Do As I SAY

"Do as I Say, not as I do." We've all heard that at some time or other. Well, upon reflection, that definitely applies to my recent post. In it, in a video my kids refer to as "The Blair Witch Cycling Video," I pass an imaginary pedestrian by running off to the left of the path, rattling through the grass, and then returning on to the path. All in the dark. Well, reread the first sentence of this post. If you think about it, the previous post illustrates one reason why bike/ped paths are far more dangerous than most city streets, even if they are also more pleasant and less stressful for cyclists. It is called a DIVERSION FALL. Swinging off the grass back on to the path raises the risk your front wheel will catch on the edge of the path and suddenly dump you on to the concrete in an excellent test of your helmet's structural integrity. When I made that video, I picked a spot where I knew the edge of the path concrete wasn't much above the grass. Also, if you watch carefully, you will note that I run back on to the path at a fairly sharp angle, and then quickly swing left to avoid running off the other side of the path.

Anyway, the photo below illustrates a bit better how those path edges can be sneaky. Now imagine that edge in the dark. Even a strong headlight such as the Mighty P7 can't be counted on to reveal the danger. I feel fortunate that all the rubber rubbed off on the corner of that path came from wheels not belonging to me. So just do as I say. Please?

Oh, and I used BlogPress on an iPad to compose this post, adding a few items afterwards directly from the Blogspot post editor. BlogPress isn't good at adding post labels. Still, a post free from "real computers."

Bad Hair or Bad Bike Day

Passing a Loading Schoolbus While on WHEELS is Illegal. Passing One as a PEDESTRIAN is Perfectly Fine. Not All Drivers Understand This.
Actually, Probably not all Police Understand This. Fortunately, I Didn't See Any of the Latter Today.

Like a lot of things in life, not every day commuting on a bike is memorably positive. Today was such a day. I got frozen, honked at, yelled at, shorted, and cut. Well, some of these are not nearly so dramatic as they sound. First off, on the way to work, despite the encouraging words of our local weather forecasters, I ran into some "wintry mix." Such might not be notable to my loyal reader north of the Mason Dixon line, but it is cause for motorist madness around North Texas. The wintry mix left motorists that are normally benign a bit snippy. One such honked at me as I was in a left turn lane and the motorist was in the middle lane and not slowed down by me by as much as a single millisecond. I don't have any idea why a honk would have been considered appropriate other than some cyclists behave unpredictably. Hmm, on second thought, I can't imagine why a motorist would think that honking at a cyclist, operating predictably and legally OR OTHERWISE would be helped by such noise. Anyway, on to the yell.

Most of the way to work, I came upon a school bus that I often encounter on my v3 commute. I usually encounter this bus when it stops to pick up a handicapped student. Usually, I'll dismount from my bike, shoulder it, and legally walk past the bus before remounting and continuing on my way. It's an advantage of operating a vehicle that can be carried along. Today, however, I decided to simply stop behind the bus as my motoring companions must do (have YOU ever tried to carry a car on your shoulder?). You see, my goggles had fogged up a bit and I took the opportunity to rearrange everything. Unexpectedly, the bus driver yelled at me. At first, I wondered why until I realized she was trying to tell me to get on past. Erroneously, she thought it was fine for me to go and that I might be endangering myself in some way. After a couple of exchanges, I shrugged, shouldered the bike and walked past. Better to simply avoid conflict than to attempt to make a point that wouldn't be appreciated by anyone present. I think the driver was trying to be nice. Or encouraging. Who knows.

THEN, after this GRUELING morning commute, in contrast to the last week or so of half days and half vacation days, it transpired that I had to work an ENTIRE 8 hour day. I thought my fingers were going to turn into "bony fingers." Life is tough (though tomorrow, I'm taking the commenter advice from my last post and taking a full day off to make up for today). Full days are a situation not to be encouraged, at least when there's still 42 hours of "use it or lose it" vacation left.

Coffee Isn't Quite the Same When Syrup is Shorted

On the way home, as I often do, I stopped for coffee. Unfortunately, they were out of "sugar free mocha," so I was "shorted." THIS was the worst part of today's commute, though it was due to no ill intent by any person or corporation, whether part of the 1% or the 99%. SAD FACE!

To finish things off, I decided I needed a haircut and Buddy and I stopped by the haircut place next door. This is the same place I went with my wife's bike, and they allowed Buddy the same parking place of honor. While there, it occurred to me that "bike people" are less sensitive to prices of things like haircuts than are "car people." Somehow, a couple of extra bucks for a haircut seems a lot less important if you've got an extra half hour ride in the rain to save those couple of bucks than if you're simply burning a tenth of a gallon of gas. Maybe there's still hope for the human race...

