It was a good ride along 111 ave to the Royal Alex and back to Westmount Mall. Now I remember what it’s like to ride into the wind.

I’m going to try to go for a ride every day. Another week or so, then it’s off to Lungbuster Hill.

I doubt there are many people more adamant about wearing a helmet than I am. As I wrote in a previous post (“thanks Bell”) – my helmet saved my life.

But I don’t support mandatory helmet laws for adults. This article outlines some of the main reasons.

Cycling is very safe. We cyclists often like to talk about our close calls, bad drivers that nearly hit us, wipe-outs, the challenges of riding on icy roads, blocked bike paths, etc. We play up the dangerous aspects because it’s the aberrations we notice, not the mundane circumstances that make up the overwhelming majority of our riding.

It’s just not very interesting to relate a story of yet another uneventful ride. While cycling is immensely enjoyable in and of itself, it’s not very interesting to hear about second hand.

So we relate our stories of danger. It makes us feel and appear brave, and it’s exciting. But it doesn’t give the true picture.

What it does, predictably, is lend the perception that cycling is dangerous. Which discourages potential cyclists from getting on a bike. Which, ironically, makes cycling less safe. One of the most effective means of ensuring cycling safety is by getting more cyclists on the road. Cyclists are treated as if they belong when there are more of them out there.

Many more people would ride except for the perceived danger. Ironically, driving a motor vehicle is much more inherently dangerous, but it doesn’t stop people from doing it because the danger is primarily to other people, that is, people on the outside of the car (I’m not suggesting most drivers aren’t concerned with the safety of others, but it’s only natural to feel safer when wearing seatbelts surrounded by a metal box). And you can’t fall off a car.

So, let’s think twice the next time we start to relate some of our harrowing tales. And let’s concentrate on how enjoyable the activity is, how good it is for us, and how much money we save over driving. The more people we have driving, the better.

And, please, (says to self) WEAR YOUR HELMET!

On his bike Friday morning, Provincial Tory leadership candidate Gary Mar, second from right, beat everybody else in a commuter race, including, left to right, Sarah Covey on transit, Dana Eason in a vehicle, Bike to Work Day founder Lonny Balbi who was also on a bike, and Julie Checknita on transit. Photo courtesy Bike to Work Day.

While you were watching the royal wedding this morning (by “watching” I mean “sleeping”), provincial Tory leadership candidate Gary Mar mounted a bike and bested a driver and transit rider in the annual downtown commuter race, an event that’s part of the May 6 Bike to Work Day.

From the Calgary Herald’s “Pedal Magazine” blog. It’d sure be nice if the Edmonton Journal did something similar.

I’m feeling much better, and I’m planning on being back in the saddle sometime this week. No big hills or heavy traffic, but a nice ride will do wonders.

   You cycle Spring and Summertime and in the Autumn too. But as these three will not suffice you ride the Winter through. On city streets and frozen lakes and snowy singletrack. Your bike and you can boldly go and safely travel back. There's drifting snow or swamps of slush or arctic winds outside. But through it all without concern the Winter Cyclist rides.  You seldom see the sun at all. You pedal in the dark. With flashing lights, reflective … Read More

via tuckamoredew

I’m deeply disturbed by “activist” cyclists who demonize the automobile. I feel it causes those on the other side of the debate to dig in their heels. It breeds resentment, not understanding, and certainly not agreement. I see some of those cyclists as having some kind of hero complex. They want to be known for standing up to the “bad guy”. They’re less interested in solving a problem as in spoiling for a fight.

There’s a perception bike paths and bike lanes make cycling safer. They don’t, necessarily. An argument can be made the reverse is true. What does make cycling safer is more cyclists, and to the end the perception of increased safety leads more people to take up cycling, they help. I understand where the perception comes from. From a distance it seems obvious. Similar to riding on the sidewalk, which would logically appear much safer, but ironically has been proven to be among the most dangerous things you can do as a cyclist.

It seems safer. But my experience says otherwise, as have studies on accident rates, including some from the cycling Mecca, Amsterdam (actually Groningen in the North of the Netherlands. has the highest cycling rate, with 60% of trips by bicycle). Unfortunately the perception has taken on the air of incontrovertible truth, again understandably, and I’m concerned we’re spending tens of millions in Edmonton without addressing the real problem, and real solutions.

As someone who’s life was saved by my helmet (not in traffic), I’m hesitant to put too much faith in safety lectures by those (Europeans) who, for the most part, refuse to wear one.

I like bike paths. I’d like to see more of them. But only if done right, and not if it means a real or perceived loss of cyclists right to the roads (ie: “get the hell out of our way paths”). Doing them right means, among other things, education as to the laws and best practices, and to potential dangers, for both drivers and cyclists. I can’t quote figures off the top of my head, but I know the vast majority of cycling deaths occur in intersections (including alleyways and driveways), and there are just as many on most bike paths. With the added dangers from drivers who are less aware the cyclist is there, and cyclists too often lulled into a false sense of security.

At some point all cyclists will have to ride on the road, and they need to know how to do it, safely. Some best practices are seemingly counter-intuitive, such as always riding as far right as possible – seems like a good idea, but it’s often a bad idea.

