Happy Pi Day, and the Feed

For the non-geek non math nerds in my readership, today is Pi Day (3/14) where because the greek letter π is pronounced the same as the English name for a pastry crust baked in a pan with a filling we celebrate by eating pie. This year I’m having apple. Pi Day is like my fifth or sixth favorite holiday in the year, because I like pie! So go to your favorite gastro pub and have some pie! I hear the “Eat what I give you or I’ll go back in time and kill your grandparents as babies” pie is delicious.

Up first because OMG at the links. 1 Cyclist Dead, 7 Injured in Spain, Octogenarian Driver Held and Police say a 52-year-old cyclist has died and seven others have been injured, three of them seriously, after being slammed into by an SUV near the northwestern town of A Guarda also 1 Cyclist Dead, 7 Injured in Spain, Octogenarian Driver Held this too Police say a 52-year-old cyclist has died and seven others have been injured, three of them seriously, after being slammed into by an SUV near the northwestern town of A Guarda not done yet 1 cyclist dead, 7 injured in Spain, octogenarian driver held I would have really liked to know the nationality of the driver, or something besides “octogenerian”. I hope part of his new identity is “non-driver”.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Entrada Drive to get a little narrower, a call for safer driving, and your next bike may not need you

Still in CA, crap infrastructure. VIDEO: Magnolia Off Ramp – The Danger of Bad Design

Also in CA. Light Up the Night community ride teaches bike safety Nice bit of victim-blaming going on there, about the helmets and reflective clothing.

Still not out of CA. 2 Women Arrested For Hit-And-Run After Cyclist Struck In Sausalito One for driving under the influence and hit-and-run, the other for DUI and obstructing justice accessory to a felony. Guess which one is facing the greater amount of jail time?

This guy didn’t get very far on his trek across the US and Central America. Cyclist on B.C. to Panama ride injured in crash in Forks Another driverless car involved in a serious wreck? I though the only wreck like that was a bus hit at 2 MPH. Next-to-last paragraph of the article mentions the SUV had a driver… Anywho, hit-from-behind wreck, use the protocols to avoid. Crush and shred the SUV to prevent another wreck.

Wreck in AZ. Tolleson hit-and-run involving cyclist closes road There are no pictures, so I can’t determine the mode from evidence, and LEO aren’t saying. Hopefully the weapon vehicle shed some identifying parts so LEO can find it.

AZ infrastructure news. Tucson bicyclist using data to thwart fatal crashes Before the tumor took me off my bike I was getting a scary pass every time I rode, and a near-death experience about once a week. That might have something to do with the slow pace of my recovery.

Under age DUI killer sentenced in CO. Man Gets 10 Years For DUI Crash That Killed Bicyclist and 20-year-old drunk driver gets 10 years in death of cyclist I’m sorry but there is a terrible mistake in the first link, 0.204 is not more than twice the legal limit, it’s more than twice the legal limit for people old enough to drink. For a 20 YO it’s infinity times over the limit.

Another hit-and-run in OH this time. Teen bicyclist dies after struck by 3 vehicles on Harrisburg Pike The hit-and-run (or hit-skip as the call it in OH) was the first weapon vehicle involved, the one that hit the cyclist from behind with the left side of the vehicle. I know it was the driver’s side because the cyclist was launched into oncoming traffic. There are only two ways for that to happen, hit with the left side of the car or be sharply aimed to the left at the time of impact. Both require the cyclist to be riding primary as our UK brothers call it. Well I suppose the driver could go completely off the road and come back on right where the cyclist was riding at the edge, but how likely is that?

Hit-and-run in PA this time. Police: Suspect in custody in Harveys Lake hit-and-run At least the victim survived the wreck this time, and they have a suspect in custody.

Another hit-and-run, MA. Cyclist Injured In Hit & Run In Wellesley and Wellesley Man Charged With OUI After Hit And Run Seldom do I get the pleasing combination of posting a link to a hit-and-run wreck with injury, and the driver’s arrest on multiple charges in the same post.

Wreck in CT caused by AFRAP laws. Cyclist injured in Morris fall flown to hospital by Life Star What do I mean by this wreck was “caused” by As Far Right As Practicble laws? the cyclist was hugging the right side of the road and went over the edge and fell, which would not have happened if the cyclist was allowed to take the lane at all times.

Hit-from-behind in MS. Bicyclist killed on Highway 98 Most of the article is behind a paywall so what little I know says the cyclist was in no way at fault in this wreck: Daylight, hit from behind and not at an intersection (yet).

Ugh! FloriDUH! Tampa police search for driver in hit-and-run that injured bicyclist and Tampa Man Charged in Hit and Run of Bicyclist Two hit-and-runs with links to the arrests of the drivers in one day!

Still in FL, a SWCC wreck. Pompano Beach bicyclist, 57, killed in collision with car The geometry for this wreck is right for a stale green wreck.

