Comments on: suffer solstice…

By: japhyrider

japhyrider — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:05:14 +0000

i’ve sorta considered McCarren as a “safe bike route” given the bike shoulder is really wide, there are few intersecting side streets, and has no cars parked along it. we are still not protected by any sort of barrier though, which, apparently, is needed. it chaps my ass every time i see someone driving down the bike lane so they don’t have wait to turn right at some light.

as far as barriers go, i wouldn’t mind seeing plastic posts and catalope-sized half spheres adhered to the white line. such measures would work wonders for keeping drivers from using the bike lane.

you’ve addressed the big issue here, Taldor. there NEEDS to be better awareness of cyclists and pedestrians. more and more people are using the streets for nonmotorized transportation these days (probably partly from the nice weather, an partly from the rising cost of petrol), motorists will find themselves amongst increasing numbers of nonmotorists. better awareness and tolerance will go a long way to keeping the number of accidents down.

By: taldor

taldor — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:08:50 +0000

Holy Shit Japhy - just heard about you getting run down by a drunk! Glad to hear that you got off without too much damage. I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating I’ve become with drivers treating cyclists like they’re some kind of a joke on wheels with little if any rights to use the same road. I see it and experience it all the time, as I’m sure you do.
Along these lines - I really believe that we need bike lanes on a few of the main arteries in town with physical barriers. With the amount of money that is being spent on road improvements, it would seem to be a drop in the bucket to add some dividers - and what’s a life worth?
One thing I really enjoy is taking my little boy for bike rides in the trailer, whether it’s a run down to the local grocery store or to one of the parks in my neighborhood. I generally stay on low-traffic residential streets, but sometimes it’s necessary to cross a main artery (Virginia, etc) - at this point I feel like we’re vulnerable even though I take care to adhere to traffic rules. To me it’s important to establish a bike ethic in the kids, but to have to pack all the shit into the truck and drive to a closed circuit somewhere (I don’t know where) and ride from there defeats the whole purpose. Reno seems like it would be a great place for bikes, so why can’t the planners break out of the paradigm that bikes are an afterthought and that cars take the top priority?
Japhy’s incident once again reminds me how unsafe our streets are and makes me reconsider rolling to the playground with Calvin in tow. The only thing that gives me comfort is knowing that the episode of large cars is coming to an end, and hopefully that will take with it the ‘out of my way’ attitude and bring a little decency to the streets.
Hope you heal quickly and that the offending driver will have her driving privilege permanently revoked.

By: jwox

jwox — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:04:37 +0000

Nice work Markus and great pics. Looked very fun and I’m glad you are okay. I think eventually the ending will really add to the story rather than just freaking us all out.
jwox

By: reedster

reedster — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:21:13 +0000

I hate car drivers. Well, really just the inconsiderate and drunk ones. Unfortunately sometimes it seems like that is too great a percentage of the drivers out there.

Mark, I’m glad to hear that you’re alright. When I clicked on this link I expected something much different. Heal up and I’ll give you a ring soon.

~Reed

By: Sean Martin

Sean Martin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:42:23 +0000

F#ck, that sucks. Loved your story, hated then ending. Hope you’re up and kicking soon.
–Sean

By: japhyrider

japhyrider — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:35:38 +0000

picked up my bike from the Reno Police Station late this morning. now i have a few loose ends to take care of at work, then will return home, crack open that growler of Icky medicine that Mr. and Mrs. Bustigator brought over (thanks!!!) and knock the tall crust off ol’ Rosinante and see how bad the wounds are. the Stone IPA will hold tight in the fridge a bit longer, Grizz, so if you’re thirsty after work today, stop on by. i’ll also try to get some more pics of the weekend’s ride together too - now that’s the fun stuff worth typing about.

thanks everyone for stopping by/calling yesterday. that meant the world to me.

By: bustigator

bustigator — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:04:10 +0000

Ang and I are glad to hear you are “ok”. Sounds like you were very lucky. That is always a fear of mine especially livin out off pyramid highway. Good old suburbanite,latte drinkin,cell phone talkin, urban assault vehicles soccer moms and all. If you need anything especially some of liquid refresher from GBBC let me know and will deliver! take care of yourself. bun in the oven you know…

By: japhyrider

japhyrider — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:50:55 +0000

hey thanks for uploading the pic, Wolfy. made it home last night, about 23:30, after a visit to the emergency room via backboard-neck brace-etc. as if too much mtn biking isn’t enough “suffering,” i was hit by a drunk driver on McCarren just south of I-80 in west Reno, about 2 miles from home. injuries so far seem limited to bruises and a broken rib - and a citation for riding w/o a light. i’m gonna dispute that one though, from the rear, my riding outfit was well covered with reflective material (not battery powered though), and it was questionably/just barely technically “dark.”

when i get my camera back on Monday (w/ my bike, as i don’t know what if any damage it has), i’ll post some pics and type more about it. ride was great though, found some cool dirt roads and trail i’d never been on.

buzz kill to get a “lift” after riding 12+ hours/day for 2 days. i think the EMT’s assumed i was homeless person, dirty, sunburned, wearing cut-off jungle camo combat touring pants living off my bicycle. doesn’t sound too bad, actually…