The man who lived on his bike.

This is a pretty fun video.

THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

Cyclists get rights in North America!

Pretty interesting story of progress in L.A. A very progressive city council. It is common sense that cyclists and especially pedestrians are more vulnerable and that cars need to have diminished rights in the public sphere.

I believe there are progressive laws giving priority to the more vulnerable in some european countries including an assumption of fault to the more powerful party and income based traffic tickets so the rich can't break traffic laws with impunity.

Until now I've seen nothing remotely like that in North America. The closest being Idaho's rolling stop laws which really are a different issue. We famously have had cyclists run down and killed by prominent lawmaker in Toronto and getting way with it because of demonizing cyclists in the press.

I think we are still a long way from acknowledging the insanity --- that space right in front of your front door that is paved and death is considered an acceptable consequence (not murder catagory) of not yielding to belligerent motorists. And that cars kill the most of us compared to any cause except natural age and disease. This is an important step in the right direction and has been a long time coming.




Here is an article on it from the VACC list: (I don't agree with the part about getting out of the way for cars... why!?)

L.A. is backing its cyclists
A recently approved ordinance gives bikers a new way to strike back at aggressive drivers. So motorists, think twice about attacking pedal pushers.

July 22, 2011
L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl says he was inspired to introduce a groundbreaking anti-harassment ordinance for bicyclists after attending a meeting at a local bike shop, where he met a young man whose face had been mangled when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. "It's about time cyclists had rights; about time they had laws to protect them," Rosendahl says in a YouTube video made to promote his plan.

Cyclists already have traffic laws to protect them, butRosendahl's ordinance, which was approved Wednesday by the City Council, gives them a new way to strike back at drivers who physically assault or threaten to assault them, force them off the road, throw objects at them or otherwise cause injury simply because of their status as cyclists. In a civil suit, bikers can win treble the actual damages in such cases or $1,000, whichever is more, in addition to punitive damages and attorney fees. It's a smart law that might make aggressive drivers think twice about attacking pedal pushers.

The all-too-common road rage that divides bikers and drivers in L.A. is, of course, a two-way street. Sometimes, shouting matches are sparked by bicyclists who intentionally block traffic and refuse to allow motorists to pass. But in a confrontation between a cyclist and a driver, the driver has a built-in advantage, encased as he or she is inside a metal carapace weighing tons. That's why bikers deserve special protection.

Cycling reduces traffic, cuts pollution and improves the health of those who do it; in fact, it's beneficial in so many ways that cities, especially those such as Los Angeles that are beset by automotive-related problems, should go to great lengths to encourage it. We're pleased to note that city leaders are doing precisely that, with the council approving a bicycle master planthis year that aims to create 1,680 miles of official bikeways, more than quadruple the current mileage. But that still doesn't mean the city is a safe place to ride. Just this week, a 62-year-old bike rider was struck and killed by a motorist downtown.

Rosendahl's ordinance isn't a free pass for obnoxious cyclists; if they're violating traffic laws, which call for them to allow faster-moving vehicles to pass unless it's unsafe, they can still be cited by police. But the proper response for drivers is patience (a delay of a few seconds won't hurt anybody) or perhaps a gentle tap on the horn, not an attempt to run them off the road or hit them with a soda bottle.

Sophie's Ride

Cascade Bicycle Club - Vision 2011 from Punch Drunk on Vimeo.

[VACC] Vancouver bike Lane Nazis

That is the funniest version of the subtitles for the Hitler rant that I have seen!

I remember many years ago (probably in 2000) when us Critical Mass "organisers" were being called nazis by call-in people to CBC radio.

