend more time watching behind you than in front of you, your infrastructure is crap.

This might help, combined with crushing the cars used to kill or maim pedestrians and cyclists. Take more care around cyclists Take more care or your car will be crushed and melted down for scrap.

More words with little to no action behind them. Maryland Works To Lower Number Of Cycling Accidents

When more than ²/₃ of your fatal bike wrecks are caused by HGV left-hooking a cyclist an expedient way to prevent deaths would be preventing HGV from turning left. UK safety app keeping lorries on the right side of cyclists

I will have to pay close attention to this when I am able to get back on my bike (hopefully some time in the next month). The Body Mechanic: a beer drinker’s analogy on sports injury I don’t binge drink (I only buy the Good Beer, and I pay too damn much to just chug a bunch down so I can’t taste them) so I have no personal experience with getting drunk. But I did ride so far that I rubbed the skin off of my tailbone once. Friction and sweat are a bad combination for bony protrusions. Took about a week until I could make short rides, and about a month before I could ride a century again. That was my attempt to ride to CMA, a 242 mile trip, in 2 days.

More Ride of Silence links This group bike ride is a somber memorial, observance and Sussex Cyclists’ 11th Annual Ride of Silence set May 20

And I am out of links and patience. This has been a long day and I want to go to bed.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

I get a night off and the Feed

I have no social obligations today so I will be able to find and filter as many links as possible before my Mental Hygiene day tomorrow (you have no idea how mind-cleansing it feels to be someone else for a day, even just in a game). Either of the Sparrows (Jr. or Sr.) or my high-level Warmage Red Feather allow me to “leave myself” for a while and “solve problems” that are outside my usual life experience (particularly Red Feather, who is 13th level and employed as part of a team of trouble-shooters for a group that helps maintain order against the constant opening of portals to other worlds and planes, with monsters that sometimes wander through and cause disruption either intentional or otherwise). Red Feather is mainly an armored mage who can get up close to a battle and deliver massive firepower (with 39 spell slots available per day) from a spellbook of more than 200 spells (last session he went toe to toe with a Red Dragon and walked away untouched while the dragon beat a hasty retreat).

Up first is an update on a South TX hit-and-run. Man pleads not guilty in Edinburg cyclist’s fatal hit-and-run Wow, a $1 Million bond for killing a cyclist…

Either a buzz job or a drunk cyclist, or both, in OK. Rider injured near Roland It was speculated by LEO on the scene that a semi that was in front of the weapon vehicle may have sucked the cyclist off the bike lane and into the traffic lane in front of the weapon vehicle. Or he may have been drunk. Assuming the first part is true there is nothing the cyclist could have done to avoid this wreck, getting sucked or blown out of your lane is way outside anything a cyclist can deal with by him or her self. Alcohol consumption on the other hand is something a cyclist can do something about.

Out in CA someone assaulted a cyclist and was charged with attempted murder. Three arrested in attack on cyclist in Santa Ana Um, I don’t think this is something most cyclists have anything to worry about, unless you are or were a member of a street gang and still live in your old ‘hood.

Seattle is highly pissed that killing a cyclist carries a lower fine than running a red light or littering. The Morning News: Did You Know You Can Hit and Kill a Cyclist and Get Off with a $175 Ticket? and Driver who hit, killed teenage cyclist fined just $175 The cyclist was crossing the street legally and waited for traffic in both directions to stop before crossing in the crosswalk, and the driver of the weapon vehicle didn’t stop despite there being a vehicle stopped at the marked crosswalk and hit the cyclist as he came from the front of the stopped vehicle into the lane of the weapon vehicle. Near as I can tell the cyclist was 101% in compliance with both the letter and spirit of the law and common sense. Even the intersection protocols would absolve the cyclist of any blame in this wreck, while the segregated infrastructure only helps as much as people driving in motor vehicles comply with the laws. A little more backup from the DA would help on this one, there is a WA law that is specific to wrecks like this that allows prison or jail terms for killing people walking or riding a bicycle. That $175 ticket is just lame and feeble.

Update on another WA wreck, now with make of weapon vehicle. New clues in bicyclist hit-run: Police know what kind of car they’re looking for Well, that’s good to know.

