Same Rules, Same Roads, Different Outcomes

I’ve recently seen a couple of articles, such as HERE, where motoring writers tell cyclists that they are not allowed to pass a stopped school bus. You see, they figure that “bicycles shall follow the same rules” precludes such an action. However, while the roads and rules may be the same, such writing forgets that becoming a pedestrian (no longer driving a vehicle) is an option for a cyclist that isn’t readily available to someone driving a 4000 lb car. The motoring writers and their motoring police advisers forget that you are not required to RIDE a bike in such a situation. Sometimes these are the same people that advise cyclists to get off their bikes and push a crosswalk “beg button” when they can’t (don’t know how, mostly) to get an induction or camera-controlled traffic light to change.

Even John Forester, a great advocate of operating bicycles as vehicles, recognizes differences in his “Effective Cycling” book when he notes that even the most militant motorists don’t claim that cars should be able to universally drive cross country through local parks. Not even the ones that claim bicycles ought to be required to obtain unavailable insurance or unavailable cycling licenses.

While I generally agree about the principle of “same rules,” the dramatically increased danger that motor vehicles present to other road users compared to bicycles, suggests that some rules intended for motor vehicle control might be inappropriate when applied to bikes. I do not opine on what these might be in this post. THIS post ought to provide food for thought about how bicycles DIFFER from cars in the ways they operate and comply with identical laws.

Just this morning, I stopped at an unmarked crosswalk to yield a pedestrian his right of way to the unmarked crosswalk. He seemed momentarily confused before crossing. Perhaps he hadn’t got the concept that a bike might stop to let him cross before. Definitely, this was a different response than it would have been if I’d been operating a large SUV. I guess had I been on a motorcycle, we’d have been somewhere in the middle in terms of “same rules relevance.”

PS: In case you wonder why I might go to the trouble to WALK past a stopped school bus rather than just waiting, there’s a story behind it. On my on my v2 commute, there were a couple of locations where large crowd of students and motoring parents (picking the students up or dropping them off) clogged things up at the bus stop. On my v3 commute, it turned out that my route passed by a location at a time where the local school bus often stopped to pick up a wheelchair-bound student. While watching the lift in operation was fascinating a couple of times, I elected NOT to violate the law by riding by when the school bus driver took to attempting to wave me by. Instead, it simply seemed logical to stop, pick up my bike, toss it on my shoulder, and legally jog past. Even stopped motorists seemed to enjoy the show – and my passing the bus on foot obviated their need to pass me at all.

Oldfool Leads to the Lost Ark

It's strange how sometimes we pick up stuff from the Internet that the authors never intended. A recent post on the excellent blog "Oldfool" is a case in point. You see, it led me to find out where one of the largest treasure troves of Southern California and, indeed United States aviation history has wound up. In fact, a modern day "Ark of the Covenant" to an aeronautical engineer such as myself.

The trail started here. Within that post, was the comment

"...college at the Northrup institute of Technology in Inglewood, California."

That comment caused me to reflect on my own association with Northrop University, where I co-taught a composites design course for a number of years. I still remember the photo of Jack Northrop in the library. THAT caused me to peruse Wikipedia, where I found what I already knew: Northrop University was no more. My recollection varied from Wikipedia a bit, with the law school playing a more prominent role in my memory about the downward spiral, but basically, the place went kaput as described here.

Still, the Wikipedia article raised a question: "What happened to the aviation collections?" Specifically the "American Hall of Aviation" and the "David Hatfield" collection. It seems to me that the vanishing of collections with a half million pieces would leave a trace somewhere. A half million pieces of aviation history. GONE! It was like the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant, as popularized by a movie, entitled "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Like an Internet version of Indiana Jones, I started to search on the topic. It was pretty quick that I discovered that Northrop University has more or less been taken over by a pretty good Charter High School. On their web site, there was nary a word about what happened to either the American Hall of Aviation OR the David Hatfield Collection. Hmm.

Northrop Institute of Technology, Transformed into a Very Good Charter High School - Via Google Streetview

Looking futher, the trail led to a former Lockheed employee by the name of Carol Osborne. Due to her interest in the whole thing, she inherited some of the artifacts and was named as the executor of the collection.

