another shitty bike blog

austinandthevelocipede: “What the fuck are you doing in the...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:15:35 -0400

“What the fuck are you doing in the road? Get your ass up on the sidewalk! You know there’s a bike lane over here, right? You’re gonna hold up traffic! Get the hell out of the road!”

These words were recently yelled at me from two lanes to the right while I waited on my bicycle in the left turn lane for the red light to change so I could make a safe, perfectly legal left turn. The sad reality is that for cyclists, this is nothing out of the ordinary, and if you ride a bike around much, I’m sure you’ve experienced something similar. An even sadder reality is that if you are the driver of an automobile and never a cyclist, I’m willing to bet you have been tempted to yell something like this out the window at one time or another. The yelling, though, is just the beginning. Far worse exchanges between motorists and cyclists are fairly commonplace as well, but I won’t go into detail on that here.

The frustration and animosity many drivers hold toward cyclists has for some time been rather perplexing to me, but I think I have come to realize that most of it stems from a widespread misunderstanding of traffic laws regarding bicycles. As such, I feel as though I should take a minute to state a few of the basic ideas here.

1.     Cyclists are legally supposed to ride in the road rather than on the sidewalk.

When I lived in Chicago, there were many places where this was actually posted with the threat of a fine or arrest for offending cyclists. Sidewalks are for walking – plain and simple. This is why they are not known as “siderides” or something of the sort. The basic rule I think everyone should realize is that a pedestrian is just a person. As such, pedestrians should have the most rights and the least responsibility when it comes to traffic. The moment a person chooses to bring some sort of transportation device into the equation, things become a bit more complicated. This is why, legally, cyclists are supposed to ride in the road. So get used to it, drivers. Cyclists shouldn’t ride on the sidewalk any more than you should drive on it.

2.     When a bike lane is provided and it is reasonable to do so, cyclists should ride in the bike lane. However, cyclists are not legally required to be in the bike lane when doing so is unreasonable.

What do I mean by “reasonable” or “unreasonable?” Well, imagine, if you can, a world where bike lanes are full of broken glass and potholes and traffic cones and illegally parked cars and road kill and horribly maintained, dangerous sewer grates and other such obstacles, and while you’re at it, imagine that people might need to turn left from time to time. Okay, now stop trying to imagine it, and just accept it as the way things are. Life is not perfect, and neither are bike lanes. When is the last time you saw a left turn bike lane? Yeah. That’s what I thought. So when I’m on my bike, and I need to turn left, guess who has to cut across a couple lanes of traffic? Try thinking of it this way: bike lanes are not so much designed to keep me out of your way as they are to keep you out of mine. That’s right! Cyclists in bike lanes can legally cross into regular traffic lanes when they need to do so, but cars are not allowed in the bike lane. More power (and a metal cage around you) means more regulation.

3.     Just because you are in a vehicle that is capable of traveling at the posted speed limit, this does not mean that you deserve or should expect to move at that speed limit at all times.

You want to race? Go to a racetrack. It’s not my fault that you’re running late for work or whatever. I know we’re all spoiled with our smartphones and microwaves and what not, but seriously, get it together. It’s not going to kill you to wait 10 seconds until there is an opening wide enough to safely pass by me with your family-friendly armored tank. It might, however, kill me if you don’t. If you were driving, and a small child ran into the road ahead of you, would you keep on cruising because you’re in a 35mph zone and that means you deserve to always be moving at 35mph, or would you slam on the brakes and try to avoid causing a fatality? I think sometimes people forget that speed limits are actually meant to be limits. In other words, in a 35mph speed zone, you are legally allowed to drive at a speed somewhere between 0mph and 35mph. 35 is the limit, not the expectation at all times regardless of all circumstances. I have no problem with you passing me in your car as long as you leave me a sensible amount of space, but then you have no right to get all upset when you’re stopped in traffic and I pass you by. You passed me when we were both moving. Which do you think is more dangerous? If that’s so frustrating to you, get a smaller vehicle.

Share the road. Seriously, it’s the law.

For more information on bicycle laws in the state of California, visit this link:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl37.htm

If you don’t live in California, please check your state’s laws.

"It reminds me of the “bike to work” movement. That is also portrayed as white, but in my city more..."

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:00:59 -0500

“

It reminds me of the “bike to work” movement. That is also portrayed as white, but in my city more than half of the people on bike are not white. I was once talking to a white activist who was photographing “bike commuters” and had only pictures of white people with the occasional “black professional” I asked her why she didn’t photograph the delivery people, construction workers etc. … ie. the black and Hispanic and Asian people… and she mumbled something about trying to “improve the image of biking” then admitted that she didn’t really see them as part of the “green movement” since they “probably have no choice” –

I was so mad I wanted to quit working on the project she and I were collaborating on.