Schadenfreude in OR as a douche diesel driver is arrested for assault. Truck driver does ‘rollin’ coal’ on riders, and one of them is a bike cop This has happened to me several times, and I was tickled mauve to read this article…

Another OR driver violates the basic speed law. Bicyclist seriously injured in morning crash east of Philomath The cyclist was taking the lane because the shoulder was too narrow to fit his tadpole trike. The driver was just flat going too fast to be able to avoid hitting the cyclist. First and foremost the infrastructure was sub-standard if the trike couldn’t fit, second the driver breaking right instead of passing to the left negates the hit-from-behind protocols

Dang, they have been having a bad 2 weeks in ID…Cyclist hurt, driver ticketed in Emerald Street crash Left cross in the bike lane, and the driver given a ticket on the spot. Major kudos to the LEO responsible for issuing the ticket.

A very strange wreck in NYC. Bicyclist condition improving; injured in crash in Clove Lakes Park (with photos) The cyclist ran off the path and into a parked truck? And at the time of the report nothing from the cyclist. Reports from the comments section to the effect the park was off-limits to bicycles, and poorly signed to that effect such that the cyclist could have entered the park and never encountered any notice that he was violating the law. Which still doesn’t explain how he ran into the truck.

A GA wreck with two weapon vehicles and nobody to tell the bicycle side of the story. Teen cyclist struck, killed in two-car accident Given the high level of detail about the cyclist’s path prior to the wreck, it seems likely that he had just left either his home, or was returning to his home, at the time of the wreck. The second impact was pure pinball off the first and into the second vehicle. To avoid use ALL the intersection protocols, especially the bit about obeying traffic controls. Since this was a residential area with a 45 MPH highway running through it it would take massive changes to the infrastructure to prevent a wreck like this.

Update on another GA wreck. Atlanta cyclist still critical, Georgia bikers less safe than most I really hope he recovers at least somewhat, enough to engage in a meaningful life again. Police are still trying to find the driver that assaulted him.

More information from an AZ wreck earlier this week (previously linked to in Tucson Velo). Bicyclist killed in early morning crash; man arrested and charged This was a cyclist hit from behind in the bike lane in an area that did not allow for an escape route when the weapon vehicle entered the bike lane. The specifics are still the same, American style infrastructure works only as far as drivers respect it, and as the driver in this case did not respect even the motor vehicle infrastructure that dominates the landscape in Tucson respecting bicycle infrastructure is a bit outside the expectations.

More on the NM cyclist hit by a train report. Photos released of items worn by bicyclist killed by train I noticed that there was no music player or earbuds in the rider’s things, blowing “cyclist could not hear the train over his iPod” theory out of the water. Which now makes the “Why?” question all the harder to answer.

Another NM cyclist is hit-and-run by a drunk driver. Cyclist injured in hit-and-run crash Intersection wreck, but given the state of the driver it’s not known if protocols would have been of use in avoiding or mitigating injury. Also because of the inebriated state of the driver the only infrastructure that would have made a difference would be grade-separated and barrier protected.

Another NM cyclist is hit by/with a garbage truck. Cyclist seriously injured in crash with garbage truck The bike was too damaged to tell which direction the cyclist was hit, and the narrative didn’t provide any clues either. Also as many wrecks between pedestrians bicycles and motor vehicles as they reported infrastructure is a major consideration.

And we can’t seem to get away from NM today with all the wrecks this week. 4 metro bicyclists hurt or killed so far in June

A wreck in the RAAM. Race Across America cyclist injured in accident The cyclist was hit by her follow vehicle when the follow vehicle was hit from behind by a semi, not the combination that cyclists usually have to deal with. And really if the semi could not get slowed down for the follow vehicle, the cyclist would have taken the hit from the semi unprotected and at speed…

LEO hits a cyclist in WI, and aside from the word that the LEO hit the cyclist, it’s a blackout. Cyclist injured in wreck involving Madison police cruiser Nothing to see here, move along…

I apologize for the anti-immigrant tone of the article about this wreck in CT. Indian man who killed a cyclist in New York, was in the country illegally All that about the driver, and nothing about the wreck, and next to nothing about the victim, so INFRASTRUCTURE!

