Friday, June 26, 2009

ugly hit and and hit and drag and run by Fox writer

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/fox-news-writer-drags-cyclist.php

The driver then accelerated, lunging straight into me, knocking me and my bicycle to the ground and to the left side of his car. I quickly got to my feet and positioned myself in front of his vehicle to prevent him from fleeing the scene. I called out to bystanders to call the police and yelled at the driver that he was insane, he just hit me, and he can't leave. The driver again accelerated into me, with no intention of stopping, forcing me, prostrate, onto the drivers side hood of his vehicle. Riding precariously with a 4,000 lb wheel inches from pulling me beneath it, I screamed for the driver to "Stop!!! Please Stop!!" over and over. He continued to ignore my pleas for some 200ft. keeping a steady 5 or 10mph. He then stopped suddenly allowing me to fall off the side of the hood. Just as quickly as he stopped he violently accelerated again knocking me to the side. This time I managed to stay standing. The driver then sped off Northbound. At this point several witnesses came to my aid and reported his license plate.

D: I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Hitting a cyclist with a car should involve criminal charges.
That's a high speed, one ton weapon.

A traffic offence?!
You gotta be kidding.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

comic, types of jerk cyclists



D: just a sample.

ROTFL!
These jokes resemble me. At least, occupying a whole lane downtown in 'car door hell'.

BIKELY, nifty online map of bike routes



D: it seems to be more useful between smaller towns than within them.

My roomie said something about a Google Map beta that looks for bike paths.
http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Google_Maps_Gets_More_Pedestrian

D: here is a pedestrian version.

http://www.theunwired.net/?item=service-google-adds-pedestrian-mode-to-google-maps-no-new-mobile-client-available-yet

D: though let's face it, if you can walk it, you can likely bike it.

Unrelated aside: The weather was rain today.
On the way to brunch, I saw a fellow in a poncho on a bike.
He had cleverly draped the poncho over the handlebars, thereby covering his legs.
Very practical!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

pal cop responds to my crime post 2 blogs ago

Says Constable A. G.:

"Well, lets say it's in the context that we get a call and it's a traffic complaint - driver swerved for a cyclist. There are many Highway Traffic/Provincial Offences we could charge them with.As for it becoming a weapon and going criminally, it could 'technically' be done, the likelihood of it going to a conviction through court....that's a little questionable.If there is more than enough evidence to prove that the driver had intent and did want to infact injure or take the cyclist of the road using foce/weapon...if there was an injury as a result, severity of it, if the suspect is known to victim, there's something we could charge them with i'm sure. It really would depend on the severity and attitude of the driver."

Thanks! <:

UK optical illusion of big hole to slow cyclists




This reminds me of something from the "Traffic" book I read.
Create wide off-colour curbs, although they are a functional road surface.
This makes the street feel narrower, and therefore less safe.
Subjectively, folks think driving slower is a good idea.

Instead, we encourage speeding by making the roads feel particularly open and safe.
And.... encourage speeding.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

law to handle drivers harrassing cyclists

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/survey-should-harassment-of-cyclists-get-its-own-law.php

"April just pointed out that harassment of bicyclists by car drivers is now a special misdemeanor offense in Missouri—it's got its own specific law prohibiting it, rather than it just being included under existing driving laws. Colorado will have a similar law go into effect on August 5th. Personally I think it's not a bad idea at all. Although I haven't experienced it myself, I've had plenty of friends who have been swerved at by drivers, nearly sideswiped, or otherwise harassed by motorists who seemingly feel that anything in the road other than a car deserves to be physically pushed off it. So, what do readers think?"

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D: Hmm. If somebody displays a weapon, such as a large knife, it becomes illegal to "beg, accost, or impede".
And what is a car but a very large weapon? In this context.
Ergo, I'd argue that the criminal code could be applied to drivers that use their automobiles to accost or impede a cyclist.
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