Njord Noatun:

Njord Noatun:

billd:I was thinking that sign would make a great jersey.

Now that's a great idea (if you were referring to the above)! I found a full-resolution, over-size graphic here - now where do I go to get a good quality T-shirt made with this graphic?

Edit: Group order, anyone?

Yeah, that's the sign I meant. I'm in for an XL-tee, though I think a jersey would be even better.

OK - we'll take group orders for this one. In order to give this venture a little more coverage, I will create a new thread for it: All "C.V.C 21202 T-Shirt" discussions will be moved there from now on.

The order will be for a 100% cotton white T-shirt, which is a little simpler (and cheaper!) than a Merino grade Woolistic jersey. If somebody else wants spearhead a separate jersey order, however, go ahead.

that looks like fun. i like how Portland takes a parking spot and fills it with bike racks. i've seen 20 bikes in a space a car takes.

This is an excellent thread.

I'm glad that I finally have time to become involved w/ it and to engage in dialogue w/ the many progressive-minded contributors who seem to frequent SD Bike Commuter.

The above comment, for example, is very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Njord.

If SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) spent the same amount of money on bicycle-freeways as they do on automobile-only freeways, there would be a significant increase in cycling ridership. Based on a guest presentation made by a representative of SANDAG in my Land Use Planning course up at at UCSD last year, approximately 2.5% (based on my memory) of SANDAG's annual transportation-projects budget is designated for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Perhaps that's why only .3% (that's point three) of all commuters in SD are bike commuters (Source: SANDAG Transportation Model, 2006). In a more equal society, bicycling-project budgets will be nearly identical to automobile-project budgets.

What will this take? Perhaps, in 2050, when San Diego's climate will be hotter and drier (1.5 to 4.5 degrees warmer w/ even higher peaks in the summer), when sea level will be 12-18 inches higher, when water shortage will become even more severe, when wildfires will be more frequent and intense, and when public health will be at risk (especially among elderly and children) planners, developers, "traffic" engineers, and politicians w/in SD and beyond will wish they had invested more graciously (i.e. equally) in infrastructure for sustainable zero-emissions transportation. Future generations will wish those people had, too.

We can't wait until then. We need to act sooner.

(For more info on how global warming climate change will impact SD, read the new highly-scientific study called Focus 2050: San Diego's Changing Climate directed by The San Diego Foundation and in cooperation w/ UCSD, SIO, and more).

(Also, while we're talking about global warming, did you know that approximately 50% of San Diego's Greenhouse Gas emissions sources are from automobiles? Read University of San Diego's EPIC Report for more).

When it comes to transportation, every cyclist should be proud that they are a living climate solution.

What drove (errr, not the best word, I suppose) me here on this particular night has to do w/ an event I'm helping to coordinate. The event is a San Diego Critical Mass Coffeeshop Discussion. Ideally, the subject matter will be mostly focused on ideas pertinent to keeping SDCM positive and purposeful. The discussion is tomorrow (Monday night) @ 7pm, right next to Velo Cult, at Rebecca's Coffeeshop in South Park. I do realize that this is sort of last minute, but I figure something is better than nothing.

Thanks for putting the flier together Acamonchi!:

Read biccontrol.blogspot.com for more info. Bic Control (pronounced 'bike control') is a new blog focused on bicycling news, culture, and advocacy in San Diego & beyond. Check it out. Read Bic Control's 'About Me' section for more info on the goal of the blog and also on the meaning of the name, if you're interested.

I hope to meet you all, someday. Better sooner than later; in fact, meeting tomorrow at Rebecca's for the discussion would be ideal!

Ride safe.

-Randy

P.s. This is my first post on SD Bike Commuter but it will certainly not be my last. : )

Pretty cool Idea Randy!

It's part of the new "Lose the Roaditude" campaign by the city and SANDAG. There are a lot of different ones, not just bike-related. I think it's a poorly-conceived campaign that speaks to the wrong people in the wrong way.

thom:It's part of the new "Lose the Roaditude" campaign by the city and SANDAG. There are a lot of different ones, not just bike-related. I think it's a poorly-conceived campaign that speaks to the wrong people in the wrong way.

I find it peculiar that the main City/SANDAG message for riding a bike at night is to wear bright clothes rather than using bike lights as per the vehicle code:

Got this via a different source: but something for everyone here to know!

<blockquote>
Where: Dusty Rhodes Park, Ocean Beach

When: October 24, 3:00pm

Info: Were riding to support 350.org in their efforts to advocate clean air and alternative forms of transportation. Check out 350sandiego.blogspot.org For more info on the Ride. 350.org has more information as well. We will be riding to Qualcomm Stadium and ending at the Kick Gas Festival taking place to promote fuel efficient vehicles and local products. We will be staging at 9 am with hopes of starting the ride by 10 am.



