January 25, 20139 Comments on Sidewalk cyclist bites the dust
Update: I forgot to embed the video earlier! It’s now here.
Act 1, Scene 1: A green bike lane busy with cyclists, including a pair of lycra-clad speed daemons on their spendy carbon fiber racing bikes.
Enter Fred dressed in normal clothes and riding his heavy cruiser bike much faster than those racer poseurs. Instead of slowing until it’s safe to pass (heaven forbid!), he tries to impress the pretty girl by veering to the right and jumping up onto the sidewalk.
January 16, 20137 Comments on Need help with dooring laws in USA
I found 40 states have a law on the books prohibiting opening a car door into moving traffic. I know for a fact Virginia doesn’t have one because they’re debating the issue this week.
I can’t find a dooring statute for 9 other states. Before I report this as fact, if you happen to know otherwise please let me know.
The states without dooring laws (as far as I know): Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
TIA for any help
January 15, 20135 Comments on Conspicuity video
I saw this cyclist on Scott Boulevard / Arques Avenue in Santa Clara / Sunnyvale last night. I think this video seems to show the reflective ankle straps are the most noticeable things about her, but in real life I first saw the blinking Planet Bike Superflash tail lights.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRaCWYggBbU&w=500&h=281]
January 9, 20135 Comments on Electric car horn for bicycles
I occasionally talk a big game in the various social media sites, but I’m generally a pussycat on the road and big believer in cooperating with other traffic when I’m on my bike. I’m assertive about my road rights, but I won’t be a complete jackass just to make a point.
Hence, I’m not a fan of loud horns on bikes. You can reach for your brakes and come to a stop faster than you can punch a horn button, and I really dislike noise pollution.
I realize, however, that horns are popular for numerous reasons. I can recommend the Delta Cycle Airzound Horn
Jonathan Lansey in Boston, however, wanted something more like a car horn with its discordant two tone *honk*, so he recruited some engineering help to create a small, lightweight electric horn for his bicycle.
There are some admirable design elements in this horn: the button is designed so you can brake while honking, for example. A single charge of the lithium battery should last for a month or two. And it sounds like a car horn.
You can buy this horn by supporting the Kickstarter project, which only has three days to go and has already met its $43,000 funding goal.
More info at LoudBicycle.com.
November 21, 20125 Comments on Bright LED cycling jacket
You’ve all probably seen those safety vetsts
I expected more of this weak sauce when Badger Gears in Los Angeles asked me to look at their Indiegogo project for a new LED cycling jacket. This jacket, however, surprised me and exceeds my expectations, because they seem to use decently bright lights and sought user input on their design to create what seems to be a truly high visibility jacket.
November 19, 20122 Comments on Santa Cruz County bicycle safety survey 2012
The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) and the Community Traffic Safety Coalition of Santa Cruz County (CTSC) released the results of their 2012 bicycle traffic survey.
Each May and June, HSA staffers and community volunteers count cyclists at various locations throughout Santa Cruz County and observe their behavior. For 2012, they counted 3,046 cyclists at 46 locations.
