Tag Archives: Stupidity

Twice in Two Days

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That’s how many times I was nearly hit by a driver not paying attention. I don’t know that there’s any way to compare that to the average ride for the average rider, but for me, it’s twice the number of near misses I’ve had for the last three four years. My own memory is very likely faulty, but I only remember one other instance.

91st & Lowell Yesterday morning, I was heading south on Lowell and turning left onto 91st when a woman heading east on 91st Terrace went straight through the intersection towards 91st St after I was already well into my turn. She, in effect, wanted to share precious intersection space with me. I saw it happening, easily adjusted my course and we pulled into the eastbound lane side by side with me in the middle and her next to the curb. She sped ahead with a look of shock (reproach? distaste?) on her face and I moved to the right behind her. I tried to catch her at Foster – you know, for a friendly reminder about paying attention – but the light turned before I got there and she was gone. Oh well.

King's Cove & Brittany This morning, I was much closer to home at an intersection within an apartment complex. I was heading east on Kings Cove Dr, and the driver heading north on Brittany St and turning west into me. When I say “into me” that’s exactly what I mean. In spite of my rather crazy bright light (ok, only 140 lumens) and bright fluorescent windbreaker, the driver clearly didn’t see me and just pulled out. I saw it coming though, and easily engaged pulled into the oncoming lane with a rather loud, throaty and heart-felt “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!!” I’m sure they only heard “WAt wer yr gn…” I looked back and they were stopped (in the middle of the road). I can only hope they had to stop b/c their own inattentiveness lanced adrenalized terror through their chest. That might be too naïve though.

Rather than continue the focus on the well covered topic of driver inattention, I want to turn the focus away from what others are doing, and point out two things:

  1. I made it safely through both scenarios because I was paying attention, was planning ahead and was riding defensively. I can’t help whether drivers are paying attention, or if they’re reading, writing, putting on makeup, eating, using their mobile phone to text or talk, or any of the 10,000 other things people do instead of drive, but I can help whether I’m paying attention, and at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to keep me rubber side down.
  2. These back-to-back near incidents inspired me to do something I’ve needed to do for some time. In the first case, it’s entirely possible that, because of my bike’s position relative to the woman driving and the position of the lighting on my bike (front and rear only), she just didn’t see me. Additionally, it was that low visibility dusk/dawn period. I’ll give her that. So, I’ve ordered a helmet light I can flash in people’s eyes, and two rear lights I’ll attach to my fork pointing to the sides. I used to have that setup, but I let it slide through exchanging this bike for that, that light for this, etc., you know how it goes. I’m also looking into some highly-reflective tape for my pannier and frame (nod to CommuterDude for the tips on electrical tape and placement).
    Blackburn Flea 2.0 RearBlackburn Flea 2.0 RearBlackburn Flea 2.0 RearBlackburn Flea 2.0 Rear

So, there you have it. I’ve had two near-encounters with inattentive drivers in as many days, after zero encounters in years. I’m sure it’s a statistical anomaly, rather than an indication of things to come, but just to be sure, I’m ramping up my visibility.

Just do me a favor will you, don’t tell my wife about this. She worries enough as it is. :)

Baffled by Drivers, an Unapologetic Homage to Driving Safely

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I’ve mentioned before that riding my bike to work every day for a year taught me more about driving than driving for 20 years did. I may have even mentioned that I’ve mentioned it before, though I can’t find where now.

I recently read a post by Dave wherein he basically says he’s going to drive the speed limit and if you don’t like it, then that’s just tough.

I read another post by rainycamp over at Bike Noob wherein he marvels at the general looniness of drivers.

I’m right there on board with Dave. I drive the speed limit, give (or even take) a couple mph. Sometimes, when I’m passing I even drive the speed limit in the passing lane (note it’s called the “passing lane” and not the “speeding lane”). Yes. I’m that guy. *gasp* The horror! The aggravation obvious in the wild gesticulations, disgusted shaking of heads and clearly mouthed epithets of those behind me wishing to push the limits of officer tolerance do nothing to sway me. Believe me, you’ll get where you’re going, and not only will you do it with less risk of catastrophe, but you’re likely shaving more seconds off the end of your life from the stress of raging at me, than you’re losing due to my abhorrent adherence to the speed limit. So calm down, relax, and enjoy your extra life.

I also understand where rainycamp is coming from. There have been precious few trips I’ve made in my car where I didn’t witness someone doing something either remarkably stupid, or utterly ineffectual and inefficient.

We’ve all seen drivers peel away at stop lights only to have to stop at the next one a block or two away. What a sad waste of gas and increased wear & tear.

We’ve all seen drivers jockey for position with sudden and rapid repeated lane changes, only to find themselves stopped at the same light as we are, having gained all of a single car length advantage.

We’ve all seen drivers swerve across three lanes of 65+mph traffic to make the exit they weren’t paying attention to.

We’ve all seen drivers reading while they drive. Or putting on make-up. Or eating with both hands. Or texting. Or fully turned around to smack a kid up in the backseat.

We’ve all seen the driver pass us at +20mph on the highway, only to end up alongside us after an exit ramp, or the stop light when we reach town, or better yet, on the side of the road being ticketed for speeding, thus losing all their speed advantage, and some of their money to boot.

Witnessing those, and other completely pointless acts of idiocy never fails to completely baffle me. I know it shouldn’t. I know I should be cynical and jaded enough that such things no longer surprise me, but I can’t help it. I’m constantly amazed at what seems to be such criminally willful stupidity and a complete lack of situational and consequential awareness.

Furthermore, riding a bike makes obvious through my own physical efforts the physics of movement, momentum and speed, and the cost of acceleration. I carry those lessons over to my driving, and have, as a consequence, made conscious and concerted efforts to eliminate idiocy from my own driving. I’m sure there are a few things (more than a few, likely) that I still do that I’ll eventually correct… my education isn’t finished, but it’s on its way.

Some of the things I do in an attempt to create a safe, effective and efficient trip for myself (because all I can control is my own actions) include, but are not exclusive to:

  • Plan well ahead to minimize lane changes, thus reducing the risk of collision.
  • Use my turn signal. Yes. I really do. In fact, I take it one step further and use my turn signal to alert other drivers of my intention. That’s right. I use it to tell other drivers what I want to do, not what I am doing. Note the difference there. It’s subtle, I know, but it’s critical. I like to think people appreciate it, but I doubt it.
  • If I miss my turn, I don’t scream across three lanes to make it at the last possible second… I skip it, take the next turn, and back track. No big deal. I lose a few minutes, but I don’t present an undue threat, compound the already significant risks involved, or increase natural stress level inherent to the speeds at which we travel (no one gets road ragey with me when I make relaxed, gradual and advertised lane changes).
  • Set the cruise control at the speed limit to eliminate the risk of a ticket, and to remove the additional distraction of having to worry about my speed. Yes, I do this everywhere and at all times save inclement weather.
    • I’ve not found any documentation to say it increases wear on modern transmissions and engines at lower speeds as it used to.
    • I maintain my foot in position in case of the need to suddenly brake (which I’m more able to observe, given that I’m not worried about my speed).
    • I refuse to be intimidated by tailgating. If someone chooses to tailgate me, that’s their choice. I won’t speed for them, nor will I change lanes out of their way any faster or slower than were they not tailgating. This includes periods of time during which I’m passing other drivers in the passing lane. Folk are free to tailgate, but it’s not on me if there’s a collision and I’m behaving in an otherwise safe and law-abiding manner. Besides, I’m due for a new car anyway. I won’t make special arrangements for tailgaters one way or the other. Tailgating me increases the risk of collision without introducing a corresponding benefit. Were that more people opted not to capitulate to highway intimidation tactics (aka, bullying).
    • Driving the speed limit everywhere may give rise to the opinion that I’m an “Old Fogey”, or even an “A$$hole.” That’s fine. It’s just an opinion, and that particular one is meaningless to me.
  • Generally speaking, I’ve made attempts to start thinking of myself as part of a system, rather than an individual. Sure, I, like everyone else, have my own agenda and destination, but until I reach it, I’m just one small, relatively insignificant part of a much larger and incomprehensibly complex whole.

The other day I came up behind a minivan with a few odds and ends on the back that amused me. First, near the top was an obviously home printed sign taped to the inside of the rear window that read “What is the speed limit?”. Below that, and above the license plate was another sign that read “I’m retired.” Below the license plate was another that read “Go around me.” Finally, attached to the hitch was a hand held palm out and all fingers extended as if to say “Hold” or “Back off.”

It amused me. I laughed. And I followed at the speed limit at a safe distance.

Another go at the Octoginta

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I’m giving the Octoginta another go on Sunday. It’ll be an 80 mile challenge.

Here’s why:

I’ve not ridden more than 40 miles in a single ride since the Triple Bypass last July. Pssst. Here’s a little secret about that ride… Even though that ride is 120 miles, it’s really only 60, because for the other 60, all you do is hold on for dear life while you, screaming like a school girl, pass cars at 45-50mph going downhill.

I’m about 15lbs fatter than I was then. Not merely heavier. No. It’s all fat. No muscle here. I have, for better or worse, reclaimed a liking for chicken patties and frozen pizza. Also, I’m married now, which apparently necessarily means I’m fat and happy. It’s amazing how suddenly the former arrived after the latter.

As I wasn’t very strong then, I can’t be very strong now. That means I’m pretty weak. Please see my previous post, 100 Whatnots, for details. As of this writing, I’m halfway through Week One.

I’ll take my camera with me on Sunday to document my suffering. Did I mention early registration starts at 7, and that it’s 45 minutes away?

Feel free to laugh at me in the comments. You will be judged on your originality, cleverness and sophistication.

Apparently, the window washer outside my office window…

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  • is an ex-con recently released
  • is looking for casual sex
  • is looking for casual sex with a male
  • is looking for casual sex with a male at 5:30pm this evening
  • does not feel it is necessary to shower prior to this encounter
  • is in construction
  • feels he is able to “open up” with his conversation partner because they have “formed a bond”
  • has never met his conversation partner face-to-face
  • enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male
  • enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male when he is in the “giving position”
  • enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male when he is in the “receiving position”
  • favors tequila
  • does not go “ass-to-mouth”
  • does not mix marijuana and alcohol
  • prefers bowls to pipes or cigarettes
  • is in need of a haircut
  • is unwilling to pay for said haircut
  • believes “friends with benefits” is the most beneficial of all possible relationship scenarios
  • has endured scrotal beatings while incarcerated
  • did not particularly enjoy said scrotal beatings
  • finds watching others involved in group encounters “hysterical”
  • is completely unaware that I can hear every foul word he utters
  • probably wouldn’t care if he knew

She Was Reading. While She Was Driving.

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I meant to post about this yesterday, but I got busy right when I got home, and then when the busy wore off, I got relaxed on the couch in front of the television.

To set the scene, as I was riding home yesterday, around the corner of 91st and Lamar, I was part of a long line of traffic caught behind a school bus that had stopped to let off some kiddos.

The woman in the car in front of me was reading what looked like business documents. The papers were propped up on her steering wheel, and she was reading them the entire time I was behind her. Granted, it was very slow moving traffic, and it was stop-and-go while we approached the stop sign, but she was reading while she was driving.

She was reading. While she was driving.

Nothing is so important that it couldn’t wait until she got to where she was going. I don’t care what it was. Nope. Not even that. It could have waited.

Remember the school bus? There were children all around. They were running this way and that on either side of the street. How many of you haven’t seen a child run out into the street without warning? They don’t do it often, but every now and again… and this idiot woman was reading while she was driving. With children around.

I know she wasn’t paying attention to the road because twice she jerk-stopped the car in surprise because the car in front of her had stopped. She didn’t notice the illuminated brake lights because… well… she was reading. While she was driving.

I really wish I’d gotten her license plate, or called her in for reckless driving, or at least tapped on her window and suggested she pay attention to what she was doing – the driving part of what she was doing, not the reading part. Had she actually hit someone, I guarantee I would have felt guilty for not doing so. Not as guilty as she would have felt, but guilty nonetheless.

At the stop sign, she went straight and I turned right. I watched her drive away, shaking my head, hoping she didn’t have far to go and praying that she didn’t kill anyone on her way.

Feel free to quote me the next time someone complains about cyclists behaving recklessly, inattentively, or unpredictably. It’s not a bicycle problem. It’s not a car problem. It’s a people problem.

Never ascribe to malice that which can adequately be explained by incompetence

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Last night, I checked the mail and had three Netflix movies waiting for me! Excellent! Except for one small thing… I don’t have a Netflix account.

Huh. Immediately suspicious, I decided to dig in and see what I could find out. My first step, having opened the movies to see what they were (nothing worth watching, and no… no pr0n), I sat down at the laptop and brought up netflix.com. I’m not a member… well… I’m not a knowing member, so I had no idea what my username would be, much less my password. Normally, you can have instructions sent to the e’mail address on file, but I was confident that in my case, my own e’mail address wouldn’t be on file. However, they have a method of logging in if you don’t remember, or have access to the e’mail address you signed up with. It asks for the first name, last name and card number used to sign up with. Using my real first and last name, I started going through my credit cards to see which one had fallen into the wrong hands. I didn’t have far to go… I got a hit on the first try.

I started digging into the account, and while the name and address were mine, the phone number and e’mail address were not. I called the number, on the off chance that I’d find the person responsible, but instead reached a nice couple who (if they can be trusted) don’t have a Netflix account either. We talked for a while, and they’ll be monitoring their credit closely. I then called the credit card company and had the card canceled and a new one reissued. Finally, I called Netflix themselves and appraised them of the situation. They canceled the account and forwarded it to their fraud department, telling me someone would contact me in the next 1 to 3 days. Some scissors to the card and I’m all done.

I can’t help but wonder what kind of completely incompetent idiot steals credit card information to purchase goods online, only to have the goods sent to the rightful owner of the card! The mind, it boggles. It really worked out for me, b/c the proof of fraud was hand delivered to my mailbox, so I’m not complaining… but it begs a few questions… How did they get the card information? When did they get it? Could it be a diversion? Were they drawing my attention away from the real fraud? Or were they truly, just that stupid? There were no charges to any of my cards that I can’t account for, so if they’d planned other acts of theft, they hadn’t gotten to them yet. Still, I’ll be watching very closely.

This morning, I returned the movies I’d been sent in their very handy self addressed no-postage-necessary envelopes. Though it wasn’t necessarily the ideal of first experiences, my experience with Netflix was actually very very good. I might even consider signing up for an account.

In a final bit of humor, I did some searches for quotes about incompetence for the title, and one of the sites had a pop up ad for… you guessed it… Netflix!

Driver involved in [and causes] fatal accident faces jail time

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WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – A man faces up to [a mere] 60 days in jail in connection with a November 2007 accident that killed a West Burlington man who was riding a bicycle.

A judge found Marvin Oberly guilty last week of driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway and passing a vehicle on the wrong side. Douglas Kenney died of [the tragic and needless] injuries he suffered in the accident on Nov. 9, 2007 [due to Oberly’s utterly irresponsible and reckless actions].

Oberly is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30. He faces [a paltry] 30 days in jail for each of the counts and up to a year suspension [rather than the far more just complete and permanent revocation] of his drivers license. [It is left as an exercise for the reader to rationalize how 60 days in jail and a year's suspension balances out the irresponsibility and recklessness that resulted in Kenney's death.]

Prosecutors argued that Oberly drove up behind Kenney in his pickup and collided with the bicycle Kenney, who was riding his bicycle in a manner consistent with safety and law.

Oberly testified provided the lame and weak excuse during his trial that glare from the sun prevented him from seeing Kenney[, which would have been inconsequential had be been driving on the correct side of the road and not passed another vehicle on the shoulder].

Original here.

Don’t Mess With The Squanto

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Slightly off-topic post today, but this is, or could be, a rather pressing matter, and I’d like both to record the timing of it, and submit a request for thoughts and ideas.

I took The Squanto to the vet yesterday, and found out that he’s 20lbs. On a 16lbs dog frame, that’s a lot of extra weight. It’ll dramatically increase his chances of having all manner of internal organ problems, including his heart and lungs, increase his risk of cancer, and very likely give him premature joint issues, such as arthritis, and could be the cause of his coughing as the extra weight compresses his trachea.

I’d like to keep him around for a while, and given Schipperke’s lifetimes, that could be another 8 years or so. That means he has to lose that weight

I’ve been aware of this for some time, and to maintain his weight at the healthy 15-17lbs, I’ve had him on a pretty strict diet of 1/2 cup dry dog food, given to him twice daily. In spite of that, he’s still been gaining. There is only one possible reason: The neighbors. I knew the neighbors fed him treats every now and again, but didn’t think it was more than that. Last night I found a full package, with plastic packing included, of those orange crackers with peanut butter. The plastic package. Can we say “choking hazard”?! Also, I recall the ex GF saying she found a partially eaten hoagie sandwich on the ground next to the fence sometime last summer.

So I called the female half of the neighbors last night. We’ll call her Barb, b/c she’s a spitting image of Barbara Bush. That’s not her name, but it fits. I was very friendly, but firm. I told her the vet scolded me for Squanto’s weight, and asked her to do me and him a favor and stop feeding him treats. She responded to that simple, logical, and completely reasonable request by asking what she’s supposed to do when he sits at the fence barking all the time. I allowed as to how if she stopped feeding him, he’d eventually stop barking. She didn’t believe that was true, and went on to (get this!) claim that he’d starve to death if she didn’t feed him crackers over the fence! WHAT?! I told her I feed him twice a day, to which she responded that she didn’t care what I said, that there’s no way I fed him, and it’s obvious that I don’t love my dog. “Ok Barb, this conversation is over. Goodbye.” “Yeah. Ok. Goodbye.” she said at the same time, and we hung up.

Seriously. He’ll starve if she doesn’t feed him unhealthy people food, some of it with the wrapper still present?! I have never been accused of neglect before. I was caught between being amused, dumbfounded, and furious.

Now I’m concerned that she’ll call Animal Control on me b/c she’s convinced I’m neglecting him. Because of that concern, I’ve been advised to call A.C. first and ask if they have any advice, or if I have any recourse aside from just talking with them and watching very carefully every time I let The Squanto out. At least, that way, if she does call, it’ll be on record that I called first.

If she’s allowed to accuse me of negligence b/c she believes that I’m not feeding him, and that his barking constitutes real hunger, rather than him simply learning that if he barks at the fence, he gets a treat, then I think I’m allowed to accuse her of abuse by feeding him unhealthy foods, sometimes with choking hazard wrappers still present, due to the health problems down the line it can cause.

At this point, my plan is to talk to her husband, and explain my concerns regarding the unhealthy food she’s feeding him (to say nothing of the wrappers she’s leaving behind). Depending on how that goes, I’ll either ask him to help keep his wife away from my dog, or advise him that I’m calling Animal Control for their input. I hate to have to go that route, but if there’s no reasoning with them, I will. If I have to choose between being their friend, and ensuring that The Squanto lives for many more healthy years, it’s no choice at all.

Any ideas, anyone?

Good Use for Technology, or Excuse to Tuck Tail and Hide?

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I rarely disagree with Bruce Schneier, and I’m not entirely sure I do in this case, but I’m certainly not convinced that this is a good use of technology, especially when “security” can be so completely irrational…

Reporting Unruly Football Fans via Text Message

Fans still are urged to complain to an usher or call a security hotline in the stadium to report unruly behavior. But text-messaging lines — typically advertised on stadium scoreboards and on signs where fans gather — are aimed at allowing tipsters to surreptitiously alert security personnel via cellphone without getting involved with rowdies or missing part of a game.

As of this week, 29 of the NFL’s 32 teams had installed a text-message line or telephone hotline. Three clubs have neither: the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans. Ahlerich says he will “strongly urge” all clubs to have text lines in place for the 2009 season. A text line will be available at the Super Bowl for the first time when this season’s championship game is played at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1.

“If there’s someone around you that’s just really ruining your day, now you don’t have to sit there in silence,” says Jeffrey Miller, the NFL’s director of strategic security. “You can do this. It’s very easy. It’s quick. And you get an immediate response.”

  • Granted: It can be difficult to impossible to reason with unruly, and sometimes drunk sports fans.
  • Granted: It can be dangerous to try to reason with unruly, and sometimes drunk sports fans.
  • Granted: Security personnel have the power and authority to protect us from both each other and ourselves. Ideally. They’re only human, and have lapses in judgment just as the rest of us do.

All the same, this use of technology seems to be an excuse to not even try to handle things ourselves. It grants permission to tuck tail and hide behind mommy and daddy’s legs while they handle our problems for us. It makes it too easy to defer responsibility for our own feelings and actions, and hand it over to someone else, rather than buck up and stand up for ourselves… or at least try to.

Shouldn’t calling security be a last resort? This seems to make it too easy.

I welcome any and all views on this. In fact, I eagerly await them.