#1 Re: Getting started with biking » Another rider's take on bicycle safety » 2018-02-21 11:57:09

I have not read it more than a quick scan so I just say that I think it's always good to have more resources for people to learn from. It does not impress me, but it looks ok. Perhaps one matter lacking is recognizing the sources s/he took material from.

#2 Re: Equipment (Discussion, For sale) » Wheel builder » 2017-05-09 18:27:41

I recall tstarry used to build wheels. Is he still in the hood?

#3 Re: Justice Issues / Collisions » Austin: 12,000 hit-and-runs per year! » 2015-09-27 13:31:28

I guess this is not the time to ask APD, what are we paying for?

#4 Helmet Laws/Other legislation » Political (back)Pedal » 2015-05-17 11:27:09

bizikletari
Replies: 0

I didn't do the Political Pedal this year either.
But thanks to Dougmac's post I found the most concise description of the ride, and to some degree why in the last years I haven't feel participating in it.
http://cycling.frenzied.us/2015-05-15-P … 9.jpg.html

#5 Rides and Events » YBP celebrates its 18th birthday » 2015-05-14 21:50:00

bizikletari
Replies: 0

http://austinyellowbike.org/2015/05/ybp … niversary/

We'll celebrate this Saturday 16th with a bike Ride, a Double Feature, Pop-corn and Beer.
come and join us.

See the ride description at https://www.facebook.com/events/915586468462174/

Thanks, Austin.

#6 Re: Traffic Laws » APD believes bicycles are "motor vehicles" » 2015-05-09 18:48:46

Well, even if it may be true that in the TX traffic code a bicycle is descibed as a motor vehicle; it still makes no sense.
With such logic a calash, a litter or a rickshaw could be considered "motor vehicles", and that is plainly absurd, no matter the robe of the speaker.
Language is meant to serve as a vehicle of communication; Legalese instead, seems to operate in a Kafkaesque maze with a blind person casting a dice to choose any one word's meaning at any given moment, sentence or location.
I give up.

#7 Traffic Laws » APD believes bicycles are "motor vehicles" » 2015-05-09 12:00:15

bizikletari
Replies: 6

The UT's Daily Texan reports that APD considers bicycles to be "motor vehicles"

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/05 … ted-biking

According to APD officer Nathan Blake, operating a bicycle at or above a blood alcohol content of .08 is a punishable crime.

“[Motor vehicle] is one of the elements of a DWI,” Blake said. “From a police officer’s perspective, a bicycle is a motor vehicle.”

Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code defines the elements of a DWI offense and section 32.34 defines a motor vehicle as a device that can transport a person on a highway, excluding devices on stationary rails or tracks. The penalty for a DWI on a bike is the same as a DWI in a car. A first DWI offense carries a penalty of up to six months in prison and a maximum $2,000 fine.

Blake said operating a bicycle while intoxicated in a public place is especially problematic.

#8 Rides and Events » WTF at YBP. » 2015-05-09 08:21:53

bizikletari
Replies: 1

Yellow bike is hosting a Women Trans and Femmes bike shop 11am to 3pm on every second Sunday of the month.
This month, conveniently, falls on the same day some people celebrates mothers day. So if you are a mom, this may be your way out tomorrow.

Austin on a Bike published a nice post on WTF at YBP. http://austinonabike.com/dont-let-judge … tf-at-ybp/

#9 Traffic Laws » Ora Houston on bicycle riding » 2015-02-17 13:07:23

bizikletari
Replies: 3

It seems some of our new City Council members have a rather strange idea of bicycle riding safety.

http://austinonabike.com/some-atx-counc … -solution/

#10 Equipment (Discussion, For sale) » YBP Holiday Bike Sale 10% Off » 2014-12-11 14:02:50

bizikletari
Replies: 0

Our mechanics have been hard at work cranking out bikes and there we have a Texas-sized selection for you to choose from. We have everything from commuters to road bikes to mountain bike and more. Come by and take a look any time we’re open. If you didn’t know, we also have regular daytime hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday and evening hours from 6a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday through Friday.  To make giving the gift of a bike easy we have gift certificates available.

http://austinyellowbike.org/wp-content/ … e-Sale.jpg

#12 Organizations » YBP will be gardening » 2014-10-05 13:23:56

bizikletari
Replies: 0

The Yellow Bike Project will be working on a restoration program in the front yard.

Check the website if you want to lend a hand or two.
http://austinyellowbike.org/2014/10/the … n-project/

#13 Rides and Events » City Council Candidates for District One Forum at the YBP Headquarters » 2014-09-15 21:38:40

bizikletari
Replies: 0

The Austin Yellow Bike Project along with the Ghisallo Foundation and BikeAustin will be hosting a forum with District One candidates at YBP headquarters (1216 Webberville Rd. Austin TX, 78721) on September 28th at 3:00 pm.
Although we will discuss other topics as well, bike and bike infrastructure will certainly be in many questions.
We hope to see you all at our home.

See flyer below.
http://austinyellowbike.org/wp-content/ … mFlyer.png

#14 Re: Justice Issues / Collisions » Harrassment on Bannister Lane » 2014-09-13 09:41:16

RedFalcon wrote:

Western Trails reported this to the police.  Good.  But has happened since?  A tennis racket was used as a weapon against a fellow citizen.  What if it had lodged in the spokes of the front wheel?  Our Op might have suffered badly.  Did the cops bother to show up, or did they just take the report and file it away?  There was a weapon involved.  Let me say that again.  There was a weapon involved.   Did they check it for fingerprints?  If not, why not? 

