An Australian outlet reports on a Dutch cyclist injured riding in Spain. Small world. Cyclist Hoogerland injured in collision From the description it appears to be a left cross collision, intersection protocols to avoid. Infrastructure does not apply here because this wreck could have happened even with segregated infrastructure if the driver was paying similar attention to cyclists…

LifeStyle in LA. Bike ride pays tribute to teen cyclist killed on Tammany Trace The rider blew a stop sign at a road crossing on the bike trail, so intersection protocol to avoid, and the infrastructure was (mostly) right in this case so just follow the rules and nobody gets hurt.

Really Good News as the Colorado Supreme Court rules the town of Blackhawk has illegally banned bicycles from a major bike route to make it easier for tourists to get to casinos (that from the court’s comments during the hearing, not from this link). Colorado court rules against Black Hawk, saying bicycles are a state interest The bike ban has resulted in a stream of steady bad publicity for the town which townspeople are blaming on cyclists instead of the politicians that instituted the ban. The problem is really the huge buses that are used to haul people from Denver and its suburbs to Blackhawk taking up more than a full lane as provided on the road, not cyclists per se. The local politicians don’t want to force the casinos to use smaller (and more) vehicles to haul customers to the money drains because that would reduce their profits because they would have to hire an extra driver for each additional vehicle they used. I suggest PSA’s with the culprits behind the ban identified as the source of the bad publicity, aired for about as long as bikes were banned from the town. And perhaps a few public floggings of the culprits to appease the townsfolk.

And those are all the links that gave me fits today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

This morning as I was laying out my clothes for the day the temperature was 56, but the hourly forecast called for a temperature of 42 for the time I was going to be riding. By the time I was finished with my shower the outside temperature had jumped to 62 and by the time I was out the door it had gotten to 65, and was 70°F on my return leg from morning services. I was wearing tights under cotton shorts (needed pockets again) and a lightweight long-sleeve jersey and was way over-dressed for the conditions even on the way out, definitely for the return leg of the trip. This is much more like March weather than what we normally get this time of year in TX. I have no idea what to wear for the ride to evening services, maybe mukluks and a parka?

For those who may be wondering, this was our celebration of Imbolc, where Winter fights a retreating battle against Spring. We blessed our tools both magical and mundane for the upcoming season. It was interesting looking at the things that were on the altar to be blessed, ranging from paper notebooks to notebook computers, sticks with twine wrappings to swords, kitchen tools of all descriptions, and my helmet standing in for all of my bike stuff. For things that could not be removed to bring into the building there were paper notes naming the items that were blessed in absentia

The DIY bike light project is still going on as I tested the solar cells to determine which side was “+” and which terminal was “-” as I want to recharge the batteries, not quick-discharge them. Also while testing for positive and negative I found the solar units were under-rated for voltage, as I was getting readings of 4.77V as I was trying to find which terminal was which. I wasn’t testing the current out but the rating was 90ma at 4.5V and 200ma short-circuit. As I put in an earlier post, these units were made to charge solar yard lights with 3S NiMH cells and 3 will put out C/11 into my NiMH AA pack. This is a very safe charging rate and will top the cells nicely.

One of the things I have to do is make the bracketry work for the handlebars I’m using on this project with the large horizontal brace between the actual bars I hang on to. The light has to clear the bars when they are laid back at a comfortable angle as it will be almost 8″ wide at its widest point (lots of LEDs). Placing the solar power behind the lighting units will move the wide part of the light about 2½” forward from the bars so that the light has clearance to swing down and shine on the road rather than the trees and clouds overhead. I also have to be careful about running the wires where they won’t get damaged in handling and normal use, and are esthetically pleasing (mostly invisible). I’m slightly torn about some of the esthetics of this build. I could frame the lights with angle and weld the angle to the backplate and extend the part where I mount the solar power units forward to act as a visor to help keep stray light from getting in oncoming drivers’ eyes, or I could just mount the lighting units to the backplate and the solar units behind the backplate, leaving the lighting units completely exposed and also allowing that stray light to light up street signs (and get in oncoming drivers’ eyes). So 6 of one and half a dozen of another. The good part about framing the backplate with angle is that it automatically jigs the top panel for the solar units at right angles to the backplate. One thing I know I’m doing is running angle from the backplate to the mounts to the handlebars to reinforce the top panel against bending, so I might as well go ahead and frame out the backpanel while I’m doing it. Another thing I’m doing is using an Altoids tin as a battery box as they are (mostly) weatherproof, especially if they are protected against direct spray against the hinge line and since I’m putting the box behind the backplate it will be protected against direct spray. It won’t withstand direct immersion, but for riding around on a bicycle it will be fine, especially mounted under the solar top panel and behind the backplate.

So, the bike light project is moving forward, the project the bike light is going to be attached to is moving forward, and I survived another cross-quarter celebration with hair still on my head. By the next solar sabbat I will be shaved of head and my fuzzy locks will be lining local birds’ nests and keeping the chicks comfy, and maybe I’ll be riding the new bike and debugging the design.

PSA, Opus

Up first is a report on a cyclist killed near El Paso. Dedicated cyclist Tom Veljic killed in December car crash Nothing on the mode of the wreck or even which vehicles were involved, but this is more about the victim than how he died.

A wreck “Joisey”. Clifton Police identify man killed while riding bicycle on Route 3 I don’t believe the account about the cyclist “crossing” the road absent viewing the actual physical evidence, but the bare fact of the hit-and-run is enough to declare fault in this wreck. In my book any hit-and-run is automatically the fault of the driver that flees the scene. And all hit-and-run drivers should be forced to watch their cars get recycled, from the inside of the car if they killed someone.

A cyclist visiting Oz from a country where they ride on both the right and “correct” side of the road salmons to his death. Killed cyclist riding wrong way down road This is one of the problems with having different countries requiring different sides of the road to ride/drive on, if you come from one and then move to or visit another you can wind up dead. I can’t offer much advice on this one except to remember where you are and which side of the road they drive on.

