Soiree of Visibility
andy| November 19, 2008 1:34 pm 
Other posts related to safety
Beleaguered by Drivers
andy| August 21, 2008 10:40 amI am consistently harassed by car drivers when I ride bike to work or back home. Most of them seem to be annoyed by the fact that I am on the road where they think only cars should be. But according to CA Department of Motor Vehicles, I have all right to be there:
Permitted Movements from Bicycle Lanes
21208. (a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement.
Amended Sec. 5, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
In other words, if there is no bike lane, and this is not a freeway, I have a right to be on the road. Also, if there is potentially damaging stuff or some other obstacle on the bike lane, I can go on the road.
Spoony Attitude Towards the World
andy| August 8, 2008 8:45 amThe following videos really made my day. Thank you Amy for letting me know. Also, thank you Matt for making them. The put tears in my eyes.
Don’t forget the 2005 and 2006 editions.
These videos are just another proof that the world is a really happy and pretty place. Let’s work together to keep it that way.
Clamber Back Down
andy| June 23, 2008 1:18 pmHave you ever done something that was so crazy you thought at the same time: This was awesome!!!! and I am such an idiot!!!! Well, I did that on the way from the ride. It turns out that I got so excited that I totally forgot how to ride a bike… SAFELY!!!
But first thing first. This weekend I did an awesome bike ride organized by San Francisco Bicycling Coalition called Seven Hells of SF (Steepest Hills of SF III) Tour. There were about 20 to 30 people of various skills. The leader gave us a ride sheet and disclaimer. Something about gruesome death and dismemberment.
So we started the ride and soon we were at the first climb. One cool thing about that climb. On the way to it, some surfer dude from a jeep pulled half of his body out of his truck and asked if we are doing that climb. Upon confirmation, he exclaimed: YOU GUYS ROCK!!! In a surfer dude lingo.
So, since the first climb was super tough and I wasn’t prepared for it, I lifted the front wheel and the bike turned quickly, so I had to step off the bike half way up the climb. But I quickly jumped back on and finished the climb. Next climbs went without incident, but I did have to repeat one, so that the ride leader some photos of me.
Awesome ride and SFBC did a great job organizing it.
Ok, so the crazy thing. On the way back, I was having way too much fun riding over the hills of SF. I was going up and down roads and avoiding the stopped traffic. Do you know you are way faster on the bike in SF? Anyway, on one of the downhills, actually on the flat section in the middle of one of the downhill, the guy in front of me made a quick stop. This caused me to squeeze my break, but unfortunately I squeezed the front one a bit too much… This was a bad idea, since it caused my rear wheel to lift. For some reason I was still moving, but I was propped up on the front wheel. I knew I was going to die, but I enjoyed the moment anyway. It was, for the lack of better word, AWESOME!! Some strange luck or supreme being’s intervention caused my bike to fall back on both wheels and I was able to ride away with nothing but a slight whiplash. And I had a huge grin on my face. I am talking the grin that would shadow the sun. I just did a front freaking endo with my bike and recovered. I figured out that the people behind me are probably still washing their pants.
Ok, that is it… I escaped sure death on Saturday, which means I will probably get ran over by an ASSUV today.
Cogitate Biking on the Road
andy| April 1, 2008 9:31 amInteresting video showing why cyclists should be riding in the middle of the lane and not on the side.