Carol Osborne, Surrounded by Amelia Earheart's Sister and Bobbi Trout. In 1987 Via 2009 Airport Journals

It happened this way: from "Airport Journals"

Although Northrop University campus still exists, its doors were closed in 2003. Many of the historical pieces that were located in the library are now in storage and owned by the Museum of Flight or Osborne. The AHAH library was legendary to aviation and Hollywood.

Prof. Hatfield had a passion for aviation history and had already authored 12 books, from mythology to his "Pioneers of Aviation: A Photo-Biography" series. By the 1980s, Hatfield was producing a series of videotapes called the "History of Flight," chronicling the subject from ancient times to the exploration of space, all for the purpose of educating young people and future generations. He was amazed with the new technology. When Hatfield passed away at the age of 77, he left behind his aviation history and videotaping equipment to an astonished Carol Osborne. It changed her life.

Besides uncounted thousands of photos, the collections included interviews with over 450 aviation pioneers before their passing. Over a dozen had their licenses signed by Orville Wright. Yes, THAT Wright brother. It is an irreplaceable collection. Video interviews with the pioneers at the very beginning of aviation. Mostly, these are people connected with Southern California.

The question remains, however, "what happened to all this stuff?"

The "Airport Journals" article offered a clue. Namely, the "Museum of Flight." But WHICH Museum of Flight. I first went to the logical ones in Southern California, but found no joy there. I saw a few mentions of the collection, but nothing about where it resided.

Almost by chance, I happened upon a Southern California website that provided insight into the mystery. Here, it stated:

Carol Osborne explains that, as Dr. Hatfield's Executor, she only dealt with his personal property.

The large Northrop University / American Hall of Aviation History collection went first to Santa Monica 'Museum of Flying' and then to Seattle 'Museum of Flight'.

I don't understand why our local Southern California aviation history is in a truck cargo container, un inventoried after years. It should be here, in our area, where we will take care of it and display it.

The similarity with the movie became obvious. Hence the video clip below, though instead of the "government guy," we could substitute the "Boeing Museum Guy" instead.

Still, there is hope for the aviation legacy of California, hidden away in a Seattle museum. From the "MUSEUM OF FLIGHT" web pages, we find references to both collections, though neither is available to the general public. Specifically, the links are below:

THE HATFIELD COLLECTION
&
MORE, DISGUISED AS NORTHROP and other DOCUMENTS

Red Rage

This isn’t the post I was planning to write today. I was planning to write a post, entitled “taking the second left.” I even took some photos to help illustrate the traffic situation. It is one not taught in Cycling Savvy, though I think any of their instructors would recognize it. Instead, I got mad. UNREASONABLY MAD. I yelled at someone. Someone who might be a nice person most of the time. I knew it wasn’t a teachable moment, but I yelled anyway. And then I got really mad. The RED RAGE is not pretty.

Sometimes it takes only a minor incident to trigger it. It is a close relative to what we call ROAD RAGE; an affliction we tend to associate with motorists doing offensive acts that endanger others. Well, I can tell you that cyclists are not immune. What's more, since we are not insulated from the world by steel and glass, it's a lot more upfront and personal when it happens to one of us. Today, it was me. And it really wasn't anything major that set it off. I think a lot of road rage starts with something minor.

Bellaire Elementary School While Road Construction was Ongoing

Northern Approach to Bellaire Elementary Four-Way Stop

Not long ago, I reported how traffic engineers messed up the street of Bellaire in Hurst, where it goes past Bellaire Elementary School. Well, this morning, I left for work a little later than usual, and at the four-way stop just north of the school, settled in to a stop for the crossing guards who had their signs out so kids could cross. So far, the situation was pretty normal. You stop and WAIT, just like the rest of traffic, when the crosswalks are occupied and kids are crossing. The concept is pretty simple, and it is a penalty that comes with leaving a skosh late for work. This morning, I had plenty of stop time to take a photo of the crossing guards. They are nice ladies that take good care of their kids and there were quite a few this morning. While we never actually talk, they have come to know the guy on the red and white bike that rides down the middle of the lane.

