Speed Limits

I think the City of Vancouver's proposal to lower speed limits to 40km/h on side streets is a great idea. It's not really that complicated, either:

The new limit would apply to most local side streets while most major streets would keep their current speeds. As a general rule, if the street has a yellow line down the middle, it would stay at 50 km/h. If it doesn't have a yellow line, it would likely become 40 km/h. Those areas that are currently 30 km/h, such as playground and school zones, would remain at 30km/h.

Actually, that is probably too complicated for your average Vancouver driver to figure out.

Closer... closer... wait, too close.

I was riding to work today, along 45th avenue. I could hear a car approaching from behind. I was riding just out of the door-zone.

Just as the car was about to pass me, I put my hand out at what turned out to be mirror-level. So My hand was at most one foot from my body. My hand was smacked by the car's mirror.

Question: Did the car pass me too closely?

This is why I often ride around with a set of keys in my left hand.

Work-Life Balance

What does it mean when you really look forward to your dentist's appointment because means you will not be spending the afternoon at work?

While riding to the dentist I nearly hit a squirrel; it waited until I was right there, then made a mad dash for the other side of the path. I squeezed my brakes, and at the same time (fortunately) the squirrel came to a screeching halt and turned around and darted back into the bushes.

On the way back from the dentist, I made this video:

Score one for the cyclist

Quote:

I play this little game while riding to and from work where I memorize the license plate of a passing car. When the next car drives by I memorize that one, and so on and so on. If there is an altercation, I've trained myself to look at the license plates first. So rather than use my middle finger to tell somebody how I feel, I can find out where they live based on that license plate and send them a letter of gratitude.

Read the rest of this story at: surlyblog.

I must admit that I usually use my middle finger. Or do a particular motion with my hand that indicates that I think the driver is a jerk off. Not very creative.

Ing-Spray III

We're right in the middle of Spring and Bike to Work Week is almost upon us (prediction: that URL will be broken by July).

That means that the fair weather cyclists are appearing on the streets. I have nothing against fair weather cyclists -- riding in the rain, in the dark, the wind, and the (relative) cold of a Vancouver winter isn't for everyone. In fact it makes a lot of sense to not do it. It's a bit masochistic -- commuting by bicycle in the winter is one of the three (possibly four, depending on precise definitions) masochistic facets of my personality, in fact.

One annoying thing about these eminently reasonable people who choose to start riding their bicycles to work after the vernal equinox is that many of them think that it is some kind of race. This race mentality manifests itself in many annoying behaviours that violate the Code of Bicycle Commuting. Now, this Code only exists in my head as far as I know. I'm planning to write it up and post it on this blog soon.

What it boils down to for the purposes of this post is: do not pass someone and then immediately slow your pace. For example, passing someone going down a hill and then switching into your granny gear on the up-hill that immediately follows.

Also, don't do crazy stuff like riding on the sidewalk at full speed to pass someone, or passing fellow cyclists by blowing by them as they slow at a four-way stop. Just relax. Take it easy. We're all going to catch up to you at Knight street, anyway.

We're racing to work here, people. Does the person who gets there first really win?

So-called Professional Drivers

At least once each week I am almost side-swiped by a school bus while riding on 45th Avenue (a designated bicycle route, in case you were wondering). Invariably a school bus driver will pass me, and then, because of approaching traffic from the other direction, will be forced to swing back to the right immediately after passing me. This brings the back of the (short) school bus within two feet of me and my bicycle. This happens with Translink buses as well.

For various reasons today was the day that I decided it was time to confront the f*cking idiot driving the bus that almost killed me. Usually I just let it go but today I caught up to the bus and forced it to stop. This was done easily and quickly because immediately after passing me the bus turned left at a traffic calming circle. I'll say it again: the driver of this bus is a f*cking idiot. Does it make sense to pass me dangerously when you're about to turn left anyway?

I went around the circle the wrong way and stopped in front of the bus, yelling (I think) What the f*ck was that?. The driver opened the door and made some stupid remark that I didn't hear clearly. I said You almost hit me back there!.

