espn host jokes about running over cyclists... lance armstrong takes exception

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/espn-tony-kornheiser-audio-youtube-run-em-down-cyclists-bikes-lance-armstrong.php

"What a complete F*****NG idiot" ... yup.

But there is give and take. I remain horrified by cyclists on the road after dark without lights.

Cars don't do that  - for a reason.

And a cyclist has no shell of metal around them.

Believe me when I say cyclists very much don't like to be in pinch points on the road with cars.

Uptown Waterloo, poor parking on King - and a complete lack of painted parking guides- all but ensures this.

Maybe folks buying SUVs should need to pass a skill -testing question- parallel parking.

In that situation, with 2 lanes each way available, I do in fact hog the whole lane.

That, or I can swerve suddenly as the lane narrows. 

Also,  the only reason I will very slowly cycle on the sidewalk uptown is because I occupy so much width if I walk it. I personally dislike cyclists that gun it fast past store entrances. Most folks don't have the good sense to look first when stepping out of stores.

Of course, I can still *pretend* not to see the cyclist- forcing him to swerve.

Serves them right.

Below is a typical sentiment.

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Natasha  is irritated by bicyclists. Why can't they go on the sidewalk? It is safer to run into a pedestrian than a car going 50 no? And don't gimme the bullshit that "they're a vehicle too" - whatever, you can't go the speed limit (which again, is 50km/hr, not 10) then don't ride in the middle of the fucking lane!!!!!!

16 March at 17:42 · Comment · 

google maps now has bike lanes

http://gizmodo.com/5490018/google-maps-gets-bike-lanesdirections-just-in-time-for-spring

Not for K-W yet. But give it time.

Of course, there is no reason the city couldn't do this...

I tried to peel the layers of the GRT transit map apart, but it's hard to just put it in the parts that I want.

derelict bikes

D: I read recently that Toronto will remove junker bikes that have been chained there forever if you call '333'.

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Around UW campus, there are bikes that have been there for a year.

You can tell since the tires are flat and the chain is rusted solid.

Not only are they unsightly.

They are also in the way for other cyclists.

They cause resentment towards cyclists on both counts.

Here is what I propose: use some ribbon or tape or string.

At the start of each term, mark every bike in a week.

Any bike with the tag still on it at term's end gets removed.

This way, there is no chance for a misunderstanding.

D: those bike stands on campus are mostly not sized to fit mountain bikes.

And/or won't hold a bike without a kickstand upright.