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Tag Archives: crazy drivers

People Are Dumb

Two things this morning that haven’t happened in a long time: It’s raining, and I drove a car during rush hour. I didn’t drive to work. It was another matter. But I got a good reminder why life is so much better on a bicycle or on foot: When people get behind the wheel of a [...]

Posted 01 September 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (5) ° Also tagged: ,

Great Expectations

Every time I head into traffic on my bicycle have both high and low expectations. I have high expectations for how I’ll generally be treated by my fellow road users — especially those driving cars. People hereabouts are very polite. That politeness translates into a high degree of tolerance for road users who are not driving [...]

Posted 12 August 2010 † Andy Cline § bicycle safety § ecology ‡ Comments (3) ° Also tagged: , ,

Crazy Season Has Arrived

The crazy season has begun. Always mark these four weeks on your calendar: The two weeks before classes begin at MSU and the two weeks after classes begin. You’ll also note that all other schools will begin classes at some point during these four weeks. Just crazy. The streets of Springfield are already filling with [...]

Posted 10 August 2010 † Andy Cline § bicycle safety § ecology ‡ Comments (4) ° Also tagged: ,

(Ir)Rational Choice On The Road

Rational Choice Theory is a useful idea as long as we don’t get too hung up on the word “rational.” Rational choice theorists use a slightly different concept that claims individuals seem to balance costs against benefits (the “rational” part) in order to make choices that maximize personal gain. The problem with this idea is that [...]

Posted 27 July 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology § policy ‡ Comments (4) ° Also tagged: , ,

What Gets You Hurt/Killed

Take a good look at this graphic posted by Keri Caffrey at Commute Orlando: In today’s Springfield News-Leader, a reader makes this comment: I know that laws and customs will probably never change regarding bicyclists and traffic flow, but I would prefer that cyclists ride against traffic flow. At least then, when I pop over [...]

Posted 12 May 2010 † Andy Cline § advocacy § bicycle safety § news ‡ Comments (6) ° Also tagged: , ,

Alert: Student Pepper-Sprayed

A student of mine was pepper-sprayed yesterday evening while riding his bicycle on East Trafficway near Hammons Field. He was heading east away from the intersection of Hammons Pkwy. and riding in the bicycle lane. An older, blue pick-up truck slowed down and pulled side-by-side within two or three feet. The passenger stuck his arm [...]

Posted 03 May 2010 † Andy Cline § bicycle safety § news ‡ Comments (18) ° Also tagged: ,

Honk Report: It’s A Twofer!

What’s more rare than honks in Springfield? Two honk reports within a fortnight and two honks in a day. So I rode to the transportation meeting this morning. It was cool and crisp — a really nice ride straight down Fremont then left onto Briar (becomes Kissick) to the entrance to Lake Springfield — about [...]

Posted 08 April 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (5) ° Also tagged:

Zoom Zoom

This is a new one: I was traveling south of Fremont just south of the intersection with Battlefield where the road is two lanes south, center turn lane, and one lane north. I was riding in a commanding position in the right lane. And — zoom zoom — a guy on a crotch rocket buzzes [...]

Posted 05 April 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (1) ° Also tagged:

Honk Report: Beep Beep, Beep Beep, Yeah!

I love honk reports. I love them because they remind me and all my readers just how rare these little moments of rudeness are in Springfield. I was last honked at while walking in a crosswalk on 26 January. But you have to go all the way back to 12 November for the last time [...]

Posted 30 March 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (7) ° Also tagged:

Honk Report

This morning’s honk report is a bit different. I walked to work again today. I was honked at in a crosswalk while legally crossing with the light in my favor. I walk north on Fremont to Grand. From there, I go left on Grand and cross National. My building is on the corner of Grand [...]

Posted 26 January 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (12) ° Also tagged: ,

Rock & Roll

So, does rock & roll distract drivers? Take a look. This guy is parked! Bummer… Technorati Tags: crazy drivers

Posted 19 January 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (2) ° Also tagged:

Bad Driving

An interesting report from the UK has this to say about the cause of bicycle crashes with cars resulting in injury and death: With adult cyclists, police found the driver solely responsible in about 60%-75% of all cases, and riders solely at fault 17%-25% of the time. The cyclists’ lobby group CTC said the report [...]

Posted 15 December 2009 † Andy Cline § bicycle safety § ecology § news § policy ‡ Comments (5) ° Also tagged: , , ,

Cell Phones and Driver Distraction

The New York Times today published a major article on the socio-political history of the marketing of cell phones for use by car drivers. I found this part particularly interesting: Long before cellphones became common, industry pioneers were aware of the risks of multitasking behind the wheel. Their hunches have been validated by many scientific [...]

Posted 07 December 2009 † Andy Cline § bicycle safety § ecology § news ‡ Comments (3) ° Also tagged: , ,

Of Accidents and Forgiveness

I’m inspired by the story on the front page of the Springfield News-Leader today. The man who hit a teenage pedestrian in September will face charges for careless and imprudent driving for going 55 in a 40 mph zone. The police say his speed caused the crash that nearly killed Kimberly Armstrong. The inspiring part [...]

Posted 02 December 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology § news ‡ Comments (3) ° Also tagged:

Mindlessness Behind the Wheel

I recently mentioned the Dangerous By Design report and our own crash stats here in Springfield. While were not suffering to the same extent as Florida, we are suffering (here, here, here). Keri Caffrey, of Commute Orlando, updated her Facebook page today with a link to the Time article above and this message: I think [...]

Posted 01 December 2009 † Andy Cline § advocacy § ecology § news ‡ Comments (3) ° Also tagged: , ,