May 3, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Minneapolis Council Member Responds: Cyclists Breaking Laws
Minneapolis Council Member Cam Gordon has posted some great info on his blog about the KSTP ‘investigative report!!!!1!!!!!‘ of several days ago.
Included are bike-car crash data for the city of Minneapolis, which shows that the anecdotal percentage blame suggested by a police officer isn’t held up by the annual data (2006), and the observation that in ‘investigation’ of bicyclist behavior, the KSTP team themselves violated multiple traffic laws in their own right.
Hee hee!
May 2, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Let’s Talk About Tax Base
Shamelessly stolen from Bicycle Retailer, a good source for this kind of thing:
This chart proves a few things I’ve been saying all along, one of which is that it’s fair to assume many cyclists are regular contributors into the general tax base of our state and nation. I wonder sometimes if the perception that we all aren’t is because everyone thinks bicycles are $80 at Target.
May 1, 2008
by julie
2 Comments
Following another cyclist-car collision in Chicago, a Chicago Tribune writer takes a surprisingly sane look at the rage that exists between bicyclists and motorists.
He even gets quotes from psychologists and people like Bob Mionske:
“If every cyclist obeyed every single traffic law, I don’t think the [Internet] comment boards would change that much,” says Bob Mionske, former Olympic cyclist turned attorney and cycling advocate. “Drivers ask, ‘Why are they in my way?’ I think that in some of the more general ways, it’s competition for a limited resource: the roadway.”
Sadly, he’s likely right. Still, it’s easy to find misbehaving users of roadways in general – cyclists, vehicles, bus drivers, even jaywalking pedestrians. I’m sure we’ve encountered every one of ’em.
The question is, does encountering one, or even several, of these cause you to assume that all of them are outlaws? I’d bet that in most cases, it’s NOT universal. You’re more likely to assume that of specific groups. There’s a group identification.
Better roadway design is probably a start. Traffic calming measures have worked in Europe. They’re also used to high gas pricing there, which helps create some sanity in vehicle choice and use. In Minnesota, I wonder if some of the recent hue and cry is due to the recent gas tax upgrade (2 cents a gallon!) coinciding with gas price hysteria. The increase isn’t just the tax – the tax is a small amount of it all. But it’s hard to say who understands that.
April 30, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Haters on Parade
Ah, springtime. There’s nothing quite like April showers, chirping birds, and lame ‘exposes’ by local news channels on scofflaw bicyclists.
More troubling than the pure gooey grah of such exposes is the viewer feedback on such hard-hitting journalistic glories. Skimming the comments, we have the usual cast of characters:
There are a number of quality comments, such as the observation that Minneapolis bicycle paths are 10mph zones (and in mostly dreadful shape), and pointing out that while ignoring signals is both illegal and dumb, use of a lane and use of a road is fully legal in Minnesota. Even some of the cyclists, though, are espousing the bicycle as chiefly a toy that should be used in ‘play areas’ (aka paths), rather than considering steps towards traffic calming and vehicular cycling.
Many League Cycling Instructors discuss the need not just for cyclist education, but for better education for ALL road users. Comments like the ones on the ‘news’ story cited above emphasize it. The only question I have is if there’s an openness to learning, or if an attempt to teach will just drive these people to further bile?
April 18, 2008
by julie
Comments Off on Buying a Bike
Spring is here. High gas prices are here, too.
With that comes a deluge of people asking: “What bike should I buy?” I end up answering that a lot for friends, relatives, random co-workers who see the picture of me and my husband on bikes I have in my office and who have heard rumors that I’m some sort of biker person.
I think my answers frustrate some, because they want me to tell them to go to a specific place, and buy a specific brand and model. Of course, it’s not that easy. Questions need to be answered.
What kind of riding do you intend to do? Be honest with yourself.
Figuring out HOW you plan to use the bike is key. A few years ago, I helped a friend find a bike. He saw the sort of riding my club did, and wanted to join in. He liked the idea of a fitness activity that wasn’t murder on the knees. So we found him a good road bike, suitable for group rides, with the best possible frame that would fit him, and components worth using… but easily upgraded. Six years later, he’s still riding that frame, and has rebuilt most of the bike several times.
A lot of people get hung up on brand. Brand is irrelevant. If the frame doesn’t fit, the brand won’t matter. Every brand has its own merits and geometry. Pick one that fits your body and budget.
As a rule of thumb, the frame is going to be what makes or breaks the whole bicycle purchase experience. if you buy a frame that sucks or doesn’t fit, you won’t ride the bike. Period. Getting good components is a nice plus, but on most bikes, you can upgrade them later. If you use the bike enough, they’ll need replacement someday anyway – parts wear out on bikes, just like they do on cars.
Depending on your intended use, you’ll need different features of the frame and components. The second biggest mistake I see people make, after getting a frame that doesn’t fit, is getting the wrong wheels/tires. Most people are using their bikes on paved streets and trails. They will want a smoother tire. However, many get big knobby mountain-style tires thinking they’ll be better. Actually, on pavement, they slow you down a lot. Other people get sleek race-style wheels because they ‘look cool,’ but may be meaning to use their bike much more casually, and have little experience in wheel maintenance. Low-spoke, sleek race wheels require more care and maintenance than many are going to want to put in or learn.
Another thing I see is people messing up seat choice. The seat on a bike at purchase is always negotiable. However, it’s not always true that the biggest, plushest seat will be the most comfortable. Seat choice is going to depend a lot on your riding position (upright? traditional road?) and your actual tuckus. Many people are awfully surprised when they find that something without massive padding makes their butt happiest. (And early on, ANY seat is going to create a bit of post-ride ow – you have to break in both your butt and your seat!)