Irony from the NY Post as they count up the number of people killed my motor vehicles while ranting about “dangerous” bicycles in an ad under the article. B’klyn mean streets and the article they have linked under this litany of motor vehicle death and destruction Getting a jump on rogue cyclists Note that more than 15K people were injured enough to require a police report, but instead of actually doing something about the causes of these injuries and deaths, they assign 3K people to give tickets to delivery cyclists trying to make a living that seldom injure and haven’t killed anyone since 2009… Talk about your misplaced priorities.

And those are all the live links that had something to do with cycling that were not about racing.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

I realize I’m seriously building this up, but that’s because I think this project will perform as advertised, and have the benefit of being fun to plan and build. Of course if you build it then you lose the fun of planning it in exchange for building a known good project. And THAT assumes that this project will work as a whole. I know the bits work, but I can’t say the same about everything together. But when the project is complete I will document the build on a Wreck Free Sunday post.

And links tomorrow!

PSA, Opus

What started as an occasional hobby has turned into a moderate obsession, then again who I am kidding … it is more of a disturbing obsession. It was early 2012 that  I found myself residing back in the rocky terrain of the Sonoran Desert and in a prime spot to not only further my love affair with mountain biking, but now road biking as well. As with most aspects of life, it just happens. So here starts this blog, an outlet for dreams, practicality, pursuit, and all that develops around this impassioned desire.

The only live link I have on an actual non-racing bicycle story is this LifeStyle link from LA. Bike ride set in Covington for teen cyclist killed in accident If you’re in the area this is a WoaB Approved Ride Not that anyone needs my approval to go on a bike ride…

I had several links to stories that were behind paywalls, which I count as “dead links” when I’m filtering. If I can’t click on the link and read the story, for all intents and purposes it’s a dead link. Sorry for all the riders whose stories end up this way.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

So far the only link I have to a wreck is a re-hash of the hit-and-run near Bellingham WA that I mentioned a couple of days ago.1 bicyclist killed, 1 injured in Whatcom Co. Still a dead cyclist, still an impaired driver with zero compassion towards the injured cyclist. She still deserves the death penalty, so nothing has changed in this story.

This came late. Bicyclist dies in wreck Another ht-from-behind by a blind driver. Use the protocols to avoid, and get the infrastructure right to prevent.

This is kinda cute… A Strava inspired mobile phone ad I don’t watch much TV these days so I haven’t seen the ad mentioned.

And this is not cute. Plea to online users not to circulate photos of boys’ bodies I have inquired if arresting the driver is routine in fatal wrecks or if this indicates who was at fault in the wreck, still waiting an answer.

Infrastructure! news from NYC, where stupid people get newspaper columns. Hamill: ‘I hate bike lanes’ and support the mayoral candidate who will put the brakes on them

Blue and I will be making a public appearance at the BFOC Mardi Gras ride on February 10th. The Official Dallas Tweed Ride, Cancelled; Rescheduled for November 2013 Link to the Mardi Gras ride is in the article about the Tweed Ride (which I might also show up for). I’m looking for a supply of cheap beads to throw, and a pink feather boa to go with the HiViz jersey I have and my black tights (if wearing pink and ANSI Safety Lime doesn’t convince people I’m either straight or completely color blind I don’t know what will).

And those are all the links I have for today, now I’m going to go ride my bike.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Near where I used to live when I was in the Pacific NW, a cyclist is killed and another is injured by an impaired driver committing hit-and-run. Driver facing charges in death of cyclist near Kendall This story keeps changing. Last night the dead cyclist was lighted like a Christmas display in Las Vegas, today he was wearing dark clothing and riding without lights? Anyway, hit from behind wreck, use the protocols to avoid and get the infrastructure right to prevent. In this case it would be putting bike and pedestrian facilities on the only road in and out of the area. A different news outlet had this report. One cyclist killed, one injured after accident on Kendall Road off Mt. Baker Highway

A PA cyclist is injured in a wreck with a motor vehicle. Injured cyclist remains in critical condition At this point I think the wreck was in an intersection, so use intersection protocols to avoid. What I’m not sure of is if the bike had a motor or not, and I’m not real positive about the wreck actually being in the intersection either.

A cyclist is injured in far West Canuckistan. Cyclist injured after being hit by taxi in Vancouver The cyclist was making a left turn, but the direction of travel for the taxi has not been released. Intersection wreck, use the protocols to avoid and get the infrastructure right to prevent. Given the cyclist’s left turn, this is most likely a case of the cyclist not looking in front because of fear of being hit from behind while making the turn, which is also an indictment against the infrastructure.

UK link, 2 cyclists are killed in a hit-and-run. Cyclists killed in Bristol ‘hit-and-run’ The followup posts on the sidebars tell that the driver was caught almost immediately as police followed the vehicle, and that the cyclists were riding a tandem bike roughly the size of a VW Golf. I’m sure they were wearing a few square feet of HiViz clothing and helmets too, because the lack of was never mentioned.

And that’s all I had in the morning part of the Feed.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

The driver of an SUV failed to yield to a cyclist with right-of-way in Enn Zed. Cyclist injured in collision with car Intersection wreck, not clear as to which direction the cyclist was traveling in relation to the SUV, but intersection protocols none-the-less to avoid. Get the infrastructure right to prevent. Look at that sea of asphalt in the picture, there’s no reason that couldn’t have been divvied up for bicycles and motor vehicles to use safely instead of having to fight for space. Of course given that the SUV driver failed to yield already, physical infrastructure without strong legal infrastructure to back it up is not worth much, you need laws that make the physical infrastructure work.

Infrastructure!-ish sort of article from NYC. 17 Pedestrians & Cyclists Killed In December, 1,500 Injured If people were actually paying attention to what was going on instead of what the mass media tells us to pay attention to, someone (besides me) would be clamoring for some form of “car control” to stem the tide of dead and injured pedestrians and cyclists.

And those are all the links I got today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first from Upstate NY a drunk driver hits the jackpot. Cyclist Killed by Drunk Driver The driver has a previous DUI conviction, which is very hard to get in NY (by reputation at any rate, reality might be a little different). We’ll have to see what this might get in the way of prosecution, if any. Since mode and direction were not given I can’t say how to avoid, but getting the infrastructure right would probably have kept the drunk driver away from the cyclist riding home from work.

