You all know I’m a big believer in making conditions safer for cyclists through a variety of measures that include safer facilities, education, law enforcement and prosecution to ensure safer driving by motorists.

The fact remains, however, that the only behavior you can control is your own. Defensive driving, which is driving to anticipate the actions of others, applies as much to cycling as it does to driving. Opening a door in traffic is illegal in 40 states and the District of Columbia, for example, but it happens so commonly that we have a name for it when a cyclist is hit by a suddenly open door. Ditto for other common collision scenarios such as The Right Hook and The Left Cross. We can watch for all of these and react accordingly when somebody does the inevitable as a fallible human being.

Very occasionally, you can do everything right and still fall afoul of bad driving. 23 year old Shayla Cypriano was walking her bicycle across the street in San Jose last Thursday when a collision claimed her life. A southbound dump truck on Lincoln was in the light-controlled intersection at Auzerais when a delivery truck on Auzerais struck it and knock it over, directly onto Ms Cypriano. The speed limit on both streets is 25 MPH.

Ms Cypriano leaves behind a toddler. You can read more about her here. She was San Jose’s 17th pedestrian fatality for 2013. Number 16 was a cyclist who ran the railroad crossing gate and was struck by a VTA light rail train near Sunol Street.

Related posts:

1. San Francisco cyclist doored, injured by passing bus
2. Another cyclist fatality at Mission and Bay in Santa Cruz
3. Cyclist killed in Menlo Park

Terry and the dudes from Full Frame went out on a mission in search of some fresh “street” to ride in the greater SF area. Being such a dense city thats a pretty huge task to undertake. However where theres a will and a couple ferry rides there’s a way. Check some rad shots of some relatively untouched spots and nice SF backdrops in this day trip bit. More on FFC!

 

HAYS: Greenway path helped build son's cycling confidence
Evansville Courier & Press
He rides in our driveway, in a church parking lot near our home, and on brief family outings in our neighborhood. He wants to ride more and ride to other places. Now that school is out, he doesn't wait for me or his mom to ride with him after work. The ...

The USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) traveled to the Twin Cities region of Minnesota last week for the five-stage Nature Valley Grand Prix.

At age 13, twins Bob and Bill Meistrell of Missouri built a scuba diving helmet out of an oil jug, a garden hose, and some tar, and fashioned a switch valve out of a spring and a marble. They tested it out in a farm pond and it actually worked.

Profile photo of Bob Meistrell from YouTube video, shown below.

The boys were infatuated with the sea and diving at an early age, even though they lived in the Midwest.

“We’d read any book on the ocean we could get our hands on,” Bob told Forbes magazine in an interview earlier this year. “We hadn’t ever even seen the sea and we were in love.”

The love affair blossomed when the family relocated to the Southern California coast in 1944 when they were 16. They pursued scuba diving, and they fell in love with surfing.

Combining their two passions, Bob and Bill went into the diving and surfing business. In 1953, they bought into the Dive ‘N’ Surf shop in Redondo Beach and launched a venture that today produces a reported $80 million in annual sales worldwide. What they did was revolutionize the wetsuit.

Today, the diving and surfing communities know the Meistrells very well as the founders of Body Glove, which celebrates its 60th anniversary later this year.

The twin Meistrell brothers, Bill and Bob.

Sadly, Bob will miss the celebration. Bob suffered a heart attack and died Sunday morning—Father’s Day—in a place he loved so much: on the ocean, in his boat named The Disappearance. He was 84.

“He passed exactly as he would have wanted to,” Bob’s nephew Steven Lockhart wrote on Facebook. “Near Ship Rock, outside of Two Harbors, Catalina (his favorite dive spot in the world), on his boat.”

Bob and family members were participating as an escort boat for the Rock2Rock paddleboard race from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes.

“He was the greatest man I have ever known,” Lockhart continued. “He was my best friend, brother, father, and hero rolled into one. He leaves this world a month short of his 85th birthday, with my Aunt Patty as his wife, with three sons, nine grand kids, two great grandchildren, tons of cousins, and thousands and thousands of friends.

“He was the most generous and loving person you will ever meet. He and his twin brother, Bill Meistrell, revolutionized both the surfing and diving industry. He was a man of integrity, generosity, and peace and always conducted business this way. He lived every ounce of his life to the fullest.”