Infrastructure from MD. Bicyclists and motorists sharing the roads

I thought I heard all the stupid excuses for hitting a cyclist. Jail sentence for driver who killed cyclist when he was ‘running late’ Well I heard that one before. Trying to get there just a fraction of a second faster so he cut the corner on a blind turn and hit a cyclist head on. And just what would have happened had there been a semi truck around the corner instead of a man on a bicycle?

Nothing about the wreck, but they got their man. Man charged over death of cyclist by ‘careless driving while under influence’ and ‘How I tried to save cyclist’s life in Outland Road tragedy’ – by photographer at the scene I’m still trying to wrap my head around any death caused by a DUI being “careless” instead of “dangerous” by definition.

So they weren’t hurt in the wreck but fell down after? Cyclists injured after incident Cut off by the driver pulling out in front of the group and wrecking trying to avoid hitting the car.

Almost no information about this wreck in Oz. Victoria’s road toll climbs as motorbike rider, cyclist and 88-year-old woman die in separate accidents “Went off the road” is not a very specific wreck narrative…

National US infrastructure! It’s Time for U.S. Cities to Ban Right Turns on Red
Actually I would like to see a nationwide ban at the state level (kind of how they got seatbelt laws passed).

Last link is preventing gentrification with bicycles. How I Stopped Gentrification in My Neighborhood

And I have to get up early to go to the Lab Rat Keeper tomorrow, so off to bed.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Billed @€0.02, Opus

Well it is pretty outside now, and the Feed

It is about the same temperature today as it was Monday, but with the sun out it’s much more pleasant than then or especially yesterday with the rain. I’m still working on mocking up the Mini Sprint-T by installing the headers from the engine kit to the engine and reinstalling the engine to the body with the temp glue that will peel off from the plastic when it comes time to build the permanent parts and install them. The “weed burner” exhaust from the engine kit looks like it was made to use on the T Bucket body, which it might have. They are both from the same model kit company and there was lots of customization potential in the kit I got the bucket from.

Up first is a hit-from-behind wreck outside Houston. CYCLIST FATALLY STRUCK BY CAR IN NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY I couldn’t see if the bike had lights or reflectors, and the article and video did not mention them either which usually means the bike was legally lighted. What is far more likely is that the driver was not paying attention, and/or driving too fast for conditions. My take after looking at the weapon vehicle is too fast for conditions.

Now, Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Cyclist nearly rammed by Laguna Cyn driver; man buys bike with bad traveler’s checks in OC

Update on a KC MO wreck. Man charged with hit-and-run accident that left Shawnee cyclist in critical condition My take is the driver’s priors are not pertinent to if he hit and ran. They are pertinent to if he’s a nice person or not.

Successful advocacy in America’s Copenhagen. Wonk Nights work! 30 months later, city kicks off bike parking reform It only took 2½ years to get that far. That doesn’t bode well for doing this in locations that are less hospitable politically to cycling.

Even in Portland you find some anti-cyclist Trotskyites. Bikes should rank beneath mass transit in city hierarchy, says Commissioner Fritz “Not everyone can drive. So let’s stop prioritizing driving.” Adam H. Indeed looking at the chart in the article the bike budget is about 1% that of the motor vehicle budget, less if you count transit spending as “public motor vehicles”.

What can only be called a minor annoyance for Portland cyclists. Why does Multnomah County allow auto parking on the Morrison Bridge bike path? The bridge operator parks his car there because it was constantly getting broken into when he parked off the bridge..

Meanwhile in NYC, they get street equipment left in the lane(s) for weeks completely blocking the lane(s) in both directions. NYPD Light Tower Has Been Blocking Brooklyn Bike Lane For Weeks Because Where Else Could It Possibly Go? I have been seeing the picture of the fire engine blocking the street and the light tower in the bike lane for weeks now, but the fire engine is long gone and so should the light tower.

More infrastructure news from WI. Bublr Bikes Network Proposed to Grow in 2016

And legal infrastructure news from IA. Proposed bicycle safety law much needed, North Iowa cyclists say I would be pushing my state rep for something like this except this is the election year for reps, and the lege meets on the other year. So here in TX you find out who’s going to represent you about 4 months before the legislative session, they meet with almost no public votes taken, and then you decide to keep them or not based on what they decide to tell you about what they did… Damned hard to get a bill like this through the session when you have no chance of voting the people who vote against your interests out.

Last US story is an update on a CO hit-and-run. Cyclist struck in hit-and-run north of Boulder remains in critical condition I kept saying there was more damage to the weapon vehicle than just a missing mirror, and now the LEO report backs me up on that.

First link from Jolly Olde, a driver lies after killing a cyclist. Woman hit and killed cyclist – then told police her car had been stolen I’m shocked that the driver would try to pretend she didn’t kill a cyclist.

And this guy. ‘Sorry’ driver who knocked down OAP left him in the road with another driver as he was running late Here in TX we have another definition for someone who is “sorry”. The alternative definition is someone deficient in character. I think this applies to someone who would leave a person to die in the street to avoid being late to pick up his wife from work.

