Bill would let bikers pass legally through red lights

If this passes (though it probably won’t) I think they should give the same consideration to cyclists, who also cannot trip the light sensors…

From the AJC article

“When Ann Purcell is tooling around the state on her Honda motorcycle, the weight of the sport bike is often not enough to trip the sensors at red lights.

Most people would grumble — and worry about the safety of being trapped in an intersection — in silence. But Purcell is a Georgia legislator, so she is pushing her colleagues to approve a measure to let bikers go through red lights when the signals don’t know they’re there.

“We just want to make it so you can go through without, quote, breaking the law,” said Purcell, a Republican representative from Rincon. “We understand we would have to go through with great caution.”

House Bill 161 basically would allow motorcyclists to treat red lights like stop signs. “

Yellow Card

This is a magnetic card (which I saw over on boingboing) was created for cyclists to lob at cars that they have a negative interaction with. The idea is to deliver a message in a way that is not destructive.  The original post has inspired a classic “comments” thread over at the original post. Do I have an opinion? Of course I do. Not about the card, but about the path the comments take.

Allow me to wax poetic:

• Drivers – bikes are not cars, so they can do things cars cannot, which means they can thread through a red light that a car cannot go through in such a way that is actually not that dangerous providing the rider isn’t a complete jackass trying to blow a light at too busy an intersection. Deal with it.
• Cyclists – if you have the inclination to hog a lane just to be a dick and make your “share the road” point, do us all a favor and rethink your strategy. There are moments where it is totally appropriate to claim lane space, and there are moments where it isn’t. If you can’t tell the difference yield to the side of safety and ride with some more experienced riders until you know where the line is…and believe it there is a line between holding your lane and being a cock. Especially in rural areas with limited lane space.
• Drivers – don’t try to use your car as a weapon…ever. If you do, expect the cyclists to defend themselves. They will. I will.
• Cyclists – unless you are riding in a race, stop wearing kit that looks like you are full on Tour De France-ing it. Seriously, you look like a stupid fanboy and the graphics create hatred from motorists because they view you as someone out on an expensive toy with expensive clothes playing adult make believe. There is plenty of excellent riding gear out there that isn’t plastered with team logos that you aren’t and never would be sponsored by, so isn’t logo free gear really the wiser choice? Yes, it is.

I could go on, but I am sure you can see that my views are pretty conflicted because both sides are so wrong in their approach. Trying to act like bikes are the same as cars is never going to work. I’d like to see a lot more attention paid to common sense in this debate rather than people try to defend their case based on so called laws that don’t jive with the reality of the situation.

Critical Mass Halloween Atlanta…a few pics

Wow, I drastically underestimated the turnout for this thing. Thats what happens when you live so far away from the city I guess. This little clip of the mass crossing Moreland doesn’t even show the whole group. I hope homeboy found his wife lol (42secs)…

Since I lost my camera in a “party mishap” earlier this year, all i had to grab snaps with was the iPhone, so the quality isn’t very good on these pics, but you can get an idea of how everyone was in the halloween spirit for the ride.

I couldn’t tell if this guy was running the full Rock Racing kit as a costume or if this is his normal riding gear.


AYHSMB southeast remix

Probably the best “in theme of the event” costume I saw…


There was a whole gang of smart phone icons…Angry Birds! Wish I could have gotten a pic of the whole group together…


Probably my fave costume was E.T and Elliot. Great job on the E.T. sculpture/model…the only way it could have been better were if she would been riding the actual Kuwahara E.T. BMX bike.

The ride was a blast, although I ran out of beer waaaay too early. Next year I’ll rig up some sort of way to bring more suds. One thing I thought was pretty rad was when the mass got out onto Moreland in East Atlanta and cruised up to Little Five Points. Since I don’t get to come to many of these events I have never been to one where such a long stretch of such a major road was infiltrated. I had some other things to do that night, so when we got to L5P I dropped off so I could ride back to Kirkwood since I had parked there, but the ride kept trucking along headed up towards Ponce and who knows where else. While I was riding away in the opposite direction I could hear all the ruckus from the crowd and the car horns from quite a distance away. I hope it went long and everyone had a great time.

If you only do one CM a year, Halloween is the one to do for sure.

Quoting Snobby

&You have already seen this, but it bears repeating:

I was particularly confused by his self-defeating argument that people shouldn’t ride bikes because “roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes,” since if anything it means that the roads need to be upgraded. That’s like saying people shouldn’t use computers because “our communication infrastructure was built for letters and telegraphs, and not for the Internet.”

-bsnyc

well said.

Georgia Bike Summit 2010

The first Georgia Bike Summit will bring together advocates, business leaders, on-road and off-road recreational cyclists and commuters, elected officials and staff from across Georgia to meet in a state-wide forum, setting the stage for bicycling gains. We will network, collaborate, educate, and empower advocates and attendees; identify common issues in our local communities; and set priorities for Georgia Bikes in 2011.

GA Bike Summit Website

GA Bike Summit Facebook Page

biketivism

Atlanta Ride to the Capitol

At first I thought the AJC had misspelled the word “pedal” as “peddle” in their headline about the ride to the Capitol, today, but then I realized it was a clever little pun. You can read about your fellow cyclists doing their part to make it a little safer to ride on the streets by clicking here. Can’t read? Look at the pictures here.

Word has it the ride was 1200 strong. Word!

Feds Deem Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorists Equals (repost from WIRED)

” We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. “

You can click here to read the whole article

2010 Atlanta Beltline Bike Tour

April 25, several route options from 3 to 28 miles, $20…CLICKOTRONIC HERE TO GET THE FULL SCOOP. It’s an Atlanta Bicycle Coalition thing.

I’m thinking about doing it. Might drag out Ye Olde Talera and do the Off Road portion or something…clear purple pedals and all.

Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts 6: Love Scars and Handlebars

I guess they haven’t used the tagline “Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape” yet because there is a book by that name…anyway, you need to go to this to race, participate in the tricks n skids, or just hang out and enjoy being around your fellow bikey people.

If you see me there say hi! Blue peugeot fixed with yellow Veulta wheel and various yellow trim.

beautiful thing

I didn’t ride in this ride, but I love the photo. Word has it that motorists were pretty pissed that they had to wait while the bikes did the 400 portion. Awww, my heart bleeds for them.

Great pic!