Chris Manzi

CHManzi@aol.com</blockquote>

Which Cycling Politics: Doom or Possibility?

Hey, that's cool. I wish I could have talked with him. I'll try to track him down in portland soon perhaps.

in LA i had the same exact thing happen. a guy drove into my group of 100 spandex riders and slammed on his brakes. with quick maneuvering and luck i was OK although shaken. the in front of me got an ambulance ride and he was pretty bad off. the crazy thing is cars started stopping in the middle of the street to scream and yell at the cyclists saying we deserved it!?

there's something about being inside of a car that makes people REALLY quick to get angry.

For those among you who don't read BikeSD.org (shame!), here is a post relevant to all riders in the county.

There is a hearing this Friday. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition's proposal to the planning commission is "to change the wording so that if parking is required, an additional 12 feet of right of way would be required."

If you can't attend the hearing but would like to offer your input send an email to Cheryl.Jones@sdcounty.ca.gov with a copy to Kathy Keehan, the Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition at execdir@sdcbc.org.

Below is a copy of the letter I sent, which you may use:


Subject: bicyclists should be accommodated on EVERY road in San Diego County

Dear Ms. Jones,

First I wanted to offer my gratitude for all the hard work you and other planning commissioners have done in putting together the road standards hearing. To further improve the quality of life that San Diego County offers its residents while ensuring compliance with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008, all roadways in San Diego County should be designed to accommodate all users of the roads.

As you are aware, a year ago, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the California Complete Streets Act of 2008. The law will require all cities and counties in California to ensure that local transportation plans account for the needs of all roadway users by 2011. These roadway users include not just motorists but also, pedestrians, transit riders, children, older people, disabled people as well as bicyclists like myself.

To ensure compliance with the Complete Streets Act, it is imperative that the wording of the county road standards be changed to require an additional 12 feet of right of way on every road that parking is permitted. This will not only ensure compliance with the California Complete Streets Act by 2011 but also ensure that San Diego's quality of life will be an inspiration for the rest of the country to emulate. 

Sincerely,
ME

Njord Noatun:The Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky has compiled 17 images (use forward button to scroll thourgh) illustrating various aspects of our addiction to oil - check it out.

I loved this!

I began waving to drivers when doing our tour last year as a response to anything drivers did: throw things, flipping me off, spitting, honking, cut in front of me, etc. In addition to the wave, I also began shouting out a pleasant sounding "hi/hello" or "thank you!" The results to this in my mind have been remarkable. For one, I'm not as mad actively having revenge fantasies. For another, many drivers have reacted very positively.

Just yesterday, I had the right of way turning left, a large SUV from the road facing me was making a right. I began waving and smiling. Driver saw, waved back and seemed to smile in relief. Crash averted, nice feeling created.

All part of my campaign to quit making enemies on the road.

<blockquote><cite> beany:</cite>Went to Natures express for lunch. Cashier and I began chatting. She also lives in North Park and commutes by bike to Bankers' Hill via Robinson. She lives a few blocks away fro me. Natures Express is big on composting, supporting local farms, offers vegan food and now hires at least one bicyclist and two skateboarders...they're my kind of business.</blockquote>

Did you invite them to the forum?

I saw this on Boing Boing-- the Bicycle Defense Kit. I guess it is a joke.

http://bdk.dirtnail.com/

Waving is a much better idea.

I really like them, personally.

Okay, I keep waiting for the perfect time when I have gobs of time, but that is never going to happen and I'm perpetually sleep deprived. So I thought I'd start the discussion going again and see where we get.

Larry got me thinking about the ciclovía idea again. This was discussed before but I'd like to make this a reality now: shutting down the street one time between Adams and Beech along 30th Street. Eventually, if sucessful try to shut down Broadway/Market to Gaslamp district and then along university to University Heights/Hillcrest. Larry suggested "if we did the same thing on 6th ave from the Gaslamp to Hillcrest. Or Washington/El Cajon Blvd. from Normal Heights to Hillcrest. Or Adams Ave. from Kensington to Park Blvd." I thought 30th, because there are quite a few bicycle friendly businesses on 30th where the idea would fly very well. I figure to make this frequent, hard numbers in terms of more sales, more pedestrian traffic will work in our favor. So the presentation to get it repeated would be based on how much sales tax revenue is being made despite "these troubled times."