Bill passed away in 2006 after a battle with Parkinson’s. Both are in the Hall of Fame for diving and surfing.

Russ Lesser, president of Body Glove International, sent out an email announcing Bob’s passing and saying he will be “greatly missed.”

“His motto was ‘Do what you love, love what you do,’” Lesser wrote. “He and his twin brother, Bill, who passed away a few years ago, helped to create the ‘surf culture,’ which changed the world, with their designing, manufacturing, and selling the first commercially viable neoprene wetsuits.”

It was in 1953 when the Meistrells discovered that the insulation used in the back of refrigerators—neoprene—worked well as a material for wetsuits. The wetsuit was originally known as the Dive and Surf’s Thermocline Wetsuit. Recognizing the need for a better name, the brothers hired marketing expert Duke Boyd, an entrepreneur and founder of the Hang Ten surf brand.

“What makes your wetsuit different from anybody else’s?” Boyd was reported to have said.

“Well, they fit like a glove,” Bill was said to have responded.

From this exchange, Boyd came up with the Body Glove name.

“He charged us $235 for the logo,” Bob told Forbes magazine earlier this year. “That’s a pretty good deal for an icon that’s all over the world.”

The Daily Breeze reported that funeral arrangements are pending; the family asks any donations be made to the Switzer Center, Reef Check and Ocean Futures Society.

The scene on Bedford Avenue at North 7th Street this weekend during the Williamsburg Walks car-free event. Photo: Stephen Miller

On Saturday, ten blocks of the Bedford Avenue retail strip were closed to cars and open to people for Williamsburg Walks, one of the first neighborhood car-free events to partner with DOT’s Weekend Walks program. The street was full of people enjoying the sunny weather — at chairs and tables, listening to live music, playing games, lounging on grass, and stopping in at shops and restaurants along the way.

The year’s third and final Williamsburg Walks is scheduled for this Saturday. The calendar for DOT’s Weekend Walks website lists 23 streets in all five boroughs with car-free streets on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this summer — up from 18 three years ago.

New Yorkers craving something bigger than just their own neighborhood event are looking forward to the sixth annual Summer Streets, which converts Park Avenue and Lafayette Street from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park at 72nd Street into a car-free zone. Summer Streets takes place during three consecutive Saturdays in August. DOT has not yet announced this year’s dates.

I don’t venture over to Geekhouse spot very much but when I do you can bet there’s some rad stuff to be found. They just finished up this S&S coupled polo bike complete with custom paint by Spectrum. If you’re serious about polo (or any urban cycling genre) there’s a good chance you’ll be traveling with your beloved ride all over. Sometimes it’s a hard task to make a portable bike looks fukcing aweesome…but these dude’s did it once again. So sick!

 

 

Nau’s women’s designer Carey Mullett; photo courtesy of Mullett

“I actually lived in a tent down by the river,” says Carey Mullet, and it’s obvious she’s telling the truth. She exudes the type of enthusiasm for the outdoors only those who’ve lived in it exude. “Seriously, one of the best times of my life, subsisting on a diet of Bing cherries, Black Butte Porter, and whatever my friend brought home from her restaurant job.”

Maybe it’s the lessons her past living situation provided, or 20 years of experience designing for outdoor companies like Patagonia, but Mullet knows how to make a piece of apparel, and make it well. She’s currently doing so at Nau, a Portland, Oregon-based outdoor apparel company focused on sustainability, and we like what we see: a recycled polyester dress that doubles as both a vest and a coat, a modern chino short that hits at just the right spot on the leg, and a down-insulted jacket disguised as a shirt—all made for outdoorsmen (and women) who appreciate a little style. “We’re taking the less is more approach,” says Mullett. But when it comes to Mullett herself, more (enthusiasm, adventure, love of the outdoors) is definitely more.

What details do you add to give outdoor pieces a stylish edge?

The idea is to take the functionally that needs to be there and then to make it as beautiful as possible. A good example could be something as simple as a pocket. What is the shape of the flap? Could it do something special, like have a hidden security pocket underneath? Will the pocket need drain holes for water? Is there a benefit to gluing versus sewing? Sometimes details are as subtle as a texture or a slight point on a collar. Modern classic is always the goal and details are where the magic happens.