Crossing Guard at Bellaire Elementary School on September 20
The Same Car is Stopped in Both These Photos. HE Didn't Blow Through the Intersection

The OTHER Crossing Guard at Bellaire Elementary School on September 20
You Can See Lots of Kids Beyond on the Sidewalk

On my right, an adult on a bike pulled up to the stop sign. I have no idea where he came from because I don’t recall passing him earlier, but I'd been stopped for a while since I had time to take some pictures. Bike guy actually stopped. Well, he almost stopped. Then he started forward and, I, still waiting patiently for the intersection to clear, forgot about non-teachablemoments. I yelled “You’re at a stop sign and there are kids crossing.” For those that do not know me, my voice projects VERY WELL. Some say that Steve can actually be quite LOUD. Bike guy yelled something back, somewhat tentatively. I think perhaps he was disoriented by a cyclist yelling at him. Who knows. I couldn't tell exactly what he yelled. In truth, there was nothing he could have yelled that carried any meaning unless he was going to simply obey the law and WAIT. Instead, he continued forward. I yelled again; even louder: “THE CROSSING GUARD HAS HER SIGN UP! THAT MEANS STOP!” The guy continued past the crossing guard (and the kids) and then down Bellaire past the school, riding in the gutter pan of the street. I did feel a bit better when the crossing guard waved to me and yelled out “thanks!” Her feedback helped, dropping the anger down enough that I did not feel any temptation to yell further at the scofflaw when I was able to proceed legally, and I blew by him within a half block. In contrary to my usual practice, I did not make a full lane change when I passed him. In reality, the guy was no worse than many people I see every day on bikes. Arguably, he was better than the lady that simply flew through a four-way stop yesterday afternoon without looking either way, with a trailer in tow behind her. Still, he was the one that set off the RED RAGE.

I do feel better because no embarrassing profanities (John Romeo Alpha would call such an "inappropriate term") escaped my lips in front of all those elementary school kids. Practicing and training for friendly cycling really DOES pay off. It is possible that some, reading this blog, don’t get irritated when they see people on bikes simply blow through signs or lights. While a person on a bike does not present the same magnitude of danger to other road users that the operator of a 6000 lb SUV represents, bike can and DO hurt people. Read THIS or THIS. Closer to North Texas, you can read THIS or THIS. I’d not go as far as Mr Christopher and cite such as the reason I’d never carry a gun while cycling, but I certainly understand where he’s coming from.

Just as not everyone driving a car is one of MY MOTORISTS, a lot of people on bikes should stay away from roads, paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Thanks for listening. I feel better now. We can go back to something OTHER than the RED RAGE. Heck, if you're riding in Hurst, you can probably blow through a stop sign right in front of me and I won't say a thing other than to offer first aid help when you cream some little kid.

Earth Day in North Texas

Earth Day this year was a bit different in the past. To start with, because it corresponded with Good Friday, I got the day off. To continue, because of our nasty weather last February, the local schools were in session. With "Bike to Work Month" coming up, I decided to dust off the bike and take a little trip around the area and report on various observations. After all, I've not ridden it for a whole day (yes, this is all sarcasm)
 

Nowadays, Schools are Traffic Obstacles

 First off, I was reminded once again of the difference in motor traffic around schools now compared to the first Earth Day. This first photo shows the traffic light leading to Trinity High School in Euless, Texas. Actually, the photo shows the SECOND light cycle as I went forward along with all the motoring dropoff traffic. After the intersection, there were lots of motoring students and motoring moms zipping about. It being Earth Day, none of them were inclined towards hostile acts against any non-motor traffic. Actually, I don't think any of them were probably thinking about "green" at the time. They just wanted to get to school. It's a far cry from the motoring to school situation on the first Earth Day.

After I got past all the motorists at Trinity, I noticed that gasoline has risen a bit in price lately. It seems that things will soon get above $4 per gallon even in an oil state such as Texas. While some might cheer this situation, I forseen yet another rise in price in bicycle tubes and in the food goods that feed cyclists. In truth, while hard-core motorists may suffer more than me, no one benefits from having to work longer to transport things. Well, except for those that pump the oil from the ground.