The driver then said Oh, sorry, the windows are fogged up and I didn't see you.

That's just about the stupidest bullsh*t excuse I've ever heard. This bus approached me from behind and saw me well enough to move to the left to pass me. I guess after passing me the bus driver just totally forgot that I was there? And then cut hard to the right. And then put on the brakes to prepare to turn left around the traffic calming circle.

I'll say it again: the driver of this bus (bus number 2075) is a f*cking idiot.

Normally I would not post something like this but today (not sure why) I think that it's not too much to ask that I be able to ride my bike on a bike street and not be nearly killed. To celebrate I'm declaring the rest of the week Take The Lane Week. I'm going to ride right in the middle of the lane at all times, and if I hear a vehicle approaching from behind I'm going to move to the left. If you want to pass me, go fully into the other lane, b*tches.

Two ways to make automobiles stop

I've discovered two things that a cyclist can do to make a motorist stop their car and sit there motionless:

• Make a right turn signal (you know, left arm out and bent at the elbow, hand pointing up). This confuses the hell out of the vast majority of Vancouver drivers. If I'm planning to turn right and a driver is stopped at a stop sign to my right, making the right-turn signal will freeze the driver. They will not go across the intersection until I turn right, even though in the reality-based universe our paths do not intersect each other.
• Stop and put one foot down at a four-way stop. It seems that the way to convince a driver that you are about to dash into the intersection is to remove your foot from the pedal and make it impossible to propel yourself forward. This happened to me this morning. I came up to a four-way stop and a car approaching from my left got there first. I hovered for a second, but the driver would not go. So to convince him/her that I was really stopping, I put my right foot down. Then we stared at each other for about seven more seconds.

Ing-Spray

I decided to ride along the sea wall on the way home today. I rode along the south side of False Creek. I saw several signs that Spring is indeed here:

• A bunch of women doing an apparently organized and synchronized work-out using a set of park benches as props.
• A bunch of people warming up and preparing to run wearing Jump Boots.
• Near Go Fish I saw a guy driving his car on the Sea Wall.

Who controls the intersection?

My commuting route passes through several pedestrian/cyclist controlled intersections. These are the intersections with flashing green traffic lights that confuse visitors from Ontario. I grew up in Ontario, and whoah the flashing green light means something completely different there.

If there is no traffic then I just go across without pressing the button, of course. And if there is traffic, but I can see that there will be a chance to cross within half a minute or so, I'll wait and scoot across. Unless I am in a particularly bad mood I see no reason to unnecessarily bring four lanes of car traffic to an idling stop.

The usual situation though is that there is lots of car traffic (I am commuting during rush hour after all) and any gaps that exist are frustratingly arranged so that it is impossible to scoot. What to do? I think most people would just press the button immediately. But I have developed a more discerning system. Some would call it discriminatory; to them I nod in agreement.

If I see a particular type of vehicle approaching the intersection, I will let it pass through before pressing the button. Conversely, if I see another particular type of vehicle approaching the intersection, I will madly press the button as fast as I can to force it to stop so that I can sloooooooooowly roll across in front of it, scratching my backside as I go.

Here is a short list of the vehicles in each category:

Vehicles which I will let pass through before pressing the button:

• Fire trucks
• Ambulances
• Buses and community shuttles
• Taxis with passengers
• Co-op cars (although this is purely theoretical, since it is difficult to identify co-op cars from any distance)
• Food delivery or courier vehicles

Vehicles which simply must be inconvenienced at every opportunity:

• SUVs of any kind
• Pick-up trucks that are very shiny and clean and obviously are not working trucks
• Mini-vans
• Police cars (unless the sirens and lights are going, of course)
• Zip-cars (these are hard to spot, too)
• Any vehicle whose driver my telepathic powers tell me is an a**hole
• Basically any vehicle which is not in the list of vehicles that I let through

Also, if I know there is a cyclist half a minute or so behind me, I will wait until he or she is near the intersection before pressing the button, so that he or she will not suffer the frustration of racing toward a stale green light and having to stop.