Photo courtesy of Nau.com

What outdoor activities do you partake in?

My dad had me on 30-mile backpacking trips and class-four rapids by the time I was 8, so I really appreciate the wildness of the backcountry. This has led to a love of rock climbing, mountain biking, trail running, and backcountry skiing. My dad is now wheelchair-bound and not a day goes by where I don’t thank the heavens for my strong, healthy body and the freedom it affords me to experience the outdoors.

What is your biggest pet peeve about outdoor apparel and gear?

That it is fussy, complicated, and there is too much of it. I prefer to travel light and fast. That freedom allows the experience to take center stage. I experiment on myself all the time. Before leaving on a trip, I often plan around how little I can bring and not suffer for it.

Tell us about your favorite post-hike meal ever.

After a chain of unfortunate events climbing Wolfs Head in the heart of Wyoming’s Wind River Range, I became very drunk off one glass of wine, which I will, for our purposes, call my dinner that night.

What’s your proudest accomplishment as an outdoorswoman?

That I don’t freak out, even in dangerous situations, ever. I have a strange barometer for keeping my cool that surprises even me.

Name the coolest place you’ve ever traveled to.

One place I always seem to return is Bali, Indonesia. I love the people and the way they nurture the sacredness of the place through rituals and ceremony. I love the smell of rice, coconut milk, and incense that fills the air. The family of five on the tiniest scooter you’ve ever seen wearing bright colors and smiles. The 12-foot snake stretched across the road that everyone just drives around. I once took a local supply ferry from Bali to Nusa Lembongan perched atop a sea of gas cans. The guy next to me was chain smoking clove cigarettes. I figured if it blew at least it would be fast, so naturally, I asked him for one.

Photo courtesy of Nau.com

What’s a rookie gear or clothing mistake we should avoid if we’re just starting out hiking and camping?

I often see people trying to re-create the comforts of their home life outdoors with way too much stuff in an effort to “beat” the environment. I like to really try and blend in with my environment and feel connected, even if that means being a little exposed. With clothing, it’s all about the layers―base layer, insulation, shell―that’s all you need. Pack simple, healthy food that’s easy to prepare. Get a Jet Boil. Pace yourself; it is easy to overestimate how far you can travel with a heavy pack on. Be aware of the altitude differences, how it will affect your stamina, and really hydrate. Please be respectful of our wild animals by storing your food properly and not speeding through national parks. Know that a marmot can eat a hole in your backpack just to get at an apple core and he may still be in there when you go to put it back on (yikes!). Most of all, it’s really important to have fun and not take yourself too seriously.

Follow Johnie on Twitter.

all over the book of face I am seeing electronic chatter about bicyclists and inappropriate behavior
on In the Capital there is a response to this videoSmall Group of Idiot Cyclists Risk Making DC Bike Party and All District Bikers Look Badhttp://inthecapital.streetwise.co
true... this sort of behavior does have a backlash on cycliststrue... these guys were riding with the DC Bike Party
butis that fair?

the DC Bike Party has a different tone and a different agenda
these guys were riding out on their ownthey were on their own with a very different momentum and style than the DC Bike Party

DC Bike Party Manifestohttp://dcbikeparty.com
I do not believe that the actions of another cyclist represents me
in fact... I do not think good or bad behavior on the part of the cyclist really builds the impression of that group
people all ready feel what they feelmy obeying the law does not make car drivers like cyclists more
but no energy for this rant right nowall sorts of images from previous DC Bike Parties on the Gwadzilla Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/GWADZILLA
http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=dc+bike+partyhttp://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=bike+party

Editor’s Note: This video is courtesy of Global Cycling Network. The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily represent the opinions of VeloNews.com, Velo magazine or the editors and staff of Competitor Group, Inc.

Here’s a refreshing take on metropolitan economic health from the right side of the aisle: The conservative Free Congress Foundation says it’s time America got serious about investing in transit in its metro areas.

Young, educated people are demanding better transit options and returning to cities, notes a new report by the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think tank. Image: Brigham Young University Civil and Environmental Engineering

This think tank, founded by conservative Paul Weyrich (also co-founder of the Heritage Foundation), released a report [PDF] last week extolling the economic benefits of transit investment and healthy cities. The Free Congress Foundation is also holding congressional hearings on its findings on the Hill, bringing some much-needed conservative support for walkable, connected cities to Washington politics.

