Blog of a discontent conforming noncomformist

2009-06-21T16:33:00.003-05:00

These are just some pictures of my 2007 Ford Focus that I just bought recently. Yes, I will still be riding my bike to work most of the time, but with the new car, I most definitely be driving more.

Tulip City Air Force

2009-06-15T01:27:00.002-05:00

BIcycle commute to work week

2009-05-23T19:36:00.004-05:00

This past week, I had the chance to attend a community-wide bicycle expo at the Holland Civic Center where the advantages of commuting to work by biking were discussed. While there, I had a chance to visit some of the tables set up there by the local bike shops. Each brought a sample of some of the products that are sold at their particular shop. I even had a chance to try riding a recumbent trike. That was interesting to ride at the expo, but for my kind of riding, I would rather stay with my upright bike. The trike was just too low to the ground to be visible in traffic.

The benefits of biking to work include better health, easier on the wallet, and the environmental benefits.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists website has some great tips for bicycle commuting to work.

Another day riding my bike to work

2009-04-27T22:37:00.004-05:00

This is another one of my videos I took while riding home from work. It was quite a nice and sunny day, so I thought that I would take a ride through the Hope College campus.

Driving while intexticated

2009-04-03T20:10:00.004-05:00

I found these two videos on YouTube dealing with the subject of text messaging while driving, especially when it comes to teenagers driving and texting. I have written before about the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone, but doing this is completely stupid. The girl in the second video, though, really pissed me off.

She considers being a good texter more important than being a good driver. She admits to nearly hitting a pedestrian and causing 3000 dollars worth of damage to her car. On another occasion, she was caught speeding doing 85 mph in a 45 mph zone because she was so busy texting that she did not notice the change in the speed limits.

What not to do in a drivers test

2009-03-21T22:04:00.005-05:00

This kid decided to make some videos of his driving instructors. Needless to say, they seem to get really agitated when he kept insisting on talking on his cell phone while driving. A definite failure for sure.

Denis Leary Bike Rider Rant

2009-03-14T22:52:00.003-05:00

This is Denis Leary's rant about people riding bikes through Midtown Manhattan. I guess what he is really saying is that he is jealous that they can get through traffic while he is stuck in a constant traffic jam. Never mind the money he is wasting on gas with his car just sitting there.

As if driving and cell phone use are not enough!

2009-02-28T20:08:00.003-06:00

I found this story at MSN. Is it not enough that this woman was talking on her cell phone while driving, she also felt she had to breast feed her child at the same time. Talk about child endangerment.

KETTERING, Ohio - Police in Ohio say a woman has been charged with child endangerment after another motorist reported she was both breast-feeding the youngster and talking on a phone while driving.

Police in the Dayton suburb of Kettering say the caller told them he saw the woman Thursday.
Officer Michael Burke says authorities used a license plate number to track down 39-year-old Genine Compton.

He said the woman told officers she was breast-feeding and wouldn't let her child go hungry.
Burke said the legal concern is that Compton had a child in her lap while driving, not that she was breast-feeding in public.

He said the child was under 2 years old.
Police say the woman faces up to 180 days in jail and a $1,800 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor.

A break in the weather

2009-02-16T19:28:00.002-06:00

This past Tuesday, we finally got a break in our weather, which I was able to use to ride my bike to work. It was a little cold in the morning, but I know how to dress for that. The change of pace was quite nice, though. However, the soundtrack I originally wanted was delighted due to Youtube's copyright policy, and I had to substitute.

Their candidate lost, get over it!

2009-02-07T20:04:00.003-06:00

Over the last few weeks since his inaugauration, I have heard quite a few very negative remarks about Barack Obama and his policies. And all I have to say is this: The candidate they wanted lost and they should get over it.

We are less that a month into the new administration, so at least I think that it is much too early judge whether Obama is a failure as President. We have been blowing 10 to 12 billion dollars a month for years rebuilding the infrastructure over in Iraq, wouldn't the money be better spent rebuilding our own?

Schools, especially in the area where I live, have been struggling for money for years. Yet, at the same time, we have the resources for building schools in Iraq. Personally, I would rather have that money used here to improve our own education system, which is a joke.

