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When I got my drivers license back in 1981 I had to pass the written portion of the test. Then, I had to drive around with a scary looking DPS officer. The guy was in uniform complete with gun and aviator glasses. I never saw his eyes. I passed on the first go because my mother had made me practice with her in the car for weeks ahead of time.
In 2005 my daughter got her drivers license. She went in, took the 20 question multiple choice test and walked out with a license. I actually did spend time teaching my kids to drive, but I know that a lot of parents don't bother. Drivers ed is no longer done at HS. Parents can elect to teach their own kids and just sign off saying they actually made the effort.
I'm not sure if this is how it is done in other states. I do wonder if the lack of meaningful drivers ed and practical testing has made a difference. I guess looking at changes in overall motor vehicle accident rates might shed some light.
I owned a 94 Saturn wagon which I purchased new and drove until the engine blew up last year. I was always very diligent about maintenance and made repairs as soon as possible after noticing a problem. The car ran pretty well and never had any major issues.
I had saved every receipt for every single repair, oil change, tune up, and tire change. I totaled these and added in what I had payed for insurance. I had to make an estimate on the gas, so I went with a fairly conservative number.
In the 16 years I owned that car it cost me at the very least $175,000. I think the number may actually be closer to $200,000 because I was so conservative on the fuel estimate. I just wanted a low total estimate.
I sure wish I had invested that money instead. Most of that time I was married and we had another car anyway.
Actually, I feel a bit sick to my stomach at the moment.
A couple more thoughts... I went to BSS and picked up three or four extra spokes which I have taped to the frame of my commuting/touring bike. I also carry an extra brake cable which could double as a derailleur cable if need be. Along with my patch kit, extra inner tube, bike multi-tool and multi-tool Gerber knife I also carry a little bit of parachute cord, some duct tape and a bunch of zip ties.
I'm no longer worried about getting stuck by mechanical failure on the way to work. With some zip ties, duct tape and a sharp knife I could carve out a new civilization in the wilderness!
My company doesn't trust me with a lap top, but for pannier bags I got some Jandd Hurricanes. They are big, roomy and totally water proof. They seal up the same way as a canoe/kayak bag seals. They have never let me down.
I've seen a few postings on craigslist where people who are not official taxi cab drivers offer rides around town for about $20. I'm not sure how legit or even legal these people are, so I'm not recommending it.
I use my bike to get almost everywhere and so I check it over for problems everyday. I spare no expense in keeping my bike maintained. I would suggest doing the same if at all possible. That should bring the likelihood of a breakdown to below that of a car. I actually worry less about mechanical failure preventing me from getting places than when I had a car. And, it's a lot less expensive to keep your bike in tip top shape than it is a car! Shifting your transportation to your bike will save you money.
I wasn't wearing my cycling stuff either since I had to take the bus. I was disappointing by the lack of cycling/pedestrian information, but had a good conversation with one of the presenters. I can't remember his name, but he seemed genuinely interested in my concerns about cycling. He told me to be sure to fill out the survey and list my concerns on the back, which I did. I explained that since I got rid of my car I rely heavily on my bike to get places. I am especially concerned about the huge barrier that is the Mopac 183 spaghetti bowl of concrete. I live north, so everything to the south of this might as well be in Argentina.
The most interesting thing the guy said to me is that they are now consciously working to fix the messy situation they built 20 years ago when they put in roads without any regard for non-motorized travel. If this is true, there is some hope. He even talked to me about some ideas he has for changing the retaining walls to accommodate cycling lanes and/or shoulders.
I told him that I think putting in a cycling path along mopac would do more good for cycling in Austin than any other single project. Aside from the immediate and obvious benefit for commuter cyclists, I think it would have a psychological benefit too. I think it would go a long way toward changing the image, in many peoples minds, of cycling as a purely recreational activity to include a utilitarian purpose.
