1. Operation Lifesaver has good advice for cyclists:
In the wake of the controversy surrounding bicyclists who cycled around
railroad crossing gates to cross in front of a train during the Paris-
Roubaix cycling race, Operation Lifesaver (OL), urges bicyclists to
ride safely when at railroad crossings or near train tracks
-- Bicycle wheels can get caught in rails. To minimize catching
wheels in the rails, always try to cross at a 90 degree angle to the
tracks, and if your approach is at less than a 45 degree angle,
dismount and walk your bike across.
-- You should not rely on your own senses to second-guess warning
signals. It is a misconception to believe track vibration or train
noise will warn of a train's approach. And beware -- one train may have
passed but another could be behind it, or coming from the opposite
direction on the next track.
-- You can't accurately gauge the speed of a moving train. An
optical illusion makes trains appear to be farther away and
slower-moving than they are.
-- Trains are wider than their tracks. To ensure safety and to
ensure that you are not struck by anything hanging from the train (or
dragged by anything hanging from you), keep yourself and your bike at
least 15 feet from the tracks and behind any gates or "stop lines"
marked on the pavement.
-- It is not only dangerous, it is illegal in the United States to
go around railroad crossing arms, whether on foot, in a car, or on a
bicycle. It is also dangerous and illegal to bicycle on railroad tracks
and on most gravel or green space beside railroad tracks.
2. Great letter about Metro Parking, but I really do believe this is going to get better.
I had navigated rush-hour traffic and reached the Vienna Metro
station at 8 a.m., confident that I'd find parking. Not so: In the
small space allotted, every spot was taken. The parking facility
provided was old, and apparently some people had abandoned their
vehicles. I parked in an unapproved, probably illegal spot and hoped
for the best.
The twist? I'm describing the rusty bicycle racks on the south side of the Vienna station.
BTW, if you ever see a group of 4ft x 7ft x 3ft boxes near a metro entrance, those are bike lockers and you can rent them for $70 a year, as available.
3. Chain Reaction Bike Shop reopened June 1st at their new location at 1416 North Capitol Street NW (between O and P). They're asking for volunteers to complete work on the new shop.
4. The President goes biking with his new ambassador to Sweden, who promptly broke his collarbone. Boy, that has got to look bad in front of your boss.
5. Here's a disturbingly effective German ad for wearing your bicycle helmet. "Be careful when transporting fragile goods."
6. This sounds crazy, but few things can make one insane with rage like having a bike stolen (or the more perplexing front wheel theft). It's enough to turn anyone into a vigilante.
Chevy Chase resident Evan McAnney
ran across an article about a man who installed a
tiny radio transmitter into a bicycle and then, with the help of
police, left it unattended and unlocked in order to entice a thief.
It
sounded like a worthy strategy to McAnney, who's had five bicycles
stolen in three years of living in the District. “I will never be able
to afford a car. A bike is my only personal means of transport, and an
important element in maintaining morale,”
7. The Gazette covered the Ride of Silence in Frederick.
According to the Frederick Police Department 2005 Accident Analysis, Frederick city saw 13 bicycle accidents last year. In 10 of the 13 accidents, the bicyclists were at fault for not following traffic signs and signals, said Lt. Kevin Grubb.
8. Taipei, Amsterdam of the east?
Taiwan is planning to construct 2,600km of bicycle lanes by 2011 to
help promote the use of bicycles rather than motor vehicles.
9. B.I.K.E at Silverdocs Saturday Night at 10:15. Who wants to go and report on it? I'll be out of town.
The New York City chapter of Black Label Bicycle Club is a surly but
lovable crew of punks, artists and activists. Fighting capitalism,
dumpster-diving, sitting drunkenly atop six-foot bicycles with big
sticks-these are high-intensity guys (and occasionally gals) that drink
hard and playfully joust each other and rival gangs, but still hug and
cook each other vegan food.
10. Oh no he didn't!
Mark Rabinowitz notes many environmental groups were fooled into focusing on proposed
bike paths to accompany these highways while ignoring the majority of
the funding was going for the roads. A Washington, D.C.-area bicycle
group, for example, is urging its members to demand inclusion of a
bicycle path with the $3 billion Inter County Connector superhighway in
Maryland. This flies in the face of other environmental groups there
who have spent years fighting this highly destructive project.
Them's fighting words. I'd like to point out that WABA is technically not an environmental group (though biking has environmental benefits) and that trying to stop a project that is unstoppable is not always the best policy. Sometimes you have to take what you can get. There's nothing wrong with saying, "You shouldn't build this, but if you do, you should do it right."
11. There's a WABA gear swap this Saturday, so stop by before going to the film festival (Seriously, if you go, I'll post your review of the movie).
9am-2pm,
Parking lot behind the Bicycle Place at 8313 Grubb Road in Silver Spring,
MD. Have breakfast, coffee or lunch at Parkway Delicatessen or Red Dog
Café and talk shop with some of the most knowledgeable cyclists in
the Washington region.
12. Baltimore almost ready to formally present its Eastern Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan.
The Planning Department hopes to formally present its 68-page proposal
to the Baltimore County Council in the fall for a vote, making the
document officially part of the county’s master plan for development.
The plan addresses hundreds of specific problems, large and small, that
community activists and the Planning Department have identified as
hindrances to increasing pedestrian and bicycle activity.
13. Finally, DCist followed around a bike messenger all day.
I soon begin to marvel at the subtle efficiency employed by Ian and
other messengers. Locks, phones, and radios are all attached to a
shoulder strap for easy access while playing in traffic. Keys are worn
around the wrist, identification badges are clipped in visible holsters
-- nearly everything has a specific place. I begin to wonder how much
of an idiot I look like, fumbling around in my shoulder bag for my keys
and ID. I finally resolve to keep my lock on my belt instead of in my
bag