If I dropped objects onto cars from an overpass, I would fully expect that the cops would check those objects for fingerprints and hunt me down*. We all gave our fingerprints to get a driving license right?  So this shouldn't even be that hard to solve.

It seems rather evident that APD and Señor Acevedo are plainly against bicycling in Austin, perhaps with the quaint exception of a PR piece, the lack of interest in cyclists safety is appalling.
In the facebook world have circulated some comments regarding APD's failure to produce a report on a case were a cyclist was severely injured, despite repeated public requests to see one.
I am not clear if a petition to remove the current chief is in order or whether this will be better addressed through assurances from the City Council candidates that they will move to rid us from his services. But it certainly seems that we should try either venue.

#16 Re: Traffic Laws » Red light camera stats for Austin » 2014-08-23 08:42:01

I doubt there are 10,000 cyclists in Austin.
I guess percentages are important, but still that raw figure seems a lot more worrysome than a few hipsters running a red light on a fixie.

#18 Re: Justice Issues / Collisions » Homicidal/idiot driver vs. cyclist (silver Honda #843 YTZ, 7/29/14) » 2014-08-02 18:34:24

Bike sharing (for a fee) programs are basically bike rental programs.
It has been argued B-cycle is a good example we have a bike friendly city. etc.

#19 Re: Justice Issues / Collisions » Homicidal/idiot driver vs. cyclist (silver Honda #843 YTZ, 7/29/14) » 2014-08-02 14:02:55

MichaelBluejay wrote:

As for the idea that the police somehow put a black mark next to someone's name when a report is made and save that info for future use, I seriously doubt they actually do that.  I'm considering that one an urban myth until someone can provide positive confirmation.

And as a myth has been debunked by APD's Acevedo himself.
A few years ago, I asked him in a forum why APD would not keep records of reports to see repeated offernders, trends and whynot. His answer was a)budget constrains and b)they couldn't do a thing if an officer had not witnessed the infraction!
I am still mesmerized by his logic.

MichaelBluejay wrote:

"Austin = Bike-Friendly city" my ass.

Some well intentioned people argue that renting bikes is solid evidence that it IS a bike-friendly city.
Oh well.

#20 Re: Justice Issues / Collisions » Homicidal/idiot driver vs. cyclist (silver Honda #843 YTZ, 7/29/14) » 2014-08-01 19:22:15

My personal experience, unfortunately, is that APD does not appear when you call to report dangerous behaviour towards cyclists. Period.
I've called three times in the last 12 months; in all three instances I've left after half an hour of waiting in vain. Watch on wrist.
I might be irresponsible, but half an hour waiting under the Texas sun is my limit and I rather go places.

#21 Justice Issues / Collisions » bike/ped collision » 2014-07-15 22:53:41

bizikletari
Replies: 2

Although the crowd seems to be asking for the cyclist head, most probably he'll have the same punishment a driver will have in a similar situation, that is nothing.
On the bright side the victim's outcome seems substantially less severe than the equivalent collision with a car of any size.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments … on_the_ut/

#23 Rides and Events » YBP announces a party! » 2014-06-18 09:30:25

bizikletari
Replies: 0
YBP wrote:

It's a YBP (Birthday?) Party!

It might be a sign of our age (we turned 17 last month), but we never had much of a birthday party. Well, this month's collective meeting featured a proposal we just couldn't refuse: a big ol' party! When Thunderbird barista Jesse Hunt arrived in Austin a few years back, he took advantage of YBP's Earn-A-Bike Program and has kept us in his thoughts ever since. Well, now they want to throw a party for Yellow Bike, show off their thirty-something new beer taps, and give 100% of beer sales to the Yellow Bike's burgeoning kid's program, which is set to begin this Fall. The party will get rolling just after this month's Frankenbike, which is celebrating its own 9-year anniversary down at Ozone Bikes.

In addition to all the beer, there's going to be a raffle and the winner gets a voucher for any bike they see over at the shop. If you haven't been lately, there are some sweeeeet bikes, too.

When: June 28th, post-Frankenbike, circa 5pm.
Where: Thunderbird Coffee, at Koenig/2222 & Woodrow
Why: Beer. Bicycles. Birthdays. Indoctrinating youth in the ways of two wheels

#24 Bike Lanes / Facilities » CoA asks your input. » 2014-06-12 08:07:23

bizikletari
Replies: 1

Time to give input to the CoA transit, traffic and bike-ped realities.

http://s-0d5460-i.sgizmo.com/s3/i-100027382-639602/

Please, fill it.

#25 Re: Bike Lanes / Facilities » 2014 Protected Bike Lane Study including Austin facilities. » 2014-06-05 19:36:15

Jack wrote:

Mostly, it seems to be analysis of "perceived safety" (...), and thin on actual safety

"Perceived Safety" carries a lot more weight than what it seems you imply it has. Perception of safety is one of the main arguments Americans invoke to shy away from bicycling. It is the main cause why Americans do not allow their children to bike to school or other activities. It is one of the most cited reasons why women bike less than men in America.

Also, in a deeper meaning is the same reasoning why America invaded Irak, albeit wrong as that perception of safety was.

I think it may be useful to rethink the profound impact that perception of safety has in everybody's lives and use that understanding to build facilities that promote cycling.

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