Gotta love certain drivers and editors

No I am not talking about golf. I am talking about all the different types of automobile drivers that are out there. All of us have driven a car in our lifetime. Some more than others, but that doesn't change the fact that most of us (that read this blog anyways)both drive and ride.

The reason for the blog today are a few different things. First a few weeks ago an article sparked mine and a few others interest. Well the editor of the chronicle had this to say in response to the letters that were sent to the chronicle. Louis Black said that

"Let's get realistic here. Moser's column is often a bitch-fest and frequently over-the-top. Anyone thinking that Moser and comrades are really going to plow into bike riders or are seriously encouraging others to do so is really stretching. I don't really believe most folks thought that Moser was actually advocating violence rather than vividly indulging in his sometimes Queen of Hearts, "Off with their heads!" hyperbole".

This was in response to what Moser said in his column last week.

"Speaking of bikes, my heart began to turn to stone as I was stopped at Riverside and Lamar watching a parade of bikes indulging, presumably, in some form of civil disobedience. What that meant was that dozens of clowns on bicycles took up the entire street and brought most traffic to a standstill. After several minutes of obnoxious waving and smiling from the riders, I was ready to pull a Lizzie Grubman and plow right through them and be on my way. But I was hesitant to rack up a lot of hit-and-run charges against me ... and then there would be all that damage to my car. The thing is, all the smiling and waving did not make me sympathetic to the scofflaws' 'cause.' It made me think: 'Don't give bikes the right. Give 'em the finger.'"

Now I understand that he is saying that Moser was just kidding and that he would never actually do that, but how many husbands who beat there wives and say "I'm going to kill you bitch" actually do? Quite a few I'm sure. So it would only be understandable that a few of the cyclist may take offense to what Moser said. That I am sure what most of the letters and comments about the article were about. The fact that there are people how have a strong disliking towards the cycling community. As you all know there have been quite a few "accidents" involving motorist and cyclist, and I am sure that most of them are in fact accidents.

Lets take a look at this.

Christian Stoehr recounts "We were riding downhill at approximately 30 mph when a car came up behind us, must have been doing 50 mph, and the driver started honking at us. We moved to the right in single file within seconds and the motorist pulled along Ron and started screaming at him. He then pulled in front of us with 3-5 feet to spare and slammed on his brakes, giving us no time to stop. I swerved and almost made it, clipping the car and flying through the air and landing in the street. Ron had no room to move and he went straight into the back of the car, putting his face through the back window."

The driver of the vehicle stopped his car and continued the tirade, identifying himself as a Doctor but never offering medical attention.

This is coming from the laist LA's version of the chronicle. The fact is people out there don't like the idea of someone riding a bike in the road, and taking up some of their precious time. This guy is a fucking doctor for christ sakes. This is what everyone was talking about. I'm sure this doctor has said what Moser said before because he was held up at a light for a few extra minutes.

It upsets me to hear that people want to run over cyclist, even if they are joking. I've been hit several times, spent several days in ICU for it too. I am not saying that Moser doesn't have a right to free speech, but the fact is, what he said can be taken very much out of context. If in fact he was joking.

Take this for example.

HOUSTON - Wal-Mart is pulling from its shelves a popular Mexican comic book that features a protagonist with exaggerated black features after a Houston customer complained that "Memin Pinguin" was racist.

Now I'm not saying that this particular situation is not a sensitive one, but the comic, first published in the 1940s, revolves around Memin Pinguin, a small Mexican-Cuban boy whose street smarts and adventures reflect the life of a poor boy in Mexico City. The boy, portrayed as a like able rascal, earns money shining shoes and selling newspapers to help his mother.

So people get sensitive about things, I know I did when I first read the article. I just wish that when a cyclist gets sensitive about the subject of, someone stating in a widely read paper, that they wanna plow through them, but they didn't because of it would mess up the paint on their car, that they would just read what the people were saying and take it to heart. Just as the people at Wal-mart did.

As for the whole Critical Mass part of the article, all I have to say about that is this. I don't ride in critical mass for protesting reasons. I ride because I enjoy riding my bike. I enjoy being around friends who are doing the same things. I enjoy the fact that I am less likely to get hit because of the size of the group.

I'm tired of waking up in the morning and going through my normal routine only to see something like this.

"poor poor jamal was hit by a car while riding to my house after midnight ridaz. he hit jamal's rear wheel throwing him to the curb on 45th. the driver was REAL drunk and insisted i not call 911. jamal grabed my phone out of my hand and called 911. as he did that the driver ran to his car and peeled off. the police came and i gave them the plate #. the car was found in the police database and mached the discription i gave for the driver. so a little scraches and about 4 houres of sleep later im a work and jamal is passed out at my house on airport. so if you want to drive his ass home GO GET HIM. i mean what a cock and ball, hit and run deaf people. now iv seen it all"

Andy

As for the case with Jamal, I really hope the APD cracks down on the driver. This is really starting to get old. Motorist just don't seem to care about anyone but themselves, and it is starting to show more and more.


til next time


OLC

Midnight Ridazz "OOOGGGAA BOOOGGGAAA" Ride

That's right kids, it is time to grab your loin cloths, club and have fun with the invention of the wheel.

