The Cycling Dude

Tennessee Cyclist Writes Open Letter to Motorists

May is National Bike Month in the United States.

A cyclist, calling himself splork, has written "An Open Letter to Car Drivers Everywhere", that should be read by cyclists, and motorists, alike:

I am a cyclist. I get on my bike and go for a pedal as time allows. I do it because it is what I do for exercise and recreation. I like the freedom. I like the rythym. I love everything about it, except one thing: People driving cars.

I am under constant siege by people in cars. When I go for a bike ride I am typically alone. I try to go out when the traffic is at a minimum. I stay as far to the right on the road as I can without inflicting another kind of danger to my health. I am simply a man on his bike. Unfortunately I am not safe.

So what is it about a guy, or gal, on their bike that causes so much aggravation to people who drive cars? Is it jealousy? 75% of Americans are overweight. I'm not. The people I know who ride bikes are certainly not. Odds say that 75% of the people aggravating me on my bike are overweight.

Is it because we look different?

Why the hatred?

One of the many points he makes, in this powerful piece, is  the following:

The problem is, if I'm not perfect I pay for it with my life. If you aren't perfect, I pay for it with my life. It doesn't matter if you are right or I am wrong, or I am right and you are wrong, when it comes to sharing the road, the cyclist always, always, always loses.

Always.

Read: I Am A Cyclist.

Bicycles, Cars, Traffic Circles: Can't We All Just Get Along?

As long time readers know I am not particularly enamored of Critical Mass, but I saw a video, this morning, that is very cool, and very funny.

Maybe it was the music, I don't know. ;-D

Traffic Circle Prank

Top 10 things Motorists say to Cyclists

10. Oops, Sorry.

9. Oops, Sorry.

8. Oops, Sorry.

7. I didn’t see you there.

6. Nothing… Just a glare.

5. Ahhhhhh!

4. Crap. Sorry.

3. I didn’t see you.

2. I didn’t see you, you were hidden by the glare.

1. Fuck You.

David Merwin shares this list, in a Sept. 2006 piece on his blog, and has a few thoughts on #1:

When a driver screams the f-bomb at me, I am not really sure what to do. I learned a long time ago that I can not win against a car. The laws of physics prevent me from doing any real damage.

It is kind of like swearing at an ant. It is an ant. It is tiny, you are large. You are being stupid.

Read the rest of the piece here. ;-D

If you have more to add to the list share them in the comments.

I'll get the ball rolling:

11. Watch where you are going!

12. Get on the sidewalk!

13. Get off the street!

14. Asshole!

15. Idiot!

2 More Cents Tossed in on Sept. Essay by AZ. Cyclist

Way back in Sept. I posted a story about and Arizona Bicyclist who was taking his cycling neighbors to task, and expressed my opinion.

I encouraged readers to weigh in, and while I was the last one to leave a comment to the article, at the Newspaper site, several folks, including the author of the article, left interesting comments on my post.

Yesterday I received the first comment, since Sept., on the article, from Bob Jenson of Phoenix:

Having stumbled across this blog quite by accident, and living in Phoenix AZ, I read this with great interest.

We also in the Metro Phoenix area have been experiencing a rash of cycling injuries and deaths the past few years.

A problem that exists is that we have many of the "good ole boy" police who view bikes and cyclists who ride them as scum, and when there is an accident, their reports are incomplete and or inaccurate.

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists has been working with the police academies to educate the new police officers as to bicycling law, and to try to get more accurate and complete information on their investigation forms. (Cycling Dude: Link to PDF about the Arizona Bicycle Institute - Educating not just Cops, but parents, children, cyclists, and motorists.)

The attitude that is prevailing in many police depts is that it's just another worthless cyclist - go write something up so we can get on to something more important.

Yes, we do have a 3 foot passing law, which the Coalition got through a semi hostile legislature, and  they also got some small teeth in it -$1,000 if a cyclist is killed. They are working on getting this revised, but with the legislature currently in power it will be probably a couple of years before this is done.

Contrary to a comment in an earlier post, it is legal to ride 2 abreast in Arizona, however it's not always wise to do so.

Having just retired and commuted by bike for about 30 years, I've seen lots of problems on the road.

My work started at 6:00 am, so I would try to be on the road by 4:30 for a 5 mile commute - any later would have put me in jeapardy - a small thing for safety. Also gave me time to do a few laps in a safe area close by work.

On my route, I'm seeing many, many persons on bikes in the dark with no lights, no reflectors, dark clothing, no helmets, and the icing on the cake - riding against traffic, or on the sidewalk.

It's a wonder that more are not killed.

Enforcement by police is non-existant which hopefully will change in the near future - just have to be patient and wait for the old guard to die or retire.

It would seem that the key to preventing our premature demise on the road is two-fold: Education - motorist and cyclist, and Enforcement - getting the police to do their job -  as I understand it, "to serve and protect", not just the motorist, but the cyclist too.

Just my $.02

Bob Jenson

Vice President: Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists.

According to the Coalition Website:

The mission of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is to promote efforts that improve bicycling usage and bicycling safety within the state of Arizona by addressing law enforcement and transportation engineering issues through education, outreach and advocacy programs thereby enhancing the role of bicycling in local, county and statewide transportation plans.

I love it when folks, especially activists, journalists, and industry-types, happen to "stumble across this blog quite by accident". ;-D

Interesting things always result. ;-D

Comments to this, and to the previous material, welcome. ;-D

St. Louis Cyclists Fight Back

David Fiedler, of David's Bicycling Blog, at About.com, has spread the word of a great story out of St. Louis.

Cyclists in that city have stood up and said they have had enough.

Tired of being struck by hit-and-run drivers -- the latest being a pair of incidents that injured three cyclists recently -- bicyclists in St. Louis have created a reward fund that pays for information to bring the miscreants to justice.

"If each of us put in, say twenty or forty bucks, I bet we would start grabbing people's attention," wrote Patrick Van de Turin, the guy who got the ball rolling on a local bicycling message board. "I'll start the pot with $100.00."

As you can well imagins the response was quite interesting.

Within a day, the fund had reached over $1,000. Then the Politicians got wise, heh, heh!

The  mayor pledged an additional $500.

THEN the local media smelled a story.

Newspapers and TV Stations added to the pot and the fund -- now officially administered by the St. Louis Regional Bike Federation -- continues to grow.

Like David, I wonder wether it's enough "to capture the dirtbag that clipped two cyclists, running them off the road with his truck and horse trailer, or to nail the one who struck a cyclist and then drove off, leaving him lying broken in a downtown intersection".

Information about the Hit and Run Justice Fund - a Press Release (PDF) from the St. Louis Bicycle Federation.

Donate to the Hit and Run Justice Fund online,  or you can send the donation to the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, Hit and Run Justice Fund, P.O. Box 23086, St. Louis, MO 63156.

A Tip of the Hat to David for this story.

Roger Kramer, Belleville, Ill. (And St. Louis, Mo., too, since it's only 20 mi. down the Bike Lane!) Premier BikeBlogger, has been on the story as well:

Anti-cyclist rant on St. Louis radio station.

Reward offered in hit-and-run accidents that injure cyclists.

Tracking bike problems in St. Louis.

Has Dear Abby Been Reading The Cycling Dude?

I wonder? ;-D

Imagine my surprise when I saw her latest column, in this mornings OC Register.

In a column with the online title of "Common Courtesy Conquers The Perils Of The Bike Path" Dear Abby apparently channels her inner Cycling Dude. ;-D

"Good manners can smooth many potentially abrasive situations."

"The rule should be to use caution on shared pathways, whether you are walking or riding -- and instead of taking for granted that you have the right of way, show consideration for others and practice good manners."

The letters sent in to Dear Abby, that she shares in this column, make some valid points.

