Most of the snow-bike riders in the Human-Powered Iditarod have trickled into McGrath, the 350-mile checkpoint for those on the way to Nome and the end of the ride for about a dozen.
The latest cyclist to roll into the small town on the banks of the Kuskokwim River Saturday afternoon was Jill Homer, the author of the Up in Alaska blog. She completed the trip in 6 days, 2 hours and 20 minutes.
She recounted some of her experiences on the race message board on Friday. It's difficult to imagine the hardships and exhaustion she and the other cyclists experience. For instance, Jill said at one point she “kept literally falling asleep and falling off my bike.” More …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/02/sleep-pedaling-and-rescues-by-snow-bikers-at-iditarod/
Road-bike chain in Seattle area
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/02/nasty-looking-chain/
Why should motorists drive responsibly when the criminal justice system often shows such a lack of concern for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists? Take the case of Ephraim Schwartz that was adjudicated on Thursday by Seattle Municipal Court Judge George Holifield.
Schwartz admitted to talking on his cellphone when he struck and killed a pedestrian in a crosswalk in November 2006. There were no skid marks at the scene. He didn't even see Tatsuo Nakata.
This happened 1-1/2 years after Schwartz drove across the centerline, hit bicyclist Ilsa Govan, and received a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road. There's also a traffic-signal violation in the period. In court on Thursday, Govan said:
“I just wish there was something that could have been done after he hit me.” …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/01/maybe-this-seattle-judge-needs-to-commute-by-bike/
A petition that asks Google to add bicycle routes in a “Bike There” application for finding directions at Google Maps is gaining a lot of support already.
The idea was broached by an Austin bicyclist at the Google Maps “Bike There” blog less than two weeks ago, and already a petition at PetitionOnline has more than 3,800 signatures.
Several commenters at blogs promoting the idea suggest that Google already is working on this, and plans to roll it out later in 2008 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/29/bike-there-petition-for-google-maps-gets-support/
Austin-based blog wants Google Maps to include “bike there” feature.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/29/blog-wants-to-bike-there/
Sometimes statistics can be helpful in explaining problems and finding solutions; other times they can only confuse the issues.
The latter is the case in the annual “Measures, Markers and Mileposts” report issued by the Washington state Department of Transportation. The 100-plus page document gives in-depth performance reports for highway maintenance, pavement conditions, environmental control and pedestrian and bicycle safety.
But I found the 2 pages devoted to pedestrian and bicycle safety to be sorely lacking. The two tables of bicycle fatality statistics were drawn from federal and state databases and were offered with little explanation …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/29/bicycle-fatality-stats-in-washington-highways-report/
If you're a veteran and see this guy towing a bike trailer filled with his stuff across the southern US, you might want to stop and say hi.
He's Jerry Nelson, 56, a veteran of 15 years in the Navy and a Vietnam vet. He's pedaling cross-country to find some peace of mind.
After hiking last year from New Mexico to Washington DC, where he camped in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he's now pedaling his Trek 850 hardtail and pulling a Burley trailer to Oregon. Along the way he's spending nights at American Legion posts and speaking to veterans groups….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/28/vietnam-vet-seeks-peace-of-mind-on-bicycle-tour/
Vietnam vet Jerry Nelson is bicycling across country to talk to veterans groups about the Department of Veterans Affairs. More at the Columbus (GA) Ledger Enquirer.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/28/jerry-nelson-on-bike/
The Maryland House of Delegates is the latest legislature to take up the road safety issue that motorists must give bicycle riders a 3-foot clearance when passing.
Three-foot passing laws are in effect in at least a dozen states. Meanwhile, BIcycle Colorado distributes these nifty window stickers to car owners who purchase “Share the Road” license plates.
The Maryland bill is a top priority of One Less Car, which helped the Maryland Department of Transportation draft. It died in the House Environmental Matters Committee last year, so advocates are asking Maryland residents to contact their delegates, especially those on the committee …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/27/3-foot-passing-battle-for-bicycles-shaping-up-in-maryland/
Reminds motorists to allow three feet when passing bicycle riders. Available from Bicycle Colorado.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/02/27/colorado-window-sticker/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
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