There are two ways that my attempts to inconvenience particular subsets of vehicles can be thwarted:

• The light does not turn yellow immediately after I press the button, thus letting through the vehicles I have selected for time-out. There is nothing to be done in this situation but watch those arseholes cruise through. Pressing the button is merely a suggestion to the electronic brain that controls the traffic lights; if the lights were red a short while ago then the timing mechanism will make you wait.
• The light turns yellow right after I press the button, but everybody just runs the yellow light, then more people run the red light. Running red lights is routine in Vancouver. If I'm in the right mood I'll roll slightly into the intersection and spit, trying to time it so that they'll drive right into it and it'll splatter on the windshield. Juvenile, I know, but any reasonable person must agree that there has got to be some kind of consequence to running red lights, right?

So the answer to the question that is the title of this post (Who controls the intersection?) is: I control the intersection. And if you defy my will I shall spit on your car.

Sheldon Brown

It's a sad day for cycling: Sheldon Brown has died. I think everyone who rides a bike regularly or does any kind of maintenance work on their own bike has likely consulted Sheldon's web-site (link on the right) at least once or twice.

His determination and good spirits in the face of his illness (primary progressive multiple sclerosis) was inspiring.

More Ice

I noticed lots of ice on the road on the way to work today. My back tire slipped (two to four centimetres) at least four times, but I never went down.

I didn't really notice any ice until I got to some higher elevations (near Queen Elizabeth Park). A fellow was walking his dog on the sidewalk, and as he crossed a lane he slipped around on the black ice. He said Slippery! Be careful! to me. I got a little nervous and more cautious, but I waited until I crossed Fraser street to let some of the air out of my tires. The intersection of Nanaimo and 37th avenue, and Nanaimo street South of there, was the worst (as always, it seems).

I hope it doesn't snow too much before I'm able to get home tonight.

Nice Weather

The weather forecast for today was sunny with cloudy periods, high 6C. Which sounds just wonderful. The people on the radio gush about how great a day it is going to be.

But in December, when I hear sunny, plus six or seven degrees, I think of one thing: Black Ice.

Sure enough there was lots of black ice out there this morning. I was gingerly turning right and my back tire started to go out from under me. Somehow I recovered and didn't go down; I just took the corner reeeeeeeeeaaaallly wide. Fortunately there was no traffic coming from that direction (it was a quiet residential side-street).

A few blocks later, though, I saw the guy in front of me go down. We were going down a short hill, with an up-hill on the other side of a traffic-calming circle at the intersection at the bottom of the hill. He went down while going around the traffic circle and slid for about two car-lengths. He said he was OK and I went on my way, being even more careful.

Only a few blocks later, while riding perfectly straight, I felt my back tire slip to the side again. Freaky. I pulled over and let some of the air out of my tires, hoping for better traction (but worried about pinch-flats now). I rode over some more icy patches but took it slow and didn't have any more incidents.

Tips for Happy Riding

I didn't think it was going to rain this morning. Well, I thought it might rain a little bit, you know, a light mist or drizzle. But I didn't put on my rain gear. When I left home, it was drizzling a little bit, as I had expected. About half-way to work I had to admit that no, this wasn't mist or drizzle anymore, this was first-class rain. My pants were well on their way to being soaked. My legs were freezing as a result. My shoes (and so my feet) were getting wet, too.

It made me think of Tips for Happy Riding at the Rivendell Bicycle Works website. One of these so-called tips reads Go for a one-hour ride underdressed sometime, because it's good to be really cold on a bike every now and then.

Well, today I did it. I was both cold and wet. Maybe that's why it wasn't very happy -- it only works if you're merely cold?

Revenge is a dish...

...best served at a four-way stop.

If you ride a bicycle in the city you have probably been in a situation where a friendly driver will stop and wave you through an intersection. This friendly driver thinks they're doing you a favour. But usually, this driver is in the right-hand lane of two lanes, and the cars in the left-hand lane have no idea what is going on and just keep going (you can't really blame them). So the friendly driver is puzzled as to why you are not going.

