May 29, 20152 Comments on Video: Avoid the doorzone
The door zone is the space adjacent to parked cars that you should avoid while riding a bike. A car occupant may fling the car door open directly into you. At best, you bang up your bike a little. At worst, you’re pushed sideways under the wheels of a passing bus or truck.
This London Portland cyclist demonstrates one technique to avoid the door zone.
April 10, 20155 Comments on California helmet law: Drastic amendment!
California 25th District Senator Carol Liu amended her extremely controversial mandatory helmet law, SB-192, to only study the effectiveness of helmets, and removed the mandatory helmet use for adults language in its entirety. The requirement for high visibility apparel has also been removed.
April 8, 20151 Comment on Supplies for your conspicuity arms race
Early last week, I gently mocked Volvo’s Life Paint, a water-based spray paint from Sweden-based Albedo 100 that adds a non-durable reflective coating. I linked to the Amazon sales pages for Rust Oleum Reflective Finish, which provides a similar benefit using all American volatile organics.
April 7, 20156 Comments on Does Mr. Fedora need a helmet?
He’s riding a trike at perhaps 5 MPH on a street empty of motor vehicle traffic through downtown Santa Cruz, CA. California Assembly member Carol Liu continues to believe he needs a helmet for safety. Should her bill, SB 192, become law, Mr Fedora on the trike will become subject to citation and fines.
April 1, 20157 Comments on CYCLELICIOUS Life Paint, now available in USA
In their efforts to raise the stakes in the Conspicuity Arms Race, Volvo famously announced a reflective spray paint giveaway at a few select bike shops in the UK. While supplies last, you can now purchase Cyclelicious Life Paint right here in America and outshine your bike-riding frenemies!
Unlike Albedo100 reflective products provided through Volvo, which wears and washes off within 10 days, Cyclelicious Life Paint uses a superior petroleum-based fixative that rapidly dries into a permanent, waterproof coating.
February 12, 20156 Comments on Kansen Chu amends his infamous bicycle “safety” bill
Faithful readers are familiar with California Assembly Member Kansen Chu’s proposal to mandate flashing white tail lights for bicycles operated after dark. Yes, he wanted flashing white lights on the rear of the bike.
The bill was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee. Chu amended his bill. I supposed the current bill is a little bit better: Chu replaced “white” with “red.”
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
[ … snippage … ]
e) In order to reduce the bicyclist fatality rate in this state, the state should require that bicycles operated during darkness upon a highway, a sidewalk, or a bikeway be equipped with a
whitered flashing light, or with reflective gear worn by the bicyclist in lieu of a white red flashing light.[ … snippage … ]
SEC. 2. Section 21201 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
21201. (d) A bicycle operated during darkness upon a highway, a sidewalk where bicycle operation is not prohibited by the local jurisdiction, or a bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, shall be equipped with all of the following:
[ … snippage … ]
(2) A
whitered flashing light on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle, or, in lieu of the white red flashing light, reflective gear worn by the bicyclist.
The more observant of you have already noticed the problem that still exists.
A plea for our legislators: if you’re truly interested in cyclist safety, please at least talk to somebody who knows something about the topic before unleashing more of this silliness.