Sep
30
“Do you feel safe…?”
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I was just leaving my yoga class (yes, I know, yoga is for pussies, but I do the hardest variety, and it serves as a nice diversion when I get emotionally fatigued of riding my bike, which actually does happen); I was unlocking my bike, when one of my “classmates” paused and pointed at my [...]
Aug
30
Boston bike coordinator is doored
August 30, 2008 | 1 Comment
I know she’ll be quiet about this, so I thought I’d shoot my big, anonymous mouth about a situation that I heard about from my good friend, who also happens to be our fair city’s bicycle coordinator.
Apparently she was traveling alongside a row of parked cars, as is normal for a bicycle, when a passenger [...]
Aug
12
Bike vs. car: a really good article
August 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
For anyone who didn’t see the excellent New York Times article about escalating tempers in the ongoing struggle for turf between cyclists and automobiles, DO read it. It addresses many of the issues about which I have been quietly fuming all summer.
Some interesting words:
“The bottom line, say driving behavior experts, is that the learning curve [...]
Jul
21
Join Lexington convoy – meet ME!
July 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
I’ve been asked to help co-lead one of the “Bike Friday” rides from Lexington into City Hall Plaza in Boston on Friday July 25th. This is a convoy of bikes (apparently escorted by police) following a fixed route and schedule which is part of Walk/Ride Day, a region-wide celebration of green transportation taking place on [...]
Jul
17
I’m depressed
July 17, 2008 | 1 Comment
I’ve only read 86 of the four-hundred-some comments on the Bella English article “If only drivers would share the road, bicycling would be safer” and I feel pretty darn gloomy.
As I see it, there are a few facts. (1) Cyclists are allowed on the roads. (2) In Massachusetts, cyclists are not allowed on the sidewalks. [...]
Jul
17
Article and response
July 17, 2008 | 2 Comments
One of the cyclists injured in the crash described in the following article comes into the shop where I work. He’s a delightful fellow, very engaging and kind. I was horrified to hear of this accident, and I saw the remains of the bikes he brought in to have assessed for insurance purposes. It takes [...]
Jul
10
Scooters in bike lanes: a no-no for me
July 10, 2008 | 8 Comments
I was riding my bike leisurely to Harvard Square, about to enter a zone where a series of new bike lanes trickle right into the heart of the square – where, of course, there has been annoying road construction for ages. At a red light, a motorized scooter sat in front of me on the [...]
Jun
17
Is someone listening?
June 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I was riding down Mass Ave in Cambridge towards Porter Square and slowing up to a light when a cyclist passed me on the right. And then another cyclist passed the first one, again on the right! The first one just blew through the light so I couldn’t struggle with my desire to instruct him [...]
Jun
10
Useful? Or no?
June 10, 2008 | 2 Comments
Somehow I came upon a survey for bicycle commuters that proposed this lovely item as a forthcoming answer to all my commuting needs.
I think this is hideous. It seems like it would tip wildly in corners. And how is it different from just strapping an airline bag to a bicycle?
Jun
5
If there are more people biking …
June 5, 2008 | 2 Comments
If we really are seeing a growth in the number of bicycle commuters, whether due to high gas prices or better weather – or both, or neither – then we have GOT to teach these new acolytes to practice better manners!
Commuting is NOT a race! All the other bike commuters are NOT the same as [...]
