And I'm also curating the vomitorial stylings of a sick three year-old:
Which can only mean one thing...my training is in serious jeopardy!
Just kidding:
No, I'm not that far gone--though I do keep a training journal:
At this point however it's developing into a real "The Shining" situation:
Yeah, things are getting really creepy in my household:
I realize this is the sort of situation that drives people to Zwift, but last time I messed around with virtual reality things got weird fast:
Hey, we've all been there, right?
Speaking of cinema, you may recall that back in January this guy I know who used to race bikes invited me to a screening of the documentary, "Icarus," where my wife and I found ourselves in thrilling proximity to the back of Neil deGrasse Tyson's head:
Speaking of cinema, you may recall that back in January this guy I know who used to race bikes invited me to a screening of the documentary, "Icarus," where my wife and I found ourselves in thrilling proximity to the back of Neil deGrasse Tyson's head:
What can I say? It's just the sort of glamorous lifestyle we lead.
Anyway, the venerable and esteemed commenter Leroy's Dog informs me that the attorney who represents Russian doping doctor Grigory Rodchenkov in the film, one Jim Walden, Esq.:
(Not Jim Walden, that's the 1-800-LAWYERS guy. I'm afraid if I use a photo of Jim Walden he'll send me one of those "Seasoned Insist" letters...though now I'll probably get sued by Mustache Guy.)
Is the very same lawyer who represented the NIMBY alliance who attempted to litigate the Prospect Park West bike lane in Brooklyn out of existence:
Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes — which includes Schumer’s wife, the former Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall, and former Sanitation Commissioner Norman Steisel — says it “plans to file suit” over a cycle path that it says was installed based on incorrect information by an agency that intentionally ignored the facts.
And here’s where the plot thickens: The group’s pro-bono attorney is none other than Schumer campaign contributor Jim Walden, whose name was tossed around in 2009 as a possible U.S. Attorney, though the job ultimately went to another Schumer ally.
He also offered to help Community Board 8 on the Upper East Side fight the Queensboro Bridge bike lane project:
Jim Walden, who has long fought the Prospect Park West bike lane on behalf of opponents, sent an e-mail to Community Board 8 offering assistance.
UPPER EAST SIDE — Days after the city announced plans to bolster bicycle paths near the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, the lawyer representing opponents of the controversial Prospect Park West bike lane offered to help Upper East Side locals opposed to the proposal.
Jim Walden, who represents "two community groups opposed to the two-way, parking protected bike lane on Prospect Park West in Brooklyn" pro bono, fired off an e-mail to members of Community Board 8 offering assistance, DNAinfo.com New York has learned.
And he even bravely represented some more NIMBYs in SoHo in their lawsuit to fight the installation of a Citi Bike rack.
Now, I won't call him a giant oily douche because that's no doubt slander or defamation of character or some other term I've seen used in the movies (it's definitely slander against douches, anyway), but is it admissible to call him an alleged giant oily douche?
Just asking.
Anyway, with Icarus having one the Academic Award in a weird way I suppose something or other has come full circle.
Finally, here's your Right Hook of the Day:
It's always "I didn't see you," isn't it?
52 comments:
To be fair, I didn't see the cyclist either until they were in frame.
Aww, the snow ain't that bad.
I’ll say it for you: Jim Walden is a giant douche nozzle.
Podium?
Ahh! No turning signal. No advance warning rightward movement. That sucks.
word
top tinnitus?
As the T-shirt says:
"Don't say you didn't see the bicycle, say you didn't look for the bicycle."
I hope that guy is okay.
Where am I?
That cyclist is in a bike commute lane. It is NOT the freaking 53/11 TT lane. I always look to my right for Freds setting Strava records. Who doesn't?
i clearly heard the deadly assault weapon operator yell "on your left" before ridding us of another two-wheeled terrorist.
also think it's a psa for for healment use.
i know it's a fox paw to say so but i wear my helment every time i venture out. maybe it's different in the apple but very few bieking lanes here, lots of times no shoulders and the speed limits to the two closest grocery stores range from 40-55. the limit in front of my house is 45 with no shoulder. you're probably right that none of this will save me from one of F-550s careening down my road (they laugh at 150 & 250 drivers around here) but i feel a little better wearing it.
I see what you did there...
Not forgiving the driver, because he should have signaled, But even if he'd looked/checked his mirrors, he might have missed the E-bike rider screaming up behind him. If you're gonna ride your E-bike that fast you would probably be safer to ride in traffic; Of course I don't know what his local ordinances are, because I don't know where he is, but the driver had what sounded like a Jersey accent? Hard to pick up in the video, but although the driver didn't signal, but he did slow significantly prior to turning and an experienced cyclist would have picked up on that and slowed down. Too many rookies out there.
I saw your NYX article on the South African triathlete.holy smokes! The first commenter on the birdy site...ass.
Anonymous 4:32pm,
He definitely looked like he was going too fast.