A cyclist is killed in PA. Cyclist killed in morning West Goshen crash At this point all that has been released was the direction of travel for the weapon vehicle, the cyclist’s direction is either unknown or being kept secret so as not to arouse pitchforks and torches. So I can’t say again what could have been done to avoid the wreck, only that woeful infrastructure (hey, this is the USA all of our bike infrastructure is woeful) had a major part in causing the death and fixing that condition would prevent most of the 600-700 annual deaths and millions of injuries suffered every year because people in motor vehicles run into people on bikes.

And those are all the links I have today, except for the motorcycle wrecks…

Billed @$0.02, Opus

This project takes the concept of the HAWK crosswalk warning system ans turns it upside down and sideways. so that not only are drivers alerted that pedestrians want to cross, they are shown where the crosswalk is on the road, and where the pedestrians are in the road. How to Make a ‘Glowing Crosswalk’ Urban Prototype The prototype system was created to be a portable demonstration system, but the principles and much of the hardware would be the same for the permanently installed system. I particularly like the battery-backup so that the crossing works even if grid power is down, meaning even in a power failure pedestrians can safely cross the street (assuming drivers aren’t taking advantage of the chaos to be assholes).

I see this as being ideal for mid-block crossings that would be hard to notice otherwise, as drivers have become conditioned to only seeing pedestrian crossings at intersections. As I see it it would be far more useful than the HAWK system that sits at the side of the street and does not light the middle of the street. It has the potential to be far less expensive to install than the HAWK system, which runs between $77K and $125K depending on the complexity of the installation.

My riding has been ahead of projections so far this month, I was planning on a 2K mile year this year, and my “trend” line at BikeJournal.com is way ahead of that. Part of that is because I generally have a lot of places to ride to at the beginning of the year as I have to make many trips to banks to deposit checks that came over the holidays, and meetings for various church committees that form over the holidays to do things in the coming year, plus just the usual banging around I do for keeping the household running and doing what I do. Then I have less to do during February and March that I can do on my bike and I fall behind a bit, then things get real busy during the late Spring and Summer as I run all over town doing things and going places. Then I usually get most of my miles in for the year. Last year was a bit different because of me Dad getting sick and then passing, with several weeks away from home and a bicycle living in a town that had no use for either bicycles or walking. That is not likely to happen this year as I’m all out of parents. That last sentence was a lot more jarring than I intended, but I have tried several times to come up with some other way to say it and all of them are even more jarring.

I’m still trying to get the pictures to show in the build story for the winter face mask I made from the Halloween mask, but nothing seems to be working. I’ll take another stab at it today, maybe it will work this time…

PSA, Opus

Up first a wreck that has not been fully investigated yet in OK. Bike rider dies after being hit As of the posting of this link all that had been released was the fact that the wreck happened, what happened is still up for grabs, so I’ll keep watching this story to see what develops. And develop it has. Altus Police Investigating Fatal Car-On-Bike Collision It seems this is a hit-from-behind wreck of a lighted and reflectorised cyclist and a hit-and-run to boot. Prediction: the driver will claim he “didn’t see” anything when he hit the cyclist and didn’t stop because he has the IQ of a mule and just ignored an impact that tore pieces from his truck and left them scattered in the road.

Lots of links to this UK story about the low value placed on lives not carried inside motor vehicles. Taxi driver fined £35 after cyclist’s death and Taxi driver who killed a cyclist and carried his body on car bonnet for 90 metres before smashing into a tree is fined just £35 also Taxi driver fined £35 after killing Birmingham cyclist Even Daily Mail readers are aghast at this exhibition, normally they are there with the torches and pitchforks at the slightest bicyclist transgression. AFAIK and not being an expert on the UK justice system by any means, much of the problem with this case came from the court it was tried in. Basically the only way that there could have been a stiffer sentence imposed would have been for the magistrate to have refused to hear the case on the grounds that it exceeded his authority. In US terms this was a Justice of the Peace hearing a murder case, and only having limited fines and tiny jail sentences at his disposal.

In contrast to the previous story, a court with real authority can impose significant amounts of prison time when deserved. Drivers have a responsibility to be aware of cyclists, says judge This case resulted in both an admonishment to all drivers to watch what was in front of them on the roads as well as a prison term and loss of driving privileges. Still not appropriate to the crime, but several orders of magnitude greater than the previous story.

And that’s all I have today. After I post this I have to go put some lube on my chain, as it has been too cold to apply my particular brand of chain lube (50°F or warmer required for the carrier oil to take the dissolved solid lubricant inside the links) until recently.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

More strangeness in the mails as I was asked to sample ground coffee and do a survey about it. I’ll get back with you (if I am allowed to) about the coffee, but it’s several pots worth of free coffee coming in the mail… even if it’s Not Good coffee it’s still Free Coffee.

And I can tell it’s winter by looking at my average speed on the bike computer, which has dropped from around 11.5 MPH to 10 or so (with several trips under 10 MPH between cold, rain, and high winds that never seem to be in my favor). One thing I have to report on the good side, aside from some condensation problems the new mask is working well at it’s intended purpose of keeping wind off my face and not fogging my glasses. I would still prefer putting a baffle in a full-face motorcycle helmet, but really this mask is doing the job, and is not too bad to use now that I have figured out that the mask works best under the ‘clava instead of over it. I still need to glue that washer to the glasses so that I get them quickly located on the mask instead of having to fiddle with the left-right location to get both mirrors in the view of the lenses. That’s part of the fun of DIY personal gear.

Up first, to borrow a phrasing from Ted Rogers over at BikingInLA, if your casing homes to rob and you have marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and outstanding warrants you might want to ride a bike with lights on it to prevent getting pulled over by police. Thursday’s Sentinel police log

A cyclist in Oz is injured in a hit-and-run, 2 links. Cyclist seriously injured during hit and run and Cyclist injured in suspected hit-and-run If the driver didn’t stay at the scene then I’m pretty sure this was a hit-and-run…Note that you can see the cyclist had both a head and tail light visible in the video to the second link, which places the onus on the driver to see the cyclist since the cyclist has taken appropriate measures to ensure visibility. I still have no sound on my computer so I could not hear whatever voice-over came with the video. I’m not sure of the location of the wreck in relation to the nearest intersection so I can’t give instructions on avoiding this type of wreck, but getting the infrastructure right would prevent it.