Gasoline Prices are RISING. The Bird, on the Other Hand, is Taking a Rest

Anyway, one of the things that prompted me to rise and ride on a holiday was a coffee chain promotion that promised a free coffee if you brought a travel mug. While most might not have appreciated it, I found it a bit ironic that this corporation encouraged people to DRIVE to a coffee store and idle their motor vehicles in line in order to feel good about not using an easily recycled paper cup. Still, their heart is in the right place, though it'd be righter if they had real bike parking.


Motorists Abounded for the Coffee Earth Day Promotion

 

Travel Mug Got You a Free Coffee Even if You Were the Only Non Motoring Customer. Yay!

Regardless, I went with the drill and brought my own travel mug out from the cupboard. When this store didn't have the bold coffee I prefer, I went with the corporate motto and stated "Pike is better than nothing!"

What can I say, I'm a sucker for free coffee. What's more, I couldn't resist the opportunity to show how a Starbucks travel mug works with a Specialized water bottle holder. Actually, I'll use ANY excuse to slip a photo of Buddy into a post. For those interested in recent history trivia, you'll note that my bike doughnuts have not been tweaked as of this date...

While I was imbibing the brew, one of the motorists, waiting in the drive-through lane, ran over the bottle below and shot it toward my feet. Being a good "green" guy, I relocated the bottle to the nearest waste receptacle. I noticed that it contained 14 carbs in one serving when full so it wasn't anything I would have drunk in any event.



The Bottle was Shot Towards Me Inadvertently When a Motorist in the Drive Through Line Ran it Over

Soon, it came time to turn homeward. I noted the added irony that even in what would be rural scenes, our mechanized modern life intrudes. The horses don't mind, so I guess it shouldn't cause me to pause, either.
 

Suburban Scene - Horses and Travel Trailers

Proceeding along, I was reminded that Oncor has committed to add more trails under transmission rights of way, as noted in THIS press release. While I don't know what it actually means, nor whether the trails might be properly engineered (unlike the Bedford trail in the photo), my inclination is that more choices are good and that I have the knowledge to recognize and avoid the dangers in such facilities should they be of use to me.


The Oncor Power Company Has Committed to Build More Trails Such as This. If They Read My Blog, Those Trails Would be Safer

Oh, almost forgot, I also used the morning to better road test some ex-Chandra sandals. They're a bit tight (he wears a half size smaller than my norm), but might actually work if I left the socks at home.


Oh, Yes, Sandals Seemed to be Something to Try Today as Well



Simple Learning Moment

One cool thing about bicycle school is that you learn all sorts of things that weren't part of the cirricula, and which maybe you already knew but really never thought in much depth about before.

One example of this for me last weekend at the LCI Seminar was really simple. Stopping.

I stop when I'm supposed to stop. But that is only the surface of the story. Certainly I can stay stopped at a stop sign far longer than most motorists stop for at a stop sign (even the ones that actually stop). I can do that without putting either foot down. If I were riding a fixed gear, I could do it for longer than any motorist would care to stick around. None of that was the learning moment.

The learning moment was the focus on the communicative element of putting a foot down on the ground and what that causes a motorist to think, perhaps subconsciously, when that event happens. As Preston Tyree observed, regardless of the reality, putting a foot down sends a message to a motorist that "Here's a cyclist that is safe, predictable, and in control." Simply BEING it is one thing. Getting a motoring companion to REALIZE it can be another and might require cycling actions that aren't strictly necessary from an actual operating or legal standpoint. We should not forget that motorists do not perceive cyclists as the cyclists perceive themselves.

Today, I put my foot down a lot more than I would have last week. Foot signals - who'd a thunk it? First we get hand signals, then I got elbow signals (for encouraging an "overfriendly" motorist to observe my yield to their superior right of way), and now we get foot signals. I'm thankful I have shoes on or else they'd have me making "toe signals."