Another variation of this happens at a four-way stop. And I turned the tables, in a way, this morning. I pulled up to a four-way stop just after a car had reached it from the cross-street, to my left. I could see the car opposite me, which had arrived at the same time as me, was really itching to go. To jump the order and zip across the intersection from a rolling stop before the car on my left knew what was happening. This little game happens all the time.

So I looked at the driver to my left, and I waved my hand from left to right, saying you got here first, you go ahead. She nodded at me in thanks and started to go. The guy across the way had already started and he had to slam on his brakes. My expression of mock-surprise completed the tableau.

Um, fourwaystop?

This morning the traffic lights at the corner of Willingdon and Central in Burnaby were not functioning. They were unlit in all directions. I saw Skytrain Emergency Response Vans at both Patterson and Metrotown stations, maybe it was related to the skytrain. If the four way stop rule was being observed it was too subtle for me to notice.

I was standing there straddling my bicycle, near the sidewalk. Also waiting on the sidewalk was a woman with her little toddler, and a woman in an electric wheelchair. I think I was the first one to notice that the lights were out. I pointed this out to my companions as I got off my bicycle and joined them on the sidewalk.

I saw a break in the south-bound traffic so I cautiously pushed my bike out into the crosswalk. My companions followed me, and we crossed the street basically acting as each other's crossing guards. I'm not sure if the north-bound traffic would have stopped for just me; I was probably lucky to be accompanied by a mother-and-child and a woman in a wheelchair.

No left turn for you. Not yours.

Another bicycle commuting anecdote. This one is kind of funny and I promise that I didn't do it on purpose.

I was at 45th and Boundary, east-bound on 45th waiting to cross Boundary. I was looking north, trying to see if there was a break in the traffic. If there are only a few automobiles coming up the hill I will wait for them to pass before pressing the pedestrian-walk-button. Because I'm such a nice guy. Note however that if there is a mini-van in the group then I press the button immediately and repeatedly with a sneer on my face.

OK, so I'm watching south-bound traffic when I hear some honks from the north-bound traffic to my right. There's some dumbsh*t in a truck waiting in the left lane to turn left (that is, west) onto 45th avenue. This T-intersection is one of those ones that is "traffic-calmed" in such a way that right-turning cars may enter 45th, and cars turning right or left from 45th onto Boundary may do so. But left turns from Boundary onto 45th are prohibited. There is no sign; a sign would be redundant. You'd have to put your automobile through some elaborate contortions to accomplish such a left turn because of the shape of the concrete median.

Of course, if I hadn't been so considerate towards the south-bound traffic I would already have pressed the button, light would have gone yellow and this arsehole would have been hurtling down 45th avenue lickety-split, traffic-calming median be d*mned.

Looking back I don't know what I was thinking. When I saw the situation I reached for the traffic-control button; I guess I was feeling generous on this crisp Friday morning. I was willing to give this poor idiot a break. But it was too late. He gave up waiting. Quite thin-skinned, that one: just a couple of honks and he crumbled, probably simultaneously peeing his pants and pressing on the gas pedal to go straight through the intersection.

So there ya go, Vancouver. I inadvertently kept a weak-minded fancy-truck driver from speeding down a designated bikeway.

Recovery!

It has been ten months since my bicycle was stolen.

This morning at 9:00am I got a phone call from the Vancouver Police Department. The detective told me that he had some good news for me. I immediately said My bike!!1! Yes, it was about my bike. Someone had brought my Devinci bicycle into a pawn shop on Hastings street, near the Army and Navy store. Did I want it back?

Yes, I wanted it back. So about an hour and a half later it was delivered to me by the detective. He brought it over in the trunk of his car. Amazing.

The original cranks and pedals are on the bike; I can tell because I removed the reflector on one side of each pedal to install toe clips. The toe clips are gone. The original brakes are on the bike, I think; the MEC cartridge style pads that I had put on the bike just before it was stolen are there. My retractable basket is gone, but the rack is still there. The original rear wheel with original tire is on the bike. And a new, crappy wheel is on the front.