The ride meets at Donn's Depot on West 5th street at 9pm.

To piggy back

On yesterdays post, I would like to also make a 30 second video that promotes bicycle safety and try and get it put on the air. It will take some help from other folks who have camera equipment and folks who would want to be in the video. I think that we could get this aired on local television and have the city help with the cost.

Let me know what your ideas are and if you want to help.


Thanks,

OLC

Austin should put something together like this

Recently, on my daily surfing of the web, I found this video on youtube.



I'm going to put together a letter and maybe a petition to get something like this put into place. I think as a police training video, this will help cyclist and police officers know the full law and actually help cyclist. The video is a little cheesy, but I am sure that if the cycling community and the APD work together, we could put something together that is very similar if not way better. Once I get the petition together I will post a link to it here. Feel free to send your email address to me, and I will keep you up to date on what is going on.

If you have any ideas, or thoughts on this, please let me know.


til next time

OLC

Fort Worth Alleycat

So I was informed that some of the folks up i Fort Worth are putting together an alleycat. These are always fun, and if I was injured, I would do my best to go up there and participate in it. These races take place on the street with no street closures. So if you race in it, be sure to be race safe. Getting first for a race is no prize for possibly getting injured.

Here are the details, if anyone goes to this, let me know how it turns out.

the sightseer
july 20 meet at 8pm
at the chatroom pub 1263 w. magnolia fort worth, tx (across the street from the spiral diner)
theres prizes to be won, and a party to follow at the chat room.

If you need more information, contact Trae at his myspace.

They're hoping based on the turnout of this race to organize an all day bike scavenger hunt in October!



til next time


OLC

Another cyclist in Austin dies

This is going to be in the statesman tomorrow (today). When are people going to start paying more attention when they are driving. How many cyclist need to die before people realize that cyclist are also traffic on the road? It is the same old story, the sun was in my eyes, I didn't see them there. Maybe if you paid a little more attention then you would see that you are not the center of the universe.

Another husband, father, brother and cyclist is now gone. I wish I didn't have to write blogs about cyclist getting hit, or dying, but I feel like the people how do read my blog need to know, and I wish that people who don't read it that would.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. If you do drive as well as ride, pay attention. I know you do, because you don't want to be on the end of being hit.

til next time

OLC

Fucking makes me SICK!!!!

Holy fuck sticks. This pisses me off so much. I cannot believe that this guy still has a job after what he posted in the Austin Chronicle. I know that everyone is titled to their opinion, and he certainly is, but when you talk about committing multiple (possible) murders/assaults, that kind of draws the line.

"FREEWHEELING I recently went to Tribeza's party at Lance Armstrong's new venture, Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop at Fourth and Nueces. I suppose if I were really into bikes, I'd have been in hog heaven, but I made do with plenty of socializing with old friends instead. Lance greeted me warmly; I thanked him for the marvelous sponsor party he gave before the Texas Film Hall of Fame. He, in turn, was most solicitous about my cancer and gave me a big spiritual boost that made the rest of the evening fly by. I especially laughed over the in-store coffee shop called Juan Pelota Cafe. You figure that one out. Speaking of bikes, my heart began to turn to stone as I was stopped at Riverside and Lamar watching a parade of bikes indulging, presumably, in some form of civil disobedience. What that meant was that dozens of clowns on bicycles took up the entire street and brought most traffic to a standstill. After several minutes of obnoxious waving and smiling from the riders, I was ready to pull a Lizzie Grubman and plow right through them and be on my way. But I was hesitant to rack up a lot of hit-and-run charges against me ... and then there would be all that damage to my car. The thing is, all the smiling and waving did not make me sympathetic to the scofflaws' "cause." It made me think: "Don't give bikes the right. Give 'em the finger.""


He doesn't seem to mind "crawling" the streets when it is the gay pride parade, but doesn't want to wait 5 minutes for some cyclist to have their one day where we can ride in mass.

"DRIVE-BY MOMENTS With my chauffeur/sister-in-crime Stephen Rice commandeering the Champagne-pink 1965 Cadillac Coupe DeVille convertible, we sailed (well, crawled) through the streets of Austin along the Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's Pride Parade route. I kept wondering what I really wanted to throw from the car: Rocks? Cocktails? Bon mots? Instead, we settled for tossing garish beads and Twinkies"


If I ever see this guy in person, I will tell him what I think of him and punch him in the dick. The problem with that, is he might like it. I will be sending a formal email to the chronicle to fire or at least reprimand him in some way. I hope that you who live in Austin will do the same.

til next time


Your pissed off blogger,


OLC