Even if this may bring up Godwin's law, it's pretty hilarious. Thanks.

rusl

On Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Arno wrote:

Vancouver bike Lane Nazis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C7AYsfB_dM

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Apologies to those who haven't encountered this internet meme of subtitling this dramatic scene from a movie about Hitler. I once read a critical theory article about how the glib mention of Nazis such as in Monty Python were watering down our understanding an vigilance against human capacity for evil. I sort of agreed with that article, but not participating in the joke isn't really a solution. I'd not support this video if this was the only version to do it but there are hundreds out there already. Humour can break down past problems.
~rusl

Choir / bike flashmob Central Station Brussels

from the World Carfree News #84 - March 2011

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Biking

Moving Beyond the Automobile: Biking from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Obama Replaces Costly High-Speed Rail Plan With High-Speed Bus Plan

Pretty funny video that touches on roadway hierarchy, speed, public transport spending, busses and trains, class, and the general insanity of our current car cult:


Obama Replaces Costly High-Speed Rail Plan With High-Speed Bus Plan

It's interesting how in this video the idea of bus becomes synonymous with poverty and inconvenience. In the USA generally public transport is more divided by class than even in Vancouver. Often public commuting rail projects are seen as a way to introduce a higher income class to the public transit system.

Bogota is a place where they actually built a high speed bus service, used existing roads - they took the centre lanes and have cement barriers not just painted lines - and were able to build a system nearly as capable as a subway for a fraction of the cost. It's a good idea to repurpose existing car lanes - that's one of the few things we no shortage of. But the political will is rarely there to take away the mythical "open road" fantasy.

We can do this

theglobeandmail.com article about CM:

Vancouver's bike shorts in a knot for nothing

Rod Mickleburgh

Last updated on Thursday, Aug. 06, 2009 10:28PM EDT

What is it with Vancouver? Mere days after the local media and citizenry worked themselves into a ludicrous lather over the closing of a single lane on the Burrard Bridge, oops, they did it again.

This time, hysteria levels were raised to a fever pitch about the Critical Mass bike ride destined to bring civilization as we know it to an end last Friday, with several thousand cyclists refusing to stop at red lights and being purposefully vague about where they were going. The horror, the horror.

These monthly rides to celebrate biking have been taking place for a while, but this time, for some reason, everyone seemed to go a little nuts. Police begged for advance notice of the route, radio hotlines burned with rage, city councillors urged calm, and the media prepared once more for chaos – choppers and breathless reporters at the ready.

Of course, the rides are a pain in the butt for downtown drivers trying to get somewhere on a busy Friday night. The previous Critical Mass produced an actual altercation. But no worry. Riders were told how to handle angry motorists.

“Stopping to ogle seems to escalate the problem by focusing on the conflict. Breathe deeply,” a Critical Mass pamphlet suggested, adding helpfully, “It is harder for people to be angry when we are having so much fun. …” True, that. You want to put a smile on the face of a Hummer driver? Just send thousands of cheery cyclists past him when he's trying to get to the bar.

Similarly, for those brave souls standing in the way of cars at intersections: “You can wave at the bikers going by, and entertain the drivers who are waiting.” How about sawing a cyclist in half?

At any rate, the pedal-pushers rode all over the city, and, as with the predicted Burrard Bridge brouhaha, nothing happened.

Still, Vancouver Police spokeswoman Constable Jana McGuinness kept us all up to date with rapid-fire reports, as if O.J. Simpson were headed down the highway in a white Bronco.

10:24 “The ride appears to be heading towards the Lions Gate Bridge, as they are now in Stanley Park Drive.”

10:35 “Riders appear to have abandoned the plan to head over the Lions Gate Bridge and are now headed back into the downtown core along Robson Street.”

10:51 “Riders are once again heading along the Stanley Park causeway towards the Lions Gate Bridge.”

11:38 “The riders are now crossing the Burrard Bridge and may be heading towards Kits Beach.”

11:50 “The ride has concluded near Kits Beach and participants are breaking off on their own now.”

11:52 “Why am I here?” (Just kidding about that one…)

The city slept soundly.

Video of the May 29th Vancouver ride

I'm sure there will be more to come. Here's one!



And another...

HelmetBasket! Cam of April 26 Ride

thanks to alexwarrior1 for this youtube video!



Brian Seidman sent in another video to velolove: (riding off the Lions Gate Bridge)



Wow, I thought Helmet Cam was a neat perspective... but check out this BASKET CAM! (Lots of nice views of biker bums ;-b)

...and another...


Post links to your video in the comment thread of this article and I'll embed them here on the front page!

Take care and take the lane,
Hooray for nicer weather!

sit or sleep in road or sidewalk

happy ride

some writing about cars, art and fixed gear bicyles.
...and a survey about liking cars and perception of car safety.