Tag Archives: bicycle

Another deceptive poster

More evidence that the anti-car crowd can’t think its way out of a paper bag. Even when they could make a much better case for themselves. The text, in Italian, reads “space necessary to transport 48 persons: auto, electric car, robotic … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, robotics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Jim Melcher and America’s Perestroika

Jim Melcher was one of my professors at MIT. He was also was a year-round bicycle commuter and in 1977, one of the first 25 members of the Boston Area Bicycle Coalition, In the 1980s, his activism expanded into issues … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Some Portland weirdness

Oregon cyclist Hal Ballard posted this picture in a Facebook group. (You may or not be able to see the original post). You may click on the image for a larger view. Here is a Google Street View from before … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bicycling, Bike lanes, SLM | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lessons of Spruce Street

I’m posting this in connection with the video I shot of a ride on Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, already embedded in an earlier post. Spruce Street is a one-way street with parallel parking on the left side, and a bike … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

RRFBs: Time for Co-opetition

The US Federal Highway Administration has withdrawn its interim approval of  Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) because a company which makes them has patented them. This is a serious public-policy error. The RRFB has proved effective at increasing compliance of … Continue reading

Posted in traffic circles, Traffic Signals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spruce Street, Philadelphia

Bicyclist Emily Fredericks was killed, crushed by a right-turning garbage truck, on Spruce Street in Philadelphia on November 29. Another bicyclist, Becca Refford, was similarly right hooked a block away on Pine Street on December 8 and suffered serious injuries. … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dutch Strict Liability Myth

A commenter on Facebook made a statement which is often heard in the USA: “A Dutch lady said they have so few hurt because drivers are guilty unless they can prove they weren’t.” Well, this doesn’t quite amount to fake … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Chicago Bike Lane Guide, a Blast from the Past

The Chicago  Bike Lane Design Guide, published by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center of the University of North Carolina in cooperation with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the City of Chicago, is available online on the NACTO site. What … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes, Laws | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

An undertaking undertaking

I answered this question on the Quora question-answering site. Who is at fault if a driver undertakes you from behind you while you are safely making a left turn on a one-way road? First, let’ define “undertaking”. That doesn’t mean … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brooklyn Bridge air horn blast

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the engineering wonders of the world, opened in 1883 and is still in full service. (Highly recommended: David McCullough’s book The Great Bridge…) Traffic on the roadways when the bridge opened consisted of horseback riders, … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, New York City, shared space | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments