Admittedly, I'm not in the best of moods as I type this* so I may come off a bit pissier than I should. Despite that, I really do have a problem with California's new cellphone driving laws and I wanted to rant about'em right quick.
From what I understand, the law, which goes into effect today, July 1, 2008, has two main parts:
1) Driving while holding a mobile phone will result in a traffic ticket. Using a hands-free device (like a wired or Bluetooth headset) is a legal alternative.
2) Drivers under the age of eighteen are not allowed to use the phone while driving, at all - with or without a hands-free device.
I've got a big problem with both of these for reasons which I'd think would be obvious, but maybe not. One of the crafters of this law said that the same cellphone companies that tell their customers not to talk and drive also oppose this law. I don't think that's so hard to understand.
It's one thing to make a suggestion or even to warn someone, but it's quite another to make a law to limit their freedom to accept that suggestion. I've got a big problem with police pulling people over, ticketing them, fining them, or worse because they held a cellphone (without driving recklessly) instead of biting a cheeseburger, putting on make-up, or scolding their kids.
The cops say that they can also cite you for doing those things. Then, if you want, they can argue in court about it.
I'm annoyed by idiotic drivers on the regular, but I'd rather they be ticketed for doing something that results in an accident or accidental behavior - not because
It's estimated that this law will decrease the number of Californian traffic deaths or something by 300 - a 7% reduction. Yet I believe Schwarzenegger said it was the number one cause of traffic accidents. I caught most of this on the radio this morning, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. The point is that what I heard didn't seem to add up, although I guess I'd still have a problem with the situation even if it did.
I acknowledge, though, that it's hard to know when to make a law that restricts freedoms, but will probably help some people - even save lives. In this case, I'd love for the end-result to occur, but I do not want to be legislated to death.
And I really don't want the day to come when I'm pulled over because my phone alerted me that it was my Mom's birthday or something.
* - Among the reasons for this pissy mood is the fact that my lady's road bike was just stolen.
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wipe Out
Hi. I wiped out on my bike, luckily only messing up my right hand (seen above) and wrist. Unfortunately, that means I'm typing pretty slowly these days. Luckily my girlfriend is kind enough to type this for me, so we'll keep this quick.... or not
I was on my way home from buying a Sock It To Me cake,... on a bright and sunny, very dry afternoon and my bike slipped out from under me. There was no puddle of water or oil or anything else anywhere to be seen. As I went down, I must have put my hand down to stop and protect myself, but instead I slid... on my hand and hip. Although I scraped up my hand and sprained my wrist (which is in a sling), my head never hit the ground... not because I was wearing a helmet (which I wasn't), but because of my Bizarro-Fred Flintstone breaking style.
As I was still sliding to a stop I remember calmly thinking, "Damn. I'm getting fucked up."
By the way if you'd like to see how far I slid, take a look at the white groove my pedal left in the street (pictured below).
As soon as I came to a stop, a guy who witnessed the whole embarrassing episode ran over to me, at top speed, to help me and my bike get vertical, again. I must admit, though, that my feelings bounced back and forth between gratitude and suspicion - just in case ol' boy saw that as an opportunity to do more than offer a little help.
He was very considerate, though, and I jumped my embarrassed ass up, grabbed the pieces of my now-damaged, but still functional tail-light, thanked him for his help, and said, "Well, I've been biking for a while, now. I guess I had to wipe out, eventually," before jumping BACK on my bike and hauling wounded ass. I left my pride back there on the street, though - what little was left of it.
Since then, I've washed & disinfected my scrapes, purchased a sling, unsuccessfully searched for my wrist guard, and alternated between protecting my swollen, very sore wrist at all costs and trying to use it to keep it from getting too stiff.
I'm typing, again, at the moment, but I'm going to put my arm back in the sling and back on-ice in just a minute.
I guess that's that. I hope I'm not leaving anything out.
Thanks.
EDIT: Please post any questions here and I'll try to answer them as best as I can. By posting questions and answers here, that will save me some typing (i.e. discomfort) later on.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Biking Shorts - Part 4
Drive-by.
In fact, a funny thing happened along the way back from the flea market. Before crossing a street in a residential area, I made sure to make eye-contact with the driver of a red truck that was approaching the same intersection.
Despite the fact that I had the "right of way," I wasn't crossing in front of this Sanford & Son special until I knew the driver recognized my "right" and my "way."
She nodded and I continued on.
