I got my calendar in the mail the other day, and I must say that I’m very impressed. All in all, the best bike calendar I’ve seen yet. The women photographed are real riders, and tastefully photographed with a great balance of character, humor, and playfulness.
Not only is the photography great- the calendar itself has the more popular holidays listed. (Canadian holidays don’t include Columbus Day, or presidents day, but they do have Boxing Day and Kwanzaa!) It also lists many of the regularly scheduled Vancouver BC bike events like Bad Party, Night Riders, and Gastown Sprints. Each Calendar page has artwork as a backdrop, which is another nice addition. This thing is jam packed full of goodness, and you should grab one now while they are still available.
Best of all, the calendar benefits Prohab, which is a great organization doing wonderful things- like saving lives- No big deal.
Taken from the calendar notes:
The confederation for the Protection Of Heads and Brains (PROHAB) has a goal: to be sustainable in providing helmets by donation to active people who wouldn’t normally wear them.
The 2010 Ladies Bike Calendar is a collaboration of artists, photographers, models, and friends. Featuring helmeted women in and around Vancouver having fun with their bikes, the 2010 Ladies Bike Calendar aims to show that you can have fun–and be sexy–while being safe.
We Thank you very much for being a part of this project, and you can find more information on PROHAB at www.prohab.ca
Dustin, Renee, and the PROHAB family
As a side note, the www.prohab.ca address doesn’t seem to work, so you can get to the Wordpress page HERE. You can purchase the calendar from the blog page, as well as donate to the cause.
Yeah. Shit happens. Sometimes cyclists are hit by cars. It’s happened to most of us, with varying degrees of damage to our bikes and our bodies. It’s not a good thing to dwell on, but you should definitely stay alert, and obviously do what you can to be seen on the road when riding. Especially under poor visibility, such as darkness, fog, rain, and when you are hidden behind cars. Take a lane if necessary, it is within your legal rights to do so.
I came across this little piece on the Cascade page. It’s worth the read. It was written by John Duggan.
John Duggan is an avid cyclist and attorney who represents injured cyclists. He is a member of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. He can be reached at (206) 343-1888 or joh...@warrenduggan.com.
You might be on your club training ride, commuting to work or simply out riding with friends, and when you least expect it, your worst fear becomes a reality. The minivan approaching from the opposite direction makes a left turn in front of you. You lock up your brakes, skid and crash into the passenger side of the minivan. You have some road rash but quickly realize you’re not dead, and your adrenaline kicks in. The minivan driver immediately takes the offensive and asks why you were riding in the roadway and why you did not stop.
Unfortunately, I’ve been in this situation twice, and both times I thought I wasn’t injured and could ride away. In each instance, approximately a mile down the road, I realized I was injured, my bike was damaged and I was looking for the nearest emergency room. By this time, it may be too late to gather the information you need to make a claim against the at-fault driver. Through my personal experience on the bike as well as my experience representing injured cyclists, I have learned what you should and should not do if you find yourself a victim of a negligent driver. Keep in mind that as a cyclist, you are usually behind the eight ball. To preserve your rights, keep in mind the following:
• Do remain calm and non-confrontational.
• Do call the police and insist that the officer files a police report. In the event that an officer does not respond, go to a police station and file an accident report within 72 hours of the incident.
• Do get the vehicle driver’s insurance information, address, phone number and license plate number.
• Do get the name, phone number and address of every witness.
• Do get the necessary medical treatment.
• Do have your bike thoroughly inspected by a reputable bike shop.
• Do take photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, your bike and all other involved vehicles (your new camera phone may come in handy!).
• Do not lose your temper or argue with the vehicle driver.
• Do not minimize your injuries or your bike damage.
• Do not give a statement to the vehicle driver’s insurance without first consulting with an attorney.
• Do not rush into any settlement until you know the full extent of your injuries and bike damage.
In most bicycle/motor vehicle accident claims, I demand that the insurance company declare the bike and all damaged clothing and accessories a total loss and pay full replacement value. As will be discussed in a future article, in most bicycle/motor vehicle accidents in Washington, regardless of who was at fault, the vehicle driver’s insurance will pay reasonable and necessary medical bills and some wage loss.
Hopefully you will never find yourself in a situation where you need to use this information, but if you do, you will be prepared.
So I posted the other day about the RIDE THE CITY project. Well over on BikeBlogNYC today, I saw that Google is ramping up their project, and the street view trike is on the move.
They are taking suggestions on where to go, but only until October 28th. So get after it. GO HERE TO SUGGEST A ROUTE
This is a blog about bikey things. Races, rides, and fun things that encourage people to get on their bikes and ride. It puts a smile on my face, and I hope it does yours too. I sometimes touch on things that you can do to improve access to your community by bike as well as upcoming advocacy events. But I don’t generally talk politics.
After the most recent presidential election, I think many people realized that anything is possible, and what we do locally really affects national and world affairs. I personally believe that local elections are very important. Not only because the laws that go into affect in your town directly affect us as individuals, but on a larger scale, these are the people that represent your town to the county, state, and federal governments. If you have an elected official that, say, dislikes bikes; it is unlikely that the projects that promote effective cycling will be put into place by that administration.