So questions I have off the top of my head:

1. What sort of permits do we need? Who would be responsible for making detour signs, blocking autos from driving back and forth across 30th? I don't what this takes. Should I be part of some organization to do this? Or can some crazy person like me get a permit? Would this be called a block party?
2. If we do need permits, is there a cost? Application to be filled out? Does one need to make a case? I have no idea how any of this works.
3. I think it is important to reach out beyond the biking community to other groups like maybe parents of toddlers so they can have this one time to run around everywhere on 30th. How to do this?

That's all I have. Maybe we could shoot for having this in January 2010? Ring in the new year on a good note...

Hey, I'm glad to see more interest in Ciclovia! I think it's time for a physical meetup of folks who are interested in getting this thing off the ground. I think this deserves its own thread, so I'm going to create a new one. Sam over on sdbike.org said he (she?) is ready to take on a leadership role, so it would be great to get all the leaders, new and old, together in one room.

Beany, in answer to your questions (from my limited knowledge of how these things work):
Yes, probably several permits are needed. It will be great to have organizational backing, but the existing organizations are a bit tapped out right now in terms of time, $, and resources. They do have experienced people who can help guide us with all of this.

Don't know about cost, but yes one needs to make a case to the city and the affected businesses. Councilmember Gloria has been mentioned as a key politician who's supportive of cycling (so putting it on 30th street makes lots of sense!).

More volunteers to staff street closings means less cost for police to do that job -- at least I think that's the way it works.

Yes, Ciclovia should be about more than just cycling. All ways to use streets without cars should be encouraged!

I'm guessing Jan. 2010 would be very optimistic, given what's happened in other cities.

Everyone: if you're interested in being active with this Ciclovia idea, please whisper me your e-mail address and I'll start building a list.

We also have a Facebook group called San Diego Sunday Streets (created by Michael Brennan), which I hope anyone interested will join:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45215003750&ref=ts#

--Larry

beany:Okay, I keep waiting for the perfect time when I have gobs of time, but that is never going to happen and I'm perpetually sleep deprived. So I thought I'd start the discussion going again and see where we get.

Larry got me thinking about the ciclovía idea again. This was discussed before but I'd like to make this a reality now: shutting down the street one time between Adams and Beech along 30th Street. Eventually, if sucessful try to shut down Broadway/Market to Gaslamp district and then along university to University Heights/Hillcrest. Larry suggested "if we did the same thing on 6th ave from the Gaslamp to Hillcrest. Or Washington/El Cajon Blvd. from Normal Heights to Hillcrest. Or Adams Ave. from Kensington to Park Blvd." I thought 30th, because there are quite a few bicycle friendly businesses on 30th where the idea would fly very well. I figure to make this frequent, hard numbers in terms of more sales, more pedestrian traffic will work in our favor. So the presentation to get it repeated would be based on how much sales tax revenue is being made despite "these troubled times."

So questions I have off the top of my head:

1. What sort of permits do we need? Who would be responsible for making detour signs, blocking autos from driving back and forth across 30th? I don't what this takes. Should I be part of some organization to do this? Or can some crazy person like me get a permit? Would this be called a block party?
2. If we do need permits, is there a cost? Application to be filled out? Does one need to make a case? I have no idea how any of this works.
3. I think it is important to reach out beyond the biking community to other groups like maybe parents of toddlers so they can have this one time to run around everywhere on 30th. How to do this?

That's all I have. Maybe we could shoot for having this in January 2010? Ring in the new year on a good note...

A certain someone by the name of Leeroy Glinchy wrote a really neat piece on bicycle advocacy.

Some bicycling statistics you might find interesting:

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Bicycle Fatalities 2008

Of course, please draw your own conclusions rather than relying on theirs - everybody has an axe to grind!

Bikesd.org has a short writeup about a study being done on Rosecrans St.

I submitted my comment to the city's planning department and this is what I wrote:

As an avid bicyclist, I find Rosecrans Street a nightmare to ride on. Since the freeway is so close, I believe it is essential that the speed limit on Rosecrans be lowered and striping for bike lanes be implemented. Traffic calming measures such as narrowing the road, implementing speed bumps, traffic islands [http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/10/new-traffic-island-makes-news-takes-a-beating/] which would also aid pedestrians, putting up more stop signs, planting more trees would all go a long way to making the street a place that is designed to move people about calmly in a more humane manner.

I visited Long Beach for the first time two weeks ago and was delighted to see the SHARROWS with a 5 ft green lane. The local bikeshop told me that motorists didn't like it at all because they have to share the road. It was great sitting in front of a coffee shop and watch teenagers, kids with their parents ride in the green lane. Has anybody seen anything like this in SoCal?

I have noticed that some of the cyclists were cruising the 0.6 mile long street several times. So it did seem that there were more cyclists on this stretch of road. Since the Sharrows and green lane indicated that this is where bikes belong.

Who is really blocking traffic?