Imagine 5,000 people stuck going 5mph driving at rush hour along Slowpac. They look over and notice scores of other people, obviously commuting to work, cycling along a concrete trail at 12-15mph. Many people might come to see the bicycle as a legitimate form of transportation. The number of cycle commuters might start to go up, maybe not everyday, but on many days. And the more people ride, the more respect might be given to cyclists of all types.
That's what I'm hoping for.
I think it is great that a meeting that wasn't even supposed to be about cycling had a ton of cyclist show up! We need to keep up the pressure and have even more show up when the open house IS about cycling.
Good! I would have taken your suggestion and organized it myself, but not sure if I could even get there in time.
Does anyone know if a Ride of Silence is being organized in Austin this year (2011)? The website for these rides show nothing for Austin.
If you receive the Community Impact paper in the mail you may have noticed that the recent issue included a full page anti- Prop One ad on the inside cover. I wrote to the paper to complain pointing out that this gave the distinct impression of an endorsement.
Within a couple of hours one of their people wrote back saying: "You are not the first who brought this to our attention, so please know we are working on this to ensure it is very clear in the future."
It seems that the anti bike people seem to have more money than the pro bike side. Please consider writing to the nice people at Community Impact like I did. They seem to be responsive, and if we can keep at least one source of info unbiased it would be a good thing. The guy I wrote to is: Travis Baker [email address deleted]
Moderator edit: Please remember, email addresses aren't allowed here, *especially* other people's addresses. See the forum rules.
I managed to get it to save all three routes, which is amazing, since I normally can't make computers work. Usually, I have to get my tech savvy son to bail me out. I can't tell you how I did it, though. I think I just kept clicking away until I accidentally stumbled on it. The question I didn't like was the one that was supposed to sort out cyclists into ABC categories. A being the fearless drives-a-bike-in-traffic with confidence. I always hate this system of sorting out cyclists. I commute in heavy traffic. I know how to do it, but I'm always a bit afraid. I think it would foolish to not be at least a little nervous.
I don't like the question the way it is worded because too many people choosing it could make it look like the roads are just fine the way they are.
When I got hit I didn't get anything from the insurance company of the guy who hit me. I still had a car then, and my own car/renter insurance company gave me a check for few hundred dollars. This covered my emergency room deductible and repairs to my bike. If I remember, it was because my insurance agent said my bike was covered under my rental insurance. He said if someone had crashed their car through my duplex wall and smashed my bike, they would cover it. He figured it was the same if the bike got hit on the road.
I didn't argue with that, even though I could spot some flaws with the logic.
I talked to a lawyer, but was told that it would cost me more than I would make on it. Your situation is different, but pay attention to your return on investment if you hire a lawyer. If you've been through a bad divorce you know what I mean. You can quickly spend $1000 fighting over a $100 computer.
Call 311 or go here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/311/index.cfm
I have reported pot holes and signals that don't change for bikes this way. Not sure it really does any good, though. The pot holes just seem to get bigger.
True. But if people were given a choice, that might help get a few more motorists to see what the road looks like from a cyclists perspective. If you get a speeding ticket you can pay the fine or take defensive driving (and still pay some fees anyway). What if, for certain violations, people could choose to cycle for a week? I guess it might be too hard to enforce. Probably easier to just suspend their licenses.
People always come up with ways to beat the system anyway. My son and I were driving back from New Mexico a couple of years ago. It was his turn to drive and both saw tons of cops, so we were taking it slow. At least we thought we were, until he got pulled over by the DPS. Seems we missed a speed limit sign. So, he goes to take the defensive driving course to get rid of the ticket. I warn him to be serious and take notes and to watch the whole DVD because there will be trick questions. I come back later and he's passing all the quiz questions with flying colors, but not taking any notes. Dirty rat figured out to just take screen shots of anything that looked remotely like it might be on the test.
Yeah, being left for dead is the worst part. I might, given enough time, forgive that idiot who hit me for having made a bad driving decision. But for driving off when I was lying in the street...never. Actually, to be fair, I wasn't lying down for long. I do remember running along the shoulder of Parmer Lane looking for a rock to throw.
Cars are just dangerous. They are too comfy to sit in with the a/c and music on and just tune out what's happening on the road. People in cars are almost in a different world and unable to connect fully with where they actual are. I think that makes running lights and speeding easier to do.
I hear that ...'if I have to obey the laws in my car why do all those cyclists get away with running red lights' crap all the time at work. As if I would pose a significant danger to anyone but myself if I did blow through a red light.
I would love to see a traffic violation penalty of 'you will exchange your Tahoe for a bicycle for one week' instead of a monetary fine. That would be awesome..especially if the driver then got caught blowing through a four way stop sign on his bike. I would pay to see that.
I wish I could make it. Will this report be available somewhere? Are these BAC meetings ever recorded in some way so that people without cars and who live far away can get to them electronically? I do not have warm fuzzy feelings for the police, but I'm interested in what they are going to report.
Has there been any attempt at enforcing this law? Does anyone know if anyone has been caught passing a 'vulnerable road user' at less than 3'? What happened?
I would like to volunteer to help run a sting operation. I will provide myself on my bike, donuts for the cops, and a rope for the judge and jury.
I joke, but I am serious too.
Interesting. In my experience, women driving trucks are not too bad.
By the way, I commute on a child's plastic tricycle which I ride backwards going uphill both directions.
John 'the horse' the blasphemer
It's because, as a cyclist, you are a third class citizen (right below the homeless drunks that live under the overpasses.) You should learn to bow your head and submit to your SUV driving, micro-cocked, Nascar watching, Tea Bagging, Cul-de-Sac living, true blue Amerika Uber Alles Patriot masters.
That is, until, the day comes when gas hits $15/gallon. Then, me friend, we will spin past these lazy fat assed SOBs as they waddle along in a daze wondering where their next 5000 calories of greasy fast food is coming from. We will urinate on them from our bicycles. And we will spit on them.
Sorry for the bitterness, but yesterday I had to run an errand for my small business (of which I am the sole proprietor (read: pays lots of taxes to both the city and the country and doesn't get jack shit in return except for a bunch of wars, and a bunch of pot holes.)) and had to ride on the TXDoT Hell hole know as Burnet Road FM 1325. There are no back road alternatives to where I was going, so I had to chance it with the dip shit epsilon-semi morons in their damn SUVs. I was nearly run off the road twice. I both cases, the drivers had ample opportunity to move into their left lane, but couldn't be bothered - probably because they were on their cell phones.
(To be fair, MOST drivers that day obeyed both the law and the spirit of common decency and waited to pass. If I could identify you, I would buy you a beer. Thank you!)
AND, I have two words to say to the hard core Fosterites out there, and the second of those words is 'YOU'. I earned my Vehicular Cycling merit badge long ago when I was a kid growing up in Europe. Now I have finally figured out where to stick it, thanks to everyone who has ever argued against bike lanes in places where it makes sense to have bike lanes!
When I moved to Texas back in 1980 it seemed like lots of people drove around Houston in pick up trucks with shotguns and assault rifles in racks in their rear windows. Is this still legal? I have been looking online, but haven't found a clear answer. I'm thinking of carrying my Ruger Mini 14 on my back while I commute by bike. I have a 30 round banana clip and could get another and duct tape them together. I also have a scope and bipod. I'm a good shot and used to be an NRA rifle and shotgun instructor. I could get a folding stock too, I suppose. Would this be legal to carry?
Just wondering, because I'm getting sick and tired of it all.
I don't think they should be getting in the way, but I know why they are on the road instead of the sidewalk. The sidewalk is concrete, and the road is asphalt. Asphalt is less harsh to run on, so many runners will choose it. Of course, running on the side of the road where the road is more curved over isn't all that great for you either.
I never liked the clip-on-the-helmet rear view mirrors, but I did put a bigger mirror on the handlebars of my commuter/touring bike. It doesn't add anything to the looks, but it does take away a whole lot of stress for me. I can watch the cars approaching from behind and, of course, 99% of the time they move over to pass me just fine. It really helps to actually see it and not just hear it, though. It helps give me some warning when the occasional idiot passes too close.