If you live in Seattle, you probably know by now that Greg Nickels will not be our mayor for another term. It might have had something to do with the fact that as Seattle was buried under snow last winter for about 10 days, Nickels’ didn’t have a fix, though his neighborhood was plowed first and more often. Seattle didn’t like it. He came in third in the primary, putting him out of the race for another term.
What is obvious is that Seattle, like the United States as a whole, is ready for change. Taking Nickels’ place on the ballot are two newcomers to political office. The vice president of T-mobile, Joe Mallahan; and the attorney and community organizer Mike McGinn. Two candidates offering very different backgrounds and strategies to help shape Seattle into a city to be lived in and enjoyed by their respective constituents. Because of their many differences, it also becomes obvious that Seattle hasn’t agreed on what path to go down.
Who will represent and lead Seattle for the next four years? Who do you think will do a better job?
Mike McGinn will be getting my vote. Not only does he ride a bike for transportation, he in my opinion will work towards growing Seattle into a more liveable community.
Mike McGinn has amazing support from the community. Not so much from big business, nor from the “insiders” within the city as it is, but from everyday people. He got more votes in the primary than his opponents while spending $10+ less PER VOTE than Joe Mallahan. Not to mention his Facebook and Twitter followers. Man, this guy is popular. Much like our presidential election, not all depends on campaign contributions.
As a cyclist, McGinn is the obvious choice. His support of public transit, walking, and biking as transportation is strong. In a “Lightning Round” of questions the other night in Ballard, when asked about the completion of the “Missing Link” trail, McGinn said he was for it, Mallahan was against it. (Since then, Mallahan has stated on his website that he is “a big supporter of bike and pedestrian facilities throughout the City and region.” It goes on to say that he supports some sort of completion, but it sounds unfocused, and I don’t believe for a second that he views cycling as anything besides something that one does until they get the keys to their first car)
Both candidates oppose Tim Eyman’s ballot measure 1033, which would cap government revenues and cut property taxes, while devastate public services, and likely impede the states recovery from the recession.
Mallahan, like many state and local politicians, likes the idea of a deep bore tunnel to replace the dated, and possibly dangerous Alaskan Way Viaduct. McGinn opposes it, by simply saying that the money isn’t there, and it is a waste of resources to spend more time and money pursuing it. I have to agree. $1.4 Billion? Not in these times.
Of course, neither candidate has any experience in political office. McGinn has more time in the community, while Mallahan has spent most of his time in the board room. I for one don’t like the idea of my city being run like T-mobile. I don’t even like their cell service. One works for people, the other for profit.
To wrap it up- I’m not telling you who to vote for. I’ll say that whoever you think will do a better job leading Seattle for the next four years, you should vote for them. Most important is that people take advantage of their right to vote. It’s your community. What you do in it, who you vote for, and where you spend your money, all affect the future. Seattle to me is a great little city, and I see elections as an opportunity to help keep the wheels rolling down the good road. But really, you should vote for McGinn. No really.
And election day is November 3, 2009. If you ain’t registered, you ain’t voting.
Remember. Anything is possible.
Of course there are other things to be voted on this November 3rd. Some of the other candidates that have my vote:
I heard through Cascade Bike Club that the website Ride the City will be coming to Seattle. Now if you were wondering how to get from A to B by bike and don’t know the area, this could be right up your alley.
Ride the City is currently operating in:
New York
Chicago
Austin
San Diego
Louisville
It’s also available in 5 languages.
Seattle is currently in the BETA stage- but will be coming online in a few weeks. The developers are looking to make as many improvements now as possible, and they do that through your help. The site is easy to use, and gives you options for the “Safer Route”, “Safe Route”, and the most “Direct Route” Nice work!
Give it a look, plan your route, and if you have any recommendations, let them know.
Chris from Cascade Bicycle Club sent this over to me. They, as well as many other groups are working hard to put laws in effect that will protect the life and rights of pedestrians and cyclists alike. Show your support by attending meetings, get your voice heard, and dog-gone-it, get out and vote!
Each year in Washington state, nearly 500 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed or critically injured by motor vehicles. Shockingly, almost none of these drivers is ever held accountable.
In the vast majority of cases, these collisions were found to be the direct consequence of moving violations like speeding, driving while texting, talking on the phone, failing to yield the right of way or just not paying attention.
A traffic ticket is the worst the driver can expect if they run you over. Do you think there’s something wrong with this picture? We do.
If you agree, help us make history by changing the law. The Traffic Justice Summit welcomes Senate Judiciary Chair Adam Kline, Seattle city Attorney Tom Carr, Council Public Safety Chair Tim Burgess along with reserchers, experts, advocates, families, friends and victims to learn the facts and talk about what we can do as a community — and as a state — to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
Sponsoring organizations: Feet First, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Seattle City Council Member Tim Burgess, Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr, Washington State Bicycle Association (WSBA), Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA), Washington Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS), Association of Washington Cities, The Washington Bus, and publicola.