The report argues that returns on investment in highways are declining. Author Michael Bronzini says healthy, walkable cities are important to attracting talent in a knowledge-based, 21st century economy.

“The history of metropolitan area development in the U.S. since World War II to the present is well known, and has often been described as the ‘flight to the suburbs,’” says Bronzini. “More recently, many metropolitan areas have been seeing somewhat of a return to the city.”

“These new urban residents want walkable communities, social and cultural amenities and good public transportation services that will enable them to access all the opportunities that vibrant central cities have to offer,” Bronzini adds.

While some prominent conservative electeds have starved transit and approached the movement toward cities as a political threat, others, like Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, have shown leadership and recognized the economic value of creating more walkable places. The Free Congress Foundation’s report is more evidence that Republican transit opponents don’t speak for all conservatives when it comes to transportation policy.

Screen grab from KPTV.

On Saturday (6/15) at around 11:30 pm, a man was critically injured while bicycling up Interstate Avenue. According to the Portland Police Bureau, 59-year-old Mike Cooley was riding northbound on Interstate when he was hit by someone driving a Ford pick-up. The collision occurred just north of the intersection with Greeley Ave.

Here's more from the PPB:

A witness described to police seeing a white Ford pick-up, possibly late 1970s model, driving erratically before the crash, which occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate Avenue.

The truck operator fled the scene and PPB investigators are looking for the driver. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Chris Johnson at (503) 823-2213 or Chris.Johnson@PortlandOregon.gov, reference PPB Case #13-48846.

<\/scr"+"ipt>"); //]]>-->

-->

Thankfully, Cooley's injuries are not life threatening, but a report by KPTV says he, "faces months of painful rehabilitation in the hospital for dozens of injuries throughout his entire body." He also might become paralyzed as a result of the impact. According to KPTV, the man's wife said he was coming home from his shift as a postal worker and has been riding his bike to work for 15 years.

Approximate location of collision.

It's worth noting that this section of roadway (map) is extremely narrow and it's on an uphill so there's a significant speed differential between car and bike operators. At the location where this occurred, the road bends slightly. The Yellow Line MAX takes up a considerable amount of road space and people in cars and bikes are forced to share a relatively narrow road.

Here's a graphic created by reader Joshua Cohen that shows how common it is for people in cars to drive in the bike lane:

I ride this stretch of Interstate frequently and it's unacceptably dangerous. There's a striped bike lane, but I have always been spooked riding here given the speed differential and close proximity of cars and bikes. More should be done to lower auto speeds and/or to create a safer bicycling environment. One problem is that we have an extreme lack of north-south bicycle access in this area. Greeley (to the west) feels like riding on a freeway shoulder and there's a steep hill on Mississippi (to the east). Interstate is not a great choice but there are no other good options for people riding bikes.

Hopefully they catch this guy. And hopefully the City can do its part to create safer road designs and more appealing bicycle route options.

-->

I remember seeing the trailer for last years Where The Hell is Waldo and thought it was super good. It’s hard to make an event trailer that isn’t boring or like every other one out there but these dudes seem to have done it. Again. Pretty funny and I’m sure the event will be solid considering its coming around for the fourth year in a row! If waldo doesn’t get his ass beat first that is…

 

Pick up one of the mens and ladies edition Brooks Cambium C17 online today. This issue is a limited-edition run, so swoop one of these vegan saddles up fast. See more information at the Brooks Blog.

Looks like Reyes and Lawson are heading to Japan this August to take part in the 9 States JAM. Definitely going to be one hell of a time heading overseas and getting to shred some new stuff. More on this as it gets closer I’m sure but until then hit the Devour Films spot.

 

 

 

 

As you know, Brooks England, generous sponsors of this blog, have been working on a revolutionary (for them) new saddle called the Cambium which doesn't require them to kill cows:



Translation: "I actually don't give a shit whether they kill me for a saddle or not because I'm a cow and have nothing to live for anyway, and dying for your convenience is basically my purpose on this earth, but if it makes you feel better then great."