Buddy Occupied this Spot Today. With no Kickstand, it Leaned Against the Wall. There was Some Sort of Aggie Propaganda There Today, Too.
For the Moment, Honk at Me if You Want to See the UW Huskies BEAT THE BAYLOR BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes, Speed is a Savior

Speed Can be Your FRIEND - From Wikipedia
However, THIS Guy Needs No Help for Others to Know His Speed

There is a perception that you have to ride fast to operate on the road amongst the motorized traffic. Certainly, it is easier for an overtaking car to run you down and squish you like a squirrel if you are riding at 10mph than if you are riding at 20mph. Still, considering that on a straight road a motorist will see you at least a block or two away, they don't have to have the reaction times of test pilots to miss even the slowest cyclist. From the stories in newspapers that I read, the common reason cyclists get hit from behind is they are riding on a shoulder, or maybe even standing on the sidewalk, and some dweeb simply runs off the road and smacks them. Yes, I know, our driver licensing system seems to be a little less than perfect, but that is not the point today.

How Close Can a Car Get Before Reacting and Still Not Run You Down?
Remember, They Could Get MUCH Closer and Still Miss You With a Simple Lane Change

Cyclists benefit, when being overtaken, by the mistaken notion almost all motorists have that the cyclists are going much slower than they are, regardless of whether they ride fast or slow. "Those cyclists are SO slow!" I will never forget the sworn testimony of a police officer (a trained observer) at the ChipSeal trial that Chip was going about 8mph. In fact, Chip was going closer to 20 at that moment in the video. Had I had less self control, I'd have gotten thrown out of the courtroom for contempt after rolling around on the floor in hysterical laughter. Even the normally expressive Chip looked dumbfounded and actually disappointed, which made keeping my mouth shut even harder. Cycling advocates, such as here, note that the notion you need to ride quickly to be safe is mistaken, and they are right. While a lot of cyclists feel bad about taking the lane while doing 10mph when motorists occasionally exceed the posted limit, one wonders if their attitude might brighten a bit if they realized the motorists really figured that the obnoxious cyclist was hogging the road while going about 4mph. What's more, they'll claim that regardless of where the cyclist rides on the actual road surface. I don't know why this is so - in college I changed majors from psychology to engineering. Go ask someone else if you want to know the basis for motorist judgment errors. All I know is that's what they think. OUR task is to use that knowledge to our advantage.

Why, then, you might ask, did I choose the title I did for this post? Well, it is very simple. As in most road conflict, THE MAIN DANGER IS AHEAD. What this means is that overtaking motorists make their moves early to pass the poky cyclist. Those making turns and such up ahead often misjudge how quickly I am coming on. And those, up ahead, represent the MAIN DANGER.

Of course, riding even faster compared to what a motorist expects usually only makes things worse. Really, the only real benefit of cycling in a vehicular manner is that the increased dangers when you are going fast are much less than behaving in a manner that other traffic does not expect. In other words, the penalties of riding fast are less if you move as others expect a vehicle to move. That is a lot of the secret to low Dutch and Danish cycling fatalities - people simply mostly ride slower compared to the US. If you doubt it, ride at 20mph on a street with traffic versus try to ride at 20mph against traffic on a crowded sidewalk. Actually, simply take my word for it. I don't want to be hauled into court by some grieving survivor.

Sometimes, however, speed doesn't kill, but helps. I was reminded of this on Thursday when I got honked at by a motorist. Getting honked at is pretty unusual in itself for me, but this one might have been even stranger. What is more, speed might well have avoided the encounter completely. Actually, I'm being slightly misleading because it wasn't really speed that was needed as much as an "impression" of speed. A motorist up ahead that OVERESTIMATES my speed gives me an extra margin. During daylight, this is a tough thing to achieve. BUT, sometimes, the darkness can be a cyclist's friend.

I was Headed Southwest in the Dark, Down the Hill, Toward the Camera, About Where the Driver of the Silver Car Was
On Thursday, Perhaps a Sign Saying "Caution - Motorists Blowing Stop Signs"
Would Have Been Most Appropriate

It was dark out as I headed southwest on Bedford-Euless Road on Thursday morning. This is a sweet, five lane road I ride every morning on the way to work. Off to the right, within 50 feet of the now departed sign in the photo, a motorist, seeing my Mighty P7 Headlight on the "low" setting (about as bright as most better bike lights in the high setting), the guy decided to blow the stop sign until he realized the (inappropriate word omitted) cyclist was a LOT faster than he expected. I typically hit about 25-30mph on that slight downhill stretch. Well, to make a short story even shorter, instead of either following the law or hitting the accelerator to attempt a clean getaway, he stopped with the nose of his car right about in the middle of my lane. Then, to my surprise, the scofflaw decided to honk at me. Maybe he was trying to drive as if invisible and wondered if I might not have noticed the 4000lb missile violating my right of way. Duh - being a suburban road, such events catch my notice. Well, no actual evasive action was needed, other than to avoid mindless swerving as I laughed after passing the honker and tried to imagine the reasons for the honk. If this post was about lane position instead of speed, it might have illustrated the benefits of riding in "the line of sweetness."

Light Level on Thursday - Motorist Blows Stop Sign and Honks

Light Level on Friday - Another Boring Ride - Sidestreet Motorists Behaved Themselves

Bike Light at Left, Wimpy VW High Beams at Right. Those Lights at Left are COMING FAST!

Friday, I made corrective action. Hereafter, in the dark, I ride with my headlight on the "bright" setting. To any traffic up ahead, the light looks like an oncoming Harley and all motorists know THOSE bad boys are usually doing at LEAST 60. Those motorists, up ahead in the dark, deciding whether or not to blow those stop signs will probably hesitate, which will be all the time I need before the motorist realizes it was only a poky cyclist that just swept by on THEIR arterial. Speed is a savior. Well, maybe the impression of speed. Or maybe it is merely the GINORMOUS OPTICAL POWER of the Mighty P7, AKA "the Flamethrower."

Is that Marlon Brando on a Harley in the Dark?
Those Durn, Sneaky (Inappropriate Term Deleted) Cyclists!

PS: It might also be the first real legitimate reason I have ever run across to add a front reflector to the front of a bike. It also suggests a loudspeaker to play the sounds of a loud motorcycle might pay off compared to the more conventional "high vis." How DOES one create the impression of an attack aircraft beginning a strafing run?

Motorists Would be RELUCTANT to Blow a Stop Sign With One of THESE Bearing Down!
I Think I'd Need Speakers Because These Bad Boys Don't Use Lights When They Come...

A World of Difference

Dawn Comes Late This Time of Year. THAT Means Sunset is Also Getting Later

Last year, making my v2 commute, I bemoaned the return of daylight savings time. Last year, it meant I returned to the period of total darkness for almost the entire hour and a half ride in to work. I don't mind riding in the dark, but a long ride in the dark, every morning, gets me a little down.

THIS YEAR, the return of DST was an entirely different situation. Between the shorter commute time and the mighty P7 light, a dark morning commute is quite different. THIS YEAR, the return of a dark commute means extra daylight AFTER work and THAT means I can do extra exploring after work in full daylight. The TRE train, in particular, beckons. In contrast to last year, where the TRE was a full hour's ride from work, now, it is just across the street from work and down the block.

P7 Bike Light to the Left, VW Jetta Lights to the Right

7:40 was the hour of dawn this morning. I'd been at work the better part of an hour. The TRE beckons!


The TRE May be a Waste of Taxpayer Money, But I'll Ride It!



What a Difference a Week Makes

Heritage Parkway, on November 5, One Block Left to Work

Well, actually, it isn't really quite a week's difference between the photo of Heritage Parkway above, and the one below. Both were shot shortly after 7:30AM. Both were shot a block away from work. The first shot faced north and the second faced south. The same building is in both shots.

It's nice to have a little natural light in the morning commute again...

Heritage Parkway, on November 9, 2010, One Block Left to Work

True Professional

Another Trucker, Being Careful While Stopped in the Left Lane

This week has the darkest morning commutes of the year. Due to “Daylight Savings,” sunrise is nearly a full half hour later in North Texas than it will be when the winter solstice arrives. Riding in the dark for an hour is fun. Riding in the dark for 6-8 hours a week gets a little old. Yesterday was a good time to encounter a pro amongst my motoring companions.

In this blog, in the past, I’ve mentioned my experience that professional drivers, such as the ones that drive 18 wheelers and my concrete trucks, are some of the most polite and considerate motorists I encounter during my commute. That impression was reinforced due to a true “Knight of the Road.”

I was riding north in the I-35W Service Road right lane; getting ready to make a leftward lane change prior to making a left turn onto Westport Parkway, when I saw a big rig with a trailer coming fast a lane over. It was unclear whether I’d be able to safely make the lane change ahead of the truck, or if I’d need to wait until the motorist passed. In such cases, I’ll often wait and defer my signal until after the motorist commits to, but there were already a couple of cars at the four-way stop ahead, the truck driver was already starting to slow, and I wasn’t sure if there’d be room behind the trailer at the upcoming four-way stop, so I signaled. In this situation, a commute cyclist should be ready to either go or wait, depending on the actions of the motorist with the right of way. Not only did he/she slow further to let me in, but the driver flashed the truck lights so there was no question I was expected to take the lane change ahead of the truck, which I did promptly thereafter. Conveniently, a left turn signal turns into a wave of thanks simply by opening up the hand and raising the arm a little.

As in the case of “Eyes of a Motorist,” I never saw the driver’s eyes, but I sure did see that truck’s wheels slow down, and the headlights signal. Once again, I salute a true professional; their superior communication makes it easy for all those they share the road with.

Charley's - My Concrete Drivers

Night Traffic Cameras

Signal Operating Traffic Cameras are Tricky

There are a lot of traffic signal cameras around North Texas. They seem to be the signal changing mechanism of choice for almost all new signals. I reported here and here how a cyclist can use knowledge of how they work to make those pesky traffic signals turn green.

Well, it appears there may be another factor at play – our lights when it is dark. As noted, the traffic cameras do not use infrared to detect vehicles in their zone of interest. They use visible light. As a result, as long as the sensitivity is set appropriately, they’ll detect a cyclist “in the zone”  – at least during the day.

At night, it is another matter. I always figured that the headlight of a cyclist is plenty bright to trigger the signal, but then I started to encounter lights that would not change for me in the predawn darkness, but WOULD change during daylight hours. I tried taking my blinky headlight off and pointing it directly at the camera. No joy. What DID work was simply turning the blinky headlight on steady mode, and lighting up the flamethrower for extra effect before I rolled up to the intersection camera field of interest. I have not seen anything on the internet about the specific changing algorithm used by the cameras, but it appears they may depend on a light staying lit for longer than a cyclist’s blinky headlight, so that the lights are not triggered by extraneous brief flashes of light. I’d LOVE it if someone out there can verify this, but in the meantime, my suggestion is “make sure your headlight is on steady mode when coming up to a traffic signal activated by a camera. Stop a bit further back from the stop line than usual, because your headlight may not be high enough to be in the camera’s detection zone.” If you get bored, take the light off and point it at the camera; in steady mode. Certainly, this advice cannot hurt and may improve your ability to change traffic signals in the dark. I really DON’T like signals that won’t trigger for me!

Do Traffic Signals Operated by Cameras Trigger Better for YOU When Your Lights are Steady and Not Blinking?

Complete Darkness



We're Moving from the Sunlight

 I noted in a previous post that I’m leaving home a bit earlier on my commute than I did last year. It’s why I acquired a cheering section, reported here in the same post. Yesterday, and this morning, I left even earlier than usual because I thought it might take me longer than usual due to the layoff, or due to a need to stop and avoid distracted riding. As a result, my commute was in darkness from the beginning until I made the final turn in to work both days. I turned my “be seen” headlight off as I entered the driveway shortly before dawn.

And Headed Into

Somehow, riding in the dark seems friendlier this year than it did last year. In three more weekends, Daylight Savings Time will end and the mornings will be brighter again - for a while. Some of our non-US cycling friends are fortunate. They get rid of “Summer Time” a couple of weeks earlier and get that extra sun in the morning. Others, infected by a "we can be just like the Americans" spirit (not mentioning any large Provinces in the north by name), get stuck with the extra cycle commute darkness just like us. Actually, they've got it even worse than us here in Texas because of their proximity to the North Pole.

COMPLETE DARKNESS!

Morning Star Ahead

Photo of Venus, the Morning Star, by NASA - via Wikipedia

Perhaps it is an influence of “The Flat Tire,” where Limom continues to make observations of Jupiter and its moons. Perhaps it’s just the added morning darkness as we move towards next week’s equinox, but lately I’ve been struck by the Morning Star on my morning commutes. Depending on where I’m at, it appears anywhere from dead ahead to about an 8 o'clock position.

It’s very bright; it’s familiar and comforting as it appears to accompany me on my ride towards the west.

Hermine Hazard

This Morning, in Predawn Darkness, Water Closure Gates Were Still Up for Hermine-Related Flooding, Though Water Was No Longer Over the Road

Tropical Storm Hermine parked itself over North Texas the last couple of days, dumping record rainfall of over ten inches in some places, before moving on to Oklahoma yesterday evening. The Trinity River looked a bit like the Mighty Miss for a while, reaching twelve feet above flood stage. Our local, smaller creeks have also overflowed, obstructing my normal commute route in three places, and forcing evacuation of the school where I took shelter on the way home last Wednesday.

This morning, things were much better, once the tornadoes swept through Dallas, so I was back on the bike, leaving about five minutes earlier than usual - to provide extra time for whatever storm-related obstacles I might encounter. About a mile or two from home, I encountered the first water closure barrier, and carefully went around it so I could proceed along the road, or to wherever the water might prevent further safe progress.

This particular creek crossing has two barrier arms on each side, just in case motorists drive through the first one without noticing. The photo above is the second one, as seen this morning from about ten feet away. I was going very slowly, and about to go around the arm when I spotted the added feature in the photo below. Actually, both photos are the same shot, but the second one is lightened up a bit.

After going UNDER the chain, I proceeded along the road (slowly and cautiously, of course) where it crosses the creek and up the other side. My feet and wheels stayed dry at all times. I pondered, what might have happened to someone on a "crotch rocket" rolling down that road and around the barrier at 30mph? Cycling really IS fun and safe, at least when you exercise caution around things and places likely to be hazardous. If you shoot around barriers without a care in the world, not so much.

The last two photos show the scene as it was this afternoon, including the hazardous chain, and the creek. Look at the last two photos closely and you'll be able to see where the high water mark reached.

A Non-Reflective Chain, Invisible in the Dark, Was Waiting to Decapitate the Unwary

The Gate and the Chain this Afternoon

Looking Down at the Creek this Afternoon. LOTS of Water Yesterday - All Gone Today

Institute for Practical Bicycle Video Detection Research

ENOUGH of all this Bike School stuff for the moment. Let's do something pretentious. Hence the post title. Any of you are welcome to purchase the rights to it from me if we agree to suitable financial terms.

In English, this post is about how to get traffic signals to change for you when you are on a bike, and not those namby pamby induction ones, but the big video cameras. This is a tough one. HERE, I talked about induction loop signals. Amusingly, Rantwick, HERE, tested that tired old theory that magnets will help and found they don't.

Today, I delve further into a more mysterious area of traffic signals, the Video Imaging Vehicle Detection System (VIVDS in traffic speak). If you search around on the internet, you'll find two classes of information about VIVDS and cyclists. The first, epitomized HERE (regrettably, since it is usually FULL of good stuff), HERE, HERE, and HERE (among dozens of others), basically give no useful information at all about what the traveling cyclist needs to know to trigger such a system. All they say is "these are great for cyclists." Well, it ain't necessarily so. What these articles don't tell you is that cameras only work well when properly installed and calibrated, and presuming that the windstorm that hit last night didn't swing the camera around 79 degrees (which I have seen happen). Fortunately, there is also a second kind of information, which completely ignores bicycles, but which DOES give solid information. As it turns out, those "these are great for bikes" articles didn't LOOK at the second articles. Which is why you are fortunate to be reading this. Consider yourself "cutting edge."

FUNDAMENTALS

If you aren't the type of person who simply is highly trusting of the traffic types that do stuff like create door zone bike lanes, or stop signs just for the heck of it, read on. The first two photos are from a Texas A&M study on VIVDS system effectiveness, and the third is from a Purdue study. You can read these for yourself HERE and HERE. In truth, I forgot to copy the link when I pinched the pictures, but you'll see them in various forms in the links, along with all kinds of trivia it didn't occur to me might apply to cyclists.

Anyway, a VIVDS system works by detecting pixel changes in a "zone" that is programmed into the system when the camera is installed. You may notice that the cameras are usually installed fairly high in the air. This is so they can get a good view of the area leading up to the intersection stop line without also capturing clutter such as the horizon. As you can see in the first photo, the camera is aimed at the stop line and the roadway leading up to the stop line.  The horizon is purposely out of view. IF you happen to favor riding shoulders in such a situation, you may also notice that the shoulder disappears out of the view of the camera. Thus, we learn our first lesson. WHEN YOU WANT TO TRIGGER A CAMERA SIGNAL TO CHANGE, MOVE INTO A TRAFFIC LANE WELL BEFORE COMING UPON THE STOP LINE. This way you will be detected. Few cameras will be set to detect things on the shoulder, sidewalk, or median. More often than not, they are puposely set to AVOID detecting such areas. These things create false signals. Don't be a false signal unless you like waiting forever.

As you may see in the second photo, the camera is not simply set to just read a big blob waiting patiently for the light. It is broken into zones, so the camera can detect traffic approaching the intersection as well as traffic waiting for the light. This is another reason you want to move into the traffic lane well in advance of the intersection. However, take a good look at the Stop-Line Detection zones and imagine the situation of a cyclist that stops where the nose of the gray car stopped. That cyclist has given up at least half his/her pixels to the zone boundary. What's more, if the vagaries of weather have tilted that camera up just a smidge, the cyclist will be outside the detection zone altogether. This leads us to the second lesson. WHEN STOPPING FOR A CAMERA, STOP A BIT BACK FROM THE STOP LINE SO THE CAMERA SEES YOU. This also brings up the third lesson. WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO STOP, LOOK AT WHERE THE CAMERA POINTS. I have seen cameras spun by the wind around North Texas. The zones will move the way the camera has shifted. You want to be IN that detection zone. If the camera is pointed towards Oklahoma, it won't see you unless you are on your way south FROM Okalahoma. God LOVE those OKIES, except for the ones that drive red pickups with OU stickers on them.