Riding on the street, now, is not only very safe if done right, but even mundane. There are certainly streets I avoid. But most are fine. The key is vehicular cycling, riding predictably, and obeying the rules of the road. That way we all know what to expect from each other and can ride/drive accordingly. Fundamental to that is knowing the rules, rights and responsibilities, and best practices.

So I sent an email to the city, and they helped clear it up for me:

Good morning Jim,

Thank you for your e-mail of September 29. Your current impression of the legalities regarding cycling in crosswalks is correct.

There is currently no section in the Edmonton Traffic Bylaw 5590 or the Alberta Traffic Safety Act specifically dealing with cyclists in crosswalks. Cyclists are not legally required to dismount at crosswalks and there is nothing to prohibit a cyclist from riding along a crosswalk.

In terms of the operations of a crosswalk, as stated in the Alberta TSA “Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation” Part 2, Division 4 (75): “A person driving a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within the crosswalk.”

Therefore, as you had recognized, only if a cyclist dismounts and is therefore considered a pedestrian and not a vehicle by law, does he or she obtain the right-of-way over motorists. If cyclists chooses to ride his or her bike along the crosswalk, they are considered a vehicle and the crosswalk only serves to provide protection for pedestrians. Obviously, this does not excuse vehicles from exercising due care but they are not legally obligated to yield to a cyclist who rides through a crosswalk.

From our perspective, we do typically encourage cyclists dismounting at especially the busier intersections as we must address all cyclists and their varying levels of skill and comfort.

I hope this helps. If you need any more clarification or have further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a great day.

A guy in a van screamed at me and another cyclist riding through a crosswalk under a blinking yellow light last Friday. He then proceeded to chase me down, driving behind me with his head stuck out the window yelling at me. I pulled into a parking lot, and got the inevitable lecture, after which I told him what my impression of the law was.

He said he had the right to run me down if I was riding in the crosswalk, and charge me with any damages to his van. Idiots like that scare me, not so much for his misinterpretation of a law that isn’t very clear, but for the fact he thought he’d have the right to hit someone. He had a blinking yellow, was required to yield at any rate, and he’d have had to wait much longer if we’d dismounted and walked across. It was to his advantage that we rode across, but that wasn’t the point, for him.

He clearly just had a hate on for cyclists. There are too many people like him on the road, unfortunately.

Yikes!

So, now we know.

I used to be a regular in the gym, but since my office moved I haven’t gone at all. Consequently my upper body strength is poor. I feel weak. When I was working out regularly I felt much better both physically and mentally. I want to get that kind of feeling back. Where I once trained with more of a bodybuilding focus (not that it worked that well), I really want to focus on core strength and overall fitness. A recent fitness appraisal had my body fat right on target for my age at about 16%, but I think I can do better than that.

So today is day 1 for what I hope will be a return to a lifestyle that saw me in the gym at least 3 days per week. I’m feeling very intimidated, and I know what’s coming as far as the stiffness that always accompanies a return to hard work. I have a pretty good routine ready – one that I can adjust as needed, and I’m going to keep a log of each workout now.

Overall fitness including core strength and upper body workouts should help me with my cycling too, and my overall wellbeing. Here’s to a lifestyle change I hope is permanent.

So, I unpacked my L&M Stella 150 and 200 lights, and charged up the batteries. I only used my 200, but I’ll get the 150 on my helmet soon. I mounted the 200 on my TriCross, where I can easily put the battery onto the front rack. I also have the Planet Light 1 watt I always have with me, and I run it as a blinker.

So, three lights on the front. (NOTE COMMENT BELOW – NO MORE THAN TWO LIGHTS ARE ALLOWED BY LAW) A blinker that gets attention. (NO BLINKER FOR ME, I GUESS) A powerful beam I aim downward in a fixed beam a few feet in front of me. And my 150, usually set to low, mounted on my helmet. The helmet light doesn’t blind people coming toward me, and it provides a good general wash wherever I’m looking.

I run three red lights in the rear. I have two great MEC ones I clip onto my pack and run on solid. And I have another on my seatpost I run as a blinker. I’ve read that blinkers get attention, but are harder to place spacially. Solid ones don’t atract attention the same way, but people can place your position and speed better. So I go with both.

It’s important to have rear lights both higher (on your head or body), and lower (anywhere on your bike). I’ve seen people ride with seat bags, panniers, long coats, etc, covering up the rear lights, rendering them near useless. Keep them clean, and make sure they can be seen from behind.

I also wear reflective clothing, and keep my batteries charged with a charger at work, and one at home. One advantage to running multiple lights is when a battery goes during a ride. I’m not stuck without a light. I keep extra batteries handy too, in my pack.

Ride at night, use a light.

And, …, this year I plan to once again do up my bike for the holidays, with battery powered strings of light. It’s fun, people can see you, and it has the advantage of putting people in a good mood, somehow.

Some might think it strange I put together a festival that seems to be associated with cars and auto racing (Indy), especially since I haven’t driven a car since the 80′s, but for me it’s about the music and the good time. And we did have a good time. I hope to do it again next year.

Maybe it’s me, but I’ve noticed a sea change in regard to the way cyclists and commuters are treated by motorists. I rarely have any “incidents” these days, and many of the drivers I encounter make a point of stopping to let me cross, and give me a wave and a smile. I wonder if it’s because so many of them are now cyclists too.

Anyway, I’ll be posting more often now.