Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Vintage ride Sunday
Vintage ride this Sunday-December 28th 2:00 leaving from Huntsville Middle School. See all of you that can make it. Thanks so much.
Jim Spag hit on Christmas Eve
from Ashley:
We went to the ER to make sure nothing was broken, and all is okay. He's really sore, but it's a far better situation than what could have happened. Seeing as how he's the sixth documented cyclist hit in 2 months (2 of which are dead, right?), I'm livid at the state of things, but could not possibly be more grateful for his well-being.
The guy who hit him wasn't paying attention, slammed on his brakes and was skidding to a stop when he rear-ended Jim on Oakwood near Church St. He went over the handle bars, and his catlike reflexes saved him... although it has really taken a toll on his knees.
The driver has insurance, and they will be hearing from an irate wifey on Monday morning.
City council will certainly be getting an earful at their next meeting, from me and Jim and whoever else would like to show up and contribute.
Thank you all for your concern!
His mentality was stereotypical, though... "you shouldn't be on the road...etc etc..." But Jim also says that he was apologetic and sincere. He's defending the guy that could have taken his life... certainly not the point of view I'd have in his crippled shoes, and sure as hell not the POV I currently have...
/he left the scene of the accident (technically referred to as a hit-and-run)
//when Jim called to ask him to come back, the guy said he "couldn't"
///the cop had a hearty laugh at that one-back in less than 5min
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Bikes Point the Way to a Sustainable Future
From Alternet
Bicycling subcultures signal a sensibility that stands against oil wars, environmental devastation, urban decay and monocultural sprawl.
[In] this bike subculture there's no person who is the best, who is winning, or getting the most money. It's a pretty equal community in that everyone can excel, but not have to be the top dog -- Robin Havens
A funny thing happened during the last decade of the 20th century. Paralleling events that transpired a century earlier, a social movement emerged based on the bicycle. This "movement" is far from a unified force, and unlike the late 19th century bicyclists, this generation does not have to rally around the demand for "good roads." Instead, "chopper" bike clubs, nonprofit do-it-yourself repair shops, monthly Critical Mass rides, organized recreational and quasi-political rides and events, and an explosion of small zines covering every imaginable angle of bicycling and its surrounding culture, have proliferated in most metropolitan areas. Month-long "Bikesummer" festivals have occurred in cities around North America since 1999, galvanizing bicyclists across the spectrum into action and cooperation.
This curious, multifaceted phenomenon constitutes an important arena of autonomous politics. The bicycle has become a cultural signifier that begins to unite people across economic and racial strata. It signals a sensibility that stands against oil wars and the environmental devastation wrought by the oil and chemical industries, the urban decay imposed by cars and highways, the endless monocultural sprawl spreading outward across exurban zones. This new bicycling subculture stands for localism, a more human pace, more face-to-face interaction, hands- on technological self-sufficiency, reuse and recycling, and a healthy urban environment that is friendly to self-propulsion, pleasant smells and sights, and human conviviality. read more here
ErockIT
If I could buy myself anything for Christmas this would be it.
More Motorcycle Videos at 5min.com
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Signs promote bike safety
Saturday, December 20, 2008
By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com
City approves $5,000 for rider awareness project
Huntsville leaders are shifting into gear to make city roads more bicycle friendly.
The $227 million budget approved by the City Council Thursday night earmarks $5,000 in the city's $40,000 sign budget for bike safety signs.
Councilman Bill Kling pushed the earmark on behalf of the recently formed Huntsville Bike Advisory and Safety Committee. The committee was formed in the wake of a bike-car collision on Technology Drive that killed 20-year-old UAH student Sarah Chapman in September while bicycling from campus.
City Transportation Director Richard Kramer told the council $5,000 should cover the installation of about 107 signs.
"We will be working on bike signs and try to get them out as quickly as possible," Mayor Tommy Battle said. Bicycling advocates said they'll make sure city leaders follow through on that commitment.
"We're going to keep reminding you," said Jamie Miernik, bicycle activist and bike safety committee member, noting city promises in October to erect the signs within 90 days.
Sasha Riffle recently got rid of her car and uses a bike as her main transportation. Riffle told the council the signs should improve driver and bicyclist safety awareness and promote Huntsville as a more health and environmentally conscious city.
Kling said the $5,000 earmark will infuse a lot of money toward bike awareness efforts.
"Instead of doing just a small number one year and a small number another," Kling said, "This $5,000 commitment will put out enough signs to have visibility and impact throughout the city and hopefully that will increase awareness to car drivers and bikes and avoid fatalities."
It was not immediately clear what kind of signs will be erected. Kling initially talked of posting the popular "Share the Road" signs but loosely worded the earmark to let traffic engineers decide. City officials and cycling advocates also have talked of using painted markings in traffic lanes.
Chapman's death spurred much of the recent concern about making Huntsville more bicycle friendly but the city's plans were in place long before but slow to materialize.
City planning department employee James Moore recently finalized a map of the city's 158 miles of bicycle paths and greenways and will work with the bike safety committee and traffic engineers to make designated routes safer.
The police department, which has 16 bicycle patrol officers, also has been charged with enforcing bicycle and traffic laws and developing measures like public service ads to keep the public safe. Road planners also will try to include wider shoulders in new road designs.
