Another Clip Show?

I don’t have enough hours in the day to be witty, charming, and entertaining nonstop, so… It’s time for a CLIP SHOW!!!!  

Which simply means I’m linking you to some interesting bike news from across the globe. Cause you like being a globe trotter, don’t you? (yuck, yuck)

First off, I apparently live in the wrong city. It seems like Portland would fit my lifestyle much better. Don’t worry Stephanie (my boss) I love LA.

This is kind of old, but if you ever wanted to know what it looked like when an SUV hits a cyclist, well, here it is. This is not a pretty picture, so be warned.

Also, the LAT covers the case of a driver who hit and killed a pedestrian while texting allegedly. Another example for the case against talking on the phone or texting while driving. I plead with all drivers again, please don’t kill me because you need to send some meaningless text. Thanks!

And, an update on the Westside subway expansion. Oh please! It can’t get here soon enough!

And I think that’s all for this evening. Yeah, it’s just a clip show…

People who steal bikes SUCK!

So last November my bicycle was stolen from in front of Dance Arts Academy. So having your bike stolen totally blows, but having your bike stolen when you’ve outfitted it with awesome baskets and lights for riding at night, AND you don’t own a car so it’s your only mode of transportation, feels like someone just punched you in the stomach.

Try reporting it to the police, JUST TRY! They pretty much tell you there’s nothing they can do, and they act like they don’t care…because they don’t.

Anyhow, a fellow cyclist posted today about his bike being stolen, and someone posted this video. The lesson for all? Booby-trap your bike to cut off the balls of anyone who sits on it. Good thing I’m a girl.

LACMA Let Me Out!

Please, I want to go home!

Seriously!

They encourage us (read bribe us) to ride our bikes and take the bus, but they can’t leave the gates next to the bike racks open until like 5:30pm instead of locking me in right at 5pm? Geez!

Oh, and here’s a pic of my blue Huffy with all my stuff in the baskets today…

Change of Subject: Taking the bus

As we get closer to “winter” in Southern California, I will undoubtedly be giving my bicycle a rest and jumping on the #16, #316, or #720 buses to get to and from work (don’t even ask all the buses I take to get other places!).

The point of this blog is to give readers an idea of how I get along without a car. I don’t want to say it’s all negative, because it’s not; however, Diane Burke from Albany wrote a letter to the editor of the Times Union. She makes a great case for why public transit is important and why cutting bus stops and limiting bus service can place a real hardship on many different population segments. Thanks, Diane, for such a well-worded, concise, and thoughtful letter!

Audi pokes fun at cyclists

Thanks to BikePortland.org and Elly Blue for this.

Help my pedals won’t stop pedaling!

Not to diminish, in the slightest, the pain and suffering of anyone who is ever in a car accident, BUT…if you were a frequenter of public transit or, like myself, a rider of a blue Huffy, you wouldn’t have to deal with this.

Wow!

You won’t believe what happened on my route this morning! Update coming as soon as I can type it!

Okay, here’s the update…

I was pushing up a huge hill on 4th street to a four-way intersection (with stop signs). This intersection is notoriously dangerous because all four directions are coming uphill to a stop sign as well as around a curve, so it’s sort of a blind stop. You really have to be careful and stop fully and make sure everyone at the stop or oncoming sees you, because the drivers in this area are also notoriously idiotic, negligent, careless, reckless, you see how I could go on for days here. This street is a bike route and, as I’ve mentioned before, there are a lot of pedestrians out. Think I’m just calling names. Tell me if you understand what has just happened in this photo, which I stopped to take after I carefully progressed through the intersection this morning. 

Here’s a close-up (sorry about the quality):

Latest Bike Commuting News from Around the Globe

Tuesday night links:

Some people don’t want bikes on the Brooklyn Bridge anymore. Cast your vote.

Another reason the UK rocks!

And I almost want to travel to Kansas City next week instead of Tampa, just so I can help these guys out!

And last but not least, tips for tripping those darn traffic lights!

This is why that guy pisses me off!

Here’s his pic of him on his bike:

Now here’s why he pisses me off:

Look people, helmets may not be cool, but I’d rather be alive without massive brain damage than dead or a walking tomato. Of course, Summer would say that there are lots of benefits to being a walking tomato, but she would mean a walking tomato with brain. You won’t have one because you couldn’t be bothered to wear a freaking helmet!!!

Besides, I look awesomely cool with my helmet on. So there.

People biking…to the 99-Cent Store?

Lots of bikes parked outside the 99-Cent store. Is there some kind of bike sale going on?

Also, tune in later to find out why this guy pisses me off!