Our first Infrastructure! link comes from VA as their dooring bill wends its way through the legislature. Senate panel backs car door opening bill in Virginia The comments on this bill are interesting, to say the least.

Another VA infrastructure law that helps cyclists is this bill being rejected. Panel rejects bill that would limit red-light cameras Right on red is a law that has killed thousands and maimed millions of pedestrians since it was forced on the country back in the 1970s as a way to save gas, but this bill would NOT protect pedestrians and sidewalk cyclists from drivers that roll through intersections without stopping to make sure that the intersection is really clear of traffic, not just clear of cars. Dumping it was a good idea.

Late link, Miami judge sentences drunken bike killer to less than a year in jail after hit-and-run. Michele Traverso Sentenced To Less Than a Year For Killing Cyclist; Carlos Bertonatti Still Awaiting Trial and Michele Traverso, Driver In Hit-And-Run That Killed Aaron Cohen, Sentenced To 364 Days In Jail (VIDEO) 364 days for killing a human being and injuring another in the same incident, with no mention of keeping him away from the controls of motor vehicles after his sentence. After reading the second link I’m wondering if the judge’s bank accounts need to be frozen and examined for recent large deposits, because going from 20-25 year to less than a year in under a week sounds suspiciously like money changed hands in exchange for a lesser sentence.

And that’s all the links I have today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first and only slightly bicycle-related, a woman in Belgium drives 900 miles and several international borders out of her way to a friend’s house because of a wrong turn from her GPS. Sabine Moreau, Belgian Woman, Drives 900 Miles Off 90-Mile Route Because Of GPS Error How this story relates to bicycles is that people get so fixated on following the damned GPS that they forget their common sense, sometimes including paying attention to the road. This woman was following a round-the-world course from her GPS instead of pushing the button for a new course that made more sense. People will fixate on their GPS instead of looking out the windshield to see where they are going and in the process run over cyclists that should have been plainly visible in front of them.

A CA wreck with very little in the way of information at the moment. Female Cyclist Seriously Injured in Long Beach Crash I’ll keep tracking this one to see if I can find out more. And here’s more Bicyclist killed in collision with car in Long Beach and Bicyclist Hit, Killed By Minivan In Long Beach also East Long Beach Traffic Accident Kills Bicyclist Right now this is being reported as a cyclist runs a red light wreck, but the only witness as to who had the red or green was the driver of the minivan… Intersection wreck, use the protocols to avoid, and get the infrastructure right to prevent.

Update on the hit-and-run in NYC. Cyclist In Critical Condition From Hit & Run Is Construction Worker Who Builds Bikes OK this just became personal for me because the victim and I share a common hobby/business. And I like the comment made by “edgie” that explains so much about the lackluster investigations performed by NYPD when people are killed with motor vehicles.

From the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike, a killer driver faces sentencing. Driver in Rickenbacker Causeway cyclist death to be sentenced Pity that hanging, drawing and quartering were not on the table as punishment.

From one of my FB friends an article on riding in weather Texans wouldn’t drive in. (Yes, that’s another dig at TX) Ride On Layers, and warm gloves. Keep warm and you’ll find that many days you thought were not ridable are just fine. Icy roads are a different matter, I’m making some studded tires to mount on a spare wheel for that situation.

And those are all the links I could find today, I hope you enjoyed them or found something worth while.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first because that was what I clicked on first is a link to a hit-from-behind in MA. 60-year-old cyclist killed in Westfield LEO need to subpoena his online activities and see if he ever posted that he would run a cyclist over instead of passing safely, because that’s what the driver did in this case. And I have read too many posts on Boston.com that had comments that said either exactly that or something very similar to that. Anyway, hit-from-behind, use the protocols to avoid and get the infrastructure right to prevent. And start executing drivers that kill.

Next folder had 2 links to a hit-and-run in NYC. Cyclist Critically Injured in Apparent Hit-and-Run in Brooklyn, Police Say and my favorite NYC local news outlet said Cyclist Critically Injured In Bushwick Hit And Run At this point NYPD has not released any details about the wreck that would allow my making a determination about conclusively avoiding or preventing this wreck, but based on what I know no I can say that they were in an intersection and that intersection protocols might have helped avoid this wreck and that getting the infrastructure right would have prevented it. Also see the last sentence of the previous paragraph.

A cyclist is hit-from-behind in CA. UPDATED: Bicyclist killed after being hit by car on Highway 299 At this point there is much speculation about why the driver hit the cyclist bu no hard facts. Another case of protocols to avoid, maybe, and fix the infrastructure to prevent. Also another one to check the driver’s online comments.

A killer driver faces charges in the death of a cyclist in the Great White North. Driver charged in September crash that killed cyclist They left off murder charges so the driver probably wasn’t on the Internet, or never made any comments to a link about a bicycle wreck. The wreck was a hit-from-behind where the driver hit 3 cyclists. This tells me that the protocols would have been ineffective even if used (maybe the survivors did use the protocols), and that the only thing that would have positively prevented the wreck would be infrastructure.

A rare UK link. Cyclist Alan Mort death: Judge warning after John Evans jailed Seldom do you read such a thing in UK media, that the judge actually warns other drivers to be more carefull or face a similar outcome. Also seldom do you see a sentence of prison handed down in the death of a cyclist, most get community service or a small fine. Even the driving ban was higher than usual for killing a cyclist (sometimes there is NO ban). So not only a rare link from the UK for this blog, but a rare link for the UK in general based on content.

Last up I have an Infrastructure! story that will knock your socks off. Death By Dooring? House Speaker Howell Thinks It’s Funny also An open-and-shut case of Assembly’s foolishness and “Dooring” Bill — Yes, it is About the Bike I was amazed that it’s legal to throw a door into the path of a cyclist or the actual cyclist and there is nothing police can do, any damages are the fault of the cyclist, not the driver that throws the door in front of him. There oughtta be a law! Well if this passes there will be a law.