As readers of this blog know I've been saying this, and more about cycling safety on the street, and on the trail, in essays, and Special Reports (The Back Bay, The Huntington Beach Bike Trail, Share the Road, etc...) since day 1, 5 years ago, and in a whole slew of posts, in a Special Archive Category, since October 2006, and not always to universal acclaim, either.

Most of the OC doesn't know this Blog exists, and my worldwide traffic, as mentioned the other day, is miniscule.

I don't kid myself about my reach, and influence.

Yes, I reach, and influence, people every day, and am damn well proud of it, but I ain't no Dear Abby, or Instapundit, not by a longshot, hee, hee! ;-D

More people will see her column than discover the resources in my sidebar, hands down.

One single column by Abigail Van Buren will be seen by millions worldwide, in print, and online, and one assumes that her popularity means that people take what she says seriously, and put her advice to good, practical use.

I hope that will be the case with this column as well.

Thank You, Dear Abby, for spreading the word!

THIS cyclist appreciates it.

(I used the contact form on her site to tell her so.)

British Journalist Apology Over Call for Decapitating Cyclists Just an Afterthought

In the aftermath of the call for violence by Matthew Parris it became the 2nd most complained-about piece of 'journalism' for 2007, according to the (UK) Press Complaints Commission.

Jolly Good of the Brits for speaking up!  ;-D

Mr. Parris column of January 3rd left a lot to be desired in the face of the outrage of the Cycling Community.

In what appears to be an insincere apology, this poor excuse for a journalist responded at the very end of his column in what comes across as an afterthought:

I offended many with my Christmas attack on cyclists. It was meant humorously but so many cyclists have taken it seriously that I plainly misjudged. I am sorry.

There are so far 40 comments, in response, and few seem in a forgiving mood.

This sums up the consensus:

Classic self-righteous bluster from bullies who know they're in the wrong - stand firm, Matthew!

At least he 'apologized', which is more than his Editor, at the Times of London, has done.

Go here to read the reactions.

Tejvan Pettinger, of the British Blog, Cycling Info, has this to say:

What This Episode Shows

• Times have shown they care nothing for journalistic integrity.
• Parris, made a misjudgement, maybe he sincerely regrets it, or maybe he was just a bit taken aback by the response.
• As quite a few commentators have mentioned if the word ‘cyclist’ had been subsitituted for another minority; - more serious action would have been taken

What would I do If I met Matthew Parris in the street?

• I would probably ask him whether, as an ex MP and responsible journalist, he had any good ideas to try and reduce the annual death toll of cyclists on British roads. I look forward to that article very much.

The full response is here.

In case you missed it, and think behavior like that suggested by Mr. Parris couldn't happen, please read my post from yesterday:

Fullerton Man in Trouble for Making Bike Trail Holes

Fullerton Man in Trouble for Making Bike Trail Holes

What did these residents of Fullerton Ca. find so amusing that it has them recovering from hysterical fits of laughter?

I'll get to that in a moment, but this is a SERIOUS story so be patient.

As regular readers know I've spent considerable time reporting on safety on the street and Class 1 Multi-use Trails in Orange County, in 2006 and 2007 .

Sharing the road is vital for all users of the roads, and trails.

I don't usually concern myself with the goings on among the MTB Set:

For 1 thing I don't own a Mountain Bike, and for another I just ain't THAT adventuresome. ;-D

Some of the places these folks ride are simply amazing and I salute them!

Over the weekend, however, I saw an AP story, on Yahoo News, that caught my attention.

Man accused of making bike trail holes
Sat Jan 5, 3:56 AM ET

What the Hell? The story was short, but disturbing.

FULLERTON, Calif. - Police said they arrested a man who acknowledged digging holes on a park bike trail as payback for nearly being run down by a cyclist.

Warren John Wilson, 52, faces a single felony count of vandalism, police Sgt. Linda King said Friday.

2 wrongs don't make a right, especially when the innocent are put in danger by his stupidity.

The sane thing to have done would have been to advise the Police and Park and Rec Officials of the reckless behavior by cyclists.

King said nearly 50 holes measuring about 1 foot by 2 feet have been found since June along a trail at Laguna Lake Park, and in some cases attempts had been made to hide them from cyclists. She said some riders went over their handlebars after hitting the holes, but none reported major injuries.

50?

No serious injuries? Pure luck and by the Grace of whatever Higher Power you happen to believe in.

Detectives watching the trails questioned Wilson, who said he had nearly been run over by a mountain bike rider and began digging the holes in retaliation, King said.

Police said Wilson had been released from custody. A phone listing for him could not be found.

There's more to this and I'll get to it.

Today being a day off, and there being a bus that goes right to the park, yours truly decided to go for a stroll.

Laguna Lake Park is a 55 year old, 28 acre, park located off Euclid Ave., up the hill from Bastonchury.

The dirt Cycling and Hiking trail has 2 sections: One, on the west side near the Equestrian Center, that is easily accessable all year round, the other along the lake, to the east, which has gates that can be locked during times of inclement weather, like this past weekend and today.

I went traipsing along the open trail looking for a couple of nice shots representative of the terrain and discovered that the trail was not one you would want to walk along for a few days after a rain.

For some MTBers, of course, the conditions were ideal and I could see the tracks of those who had passed through before me earlier in the morning.

I didn't let this stop me though, self-respecting, intrepid, amateur nosey-poker that I am...after all look at all that grass along the side of the trail!

Enough secure purchase for anybody, I thought!

Now you know why the natives were so amused...

There is nothing more uncannily human sounding than the sound a hoard of disturbed quackers make when you get too close to them.

As I walked along the fence separating the north side of the lake from the street, the locals started up, and I indignantly stopped, put my hands on my hips, glared at them, and asked "What the hell are YOU laughing at? Haven't you ever seen a hiker with dirty pants, and mud caked hands, arm, pants and shoes, before?"

"Ok, laugh it up, see if I care. Just remember...some Holiday in the future, I might have dinner with your wilder cousin!"

Yes, I slipped along the trail...twice.

I swear! The things I do to bring y'all a story. ;-D

Anyway I walked around the lake, following first Lakeview Dr., then Hermosa Dr., to the east side looking to see where the trail ended up.

This view looks west, at the trail along the south side of the lake.

Across the street are more Multi-use dirt trails heading off into the surrounding foothills.

Well, with the adventure thus concluded I walked east on Hermosa, to Harbor Blvd. to catch the bus.

The bus took me into downtown Fullerton where I saw the Chamber of Commerce and went looking for cycling and hiking maps.

I was here so why not?

I must have looked a fright walking in the door. ;-D

They suggested I meander a few blocks down the road to City Hall and check in with Parks and Rec.

The nice lady I chatted with there took my appeance more in stride. ;-D

The city map I got from her makes for a nice compliment to the City Trails website (28 miles worth, total.) and one I found, a while back, about the 11 mi. Single Track Fullerton Loop Trail.

When I inquired about the problems at Laguna Lake I was told the best place to inquire was across the street at the PD.

I was here so why not? Hee, hee! ;-D

So off I marched and entered the lobby of the Police HQ, looking like something the Cat dragged in. ;-D

When the amused looking Police Lady inquired as to my business, I explained, wavng my Cycling Dude Blog card and crossed my muddy fingers. ;-D

She hands me a Visitors Sticker and gives me directions to the Community Relations section, with instructions to ask for the Sgt. King mentioned in the AP story.

Well! How do you like that? This was turning out to be quite the adventure.

When I got to my next stop I proceeded to explain my mission to the Female Officer who approached me.

She called someone on the phone, apparently this Sgt..

In the process of all this I learned that LA TV Station, KNBC 4 had been snooping around wondering if there was surveillnace video and a mug shot of the miscreant!

In the immortal words of my favorite Vulcan... Fascinating!

"Hey, I'm interested in that too!", I pipe up, helpfully. ;-D

She got off the phone to tell me what she'd been told.