Along the way, I noticed that a vehicle was approaching me, very slowly, from behind. This wasn't too unusual since many drivers go WAY out of their way to make sure they're not going to hit bikers and pedestrians. This time, though, the driver pulled alongside me, with her window down. It was the same red truck from before.
"You wanna put that bike in the back of my truck," she asked. I guessed this was her way of taking pity on a novice cyclist, but offering me a ride home.
"Hehe. No, thanks. I'm good," I replied.
"You just doing that for exercise?"
That was close enough to the truth, so I responded, "Yep."
"Mmm. Well you sho' are lookin' GOOD," she said, as she stared at me through her good eye.
I laughed and thanked her, then she drove off.
Along with the exhilaration of the ride and the surprising beauty of a few hidden scenic areas, her compliment made my "little" trek that much cooler.*
Not a bad start.
Click below to skip to:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
* But the LAST thing I was expecting was for ANYbody to "holla" at my sweaty, inappropriately-dressed (tank and jeans), wobbly-ridin' behind. :-p
In fact, a funny thing happened along the way back from the flea market. Before crossing a street in a residential area, I made sure to make eye-contact with the driver of a red truck that was approaching the same intersection.
Despite the fact that I had the "right of way," I wasn't crossing in front of this Sanford & Son special until I knew the driver recognized my "right" and my "way."
She nodded and I continued on.
Along the way, I noticed that a vehicle was approaching me, very slowly, from behind. This wasn't too unusual since many drivers go WAY out of their way to make sure they're not going to hit bikers and pedestrians. This time, though, the driver pulled alongside me, with her window down. It was the same red truck from before.
"You wanna put that bike in the back of my truck," she asked. I guessed this was her way of taking pity on a novice cyclist, but offering me a ride home.
"Hehe. No, thanks. I'm good," I replied.
"You just doing that for exercise?"
That was close enough to the truth, so I responded, "Yep."
"Mmm. Well you sho' are lookin' GOOD," she said, as she stared at me through her good eye.
I laughed and thanked her, then she drove off.
Along with the exhilaration of the ride and the surprising beauty of a few hidden scenic areas, her compliment made my "little" trek that much cooler.*
Not a bad start.
Click below to skip to:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
* But the LAST thing I was expecting was for ANYbody to "holla" at my sweaty, inappropriately-dressed (tank and jeans), wobbly-ridin' behind. :-p
Biking Shorts - Part 3
So, I've gone on about how much I've enjoyed biking around town. Below, I address one or two of the down-sides.
The Need For Speed
The main complaint I'd share, besides how frustrating pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow can be, is how long it takes (and how hard it can be) to get from point A to point B. I'd like to make it to and from class more quickly, but my bike wasn't made or chosen for it's speed.
Besides, there was no point in choosing anything much fancier until I 1) knew I was gonna stick with this thing for the long haul and 2) knew what it was that I wanted and needed out of a bike.
So after a couple of months, I decided that, while I'll still ride Trusty Rusty (mostly a joke name, as it's pretty "chromey") on leisurely rides around the neighborhood, for my serious commutes and longer distances, I wanted something that could coast farther and go faster.
I've looked at models from $700 to $130. In the end, I went to the flea market, more or less on a whim, and found a used, ten-speed (oddly enough ol' "Trusty" is actually a 15-speed) that fit the bill. It cost a heckuva lot less than $130 and even has a few "extras."
Whim and Vigor.
Now, I picked up this particular model on a whim, like I said, which meant that we didn't bring the bike rack with us to transport the bike back home. Not only that, but to be quite blunt, a big reason why I didn't want one of those Need for Speed (N4S) bikes, in the first place, was because they are some serious nutcrackers.*
The guy selling the bike didn't have his tools with him, so I couldn't adjust or replace that hard seat. So, riding the bike home didn't seem like a great plan. We didn't have the bike rack with us, so that was out. What were we to do?
Asian sensation. We went to the "dollar store" booth around the way, bought a small set of Allen wrenches for a buck, negotiated a smaller price for the bike, adjusted the seat, and went on our way.
After taking some time to convince my girlfriend that I'd be safe, she reluctantly agreed to leave me to ride the bike the 6.4 miles back home while she drove the car, grabbed some food, and picked up some grocery items.
To my surprise, 40 minutes later, I was home. The ride was a little scary since I'm still a beginner and riding on the road requires a good deal of caution, but the seat adjustment made a huge difference and I took all the back roads I could find. My gps software (more on that later, too) kept me going in the right direction, so all was well.
It was one helluvan experience.
After this weekend, I don't feel like there's any part of town that's unavailable to me by bicycle (not that Tally's some huge metropolis). The possibilities seem to be endless.
Click below to skip to...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4
* There ain't nuttin' nice about that hard ass, narrow seat, with the pointy black penis on the end, molestin' the hell outta your bits n pieces on a long trip back from wherever the hell!
The Need For Speed
The main complaint I'd share, besides how frustrating pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow can be, is how long it takes (and how hard it can be) to get from point A to point B. I'd like to make it to and from class more quickly, but my bike wasn't made or chosen for it's speed.
Besides, there was no point in choosing anything much fancier until I 1) knew I was gonna stick with this thing for the long haul and 2) knew what it was that I wanted and needed out of a bike.
So after a couple of months, I decided that, while I'll still ride Trusty Rusty (mostly a joke name, as it's pretty "chromey") on leisurely rides around the neighborhood, for my serious commutes and longer distances, I wanted something that could coast farther and go faster.
I've looked at models from $700 to $130. In the end, I went to the flea market, more or less on a whim, and found a used, ten-speed (oddly enough ol' "Trusty" is actually a 15-speed) that fit the bill. It cost a heckuva lot less than $130 and even has a few "extras."
Whim and Vigor.
Now, I picked up this particular model on a whim, like I said, which meant that we didn't bring the bike rack with us to transport the bike back home. Not only that, but to be quite blunt, a big reason why I didn't want one of those Need for Speed (N4S) bikes, in the first place, was because they are some serious nutcrackers.*
The guy selling the bike didn't have his tools with him, so I couldn't adjust or replace that hard seat. So, riding the bike home didn't seem like a great plan. We didn't have the bike rack with us, so that was out. What were we to do?
Asian sensation. We went to the "dollar store" booth around the way, bought a small set of Allen wrenches for a buck, negotiated a smaller price for the bike, adjusted the seat, and went on our way.
After taking some time to convince my girlfriend that I'd be safe, she reluctantly agreed to leave me to ride the bike the 6.4 miles back home while she drove the car, grabbed some food, and picked up some grocery items.
To my surprise, 40 minutes later, I was home. The ride was a little scary since I'm still a beginner and riding on the road requires a good deal of caution, but the seat adjustment made a huge difference and I took all the back roads I could find. My gps software (more on that later, too) kept me going in the right direction, so all was well.
It was one helluvan experience.
After this weekend, I don't feel like there's any part of town that's unavailable to me by bicycle (not that Tally's some huge metropolis). The possibilities seem to be endless.
Click below to skip to...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4
* There ain't nuttin' nice about that hard ass, narrow seat, with the pointy black penis on the end, molestin' the hell outta your bits n pieces on a long trip back from wherever the hell!
Biking Shorts - Part 2
So, I've been biking around like a madman, these past couple of months.
After years or trial-and-error, trying to find a bicycle that felt right and worked well, I learned, the hard way, that not all bikes are created equal. Having finally found one that worked for me, I was all too happy to ride around the neighborhood, hit the paved biking trails, peddle to the bus stop (which I sometimes take to class), and, eventually, to bike the 6 miles or so (round-trip) to and from class.
Tallahassee's got hills for DAYS, but somehow my screaming thigh muscles weren't deterrents. I mean, it's true that money's tighter than it's been in some time, but I don't really HAVE to bike back and forth to class. I could drive or I could walk to the bus stop and ride for free.
Instead, I set up my audio entertainment*, set up my gear**, and hit the road. I feel like I'm doing a good thing. Really.
A recent podcast I listened to was about fuel-efficient cars - hybrids, etc. - and how that's a good thing for the environment and for decreasing our dependence on oil, but an even better way is to carpool or catch the bus or walk... or bike your way around.
I guess that makes sense. If biking, for instance, allows you to only drive half as much as you used to, you've effectively doubled your gas mileage - depending on how you look at it. In my case, I drive a day out of the average week. In fact, I drive so little that I feel strange behind the wheel, these days.
Besides feeling like I'm wasting fossil fuels and contributing to global warming, I just feel like a huge target for police officers who've GOT to find SOME reason to pull me over (despite the fact that I'm the slowest driver you'd never want to meet on the highway).
So, I'm helping the environment, reducing the chances that I'll get a traffic ticket, decreasing my auto insurance rates by driving less, saving gas money (I estimate that a half-hour, round-trip commute costs about $3 per trip on a good day), and keeping myself healthy.