Invisible Commute

I’ve shown many of the elements of my commute in this blog, most often to illustrate a situation or condition any commuter may encounter. This post fills in some of the blanks and shows the invisible commute - the commute I never show.

Heritage Parkway, Southern Entrance to Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Almost to Work!

 First off, close to my office, at Alliance Airport, we’re treated to Heritage Parkway, a 45mph four-lane road with a median. Traffic is light on this road, because it was overdesigned based on the final “build out” occupancy at the airport. This road is identified as needing bike lanes in the Fort Worth Bike Plan, though I can’t imagine why they would bother, or who the bike lanes would help. One unique aspect to Heritage is that a high proportion of the motorists actually KNOW me, and I occasionally get reviews from my motoring friends and employees. The consensus is that I’d be very hard to hit by accident.

Another feature of my commute is Timber Creek High School. Under construction when my commute began, it opened in fall 2009. It’s just down the block from where Holly the Crossing Guard kept the elementary school kids in line and crossing properly. Fort Worth also wants to put bike lanes on this street, most of which is a school zone already.

Timber Creek High School, Fort Worth - in the Keller School District

There are also a couple of swimming pools along the way. THIS ONE, has refrigerated drinking water. Conveniently, it is about 1/3 of the way home from work. I’ve never availed myself of the water there, but it’s nice to know it is there. There’s also a water fountain about 2/3 of the way home, across the street from a Wal-Mart. Hmm, come to think of it, Fort Worth wants to put bike lanes on the street I took this shot from as well, but, again, I can’t imagine why. Cyclists, or even pedestrians, are rare in this area because of poor subdivision design choices. Even when the pool is busy, the neighborhood residents usually drive to the pool.

Neighborhood Swimming - and a Water Fountain

Most People Drive to the Neighborhood Pool

Some of the route is through older neighborhoods that use a grid street system. A grid system in a flat area such as DFW gives lots of choices for a commute cyclist. The route through the grid that I use minimizes stop sign encounters and is very direct. Traffic is minimal.

Grid Systems Predominate in Older Neighborhoods such as this one in Keller

I mentioned a secret neighborhood trail I use here. THIS is what it looks like. Not being on maps, not recognized by Google Bikes, nor part of the Keller Trail plan, it represents, for me, a traffic-free shortcut that has good shade and shelter from the wind. As you can see, it doubles to supplement storm drainage during heavy rain.



This Trail Works Well for a Shortcut in Keller



There are also subdivisions along my route. Some of them are finished, and some, closer to work, are still being developed. Traffic is uniformly light and new subdivisions have enough garage space that people rarely park on the streets. Dealing with parked cars is not much of an issue on my commute. In these new subdivisions, the biggest traffic problem is an unwarranted fascination with putting stop signs all over.

Cows Graze in a Future Site of McMansions in Colleyville

Jaguar Mark 10 in a New Subdivision

Perhaps surprisingly, I cross a major trail; the Cottonbelt Trail. It is notable mainly because I worry about getting hit by a cyclist running the stop sign (you know, it is no secret that most of those annoying cyclists DO run stop signs on trails). It runs perpendicular to where I’m usually going. It is a very nice trail for recreational use, and I’ve ridden on it for that purpose twice. I actually tried to make a video while riding the trail, but my amusing sound narration did not come out. My post on Webb house, here, was just south of the trail, but I forgot to mention it in that post. I also forgot to mention it in my post on Lady Bird's Legacy, though it was only about 20 feet north of that spot.



Cottonbelt Trail in Colleyville. Has Anyone Ever Been Ticketed for Exceeding That Speed Limit?





Barn off of Oak Knoll in Colleyville



East-West streets near home are not well configured. Traffic on Glade and Cheek Sparger is heavy both ways in the afternoon, and illegally passing a cyclist can be difficult. Further east, Glade becomes my Nemesis Road due to brain-damaged, auto-centric traffic engineering. Fortunately, Oak Knoll makes a very pleasant alternate for the days I stop at Starbucks on the way home, and Hall Johnson also makes a good cycling route. Hall Johnson is another four-lane road, posted at 30mph, though most motorists drive it at 40. At either speed, cyclists are easy to see and even easier to pass. It’s the street I was on in the post reported here. Actually, right about where the photo was shot from. Cheek Sparger eastbound traffic in the morning is very light, and I invariably ride it to work except when it was under construction this summer.