It seems that while dealing with the Mainstream Media is common place dealing with the New Media is a bit puzzling. ;-D

I told her I was interested in more than just that the trails were safe again, but which trails had been affected and the status of the case.

I told her that even if there had been video and a mug shot I couldn't have done with them what Ch. 4 would have done, and anyway that wasn't as interesting to me as the details of the case, what trails were affected and the fate of the  bad guy.

I explained that I had spent a little over a year doing stories about safety on bike trails in the OC and this story caught my attention.

She went off and came back with someone I assume was the Sgt. I had come to see.

The Officer was quite informative, and what she told me makes what this man did even more frightening and disturbing.

The guy, who lives in the area near the Park, was caught by investigators, questioned, and released.

Eventually Charges were leveled against the man for Vandalism and he will be brought to trail.

Why?

He alledgedly did more than dig 50 holes, a crime he admitted to.

He alledgedly left pieces of concrete and tree limbs in the middle of the trail in several places as well.

All because he didn't like the behavior of some bicyclists and decided to take the law into his own hands instead of calling Authorities.

Well, I guess we should be grateful the man didn't use a gun, right?

Jesushchristonabicycle!

I left my card, and though the case won't go to trial, or be decided, for a while yet, I hope to hear about it when the verdict is read.

***UPDATE: 10PM***

The OC REGISTER ONLINE has an interesting addition to the story in its report:

The trenches, which were hidden by brush and tree branches, were discovered by a city park ranger who reported them to the police. Detectives watching the trails periodically and went door-to-door to see if anyone knew who was digging the holes.

In early December, Fullerton police detective Chris Bradley saw a man walking along the trail with his dog. Bradley checked the trail after the man had left and found that a new trench had been dug, King said.

On Dec. 11, detectives set up surveillance on the trail and watched as the same man and his dog walked up the trail and left 15 minutes later, King said. Officers stopped the man, later identified as Wilson. When they checked the trail, officers found holes had been dug and a large piece of concrete and a branch had also been placed across the trail as obstacles to bicyclists.

FROM: Jan. 4th - Fullerton trail vandal charged with felony by Kimberly Edds

***END UPDATE***

A 12 Step Program for Bicycle Safety in Amsterdam

This came across my Google Alerts the other day, from About.com:

Biking is a way of life for Amsterdammers. And it's safe enough that parents even pedal their kids through the city, alongside the trams and traffic. As a visitor, you can enjoy it as much as (and as safely as) the locals -- if you learn the rules of the road.

This visual guide to bike safety in Amsterdam will show you everything from which traffic signs to follow to which behaviors not to copy.

American Expatriate, Shannon McAllister, says that "Biking in Amsterdam is Safe for Everyone Who Knows the Rules", and proceeds to make her point with a dozen great photos of cycling among the Dutch, and brief informative commentary for each.

Aside from the interesting design of the Bike Lanes, one interesting pair of photos demonstrate Bike Only Traffic Signals. It seems that in some cases cyclists do not follow the same signals as Motorists.

Visual Guide to Bike Safety in Amsterdam

British Journalist Calls for Decapitating Cyclists

An Award-winning Journalist, author and former MP, who writes a column for the Times of London, has felt the need to write about cycling and cyclists:

A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists. It’s not just the Lycra, though Heaven knows this atrocity alone should be a capital offence; nor the helmets, though these ludicrous items of headgear are designed to protect the only part of a cyclist that is not usefully employed; nor the self-righteousness, though a small band of sports cyclists on winter’s morning emits more of that than a cathedral at evensong; nor even the brutish disregard for all other road users, though the lynching of a cyclist by a mob of mothers with pushchairs would be a joy to witness

Well, excuuuse my British!

What the Bloody Hell?

Where does Mr. Matthew Parris, this arsehat, get off attacking all cyclists for the actions of the inconsiderate minority?

He doesn't have a Baldy Notion of the harm he is causing with such calls to violent action.

In the 1st paragraph alone he attacks the clothes some of us wear and the single most important piece of equipment a cyclist can put to use, but our intelligence as well.

BOLLOCKS!

No, yet another cyclist-generated horror – and a new one – has come to my attention this Christmas. They’re chucking their empty cans of hi-energy drinks into hedgerows as they pass.

Bin-liners in hand, a group of us, infused with the seasonal goodwill that illuminates this column, of course, decided to walk a mile of a pretty and winding lane that had become particularly badly littered this winter, and collect it all. It’s amazing how much of the stuff there is when you start looking, and we ended up with a whole sackful. And what was the principal offending item? Plastic bottles and empty cans of Lucozade, Gatorade and other blood-sugar-boosting products were lodged high in hedgerows at cyclist level. Forgive me, but pedestrians were not the culprits here.

He goes on a roadside clean-up and without actually witnessing anything blames cyclists for all the empty plastic bottles he picks up.

"Cyclist-Level", he says: Um, what type bicycle, how old and how tall, and what sex are the miscreants? Be specific, man.

What is the carbon footprint of a panting, sugar-gulping, chocolate-chewing, Lycra-clad leisure-cyclist? a) His or her journey is totally unnecessary; b) whole convoys of cargo boats steam the Atlantic to bring the molasses to be energy-intensively refined for them; and c) the chemical processes that generate the vile materials that clothe, shoe and helmet a cyclist – not a man-made fibre among them – will be poisoning entire provinces of China.

Not all cyclists wear lycra on our rides and many rides ARE "neccessary" because many of us commute, or run errands and for many cyclists their bike is their only source of transportation or used in combination with Mass Transit.

He takes to task all cyclists for the bad manners of the minority:

But it’s the bad manners one cannot forgive. Driving or walking, don’t you just hate the way that, riding two or three abreast, they shout and curse at you or whir their angry little bells, as though it’s your problem that they need to clear the way? In just one little posse of these monsters there are levels of self-satisfaction that could power a small religious crusade.

Does cycling turn you into an insolent jerk? Or are insolent jerks drawn disproportionately to cycling?

2 can play that game, ya know. ;-D

Riding the street, don’t you just hate the way that, coming up behind you when you legally take the lane, they shout and curse at you or honk their ungodly horns, as though it’s your problem that they can't go 55, in a 30 zone, for 5 freakin' minutes? In just one little traffic jam there are levels of self-satisfaction that could power a huge religious crusade.

Does driving a car turn you into an insolent jerk? Or are insolent jerks drawn disproportionately to motor vehicles?

Opinions such as this ill-informed and hate-provoking column set Motorist - Cyclist Relations back considerably because it feeds the stereotypes of the ignorant-about-cycling public concerning the recreational and transportational benefits of cycling not to mention the legal rights of cyclists to sharing the road.

To say that all cyclists are rude, careless and filled with contempt for other road users is as wrong and ignorant as saying all motorists are the same toward cyclists. 

He owes the Cycling Community a huge apology.

The response to his attack has been swift and vocal, with over 158 and counting comments so far. ;-D

One interesting response to this casting of nasturniums on all cyclists came in the form of a column, today, by a British Triathlete, Alison Steed, who writes that "Piano wire is no laughing matter for the 150 cyclists who die each year":

To be fair, there are some inconsiderate cyclists around. But there are plenty of rotten drivers too, and the chances are that they will do more harm to us than we will do to them.

Agreed, on both counts.

Although Matthew was (probably) joking when he suggested putting piano wire across the road at head height, you may be surprised to learn that it does actually happen, albeit with fishing line in the instances I know of. What may seem a joke could end up killing someone - and for what, because you don't like cyclists, or cycling?

Until I see him in print make such a claim I must believe that he was serious.

It does not surprise me anymore what people will do to take their anger out on cyclists, from fishing wire across a trail, to reaching out the passenger side window of their car to push a cyclist in the side (Actually happened to me once! Read the 1st post I ever wrote for this blog 5 years ago.).