American perspective on the legal changes in Oz. Australian Bicycling Advocates Worried About Tough New Laws

This was a different kind of bike, but this $&*^ is going on all over Oz. Boy injured after riding bike into wire stretched across road I keep saying this is an act of domestic terrorism when it happens to pedalcyclists, it is just as much so when the victim is riding a motorcycle.

Another kid on a bike hit in Oz. Teen cyclist seriously injured after being hit outside Melbourne school The kid didn’t even get off the block before he got hit by with a car.

And I’m out of links again. See you later.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

I need a new laptop, and the Feed

It’s looking like the Chromebook is about to be replaced whether I like it or not. I’m getting keyboard issues, things like keypresses not getting registered or keys getting stuck, and also the touchpad sometimes puts the cursor where I tell it and clicks when I click it, and sometimes it just does nothing. If I’m doing my sums right I got the Chromebook late March 2013, which makes it right at 3 years old now and used as much as 18 hours a day for work and recreation, an average of say 9 hours a day, every day since March 2013 so 3 * 365 * 9 gets roughly 9800 hours of use. That’s a lot of ham-fingered typing, clicking, and page views, so the little lap top has a right to be worn out. There are some things about Chrome OS that I’m [not thrilled] with, specifically their habit of doing OS updates without permission. This has caused me to lose functionality for certain things several times when I really needed that particular thing to work, like when I lost MP4 audio right before doing a presentation that was dependant on MP4 videos as emphasis for certain points of the presentation. I mean what good are music videos with no music?

Up first, affluenza killer Ethan Couch is transferred to the adult criminal system, which means his probation is about to get severely altered. Couch case transferred to adult court

On the far northwest corner of the same county WoaB World HQ resides, cyclists are getting tired of getting hit. Coppell Cycling Community Nervous After Rash of Accidents With Cars Yep, once again physics proves that what would be a minor fender-bender for a car or truck is an extended hospital stay when a cyclist subs for one of the cars or trucks. I’m really glad they are going with the BMUFL regulatory signs instead of the “Share The Road” advisory signs that are frequently interpreted by drivers as “Bicycles get out of my F&$(*&% way” signs.

Now Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Koretz prevaricates on Westwood Blvd, possible 15 years in SD hit-and-run, and sing the joys of hi-viz

And Daily Ted Part 2. Ventura bike rider killed in midnight hit-and-run

Still in CA and still about hit-and-run. Suspect arrested in San Jose hit-and-run that killed cyclist This was the H&R where they found the weapon vehicle with major damage and minus license plates a few miles from the scene. So it’s not like the driver can claim lack of knowledge about hitting the cyclist.

Also still in CA, if they are going to pay people to buy ZEV, shouldn’t the one with the lowest full-stream emissions be part of the deal? Action Alert: Sign the Bike Rebate Petition

Trying to get FL out of worst-place ranking. Florida Launches Hit-and-Run ‘Bad to Worse’ Campaign When you look at how much more deadly a wreck becomes when the victim is denied access to quick intervention by medical personnel, preventing H&R and getting EMTs and ambulances on scene ASAP seems like a no-brainer for reducing the death rate.

Some good news on infrastructure in PA. Grant approved for Rail Trail expansion in Newville The expansion will take the rail trail right up to the local HS, providing a safe route to and from the school, meaning less motor vehicles on the roads around the school. It was fortuitous that the school abutted the old railroad when it was built.

More good news in PA. PHILADELPHIA’S NEW MAYOR PLEDGES 30 MILES OF PROTECTED BIKE LANES IN FIVE YEARS

Update on a NYC bike wreck victim. Family raising money for funeral of Staten Island bike victim struck by car This was the guy hit and killed by a driver on pot (and other medications) at the time of the wreck.

Moving to Jolly Olde, the driver that ran over a cyclist waiting at a traffic light has admitted to “careless” driving. Victoria cyclist death: Essex lorry driver admits killing Boris bike rider This has to be a plea deal.

More links to the wreck where a UK cyclist was assaulted by a road-raging driver. Witness appeal after male cyclist seriously injured after argument with female driver and Cyclist chased for 200 yards by road rage driver: I thought I was going to die

This time it looks like the glass was placed during construction, not thrown down as an act of terrorism. Has glass in the asphalt stopped the racing at Odd Down Cycle Circuit?

Remember that thing about Super Mario nude except for a helmet for a bike picture? Here it is an all its NSFW glory. Mario Cipollini baits helmet lobby – by wearing one, and nothing else Well technically he had shoes and socks on…Mrs. the Poet says he “Looks good. Needs to put some clothes on, but he looks good.”

A little bike infrastructure is about to be lost in the UK. South Cambs BikeBus scheme to close after lowpassenger numbers They were trying to get people out of the city for countryside rides, but they didn’t feel safe there either.

More legal infrastructure from Scotland. Drivers who hit cyclists should be ‘presumed liable’, says record breaker Mark Beaumont Another voice in favor of presumed liability.

Wreck in Enn Zed. Former Canterbury basketball player injured in crash I really can’t tell anything about the wreck from the crime scene pictures, what could be the weapon vehicle was probably moved by medical personnel to get better access to the victim.