Cheek Sparger Road in Colleyville

Hall Johnson Road in Colleyville

There are a couple of businesses that are handy for commute cyclists that I have discovered along my route. About halfway home is a bicycle shop in Keller called Bicycles Inc. Bicycles Inc is a general shop that I have used on occasion to replace components that failed en route, or to pick up small items. Bicycles Inc. also has a store in Hurst that I go to that is much closer to my house, and whose sales people and mechanics strike me as more knowledgeable. Also on the route home is a sport store called “Lukes Locker.” Lukes caters to runners, but it also happens to carry electrolyte replacement pills that Apertome mentioned, and which seem to work well for me. The shot of Lukes was taken directly from my main commute route, so you can see it doesn’t represent much of a detour. Similarly, “Knobbies and Slicks,” reported here, is within sight of my commute route. Knobbies is a bike shop. I’m not sure they’d represent a good place to stop for spares, but they sure do have some slick bicycles, as well as a spinning studio.

Lukes Locker Carries Electrolyte Pills. Great for Hydration in Summer



Another Store I Regularly Stop at on the way Home with Gratuitous Bike Shot



Commuter Cheering Section

The Best Shot I've Gotten So Far of the "Bike Commuter Fan Club and Cheering Section"

This year, I’m making my morning commute about ten minutes earlier than a year ago. I find the earlier start gives me more pleasant traffic interactions and a bit of time to fully cool down before work starts. A side benefit to the earlier start is that I have acquired a cheering section of Keller ISD students to encourage me on my morning endeavors.

The cheering section was acquired entirely by accident, though it has now become a feature of the commute. Last year, I went through the area just east of Timber Creek High School about 5 minutes after the school bus went through. This year, I go through the same area about 5 minutes BEFORE the school bus arrives. This means that there is a large group of kids, and a few parents, waiting.

Well, this crowd waits at a corner where I make a right turn. As is my typical practice, I hang my right arm straight out in my right turn signal, and then make my right turn. I was somewhat surprised when I got a whole crowd of kids waving to me when I did this. It took a couple of days before I realized they did not recognize the right turn signal AS a turn signal, and they thought I was waving to them. The next day, I didn’t signal at all. After thinking about it, I decided not to be a grump and went back to signaling. What’s more, I stopped about a block short of the turn, turned on both my headlights and laid on a bit of extra speed for the crowd. I think they liked those touches, though the extra speed was a bit of a PIA as I completed my turn and immediately encountered oncoming traffic – both motorized and pedestrian.

Last week, I stepped things up a bit and decided to record this event for posterity. For my first attempt, I held the camera in my left hand and did my right turn signal. As you might imagine, bike handling was somewhat compromised, and the photos were quite a bit poorer than the one below. Hmm. Perhaps I really ought to look into some sort of camera mount.

Friday, I thought I might just hold the camera in my right hand, signaling with that hand. That sort of worked, but I am not as talented at such gyrations as, for example, Apertome or Doohickie. What’s more, my right arm sort of looked like an English automotive left turn signal rather than a proper one. While one photo showed my front tire at speed, the other (at the top of this post) captured the awaiting crowd, though before they began to wave.

I tried things again this morning, though I went through the corner about five minutes early today, so my cheering section consisted of one student, who still waved gamely. I got a little better shot, and managed to keep my right arm straighter, but the shot was even fuzzier than the one above. That flash really doesn't help much other than to let me know when the shutter has gone off.

Anyway, my revised, non-camera, right turn signal when a crowd of kids is watching, is to make a proper right turn signal, and then when they wave, I wave back with wrist action added to the basic turn signal. I really would prefer that our younger generation recognize a turn signal for what it is, and to be able to distinguish a turn signal from a wave. I’m not above combining a turn signal and a real wave.

It is AMAZING how easily some of us are amused…

Wonderful Photo of My Front Tire and Left Shifter