--Wildcat Etc.
I am just more comfortable not passing cars on the right. Drivers never imagine how fast a bike can go. Even if they think about it because they saw you a ways back they figure they are well ahead and can turn right without looking. Of course most won't even think about it. I know I am generalizing but relying on others to look out for you doesn't seem to be a good bet. I am not blaming the victim. I just don't want to be one.
The police seemed to arrive quickly however them sirens were most likely for a shooting somewhere. Snow riding is the best riding. I’m still stuporing like a messenger.
Electric bike in the bike lane, passing cars on the right side. I don't know - I think the rider bears at least some blame here.
Very few drivers, even those with huge amounts of riding experience, are expecting an electric motorcycle to come screaming up the bike lane on the right at 20+ MPH. Passing on the right is dangerous enough in a car. Passing the right on an electric motorcycle, in a bike lane, is outright irresponsible.
I haven't seen Icarus yet, but my dog informs me that Mr. Walden has a standing offer to collect his urine in the PPW bike lane.
Anything for science.
pro (as in professional) boner
The 1800 Lawyer guy was a semi-frequent customer at the bike shop I worked at, he was nice enough and respectful enough of even lowly bike shop employees. Unfortunate that Senator Schumer's family is proving how out of touch they are, I still like Chuck, give him a break, he's old and uncool. I aspire to someday be a giant, oily douche but have thus far only managed to be an average level douchebag : ). Hope Snobbies human child feels better soon!
It's so bizarre to me that a cyclist who is in the damn bike lane is getting more shade here from cyclists than the guy driving the car who changed lanes on top of him without signaling at all and who didn't even apply the brakes until right before he swerved across the bike lane.
Wow.
Motorist should have signaled and merged. No vehicle—cyclist in this case—should ever pass on the right.
This appears to be the consensus on this thread. I only mention it again because all of this is vehicular cycling orthodoxy. It's plainly true in this case, and Bike Snob is misdirecting us with his complaint that the motorist didn't look—which is the least useful thing to say about this eminently preventable accident.
I can’t figure it out Spokey. Is New Jersey getting Alabamified, or are we turning into New Jersey! We’ve got a shore, the roads have no shoulders, much less bike lanes, the Super Duty or Suburban rules, and the cyclist is treated like public enemy #1. The last time I got right hooked was by an SUV bearing New York plates, no less. The right hook I was prepared for, but I did a double take on the NY plates. Lol.
Scott B.,
I'd argue that the fact motorists often don't look or signal when turning is perhaps the most useful thing to say here.
--Wildcat Etc.
I commute on my fat-e-bike here in Denver and that dude was hauling ass and basically set himself up for what happened but had no warning from a signal. Equal blame I'd say.
I was just ridin’ along Dude meets Mr. didn’t see ya man.
I would agree with you re passing in the right if the cyclist was in a driving lane, but he wasn't. He was in a bike lane.
Regardless, it is ALWAYS the vehicle that is changing lanes that is culpable for a collision.
Sorry I'm late - I didn't see you.
And Paris really doesn't understand Freds - subsidy only covers one bike? (I was wondering if the Porn Star Fucker took away the $20 per month bike crumbs - thanks for the confirmation)
I meant your link to the NYX article on the birdy site.
Contributory douchebaggyness on both sides, but that car looks like it would’ve taken out a Citibike tourist going 6 mph too.
Hope your kid is better soon, keep an eye on him if it’s the flu!
Are you as new to cycling as you are to driving? How do you merge into a parking lot?
Sorry, I am not going to defend the cyclist; just because he's a cyclist. If we have a problem with advocacy; that's part of it, assuming the cyclist is always right and the drivers are always wrong. I think until It pointed it out, most people did not realize that he was on an E-bike and or that he was going quite fast!You know reasonably I put myself in both persons situations before I judge. Easy for me to be the cyclist, but put yourself in the drivers shoes for a sec. most drivers are not aware of E-bikes and/or just how fast they are; you pass some guy on what looks like a Mountain bike, you are not expecting him to be going 20+MPH and right on your ass 125 yards later. If you pass a Fred haulin ass on his Crabon Fiber bike you are probably going be more aware of the possibility that you didn't drop him immediately, but a nerd on a grocery getter? I'd like to say I wouldn't be either guy, because I always signal and I am experienced on a bike in traffic, but as other's have said there's equal blame to go round. Sadly, I guess it's shit like this that has NYC coming down on Snobby's Food delivery guys. -Mas
Didn't even realize I came in first.
What a bad post to podium.
I hope I'm not going fast enough to get right hooked...
Holy shit. The Shining, Altered States, AND a horrifying right hook. All in one blogotorial entry.
Sweet dreams tonight.
Sure the guy on the E-bike was going fast. Lots of fit cyclists go just as fast without the motor assist. The car passed him and should have kept an eye out for him. That's it. The guy on the E-bike seemed to have no instincts whatsoever. Most seasoned cyclists would have at least been a little wary of the driver.
