Happy last Monday of 2013.
I left my wallet at home this morning and the cafeteria is closed until after the New Year, so I’m digging for nourishment and change in my office. So far I’ve found nearly two dollars in pennies and nickels, two packs of gum, an unopened bag of cough drops, stale Frito chips, and a bag of dried mixed fruit. We also have free coffee and sugary drinks in the break room so I believe that should be sufficient to sustain me through the day.
Watch for bike related stuff below my socks du jour: Sock Guy Bacon socks.
Locally, some people are beginning to pay attention to the high number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in San Jose this year. While overall traffic fatalities have trended down, 67% of 2013 traffic fatalities in San Jose have been pedestrians and cyclists. The Murky News coverage of this public safety issue leads with the death of Elijah Alvitre last November. Three year old Elijah was being pushed across a crosswalk in a stroller when the inattentive driver of a pickup truck steered his death machine left across the crosswalk in a classic SMIDSY.
Police say Elijah’s mother and the two young girl’s in the crosswalk did everything right. They had the right-of-way, crossing in the middle of a sunny day in a residential neighborhood with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Yet, San Jose police and other officials go out of their way to put the onus of safety on the victim. The Mercury-News article includes “safety tips” for pedestrians: wear bright clothing, wave flashlights, cross at crosswalks. How long before Bell begins marketing pedestrian safety helmets, and how long before public health agencies begin sponsoring helmet giveaways for pedestrians?
Nathan Flynn was just riding along when he saw a large dog attacking a pair of young girls. Flynn rescued them by using his bike as a weapon.
I think this is supposed to be humor mixed with interesting information: Support your local bike shop and stop wrenching at home.
Another cyclocross world cup win for Katie Compton.
Velogirl’s Christmas Confession.
136 miles of elevated cycleways for London. Via Carlton.
Washington Times says Chicago spends “lavishly” on bicycle transportation in a story about proposed bicycle taxes. The city of Chicago allocated 1.2% of its billion dollar transportation budget on cycling facilities in 2013. For those who mistakenly believe cyclists get a “free ride,” parking fees, gas taxes, taxi and limousine fees, and vehicle sticker fees — contributed $420 million toward that billion dollar budget. The city of Chicago also collected $300 million in traffic fines and penalties in 2013.
I have some year-end Strava art on tap for tomorrow. Let me know in the comments if you have any contributions.
Now go visit BikePortland’s Monday Roundup and have a great New Year.
Love the socks, I have a few pairs myself. I still can’t believe some of the things i hear when i am riding on my bike. Get out of the way!! Im going to hit you!! and that crazy honk when you are just wanting to ride. I don’t think we should be taxed we are not polluting this great earth.
blamethebiker.com
Hopefully you didn’t have to resort to having to nibble on your bacon socks. :3
Happy New Year(ish)!