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Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. editor@thestranger.com (The Stranger Editor) webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Sat, 18 May 2013 01:00:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/city-throws-12-million-at-a-westlake-avenue-cycle-track http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/city-throws-12-million-at-a-westlake-avenue-cycle-track Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Ansel Herz</em></p> <p>Today, Mayor Mike McGinn's office announced that it had secured $1.2 million to fund the <strong>final design and possible construction</strong>, depending on cost, of a dedicated cycle track along Westlake Avenue, on the west side of Lake Union.</p> <p>The cycle track is part of $3.25 million in new transportation investments, which were made possible by savings from the Spokane Street viaduct project. In total, <strong>the cycletrack is projected to cost $2.3 million</strong> and will "improve separation between bicycles and vehicles and link the Ship Canal trail to South Lake Union." <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/in-1897-a-bicycle-superhighway-was-the-future-of-california-transit">It's no bicycle superhighway</a>, but it does sound good. </p> <p>It'll sound even better if the city's cycle track can be linked up with <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/09/21/amazon-pledges-to-build-dedicated-cycletrack-in-south-lake-union&view=comments">Amazon's proposed cycle track</a> slated for 7th Avenue. <strong>"That's exactly what we're studying right now,"</strong> said mayoral spokesman Aaron Pickus when Cienna called to <del>tell him how to do his job</del> politely demand that the two cycle tracks be linked together. </p> <p>You can find details on the city's other proposed transportation improvements&#8212;including "interim cycle track options" in East Marginal Way in SoDo, street improvements around the Port, and Pedestrian Master Plan implementations&#8212;over <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/press/newsdetail.asp?ID=13653">here</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/city-throws-12-million-at-a-westlake-avenue-cycle-track#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16764021&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes News http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/14/city-throws-12-million-at-a-westlake-avenue-cycle-track?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16764021&id=comments 20 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:29:17 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/whatever-you-do-dont-lock-up-your-bicycle-at-pine-and-11th http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/whatever-you-do-dont-lock-up-your-bicycle-at-pine-and-11th Christopher Frizzelle <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/f356/1367866111-bikerack1photo.jpg" alt="Dont lock up here." title="Dont lock up here." width="500" height="375" /><ul><li class="imageCredit"></li><li class="imageCaption">Don't lock up here.</li></ul></div></p> <p><strong>Consumer alert: bike rack edition.</strong> Until a few weeks ago, the corner of Pine and 11th had a bike store on it, and so there's this feeling in the air that this corner might be a good place to lock up a bike, kind of a muscle-memory thing, since this corner used to be so friendly to bikes, used to be the place where you could go to fill up your tires with an automatic pump instead of having to pump the pump yourself, and buy bike lights, and flirt with Velo employees. But now that <a href="http://velobikeshop.com/">Velo has moved downtown</a> and the former entryway to the bike store has become a face-picking station for junkies, this rack has become the <strong>worst place to lock up your bike in America.</strong> If you leave it just for a few daylight hours, you're probably okay, but if you leave it overnight? Now that there are no eyes on the street anymore? Expect it to be dismembered beyond recognition.</p> <p>I left mine there overnight inadvertently recently&#8212;<em>The Stranger</em>'s office is about 100 inches away&#8212;and returned to find it <strong>missing a bike seat</strong>. Not even a nice bike seat, just some crummy squishy one of very little value. Why the hell would someone even want it? I noticed its absence when I went to get on my bike the next day to get to a meeting I was late for, and didn't have a spare half hour to wheel it up to <a href="http://2020cycle.com/">20/20 Cycle</a>, so I left it for another night, because I am a blooming idiot, and the next day the back tire was gone too. The rear of the frame resting on the sidewalk, the chain in a sad-sack pile. So <em>then</em> I took it to 20/20 Cycle, and an employee said he's heard from other people that their bikes are getting stripped at this exact corner.</p> <p>On the other side of where Velo used to be, there's another bike rack, and walking to work recently I came across this poor sucker:</p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/40fe/1367867219-bikerack2photo.jpg" alt="Sucks." title="Sucks." width="500" height="375" /><ul><li class="imageCredit"></li><li class="imageCaption">Sucks.</li></ul></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/whatever-you-do-dont-lock-up-your-bicycle-at-pine-and-11th#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16686355&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Two-Block Radius http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/06/whatever-you-do-dont-lock-up-your-bicycle-at-pine-and-11th?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16686355&id=comments 41 Whatever You Do, Don't Lock Up Your Bicycle at Pine and 11th Don't lock up here. Mon, 06 May 2013 12:14:19 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/03/memorial-bike-ride-for-lance-david http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/03/memorial-bike-ride-for-lance-david Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Ben Steiner</em></p> <p>At about 7 a.m on May 1, Lance David was <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/05/cyclist-killed-in-collision-with-truck-along-east-marginal-way-south/">killed in a collision with a truck</a> on East Marginal Way while biking to work. His was one of 11 bike fatalities in Seattle since 2007. West Seattle Bicycle Bike Connections is hosting a memorial bike ride for Lance David and all of the other cyclists who have lost their lives in traffic accidents. It starts at <strong>5:30 p.m. on May 7</strong>, at Seacrest Park, and will wind its way from there to the site of Wednesday's accident. (More details are on our news and politics <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Event?event=16665481">calendar</a>.)</p> <p>The ride will remain <strong>exclusively on protected bike paths</strong>, follows a 3.2 mile flat and relaxed route, and is accessible to anyone who can ride a bike.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/03/memorial-bike-ride-for-lance-david#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16665512&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/05/03/memorial-bike-ride-for-lance-david?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16665512&id=comments 21 Fri, 03 May 2013 14:35:14 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/22/a-building-and-a-bicycle http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/22/a-building-and-a-bicycle Bethany Jean Clement <p><div class="blogImageRight" style="width:280px;background-color:transparent; border:none;"><a href="http://thepolkadotjersey.com/home/"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/2575/1366661138-screen_shot_2013-04-22_at_1.05.04_pm.png" alt="Screen_shot_2013-04-22_at_1.05.04_PM.png" title="" width="268" height="157" /></a></div></p> <p>Charles has <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/18/the-amazing-bullit-center-part-one">serially</a> waxed <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/19/the-amazing-bullit-center-part-two">rhapsodic</a> about <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/anatomy-of-a-building/Content?oid=15446264">the supergreen Bullitt Center</a>, which is grand-opening at 15th and Madison, where C.C. Attle&#8217;s used to be, right this very moment. Indeed, it is impressive. More importantly to my bicycle, part of the grand opening is free bike repair, carried out on the spot by a very nice man named Matt, who runs <a href="http://thepolkadotjersey.com/home/">the Polka Dot Jersey</a> bicycle shop in Leschi. (The reference is to the winner in the climbing stages of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France">the Tour de France</a>&#8212;if you can demonstrate any knowledge about this, Matt will be gratified.) My bike had been changing gears all on its own, <strong>as if by an unseen hand</strong>, or indeed, as if there were a ghost in&#8212;or on&#8212;the machine. Matt remedied this situation in approximately four minutes, and also added air to my tires, changing the relationship of my bicycle&#8212;indeed, my very self&#8212;to the road.</p> <p>The point here is: This building may be beautiful, it may be green, it may know when to shade its own windows, it may have composting toilets, but this building has done me a concrete service&#8212;you might even say a service involving concrete itself. The building has also, for a brief moment on a sunny day,<strong> thrown off the shackles of capitalism</strong>, escaped the unseen hand of the market, giving this concrete service that at any other time requires payment in kind for no kind of payment at all. This is a thing that changes one's relationship to architecture.</p> <p>It is <a href="http://bullittcenter.org/news/blog/bullitt-center-grand-opening">unclear how long Matt will be there</a>, but go now, and change your bicycle's world.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/22/a-building-and-a-bicycle#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16561655&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Architecture http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/22/a-building-and-a-bicycle?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16561655&id=comments 5 A Building and a Bicycle Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:25:10 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/12/mayor-responds-to-an-open-letter-about-bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/12/mayor-responds-to-an-open-letter-about-bikes Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Ben Steiner</em></p> <p>Last week, Bethany posted an <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/05/a-modest-proposal-for-mayor-mcginn-i-know-you-like-bikes">open letter</a> on Slog that was sent to us from a bicycle enthusiast by the name of Mike. In Mike's letter, which he addressed to Mayor Mike McGinn, he suggested that Seattle <strong>create two bike-only streets in Seattle</strong>, one running north-south and the other going east-west. Well, Mike, today the mayor actually responded to your letter on his own blog. Now, Slog has created&#8212;for the first time&#8212;legitimate Mike-to-Mike correspondence. </p> <p>Mr. McGinn was <strong>not completely enamored</strong> with your bike-only street idea, Mike. However, he did voice his commitment to creating great north-to-south and east-to-west <em>routes</em> for bicycles. He also pointed out the fact that&#8212;although not necessarily on par with carless streets&#8212;Seattle is in the process of creating multiple protected bike right-of-way routes throughout the city. His crown jewel so far is the protected lane that just opened on 65th Avenue Northeast between the Burke-Gilman trail and Magnuson Park. </p> <p>Read his full response by <a href="http://mayormcginn.seattle.gov/an-open-response-to-an-open-letter/">clicking here</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/12/mayor-responds-to-an-open-letter-about-bikes#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16484007&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/12/mayor-responds-to-an-open-letter-about-bikes?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16484007&id=comments 8 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:17:11 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/05/a-modest-proposal-for-mayor-mcginn-i-know-you-like-bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/05/a-modest-proposal-for-mayor-mcginn-i-know-you-like-bikes Bethany Jean Clement <blockquote><p>Hi Mike,</p> <p>This is regarding bikes in Seattle:</p> <p>I know you like bikes. So do I. I have a proposal for Seattle which could put it squarely in the spotlight as <strong>the most bike-friendly major city in the US</strong> (which as we know is a magnet to all those hip, educated, 20/30-somethings that are the lifeblood of a city&#8217;s future). And, as far as transportation infrastructure goes, it's really, really cheap.</p> <p>It's called "1NS/1EW." <strong>One bike-only street that goes north-south and another that goes east-west.</strong> Cars get hundreds of streets, bikes should get one!</p> <p>Cars have the right-of-way everywhere in the US. European cities often have big carless plazas and bike-only streets. But except for Mayor Bloomberg&#8217;s pilot in Times Square, <strong>cars are literally, literally everywhere in the US</strong>. Isn&#8217;t it about time we ask for one little strip of their domain?</p> <p>This idea, by the way, is much different than a greenway. This isn&#8217;t a trail that skirts AROUND a city. And it isn&#8217;t tens of millions of dollars in cycle-track redevelopment. This is a NORMAL street.</p> <p>We take a standard, low-vehicular-traffic, two-way street that is centrally located. We change it so that, except for major intersections, cross traffic must stop. Then we sign it so that it is &#8220;Local Access Only&#8221;&#8212;in other words, cars and trucks can still travel half a block to load/unload/park as needed. Then we tell the city and the world that <strong>Seattle just invented the first major bike-only street in America</strong> for the cost of a few signs and some green paint. Done.</p> <p>Yes, it would be a small inconvenience for drivers, but it&#8217;s counterbalanced by the fact that it keeps cyclists "out of the way" of busier/faster streets. <strong>It&#8217;s like</strong> the &#8220;green streets&#8221; concept that <strong>Portland</strong> pioneered, <strong>only smarter.</strong></p> <p>I&#8217;m not a realtor, but I have a hunch it would be pretty cool to live or work on the bike-street. It&#8217;ll be quieter, safer and more pedestrian (aka shopper) friendly. I think property values would be driven up.</p> <p>Hey, I&#8217;m a driver too. And I know that Seattle, with all its water, is hard as hell to navigate. But to me, getting cyclists safely off the thoroughfares and onto their own is <strong>worth the sacrifice of one street</strong>. Let&#8217;s try it. Let&#8217;s pilot it. And if it doesn&#8217;t work, it&#8217;s a song to undo.</p> <p>Let me know what you think.</p> <p>Mike</p></blockquote> <p>I say: Hear, hear! What do you say?</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/05/a-modest-proposal-for-mayor-mcginn-i-know-you-like-bikes#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16426810&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Mailbag http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/04/05/a-modest-proposal-for-mayor-mcginn-i-know-you-like-bikes?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16426810&id=comments 54 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:19:19 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/03/04/lawmaker-backpedals-apologizes-for-claiming-that-cyclists-pollute-by-breathing http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/03/04/lawmaker-backpedals-apologizes-for-claiming-that-cyclists-pollute-by-breathing Cienna Madrid <p><a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/03/04/lawmaker-apologizes-for-saying-bicyclists-pollute-by-breathing/">Well okay</a>:<br /><blockquote>State Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, shifted gears Monday morning, apologizing for telling a bike-shop owner last week that <strong>bicyclists create carbon pollution, simply by exhaling</strong>.</p> <p>&#8220;First of all, <strong>let me apologize</strong> for the carbon emissions line of an e-mail which has caused so much concern within the bicycle community. It was over the top and I admit is not one which should enter into the conversation regarding bicycles,&#8221; read Orcutt&#8217;s Monday email to Seattle Bike Blog.</p></blockquote> <p>But before we forgive and forget, Orcutt should have to breathe nothing but cyclists' breath for a month straight for his stupidity.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/03/04/lawmaker-backpedals-apologizes-for-claiming-that-cyclists-pollute-by-breathing#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16159633&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Enviro http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/03/04/lawmaker-backpedals-apologizes-for-claiming-that-cyclists-pollute-by-breathing?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=16159633&id=comments 19 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:59:41 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/05/cyclists-are-better-for-the-economy http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/05/cyclists-are-better-for-the-economy Chicago Fan <p>Or so says <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/cyclists-and-pedestrians-can-end-spending-more-each-month-drivers/4066/">a study of Portland</a>. Long post short: cyclists spend less per visit, but visit more often and are more likely to be regular customers of small neighborhood businesses. Another argument for more bike infrastructure, even at the cost of parking spaces for cars.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/05/cyclists-are-better-for-the-economy#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=15453508&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/05/cyclists-are-better-for-the-economy?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=15453508&id=comments 15 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:18:43 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/10/10/new-york-city-shows-us-how-its-done http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/10/10/new-york-city-shows-us-how-its-done Dan Savage <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/1eca/1349889428-nychowitsdone.jpg" alt="nychowitsdone.JPG" title="" width="500" height="298" /></div></p> <p>Sidewalk, curb, bike path, parking, traffic.</p> <p>Of course we could never do this in Seattle. Because nothing that works anywhere else&#8212;even things that work everywhere else&#8212;works in Seattle. Our streets are too narrow (all of them), our hills are too steep (every street in Seattle goes oneway uphill), our weather is too rainy (except for the last six months), our cyclists are too crazy (totally crazy! totally crazy!), our drivers are too entitled (war on cars! war on cars!), etc., etc. Let's list all the reasons something like this couldn't work in Seattle&#8212;not even on wide streets, not even on flat streets&#8212;in the comments thread.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Whoops. I seem to have violated&#8212;brutally violated&#8212;Slog silence. In my defense, um, I'm in New York City and it's 1:30 PM here.</p> <p><strong>UPDATE 2:</strong> As Dominic wrote on Slog back in April, <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/04/23/cars-are-being-pushed-off-the-road">this is the kind of shit that ruined Paris</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/10/10/new-york-city-shows-us-how-its-done#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14985026&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes City At Large http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/10/10/new-york-city-shows-us-how-its-done?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14985026&id=comments 83 New York City Shows Us How It's Done Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:20:11 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/08/16/invisible-helmet-not-actually-invisible http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/08/16/invisible-helmet-not-actually-invisible Anna Minard <p>It just looks like a scarf. But it still seems pretty amazing. Have y'all seen this already? It's been flooding my internets for days. Two Swedish students-turned-businesswomen have invented <strong>a bicycle helmet that instantly inflates when you crash</strong>, like a head airbag. It is kept under a fashionable outer wrap and activated via "accelerometers and gyros." Here, see video:<br /><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uVZ0qiA-jBY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p>A longer video that is mostly interviews with the helmet's creators is <a href="http://vimeo.com/43038579">right here</a>. Here is <a href="http://www.hovding.com/">the website for the invis-helmet</a>, which is named H&#246;vding.</p> <p><small><em>Thanks, Slog Tipper Jon E.!</em></small></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/08/16/invisible-helmet-not-actually-invisible#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14483313&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Transportation Tech Fashion http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/08/16/invisible-helmet-not-actually-invisible?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14483313&id=comments 13 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:05:26 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/11/so-is-lance-armstrong-a-dope http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/11/so-is-lance-armstrong-a-dope Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Mike Gore</em></p> <p>Embattled seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer-fighting badass Lance Armstrong is being knocked around by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and might be down for the count. He's no stranger to controversy or doping allegations, but the latest round might be damning. </p> <p>In June, the USADA <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/18655970">formally charged</a> Armstrong with using performance enhancing drugs. Because of this, he isn't eligible to compete in Ironman triathlons for the rest of the year, as he had planned. Armstrong <strong>tried to sue</strong> the USADA and have a restraining order placed on the USADA. Judge Sam Sparks said (basically) that the suit was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/sports/lance-armstrong-files-suit-to-block-doping-charges.html">ridiculous</a>. </p> <p>This might sound like a whole lot of falderal that will eventually go away, just like every other doping allegation aimed at Armstrong over the past 15 years. I think, however, that <strong>this time is very different</strong>. </p> <p>Why? <strong>Everyone else is hunkering down</strong>.</p> <p>George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, and David Zabriske are generally recognized as the strongest American road cyclists, and each has spent time on a team with Armstrong. The four men also represented the USA in the 2008 Summer Olympics and were favorites for the London games.</p> <p>Around the time the allegations against Armstrong came out, the four men <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hincapie-leipheimer-vande-velde-zabriskie-opted-out-of-olympics">asked to not be on </a>the USA Olympic cycling team. Right after, a Dutch publication, <em>De Telegraff</em>, reported that the four men had made a deal with USADA to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/sports/cycling/former-teammates-to-testify-against-armstrong.html?src=recg">testify against Armstrong </a>in exchange for short suspensions in the off-season of 2012. All riders (and their respective team management) have denied making a deal to testify against Armstrong, but the fact that they're dropping out of the Olympics&#8212;which is highly unusual&#8212;is undisputed. </p> <p>That's not all, though. Johan Bruyneel, who was the team manager on each of Lance's Tour de France wins, <a href="http://www.johanbruyneel.com/news_articles/tour_statement_2012.html">pulled out</a> of this year's Tour just before the start. In his words: "my attendance in light of the recent USADA allegations against me would be an unwelcome distraction to my team." </p> <p>Bruyneel is <a href="http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/armstrongcharging0613.pdf">specifically named</a> in the USADA charging documents, which allege he gave doping materials to team members and "worked actively to conceal" many doping rules violations. The charging documents also implicate team doctors for administering EPO and other illegal substances&#8212;some of whom <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/story/2012-07-10/usada-lifetime-ban-lance-armstrong-michele-ferrari/56130256/1">received lifetime bans</a> this week.</p> <p>So we've got riders dropping out, doctors getting banned, and a team manager <strong>ducking below the radar just before the biggest races of the year</strong>.</p> <p>The USADA will have a tough case to make&#8212;Armstrong's lawyers are notoriously relentless, and some time has passed since he raced in the Tour de France&#8212;but it seems that people are acting awfully fishy. Pulling out of the biggest races of the year for vague, PR-esque reasons, seems suspicious.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/11/so-is-lance-armstrong-a-dope#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14150948&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Sports http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/11/so-is-lance-armstrong-a-dope?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14150948&id=comments 42 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:30:48 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/group-skewers-transportation-chair-for-two-faced-sabotage-of-bicycle-bills http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/group-skewers-transportation-chair-for-two-faced-sabotage-of-bicycle-bills Dominic Holden <p>The Cascade Bicycle Club today posted its <a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nTmTqKsO9lTlz7nfiJZEAJjM1YEYADNR">annual ratings</a> of Washington State lawmakers on the merits of their pro-bicycle voting records, finding that, generally speaking, urban lawmakers tend to do better than their exurban and rural counterparts. For example, Representatives Judge Clibborn, Joe Fitzgibbon, and Andy Billig (respectively from Bellevue, Seattle, and Spokane) all got 100 percent voting records. At the bottom, folks like Senator Tim Sheldon (D-Only Technically) of Potlatch was given an 11 percent rating and called out as the <strong>only member of his party to vote against</strong> a bill granting more flexibility when designing bicycle infrastructure. The report card is based on votes for nine bills, from letting cities reduce speed limits to appropriating cash to bicycle projects. </p> <p>Based on voting records <em>alone</em>, none of the ratings are shockers.</p> <p>But here's where there's some interesting nuance: Senate Transportation Committee chair <strong>Mary Margaret Haugen</strong> (D-Camano Island), who earned plaudits by swinging her vote in favor of marriage equality last winter, got a 100 percent rating. However... she still won a <strong>broken chain award</strong> as an opponent of safe cycling. </p> <p>"Don&#8217;t let Sen. Haugen&#8217;s voting record deceive you&#8212;her actions demonstrate that she does not support bicycling," her scorecard explains. "As chair of the Senate Transportation committee, Sen. Haugen <strong>actively works to block pro-bicycling legislation and funding</strong>. She worked to sabotage the passage of SHB 1217, the 'Neighborhood Safe Speeds bill,' and HB 2370, including health in the state transportation system policy goals, while standing as the single largest roadblock to securing local transportation funding options."</p> <p>I'm glad that the Cascade Bicycle Club didn't let Haugen off the hook. Too often these sorts of voting scorecards look superficially at voting records. But the influence of legislators, particularly powerful committee chairs, is often in shaping legislation or <strong>never allowing votes to happen in the first place</strong>. So, yeah, Haugen voted correctly, but she used her post to make sure things she opposed would never even reach the senate floor.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/group-skewers-transportation-chair-for-two-faced-sabotage-of-bicycle-bills#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14134393&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/group-skewers-transportation-chair-for-two-faced-sabotage-of-bicycle-bills?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14134393&id=comments 8 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:46:36 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/please-be-careful-opening-your-car-door-on-busy-streets http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/please-be-careful-opening-your-car-door-on-busy-streets Dominic Holden <p><div class="blogImageRight" style="width:237px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/e0fa/1341853502-sharrow.jpg" alt="A sharrow lane on Capitol Hill." title="A sharrow lane on Capitol Hill." width="225" height="169" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">DH</li><li class="imageCaption">A "sharrow" lane on Capitol Hill.</li></ul></div>My friend <strong>went to the hospital</strong> last night. He was carted off to Harborview Medical Center yesterday after riding his bicycle in a "sharrow" lane&#8212;a space between traffic and the parked cars where some paint suggests drivers and cyclists "share" the lane&#8212;at about 15 to 20 miles per hour. The door of a parked car flew open, directly into his path, and my friend <strong>hit the car door full speed</strong>. There was no way to slow down, nowhere to turn. My friend is in stable condition, but he suffered considerable injury to his abdomen. </p> <p>He didn't break any traffic rules. He was just riding where cyclists are supposed to ride on every street&#8212;in that channel between the cars lanes and parked cars. And the driver didn't do anything wrong, exactly, except not look to see if a cyclist was coming. Now my friend is facing upwards of $5,000 in medical bills. "<strong>Getting doored</strong>" is common enough that it's happened to five or six people I know in the last few years. </p> <p>There's no real solution except to say: Be careful, drivers, and open your doors slowly after checking to make sure no one is coming. There's literally <strong>nothing a cyclist can do in that situation</strong> to avoid a car door when he or she is pinned between traffic on the left and a row of parked cars on the right. </p> <p>And City Hall, when people talk about building protected bicycle lanes&#8212;physically separated from traffic&#8212;it's <strong>not because they fetishize Europe</strong>. It's basic infrastructure that serves public safety.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/please-be-careful-opening-your-car-door-on-busy-streets#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14131763&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/07/09/please-be-careful-opening-your-car-door-on-busy-streets?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14131763&id=comments 70 Please Be Careful Opening Your Car Door on Busy Streets A "sharrow" lane on Capitol Hill. DH Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:19:30 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/06/29/speaking-of-good-deeds http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/06/29/speaking-of-good-deeds Cienna Madrid <p>... Here's just one more and then I'll shut the fuck up.</p> <p>A good friend of mine, Jess, is <strong>searching for witnesses</strong> to a bike wreck that took place on 12th Ave at roughly 5:45 p.m. on June 8.</p> <p>For a full rundown of the accident, check out <a href="http://seattlebikeblog.com/2012/06/27/reader-looking-for-witnesses-after-she-was-doored-at-12th-and-marion-june-8/">Seattle Bike Blog</a>. The long and short of it is, Jess was riding southbound in the bike lane near Seattle University, headed towards Marion Street, when a driver opened his door into the bike lane and doored her. The problem is, she passed out briefly when her helmeted head hit the ground and admits that the details of the accident are fuzzy (although she distinctly remembers being doored), so police decided to take the driver's word&#8212;corroborated by his wife/passenger&#8212;on what happened. </p> <p>Their story basically is, <strong>"she spontaneously fell next to our open car door."</strong> </p> <p>Without witnesses, the driver won't be held responsible for fracturing Jess's wrist and elbow, or for damaging her bike. So: If you happened to be around SU on June 8 and <strong>see a pretty girl eat asphalt</strong> after being doored by a car, please email <a href="mailto:jessmack@gmail.com">jessmack@gmail.com</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/06/29/speaking-of-good-deeds#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14060338&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Crime Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/06/29/speaking-of-good-deeds?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=14060338&id=comments 25 Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:50:15 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/17/sdot-releases-new-beautiful-seattle-bike-maps http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/17/sdot-releases-new-beautiful-seattle-bike-maps Unpaid Intern <p><em>Posted by news intern Joseph Staten</em></p> <p>Just in time for our fantastically beautiful spring, the Seattle Department of Transportation has released a new, fully-updated Seattle Bicycling Guide Map featuring <strong>every single bike route in the city</strong>, including green bike lanes and bike boxes.</p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2012/05/17/1337287210-screen_shot_2012-05-17_at_1.39.27_pm.png" alt="Green lines show bike trails, blue lines show lanes, and orange lines show arterial streets. The dots indicate signed bike routes." title="Green lines show bike trails, blue lines show lanes, and orange lines show arterial streets. The dots indicate signed bike routes." width="500" height="165" /><ul><li class="imageCredit"></li><li class="imageCaption">Green lines indicate dedicated bike trails.</li></ul></div></p> <p>Order a paper copy from SDOT <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikemapform.htm">here</a> or download a digital copy (<a href="http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/docs/2012BikeMap.pdf">.pdf</a>). You can also plan your bike trip in advance using SDOT's <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikemapOnline.htm">interactive bicycle map</a>. And don't forget, <a href="http://cbcef.org/btw/btw_day.html">Bike to Work Day</a> is tomorrow. Yeeeehaw!</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/17/sdot-releases-new-beautiful-seattle-bike-maps#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=13690095&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes News http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/17/sdot-releases-new-beautiful-seattle-bike-maps?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=13690095&id=comments 12 SDOT Releases New, Beautiful Seattle Bike Maps Green lines are bike trails, blue lines are bike lanes, and orange lines are arterial streets. The dots indicate signed bike routes. Thu, 17 May 2012 13:47:19 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/21/name-this-band-special-reading-comprehension-edition http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/21/name-this-band-special-reading-comprehension-edition Grant Brissey <p><a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2012/03/21/name-this-band-special-reading-comprehension-edition">Use your book smarts here!</a></p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/21/name-this-band-special-reading-comprehension-edition?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=13112159&id=comments 0 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:24:51 -0700 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/08/im-on-a-motherfucking-bike http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/08/im-on-a-motherfucking-bike Bethany Jean Clement <p>Please enjoy/misinterpret/hate upon:</p> <p><iframe width="500" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgCqz3l33kU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p><small>Thanks to Slog tipper Jamey.</small></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/08/im-on-a-motherfucking-bike#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12948814&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/08/im-on-a-motherfucking-bike?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12948814&id=comments 14 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:54:06 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/06/the-be-sweatering http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/06/the-be-sweatering Bethany Jean Clement <p><div class="blogImageRight" style="width:212px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/b6eb/1330997458-screen_shot_2012-03-05_at_5.30.27_pm.png" alt="Cozy! Cute! Gone!" title="Cozy! Cute! Gone!" width="200" height="267" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">Slog reader Melanie</li><li class="imageCaption">Cozy! Cute! Gone!</li></ul></div></p> <p>Slog reader Melanie writes:</p> <blockquote><p>The little be-sweatered trees around the courthouse are <strong>back to being nude</strong>. Does anyone at <em>The Stranger</em> know why?</p></blockquote> <p>Dominic points out that <strong>trees are people, too</strong>, and no one wants to always wear the same sweater. </p> <p>For my part, may I direct your attention to what happens to these cozy, cute sweaters applied to inanimate objects when they are <strong>left there forever by neglectful knitters</strong>? This is on the bike rack where I lock my bike every day and IT IS GROSS and THERE ARE TWO, ONE ON EACH END. Why don't I remove them myself? 1.) I didn't put them there, and 2.) DOG-LEVEL. The horror.</p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:462px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/4ad5/1330997612-img_3857.jpg" alt="Anti-cozy! No longer cute! STILL THERE!" title="Anti-cozy! No longer cute! STILL THERE!" width="450" height="338" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">The Stranger</li><li class="imageCaption">Anti-cozy! No longer cute! STILL THERE!</li></ul></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/06/the-be-sweatering#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12912156&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Wilderness Fashion http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/06/the-be-sweatering?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12912156&id=comments 13 The Be-Sweatering Cozy! Cute! Gone! Slog reader Melanie Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:30:05 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/10/survey-says-cyclists-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-their-bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/10/survey-says-cyclists-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-their-bikes Bethany Jean Clement <p>Wow, <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5883967/cyclists-prefer-bikes-to-sex">bicyclists really are crazy!</a>*</p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:187px;"><a href="http://www.bicycling.com/"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/be84/1328892871-screen_shot_2012-02-10_at_8.52.47_am.png" alt="The pertinent data from the survey." title="The pertinent data from the survey." width="175" height="221" /></a><ul><li class="imageCredit">Bicycling magazine</li><li class="imageCaption">The pertinent data from <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/sites/default/files/uploads/bicycling-readers-choice-12.pdf">the survey</a>.</li></ul></div></p> <p><small>Thanks, Rob Man.</p> <p>*Kidding! Only 50 percent of the men and 58 percent of the women bicyclists who read <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/">Bicycling</a> magazine and answered its 2012 Readers' Choice survey are crazy.</small></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/10/survey-says-cyclists-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-their-bikes#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12462382&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes ??!! http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/10/survey-says-cyclists-would-rather-give-up-sex-than-their-bikes?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=12462382&id=comments 31 Survey Says: Cyclists Would Rather Give Up Sex Than Their Bikes The pertinent data from <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/sites/default/files/uploads/bicycling-readers-choice-12.pdf">the survey</a>. Bicycling magazine Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:57:05 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/23/dear-conscientious-bicyclists http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/23/dear-conscientious-bicyclists David Schmader <p>If you ever get pulled over for a traffic violation, <strong>don't try to flee on foot</strong>.<br />But if you do flee, take care not to touch yourself anywhere near your waistband.<br /><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/sheriffs-deputies-fatally-shoot-man-in-lancaster.html">You've been warned</a>.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/23/dear-conscientious-bicyclists#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11934520&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes Horrors http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/23/dear-conscientious-bicyclists?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11934520&id=comments 28 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:33:58 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/04/more-musician-regrets-than-were-in-the-paper-are-on-our-internet-portal http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/04/more-musician-regrets-than-were-in-the-paper-are-on-our-internet-portal Grant Brissey <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2012/01/04/1325720393-music-regrets-570.jpg" alt="MUSICIANS Making regrettable decisions since the beginning of music." title="MUSICIANS Making regrettable decisions since the beginning of music." width="500" height="351" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">Kelly O</li><li class="imageCaption"><b>MUSICIANS</b> Making regrettable decisions since the beginning of music.</li></ul></div></p> <p>Here's a favorite:</p> <p><strong>Shenandoah Davis (Shenandoah Davis):</strong> I regret agreeing to stay in a place called &#8220;Shit Mansion&#8221; in Buffalo, New York. It smelled like cat pee, human pee, cigarettes, and decomposed food. I also regret sitting through a performance in Provo, Utah, where a young singer-songwriter mourned the successes of Barack Obama. It was called &#8220;Black Butterfly&#8221; and was met with violent applause. Ick.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/times-is-tough-all-over/Content?oid=11412284">READ ALL OF THEM >></a></p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/04/more-musician-regrets-than-were-in-the-paper-are-on-our-internet-portal?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11437850&id=comments 0 More Musician Regrets Than Were in the Paper Are on Our Internet Portal <b>MUSICIANS</b> Making regrettable decisions since the beginning of music. Kelly O Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:41:20 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/21/looking-for-some-evening-reading http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/21/looking-for-some-evening-reading Grant Brissey <p>Read Charles Mudede on Sting, Paul Simon, Gregory Issacs, and Bruce Springsteen shows... <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/random-remembrances-while-watching-sting-at-the-paramount/Content?oid=11182850">a quarter century ago in Zimbabwe.</a></p> Bikes International http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/21/looking-for-some-evening-reading?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11197331&id=comments 0 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:32:03 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/16/the-year-in-responses-to-questions-from-trent-moormans-sound-check http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/16/the-year-in-responses-to-questions-from-trent-moormans-sound-check Grant Brissey <p><a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2011/12/16/sound-check-2011-top-responses">Read them all, with links to the articles, here.</a></p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/16/the-year-in-responses-to-questions-from-trent-moormans-sound-check?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11118553&id=comments 0 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:58:57 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/09/now-that-i-use-a-kindle http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/09/now-that-i-use-a-kindle Charles Mudede <p>I only buy meaty books...<br /><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:312px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/12/09/1323449073-mhm_1111208163018.jpeg" alt="MHM_1111208163018.jpeg" title="" width="300" height="300" /></div><br />This arrived yesterday from Powell's Books.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/09/now-that-i-use-a-kindle#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11021203&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/09/now-that-i-use-a-kindle?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11021203&id=comments 11 Now That I Use a Kindle... Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:43:34 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/08/build-dutch-junctions-in-seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/08/build-dutch-junctions-in-seattle Dominic Holden <p>In light of the cyclist who was wearing a helmet, reflective gear, and lights <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Cyclist-killed-in-Kirkland-2388070.php#ixzz1fxnUuQ4T">getting killed by a possibly-drunk SUV driver</a> in a Kirkland intersection this morning, it seems timely to share this video (via my friend Chris) on how Holland does a proper junction for vehicles and bicycles. First, here's a conceptual video that shows how a four-way stop doesn't consume much extra street space, allows cyclists to make safe turns, and helps drivers from accidentally crushing their friends on the road:</p> <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="500" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FlApbxLz6pA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p>Next, here's the intersection <strong>in practice</strong>, including room for street parking:</p> <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="500" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5HDN9fUlqU8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></p> <p><br />Admittedly, this sort of transportation overhaul may be more than mewling freeway defenders like Seattle City Council member Richard Conlin are ready to embrace. The status quo must be upheld at any cost because we have hills, roads are narrow, our city has a pinched "hourglass" geography, Olympia holds us hostage to our own political fecklessness, and other excuses we've heard a million times. But on highly trafficked suburban arterials, where the roads are wider, officials could&#8212;and <em>should</em>&#8212;throw down short dividers between bicycle and vehicle lanes and reclaim a few more feet of roadway for cyclists. </p> <p>Imagine what that sort of protected bike lane would do for this intersection in Kirkland, where the cyclist was hit so hard this morning that, according to media reports, <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Cyclist-killed-in-Kirkland-2388070.php#ixzz1fxnUuQ4T">his bike split in two</a>:</p> <p><div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211017873417360014927.0004b39a02a9a176ae440&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=47.711375,-122.166566&spn=0.000938,0.002411&t=m&vpsrc=0&layer=c&cbll=47.711441,-122.166711&panoid=BsQelz7il6O0o6bv_wSUpw&cbp=12,204.65,,0,5.66&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211017873417360014927.0004b39a02a9a176ae440&msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=47.711375,-122.166566&spn=0.000938,0.002411&t=m&vpsrc=0&layer=c&cbll=47.711441,-122.166711&panoid=BsQelz7il6O0o6bv_wSUpw&cbp=12,204.65,,0,5.66&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">My Saved Places</a> in a larger map</small></div></p> <p>Likewise, Seattle should be capable of building similar bicycle infrastructure, at least on wide busy roads like Dexter Avenue North (where <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015760594_cyclist29m.html">Michael Wang was fatally struck by an SUV in August</a> while wearing a helmet) and at intersections used frequently by bicycles like University and Campus Parkway (where <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016175676_bicyclist12m.html">Robert Townsend was fatally hit in September</a> while wearing a helmet).</p> <p>Not just a sharrow, not just a painted bike box, not just a bike lane. But real infrastructure to protect cyclists and establish clear intersection priority. Infrastructure that that both saves lives and encourages people to ride a bicycle for their commutes without the risk of serious injury or death. It seems that if our politicians could divert a fraction of their energy they put into defending the convenience of freeways, they could actually make differences in life or death issues that is actually <em>good</em> for cities. Sorry to be on so high on my goddamn high horse, but I fucking hate updating this graphic:</p> <p><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/12/08/1323377648-citylead02timeline-click.jpg" alt="CityLead02timeline-CLICK.jpg" title="" width="500" height="255" /></div></p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/08/build-dutch-junctions-in-seattle#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11010604&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/12/08/build-dutch-junctions-in-seattle?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=11010604&id=comments 40 How to Build a Better Intersection Recent cyclists deaths in Washingotn State. Ananda La Vita Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:49:06 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/11/29/whats-up-with-that-bike-covered-in-mosaic-tiles-outside-neumos http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/11/29/whats-up-with-that-bike-covered-in-mosaic-tiles-outside-neumos Christopher Frizzelle <p><a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2011/11/29/have-you-seen-this-bike-covered-in-mosaic-tiles-locked-up-outside-neumos"><div class="blogImageCenter" style="width:512px;"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/11/29/1322636131-img_7875.jpg" alt="IMG_7875.JPG" title="" width="500" height="375" /><ul><li class="imageCredit">Timothy Rysdyke</li><li class="imageCaption"></li></ul></div></a></p> <p>More pictures <a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2011/11/29/have-you-seen-this-bike-covered-in-mosaic-tiles-locked-up-outside-neumos">here.</a></p> Bikes Arts Nightlife http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/11/29/whats-up-with-that-bike-covered-in-mosaic-tiles-outside-neumos?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=10893333&id=comments 0 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:58:39 -0800 The Stranger http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/10/20/pleaseits-a-city-not-a-racetrack http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/10/20/pleaseits-a-city-not-a-racetrack Dominic Holden <p>The car-versus-bicycle rhetoric may not be directly responsible for murdering people, but it may be <em>preventing us from saving lives</em>. The Daily Sightline is assailing local media's talking heads at KING, KIRO, and KOMO for their recent coverage of a bill that would <strong>allow cities to lower speed limits on non-arterial roads</strong> (side streets) from 30 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour. Here's <a href="http://daily.sightline.org/2011/10/18/the-war-on-kids-the-elderly-and-other-people-who-walk/">their take</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Between 2000 and 2009, 683 people were killed by cars while walking in Washington. Local control over residential speed limits would not have saved all of those people, but it might have saved some. Yet here&#8217;s local loudmouth Dori Monson today:</p> <blockquote><p>[Mayor] McGinn&#8217;s <strong>hatred of cars</strong> and drivers is bordering on pathological&#8230; I do know that he is doing everything possible to make Seattle one of the <strong>most car-unfriendly cities</strong> in the country.</p></blockquote> <p><div class="blogImageRight" style="width:212px;"><a href="http://daily.sightline.org/2011/10/18/the-war-on-kids-the-elderly-and-other-people-who-walk/"><img src="http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/10/20/1319134020-sightline_mph_death.gif" alt="A vehicle driving 30 miles per hour is 9 times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a collision than a vehicle traveling 20 miles per hour." title="A vehicle driving 30 miles per hour is 9 times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a collision than a vehicle traveling 20 miles per hour." width="200" height="224" /></a><ul><li class="imageCredit">Sightline Institute</li><li class="imageCaption">A vehicle driving 30 miles per hour is 9 times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a collision than a vehicle traveling 20 miles per hour.</li></ul></div>For the record, there&#8217;s nothing partisan&#8212;much less &#8220;pathological&#8221;&#8212;about reducing red tape for cities that want to reduce traffic speeds to protect their citizens, especially when it&#8217;s children and the elderly who are disproportionately killed by speeding cars.</p> <p>So here&#8217;s my own modest proposal: instead of ranting like lunatics about an <a href="http://daily.sightline.org/2011/01/03/war-on-cars-a-history/">imaginary &#8220;war on cars,&#8221;</a> maybe Washington&#8217;s commentator class could spend some time with this interactive <a href="http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign2011/map/#?latlng=47.606297,-122.331884">map of pedestrian fatalities in the state</a>. And then study the <a href="http://t4america.org/resources/dangerousbydesign2011/states/?state=wa">city and county statistics</a>. And then read Alan&#8217;s thorough and judicious case for why <a href="http://daily.sightline.org/2011/08/01/let-cities-lower-speed-limits/">local speed limit-setting is a good idea</a>.</p></blockquote> <p>Mayor Mike McGinn's outspoken support may be a liability for this bill, sure, but the bill failed to pass in the state legislature last year even without his kiss of death. If the bill has a chance in 2012&#8212;a chance of passing&#8212;then media yappers need to <strong>drop the divisive braying about the victimhood of being behind the wheel</strong>. This isn't about cars being pushed off the road or Seattle being hostile to cars (please, it's not a racetrack). And it's not about all cars going slower everywhere (just in neighborhoods). It's about saving lives.</p> <p>[ <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/10/20/pleaseits-a-city-not-a-racetrack#comments">Comment on this story</a> ]</p> <p>[ <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=10422851&amp;id=comments">Subscribe to the comments on this story</a> ]</p> Bikes http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/10/20/pleaseits-a-city-not-a-racetrack?show=comments#readerComments http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Rss.xml?oid=10422851&id=comments 43 Please&#8212;It's a City, Not a Racetrack A vehicle driving 30 miles per hour is 9 times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a collision than a vehicle traveling 20 miles per hour. Sightline Institute Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:16:13 -0700 The Stranger