You merge into a parking lot by putting your signal on and shoulder checking to make sure you don't cut off people in the lane to your right.
This is a perfect example of how to spend extra money to get a shitty outcome.
The bike lane should be on the other side of the lovely wide green strip. The way it's laid out, accidents are inevitable.
The bike is flying up through the drivers blind spot. Yes the driver is a fault, but who gets hurt? If the bike lane is on the other side, of the trees, the driver has turned far enough to have the bike within his peripheral vision, and the bike rider has a lot more warning as to what the driver with the broken indicator is doing.
Also, if you make the bike lane near the footpath ( sidewalk for you Americans ) it's cheaper to build as you don't need the 3' of crushed and tamped gravel underneath to support motor vehicle traffic. Which makes the whole thing cheaper too boot.
This type of accident will continue to happen until the changes above are made. Bitching about shitty drivers may be cathartic, but will NOT solve the problem. Moving the path will eliminate most of these incidents.
I got my right hook last year by a trucktard talking on his cell phone. I was in the bike lane, chugging along on my commuter bike. Then all of a sudden there was a bumper and BANG! I'm face first in the road toppings. Next thing I hear is "I didn't see you, man". They must teach the motorist to say that in "driving school".
Hope "stewie" is feeling better.it'll be heck picking up after the other sixteen.
I'm an avid commuter and racer and a very, very cautious driver. The last time I drove in NYC I almost hit a cyclist at night on a narrow 2-way road w/o a bike lane. While pulling over to parallel park, I signaled, checked my mirrors and over my shoulder. A cyclist with no lights passed on the right between myself and the row of cars, and even though I was actively looking and driving slowly I didn't see her until she was very close, and only just managed to correct my line to give her room.
Any approach to safety should be based on Swiss cheese theory - because each layer of security has holes you need many layers that complement eachother. The more layers you have the less likely for the holes to line up. Good bike handling/traffic skills, lights, attentiveness, and good road design are all important and they are all imperfect. In this case the only layer that caught her from being hit was my attentiveness.
Passing by bike on the right is legal in Massachusetts where I am riding most of the time. But if I pass on the right, I take a lot of care when doings so and if traffic is that slow often merge into the same travel lane as the car to avoid EXACTLY that problem, and guess what? It works REALLY well.
Oh, but that's vehicular cycling, and I must be "pretending I'm a car" when I do it.
That's usually the hardest part. I've never actually achieved it when riding my bike.
I always just keep believing I'm riding my bike in traffic according the the rules of the system.
SO mostly, yes... expect the Spanish Inquisition to be operating motor vehicles just ahead of you and leave room for an escape and anticipate to some extent what stupid things they may do. When in doubt, just back off until you think their driving is stable.
Moving the path right of the bike lane puts you in the same situation, but with less legal protection, Anonymous 12:55. Even if you have glass trees, it is sidewalk riding across driveway entrances that are a significant source of crashes.
I do think motorist training and bicyclist training AND enforcement will help a little. But police unions don't want that nor do most motorists want their responsibilities to be met by their behavior. It's too hard! It may increase their insurance because how can ANYBODY pay attention while driving these days?
Those diver's bangsticks could be handy on the road.
STG,
So basically you were doing what you were supposed to be doing and as a result didn't hit somebody.
--Wildcat Etc.
Ride like you are invisible
Ps - Snob - I didn't see you in the transalt Congo line pic?
As long as we have an US Vs. Them Mentality it's always going to be a struggle; I've come to realize that we need to have more of a collaborative attitude. "You work with me & I'll work with you" make yourself visible and your intentions clear.
I avoid situations like this many times by having a decently bright Dynamo light on at ALL times on the front of my bike or at very least a bright blinky. Obnoxious, but effective. Mas
Wildcat, my point is that even though I was -actively looking- for and anticipating a cyclist passing on the right, it was still difficult to -see- her. For someone who almost always rides a bike it was alarming how she was totally concealed by other headlights, C and B pillars. I've started riding with a 700 lumen headlight at all times (especially when riding fast on my road bike) and its made a huge reduction in cars turning or merging into me. Visibility is your first best defense. I only remove the light for racing to reduce sharp edges.
Sean
STG,
Yes, I get what you were saying and of course you should always use lights at night but bottom line is you were driving carefully in a dense urban environment and were able to avoid hitting her.
--Wildcat Etc.
Cars expect bikes to go slower on flat ground, for an ebike to be going faster than moving cars is a problem for everyone. If youre doing 30+mph on an ebike and passing cars you shouldn't be in the bike lane. Bikes riding at motorcycle speeds in a bike lane is stupid and it gives you no room for error which we need, since cyclists are always going to be threatened by a right hook.
It is Jim Walden. Thanks for the shout out. ;). I love bikers and most bike lanes!
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