And, honestly, it's just plain ol' FUN.
Click below to skip to...
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
* - usually, streaming NPR programming through my Treo smartphone and listening to it wirelessly through my stereo Bluetooth headphones. More on those at a later date. You know I'm way overdue for some tech ranting. :-)
** - Tallahassee weather (hell, this whole region's weather) is moody as can be, so layers are key.
After years or trial-and-error, trying to find a bicycle that felt right and worked well, I learned, the hard way, that not all bikes are created equal. Having finally found one that worked for me, I was all too happy to ride around the neighborhood, hit the paved biking trails, peddle to the bus stop (which I sometimes take to class), and, eventually, to bike the 6 miles or so (round-trip) to and from class.
Tallahassee's got hills for DAYS, but somehow my screaming thigh muscles weren't deterrents. I mean, it's true that money's tighter than it's been in some time, but I don't really HAVE to bike back and forth to class. I could drive or I could walk to the bus stop and ride for free.
Instead, I set up my audio entertainment*, set up my gear**, and hit the road. I feel like I'm doing a good thing. Really.
A recent podcast I listened to was about fuel-efficient cars - hybrids, etc. - and how that's a good thing for the environment and for decreasing our dependence on oil, but an even better way is to carpool or catch the bus or walk... or bike your way around.
I guess that makes sense. If biking, for instance, allows you to only drive half as much as you used to, you've effectively doubled your gas mileage - depending on how you look at it. In my case, I drive a day out of the average week. In fact, I drive so little that I feel strange behind the wheel, these days.
Besides feeling like I'm wasting fossil fuels and contributing to global warming, I just feel like a huge target for police officers who've GOT to find SOME reason to pull me over (despite the fact that I'm the slowest driver you'd never want to meet on the highway).
So, I'm helping the environment, reducing the chances that I'll get a traffic ticket, decreasing my auto insurance rates by driving less, saving gas money (I estimate that a half-hour, round-trip commute costs about $3 per trip on a good day), and keeping myself healthy.
And, honestly, it's just plain ol' FUN.
Click below to skip to...
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
* - usually, streaming NPR programming through my Treo smartphone and listening to it wirelessly through my stereo Bluetooth headphones. More on those at a later date. You know I'm way overdue for some tech ranting. :-)
** - Tallahassee weather (hell, this whole region's weather) is moody as can be, so layers are key.
Biking Shorts - Part 1
I thought I'd drop a couple of short posts about my primary mode of transportation, these days, and a little about how it's changed me.
I got a brand-new bicycle (just be)for Christmas. It was all shiny and unspoiled.
I took it back within a couple of weeks.
We saw a local thrift store advertising discounted bikes. That's where I found a 20-year-old "hoopty"*** of a bike with a steel frame and high handle bars. Love at first sight.
I took it home that day.
It's funny that shiny and new didn't offer what *I* needed. It didn't coast far enough or "handle" high enough for my comfort. I wasn't looking for a speed demon. I was looking for a nice, comfortable bike to cruise around the neighborhood, get a little exercise, and maybe save gas money, along with the Earth.
Higher handle bars were easier on my back. I wasn't worried about wind resistance. I was worried about bone-itis*.
So infatuated with my new ride was I that, when I packed for my Christmas trip to see the family, I packed the bike, too.
You ain't seen NUFFIN' 'til you done seent a grown-ass Black man riding high on a old-ass comfort bike, with a big o' basket on the back, and a big-ass grin on his face. I was happy as could be, riding alongside all the kids with their brand-new, shiny Christmas bikes.
It was just what I wanted and (with some adjustments) it fit me to a "T." I'm sure I looked some kinda "special" cheesing my way down the street, back and forth to class, and even to the store, on ol' Trusty Rusty, but I couldn't give a damn.
Yes, my bike's got "battle scars" but that's all right. I am (and my legs muscles, especially are) gettin' fit again**, so it's all good.
No complaints. Well, maybe one, but that's for another post.
Click below to skip to:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
* a lil nod to the Futurama fans out there.
** I ain't TRYIN' to get a juicy in my old age!
*** - Actually, it's got something of a beach cruiser body style. Not quite as dorky as this, but close enough. Dorkily comfortable.
I got a brand-new bicycle (just be)for Christmas. It was all shiny and unspoiled.
I took it back within a couple of weeks.