Anyway, Brooks have just informed me that you can now buy the first batch of these guilt-free saddles via their website:


Moreover, this first batch of 1,000 saddles will have "a number etched into its nose rivet," which sounds like the sort of body modification you'd get to complement your Prince Albert, and if it's even half as comfy as the Brookseses I have on my bikes now then it's still, uh, very comfy.

Anyway, thought you'd like to know.

And now back to today's regularly scheduled whatever.

--Wildcat Rock Machine

Voting is now open for the second annual Canoe & Kayak Awards presented by Verizon. A production of Canoe & Kayak magazine, the C&K Awards recognize excellence in the sport of paddling, as voted by the paddling community. The criteria couldn’t be simpler: paddlers vote for the athletes, expeditions, films, and causes that most inspire them to seek out their own adventures.

Go to CKAwards.com to meet the nominees and cast your vote. This year’s categories include: Male and Female Paddler of the Year, Expedition of the Year, Photo of the Year, Filmmaking Achievement, Paddle With Purpose, the Spirit of Adventure Award, and Lifetime Achievement.

Voting continues through June 30 at CKAwards.com. The awards presentation and celebration takes place on Aug. 1 at Pierpont Place in Salt Lake City during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show.

A tipster sent us photos of what looks like a sinkhole in the Hudson River Greenway just north of 181st Street, in Washington Heights. These shots were taken Sunday morning.

We asked the Parks Department when the hole might be repaired, and whether repair work would necessitate a detour. “We are aware of the situation and we have the area cordoned off for public safety while we assess the damage,” said a spokesperson, via email.

Greenway users, let us know what you’re seeing in the area of 181st Street.

Though it’s prime cycling weather, Parks has closed another uptown stretch of the greenway — from 133rd Street to 135th Street — until December, directing users to detour onto 12th Avenue. Parks told Streetsblog in May that the Harlem greenway segment was blocked so that a utility company could stage construction equipment.

Cover of new ODOT publication

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has just released The Bicyclist's Survival Guide (PDF), a new publication about bicycling. Here's how they introduce it in an official statement sent out this morning:

"Looking to get back on the bike and be part of the active transportation crowd? You'll save money, reduce pollution and improve your health! Here is "The Bicyclist's Survival Guide" with tips to keep you on the straight and vertical. Ride on!"

For ODOT, the graphics are actually quite nice. The information is also solid. There are four main sections with clear explanations of safe riding tips and accompanying graphics. They remind folks to not ride against traffic, to take the lane when riding on a road without a shoulder, to not wait in the blind spot of right-turning cars, to use hand signals, and so on. One tip that caught my eye was the recommendation to only use a blinking light during the day. "At night it blinds drivers and fellow cyclists," says ODOT, "and may actually put you in danger of a collision." Interesting to see the State weigh in on the blinky vs. steady light debate.

Here's a sample of one of the graphics:

<\/scr"+"ipt>"); //]]>-->

-->

There's also this catchy "Check yourself before you wreck yourself" diagram:

Another special section gives tips on rural road riding. The tips include:

• Watch your back with rear-view mirrors. And frequent shoulder checks can be a life-saver – especially prior to cresting a hill or entering a curve.
• Watch for critters (including unleashed dogs!) in wooded areas and farming communities.
• Think fast! Some motorists simply can’t resist going fast on open country roads, and may not expect bicyclists on the roadway. So watch out and keep your cool.

While much of the tips and the graphics/layout are solid, the messaging and title are unfortunate. Riding a bike isn't about being part of any "crowd" and they forgot to mention that bicycling isn't just about being thrifty, healthy or eco-friendly — for many short trips it's simply an efficient way to get from A to B. Bicycling also isn't dangerous and the "survival guide" framing sends the wrong message. (It reminds me of a book I reviewed back in 2011: the The Urban Cyclists Survival Guide.)

There's also a tendency in the copy to make it seem like people are just helpless with their dangerous driving:

Drivers pulling into traffic look only in the direction of oncoming cars. If you ride against traffic, drivers won’t see you until they are on top of you...literally.

when you are riding past parked cars, keep an eye on those car doors – they have a way of swinging open quickly and unexpectedly.

telegraph your every move with hand signals. The last thing you want to do is catch a driver by surprise... the surprise may be on you!

You can download a PDF of this guide and see more from ODOT on their Bicyclist Safety website.

-->