You may also encounter one of these cameras at night. Well, they do not work by magic and they don't have IR or some special night vision. They get triggered by what they see. One more reason you don't want to depend only on a reflector at night. I do not know definitely if it helps to point your light at the camera, but it seems to me that pointing a blinky headlight at a camera at night ought to catch its attention. I've tried it and the light triggered, but it might have changed anyway. Still, I often check to see how far I can lift my front wheel when I am stopped at these types of light in the dark. Which brings up the final rule, AT NIGHT, NINJA CAN WAIT FOREVER! You KNEW there was some reason you needed to ride with lights at night. Now you know at least one reason why that you never read in the bike books. For all you know, there MIGHT be a ninja in that middle lane.

PS: As a duly designated remote tester, I EXPECT that you all will journey to some video signal camera you've never been able to trigger and give all this high tech stuff a go. I hope to hear of success, but these can be tricky devils. Unlike the induction units, there are not cuts in the pavement to clue you in. AND, if you can get me in touch with Eli Mowbray, of the Santa Cruz Public Works Department, you get double points. I suspect that guy can fill in the gaps a casual internet search leaves behind.

Cast into Darkness

Many people look at the return of Daylight Savings Time as an opportunity to go for long rides on their bikes after work each day. Those with long commutes, that have to arrive for work early, on the other hand, find themselves cast into darkness. Long-distance commuters get to revisit the dark days of December. Unlike the descent into winter, the change is sudden, and a shock akin to the decision to jump into a swimming pool when the water is known to be chilly. This year it seemed worse to me, perhaps because my commute requires me to leave home about 10-15 minutes earlier than the commute I made at this time last year.

Seven Eleven. Today, it wasn’t a major convenience store chain; it was the official moment of dawn, as in AM. It was also just about the time I came over the last ridge on my way to work. Still, with record heat, and knowing that the days will soon bring natural light back to the morning commute, things are looking up. It wasn’t QUITE tank top weather this morning, but it was close, and it’s really nice not having my water bottle accumulate ice. Soon, the buffalo will have their new calves. THEY are the sign that spring has sprung!

Things to Think About From a Different Direction

Many thanks to Principled Pragmatist for a Youtube video he noted over on ChipSeal's blog. While it may not be of much help to Chip's case, I found much in it worth considering, amongst them some VERY INTERESTING work on lighting and rear reflectors that may be relevant to cyclists. There is less useful information for cyclists in North Texas when it comes to influincing motorist overtaking behavior because we have mostly great sightlines down here and wider roads, unlike Amish country. There, if there's a double yellow line, it's probably really dangerous to pass. Here, it's the norm. Anyway. Check out those reflectors, combined with the stylish black of the buggies.

Anyway, the video goes beyond anything I've seen from Forester or DOT. They keep it up, I might even say something positive about Buckeyes someday. Maybe.

 

PS: So how 'bout that Cheryl Graham, eh, not to mention Carolyn Darbyshire's broom?

Reflections from Ed W

Those Rear Wheel Reflectors Certainly DO Show Up Well

In this Flash Shot. Would an Overtaking Motorist Notice Them?

SOME SAY that Ed W is an alter ego of "CycleDog, Agent of Satan," Others think he's the mirror of Dr Wally. Still others see him as the Tulsa Examiner. Some of THOSE wonder about how that revenue thing all works and why they might want to make CycleDog comments instead of the same comments against the Examiner. A FEW wonder about his browser choices. But THIS POST is about none of that. Nor is it against the bizarre subculture of cyclocross that I was led to by Lizzylou and am STILL avoiding. THAT subject starts with the letter "E."

Instead, it's about Ed's comment about the reflectivity of Frankenbike's rear wheel. It's a point worth considering.

When I GOT that rear wheel, the reflectors came with it. As a matter of fact, there were also a bunch of reflectors stuck to the spokes that I managed to peel off without too much trouble. The ones Ed commented on are what are left; the ones that seemed too much trouble to get rid of. Honestly, I can't say I'm a big fan of reflectors. My own opinion is that if reflectors are what stands between me and oblivion, I cut it too close, and my main regret is that Vought Aircraft won't make any more pension payments. So far, Vought is stuck, and I want to beat the actuary. I'm a "light" guy.

Still, there's something to check out here. "They don't need to be very big, but their movement certainly catches the eye of overtaking motorists."

I shall have to check that theory out. Certainly, the reflectors would catch the eyes of any motorist overtaking that is a lane to the left of me, and that might lead that same motorist to see my camo shooting glove pointing to the left for a lane change. ON THE OTHER HAND, we need to examine (undecided if any pun was intended), if an overtaking motorist would see reflectors on the inside of a rim if the cyclist is riding in the "line of sweetness"  and the motorist was in the same traffic lane. I've never tried to find out. Perhaps my youngest daughter needs some driver training tonight. More likely tomorrrow. Our oldest is coming home tonight and it's her birthday. You go girl! In the meantime, let's see what the overtaking motorists say. THIS blog is not inclined to pass along groundless theories, but I'll certainly pass along what my testers say.

