bikepedantic

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) are good, and places should do them...

But exclusive ped phases (widely found here in Eastern MA, rare elsewhere AFAIK) are true all-ages signal ops.

Why don't we talk more about them?

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

Quick assembly/ ride-round-the-block review of the Bird ebike that I bought for $1k at Job Lot, and comes with a $500 gift certificate. So $500 net!! Still available! 1/x https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-v-frame-ebike-glacier-white/product/289210

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

Finally rode the full GLX trail legally, and let’s stipulate from the start that it’s wonderful, too narrow, and will get used to death. A few other down-in-the-weeeds thoughts (1/x)

bikepedantic, 9 months ago to random

Theory: People on bikes are far more apt to comply with traffic controls - even at a time penalty - when they are explicitly intended for them. Think bike-specific signal faces.

Hunchy anecdata: Bike riders seem to wait for the short bike-exclusive community path crossing of Mass Ave at Cedar at even higher rate than peds wait for their earlier and longer-phase crossings. (I cede to @sofio wisdom here tho)

bikepedantic, 5 months ago to random

It is very frustrating that, even in this otherwise-good @verge overview of the past and future of shared micromobility in the wake of Bird's bankruptcy, that there is zero mention of the completely-unresolved issue of blocking sidewalks and rendering them inaccessible. https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/21/24010902/bird-bankrupt-electric-scooter-micromobility-ridership-future

bikepedantic, 10 months ago to random

Headed to Fast Phil’s for a haircut

bikepedantic, 9 months ago to random

Local news highlighting offices adding massage parlors, nap rooms, and golf simulators to lure workers back to the office.

Want me back in the office? Count my commute time as work time. That’s it. That’s all.

bikepedantic, 7 months ago to random

Patty Nolan just posted on nextdoor the records of candidates voting (and not voting) in muni elections. I never thought that I would ever like a Patty Nolan post. https://nextdoor.com/p/jM9rPfSDRXGn?utm_source=share&extras=MTU4OTYyOA%3D%3D

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bikepedantic, 7 months ago to random

This meeting could have been a crumpled-up napkin with the words "your work is irrelevant" tossed on my desk.

bikepedantic, 10 months ago to random

Chevy announces Bolt… wait what?
https://www.evpulse.com/news/chevy-announces-bolt-wait-what

bikepedantic, 8 months ago to random

A selection of moments showing how even in Cambridge, there are no truly car-free spaces. If it fits on it, they will drive on it.

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bikepedantic, 9 months ago to random

I trimmed my daughter’s medium-length hair. In accordance with the cishet single dad grading curve, please clap

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

Some part of the US obsession over helmets is about submission and power

bikepedantic, 3 months ago to random

At the risk of pissing off my employers… fuck curbside EV charging.

bikepedantic, 9 months ago to random

“This year, we built only five housing units. Yes, just five. In a city of 50,000 homes, that’s not 1% or even 0.1%; it’s less than 0.01%. These numbers are not just statistics. They represent a profound failure to keep up with the needs of our community.”

-#CambMA councillor Burhan Azeem https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/08/23/in-a-city-of-50000-homes-we-built-five-this-year/

bikepedantic, 8 months ago to random

Riding through Kendall Square and Wellington/Harrington today reminded me of the tremendous opportunity we lost in Crystal City/Pentagon City in Arlington VA

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bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

"The implication of the term suggests an inherent weakness or deficiency on the part of the road user labeled as vulnerable and this may limit consideration of other factors that may have caused their increase in risk exposure, such as the behavior of other road users or poor infrastructure."

https://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/opinion/opinion-why-vulnerable-road-users-should-be-more-valuable.html

bikepedantic, 9 months ago to random

Started rewatching The Good Place. I still can’t believe that this show made it to air on network TV. Such an AppleTV show nowadays.

bikepedantic, 7 months ago to random

A safe network of bike lanes is an investment for our children -- @katicacycle and I in @cambridgeday https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/10/30/a-safe-network-of-bike-lanes-is-an-investment-for-our-children/

bikepedantic, 10 months ago to random

Waiting at a corner at a light to change aboard my rather-unique cargobike, a VW Golf packed with my kid’s classmates screamed out, “HI ELLIE’S DAD!!!”

I cannot overstate the ego boost that results from operating a vehicle that makes you locally famous(ish) with kids.

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

Lookit. No city rating tool for bicycling will ever be perfect. And kudos to PeopleForBikes for trying to measure comfort at a network scale!

But #CambMA being scored and ranked this low ought to be an important calibration data point on your methodology.

Lots more work to do here, but this is among the very best bicycling cities in North America. It's not debatable.

https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/cities/cambridge-ma

bikepedantic, 8 months ago to random

I am in the office today. The primary difference between today and my normal workday is a) I'm less productive, and b) the only thing my officemates and I have talked in-person about is how dumb the return-to-office policy is.

bikepedantic, 11 months ago to random

It’s 86-degrees in my apartment, I think I need to admit defeat and find a window AC unit

bikepedantic, 7 months ago to random

Trees > people: Construction of a new backyard townhouse on my street has been stopped because the third floor conflicts with a private tree

bikepedantic, 7 months ago to random

It’s 5pm in the Boston region, we do this to ourselves voluntarily, because reasons.

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