And I’m outta links finally. Time to put the post and the writer to bed.

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

Still treating new ankle scratches, and the Feed

My legs resemble a scratching post because baby kittens are going to scratch when they play, that’s the nature of the beast. I just get caught in the middle when they do, literally. One on one side and one on the other side of my leg, clawing and biting at each other and mostly getting what’s between them, which would be my leg. So I slather on the hand sanitizer to disinfect the scratches and wince, then carry on.

Among the other things I have going on besides this blog and kittens is getting a solar-powered light ready for camping. The light was originally equipped with a single 600 mAh ni-cad AA cell which was not cutting it for winter lighting with the circuit used to light a string of white LEDs, so I swapped out a 2000 mAh NiMH I have in my stash to see how well it works. I just did the install this afternoon so the test has only barely begun as I type this.

Also on my plate is building a handrail for the porch steps at church, which consumed a major portion of my afternoon and evening getting the raw stock for building them. As it turns out the tax number for the church was not registered at the store in spite of several purchases for the church being made there. So when we go back for the stuff tomorrow we have to have the paper tax form with the notary stamp. Bleah!

Up first is a wreck with a tree in NYC. [UPDATE] Cyclist In Critical Condition After Tree Falls On Him In Red Hook and Deliveryman Critically Hurt By Falling Tree In Brooklyn also Workers Cutting Down Tree Critically Injure Cyclist, Local Says “They Didn’t Block Nothing” Cyclist had virtually no warning of the hazard other than a person in street clothes waving at him, without the required flag or cones.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Writer claims Vision Zero is anti-driver plot, new CA bike friendly cities, and Gabe Klein at UCLA Um, yeah Vision Zero is anti-driver, drivers have the things that kill people.

Oregon gets a statewide bike plan. First look at ODOT’s draft of a new biking and walking plan There were lots of “weasel words” in the document that essentially make it not do what they claim it will do.

NYC safe-streets advocates ask for more accurate reporting on wrecks. “Crash, Not Accident”: Hundreds March To Remember Those Killed By Drivers This narrative has been used here repeatedly. I still sometimes make that mistake here, but I’m getting better at it.

Another KY cyclist is ticketed for not using the trash and glass strewn bike lanes, and running red lights. Biking advocate: ‘I am not a scofflaw’ Two things, since there are no sensors in the bike lanes because their bike lanes are just paint where they think there is room to paint a bike lane a cyclist could wait all day for a light to change (especially if their beg buttons are like the ones here in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell and just instruct the signal controller to activate the walk signal with the next signal cycle). The other thing is the bike lanes tend to get the trash and broken glass that cars push off to the sides, so I would tell cops that if they wouldn’t walk barefoot in the bike lane I wouldn’t ride a bike there.

Ghost Bike News from west Canuckistan. Daughter requests ghost-bike memorial for father

Cyclist hit from behind in Jolly Olde. ‘We are all devastated’: Tributes as young cyclist killed in crash with car

A little bit of justice for an injured cyclist. London cyclist severely injured in lorry crash wins compensation Quoting an Original Cast SNL skit now they “can buy some moss for her north side”. For those not old enough to remember that skit John Belushi played the cyclist in a coma for that one that doesn’t seem to be on YouTube.

They managed to find out who the unconscious cyclist in Oz was. Cyclist critically injured in Ballarat CBD

An Enn Zed competition cyclist falls off a mountain. Meggie Bichard’s injury prompts safety calls for Nelson mountainbike trails And cue all the bleching and moaning about tax-dodging cyclists in 5, 4, 3 HOONNNK! they jumped the gun.

And I think I’m out of links finally. I know it doesn’t look like many, but there was a long break in the middle to take care of that church project.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the tired

I’m back (sorta) and the Feed

OK one thing I know for sure is if I ever get a 9 to 5 job in downtown Dallas this blog is doomed. Seriously the exhaustion levels of taking the DART rail and fighting the crowds to get there, plus whatever I would be doing for “work”, and the fighting the crowds on the way home… By the time I got home Wednesday and yesterday I was just pure beat with most of that being from the trip, as I hardly did anything as a volunteer just sitting around waiting for someone to need me (I was relegated to a backup position because I don’t stand up so good). So work will have to be work-from-home for me, assuming I can even find work. Oh I think I forgot to say what I was volunteering for: I was working the Out and Equal Workplace Summit.

Up first is a PSA web site to tell drivers to watch out of cyclists and pedestrians, cyclists to watch out for pedestrians and drivers, and pedestrians to take cover until the shooting stops. Look Out Texans

LEO who got a cop’s wife out of DUI Homicide charges by blaming the cyclist continue their smear campaign against the victim. Report reveals cyclist killed in crash was impaired I can’t believe someone in the comments section was trying to say she wasn’t drunk enough for vehicular homicide.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Guilty in North Fig hit-and-run and meth-fueled Fiesta Island crash, & still more Coronado madness

Our Daily Ted, part 2. Breaking News: Bike rider killed in apparent Sante Fe Springs train collision Avoiding collisions with trains is so easy in principle, sometimes hard in practice. In this case the cyclist may have been on the wrong side of the crossing guards before the train got there as there is up to 175 feet from the crossing guards to the far side of the tracks.