So, in the same way when people in a poor neighborhood grow food in their yards … it’s just being poor– but when white people do it they are saving the earth or something.

”

- comment left on the Racialious blog post “Sustainable Food & Privilege: Why is Green always White (and Male and Upper-Class)” (via sister-bell)

Photo

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:45:08 -0500

watch this. you won’t be sorry. Alt-J - Dissolve Me

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:50:00 -0500

watch this.

you won’t be sorry.

Alt-J - Dissolve Me

so, Bill Nye is pretty into bikes. nice!

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:53:31 -0500

so, Bill Nye is pretty into bikes. nice!

austinandthevelocipede: For Evan. and this is my buddy Austin;...

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:50:21 -0500

austinandthevelocipede:

For Evan.

and this is my buddy Austin; being awesome!

just put in my last grad school application about 10 minutes...

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:43:15 -0500

just put in my last grad school application about 10 minutes ago. this is almost exactly what my semester has looked like. hahaha!

(via kaleandkittens)

looks like Bill Nye rode his bike to the polls today too! Go...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:06:16 -0500

looks like Bill Nye rode his bike to the polls today too! Go Vote!

pinback - glide set to footage from a 1965 le Tour documentary,...

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:23:00 -0400

pinback - glide

set to footage from a 1965 le Tour documentary, FTW!

gpoyw - thank Merckx for clotheslines and waterproof backpacks...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:30:55 -0400

gpoyw - thank Merckx for clotheslines and waterproof backpacks edition.

Signal boost:‎ 53cm fixed gear/single speed bike for sale....

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:40:14 -0400

Signal boost:‎

53cm fixed gear/single speed bike for sale. Perfect for someone around 5’6”. IRO frame Sugino crankset cane creek headset with continental gator skin tires. $200 OBO Akron only!! Must sell so make me an offer!! - A great dude.

dailyproductdesigns: Laser Bike Light “The best way to stay...

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:10:02 -0400

dailyproductdesigns:

Laser Bike Light

“The best way to stay safe while biking is to stay visible to those you share the road with. And while concepts for laser-based systems that create a highly visible virtual lane around your bike have existed for years and years, they’re finally real (and cheap!) now.

A Korean company called Slancio makes this rear safety light that includes a requisite set of flashing red LEDs, but also a pair of lasers that produce a thin set of lines on the road on either side of your bike. Not only do they add to your visibility at night, they also create a safe space around your bicycle that most drivers and other riders will subconsciously stay clear of. It’s a brilliant idea that’s made all the more amazing with a $20 price tag that makes these a no-brainer upgrade for your ride.”

You can purchase this product here for $18.99.

I have seen a lot of companies try to make something like this, and fail…

But this seems to hit the nail on the head, as long as construction quality is up to par.

“I wanted to get back to earth… can you hear me? can...

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:25:22 -0400

“I wanted to get back to earth… can you hear me? can you hear me? can you hear me?”

jamesnord: neil, are you there?

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 00:57:51 -0400

jamesnord:

neil, are you there?

all I got to say: fuck the USADA. glad you guys are working...

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 01:20:00 -0400

all I got to say: fuck the USADA.

glad you guys are working hard to spend millions shamefully pursuing a man who would use those same millions to inspire hope in the hearts of those who have very little.

(via brandnewmonster)

youngamericanlife: Rad. hell yeah!

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:51:30 -0400

youngamericanlife:

Rad.

hell yeah!

velogogo: (via Suitcase of Courage by StomachOfAnger |...

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:17:11 -0400

velogogo:

(via Suitcase of Courage by StomachOfAnger | StomachOfAnger)

like merckx, coppi, lemond, and the rest, this man forever...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:05:52 -0400

like merckx, coppi, lemond, and the rest, this man forever changed what it means to be a cyclist, and a human being…

to set it straight, I do not condone doping. but, that being said, I am on Lance’s side, dirty or clean.

no two ways about it; that’s just that.

I owe a lot, in a lot of way, to this man, and I don’t think the USADA has anything but shamefully self-serving intent here.

a little write up by Bike Jerks that may help clarify why I don’t give a fuck if he was dirty.

(via benjaminjtaylor)

straightblacknosugar: BMC vs SKY Bwahahahahahaha! too true!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:28:35 -0400

straightblacknosugar:

BMC vs SKY

Bwahahahahahaha! too true!

close to 2.5 years ago I got these shoes for free, when chrome...

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:42:00 -0400

close to 2.5 years ago I got these shoes for free, when chrome did their first ‘turds for gold.’ I have worn them almost every day since then. today I finally bought a new pair of midways.

they really are the toughest shoes I have ever owned; if only they still made them in brown.