We saw a local thrift store advertising discounted bikes. That's where I found a 20-year-old "hoopty"*** of a bike with a steel frame and high handle bars. Love at first sight.
I took it home that day.
It's funny that shiny and new didn't offer what *I* needed. It didn't coast far enough or "handle" high enough for my comfort. I wasn't looking for a speed demon. I was looking for a nice, comfortable bike to cruise around the neighborhood, get a little exercise, and maybe save gas money, along with the Earth.
Higher handle bars were easier on my back. I wasn't worried about wind resistance. I was worried about bone-itis*.
So infatuated with my new ride was I that, when I packed for my Christmas trip to see the family, I packed the bike, too.
You ain't seen NUFFIN' 'til you done seent a grown-ass Black man riding high on a old-ass comfort bike, with a big o' basket on the back, and a big-ass grin on his face. I was happy as could be, riding alongside all the kids with their brand-new, shiny Christmas bikes.
It was just what I wanted and (with some adjustments) it fit me to a "T." I'm sure I looked some kinda "special" cheesing my way down the street, back and forth to class, and even to the store, on ol' Trusty Rusty, but I couldn't give a damn.
Yes, my bike's got "battle scars" but that's all right. I am (and my legs muscles, especially are) gettin' fit again**, so it's all good.
No complaints. Well, maybe one, but that's for another post.
Click below to skip to:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
* a lil nod to the Futurama fans out there.
** I ain't TRYIN' to get a juicy in my old age!
*** - Actually, it's got something of a beach cruiser body style. Not quite as dorky as this, but close enough. Dorkily comfortable.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Hit It and Quit It
This was some holiday break. So much happened, it's hard to know where to begin. I guess I'll just start with something random.
Let's begin with "traffic."
My mother and I were on our way to my little cousin's birthday party when we saw emergency vehicles in the distance. Obviously, we don't wish anything bad on anyone else, but we were really hoping it wasn't a member of our family. As we approached, we noticed that none of the cars were familiar, so we breathed a sigh of relief. Until...
I saw my aunt's forehead. And my uncle's face. Some other family members.
Damn.
Apparently, this three-car accident was caused by a driver who ran three successive traffic lights, crashed into a second car, sending two people to the hospital, and causing the second car to hit my aunt and uncle's car.
One car received a face-lift and the other a full about-face. Scary.
Luckily, my family was fine. The car they'd just purchased two days earlier? Not so much.
Frig.
To top it all off, the offending vehicle's male driver and female passenger grabbed their baby, exited the vehicle, and hauled the requisite amount of ass.
They left so quickly that they forgot their mobile phone.
I don't know what the hell kinda illegal crap caused them to drive so recklessly or leave the scene of an accident, but I'm almost afraid to find out.
Last I heard, the cops were still combing the surrounding area. Meanwhile, my aunt and uncle have parked their now no-longer-road-worthy vehicle.
Happy Day After Thanksgiving.
Let's begin with "traffic."
My mother and I were on our way to my little cousin's birthday party when we saw emergency vehicles in the distance. Obviously, we don't wish anything bad on anyone else, but we were really hoping it wasn't a member of our family. As we approached, we noticed that none of the cars were familiar, so we breathed a sigh of relief. Until...
I saw my aunt's forehead. And my uncle's face. Some other family members.
Damn.
Apparently, this three-car accident was caused by a driver who ran three successive traffic lights, crashed into a second car, sending two people to the hospital, and causing the second car to hit my aunt and uncle's car.
One car received a face-lift and the other a full about-face. Scary.
Luckily, my family was fine. The car they'd just purchased two days earlier? Not so much.
Frig.
To top it all off, the offending vehicle's male driver and female passenger grabbed their baby, exited the vehicle, and hauled the requisite amount of ass.
They left so quickly that they forgot their mobile phone.
I don't know what the hell kinda illegal crap caused them to drive so recklessly or leave the scene of an accident, but I'm almost afraid to find out.
Last I heard, the cops were still combing the surrounding area. Meanwhile, my aunt and uncle have parked their now no-longer-road-worthy vehicle.
Happy Day After Thanksgiving.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Pimp My Bike
Sadly, it looks like a pimp already got hold of this bike.
Why would anyone rob this poor motorcycle of its dignity like this?
By the way, the fur looks much worse in-person.
But maybe it's just me. Anybody out there actually diggin' this moto-look?
But maybe it's just me. Anybody out there actually diggin' this moto-look?
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