Law of Averages

Gary Cziko shared a video of a ‘drive out’ – where a driver just pulls out into an intersection as if you aren’t there – and speculated on why it happened.  (Hint:  even the best “lane control” doesn’t. actually. control. another. driver’s. behavior.)  I agree, seeing the video, that the driver simply didn’t see him.

I’d have liked to have had a video of my morning’s similar incident… I’m approaching where Main meets I think Goodwin and ends, but the bike route proceeds through between University b uildings.  A bus is stopping to discharge passengers, so I signal stopping to share my intent to wait… and the bus proceeds and then I’m going — and the car behind the bus simply accelerates along with it… and about the same time I’m hollering, “It’s a stop sign, lady!”  she’s covering her mouth with her hand as in “OOPS!” (which is probably why “lady!” is what came out of my mouth; had there been a cell phone there I’m pretty sure something stronger would have escaped… still workin’ on that…) — I only wish this had been one of those times when the police were watching that notorious intersection… and I *do* wish they’d do something about the visibility of the stop sign.

Then I’m waiting to cross Fourth Street, and like me, the guy coming the opposite direction is rather far out into the street because you have to do that to see anything… which inspires a driver to just stop outright with no stop sign.

Guess it all averages out, but a little better road design would help…

Did I say “enough already!”?

Snow is in the forecast today, too, tho’ not enough to get me on the bus. Still, my plan is to take teh studded tyres *off* the gazelle.   Fact is, with the nasty gouge in the back one, cardboard boot showing through, I don’t want to ride it anyway.

My latest accessory, thanks to John (I think that was his name!) and Michael at the Bike PRoject… at quarter to five I said “okay, help me start *thinking* about a rear mount for my big light.”   20 minutes later… we shall work on something sweeter than inner tubes for holding it on (the light comes with hefty magnets on the back) but it does need to be removable for battery changes.

And… I thought I’d seen it all, but heading out to Sunday’s concert, I noticed the pre-stop-sign rumble strips on Bradley were GONE — as well as the fourway stop!  It’s just two-way now. Don’t know if that was the plan (make ‘em all stop for a while)… oh, but the rumble strips on Staley really do still suck hind teat on a barren possum.

Delighted that the word “steampunk” was used to reference my ride

’nuff o’ that snow stuff

… I’m back riding in again, having taken the bus the past two days.  Yea, I rode on worse stuff in previous years but a:   I didn’t have a bus pass & that familiarity with the bus system, and b: each of those days came with a long-term forecast of even worse weather, and c: the Gazelle didn’t have a tire with a gouge so big you can see the cardboard boot all too clearly.   (I’m on the Dahon with its studded front tire.)

We lose our hour this weekend… so I’ll get to ride home in sunlight… and get up in the dark…

Stopping Traffic ;)

Last night I rode home on the folder — the Gazelle has yet another flat tire, so I’m thinking the tire itself has been compromised.   I’m inclined to switch off to unstudded, tho’ it’s snowing today.

At LIncoln Ave — as in, busy four lane Lincoln — I was crossing from Main… and not one but *two* vehicles (in succession) really wanted to stop and let me across.   I held my ground… and then considered that just perhaps the bike’s redness, my high-vis jacket and the blue front and red rear spoke lights (oh, and it being the Night Before Unofficial St. Pat’s Day) had peeps thinking I was something authoritative.

It happened again this morning, though, sans spoke lights. I didn’t hold my ground — so it was a confusing interaction… and pity for a biker inthe snow might have contributed (as well as it being Unofficial).

And it happened again in a different form at Bradley and Country Fair.   The line to the light at Country Fair was backed up 15-20 deep, so I hopped the snowy sidewalk (my front tyre on the Dahon is studded) and went up with the intention of hitting the walk button if things weren’t workin’ right.  They were… but Bradley was also extremely backed up.   I wondered if perchance there was a wreck on the highway (tho’ Bradley isn’t where they’d land)… and heard the fire engines as my light turned green.   I crossed (it was a half mile away)   and watched as it went into the oncoming traffic lane to get around the zillion cars waiting for the light, which inspired me to signal the left-turners (who couldn’t see the truck through all the cars and aroundthe corner) to stop.