The other day I had to ride my triathlon bike to run an errand and really missed the mirror. I felt MUCH more vulnerable, even though I probably wasn't actually in any more danger than usual.
On my commuter, I have those weird bars that curl around all over the place. I had to do some cutting away of the rear view mirror attachment to get it to fit. Then I just wrapped the bars over the plastic attachment which I had duct taped to the bars.
And to anyone who thinks it's cars vs bikes end of story, put your bike down for a minute and try your luck as a pedestrian for a day. If you survive, come back and share your thoughts.
I alternate between getting to work by cycling and getting to work by running. My own particular run commute is pretty safe except for a short but nasty bit along Burnet (1325) as it goes past the Domain and up to the hospital. There is no shoulder or sidewalk and a very uneven grassy strip along part of the way on one side. If most of the route was like that, I probably wouldn't run it at all. I have had more near death experiences along this stretch running it than riding it. The only alternative to get across Walnut Creek is to go an extra 2 or 3 miles out of the way (which I do in the am to get in extra miles).
I agree that pedestrians get a raw deal, but if anyone needs a break form commuting by bike you might see if you can map out a decent run. (I realize that to many people 'run' and 'decent' don't go in the same sentence.) Anyway, my run is generally less stressful and I use it to break up my cycle commuting. And, if you are into marathons or ultras it makes for a great way to get in weekly miles fairly easily.
Even cycling as safely as I can I don't always feel very safe. But then, I always feel that way about driving. The less I drive, the less I like it when I do. The human body just isn't adapted to coming to a sudden stop from 60mph.
It sure can be awfully discouraging. Even when you ride safely and correctly, you're only as safe as the idiot drivers allow you to be. Two days ago my girlfriend had yet another incident in which an idiot driver yelled at her for 'being in the way' while she was waiting to go straight at a red light. This moron tried to make a right turn by going around her on the left and cutting in front of her while she was stopped at the intersection. When he signaled his intentions she just shook her head to say no and then just looked away. He backed off. When I got home yesterday her bike was not in the rack. I figured she had gone to the HEB which involves crossing the 8 lanes of the Parmer Lane Autobahn. I was a little stressed so I chased after her so she wouldn't have to ride it home alone.
I've been hit once and had many unpleasant encounters, but I'm going to hang in there and do without a car. A day may come when the stress gets to be too much, so I would never be judgmental about someone giving up on commuting by bike. Do what you have to do for your sanity! Cycling while stressed out probably isn't safe anyway.
Or what about commuting on a boneshaker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boneshaker). Or is that taking it too far on a site children can access?
It would be hard (sorry) to design a really good experiment to see if there is a correlation between a guys penis size and the type of car he drives. But it would be great if someone did. Maybe someone should just claim that a correlation really can be found. Think 'Cold Fusion' discovery here. This could be a matter of national security! A carefully planned campaign by manufacturers of small cars to make this study go viral might result in guys driving smaller cars to show how big they really are.
I had a female friend who used to be a prostitute. She told me she could always tell how the job was going to go based on the type of car the guy showed up in. She said the guys who drove up in over-sized macho vehicles were almost always greatly over compensating. She said it wasn't even just about their physical size, they were also lousy at sex.
But if the neighbor is someone you know, calmly explain to him why the 'bike lane' doesn't make sense to ride in. He probably honestly just doesn't understand. After my last encounter with an ignorant motorist in my neighborhood, I posted a message on our neighborhood yahoo group. While, I don't expect the worst drivers to read the neighborhood yahoo group site, I hope to educate a couple of people here and there about cycling for transportation and cyclists rights. I did actually get one positive response to that.
Lot's of people in this culture think bikes are toys that belong on side walks. The best we can do as individuals is to educate as many drivers as possible. It's a long ugly uphill battle though.
Don't let anyone discourage you from cycling!
Great. Thank you all for the ideas and advice. I'll probably hold out for a bob yak since I might like to use it on longer tour rides as well.
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