And except for one link I lost while trying to put it in the post, those are all the links that gave me fits today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first a cyclist is fatally left-crossed by a driver in illegal possession of a deadly weapon. Cyclist struck, killed in Fayetteville The comments give me some hope as only one in 3 blamed the cyclist for being there, the other 2 blamed the driver for driving without a license. Intersection wreck, so intersection protocol to avoid, and fix the infrastructure to prevent. Keeping people out of motor vehicles that do not have current licenses and insurance would be a start, and prosecuting people the kill while driving without a license the same as if they had an illegal firearm would be even better. But get the physical infrastructure fixed too.

The most deadly state in the US to walk or ride a bike 8 years running (still waiting on the official 2012 stats) kills another one just days into the new year. Cyclist killed by hit-and-run driver on Ives Dairy Road Hit-from-behind wreck, the protocols might have helped the cyclist avoid this wreck but the evidence is scanty either way. Fix the infrastructure to prevent, including making fatal hit-and-run equivalent to murder when sentencing, and destroying the motor vehicles used in all injury and fatal hit-and-run. We don’t give murderers and bank robbers their guns back after trial, why give motor vehicles back after they are used to commit a crime. Especially after the crime is killing an innocent person.

And those are all the links that gave me fits this morning.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Things have been a little strange since the Mayan Apocalypse last month. I have been having exceptionally good luck with traffic lights detecting my bike and changing for me, drivers have been exceptionally good about changing lanes to pass (Except for one Hispanic lady in a Lexus SUV that passed me driving on the shoulder to my right), and my cold-weather gear has been working pretty good at keeping me warm (even the home-made stuff, the only problem I have been having has been with glasses fogging because I can’t get the baffles sealed all the way). I need to put something that will positively locate the glasses on the mask so I can see out without having to fiddle with them and the wingnut for several minutes every time I use the mask. I have a fender washer that is drilled to fit the bolt I’m using, I might locate the glasses and then use a bead of Goop to glue the washer to the glasses so popping the glasses on it a quicker operation. I have also been experimenting with different methods of putting the mask on since I only wear it on days I wear the ‘clava under the helmet. I tried wearing the ‘clava over the mask to make putting the helmet on a faster operation, and the test seemed to work, but that was just an on/off test. The full test will be tonight in the cold going to and from church. The good thing about mask first then ‘clava is the mask keeps the ‘clava from getting in my peripheral vision while the ‘clava keeps the mask from getting caught on the helmet sweat liner.

The opportunity to complete the 20/20 Crank Forward full suspension bike has been presented before the annual local custom car and bike show, but I’m thinking probably I should do a better job and show the bike next year instead, after a bit of riding to get the bugs out of it. I’m torn between the 20/20 bike and the e-assist bike as to which would be the better bike to put in the show. Since the show is near Valentines Day every year I don’t have much time to build whatever I decide to build.

If things go as planned I should be doing a short post tomorrow and Tuesday.

PSA, Opus

Our first report is from the Great White North. Cyclist injured in crash The weapon vehicle received $700 in damages, the damages to the cyclist and his bike were not reported but as the cyclist was transported and stayed at least overnight you can say $10K+ for the cyclist and an unknown amount for the bike. The wreck was a hit-from-behind but other than that I have nothing. Hit-from-behind protocols including making your bike as visible as possible (doesn’t help avoid the wreck but makes getting money from the wreck easier), and get the infrastructure right to prevent.

A wreck in Enn Zed sends a cyclist to the hospital. Car, cyclist collide one injured At this point I don’t even have a precise location other than “near” an intersection so I can’t even guess at the mode which could be anything from a hit-from-behind to a head on wreck and everything in between. More Rescue helicopter attends car and cyclist crash There they didn’t even know how many people were involved, but the injuries described could have been for either vehicle operator as hand/wrist injuries can result from making avoidance maneuvers in a motor vehicle.

Last link even Sasquatch (mistakenly identified as a “gorilla”) likes e-assist bikes. E-Bike News: Ditching Car for E-Bike, E-Trike Deliveries, Gorilla on Electric Fat Bike in Snow? [VIDEOS]

And those are all the links that gave me fits and were somehow bicycle-related.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

And while I’m waiting to get some live links delivered to my inbox I’m listening to Kraftwerk’s “Tour de France Soundtrack” CD on my MP3 player (I ripped these to OGG format, an open source format that actually has better compression with less loss than the “traditional” MP3 format) and since I own the CD this is legal for me. I spend a lot of time listening to this player, as I also use it in my meditations besides just having something playing to pass the time. The stuff I meditate to is also somewhat “different” from what is normally considered “meditation music”. I listen to polyrhythmic drumming when I meditate, as it gives a number of “bright shinys” to capture the monkey mind and allow me to enter the meditative state. I used to use my arthritis pain as a focus to enter the meditative state, but I go so good at blocking that pain via meditation that I don’t feel it enough to use it as a focus any more. Other music I use ranges from “Tubular Bells” from the 70s to the entire CD of “Audio” by Blue Man Group as well as most of the early releases of Kraftwerk (the cuts that took up an entire side of an LP were the best as they had little or no lyrics to distract from the trance state). One that I use almost as frequently is a limited-edition CD called “Revel in the Rhythms” released as a fund-raiser by the Council of Magical Arts to help pay the down payment on the land we camp on in southeast TX a little south of Bastrop. This is basically a recorded drum jam taken at a revel fire during a gathering back in the 1990s that someone did as a lark and then allowed the CMA to use. Lots of different rhythms during a cut to attach the monkey to and let the rest of my mind work to make me (more or less) sane. I’m told that if someone was to examine my meditation techniques that much would be learned about my mind in specific and minds in general. I have known for a long time that even without the brain damage I’m a bit off the ends of the bell curve. You should see some of my tests from the late 60s and early 70s. Some IQ tests I took placed me in the 99th percentile in some areas, and the 34th percentile in others, what’s sometimes called a “savant” profile. Yeah, so I was “weird” before I was hit in the head with a pickup truck. That was just the pickle frosting on the weird cake…

One of the worst fears for most cyclists is icy roads. Icy roads make for a nerve-wracking commute (plus some tips) Yeah, that was me suggesting that they use a trike to de-ice the bike paths.