There are already so many other dangers. This year while out training for a triathlon I was knocked off my bike by a van driver who sent me flying into the verge and didn't even bother to stop to see if I was all right. Another cyclist had two pints of milk poured over her by louts in a car overtaking her, blinding her long enough to have had a bad crash if something had been coming close behind. Thank heavens there wasn't, but I doubt these idiots had planned it that way.

I use certain search terms to get Google Alerts about cycling stories in print, and am so disgusted by the number of accident stories end up in my in-box, not to mention the occasional attacks on cyclists.

Perhaps some people think these events are amusing, or even that we deserve it, but I cannot understand why. At least we are not clogging up NHS waiting lists with diseases that could be avoided with some cardiovascular.

The scary part is that there are people out there who DO think it's amusing and that we deserve it.

It is people like these who make un-informed cyclists think they are safer riding on the sidewalk.

Yes, we may ride two abreast at times, but more often than not we move out of the way. We pay taxes, too, and have every right to use the roads. So forgive us if that makes us “self-righteous”.

Most knowledgeable cyclists behave responsibly on the trail and on the street, taking the lane, calling out "On Your Left!", or "On Your Right!" in some countries, slowing down, moving right, merging left to make turns at intersections ( Or the other way in some countries.), and more, and it is irresponsible to blames us for the behavior of the inconsiderate, or un-educated few.

When I see dangerous, or impolite, behavior by cyclists I often say something to the miscreant and pass out a card, explaining that info that will make them a better cyclists can be found online if they take the time to look and learn.

Despite the ignorant and hateful reactions of a few I think I reach and educate more people than not.

As for bottles being slung into the hedgerows by cyclists - well, maybe this happens, I cannot say that it doesn't. But for anyone serious about the sport, over-the-counter bottles are useless - they don't fit on bottle cages and are extortionately priced. So maybe Matthew should point the finger at runners instead; I believe he can do a mean marathon himself.

She is right that over the usual sports drink bottle won't fit in a bottle cage.

She is wrong to join Mr. Parris in the finger pointing attempts to find a culprit unless she has actually seen such behavior.

The idea that all cyclists behave in the same appalling way as Matthew describes is as ridiculous as saying that all cyclists take performance-enhancing drugs. Some do, but clearly to label everyone that way is rubbish.

We cycle because we enjoy it, despite the dangers and the idiocy of some other road users. And a bit more consideration all round - from columnists and drivers as well as cyclists themselves - might do much to reduce the death toll.

She ends on a strong note.

Ignorance of the rules of the road are a problem on the part of both sides and education needs to be an ongoing thing for everyone in order to reduce, if not eliminate the dangers.

Her article has begun to get comments including from some who think it was an effort to mollify the Cycling Community.

The Dec. 27th article by Mathew Parris and comments: What’s smug and deserves to be decapitated?

The Dec. 31st article by Alison Steed, and comments: A Joke that Will Sicken Cyclists.

A Tip of the Hat to Tejvan Pettinger, of Cycling Info Blog, for bringing this to the attention of a wider audience, and writing a great response, and for finding a little humor in the situation afterall. ;-D

Aside from leaving a comment to the article by Mr. Parris, there are other ways to express yourself:

Make a Complaint at the Press Complaints Commission

Contact the Times directly

****UPDATE 1/1/08****

I've joind the New Year's Day Trackback Party over at Stop The ACLU  as a way to share this story and spread the word about BikeBlogs in general. ;-D

****END UPDATE****

Civil Discourse on the Road: Educate, Do Not Aggravate

In a follow-up to our postings of the other day (Idiots, Assholes and Other Upstanding Sharers of the Road.), Gwadzilla makes a very important point:

we all must remember in the battle between the car and the bicycle
the car is a superior weapon.

He suggests blowing kisses or, at least, using ALL 5 FINGERS, when you sweetly wave. ;-D

In retrospect, I think he's right.

Consider this: Road Rage among motorists is considered one of our National Pasttimes, and sometimes the folks indulging do so armed.

In 2008 I may try something inspired by this picture:

I'm thinking of puttting those words on the back of a T-Shirt, with my Blog URL under them, and see what sorts of responses I get. ;-D

And I'm going to be more watchful and careful in my own cycling, too.

Idiots, Assholes and Other Upstanding Sharers of the Road

Oh my!

Every time I pay a visit to Gwadzilla I am reminded, yet again, why his is such an enjoyable blog to visit, and has been for 4 years now (Happy Anniversary G-Man!!).

I have him in my Blogroll for a reason and his latest post shows why. This post wonderfully, accurately and angrily describes situations universal to cyclists all over the world, expressing feelings and emotions we all have had, but can't always put into words.

here it is Monday morning...

I just finished my miniature morning commute into work
the ride in is short and effortless
no need to get my heart rate up
just a few pedal strokes down the hill towards my office

yet things are not always so easy
the roads are filled with all sorts of idiots and assholes
most of them are idiots
the rest of them are assholes
the more assertive ones tend to be selfish c_unts

Read the whole thing.

And this follow-up, too.

Just Sunday, when I took the test bike out for its first spin, I encountered a local representative of the citizenry Gwadzilla describes.

Near my home is an intersection with right turn only lanes.

I go in this direction to head south into the city, reach a particular bus south, and west of the corner, or to reach accesses for the Southbound and Northbound Santa Ana River Bike Trail,  both on the west side of the river.

The Right Turn Only Lane begins signalling its purpose a block ahead, indicating where southbound traffic should go.

As you can see there is a lane across the street that eastbound traffic uses in coming from its own Right Turn Lane.

To avoid this corner would require me to go anywhere from a mile to 3 miles out of my way depending on whether I need to reach the trail (By way of an access to the alternate NB Trail on the east side of the river.), catch a bus, or head south into town.

Of course the proper thing to do is either of 2 things:

1. Take the lane on the left so I can cross the street, and then move right.

2. Stay in the Right Only Lane, on its left side, thus allowing room for the right turning cars, then proceed across and move right.

Life is seldom so simple when dealing with people driving cars.

As you no doubt have figured out by now there is a problem with this picture:

From time to time, mostly when southbound traffic is waiting for lights to change, some idiot in the Right Only Lane will change his/her mind at the green and head south across the intersection.

This happened many times, in the few years I've lived here, when I've been positioned to the left of the offender, and sometimes the offender was not there for me to see because they were still approaching the corner from further back.

This made it hard on me because cars behind me, in my lane, sometimes are also already making their moves to the right, while I'm still recovering from the actions of the offender.

Maybe I should wear a sign. ;-D

One day I decided enough was enough.

Now, when I approach the intersection (And others like it.), I ride across, or wait for the light to change, positioned squarely in the center of the Right Only Lane.

No-one gets past me until I am safely on the other side of the intersection.

This pisses people off no end. ;-D

Most just honk a couple of times, then stop when I don't look back and don't react to their impatience.

Then there are the ones like the person on Saturday.

This person honked 8 times, leaning on the horn for half of them, before stopping.

When the light changed the person tooted 3 more times.

Not looking back I gave the 1-Fingered Salute and went on my merry way. ;-D

***UPDATE***

Thanksgiving Day Follow-up.

***END UPDATE***

What do they mean when they yell GOTFR?

GET OFF THE FUCKING ROAD!!!

We all have stories to tell of the times those words have been screamed at us by motorists.

But... What do these words mean?

Claire Petersky, of Bicycling Meditations, has pondered this great mystery so the rest of us don't have to, and it's long past time that I share her wisdom with you. ;-D

The key to understanding this motorist's cry is to realize that the road does not copulate with itself. Rather, it is you who is partnered with the road.

Never considered it that way before. ;-D

Read on....

