The Cycling Dude

Making Law to Encourage What SHOULD be Obvious to All

Are you a Cyclist who Texts while pedaling?

Better not try it in Missoula, Montana, because, beginning a week ago,  if you are caught it will cost you. ;-D

The Missoula City Council's ordinance banning text messaging while driving and bicycling went into effect Wednesday...

That includes sending e-mails, too, so there!

The new law makes texting behind the wheel a primary offense, so police have the authority to pull over a driver they believe is punching out a message.

The fine for a first-time offender is a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500. The ticket may not be suspended or waived. The minimum fine for a second offense within a year is $150.

The fine for a driver who causes a crash as the result of text messaging is a minimum $350.

Wonder how soon this law will be challenged in court? ;-D

How many other cities have similar laws, or are contemplating them?

It's sad that yet another law has to be passed to encourage people not to do something that can take their attention away from where it should be: Handling their car, or bike, safely, and keeping their eyes on the road, and their surroundings.

Missoula: Texting ban now in effect By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian

I Get Comments: One Persons Misguided Rage Against All Cyclists

It has been a frustrating week for me.

After returning from the Southern Ca. Genealogy Jamboree, in Burbank, I had planned to Blog the heck about it on my other blog, then spend this weekend doing some cycling.

Didn't work out that way.

Computer issues have kept me home pecking slowly away at my Genealogy blogging while waiting for a back-up hard drive, and still to come help from tech support to fix my issues.

In the mean time, I get comments. ;-D

This one in response to a post I did, in January of 2008, Fullerton Man in Trouble for Making Bike Trail Holes

If I was a crabby old man I probably would of done the same thing.

You cyclists, or whatever, need to be more Fucking considerate.

My 8yr old brother and I were run down by two cyclists that were racing.

He broke his leg, and had a severe concussion, and I had to get 30 stitches.

Damn bikers, get a real hobby.

Signed: Victim

Yet again we have someone misguidedly blaming every cyclist for the stupidity of a few.

I am sorry for the injuries suffered, but taking out your anger, whether in words, or, more dangerously, with deeds, does not solve the problem for anyone.

Education, of all users of Multi-Use Trails, is the best way to handle things, that, and fines, or jail time, for those caught doing something unlawful.

My 1st Advertising thru Blog Ads, in a long while, is very welcome, indeed

Thank you very much to the folks at Michigan Bicycle Company for showing an interest in placing an ad on my humble blog.

I thank you very much! ;-D

The ad is in the sidebar, and what they are doing is very interesting indeed, so check it out. ;-D

Bicycles Built For 2 Take Over Bike Trail Intersection in Long Beach

I set out, yesterday, to find the best place for parking near the beginning of the Coyote Creek Bike Trail, where it takes cyclists away from the San Gabriel River Bike Trail on a journey all its own, NE toward Orange County, and found myself encountering 4 Tandems in a half hour. ;-D

Happiness is Fitting Bicycling into Your Vacation

Jeff Yeager is The Green Cheapskate, over at The Daily Green, and he has written an outstanding article on how taking a Cycling Vacation can change your life:

If you've not been on a bicycle since you were a kid, maybe this is the summer to rediscover the joy and freedom of what it arguably the fastest machine ever invented by man, when you factor in the energy it requires to build/buy and get on down the road.

Or better yet, why not make your family vacation this summer a bicycle trip? It's inexpensive, eco-friendly, healthy, and, I bet, will give you memories to last a lifetime.

His report offers tips under the titles of Going the Distance, Keeping it Simple and Cheap, Picking a Route, Don't Overspend, Pack Light, Safety First, Take a course on Safe Cycling, and Stay Cheap.

Read the whole thing here.

As regular readers know I've done some long rides over the years, as can be found in my archives...

My vacation begins next Friday, and I plan a couple of more long ones that I hope to take, camera in hand, and blog about.

Possible Beer Bike Ban Bums Blissfull Bicyclists

A Bicycle Built for 10 is causing concern in Amsterdam.

Yes....

10.

Actually...some of these contraptions can apparently accomodate up to 22 people.

Oh, and when you toss in a Karaoke Machine... (See Link below). ;-D

There are lots of the contraptions on the street in this, um, Forward Thinking, city.

The bike, which can seat at least 10 people around a central "bar" as they pedal through the city center, is a frequent sight in the Dutch capital and is said to be popular with stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties. A non-drinker steers the bike.

But two accidents involving the bikes since the start of April has prompted the city councilor responsible for transport, Hans Gerson, to investigate how many bikes there are and whether they pose a problem.

For a look at an example of the beast go here. ;-D

For more on this story go here.