Wednesday is “Pick up Some Trash Day”

Starting today and continuing on all following Wednesdays I will be observing “Pick up Some Trash Day.”

“Sounds great, but how do you celebrate?” you say. Well, start by getting a bag of some sort (preferably not a brand new store bought one). Then go around your neighborhood or on your way to or from somewhere, pick up the trash that you see. Trash in the gutter, trash in the planters, trash on the sidewalks and paths. Fill up your bag and then give yourself a pat on the back. Just be sure to wash your hands first.

Tomorrow Morning’s Weather believes that part of commuting by bicycle and public transportation is developing a sense of community that has been lost from the American psyche over the last few decades. That is why I promote things like “Pick up Some Trash Day,” guerilla gardening (info coming) and building relationships with your neighbors.

So do some good in your neighborhood or on your commute and pick up some of that trash.

Critical Mass – March

Just a reminder that the San Diego Critical Mass ride for March is taking place on Friday at 7:30pm. Meet at the fountain in Balboa Park outside of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Be sure to have your lights (white in front, red in back), some water and a good attitude.

Come find me, I’ll be the guy in the yellow jacket with a video camera.

Blinky lights or constant lights?

I know there is a lot of controversy over whether to use blinking lights or constant lights when riding at night (or even day). Some people say that the blinking lights are more noticeable, others that blinking lights are distracting and the lights should be constant.

I’ve developed my own theory on this: Constant lights are for seeing, blinking lights are for being seen. My red rear light? Always blinking. My front light is a different story. Up until recently, I was making a decision about how much I needed light to see the road to decide if my light should be set to constant or blinking. If it was still twilight and I could see fine, but worried about being seen or if I was comfortable with the amount of light coming from the street lights, I would have it blink. But if it were dark and I had trouble seeing the road, I would set it to constant, and actually angle it down towards the road a bit.

Of course, none of that matters for me any more because I purchased a new head lamp and mounted it on my helmet. This light is my constant light used for seeing because it is much more powerful (my old light is kinda wimpy) and because it shines wherever I look. I still use my old light, but I always have it on blink mode and just try to ignore it on my handle bars. That gives me the best of both worlds.

So which do you use? Blinking or constant?

Apologies

Sorry about the lack of posts over the last week or so. I’ve been battling a cough that has made it even harder to get on my bike and to work, leaving me with very little energy to post. I’m starting to feel better as the congestion has started to break up, but I’m still hacking my way through my work day.

While I’m apologizing, I’m sorry to the guy who brought his bike onto the trolley with him yesterday. I had my headphones in and decided against talking to him. I should have pressed pause, smiled and asked him about his commute. Sure he was breaking the rules by being at the same end of the train as I was during rush hour, but really, he was no worse than the guy with the 4 garbage bags full of stuff that got off two stops before he got on. I’m sorry bike commute guy.

Claim the Lane

“Claim the Lane” is a term given to the action of cycling in the center of a traffic lane rather than on the right shoulder. This makes is so that motor vehicles cannot pass you. It is considered, by this author, to be the hardest thing to learn about bicycle commuting because it is counter-intuitive.

Your natural reaction to cars passing you too closely is to move further out of their way. This will often move you too close to parked cars or into rough roads or debris, all of which are hazardous. When you feel that cars a squeezing you as they pass, move your line to the left into the lane. What will likely happen is that drivers, because they are more likely to notice you will slow down and change lanes to pass you. If there is not room to pass you, they will just wait until you get out of their way. This will sometimes upset drivers, but if you have the opportunity to chat with them at a stop light, they often will understand and will then be less aggressive towards other cyclists in the future.

Legally, most states allow cyclists to “claim the lane” in specific circumstances. Luckily, the language is generally vague enough that you should feel comfortable riding in the center of the lane when you feel it is prudent. In California the law states:

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.

The key language here is “When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.” I consider cars buzzing by me at high speeds and parked cars that might open doors in front of me (a major cause of accidents) to be “hazardous conditions.” So I am reasonably comfortable with my legal position when I take the lane. I suggest you research the laws in your state and make your own determination of their legality.

Many cyclists don’t like term “claim the lane” because the word ‘claim’ implies that the road does not already belong to the cyclist. The term “Controlling the Lane” has been bandied about but, frankly, it doesn’t rhyme, which seems to be an important part of slogans. I believe that slogan does a lot toward empowering cyclist to be aware of the law and what makes them safe on the roadways.

Getting Buzzed

Well, it was bound to happen. I knew from reading and just common sense that eventually I would almost be hit by a car. I was riding on B street in the tunnel underneath San Diego City College. This stretch of road has parking along the curb so the lane is too narrow for cars to pass cyclists, but there are 3 total lanes. Due to the conditions, I rode down the center of the right hand lane; there was little traffic so it would be easy for drivers to change lanes to pass me and there was still 300 yards before the signal to change lanes if a right turn was necessary.

The motorist that chose to pass me did so significantly over the speed limit (I’m guessing they were traveling 55 mph and accelerating). They passed within a foot of my body. My instinct kicked in before I realized what happened; I began to swear in a tone and volume that is usually reserved for referees at college basketball games.

The funny part is that I had commented, just yesterday, on the Commute By Bike blog post about “Claiming the Lane.” (http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/18/top-5-reasons-to-claim-the-lane-and-why-its-safer/) It would figure that in doing that very thing today, I would get buzzed by some jaggof.

Those of you that are drivers, I implore you, give cyclists room.

Do the Test - Reaction

Spoiler Alert!!! If you have not watched the video linked in my previous post, go watch it before reading this entry!

I’m going to start by assuming you had the same reaction I did when it the video finished: “No freaking way that was there the first time!” and then reloaded to page to watch it again. Of course, it was there all along. This kind of shock is perfect for making people think about what they are doing. It also shows the importance of making yourself stand out as a cyclist so that hopefully you can grab the attention of an inattentive driver.

Things you can do to make yourself more noticeable:

• Flashing lights
• Bright Colors
• Bells or Whistles
• "Claim the Lane"

I’ll be discussing most of these over the next couple of days (does bright colors really need a description?).