Check out the rest of Bicycling Meditations. ;-D

18 Wheeler vs Cyclist: OC's Rash of Accidents Continues

Since the Spring of last year the number accidents involving encounters between Motorists, and Cyclists, in my backyard, here in Orange County, has grown to troubling proportions, many of them ending in the death of the cyclist.

While most happpend due to the actions of the Motorist, a few did not.

The latest incident occured on Saturday morning, in the city of Irvine, a city with Bike Lanes, and Multi-Use Trails, aplenty, and is still under investigation as of this writing.

The report in the OC Register, by Sam Miller, is thus a brief one:

A bicyclist struck and killed in Irvine Saturday has been identified as Sandy Julienne, 47, of Huntington Beach.

Just after 10 a.m. Saturday, Julienne was struck by an 18-wheeler hauling dirt on the northbound side of Culver Drive north of University Drive, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were still investigating the scene Saturday afternoon.

The driver of the truck was interviewed, but "it's too early to say what might have happened," said Irvine Police Lt. Rick Handfield.

This barely scratches the suface, of course, but  2 pages of comments, by family, friends, witnesses, and other interested parties, to the online version, paint a picture of the cyclist, the scene in the immediate aftermath, and the attitudes of cyclists toward cycling in general, and the area in particular, that are quite interesting.

Before I go further let me share an e-mail I received, yesterday afternoon, from a reporter at the OC Register:

Hello Kiril,

I am a reporter for the Register. I am working on a story about Sandy
Julienne of Huntington Beach, a cyclist who was struck and killed by a big
rig while riding in Irvine on Saturday. My understanding is he was well
known in the cycling community. I am wondering if you knew him, knew of him
or know anyone who does, as we are interested in writing a news obituary.
It seems we've had an unfortunate patterm of these tragedies lately here in
Orange County. I would also appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on how
to improve safety and interaction between vehicles and bicycles.

Sincerely,

Erika Chavez
Staff Writer
The Orange County Register
(949) 553-2914
echavez@ocregister.com

***UPDATE -  9/19***

Erika's Tribute Report, along with new info on the cause of the accident, was posted online, late yesterday:

Sandy Julienne's loved ones have an easy time naming his passions: cycling, cycling and cycling.

The Huntington Beach man died Saturday doing what he loved most, when he was hit by an 18-wheeler while riding in Irvine. Julienne was such a dedicated cyclist that he rode more than 20 miles to work every day and never drove a car, despite living in Southern California for more than 40 years....

Witnesses say Julienne was riding in the bicycle lane when the big rig's rear tire clipped the bike's handlebars. Fellow cyclists chased the 18-wheeler and detained the driver, who seemed unaware that he had hit Julienne, said David Worthington. The driver was questioned by Irvine police and released; an investigation is ongoing, said Lt. Rick Handfield.

Read the full story, and the comments, and see 7 pictures of Sandy.

***END UPDATE***

I don't know the victim, but promised to try to get some attention paid to this story, and spread the word of her request for info, and local comment, out to the community.

As part of that effort I took a trip, this morning, to the scene to see it for myself.

Sandy was a respected, long time, member of the OC Cycling Community, known as a "truly gentle man", "a positive influence on everyone he encountered", "a very strong, safe and courteous cyclist", and more.

I read the comments, and was moved by what I read, including one from a friend of the truck driver, who says he is devasted by what appears to be an accident, but also moved to reply to 4 comments, hoping to start a much needed discussion.

I will spread the comments, and my responses between several pictures I took, sharing them here as a back-up in case the whole lot gets deleted by someone who disagrees, and also to spur discussion here, a discussion about sharing the road that already has been going on here for some time, and was rekindled by the essay of an Arizona Cyclist, this past week.

***North on Culver, from University, toward a small climb in the road, with a posted speed limit in the 40's.***

CISCO WROTE:

I was driving north on Culver with my son and we saw 3 cars parked with hazard lights on. There was a space in between the cars and we saw the injured cyclist, it was very graphic accident scene. His head was against the edge of the concrete curb. My son and I were in shock. We later saw the truck at the intersection of Michelson and Culver with one other rider talking with the driver and one other person whose car was infront of the truck, as if to prevent him from leaving, also speaking with the driver. A minute later we saw a police car and then an ambulance come in. We already knew the rider was beyond help. According to the brief police report, it looks like the truck driver was interviewed and released. From the location where the truck had stopped, it looked like the truck driver was not even aware that his truck had struck the rider. Also, i recalled seeing the rider's bare head and later wondered if he had a helmet on or if it simply flew off from the impact. This accident was a shock for me to see because I just started riding a road bike. I also been trying to get my son to ride a road bike. My condolences to the people that knew this rider.

My Reply: What a tragedy! My Condolences to the family. What is it about riding and driving, in the OC, that has led to the rash of incident in the past year and a half?

RE what Cisco wrote, As readers of my BikeBlog know I advocate the wearing of a helmet, but I am not so naive as to think that wearing one is always going to be a life saver, and in this case if one was worn it obviously didn't matter. I do not know if you will even see this, but let me stress that you, and your son, should not let what you saw deter you from taking up cycling! Cycling requires a lot of a cyclist so that he or she can get the most out of the pastime. While knowing how to ride safely on the street, or on multi-use trails, is important we rely on motorists, and other users of the Trail, to be just as safe, and sometimes, even then, accidents happen, despite our best efforts. The street remains an appropriate, and safe, place to ride, and we have the legal right to be there, never forget that.

***The start of the Debris Field, one that extends all the way to the 1st tree beyond the Memorial.***

GEORGE WROTE:

So sorry to the family and friends of Sandy. It could have so easily been any of us. Everyone, please when you get home today hug your family and tell them you love them. Life is so precious and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. In an effort to do my little part to save gas consumption and lighten the load on polluting our air, also a great way to get some exercise I have been riding my bike to and from Turtle Rock and the airport M-F for about 9 months. I started in the bike lane as I ride at low speeds on a beach cruiser. My bike has wider handle-bars than a racing type bike and unless I am scraping the curb there is no room for me and a car in the right lane. They have to move over slightly to the left to not hit me. If there is traffic to their left and they cannot move over forget about it. I then moved to the sidewalk and sure enough within a week I was pulled over by the Irvine Police at the corner of eastbound Michelson and Culver, there is no bike lane anyway coming up to the intersection, and told it was illegal to ride my bike on the sidewalk. I called the PD and they said there is no such restriction. If you have a chance stick to the sidewalk and go slow and careful. Please, all motorists, be extremely watchful for all bikes and pedestrians, slow down in our community. We have no chance against cars and trucks. Please, no more tradgedies in Irvine.

My Reply: George's comment is troubling on several levels. It is troubling that the cops in Irvine are not on the same page about cycling on the sidewalk. The cop on the street was right to discourge his riding on the sidewalk as it is the least safe place to ride a bike, and since many cities DO have laws on the books forbidding it, it is best not to get into the habit in the 1st place. George, do not be afraid of riding on the street! Learn the ways of being a safe cyclist, such as making left turns, hand signals, and taking the lane safely when you need to, and which is your right. The resources available online from which to learn, are many, and sorely underutilized by all of us, including me, for that matter.

***Just beyond the Memorial: There are 63 markings of debris total, all in the Bike Lane. The intersection where Cisco saw the Truck stopped is a ways up the road, probably 2 lights away.***

JIM93 WROTE:

Last week a pedestrian gets killed by a reckless cyclist on the bike path paralleling this stretch of Culver. Now an innocent and law abiding cyclist gets taken while trying to do the right thing, leaving the multi-use path to pedestrians and slow moving cyclists. Unfortunately it never seems to be the reckless cyclists among us who have to pay this horrible toll.