Rebuilding our own infrastructure and education system are two of the main focuses of the Economic Recovery Act. Construction engineers and laborere who have been layed off and furloughed will be able to get jobs. Truck drivers will be needed to deliver the materials needed for these projects. Not to mention the money they will be spending here.

All this fear mongering has to end some time.

One reason I do not use "bike lanes"

2009-01-14T23:45:00.002-06:00

Watching this video reminds me why I rarely use the so-called "bike paths" where I live. They present a false sense of safety for those that use them. Contrary to the myth propagated by the motoring public, bike lanes and bike paths are extremely dangerous for both cyclists and cars.

Bike cops

2009-01-14T23:35:00.003-06:00

I found these two videos about polisce who do their jobs riding bikes.

An interview with John Forester

2008-12-26T21:45:00.003-06:00

"Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles."

While researching the topic of vehicular cycling, I came across this interview with John Forester, the author of Effective Cycling. In this interview, he discusses the many misconceptions and false truths about safe bicycle riding. John goes on to show how the American public grossly overestimates how dangerous it is for cyclists to ride in traffic.

Later on in the interview, he states how the American public also grossly underestimates how dangerous bikepath riding really is.

Unfortunately, do to some very heavy snow these last few weeks, I have not been able to get out on my bike to ride to work. In the past, I would have been one of the riders who would have been riding on the bike path. However, several incidents have caused me to change my attitude toward the use of the bike paths. Most of these incidents concern people, both in cars and on bicycles, just not bothering to watch where they are going.

Big Three

2008-12-11T22:15:00.003-06:00

I know that it has been a while since I have posted and I would like to take the time to apologize. Since I live in the state of Michigan, I have been deeply concerned about the fates of the Big Three auto makers and how it would effest the area in which I live.

You see, what they are going before Congress for is not a bailout like people would like to think it is. It is a loan that they would have to pay back. If even one of them goes under, the cost to the American public would be even greater than what they are asking for. The costs would be both direct, meaning their employees and suppliers, and indirect. The indirect costs include the loss of tax revenue and the loss of businesses where those employees spend what they earn.

Three of the largest employers where I live would have to lay off significant portions of their labor force. Obviously, that would have a direct effect on my job, since I work for one of the retailers which is effected by their spending. Quite a few others would be driven out of business. No business means no paychecks for the employees for those companies. There would be less money for discretionary spending.

The cost to the government would be even greater than what the Detroit automakers are asking for, as well. We would be having more people applying for unemployment benefits. Added to that would be the loss of tax revenue. I know that these entities have gotten tax breaks in the past. But people forget that they more than make up for that with the taxes they pay through their employees. Thais where I come in.

Once again, they are looking or a loan, not a bailout. After all, the bankers got seven hundres billion.

Winter is almost here, will the yahoos return?

2008-11-13T22:09:00.002-06:00

With the start of the winter season almost around the corner, I have been wondering will all the yahoo drivers out there have finally learned their lessons? Or will they still be in such a hurry that they still be complete idiots when it comes to such things as driving in whiteout conditions?

Traditionally, that usually is not the case. We will always have people driving like complete idiots when the snow falls every year. These are the people who think that because they are driving a SUV or 4x4 means they have the right to intimidate everyone else into getting out of their way. I know that they think that they are safer in their vehicles, but what about the rest of the people that they have to share the road with? Not to mention the ones with their cell phone glues to their ears!

Even worse are the idiots who are text messaging while they are driving. That is way more dangerous than even chatting on the phone while they are driving.

The debate continues...

2008-11-01T19:55:00.004-05:00

Recently, while riding the roads around Holland, I have had several drivers incorrectly inform me that I would be safer if I rode using the bike path. More often, they used the language, "Get off the road, a*****e!". Or the ubiquitious "Use the f****** sidewalk!". Though they say that they were concerned about my safety, I believe that they really were more concerned about how I was inconveniencing them, since in order to avoid me, they would actually have to pay attention to the road. Imagine actually having to unglue themselves from their cell phones for more than a few seconds to actually watch where they are going! How impossible it would be for them to actually contemplate that possibility!

Nevermind that there have been studies conducted that rpove their claims to be completely false. Here is one such study.

It shows that the majority of major injuries riding a bike occur while riding on the sidewalk. Very few happen while riding in traffic.

This is a wonderful video about how bicyclists should behave while driving in traffic. Very little real disruption to drivers.

Reflectors are not enough

2008-10-17T19:39:00.003-05:00

I know that I have not posted to this blog in quite a while. This article in The Holland Sentinel sheds light on the possible consequences of a growing trend that I have noticed lately. People just don't realize the importance of using lights on their bikes while riding at night. That just gives aggressive drivers more excuses for their own behavior. Now, I know that riders themselves can see fine at night. That does not mean other people can see them. It is important to remember that having other drivers see us is what will do more to keep bicyclists riding at night in one piece.

More on commuting by bike

2008-09-29T01:34:00.003-05:00

This video shows some great ideas for equipping one self for riding to work on the bicycle. Some are more serious about riding to work than others.

Biking to work is a great way to get somewhere and get some excercise at the same time

Seventh Anniversary

2008-09-12T19:58:00.007-05:00

This past week marks the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. Are we any closer to winning the War on Terrorism? I really don't believe so. Let me explain.

The war in Iraq is costing us resources, in both money and manpower, that could be better used in defeating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. That was a war that we were already winning before the beginning of the Iraq war. So far, thousands of American servicemen have died and thousands more wounded occupying a country that had nothing with the 9/11 attacks. Saddam Hussein was a United Nations problem, not a United States problem. It is not our responsibility to be the world's policeman. Al-Qaeda is only there because there are now American soldiers there for them to kill. We have lost focus.

If the Iraqi government wants us to stay there, they can use the money they are making off their oil fields to pay us back for what we have spent on securing and trying to rebuild their country. The war in Iraq is costing us the war in Afghanistan. That is where the real war on terror is.

The Iraqi war is costing us roughly 12 billion dollars a month. We are spending money we don't have to rebuild their infrastructure while our own is falling apartment. Our education system has become a joke due to lack of funds, but we seem to have the money to educate the Iraqi people. Yet, because of their oil exports, they seem to have a surplus of money. I say make them use that money on their own people. We would be able to shift our focus to the real people who attacked us. That would be Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden who, after all these years is still at large.

Morons on bikes

2008-09-04T00:09:00.003-05:00

I thought I would write this post about the creatures I see around town called monons on bikes, people who show a general disregard for the safety of others and make life miserable for those who really do obey the law as much they can. The first one you can see after running a redlight continues riding as close to the parked cars as he can get. The other one is committing the ultimate no-no. That would be riding against the flow of ttraffic. Both of these dangerous behaviors put them at even greater risk. Add to that, they generally give responsible riders a bad rap.

Thursday Night Beach Ride

2008-08-28T22:17:00.003-05:00

This movie is one I made about a week ago. Riding through downtown Holland has become one of my favorite things to do on my bike. In the beginning of the movie, I show a band that was playing outside one of our local attractions here, called Skile's Tavern. They are performing as part of our local Street Performers groups, the last of which was held today due to the ending of the summer season.

Monday night's beach ride

2008-08-21T22:53:00.002-05:00

This is a movie that I made during one of my trips out to the beach on my bike. During this ride, I visit Tunnel Park, one of our local county parks. There is also a small airport that I like to visit. Sometimes you can watch small aircraft taking off or landing. There is also a small part of the airport available for r/c modelers to fly their aircraft.

BIcycle commuting

2008-08-15T22:42:00.004-05:00

This is a movie that I made showing my ride home from where I work. With the weather as good as it has been and the high price of gas, driving the car does not make any sense. Plus add to that riding my bike is much more fun. Until riding in the road reachse critical mass, most drivers are lost at what to do when encounter cyclists in the road. Never mind that we are subject to the same rules of the road as cars. Some people just need to grow up and realize that bullying does not always work.

Saturday outing.

2008-08-14T23:06:00.002-05:00

This is a video that my father took while out boating this past Saturday. Towards the end, I was bounced off the tube. We had a good time that day.

My ride home

2008-08-03T23:04:00.003-05:00

I did this video as a compilation video of my commutes home from where I work. These were taken with the GoPro camera over a period of a few days. Much to the chagrin of our local redneck population, for the most part, I ride in the road. Chapter 257 of the Michigan Vehicle Code defines my rights and responsibilities as a cyclists in the state of Michigan.