In ME another cyclist gets blown off the road by a semi. Cyclist badly injured in Fryeburg accident OK there is nothing a cyclist can do when the wake from the truck literally blows you off the road. Infrastructure that keeps fast semi trucks away from slow cyclists wold be the only thing that could prevent another wreck like this.

This article and the statistic in the headline just make my blood run cold. 100 cyclists injured in Vancouver every month during peak season That’s 3 a day on average during the summer.

In Oz another cyclist is hit by a bus, at the same corner that a different cyclist was hit with a truck. Cyclist killed in crash with bus at Mount Druitt The narrative is consistent with a left hook wreck, intersection protocols to avoid and for [$deity]’s sake fix that infrastructure before anyone else is killed.

Our Daily Ted, yay! Morning Links: A shameful plea for money, bike corrals hit contested streets and the worst bike injury ever Uhh, that bike injury link? Don’t click if you’re a squeamish person, or a male…

A CO Ghost Bike link. Ghost Bike is memorial to bicyclist killed on RRC Rd.

And this NY media outlet must be a monthly, because that’s how late they are on this RoS article. A mutual respect on the road

More lifestyle from another country inside the US. REMEMBER THE REMOVAL CHEROKEE BIKE RIDERS COMPLETE 950-MILE JOURNEY

UT attempts to use a series of moving billboards on the sides of semi trailers to advertize the new passing law. ‘Moving billboards’ on Utah roads promote cyclist safety

L.A. CA is trying to figure out what is going to happen with the changing world, the transition to a post-fossil fuel future. Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission discusses future of cycling

Oz is also dealing with a changing world, poorly. Surging Canberra cycling injuries twice the national average, new report reveals

And that’s it until Sunday’s non-bike post.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

Pollen count is high again, and the Feed

Another day of hitting the diphenhydramine for the sneezing and goopy eyes, but other than that I feel fine (cue REM singing “End of the World”). And I found a partial solution to getting my brain to shut off at night when I’m trying to sleep, a simple one really. I found some paper and pencils, and started to draw all the devices that needed to come out of my brain. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that sooner. Stuff wants out, so give it a way to get out. Like pooping for the mind, better out than in. Now I can return to plans for world domination and con- whoops did I write that out loud? 😉

A cyclist is killed in a hit-from-behind wreck in IL. Bicyclist Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver In Forest Park Driver was speeding which contributed to both the crash and the fatality caused by the crash. The estimated speed of the weapon vehicle at impact is fatal in 80 to 85% of wrecks with cyclists. Hit-from-behind protocols maybe could have kept the cyclist alive assuming he had the sight lines and reaction time to employ them. Getting the infrastructure “up to Dutch” probably would have prevented the wreck.

WY just can’t get a break as another cyclist is killed. Sheridan cyclist killed, wife injured in crash Hit-from-behind wreck (again) but the driver may have been targeting the cyclists so protocols would have been moot. Infrastructure “up to Dutch” would have placed the cyclists away from the highway or separated by a wall if there was no room otherwise, so they would not have been hit. Even if this had been some kind of road rage incident placing the cyclists in their own infrastructure would have had a calming effect on the situation.

More on the NYC terror attack on cyclists that NYPD is totally ignoring. Brooklyn cyclist injured by rope trap in Prospect Park Same situation as before. A trap made to not be seen in the low light severely injures a cyclist and NYPD can’t even be bothered to file a report, much less investigate an act of domestic terrorism.

Another NYC wreck. Vehicle Hits Cyclist At Ninth Avenue, 57th Street Nothing on the mode and NYC “doesn’t have room” to get the infrastructure “up to Dutch”…

More on the UK cyclist killed in France by a hit-and (literally)-run driver. Council chief-executive who led Blackpool to become Cycling Town killed in hit-and-run

I know I have made jokes about NC being behind the times, but the Ride of Silence was 2 weeks ago. Boone Area Cyclists Observe Fourth Annual Ride of Silence

Our daily Ted is pretty interesting today. Morning Links: New study shows benefits of protected bike lanes; OC cyclist threatened and harassed on PCH

And those were all the links I could find that had stuff I could use here. I had a lot of links to UK wrecks that did not have anything except the names of cyclists and drivers, and the make/model of the cars that hit the cyclists. Since this blog is more about education that merely counting the losses I left those links out.

Billed @€0.02, Opus