MY REPLY: About the comment of Jim93. Yes, there are reckless cyclists on our Multi use Trails, but as a study I did of the Back Bay illustrated, last fall, walkers suc as A lady walking a stroller, and a huge dog on a leash, and joggers running in the wrong lane, could be just as reckless as cyclists who were too numerous to list, thus making it clear that we all need to work on keeping our shared experience a safe one for all, not tar and feather a whole segment of users due to the actions of the few. Responsible cyclists, fast, or slow, belong on the Multi-use Trails, but must use them responsibly like everyone else.

***Bike Path? There is the San Diego Creek Trail a few blocks to the west, a trail just south of University, and this, in a Residential Community, off to the right of the accident scene, a narrow sidewalk trail, through the area, posted with a No Trespassing Sign, from the University Campus Association, and quoting certain Codes.

I talked with an elderly gentleman, walking his 2 beautiful dogs there, who was a former jogger, and cyclist, in Irvine, and the Back Bay, back in the day.

He told me that while the Trail is private, and used by community cyclists, walkers, and joggers, property security didn't do much to discourage non-residents from using the trail, but that after the recent accidents described above may be planning to be more attentive.

He had his own stories, and stories of friends, who had unfavorable encounters with cyclists on the nearby San Diego Trail, and the Back Bay, and agreed with me on the need for dialogue, education, and cooperation, on the streets, and multi-use trails.***

HANNA WROTE:

Yes, the bike lane at that intersection may be narrow. However I am still having nightmares of the couple that was struck in Mission Viejo last year. The lanes, on Olympiad Rd., are wide and the time was Sunday afternoon. The driver, apparently, leaned to open his glove compartment, or something. The Register never followed up on the story. One cyclist - David Pullen - was killed, and his wife was wounded. That couple could have been us! Until we treat drivers harshly, until we emphasize that bike lanes and crossroads demand special attention from drivers, to slow down and to look both ways, cyclists will be killed. We always cross at the light, on the crosswalk so that drivers will see us, but there is always someone making a right turn on red, or a left turn on green who just ignore us.

*** The Bike Lane is actually the standard width, from all appearances, as you can see, though I have seen a small number both wider, and narrower, over the years, not to mention the dumb ones place on the driver's side of where cars are allowed to park.***

My Reply: Hanna says we need to treat drivers harshly, and that will make them pay attention to us as co-users of the road. Is she willing to be just as harsh with irresponsible fellow cyclists using our streets, and trails? Motorists need to be better educated about us cyclists, and cyclists need to be better educated so they will become confident, safe, co-users of the street. It is as simple as that, and no amount of finger pointing, including THAT finger, by either side, will change that.

The latest comments from a family member post info about the viewing tomorrow, and the funeral on Thursday, and a celebration of Sandy's life afterward.

There are many other comments worth your time, and you can read them, and join the discussion, here.

My Share the Road Archive of posts can be found here, and comments are welcome on all of them.

Arizona Cyclist Takes Cycling Neighbors to Task

A friend of mine alerted me to an essay in his local paper, last week, by a friend of his who is a cyclist.... and a motorist.

His essay is an interesting one with some instructive things to say, and when asked why he wrote it this was his response:

What drove me to pen that piece?

I wearied of reading those bicyclists' complaining letters and then having to deal with bike riders who think they own the road and who apparently care little about rules, courtesy, the law, or safety.

The tipping point came when I was driving on Gurley one late afternoon and found myself and other motorists stuck behind a phlegm-slow cycler who refused to move over to let normal-speed vehicles pass...and this at the start of the evening commute hour, no less!

As I said in the essay, I ride, too, so my perspective is that of both a bicycler and a motor vehicle driver.

I think he has some valid points.

The thoughts of a cyclist in Prescott, AZ., who says "Bicyclists have the right to follow the rules", are well worth contemplating:

Obey the signs. A stop sign applies to bicyclists as much as it does to car drivers. So does a red light. And when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or 15 mph that means bicyclists, too.

Signal. If you want to turn left or move into a left lane, stick out your left arm to indicate your desire to turn or move. Likewise, signal if you want to turn right or move into a right-hand lane. I can't read your mind, and neither can any other motorist.

Move over. If you're riding so slowly that you're blocking or impeding traffic, move to the right to let the motor vehicles pass safely. And, if you have no room on the right to ride, then get off your bike and walk it.

Ride in single file. If you're riding in one of those Lycra gangs or even just with a couple of friends, don't ride side by side. That blocks the lane in which you're riding, and it's hazardous to you and your companion(s). It's also illegal.

Turn on your lights. If you're riding at night, turn on your bike's headlight and tail light. Don't have lights on your bike? Then don't ride at night - or dusk or dawn, for that matter.

Avoid the main routes at high-traffic times. This is just common sense. Morning and evening commute hours are not the times for you to be tooling along, for example, Gurley, Sheldon, or Montezuma. Take your ride before the traffic hits or after it's passed, or find another route. Yes, that may be an inconvenience. But it's better than injury or death or causing either.

Pay attention. Any motorcyclist will tell you that to survive riding you have to be super-diligent and ever on the defensive, that car and truck drivers often can't see you, and that there are some motorists who just don't care (or worse, who actually try to hit you).

The roads are for all of us.

As he says cyclists need to "consider how you follow the rules of the road and the implicit and expressed rules of safe bicycling."

It may be right to fight for street access and utilization, but if you don't do your part to make sharing the road safe, you can be "right and dead."

As for the Moving to the Right comment, this is my 2 cents:

As far as moving out of the way when I am "in the lane", so to speak...

If there is no place for me to go on the right, either because of parked cars, or because there is no place to ride, then the prudent thing to do is one of several things:

Stay the course, until I can safely move right, or if there are no cars, but no place to ride, move as far right as possible, and stop until traffic passes, or move as far right as possible, and walk the bike, until safe to resume riding.

Each rider must assess the situation he/she finds him/herself in, and act as they see fit.

Michael Westlund's piece welcomes comment, so join the discussion at the Daily Courier, or here. ;-D

***UPDATE -9/19***

This piece, in case you haven't noticed, has spurred discussion in my comments like almost nothing before it.

In one comment I ended by saying:

I hope that anyone reading all this, who might have suggestions for articles, and books, and websites, that readers can check out relevant to this debate, and the issue of motorists, and cyclists sharing the road, post that infor here, or send me an e-mail about it.

In my next comment I got the ball rolling by making 3 suggestions, all written by one of those who have commented, John Spragge.

I strongly urge you to check those stories out.

***END UPDATE***

***UPDATE 2 - 2/26/08***

Bob Jenson, Vice President of The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, tosses in his 2 cents, in a comment which I promoted to Post Status.

2 More Cents Tossed in on Sept. Essay by AZ. Cyclist.

***END UPDATE***

SFPD Training Video - Bikes Belong In Traffic

This is an absolutely wonderful, educational, video.

The points it makes are so damn important it saddens, and scares, me that far too many cyclists, and even more motorists, don't care enough to know, and understand, these very simple, and life saving, truths.

A Tip of the Hat to the Aussie Blog, Wheels of Justice, for sharing this with its readers, which is where I found it.

Colorado gets Share the Road License Plate

I came across a report on the Bicycle Colorado website that announced the latest state to create a Share the Road plate:

Governor Ritter signed the Share the Road license plate bill ( Senate Bill 67- Brophy, Carroll ) into law at the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival on June 3!

This is fantastic news for bicyclists because the Share the Road license plate will generate funds to promote bicycle safety on Colorado's roads.

State rules require at least 3,000 of these specialty license plates to be ordered for the plates to be in circulation. So we’re going to need your help getting the word out.

Very cool indeed. ;-D

OC Register Columnist Comments Sensless and Destructive

Call this post: BICYCLIST TO CAR OWNERS - CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG 2.

Gordon Dillow, of the Orange County Register, published in Santa Ana, Ca., is one of my favorite columnists for the newspaper of record in this mostly Conservative bastion of Southern California.