On a related bike note, the City Council approved a measure Thursday night that will extend the Indian Creek Greenway in west Huntsville. A development agreement between the city of Huntsville and Streetside Communities calls for the engineering, design and construction of extending Explorer Boulevard in Cummings Research Park along with extending the greenway north along Indian Creek.
The 2,000-foot road extension will connect the existing terminus of Explorer Boulevard north of Farrow Road to Pegasus Drive in Research Park to help service the Midtowne in the Park residential development being built by Enfinger-Steele Development.
Developers will pay for the engineering and design and grant city easements. The development agreement lists the cost of the greenway at $662,283.
City planners want to eventually connect the greenway to the greenway segment behind the Village of Providence. Officials say that won't happen until the U.S. 72 West Bridge over Indian Creek is replaced so the greenway can run under it.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Critical Mass Posters
To the douche bag tearing down the posters at Star Market we know who you are. Try playing with yourself instead of tearing down peoples work. You amoeba!
Want to know why you are fat?
Knoxville, TN -- There's evidence of a link between obesity and the way people get to work and get around in general.
The research illustrates the health benefits of regular biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, school or shopping.
The study authors say the least amount of obesity shows up in countries with the highest levels of active transportation use.
In the U.S. where only 12 percent use active transportation, 25 to 33 percent of people are obese.
By comparison, 67 percent of commuters in Latvia, 62 percent in Sweden and 52 percent in the Netherlands either walk, bike or use mass transit. Latvia's obesity rate is 14 percent, the Netherlands' is 11 percent and Sweden's is 9 percent.
YOUR TAKE: Are you willing to bike to work? If it's too far, would you take the bus?
The Top 3 Most Obese States are:
Mississippi
West Virginia
Alabama
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday City Council
City Council will vote on $5000.00 budget for 75 Share the Road signs Thursday night @ 6pm. While this is a nice step I hope this is not a cheap band aid for a much bigger problem. @ People have died in the last 6 months. That works out to 2500 per person. So putting 75 signs up and not educating an incredibly undereducated public is somewhat troubling to me. Think about it this way when you see the pedestrian sign around public housing, schools etc... Do you slow down?
Education Education Education!!!!
REAL LIFE MARIO KART
French prankster Remi Galliard is at it again. This time he brings Mario Kart to the real world with some pretty hilarious results.
Previously from Galliard:
Crosswalk Characters
Astronaut Lands on the Green
via Laughing Squid
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Olde Towne Chocolate Stout
Olde Towne brewery's chocolate stout debut is tomorrow, Monday the 15th at the Nook. I think it starts at 5, and no ending time was announced. Some of us will be riding from Trailhead at 6:30ish as long as we judge the rain/wind/etc to not make riding too dangerous. Or meet us there. If you haven't been before, it's on the south side of Bob Wallace between Triana and 10th.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Vintage Ride Tonight
The original & true (un-affiliated with SCCC) vintage & cruiser bike club is having their 2nd annual Vintage Bike Ride during the Twickenham luminary tour tomorrow night (sat) including stops at each home on the tour. Tickets for the home tour are available at the door (among other places). Not sure the cost but my guess is $15 range. (for whole tour).
Bikes need good safety lights. Decorations & decorative, festive lights highly recommended. Remember that cars will not be using their normal lights, only their fog lights-- so lights are especially important!
Bring out your sparkliest, prettiest, winter solstice-celebrating decor (also known as Christmas decorations for members of the christian persuasion or Hanukkah or... I think, most every culture and religion has some form of winter solstice celebration). However, there will be no condoned preying or praying. And hopefully will be jerk-free. Cynics ok, though.
Last year was fun. Coat recommended-- suitable for riding & waiting in ticket or entry line.
This event may be too low key (i.e. boring) for some.
RSVP for further details.
Ride does not connote anything other than an announcement, so no need to read anything else into it.
(Irene) Nolen Clark
The Original and True Vintage Bike Tourer
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Ride the Christmas Parade
Please come to the Christmas parade on Saturday, 6 December, in downtown Huntsville. We'll meet about 11:30 AM in parking lot K, across from the Post Office on Clinton Avenue, and the parade begins at noon. Parking is a zoo that day so park remotely and ride to Clinton. The route is not exactly aerobic at less than 3 miles, but its a great opportunity to remind the crowd to share the road, and that we are out there, and its fun. I plan to wear a black armband to memorialize Sarah Chapman, I hope
others will to.
You can decorate your bike & body, and wear a helmet too. I usually get a three dollar Santa hat from Big Lots and zip tie it to my helmet, and wear red or green. Others go all out with costumes and red gloves. Last year I taped an eight inch diameter foam "Rudolph Nose" to my fairing, along with electrical tape for eyes & lashes, and zip tied some stuffed doggy toys to the bike. The poodles (my dogs at home) got to enjoy the toys after the parade. Hope to see you there. Any questions call me
mobile at 256.348.5181.--george
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Stearns Coffee fire
Stearns caught on fire but didn't burn down around 5am yesterday. Daniel says he plans to re-open in 2 weeks. That will be a busy 2 weeks. read more
picture
In other news, how did the bike committee meeting(tomorrow) go if you're on it? What is the plan for Thursday?
Monday, December 1, 2008
Hands Free Headsets are just as
DANGEROUS!!!
Here is a an article I found that concluded that drivers on cellphones are just as dangerous as drivers impaired by Alcohol
Check It
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