And it’s past time for the last report to have come in and I’m staring at an empty Feed folder. That means those are all the links I have today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first is a local infrastructure project. Changing The Cycling-scape: Garland’s North-South Bikeway Project Will Ease Transportation For Experienced And Beginner Riders The infrastructure they are talking about includes that bike lane I was complaining about a couple of weeks ago. So, progress, but not much progress.

Another CA driver mistakes a cyclist wearing Hi-Viz for a deer. Lawyer Charged in Fatal Hit-And-Run that Killed Bicyclist Due in Court I’m sure drivers mistake cyclists for deer all the time NOT. The other thing that bothered me was that killing the cyclist was a misdemeanor, leaving the scene of a fatal wreck was a felony. They both need to be felonies and hit-and-run needs to be a major felony even if the victim survives. To avoid use hit-from-behind protocol and shark repellent (I don’t know that it works against lawyers, but it helps against their cousins). To prevent get the infrastructure right including confiscating the cars used in hit-and-run and destroying them after the trial if convicted.

A VA man objects to having a bike trail through his back yard apparently because he doesn’t pay attention to his mail. Varina man upset by Virginia Capital Trail’s path I find it telling that the man would not object to a road being run through his back yard, but a bike path!? Heaven forfend!

And last link, that HiViz bike wear may be so much fluff in the Greater Scheme of Things. Why cycling in high-vis may be not as safe as you think The study was done with motorcyclists because people not burning fossil fuels just are not worth the time of day (J/K). But what it shows was something I mentioned in my stuff to get me for Christmas post back in November, that you have to contrast your color with the background to make the HiViz really pop and make you noticeable in traffic.

And those are all the links that gave me fits today, mostly from FB friends and Ted Rogers’ BikingInLA blog. My web search service was crapping out on me again today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Now that that’s out of the way, I had another meeting at the church last nigh planning a fund-raiser that will require some major planning and stage work on our part. Can’t say much about it yet, but I have been cleared to say we are putting on a murder mystery dinner with some slight parallels to “Harry Potter” instead of the Agatha Christie milieu that most of these productions hinge upon (or the board game “Clue”). One thing I have been tasked with is coming up with a recipe for butterbeer to serve with dessert. Now the getting to and from the meeting was a bit of a production for me, as my rain gear is starting to get old and show some leaks the most annoying of those leaks was the one at the crotch of my rain pants, which are coming up on 4 years old now, them and the jacket both. I don’t know what the expected lifespan of vinyl rain gear is, but I have had to repair the jacket a couple of times now and the crotch leak in the pants is recent (maybe as recent as the return trip last night). This means that between the leaky jacket and the leaky pants I’m now in the market for new rain gear. The problem is the difference between what I need and what I can afford is huge. I mean we are talking a divide worthy of the Grand Canyon. I need rain gear that lasts for years and breathes so I don’t get as wet from transpired moisture (not necessarily sweat, my skin does breathe and lose moisture through its pores) as I would have from just riding without protection, but here in TX the need to ride in the rain usually comes very seldom as we usually get our rain in the form of thunderstorms that are not safe to ride in no matter what kind of rain gear you are wearing. I went an entire year without riding in the rain during the drought 2 years ago. So I need rain gear that won’t dry out and crack or otherwise develop leaks if it just sits for a year or so in the closet and at the same time does not cost as much as a Wally World BSO, that has ventilation so I don’t get wet from my own transpired moisture, and that actually works to keep me dry in conditions that would be better suited to riding with SCUBA gear. Any suggestions?

Up first is a novel suggestion for getting around raising the gas tax from the state of VA. Gov. proposes getting rid of gas tax, raising sales tax As I pointed out in the comments section to the article, this means that people that don’t drive have an equal stake in the infrastructure as people that do because NONE of the money comes from “people that drive”, it comes from “people that spend money” and as the fuel source for cyclists and pedestrians is taxed but gas would not be that makes bike/ped and transit spending a higher priority as our fuel is taxed while cars are not.

First wreck, a CA cyclist is hit twice with the first impact being a hit-and-run. Bicyclist killed when hit twice on Highway 29; Clearlake woman arrested The driver claimed to have hit a deer. The second driver was driving too fast for conditions and should also get a ticket at the very least. Hit-from-behind so the protocols may have made it possible to avoid the wreck, and get the infrastructure right to prevent.

And another link from the UK with an outcome. Two ‘thrill seekers’ killed cyclist as they raced a Mercedes and an Audi at 80mph Hit-from-behind but the description of the wreck shows that the motor vehicles were going too fast to avoid and at the same time removing any escape route by filling the entire width of the road. Getting the infrastructure right would have had the cyclist not riding on a major highway filled with idiots and prevented this wreck. The sentence in this case is another travesty as the driving ban will expire about the same time as the end of the prison sentence. The “ban” will result in minimal inconvenience for the perpetrators of this crime, while the victim is still dead.

And those are all the links that gave me fits today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first is another hit-from-behind wreck outside Augusta GA. Cyclist hit by truck on Furys Ferry Road and Off-duty deputy identified as bike accident victim Several motor vehicles passed the cyclist with ample room to spare, no mention was made of any oncoming vehicles, and there was a witness in a following vehicle behind the weapon vehicle that saw the cyclist and the weapon vehicle striking the cyclist. This is pretty cut and dried, it was either negligence or malice on the part of the driver of the weapon vehicle. The victim is a bike cop in that jurisdiction, which means that he knows how to ride in traffic and knows the law. I don’t know that the victim being an off-duty LEO is going to make any difference in the treatment of the case, if the bond of the “thin blue line” is greater than the hatred of people riding bicycles. Anyway, hit-from-behind use the protocols to avoid and get the infrastructure right to prevent. More Bicycle deputy hit by truck and Bicyclist struck by vehicle on Furys Ferry Road With the pictures from those last 2 links you can see the road in question had wide lanes and good sight lines. Definitely a problem with the truck driver either being distracted or deliberately hitting the cyclist.

