Take the Lane: Sometimes, we could give up the lane

Baltimore Sun article:

October 18, 2010 at 6:00 am (Commuting, Cycling Rights, advocacy, safety)

Driving your bike is a dance.

For the most part drivers are courteous. Courtesy demands thinking of one another. And it works both ways. We’ve all seen rude cyclists riding two and three abreast and refusing to give way.

That’s illegal but what about taking the lane? Usually the problem is the cyclist is too convinced of his own inferiority and tries to give way too much. It takes some courage to fill up a lane to prevent a motorist from passing on a blind corner.

On the other wheel, cyclists need to adjust to the road conditions even if it means giving way when you strictly speaking do not need to. For example, I often coast a bit to give that passing vehicle more room to pull back in before reaching that blind curve ahead. I can also speed up to get into the corner sooner controlling the lane so the passing motorist isn’t tempted to make that pass that might push me off the road should he enoucnter oncoming traffic.

In this way, I make a dance of my ride alternately leading and following but always remaining predictable.

Be sure to click through to the original newspaper story below.–Corrie



This column by Michael Dresser of the Baltimore Sun addresses an issue that a lot of cyclists and cycling advocates dance around but don’t directly address: pulling over to let motor vehicles pass.

I think we get so caught up in the mantra of “share the road” that we automatically think that sharing means “me first.”

via Take the Lane: Sometimes, we could give up the lane.

Awesome Eco Trail!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/bike-trail-being-paved-with-plant-based-asphalt.php

Bike Trail Being Paved With Asphalt Made From Plants Instead of Oil
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10. 7.10
Design & Architecture (materials)


Bioasphalt developer Chris Williams and paving machine.Credit: Photo by Mike Krapfl/Iowa State University

Asphalt is usually made from the bottom of the barrel, the dregs of the oil refining process. But then along came the tar sands and better technologies for refining heavy oil into gasoline, and the price has climbed. John has noted that it has got so expensive that rural roads are going back to the stone age.

But Chris Williams of Iowa University has come up with an interesting alternative; he has cooked up a bio-oil from plants and trees that can replace the asphalt glue that holds our pavement together- Bioasphalt.

avello bioasphalt process

It's made by fast pyrolysis, "the rapid thermal decomposition of carbonaceous organic matter in the absence of oxygen", Science Daily explains:

Bio-oil is created by a thermochemical process called fast pyrolysis. Corn stalks, wood wastes or other types of biomass are quickly heated without oxygen. The process produces a liquid bio-oil that can be used to manufacture fuels, chemicals and asphalt plus a solid product called biochar that can be used to enrich soils and remove greenhouses gases from the atmosphere.

Robert C. Brown of Ohio State developed a process of fast pyrolysis, (perhaps this reactor shown in his patent 5711771) which was licenced to Avello Energy. Mr. Williams developed Bioasphalt using their product and is testing it on a bike path.

It is not the first bioasphalt; Shell Oil paved a road in Norway in 2007, and Vegecol, an asphalt made with vegetable oil binders was patented in France in 2004. In Australia, Ecopave is made from sugar cane and molasses. They also have trademarked the name Bioasphalt so Mr. Williams may be in for a bit of a fight over the name.

bioasphalt process image

The stuff can be made from crop and mill residues, "woody biomass", AKA trees (the bike path was evidently made with oak) and since this is Iowa, what they discreetly call "energy crops", AKA corn. I am not too enthusiastic about paving our roads with food and trees, but there is enough other biomass around to probably pave much of America. They also note that the process works with switchgrass, reed canary grass, giant cane, miscanthus.

It sounds like a good alternative to digging up the tar sands for tar. More at Science Daily and the University of Iowa

Getting back to business

Hey all!
Sorry for the lack of involvement as I get my life in order and get into a good schedule in my PhD research.
I am back and getting this club in gear! pun intended.

Spring Bike Sale
SUNDAY, MAY 16TH 10 – 4PM
PURCHASE A 2009 RENTAL BIKES FOR AT LEAST 50% OFF!
RECEIVE A CARD GOOD FOR 10% DISCOUNT ON SERVICE & RETAIL
AT OUR NEW LOCATION AT UNION STATION WITH BIKE PURCHASE
CASH ONLY. ALL SALES FINAL.
12th St NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave
Rear plaza of the Old Post Office Pavilion

Chain Gang's first ride of the season was meant to be at Gwynn Falls but spontaneously got changed to Loch Haven Resevoir. A beautiful day with great weather, easy ride but hilly and a nice rest at a restaurant. Good start to our second year riding!

LADIES!

Ladies Bicycling Information Event Sunday, February 28, 2010

Saturday, February 20 2010 @ 12:42 PM EST

Contributed by: The human car

Views: 21
Bike BaltimoreFor a ladies evening of fun, hands on learning and networking.

Be more comfortable on your bike by learning fitting tips, proper riding wear & gear, flat tire repair, regular bike maintenance, and best safe riding practices.

Meet other women who love to ride or who want to love to ride.
We look forward to spending a fun and informative evening with you.

Raffle prizes and refreshments!!

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Street: 723 S Broadway
City/Town: Fells Point, MD

R.s.v.p. katie gore-traill 410 262 2818
ktgoremtb"at"comcast.net

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=311078907543&ref=nf

Veloci-Prom!!!!

Velocipede Bike Project image
Start Time: Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 9:00pm
End Time: Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 2:00am
Location: The Windup Space
Street: 12 West North Avenue
City/Town: Baltimore, MD


DJ Jason Willet (true vine)
Claire Hux (http://clairehux.com/)
Rebecca Nagle (http://www.rebeccanagle.com/)

Photo Booth (photos by Josh Sisk http://joshsisk.com)
King(s)/Queen(s)!

Cake by Brunie's! (http://www.bruniesbakery.com/)

Raffle prizes from businesses such as:
Light Street Cycles,
Joe's Bike Shop,
Atomic Books,
Red Emmas,
Bella Hair Salon,
Soundgarden...
and many more

Hi everyone!

Velocipede Bike Project is celebrating its accomplishments, particularly its recent designation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with its first ever “Velociprom”.

On Saturday, February 13th, 2010, come gather with us at the Windup Space in your swankiest tuxes, gowns and spandex for a night of live music, dancing, souvenir photos, and costume contests. It will be all of the fun the prom was (or should have been) without worrying about who to take or saving up for a limo.

$5 - $10 sliding scale donations. Spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=258725604141&ref=nf