Curious Searches in My Blog 2008

Well, I have just had one today. Someone has searched for

Epping Forest Dustbin

And One sportsman who didn’t make the New Year Honours List

Luke McCormack, the former Plymouth Argyle & England, Youth Goalkeeper

As he caused death by dangerous driving. He was twice the legal drink-drive limit when his Range Rover crashed into a people carrier.

He killed 2 children.

Overseas Cycling News: Time Up! New York Direct Action removes illegal motorists off cycle lanes.

As the UK likes to copy ideas from the US rather than the bike friendly & progressive Europe, here is an fab idea, from cyclists in New York, to embarrass motorists breaking the law:-

From Bike Radar:

“A small but vocal group is spreading anti-bike sentiment in Brooklyn at a time when non-polluting transportation is on the rise in New York City, and is recognized as essential to a sustainable future.

On December 17, the Time’s Up! Bicycle Clowns will ride to defend the new bike lane and future greenway connector in Williamsburg. The Bicycle Clowns will also be kicking off their year-long “Love Your Lanes” campaign to keep the focus on protecting and celebrating bike lanes.

According to event organizers, bike lane opponents – including some members of the Hasidic community who protest cyclists’ “immodesty,” along with Council Members Diana Reyna and David Yassky and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz – are trying to remove the newly installed Kent Street bike lane. Some opponents have even publicly threatened to illegally block the bike lanes with their private-school buses, which will force cyclists into traffic to avoid crashing into the obstructing vehicle and risk being struck and even killed.

“An injury to one bike lane, is an injury to all bike lanes,” bike lane clown Benjamin Shepard said. “Enforced, protected bike lanes save cyclists lives, improve the landscape and make better use of public space for most of the community.”

The Bike Clowns will ride on Kent Street and clear the bike lane of motor vehicles so that the bike lane is safe for cyclists commuting to work. The Bicycle Clowns will use theater to comically draw attention to the serious danger faced by cyclists without safe, protected bike lanes”

I think, in the UK, we do need to protect our bike lanes. They’re being blocked all the time or ‘removed’. in some areas. Street theatre will certainly highlight the cause.

It’s time for Change!

Details of Times Up! is on www.times-up.org

From their website:

(TIME’S UP! is a grassroots environmental group that uses educational outreach and direct action to promote a more sustainable, less toxic city. For more than 15 years, TIME’S UP! has worked to educate people about the environmental impacts of everyday decisions, from the food we buy to the means of transportation we use).

A fun short clip of the Bike Lane Liberation Group:-

or

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6G937fl3gb8

New Years Day Cycle Jumble!

This comes from www.bikejumbles.co.uk:-

“VCL New Years Day Cycle Jumble 1st January 2009 Walter Happy
Herne Hill Velodrome Tues
Burbage Road (9am)10am – 1pm -
SE24 9HE .

£15 booked pitch, £20 on day
Notes Well known and historic venue email Wally
cheques to VCL
Organiser, 2 Regent Close, Fleet, GU51 3NS
Herne Hill Velodrome website

Israel, an ‘unforgettable experience’ for mountainbikers

In their tourist spiel, trying not to tarnish their image, they write in their tourist website:-

“Mountain biking tours have fast gained popularity over the years. Israel, the size of Wales, is a perfect destination for this activity. Travelling through a country with 3000 years of biblical history is certainly an awe-inspiring experience. The scenery varies dramatically and tours take riders through the desert land of the Negev, Israel’s National Parks and the lush green hills of the Galilee and Golan.

Top range mountain bikes are actually supplied but participants are able to bring their own. Family activities can be arranged and the tours can take place in groups of similar age or sex. This is something that is open to all age ranges, from 10yrs old to 80yrs old. The biking guides that accompany the trip, explain the significance and history of the areas and ensure that it is an unforgettable experience for all.”

Just have a look at www.crapwalthamforest.blogspot.com for mountainbikers in scenic Gaza.

See if you can spot them under the rubble.

More Cycling Book Reviews

I’ve come across another UK cycling blog that does the odd cycling book review. It’s under:-

www.tredzblog.co.uk/book_reviews

I have also added the link in my www.cyclingbookreviews.wordpress.com website.

Sometimes they FREE mags away to readers.

Talking about free cycling mags, what do you do with yours?

I tend to keep them for a while as reference, in a drawer, but now I am thinking of leaving them in doctor’s surgeries, trust me, reading rubbish like ‘Woman & Home’ is very boring when you’re waiting to see the doc, it makes you feel worse.

Proposals for 10 year Medical tests for Motorists

At last! (well, at least it is going in the right direction). I saw this in the Telegraph this morning:-

“Drivers will have to declare every 10 years whether they are medically able to get behind the wheel, according to proposals to be set out early in the new year.

For the first time, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will issue a series of minimum physical and mental requirements motorists must fulfil including eyesight performance and reaction times.

Tests, costing up to £80, will be offered to drivers to check whether they are fit to drive.

Anyone who chooses not to take the tests but declares themselves able to take to the roads will be committing a criminal offence if they fail to meet the established standards.

The move is designed to weed out tens of thousands of motorists – many of them elderly – who use their cars while suffering from conditions which could make them a danger to themselves or others.

“We are trying to improve road safety and help drivers fulfil their obligations. What we have now doesn’t work,” said a Whitehall source”

You kind of wonder, with years of statistics behind them, and people complaining, what took the Government so long? Let’s hope the proposals will become law one day. The days of frail 102 year old motorists, driving and having accidents, like my aunt, may come to an end one day. But doctors, will also have to get tougher. Many are letting these people off because they want their patient to be ‘independent’ as it keeps them happy. I can understand that, but surely the death of a person, should override their demand for independence’.

Gadget for the Relentless Speeding Motorist?

From ITN today:-

As motorists continue to cause carnage on the road, “Government transport advisers want voluntary speed-limiting devices fitted to cars to help save lives and cut emissions.

Cameras and fines are traditional methods of tackling speeding drivers but experts have come up with what they think might be a more effective solution.

The gadgets would be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis and supporters of the scheme believe could help save lives and cut carbon emissions.

It is also claimed the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29 per cent.

Once the device is fitted to a car the system works by using satellite positioning to check its location and once the speed limit is exceeded power is reduced and the brakes are applied if necessary”

I was listening on 5 Live on the radio this morning, and a presenter from 5 Live, who even admitted to having a speeding a conviction, said you could ‘turn it off’ if you wanted to ‘get out of trouble’, like passing a lorry. He did say, that on the whole, it was good.

London Gaza Protests

Though I couldn’t protest today (had to get my puncture fixed.. why does this always happen at the wrong time?!), I was sent this video today:

http://www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,1275744381.aspx

I have also added this link on the left , in case it doesn’t work.

Rants

Today I have been ranting on www.cyclingin4×4country.wordpress.com