Our only other link is a wreck in the UK. Female cyclist injured in Louth on Sunday night Nothing about the wreck in this one that either confirms or refutes a second vehicle involved, this is UK media laws at their worst. The same description is used when a cyclist is hit and also hits the ground when there is confirmation of a second vehicle except that some kind of description of the second vehicle is given. Get the Infrastructure right to prevent… maybe.

And that’s all I have today, every last link.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Up first is another SF cyclist “winning” the door prize. Cyclist Injured In Collision With Muni Bus The bus was secondary, what caused the wreck was the driver opening the door in the cyclist’s path causing the cyclist to swerve. Still waiting an update as to the condition of the cyclist. Looking at the street, the cyclist was apparently riding in a shared bus/bike lane with adjacent parking which required bikes to ride in the door zone. This is one of the reasons I dislike shared bus/bike lanes, when being passed by a bus the cyclist is quite often (almost “usually”) placed in peril of becoming a dooring victim because the bus driver is more concerned with maintaining schedule than not hitting the guy riding the bike, if the driver even notices the cyclist at all other than “something in the road that I should/did not hit”. I place the majority of the blame for this wreck on the person that opened the door in the path of the cyclist, with minor blame going to the person that declared this a bus/bike lane. The only way to prevent a wreck like this from happening again is to fix the infrastructure to that people in parked cars physically are unable to obstruct cyclists with car doors, the cyclist in this wreck had no place to go once the bus moved alongside him. There was not enough space for the cyclist to be outside the door zone once the bus came alongside.

A cyclist is hit-from-behind in South Africa. Cyclist critical after being hit by car Not much to say about this one, the driver was out of control of the weapon vehicle when he hit the cyclist, the cyclist lacked options due to being in a group, and the group provided ample testimony (besides the wrecked car and bike) that the driver was at fault. Now way to avoid this with the current state of infrastructure in SA, fixing the infrastructure is the only way to prevent a similar wreck in the future.

And someone has declared open season on cyclists in South Africa. 3 cyclist injured in accidents South Africa is a country about twice the size (roughly) of TX with a third of the population (roughly, running off possibly corrupted files here) and 3 cyclists injured after one was killed in a week’s time seems a bit on the high side to me.

More on a Saturday wreck in Enn Zed. Wellington cyclist struck by car named Still nothing on the mode or any other information on the physics of the wreck as the investigation has not yet been released to the public.

And those are all the links that gave me fits today.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

First of all you need to start with the right mask, the hockey mask used by the monster in one of those slasher series. you will need to trim it so that it doesn’t interfere with your helmet but still covers your face where the helmet and balaclava (if you use one) doesn’t. I didn’t have a camera for this part of the build so I’m just going to describe the process and show what I had when I got the camera. What I did was I wore the mask under my helmet, and used a Sharpie to mark the plastic at the edge of the helmet. This was an uncomfortable process and I rushed it a bit which compromised the appearance of the finished project but did not effect the performance of the mask all that much. After I marked it I used heavy shears to cut the plastic mask leaving the parts I wanted in good shape.

After that I needed to figure out some way to put my glasses on the mask. I had a spare pair that had single-vision lenses and a broken temple piece so I decided they would be part of the mask. I removed the other temple piece and trimmed back the “barbs” on the side of the frames to reduce the amount of snagging things when I was using the mask. The glasses have a nose piece and a bar across the top of the frame, which suggested that a bolt type attachment could be used along with a wing nut to attach the glasses after I put the mask and helmet on. I had to do this because the frames were too wide to fit while putting the helmet on (from prior experience with identical frames and that same helmet, next time I buy glasses I’m making sure I can put my helmet on without removing my glasses). This required further modification to the frames by removing the nose pad (on these frames the nose pad was one structure that went from one side of the nose, up and over the brow, and down to the other side of the nose, instead of two smaller pads) so that the frames would fit closer to the face at about the same distance they would if I wasn’t wearing the mask. Then I marked the mask and drilled a hole for the bolt. I missed the spot (too low and to the side) so I had to re-drill a new hole that was higher and closer to the center. You can see both holes in the pictures.

After I made the physical alterations to the mask to make it fit the helmet and take the glasses, I modeled it for Mrs. the Poet. She did not like it and pronounced it “scary”, so I painted it black since I was planning on doing that anyway. Black was “still scary” because inside the helmet I became faceless, like Darth Vader crossed with one of those comic book super heroes that wore the stretch mask that he could see out but people could not see in. I became “too anonymous” which was “scary”. As I wasn’t trying to be scary (this time) I decided to add some color to the mask and give myself some facial features. which you can see in the first picture.

After I painted the mask I needed to put baffles in it to keep my moisture-laden breath from fogging the glasses (which was the original reason to make the mask as previous solutions to the frozen face issue resulted in fogged glasses and having to stop to wipe them off so I could see again). First thing I needed to do was get the baffles cut out, which happened before I got the camera. I cut the baffles from a hunk of PU upholstery foam I had sitting around from a previous project. Then the baffles had to be glued to the inside of the mask in such a way that they didn’t fall off or get permanently squished (glued down squished). This took a couple tests with my favorite craft adhesive, Goop.

I had a little material left over on each side.

Which was trimmed off after checking for fit.

You can see the difference in this view.

Testing showed that the mask was blocking a clear view of my mirrors which required some more trimming, this time on the mask itself.

It is really visible in this picture.

Putting on the mask and having it work right is a minor production bit all on its own. First I have to put the balaclava on, and then put the mask over it.

Then I have to slide the helmet over the mask, keeping it from getting pushed off my face.

The helmet must be seated while the mask gets pulled down enough to spin the wingnut over the glasses.

Then the glasses are installed and the mask moved into place.

I made a run last night at near-freezing temperatures, and while there are leaks in the baffles that caused the glasses to fog, my face was very warm. Problems yet to be solved are related to the condensation of that moisture-laden breath against the cold surface of the mask, the mask isn’t insulated so the inner surface is only slightly warmer than the outside air temperature. All the mask was intended to do was keep the cold wind off my face and prevent direct heat loss on the skin, but as designed and built now my breath condenses out most of its moisture when it hits the inside surface of the mask which on long rides results in a rather large puddle in front of my face. I’m still working on a solution to that issue.

