mondaycurse

I got a city bus driver fired yesterday after he tried running me off the road twice.
Then I raked some leaves.

Today I'll just ride to college and then another longer ride.

UnsafeAlpine

My cycling community is filled with a bunch of clicky jerkwads so for my advocacy, I did nothing.

K'Tesh

Been sick for the last few days... That flu shot works!!! Got the shot on Tuesday, sick by Wednesday.

Managed to get a few people to turn on their lights tonight (stupid motorists). It's not much, but it's all I can claim.

randya

which flu shot was that?

K'Tesh

Seasonal... Like most people, I'll probably only be able to get the H1N1 shot when pigs fly.

Leo H.

This thread's a good idea.

I'm contacting the local organizer for the Bicycle Train program, where instead of walking with groups of kids to school for safety (Walking School Bus), volunteers ride their bikes with kids to school.
If we don't like how cyclists ride in traffic today, got to at least train future cyclists to do the right thing.

Leo H.
Sun Valley, NV

I've been the Captain for our company's Bike 2 Work Day and I bug the local transportation dept's Bicycle/Peds Advisory Board usually every month.

K'Tesh

Was feeling better, and the weather is supposed to get bad for the rest of the week, so I decided to go on a little bike ride. 102.56 miles later, the world is missing a few black locust weeds... Photos pending upload.

Today, I went after a bit of exposed rebar next to a sidewalk (on a busy street w/o bike lane).





That bit of metal had me worried about needing a tetnus shot (or stitches). It was poised to scrape anybody who walked or rode too close to it. A hacksaw, and a few minutes was all it took. I was a little bit worried about the sharp edges of the sawed off stumps, so I hit it with a little orange paint to add visibility. Then after looking at it, I realized that it wasn't necessary. Oh well...

See Something? Do Something!!!
K'Tesh

dkziggy

Awesome K'Tesh. I'm a new bicyclist and a paranoid one at that with all the hazards of road biking. Seeing someone improving the quality of a ride really is motivating. I haven't done anything yet, but maybe getting my friend into cycling is a start.

K'Tesh

Whatever you do, it doesn't have to be much to make an improvement. Perhaps something as simple as dragging a branch out of the bike lane on a busy street.


SW Canyon Rd. Portland 11/06/09

The area in the above photo however has been a thorn in my side for several years. I finally got fed up with it, and sent off a message to "the city that works"'s Mayor. I personally, completly, cleaned that area 8 months ago, and have not had any response to my request for assistance in keeping it maintained.


SW Canyon Rd. Portland 03/07/09

My next step is to take it to the press.
K'Tesh

cudak888 

Sent a Rails To Trails donation request letter through the paper shredder.

-Kurt

mattotoole

I hope some of you will write letters to the LA County District attorney in support of strong sentencing for Dr. Thompson, who was convicted of mowing down several cyclists in the now-famous LA road rage case.

hotbike

Yesterday, I cut some vines and removed a big tangle from a roadside. It was a visibility obstruction and a hazard to the face.

Then I cut some more branches about three miles down the road.

On my way back, I found a wheel-chock, made from a piece of six by six, I carried that home in my right pannier. A wheel chock could be useful.

K'Tesh

Thanks hotbike!

Did you take any before and after photos? I'd love to see how it turned out!

Last night I pulled my Felco bypass pruner (a streetfind) on my way home from work, and cleared a section of sidewalk that leads to a poorly positioned MUP. Since it was 11pm, I didn't take any pictures. However, I did when I cleared another area:


The bike lane on the Tigard Viaduct (Hwy 99W) during and after pruning.

See Something? Do Something!!!
K'Tesh

K'Tesh

The branches were hanging almost in my face while I was riding on this road, and the sidewalk was almost completly blocked. I stopped and started pruning, then thought to try to take a picture.


SW Hall Blvd, Tigard during and after pruning.

As you can see in the picture, the branches over the sidewalk were only just above my bike's seat.

A few more minutes of pruning, and the bike lane and sidewalk are clear.

Also, when I was practicing my new commute, I found a problem in a bike lane near my new job...


SW Lower Boonsferry Rd, Tualatin

So, I called their public works, and left a detailed message on where the pothole was, then when I came back to start my new job, I found that they fixed it.


Pothole before and after.

Called them again and said thanks.

So, what can you do to make things better for yourself and for others?
K'Tesh

UnsafeAlpine

Is it just too difficult to look where you're going?

UnsafeAlpine

How the hell am I supposed to get my MTB training if I don't have to duck tree limbs and dodge road obstacles on my commute?

K'Tesh

I have disabled friends...

Some of them are in wheelchairs, and another is blind.

Where do you want them to go? In the street?

UnsafeAlpine

Cool, you should go to the wheelchair and blind forum then because this really isn't cycling advocacy...

Chris516

rotflmho

K'Tesh

When I came across this tree blocking my commute route, I pulled out my Swiss Army Knife (Ranger model), and got to work:








When I couldn't cut the tree enough to completly clear the path, I contacted Non-Emergency Dispatch and requested that they get some kind of light on the tree, as it's in a dark portion of the path, and joggers and other cyclists could run into it before they had a chance to avoid it. The cops managed to put out some tape before I returned with a bigger saw and cleared the trail.

My knife's saw has seen a lot of action, but tonight I think it's time to send it back to Victorinox to get it replaced (it's bent... BAD ). Problem is, I feel naked without it, and I don't have a 2nd knife.

See Something? DO SOMETHING!!!
K'Tesh

thdave

I recently wrote a lengthy note to our Cleveland Metroparks detailing the shortcomings of our multi-purpose paths, and got a nice note back.

Here was my complaint:

To Whom It May Concern,

letter opens with a comment on a large expenditure to "improve" a golf course in the metropark, and cites my opinion for spending the money in a different way.

The area of greatest need, imo, for upgrade and spending is your sub-standard bicycle-multi-use paths. They are very limiting in nature and can be greatly improved. Access to them is few and far between. Ask yourself why drive down into the valley to bicycle or rollerblade? Why drive down to take a long nature walk? This contributes to pollution and wastes gasoline. Help us help ourselves by improving access so all can take that leap and bike down and, more importantly, up your bike paths. Hikers will appreciate the difficult climbs, if you install the needed paths. You are so well imbedded into our neighborhoods—thousands of homes sit atop your valley rim-- yet you allow access to a few roads only, and those roads don’t have pathways.

The only decent access via foot or bike you have to your park (in my neck of the woods), is the path in Cleveland along Puritas Road. That path is always being used and it a great testimony to the benefit of installing good access to your park.

Let me give you one (of many) bad examples: Brookway Road in Fairview park. I’ve attached a Powerpoint file describing this intersection’s limited access and a safety concern I have at Mastick and the Valley Parkway intersection.

Perhaps more importantly, these paths themselves are too narrow. It’s dangerous to bike or rollerblade at any significant speed. The visibility is poor due to overhanging trees and the many hills and valleys. I visited Boulder, CO, recently, and their bike paths are 10-12 feet wide. That makes a world of difference! Many more people are on the path. There is greater visibility, and improved safety for all. More people would then use your path and thus get important exercise. These paths are very busy in summer evenings and weekend afternoons—yet I stay away then because of that. I’m sure others do, too. Please, do your duty and improve these paths so we can all burn calories and trim down our fat bodies!

Sincerely,

Me
------
The reply took the note seriously, but that nothing would be done except for a look into improving access at Brookway road, the one spot where I included pics and a description of the issue.

For them to fix that one spot will help a tad. Can't say I'm happy 'bout it, but it's a start. Regarding the substandard width of the path, they suggested I ride in a different area that's 2.5 miles long where they widened the path. What a joke. Not sure what action I'll take next.

OBXCycling.com

Interesting.

2 days ago an email went out to our cycling group stating that The Angel Tree (helps underprivileged kids at Christmas) needed 13 more bikes. We got them 13 bikes and 13 helmets that day.

Today, I sent an email out about a road that has been covered in sand for the better part of 2 months. It got forwarded to the right people and it will be cleared tomorrow.

The innernetz is quite powerful.

cudak888 

I bumped up this thread to see what other zany stuff you jokers (most of you, anyway) are up to.

-Kurt

DX-MAN

I saved energy today -- I quit arguing stupdity in Bek's traffic thread....

idoru2005

While driving through my neighborhood on my way to work, I was following a woman in a Honda Hybrid. She veered into the bike lane as we neared an elementary school and she drove in the bike lane for almost a full block. I followed her until I had a chance to pull up to her side and told her what she had done wrong, and explained that a cyclist was killed last week by a driver that did the same thing. She thanked me for calling her on her mistake. Hopefully she pays more attention to the bike lane from now on.