Still in CA, sorta good news. Driver found guilty in Fiesta Island crash that left cyclist paralyzed Now that she’s guilty, what happens next? “(U)p to 18 years” implies she could get a lot less.

Haven’t left CA yet. Court Offers Plea Deal Over Cyclist’s Death Only one year in county jail after “witnesses described seeing Randluby’s car drift out of traffic lanes and flee a mile from the collision with his head out the window because of a cracked windshield“? With a one year sentence amounting to 6 months because of overcrowding in CA jails and prisons this is an insult to the victim’s family and friends.

On the other side of the country from that wreck another driver is charged in a cyclist’s death. Man indicted for May crash that killed teen cyclist on Talbot Avenue One thing from the article I don’t understand is the “bloody trail” the driver left when he fled the scene. Nevermind I just read it again and the driver fled his disabled vehicle on foot while leaving a bloody trail. That implies a wreck at a high rate of speed and/or a secondary collision near the time the cyclist was killed.

Lawyer ad from PA directed at cyclists. New Information for Pedestrians and Cyclists Revealed Take the information with a large grain of salt.

First link from north of the border. Boy, 14, struck and killed while riding bike in Fredericton At least they admit that helmets can’t prevent all deaths in the body of the article.

Also from the Great White North. Red-light running cyclist seriously injured Again LEO take the word of the only witness capable of speaking at the scene as gospel.

Still in the GWN. Cyclist dies after being struck by propane truck Wednesday morning The bike looks like it was hit from the side with the tacoed front wheel, but the one picture also looked like showed it missing the left pedal (Going to the HD image and blowing it up did reveal a broken crank arm or pedal shaft).

OK this is strange. Pedestrian may have chased, injured cyclist who reportedly slapped him, police say Slightly misleading headline there, he wasn’t a pedestrian when he chased the cyclist, he was armed with a motor vehicle.

Proof that Canadians are much more polite than we are in the US. YouTube video shows Calgary driver honking at cyclist for doing nothing wrong “What are you talking about? That driver laid on the horn for almost a full minute.” Yeah, and in Dallas he would have just run the cyclist over (don’t ask me how I know).

Prosecution of drivers is spotty in Jolly Olde particularly when a cyclist is hit, but it does happen sometimes. Lorry driver faces court over death of cyclist who was hit by Crossrail truck

Still on Jolly Olde. Jodie Rogers, 11, tragedy: Mum calls for cycle helmets to be compulsory Nobody told her that bicycle helmets only protect the head, and none too well at that.

Nearby (or at least by Texas standards). Cyclist found injured on Buttertubs Pass dies in hospital Apparently they can’t tell the difference between a medical emergency and a buzz job.

Boy, do they charge light in Finland. Motorist charged with Helsinki cyclist’s death sentenced to 4.5 years for manslaughter Deliberately using his motor vehicle as a weapon doesn’t count as murder when the victim dies?

Drivers in Oz will have to exercise judgment? Heaven help us all! Cycling law changes: motorists face judgement calls I wish I was kidding.

From Enn Zed, another wreck where they can’t tell if the cyclist was actually hit by another vehicle. Cyclist killed in Christchurch crash

And I’m all out of links from today (I deleted the links from Wednesday and Thursday from the Feed Folder). I will see you again Sunday.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Trying to contain my displeasure, and the Feed

News outside the world of transportation has soured my mood today, requiring a trip to the living room to read actual printed on paper comics after I finished reading my web comics. I won’t elaborate on what set me off, I’ll just say that politics makes me want to set a bounty on certain people. But I was able to use the power of comics to reset my mood to “less homicidal”.

Up first for local readers is a notice from Dallas about repairs to a critical N/S bike route from Richardson to Downtown Dallas. Construction on Temporary Trail begins at White Rock Creek Trail And in a nutshell you know the main problem with bicycle infrastructure in N. Texas. See who is responsible for this main bike route? The Dallas Parks department, not the streets or transit departments, Parks.

Still pretty close to WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell. CLOSE CALL! That picture shows a light armored vehicle being used to intimidate a cyclist riding legally on the road. I have experienced this behavior many, many times when I was riding intercity near here. Most drivers pass with care and courtesy, but there are always that 1% who are assholes. I just wish this picture had been clear enough to get the license plate of the weapon vehicle.

Another update on the murder of a cyclist in IA. Bicyclist in hit-and-run dies from injuries As I posted earlier in the week, there were 3 separate incidents involving hit-and-run on a cyclist, why is this waste of human skin not charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder? Why are they letting him skate on homicide (not even manslaughter) charges just because he was drunk?