Another thing I’m still working on is making the whole mess quicker to put on and take off. I see two possible solutions for that. One is to buy smaller glasses that can stay with the mask while the helmet goes on over the mask. The second is to trim the mask so that it fits completely out from under the helmet and the strap goes over the helmet instead of inside, but that would require coming up with a different way to attach the strap to the mask and glasses. That’s doable but I haven’t figured it out yet.

PSA, Opus

Edit: So far none of the pictures I uploaded to the site have shown in this post for me. Can anyone see the pictures? All I can see is what is supposed to be the mouseover text posted to the page as regular text.

Edit 2/24 I finally got the pictures to work, now the alt text doesn’t work, but I don’t care.

Up first a cyclist is assaulted with a deadly weapon just up the road a bit from WoaB World HQ (literally, I used to ride by this area on my way home from where I was working when I was hit back in 2001). Cyclist riding along North Dallas Parkway service road run down by infuriated motorist This has many parallels to my wreck as well as major differences. This wreck was in broad daylight, mine was after midnight. This wreck involved passing, slowing down, and re-passing the cyclist while abuse was shouted at the cyclist, mine was abuse followed by a u-turn followed by a wreck. If I wasn’t sure that the guy that hit me was already dead I would want to question this guy in connection to my case. As for avoiding this wreck, ain’t possible without completely abdicating the roads to motor vehicles. Preventing a wreck like this would require planning so that the only way in or out of the residential are this ride started in was not an access road to a major tollway which in this case would require a major rebuild of the local infrastructure to get a place for bicycles and pedestrians to travel. I place equal blame for this wreck on the driver and the planning agency that allowed the only way in or out to be the access road.

Another NYC cyclist killed by a driver in a large truck not watching where he’s going. Cyclist Killed by Garbage Truck in Manhattan and Pedestrian fatally struck by truck in Flatiron District also Cyclist killed in Manhattan truck accident (Photos) and my favorite NYC news outlet [Updates] Cyclist Fatally Struck By Private Garbage Truck In Flatiron District As I read the information now, the day after the wreck, the cyclist was establishing her line on the street after pulling away from the curb when she was hit from behind, although there is some other information that the cyclist had been riding in that lane for more than a few seconds, another report that the cyclist pulled away from the curb first and the truck after she did, all that is firmly established is that the initial impact was between 4 and 6 feet from the curb and was with the right front corner of the truck against the rider knocking her from the bike and under the truck. Hit-from-behind protocols might have helped avoid this wreck, the driver watching for what was in the street in front of him definitely would have helped avoid the wreck, and as more than one person commented protected bike lanes kept free of motor vehicles by a caring police depar … oh who am I kidding NYPD wants all cyclists and pedestrians dead or otherwise off the street to let the cars drive as fast as they can go.

A CA cyclist is killed by a motor vehicle and indirectly by poor planning that placed the movement of motor vehicles ahead of all other modes. Cyclist killed crossing freeway on-ramp The cyclist was going straight on a surface street and had to cross the on-ramp to get to his destination, while turning traffic was allowed to move at speed through the intersection. Hit-from-behind wreck but the cyclist had nowhere to bail to use the protocols and the driver could not be bothered to slow down for a few seconds to not hit the cyclist, assuming that the driver even noticed the cyclist in front of him/her. Seriously this could have been prevented by changing the intersection from smoothly curved freeway entrances to a right angle turn that allows drivers to yield to cyclists going straight because there would be no conflict between cyclists going straight and drivers turning right to enter the freeway.

From the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike, a cyclist is killed by one driver that stopped and 3 more that hit-and-ran. Jacksonville cyclist killed on U.S. 1 near Ormond Beach There was some speculation that the cyclist was riding salmon but the story now reads the cyclist was hit from behind. Hit-from-behind protocols, including lights and reflectors to avoid, and get the infrastructure right to prevent. Also require drivers to have headlights that can let them see things in the road in front of them so they can stop or change lanes. Also I question the report that the cyclist pulled in front of the driver of the truck when they previously said the driver did not see the cyclist in the road. Either the cyclist pulled in front or was invisible, you can’t claim both because if the cyclist was invisible you would not know where they were prior to impact. I mean sure it’s possible the cyclist actually did pull in front of a speeding vehicle (not freeaking likely though), but if you can’t see the cyclist how would you know where the cyclist was before impact?

A driver is charged with murdering a cyclist in AZ. Murder charged in cyclist death Drunk driver that habitually drove intoxicated and even documented some of her driving while drunk and tested almost 3 times the 0.08 limit for intoxication when caught… Pity they can’t give her life even, much less the execution she so richly deserves.

Another pro cyclist has a run-in with a motor vehicle, fatally this time. Burry Stander, two-time Olympian cyclist, dies in collision with taxi I think this wreck was in South Africa, but really it could have been anywhere, taxi drivers have the problem of getting paid by the miles but charged by the hours for expenses which makes them drive like maniacs to try to keep their bottom line in the black. Other than the type of vehicle and driver involved I know nothing about the mode of this wreck. More Dirty Words: Cyclist killed by a car, avoidable or inevitable? Another link South African Olympic Cyclist Stander Is Killed in Road Accident Link South Africa mourns death of Olympic cyclist Burry Stander Last link Champion cyclist killed in South Africa And people ask why I get angry when people get hit by/with cars, this is why.

A serious wreck in Enn Zed. Cyclist killed in Wellington Head on wreck, somebody was on the wrong side of the road, but at the time of the posting of the link who it was had not been determined. More Cyclist Killed In Crash There was a note about a second wreck in the first link, but even less information given. Another link Cyclist killed in capital, two injured in Hamilton

And those are all the links that gave me fits today. I’m still working on the facemask conversion project and taking pictures to document the build, so be patient. It’s not like you can run out to get the mask I used to start the build until October anyway, but if you had one hanging around I could see getting impatient to make it work as winter gear.

Billed @$0.02, Opus