So it  was with shock, and disapointment, that I read his latest column, in yesterdays paper.

I was driving along an open stretch of Pacific Coast Highway the other day, at or just under the posted speed limit of 50 mph, and every hundred yards or so I was passing groups of two or three or a dozen bicyclists pedaling along in the bike lane. And that's when it occurred to me:

I don't want to share the road. More specifically, I don't want to share a high-speed road with bicycle riders – not because it's that big of a problem for me, but because it's too dangerous for them.

Yet another non-cyclist out to tell Bicyclist's what's best for them!

Rather than accept that California has laws that govern motor vehicle and cyclist/pedestrian use on all roadways ( As does every other state in the Union. ), and that  Multi-use roads are in place for all to enjoy, he appears to prefer not to educate himself, or his fellow motorists, on how to share the road with us, or even join the ranks of us cyclists who are trying to educate our fellow riders on how to share with motorists... and walkers, and joggers.

He contunues:

perhaps cars and bikes can safely share the roads in residential or other areas where the speed limits are 30 or 35 mph.

But on roads like sections of Pacific Coast Highway, where speed limits range up to 55 mph, it seems like utter madness to have 3,000- or 4,000-pound cars going 55 mph hurtle past 25-pound bikes going 15 mph – with nothing more substantial between them than a thin white stripe delineating the shoulder or the "bike lane." It's like allowing baby strollers on the freeway.

Since there is no law against cyclists riding on a street w/o a bike lane, we have the right to be there, but be there in a safe manner, and to expect Motorists to be as aware of us, as we are of them.

As for PCH, from Seal Beach to Newport, I'm one of those who prefer to use the wonderful Class 1 Bike Trail along the beachs, but see no problem with cylists riding on PCH as long as they do so safely.

Yes, I know we've spent millions of dollars creating bike lanes – as opposed to separate, no-cars-allowed bike "paths" and "trails" – along our streets and highways. I also realize that in this day and age there are few things more politically incorrect than to suggest that cars be given preference over bicycles. After all, in the popular view, motor vehicles are pollution-spewing, gas-guzzling (and gasoline tax-paying) monsters, while bikes are benign, environmentally friendly little munchkins.

But the problem is that when monsters mix with munchkins, the munchkins are inevitably going to get stepped on – too often with tragic results.

Please pardon my fellow Conservative for his dig at the Political Correctness that is admittedly rampant in the land. ;-D

In this case, however, he is misguided in bringing up the issue.

Class 1 Bike Trails, and Rail Trail projects, are popping up all over the place, especially here in the OC, if you know where to look, and who to ask.

Bike Lanes are not always the best solution for streets, and using them is not always the safest option for cyclists ( I HATE the ones were cars can park between the Bike Lane, and the Curb! ).

He quotes some stats that he says make it "pretty clear that statistically it's more dangerous to ride a bike on the roads than to drive a car."

Then he asks, "And whose fault is that?"

He answers his question this way:

Stats on that are hard to come by. But I asked two veteran Orange County traffic cops that question, and both agreed that, based on their experiences, half or more of car vs. bike collisions are caused by the bicyclists. They veer into traffic lanes, they travel the wrong way on streets, they blow through stoplights – in short, they don't safely share the road.

Obviously, a lot of motorists do boneheaded things, too. They veer into bike lanes, cut across them into parking lots, don't keep their eyes open for bicyclists and so on.

But the point is that regardless of who is at fault in a car vs. bike collision, it's the bicyclist who's going to suffer, physically at least. Once again, no 25-pound bike is ever going to "win" in a collision with a 4,000-pound car – and yet we persist in trying to mix heavy, high-speed motor vehicles with light, low-speed bikes on high-volume, relatively high-speed roads.

He's right, you know, about the fault being just as much that of the cyclist, as the motorist, in these incidents.

That is something I've been saying since the fall ( Archive of posts. ), but have not been getting much in the way of reaction, except a few in anger at me.

Some of the accidents, last year, in the OC, and around the nation, were the fault of the cyclist, and in some cases, while the cyclists was NOT at fault, the cyclst was still doing something unsafe, from riding on the sidewalk, to not wearing a helmet, and more, as Mr. Dillow suggests.

He continues:

Well, some people would argue that we'd actually be better off if we all slowed down to a bicyclist's pace of 15 mph or so – and who knows, maybe they're right. But in the real world, fast-moving cars and slow-moving bikes simply don't mix. Under those conditions, the only real solution is to physically separate them as much as possible with barriers or dedicated bike paths.

No-one is suggesting that Motorists slow down to a cyclists pace, and they would be wrong to do so.

In the real world motorists, and cyclists DO mix, and always have, and they are riding locally, and nationally, from one end of the country, and the world, to the other.

The only real solution for making this co-existence work for everyone is for all parties to be educated on how to best co-exist.

Class 1 Trails, and Rail Trails, are a wonderful alternative that we cyclists can, and do, take advantage of, and more, and more, of them are being created all the time, but, especially for the Bike Commuter, using them may not always be practical.

There are motorists who hate cyclists enough to want to encourage doing us harm, and those who have actually done so.

He ends is essay this way:

Now, I'm sure I'll be hearing from bicyclists who will explain to me – in a civil manner, I hope – just how wrong I am on this one. If so, I'll try to fairly present their point of view in a future column.

In the meantime, I'll continue to try to safely "share the road" with bicyclists, and I would encourage other motorists to do the same.

But I still can't figure out why any bicyclist would be crazy enough to want to share the road with us.

I want to apologize, here, and now, for the misguided vitriol that will be fired his way by a relatively few of the more, um, unreasonable, and, um, radical, or simply just hurt, and offended, of my fellows, whose attitudes, and language, are NOT, I assure you dear reader, representative of the vast majority of cyclists, even the Liberal "Enviromental Whacko" wing of the Community. ;-D

I hope he will follow thru with his promise of a follow-up, or 2, and take the time to chat with his columnist coleague, Dave Whiting, in the Outdoors Section, like he should have in the 1st place, and especially check out the links in my sidebar, as I encourage readers of this essay to also do.

There you will find links to clubs, activist groups, Class 1 Bike trails of every variety, and length, nation, and world-wide, and to safe cycling related websites with all the info 1 could ask for, as a cyclist, in learning to best way share the road in a safe manner.

Read The full article by Mr. Dillow, and add your 2 cents to the discussion, there, and here in my comments as well: Cars and Bicycles shouldn't compete.

CafePress and the Sale of Anti-Cycling Merchandise

A great collection of T-Shirts, Stickers, and more, can be found on CafePress, that Cyclists can use to promote Safe Cycling, and Sharing the Road with motorists.

An extremely disturbing side note is related to the half dozen vile Anti-Cyclist items still seen on the page as being for sale.

They are/were being sold by 1 person, and the vile image of a car hitting a bicycle, and bicyclist, is accompanied by the words:

Stay the Fuck off the Road Asshole, OR It's the Law ( Of Physics ).

Another item just has the words: I DON'T Share the Road.

Another item has the image, and both statements.

For some reason the items are no longer for sale. ;-D

Whether they were removed by the seller, or by Cafe Press, due to the outrage of the Cycling Community, is so far a mystery, as is why they are still on this page at all.

Cafe Press should be made aware that this type of encouragement to violence is dangerous to cyclists, and unworthy of the support, even indirectly, of their Company.

You would expect better judgment to be exhibited on behalf of management.

Please call CaféPress at (877) 809-1659, Toll-Free, to let them know you find this type of behavior reprehensible, offensive, and irresponsible.

Below please see CaféPress's position on this:

Thank you for contacting CafePress.com!

Thank you for contacting CafePress.com. As you may know, CafePress.com provides an automated service to a rich and vibrant community of individuals across the globe who differ in their views about what is considered offensive. All product images and ideas used in connection with the CafePress.com Service have been provided to CafePress.com by users and do not reflect the opinions of CafePress.com. While we don't endorse any particular position, we respect the right of individuals to express their own opinions. Thank you for bringing this content to our attention.