I still can't believe it. I tightened up the rear brake cable, and with a little air in the tires it would be ready to ride. So now I have three bicycles, which is just about the right number, for now.

If only that bike could talk. How many owners has it had? What crazy adventures has it been on for the past ten months?

Let's be careful out there

Vancouver Police Department Media Release

Off-Duty Police Officer Injured in Traffic Collision

2007-10-02

October 1, 2007, 8:00 pm An off-duty member of the VPD was cycling through the intersection of 10th and Highbury when he was struck by a car. The officer was thrown in the air and subsequently landed on the hood of the vehicle.

The officer suffered non life-threatening injuries and is expected to be released from hospital today.

"We find this increase in accidents because roads are slippery at this time of year," said VPD media spokesperson Howard Chow. "We ask pedestrians to take that extra time to cross the street. Motorists, slow down and give yourself time to get to where you have to go."

The police are currently interviewing witnesses to the incident.

I'm not sure the advice given by Howard Chow is helpful. Take that extra time to cross the street? You're better off looking both ways and then running across as fast as you can. That's what I do. Also notable is the lack of specific advice for cyclists.

Asking drivers to adjust their driving to accommodate weather conditions is cute.

High Five!

I encountered a good friend of mine on the way over the Cambie bridge this morning. We exchanged greetings as we approached each other (from opposite directions) and slapped hands as we passed each other.

A good way to get yourself killed

I was just leaving work yesterday, exiting the parking garage and waiting to turn right onto Central Blvd. I always turn into the left-hand lane because it becomes the through lane after a few blocks. All of the cars in the right-hand lane are going to turn right. It is much easier to ride in the left lane because it is difficult to change lanes on Central, especially if you are on a bicycle. People just don't like to let a bicycle in.

So, just as I turn onto Central, I hear from behind me That's a good way to get yourself killed! It was the driver of a car that was following me out of the parking garage. Of course my hackles immediately go up and I'm preparing to defend my right to exist. But I'm feeling reasonable so I respond quite simply with What do you mean? Summary of our conversation, which spanned two red-light waits at two intersections:

Him: Riding in that lane there, it's a good way to get yourself killed.

Me: Well, I ride here because it's hard to change lanes later. I've tried riding in the lane you're in and it's more dangerous.

H: I just think it's dangerous and you're going to get yourself killed.

M: Well, where should I ride then?

H: I'd prefer if you were over on that sidewalk.

M: (speechless, getting ready to defend my right to ride on the road)

H: Don't get me wrong, I'm just saying I think it's really dangerous.

M: Well, I'm going to keep riding, and riding safe.

Next Intersection:

H: You're still alive, eh?

M: Yep, still fine.

H: Don't get me wrong, I'm just saying, everyone I know who has ridden a bike has been hit by a car within two years. Drivers can't see you! Nobody can see you!

M: I know about the obliviousness problem. Believe me. I've been run into by cars before.

H: OK. I'm just saying, it's dangerous.

M: Uh, thanks.

H: Well, I'm glad we were able to talk!

M: Yes, me too. See you later.

Light goes green.

It was actually a pretty friendly conversation. Quite funny because we talked at two different intersections, side by side, waiting for the traffic light to change. I was expecting to be told to get off the road!! but the guy was apparently just concerned for my safety.

Here's what I think he was really saying, between the lines:

• I've done my best. I tried to warn this cyclist about riding in the street. The next time I see a cyclist get hit I'll shake my head ruefully and think I told you so.
• I don't ride a bike because I'm scared to ride it in traffic.

I am going to continue to ride in traffic. I don't think it's very dangerous. It's true that you have to pay attention and leave a large margin for motorist error. The few times I've had collisions or near-collisions were when I assumed that a driver would follow the rules of the road or act reasonably (tip: never assume that).

People will just have to get used to seeing me and other cyclists in the street. We're not going anywhere.