Not to worry, I'll have my rear lights on so even if the reflector theory is debunked, I'll have a chance to post - unless they WANT me gone and are willing to give up the Vought checks to accomplish same which I think is doubtful. Stay tuned. I think experimental results will be forthcoming...

Don't Look Back

Photo at Intersection of Cindy and FM1709 from Google Streetview

Map from Google Maps

Part of my commute route, in its current state, takes me along FM1709, also known as Keller Parkway. It's a seven lane road, with fairly heavy, fairly fast traffic. Until a couple of years ago, it was a five lane road, with heavy traffic that backed up a lot more. Anyway, I ride along FM1709, usually between Anita and Cindy, both morning and afternoon. In the afternoon, it's daylight, and the light timing makes it a pretty simple jog from Cindy to Anita where I turn right. I'm rarely overtaken by more than a couple of cars because the rest are held for me by the light at Cindy. In the morning, it's a whole different experience. This time of year, it's right about dawn, with the car lights all turned on. What's more, the light timing is erratic, meaning sometimes I've got a simple run and sometimes a large wave of racing traffic catches up to me before I make my right.

It's really true that what's behind you is not important, but, lately, I occasionally look back after I turn on to Cindy. I can see why people get nervous about traffic. It seems like solid cars back there, all travelling at about 45mph or so. My advice: "don't look back."

Morning Route Shown. Afternoon is Reverse

Two Back Lights

Nowadays I run Buddy with two rear lights and a red reflector. I've purchased a better amber reflector, but haven't put it on yet. This morning, I was reminded of the second reason WHY I run with two rear lights (my MAIN reason is so that I show both a steady and a blinking light), and of why I often carry another in my cycling jacket.

Simply put, inexpensive rear lights are not the most reliable things put onto this earth. Over at BikeSkirt, here, they wrote an open letter to Planet Bike about unreliable lights. Yes, I commented. Among other things, I suggested that my Planet Bike Superflash was reliable. I stand corrected.

Over the last couple of weeks, the PB Superflash has developed an irritating and potentially dangerous habit of turning itself off. A while back, I bought another PB rear light (not a Superflash) that I now carry in my cycling jacket. This morning, I took the time to periodically stop to see what the persnickity PBSF was up to. Well, it went from "flash" mode, to "steady," and then to "off." Apparently, the mode/off switch has become very sensitive to fairly minor bumps. After I confirmed this behavior, it traded places with the other PB light and one of its batteries became a donor for my radio when ITS battery pooped out further into the ride.

I know that a number of readers of this blog use Superflash lights. Mine is no longer trustworthy. The Cateye at the TOP of the picture, on the other hand, is still working very well. In any event, it is fully reflective, so it has useful properties even if it should happen to die without me noticing it.

One last point on this. Nowadays, I have the PB light mounted on the rack stay. The light is obscured from my easy view by the trunk. The old configuration in the photo was much easier to check. Taillights are innocuous - they work better and longer (usually) than headlights, but you may not be able to easily tell IF they are working. At least if a headlight goes out you know it RIGHT AWAY.

PS: You might wonder what's the difficulty with sticking on an amber reflector? Like a lot of things, they require a certain amount of engineering to work on a bike safely and cleanly. I'll figure out how to put the reflector on as soon as I'm done re-engineering my Planet Bike fenders. Solutions have been found for both fenders. Completely tool free and no zip ties required.

Be Seen Light is NOT Enough!

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Logo

I've noticed that a couple of my readers (not naming names, of course, ChipSeal & Rantwick), think it's adequate to ride in the dark, with only "be seen" headlights.

I'm here to remind them they're going to discover, sooner or later, that it's not enough. Maybe they'll get lucky and merely break a wheel in an unexpected pothole or due to an unexpected clot of road debris. Maybe, on the other hand, they'll rediscover the origin of the famed Lockheed Skunk Works logo.

I'm glad I had my "see" light on so I was able to evade "ol stinky" with no actual contact. I actually swerved left, despite being poorly positioned for such a maneuver at the time (it was dark and the only car behind wasn't in a position to make my swerve a problem at the time). I'm also glad that "stinky" was as surprised as me and had no time to do his "thing." I certainly was not inclined to slow down for further investigation. I don't imagine the motorist behind even had the option, since "stinky" did a quick retreat toward the right side brush.

When I mentioned that polecat I almost encountered while crossing a creek bottom, my wife opined that it'd be hard to actually BURN a bike.

On the other hand, maybe it'd be better just to not know unless the worst happens...

Return of the Death Star

In the waning month of Daylight Savings Time, one of the creepy aspects of my commute was a black, Hummer H2 in the Remington Park Subdivision of Colleyville. After several weeks, seeing it most mornings, I came to think of it as an early 21st Century precursor to the Star Wars "Death Star."

You see, this vehicle was off on the dark side of Remington Parkway, silently waiting, just waiting, but with all of its running lights eerily glowing in the dark. I guess it was probably a mom waiting with her child for the school bus to show up, but it seemed vaguely sinister to me somehow. Not that it ever appeared to threaten me or any other traffic or pedestrian anywhere in the vicinity. It just seemed BAD. Like as in "the dark side."

Surprisingly, when Standard Time arrived, I no longer saw the Hummer parked in its appointed spot. Instead, on a few mornings, I'd see (I'm happy to report) a Jaguar XKR, or, more often, nothing at all. I figured the Hummer/Death Star decided to patrol some other galaxy, or at least another neighborhood. Until this morning, that is. Perhaps the Death Star needed a bit more shortening of the days before it felt it safe to reappear.

This morning, it was there once again, in the dark, complete with its glowing running lights. Seeing it, I resolved to capture it in a photo and so I stopped to pull out my iPhone camera. The intelligence associated with it was apparently disturbed by my stopping, or perhaps was just concerned I felt endangered, because its lights suddenly all winked out. With no flash, the opportunity for a picture was gone and so you see, instead, my impression of what I saw.

One might wonder why it's necessary to drive a child to a bus pickup point, within a subdivision, on a nice, albeit slightly crisp, morning, but maybe there's a good reason. Maybe it's just someone that's gotten a little too used to driving everywhere due to an infrastructure that has neglected the simple pleasures of walking around the neighborhood - and this is very common in subdivisions around here. Myself, walking about in the morning is enjoyable (unless I have a flat tire on my bike). Where people walk, they enjoy things a bit more. Just my personal take. Submitted for y'all's consideration...

Dark Faith

Lately, the darkness on the ride to work has been getting to me. It's sapped my riding faith. We're not quite done with DST, so it's dark nearly the whole 20 miles in. Near record October rainfall hasn't helped. This morning, I made a right turn to NB Davis Rd (a 7 lane road) in NRH, not far in front of a small traffic "wave."

I made my left turn signal to change lanes; expecting everyone to sweep by. You see, my long-sleeve shirt was a Navy color, and my shorts were dark as well. My full finger gloves weren't bright or reflective. Ditto for the helmet. Yes, I had two rear lights and my "be seen" headlight on, but none of those alert a motorist to upcoming maneuvers - and it was dark. Almost to my surprise, considering my somewhat glum frame of mind, not one, but TWO motorists (one behind in my lane and the other in the next lane to my left) slowed down and made it clear they were waiting and expecting me to make my lane change. Somehow, seeing those two drivers clearly adjust their intended actions to reflect the sight of a signaling cyclist, in dark clothing, in the dark, brought back my faith in traffic operating as a solid cooperative principle. They didn't have to do it. If they thought about it, they'd realize I had more lane changes to make before I could make my left turn and that might slow them down further as I worked my way over. They were being cooperative and nice, without being patronizing. I wish I could have done more than just a wave of thanks.

Sometimes, bike blogs harp on motorist incompetence or incivility. Mostly, though, when motorists understand what the cyclist in traffic wants to do, they'll almost always go out of their way to cooperate. Sometimes they forget that other traffic is expecting them to operate in a particular way and their consideration becomes misplaced (cyclists complain about that, too), but mostly it makes operating nicer. Drive friendly!

PS: Internet still broken...

Turns in the Dark

In this post, I half seriously wondered if I needed to get some LED turn indicators to be seen while signaling for a left turn in the dark. Eliot suggested glow sticks. However, it turns out that there are products that might actually make it easier to be seen signaling for turns in the dark. I have NOT tried this, though I'm considering it. Ain't capitalism wonderful?

A review of the product may be found here. What attracts me is that the product isn't too expensive, isn't heavy or complicated, and might actually perform the advertised function. My thoughts are that one would probably be sufficient - to signal left turns. Right turns have far less risk of a motorist conflict while the turn is about to be executed. On Amazon.com, there's one really good review and one bad one, so the jury is out.


Still, I LIKE the idea of motorists having an easier time seeing my tanned arm hung to the left in the dark. My two rear lights make it pretty easy for someone coming up from behind, but an arm turn signal isn't ideal. This could actually help. I have no idea why the bottom photo shows one on the model's right wrist. I'd go with the left. You could always buy a second one if it works really well and you feel strongly about making sure motorists see you signaling a right turn.

The bigger question: might not a reflector, or a small rear blinkie light velcroed to one's glove work as well?

As you might guess, I have no financial interest in this product other than not wanting to spend good money buying stuff I don't use.