This is rare, but it does happen. Cyclist killed after colliding with pedestrian Nothing on how this happened, but I will extend myself on a large tree branch (avoiding getting this dinged by the proofreader as a cliché) and say uncertainty over who went where as they passed and both going the same direction stands out as a high probability.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Bikeshare finally besmirches Santa Monica, and the disappearing American bike shop

A cyclist in MI is left crossed. Update: Injured bicycle rider remains critical after collision with pickup in Alma The usual MO, the cyclist was going straight and the driver turned left either in front of him or directly into him.

A MN driver is facing serious charges in the death of a cyclist. Driver accused of texting in Glencoe crash that killed cyclist Those are extremely serious charges for a death by motor vehicle, but considering the timing of the texts and the outgoing 911 call there is probable cause in this death. Now proving the charges is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish, but making them is required before prosecuting the charges.

That wreck in ME I called as a SWSS is getting further investigation. Lewiston police still investigating accident that critically injured 9-year-old cyclist There are undoubtedly other kids his age +/- in the other complexes along the street, he could have just been going to or coming from a visit with a school friend.

Another wreck in ME. Boy on bicycle hits moving car in Island Falls

A Ghost Bike is being installed for the cyclist killed in a right hook wreck in Boston. ‘Ghost bike’ tribute for surgeon set for Back Bay crash site

A memorial ride for a cyclist killed by a crazy homeless person while stopped for food. Kevin Adorno Memorial Ride: Cyclists to complete trip of bicycle rider killed on the Treasure Coast No insult meant to homeless people, or crazy people. The perp should have been in a hospital getting treatment, not wandering the streets. This death is Reagan’s fault for closing all the mental hospitals.

That West Canuckistan cyclist killer is formally charged after being released from hospital. Samuel Alec, charged in fatal Pemberton cyclist crash, appears at bail hearing I mean, wow. He killed two cyclists that he hit in a group of three, killed his passenger and injured himself, just how fast was he going at the point of impact?

One of the main reasons why UK media bike wreck articles suck so badly is they aren’t allowed to give details until after any court hearings have been held. This results in articles like this one. Cyclist Graham Cuthbert claims Stagecoach bus driver nearly ran over him and abused him Comments section was … interesting.

I think I have found another “statistical anomaly”. Doncaster cyclist ‘lucky to be alive’ after crash with 70mph car on A1 I see two strong similarities between our wrecks. The first was the cyclist went over the roof of the weapon vehicle instead of under the car. Second we both spent pretty much the same amount of time in hospital before discharge.

Just, ugh. Everton footballer Darron Gibson faces court date after ‘drunken hit-and-run that injured cyclist and left his £125,000 car with severe damage’ I wonder how much damage he left the cyclist with after his drunken hit-and-run.

Also from Jolly Olde, a reason to make sure your donor card is signed. Family speak of pride after cyclist killed in crash donates organs Unfortunately none of my organs will be transplanted because they will be dissected as part of the blood pressure study I’m a part of.

Almost done, here are two links about a wreck earlier in Oz. Cyclist’s family learned of death online and Two possibilities in cycling death of Danish student Rebekka Meyer, coronial inquest hears So, notification systems are inadequate in this case to prevent relatives from discovering the death from media rather than LEO, and they have no way of knowing if the cyclist or the truck that killed her was at the intersection first.

Last link, take the pledge. It’s a crash. Not an “accident”.

And I have to get up freaking early in the AM tomorrow to install an alarm system in the church after our second break-in and robbery in 3 weeks. So bye!

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Unkillable Badass Poet

Grocery day again, and the Feed

Back into the fray I go after the physically draining experience of yesterday. This time is just grocery buying using my new phone to keep the list legible. Given that Mrs. the Poet’s arthritis has made her handwriting worse than mine, and that I was given the options of passing penmanship, passing typing, or failing 8th grade, you can see how having the list kept in a neat sans-serif font would be an improvement. Putting the list on the phone has one major disadvantage, our normal shopping strategy is a divide and conquer of Mrs. the Poet doing shopping for the “core” part of the store, and I get the stuff at the “edges”. But with the list on my phone, and Mrs. the Poet being such a Luddite that working an Android phone is emotionally beyond her (she’s smart enough to do it, she just doesn’t want to bother learning how), I have to be with her to read the list off the phone and also the particulars of the various coupons and specials we are getting. This means we take twice as long as before.

My take on what’s important today says the then-17YO driver who tested 0.101BAC% more than 2 hours after the wreck, and more than 8 hours after the party she threw ended, when she ran over a cyclist while driving backwards in her truck, is probably the Big Story. Documents: House party, drug use preceded DUI crash that killed cyclist and Anchorage teen who hit, killed cyclist in court Friday also Prosecutor: Teen used drugs, alcohol before hit-and-run collision that killed cyclist The party ended about 0300 more or less, the cyclist was hit at 1000 or so, the driver was arrested at 1030, the blood draw was taken 1250, and the sample showed 0.101BAC%. To get that reading more than 10 hours after the party supposedly ended means she had to have been completely blitzed at the party. And apparently the defense has never heard of second-hand smoke, or THC retention, because they are blaming the cyclist for getting hit by a drunk driving a truck backwards at a high rate of speed as reported by witnesses. The defense story of the cyclist riding on broken pavement up a false flat at 30-35 MPH would be comical if the cyclist was alive to laugh at it.