I might have taken the bus but sorry, CUMTD, there is one day I don’t want to use transit and that’s Unofficial.

Happy new year :)

… I have 185 miles so far; haven’t done anything longer than 20 miles but I have nudged the extra loop or two at lunch.

This a.m. I was glad to be caffeinated as I saw the driver perpendicular do a “point scan” in front of her, then skip me to check to see if anybody was *approaching* …. unfortunately, I was already there (but being a bicycle, didn’t take up as much room)… but my “HELLO!” came fast enough for her not to accelerate.   (I *might* have been wrong… maybe she saw me… but she was stopped far enough into the intersection to make that unlikely.)   Oh, and being out in the lane meant she hadn’t come but so close to me anyway.  Her window was open, too, so I suspect the voice practically in her ear was especially effective.   I almost heard her thinking “What is that idiot doing out there!  Bicycles just shouldn’t be out there!”   and if she did think that, I hope she heard my response that the idea that she could not effectively look for others on the road before pulling out shoudl not mean I have to stay home from work…

Another nutcase ;)

A student was parking on the new, nice (only thing that would make ‘em nicer would be being covered) loops, having a pastel blue nutcase helmet already looped into her backpack.   Two nutcases, within two feet of each other!

Must remember to ask about Oct. 5 and see if I can sign up for the LCI training….

YOu’re Beautiful!

I have *no* idea what prompted or provoked it, but leaving work tonight, as I put my quilt purse on my Xtracycle, dressed in my Pansy jacket and Nutcase helmet, a passenger in the Parkland College Parking Lot waved and called out “You’re BEAUTIFUL!” — and it wasn’t somebody I’d helped in math, to the best of my knowledge (and usually those are the folks who call out “Hello, Miss Sue!!!”)

still. hot.

Maybe if I post about it we’ll get some rain? Please?

Other utter and confounding frustration:   I have not gotten a reply to an email inquiry about Gazelle parts I am was SURE I sent.   I meticulously discerned the parts and their names and numbers. I made sure to make a spare copy in case that one got lost.

I can find absolutely no evidence of ever having performed this task. After all, I know one of the parts; you’d think I could find the document with that character string in it.

Forbes Says It’s So

Cycling saves tons of bucks

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2012/05/20/bicyclists-in-the-united-states-save-at-least-4-6-billion-a-year-by-riding-instead-of-driving-ased-on-friday-to-coincide-with-national-bike-to-work-day-part-of-national-bike-month-which-occurs-each/

Really nice to be back on the Xtracycle … I was going to ride the Trek in this a.m. but had the time to pump the tires and… busted the valve stem.  Nancy had told me she’d learned how to screw them back on but… this was busted.

Alas, the aluminum frame doesn’t lend itself to the Flash Flag (but nothing a bit of ductape wouldn’t cure, and I should be able to figure out something to ductape to the seat stay so that I canpop the flag on and off).   I’m curious:  if I add the flag, will that be enough to get the drivers to give me the sameroom that they give me and the Xtra?

Yes, I noticed going down Washington, in the bike lane, that both drivers who passed me crossed the center line to do it. The Big Yellow Flag sticks out into their lane.   Correlation or cause/effect?

 

Give me just a little more green :)

Okay, I’ve sort of got that in that today was “closing” on my refinance at much lower interest… but even better than that, yea!!  it really looks like my request for a few more seconds of green on the light cycle westbound at Church and Mattis was granted.   That’s twice this week  that I have been approaching as it changed to green and got *through* before it went yellow, without the walk light having been activated.

I did have a Yellow Checker Cab guy try to right hook me last week… guessing that company doesn’t realize that cyclists might just be a good market to try to be on good terms with.   I’m car free, but if I take a cab, it won’t be from youse guys.
snow in the forecast today so it’s folder time… but might just get home before it starts.