I was doing a little reading and writing last week at one of the cafes that provide me with my favored coffee beverage, the respected, revered, as well as feared by some…. 12oz coffee, with 2 added shots. Also known as a “Red Eye”, “Black Eye”, or “shot in the dark”, (a true barista could tell you the difference between them) I think it’s really one of the best coffee drinks around. It’s strange that some coffee shops that have marginal coffee, or marginal espresso can put the two together, and make a good cup of coffee. Coffee flavored coffee. None of that vanilla syrup infused fancy crap. It’s a cup of coffee that let’s you know what you’re drinking: roasted beans ground up and mixed with water. Mmmmm. My favorite in Seattle can be found at Lighthouse Roasters on 43rd and Phinney. Lighthouse not only has what is considered by many to be the best Americano in Seattle, but their drip coffee is pretty damn good too. Before I first visited Lighthouse, I would get my fix at Cafe Vita, around the corner, sometimes 2+ times per day. I still occasionally go to Vita; for a change of scenery, or possibly an internet connection. But this isn’t about the rounds I make to different establishments, or how I might have a small problem when it comes to caffeine consumption, it’s about bikes.
So I was writing, or reading, or maybe watching the commuters huff and puff up Phinney Ridge on mediocre mountain bikes or really nice road bikes. A guy comes in, and asks the Barista to hang a poster for “Bicycle Benefits.” What grabbed my attention first is that he didn’t lock up his bike, which always concerns me. His bike wasn’t that flashy, it’s a workhorse, not a show bike. A Japanese bike from the mid 80’s or early 90’s. Practical. It was obvious that he’d been riding. Sweaty, hair disheveled, and a little out of breath. I heard “Bicycle” so turned around (the word “Bicycle” induces some type of Pavlovian response in me.)
So that’s how I met Alan. He explained to me a little about what “Bicycle Benefits” is. And now I pass this on to you, because I think it’s a great project, and one that deserves support.
“Bicycle Benefits is a progressive bicycling program designed to reward individuals and businesses for their commitment to cleaner air, personal health, and the use of pedaling energy in order to create a more sustainable community. The program’s continual growth decreases parking demand, increases helmet use, and improves cyclists’ safety and health by putting more people on bikes. This site has all of our Bicycle Benefit Business Members that can be found by clicking the links to the left (including their discounts/rewards, addresses, and maps to get there). Get your helmet sticker at any of the participating Bicycle Benefits Business Member locations or become a participating Business Member today and start experiencing Bicycle Benefits!”
A more Seattle specific blurb would be something like this:
What a beautiful day. I’m riding my bike to the bar around 7, wanna come? What’s in it for you? Besides working on your hot biker legs? Dude—you get special deals when you arrive by bike at progressive businesses across Seattle! How about all-night Happy Hour at Vermillion Art Bar in Cap Hill or 2 for 1 movie tickets at Central Cinema in the Central District
Become a Bicycle Benefits member at any participating business and reap the rewards of reducing pollution, making streets safer, and weaning the world off fossil fuels. Go to www.bicyclebenefits.org. for a list of businesses on board, and contact Alan to get your business involved at alan.ashbaugh@gmail.com
Some of my favorite deals include:
25-Cent Scuttlebutt beer with Crêpe Purchase at Anita’s Crêpes
Consultation, Exam, and X-Rays $19.99; 1 Hour Massage $39 at Chiropractic Wellness Center
Happy hour all night (beer and wine) at Vermillion Art Bar
2 for 1 Admission (excludes festivals) at Central Cinema
Free Rose with Purchase of $10 or More at The Flower Lady
$6 64oz Growler Refills at Trade Route Brewing Company
Just taking advantage of one or two of these benefits pays for itself.
This project really is a labor of love, and I am thankful for people like Alan, and the others involved with Bicycle Benefits. As you can see from the website- Bicycle Benefits has different locations around the U.S. Do what you can to spread the word to friends in other cities, and whether you are a rider, or a business owner, or both, check out www.bicyclebenefits.org.
King County, in coordination with the city of Seattle, the city of Redmond, Redmond Town Center, Cascade Bicycle Club, and Vulcan Real Estate are hosting a Bike Share Expo on August 11 (Seattle) and 12 (Redmond). We encourage you to come learn more about bike share, experience the bikes and kiosks used in various bike share systems, and ride a bike!
August 11 South Lake Union’s Discovery Center
Hours: 10am to 6pm
August 12 Redmond Town Center
Hours: 12pm to 8pm
Overview of Bike Share Over the past few years, bike share programs have swept through Europe and become a critical part of the local transportation network. They were designed to be an on-demand mobility option, enabling people to check out a bike from a designated bike share station and return it to any designated bike share station after their trip.
Today, cities throughout North America are adapting the bike share concept to meet their growing mobility needs. This two-day expo will include the newest North American bike share programs demonstrating their systems and will help continue the on-going dialogue about how a bike share system might work for the region.
Help protect bicyclists and pedestrians!
Recent Comments