Just a few miles west of WoaB, another cyclist executed by another drunk driver. Bicyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash in Haltom City The crime scene footage shows a mangled bike that is so badly damaged I can’t actually tell which way the cyclist was going when she was hit. When I can’t tell if a cyclist was hit from the side or from behind or even head on, that bike is wrecked. I’m kinda sorta not convinced the cyclist was hit from the side, but I can’t even state she was hit either from the back or head on with more than a 50% level of confidence.

NYC drivers be crazy. 82-Year-Old Woman Fatally Struck By Dump Truck Driver In Bushwick At this point facts point to insufficient time to cross the street allowed before the light changed, and the dump truck driver failing to make sure there was nothing in front of the truck before driving over the victim. That said I put at least 50% of the fault for this wreck on the infrastructure, and the fact that they allowed the truck in the city in the first place.

Upstate are not much better. Bicyclist killed after crash in Kingsbury identified This wreck sounds very similar to the one that killed Larry Schwartz, mirror to the back of the head. Helmet or not you are dead in this kind of wreck.

Yesterday’s Daily Ted. Morning Links: LA’s Mobility Plan 2035 passes the council, but the fight isn’t over yet; cyclist critically injured in OC You didn’t think I would forget, did you?

Today’s Daily Ted. Morning Links: Newport hit-and-run driver turns himself in, and more fallout from the new LA Mobility Plan

Another CA wreck. 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL ON BICYCLE STRUCK BY HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER IN NEWPORT BEACH and NEWPORT BEACH MAN ARRESTED IN HIT-RUN INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL Incidents like this are what makes me glad that hit-and-run carries the same minimum sentence as DUI homicide in CA. Maybe if this gets more publicity people would stay at the scene and call 911 so the victim has a better chance of survival.

Another wreck in CA, this was a bad week for them. Cyclist killed in El Cajon collision Yet another SWSS, you would think that by now LEO would be wise to this after the two wrecks with onboard video showed the cyclists riding in a straight line while the weapon vehicle failed to move over to pass. There was a comment that the driver failed to react until after the cyclist was hit and flying through the air that somewhat backs this up.

The cyclist hit by a driver on a CA frontage road is recovering. Bicycle accident victim recovering

The 30th anniversary of the seminal NWA album has spawned a meme that not even cyclists can resist. The Slow Bicycle Movement (what, you thought I would show that in my blog? Click the link.) 😀

More on the MI cyclist killed by a hit-and-run driver. Lawyer, authorities talk in Lake Orion cyclist’s death I still say the statement from the lawyer shows the driver did it on purpose. And Family members organize charity bike ride to remember Lake Orion woman who was killed in hit and run

Another MI cyclist died. Bicyclist struck, killed in Grand Rapids The cyclist was killed while riding in the crosswalk in front of a stopped vehicle that didn’t stay stopped while he was in front of the vehicle.

OK this driver needs to be lost in the system for a century or two. Cyclist hit by alleged drunk driver in Hancock Co. dies; Teen held for OWI and Police: Teen accused of OWI in cyclist’s death tested at four times legal limit this, too 1 cyclist dead, another injured OK killer driver was drunk and underage to drink, there should be a nice comfy place under the jail for him. DEEP under the jail.

More on the acts of terror against cyclists in West Canuckistan. Aggressive acts towards cyclists discredits drivers I guess acts of terrorism could be called “aggressive”.

This video is now part of the UK driver’s ed curriculum. How to overtake cyclists – the video all drivers should watch well the new drivers will have to watch it, we can only hope the current ones will as well.

Another driver cursed with a wreck in Jolly Olde. Drink driver injured teenage BMX rider and four-year-old boy I say let him rot, but since this is the UK he will probably get community service, and points on his license.

Crappy infrastructure proposed in Oz. Cycling groups urge Moreland Council not to adopt double cycle lanes on Sydney Rd Seriously, they are going to paint two bike lanes and allow parking on one set part of the time, which is when the other lane is active? What are they on, and can they share?

These guys need to share, too. Surgeons urge ‘more responsible attitude’ to bike helmet laws You know you would think surgeons would be a little more reality-driven. Are they sure this isn’t a conservative terrorist front group?

And I’m all outta links.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Unkillable Badass Poet

Gonna go dance to drums tonight, and the Feed

Tonight is the monthly drum circle at my church, so I’m going to stop and take a break in the middle of composing this post to get my Pagan on and shake it to the beats. I meditate to polyrhythmic drumming, so this is a calming experience for me. Just FYI, my favorite meditation CD is the first Blue Man Group CD, Audio. I pick out the different rhythms from the music as focal points for my meditation. It sure beats how I learned to meditate, focussing on my arthritis pains as a kid. Now I barely feel pain…

Up first, have you ever looked at pictures or videos from places like anywhere in the Netherlands or Copenhagen and just drooled? Lane Envy

Rough day at work for Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Good news on Mt. Hollywood Dr; Calabasas driver busted for DUI after injuring two cyclists

The Stoopid is strong with this one. Officials ID Cyclist Killed in Carlsbad Crash “No fault has been determined” means “we still haven’t figured out a way to blame a cyclist for using the infrastructure the way it was designed for him to use it, without also blaming the poor defenseless driver”.

