The debate continues...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.