If there is anything else I can do for you please let me know.

Best Regards,

Mark M
CafePress.com Support Associate
(877) 809-1659 Toll-Free
(402) 517-4480 Local/International
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday - Saturday (EST)
cafepress.com

Oh, yeah, there is MOST DEFINITELY something else you can do sir!

You can make sure that ANY ITEM promoting the committing of violence toward Bicyclists, or encourages the death of Bicyclists, IS NOT SOLD thru your website... IMMEDIATELY!!

In a similar vein I strongly support the  same policy toward such attitudes against Motorists, Walkers, and Joggers, as well.

Thanks must go to Lou Elin Dwyer, Advocacy Coordinator of the League of American Cyclists, for the heads up, and to the League Blog, for spreading the word!

Ride of Silence Irvine Images

The Ride of Silence inspired me to write a poem, and to bring along my camera to record the event, and share it here.

In this post are the rest of the photos and, with the 3 posts I've written I hope to bring to you some sense of the power, and emotion, of all the Rides of Silence held that Wednesday evening, from Orange County to Europe, to Asia, with the last being held in Hawaii, 3 hours after the one I rode in.

As we rode out everyone was somber, and serious, some wearing black armbands, or headbands, in honor of friends, and family, killed in encounters on the road with a motorist, and some, like me, wearing a red band, to signify being injured in such an encounter ( I STILL have a brown bruise/scar on the back of my left leg, between my knee, and ankle, from an ecounter with a speeding truck, too close to the curb, at Brookhurst/Adams in Huntington Beach, a couple of years ago, that left me black and blue up, and down my left arm, and leg, for days. )

As we rode along Alton Parkway cars of every make and model, busses, and trucks, passed us by, or waited at busy intersections as Irvine Police stopped traffic, when we had green, until the last of us rode thru.

David Whiting, the Outdoors Columnist of the Orange County Register, has been all over the story of safe cycling in the OC, for the past year, and he attended the ride ( Wish I'd spotted him so I could say hello! ).

This morning he wrote a column that captures the spirit, and emotion, of the event through the experience of one rider.

As the twilight slowly melts into darkness, Nancy Barrans finds herself thinking about a miracle.

Perhaps it is the wind. Perhaps it is the silence, an invisible force of it’s own on this night with 150 cyclists gathered and no one talking, just the soft hum of pedals and wheels.

Or perhaps the feeling that a miracle is in the air comes from the spirit of community, plainly visible by the long string of gently blinking red tale lights from the line of cyclists if front of Barrans.

In her mind’s eye, Barrans’ brother, a professional cyclist killed by a truck driver in Montreal, will be standing there at the end of this Ride of Silence...

Robert Brisson, 43, will be whole again, strong and lithe like he was before the 18-wheeler hit him on Oct. 20, 2006, destroying his body beyond recognition, identifiable only by the tattoo on his hip that he and his wife each got when they celebrated their 40th birthdays.

Always punctual and known for his gentleness and generosity, Robert will wave to the 150 cyclists as they finish this 9.7 mile ride, pulling into the outdoor court at the Irvine Civic Center.

Barrans and the other cyclists ride slowly and with purpose along the San Diego Creek bike path. They pass the brightly lit baseball fields in Barber Athletic Park. By the time they pull into civic center’s courtyard, they ride under the same canopy of stars seen by other groups on this night.

But there is no miracle this night, at least not for Barrans, who never got to hug her brother goodbye, who never saw his body in a casket, who still hopes the hit and run driver will turn himself in.

Barrans coasts to a stop and sobs, alone for a moment in the crowd. Within seconds, Maud David, a fellow French Canadian who has made a home in Orange County, gently rubs Barrens’ shoulder, the two of them straddling modest blue bicycles.

David has more to say, but this part of the article is a far better accompanyment to my photos than anything I could come up with on my own, and I thank him for sharing this story with his readers.

I rode in the back of the pack so as to best capture images of the ride that visually explained the journey, and as I road along the Bike Trail, in its peaceful rubbing of shoulders with nature, passing shopping centers, and ballparks, walkers, joggers, and the occasional cyclist going the opposite way, I felt a peacefullness, and calmness, that seemed to affect everyone around me as we breathed in the air, and took in the sky,and stars, above us.

We don’t usually think about becoming members of a community when we take up a sport. We develop skills. We learn to handle the equipment. We train. And suddenly we discover we are members of a tribe.

I recall Barrans’ soft, French-accented words, about her brother, "I think maybe he’ll be there. But he wasn’t there."

Or was he?

Returning back to where we began I did not see any spirits of cylists lost, but I have no doubt that they were there, at the side of their grieving friends, and loved ones, in silent thanks for our tribute.

I was approached by Barbara Tomita, and invited to join the OC Wheelmen contingent at a local eatery for an after ride meal, and it was a pleasant hour where I got to meet other members of this club I joined a few months ago.

Ride of Silence Irvine 2007 a Success

On Wednesday evening I joined more than 150 of my fellow OC Cyclists in one of several Rides of Silence in the county, around the nation, and across the world. ( Preview report with initial pictures. )

It was a powerful experience, and quite emotional for many in attendance.

Bill Sellin, the Founder of the Bicycle Club of Irvine, and affectionately known as its "Rasputin", led the ride, and got things under way, with introductions, and a discussion of the route.

I had a chance to meet Bill, and discovered that he was familiar with The Cycling Dude. ;-D

Riders assembled between 6 and 6:30 at Irvine's Civic Center at the flag poles in front of the Police Department then cued up for a 7 pm slow paced, single file, silent commemoration
to the riders who are no longer with us, especially those who were disabled or killed on the road.

I had the pleasure of finally meeting in person members of the Orange County Wheelmen Club, which I recently joined, and met, among others, Club President Barbara Tomita, seen here in white on the 4 seater, and Public Relations man Mike Lee, both of who I've corresponded with in the past.

Chris Kirkland, read the Ride of Silence Poem, in an emotional tribute to his wife Christy, killed in November, while riding with another member of the local Trail Angels Club.

There were a couple of displays, and stacks of the City of Irvine Bikeways Map ( Updated Aug. 2006. ), the Moving America Forward Bicycling Brochure from the Bikes Belong Coalition, a 2 page collection of info about cycling safe, that included 10 Smart Routes to Bicycle Safety, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin., and tips from Cal Dot Dist.9, and the really cool, 46 page, Booklet by John S. Allen, BICYCLING STREET SMARTS: Riding Confidently, Legally, and Safely, from Bicycle Magazine.

One display was in honor of a very talented 13 year old boy, Jason Kramer, killed last September.

His Father was raising money by selling a CD of music performed by the young man, and that music played in the backround as we gathered for the ride.

Orange County has seen a large number of deaths in 2006, and more in 2007, and this has the local Cycling Community very concerned.

Some are wondering if we need to start putting up "Ghost Bikes" up all over the county:

WIKIPEDIA Entry for Ghost Bikes.

Columbia News Service Article- April 2007.

GhostBike.org

The Ghost Cycle Project of Seattle.

Chicago Ghost Bikes.

The Ghost Bikes Project of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

Ghost Bike Pittsburgh.

VISUAL RESISTANCE: NY City Ghost Bike Project.

Ghost Bikes can be found all over the world, including Vancouver, London and Prague.

At 7pm we set out, heading west to the entrance of the nearby San Diego River Bike Trail, riding south to the entrance onto Alton Parkway, then heading east alongside traffic, single file, or 2-by-2, in the Bike Lane.

The ride was about 10 miles, and crossed several major intersections, before entering the Bike Trail again for the trip past several community gathering spots, where we would also be seen, and