Someone must have hit WY LEO with a clue-by-four. Authorities charge Casper man for hit-and-run that injured bicyclist This is the third wreck in a row where criminal charges have been filed against the driver in an injury wreck with a cyclist. This was the idiot that claimed he wasn’t driving when it happened when two passengers said he did, and made the claims on Facebook… Speaking of Stoopid, this one is death-penalty Stoopid except for the grace of his victim surviving the wreck.

OH LEO aren’t quite up to RCMP standards, but the got their man this time. Troopers identify suspect in hit-and-run of VeloSano cyclist As someone suspected, he was driving illegally when the crime happened. “He’s charged with false statements, tampering with evidence, driving under suspension, fictitious registration and leaving the scene of the accident.” Basically there was not one thing legal in his being there to hit the cyclist.

When a driver swerves off the road in front of you do you go to their aid? Albemarle Co. Cyclists Happen Upon and Help Driver After Accident Well these cyclists did, but I check the license plate against my list of drivers that buzzed me before I do anything… 😛

And after that Monday report we got all the way through to Thursday before another report of a wreck at RAGBRAI. RAGBRAI riders injured in separate Linn County crashes One was a cyclist hitting the back of a truck that stopped unexpectedly, the other a hit-and-run.

This wreck was about a half day’s ride to the east of WoaB World HQ in the beautiful suburbs of Hell. Teenager killed on bicycle identified Another hit-and-run on a barrier to human-powered transportation.

Cyclists in NOLA protest bad infrastructure and worse drivers. Bicyclists memorialize killed bikers No word on how many of the deaths were due to bad infrastructure and how many were due to bad driving, my guess is about 50/50.

This was a hard article to read. Two bikers harassed by driver on Butler Street, biking advocates seek improvements Yelled at and pushed to the ground, or “assault and battery” in the “throw the book at him” language.

Update on a VA wreck. Stratford Hall’s executive director dies from injuries suffered in accident I can’t believe it has taken so long to charge the truck driver. VA has a 3 foot law. I think this is definitely a chargeable wreck, if you hit a cyclist you obviously did not have the required clearance.

If you think hit-and-run is bad for cyclists in the US… Revealed: 1,000 cyclists injured and two killed in London hit-and-runs in last year alone and More than 1,000 cyclists in London injured in hit-and-run collisions in 2014 this, too Number of cyclists injured in London hit-and-runs up 13% More than 20% of all London cyclist collisions were hit and run, higher than any US location except CA.

Talk about victim blaming. Cyclists banned from stretch of A19 after several serious accidents in last few years Do they make women stay indoors so as to not get raped in the streets? Geez that is offensive to the victims and their survivors, especially when all the victims were hit from behind while riding legally. Basically they are punishing an entire class of road users because other classes can’t stop hitting them.

Drivers in OR are getting quite the shock. Injured cyclist sues driver who waved truck through Since drivers who “direct traffic” from inside the vehicle are going to be blamed for resulting wrecks, I see a good chance that not many will continue to do it.

I can think of a couple of dozen things that drivers do that are wrong and could get cyclists killed…The dangerous mistakes bicyclists (and drivers) make on the road The main thing is that when drivers make mistakes cyclists and pedestrians die. When cyclists make mistakes cyclists and (rarely) pedestrians die.

Sometimes it really does feel like a war zone out there. ‘Real Sports’ Examines the War Between Cyclists and Drivers Between the potholes and the crumbling road surface, and the small but not zero number of drivers that want to kill cyclists, it is a wonder that anybody rides in the streets and roads.

Speaking of riding in a war zone. Bike Rider Describes Perimeter Built By Marines During Shooting

One Of Us. Patricia Keenan, killed cyclist, honoured in Critical Mass ride

Infrastructure from S.F.CA. S.F. Spends $5 Million to Make Pedestrian-Friendly Freeway Fix It is a small thing, but it is a thing that makes both human-powered modes (cycling and walking) safer.

I keep saying this and posting this, and writing letters to the editor about this, and finally someone who has the credentials to back it up agrees with me, sorta. #CityCycling: ‘There are accidents where helmets are a great thing. There are others where a helmet doesn’t work’ – hospital consultant A bicycle helmet is built to a 20 km/hr impact standard when human skulls can normally endure a 15 km/hr impact without breaking. That does not require a great deal of impact protection, and the soft shells on most modern (cheaply made) helmets don’t slide like the separate shells of the helmets used in the ’80s and ’90s that a lot of studies used in determining relative safety. I want everyone to know that when I get my neck mobility back I will be wearing a full face BMX helmet with a heavy polycarbonate plastic shell that can slide over pavement on every ride I don’t need my ears free to troubleshoot a problem.

And I’m outta links, patience, and my back hurts. See you Sunday.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet