Update 5/24: Google Maps added an "Avoid highways" checkbox to their route finding feature.
I'm a pretty big fan of all things Google and use several of their services and products. Google Maps, however, has a fairly serious drawback: Driving directions will always take you onto major highways and freeways -- where bicycles are prohibited -- if the highway is available. You cannot tell the route finder to avoid highways.
Back in the early days of online mapping software, this option was available but disappeared. It turns out the "No Highways" option has returned in at least a couple online mapping services.
MapQuest has a drop-down menu of "Advanced Options" where you can click "Avoid Highways." And avoid highways it does.
With Ask.com, you enter your start and end locations then click the "Walking" tab after the directions have appeared. The Walking option gives Ask a little more flexibility than MapQuest's "Avoid Highways" feature; Ask will route walkers the wrong way down one-way streets, for example.
In my tests, MapQuest's service seems a little more appropriate for cyclists. Ask.com seems to be very conservative on the roads it routes walkers on, taking you the very long way around, even for roads where sidewalks or good shoulders are available and pedestrians are permitted. MapQuest's "Avoid Highways" option consistently seems to provide a shorter route than Ask's "Walking" option.
Neither Ask nor MapQuest know about pedestrian or cyclist facilities -- pedestrian bridges and multiuse paths are not used by either mapping site. In the San Francisco Bay Area, some of these facilities make for valuable shortcuts that can take miles and headaches from my route.
I'm glad to see the map services recognize that their tools can be used for something besides driving directions. For the cyclist, I see these maps as a starting point. You'll still need knowledge of local conditions and compare the mapped route with what you can see on a local bicycling map.
Friday, March 02, 2007
San Francisco Police to enforce cyclist sidewalk prohibition
Thank you to Sasha for pointing this out.
After a protest organized by the Senior Action Network, San Francisco authorities announced they would step up enforcement of The City's ban on sidewalk cycling, which carries a $138 fine. Only children 12 years old and younger can legally ride their bikes on the sidewalk in San Francisco.
The Senior Action Network protested the presence of cyclists on sidewalks. "For years, pedestrians have been squeezed, shoved, intimidated and injured by bicyclists and motorists. The sidewalk is designated as a walkway, not a parking lot for cars or a bike lane for cyclists," said David Grant, executive director of Senior Action Network, which organized the event.
"Pedestrians in San Francisco have been killed and injured by bicyclists," said Michael Radetsky, injury-prevention coordinator for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Since 2000, he said, there have been three reported deaths and more than 20 people injured badly enough to need hospitalization.
I've occasionally been guilty of this crime, but I totally understand the walkers' viewpoint. I've also been nearly plowed into by rude cyclists on busy sidewalks.
From the Chronicle.
After a protest organized by the Senior Action Network, San Francisco authorities announced they would step up enforcement of The City's ban on sidewalk cycling, which carries a $138 fine. Only children 12 years old and younger can legally ride their bikes on the sidewalk in San Francisco.
The Senior Action Network protested the presence of cyclists on sidewalks. "For years, pedestrians have been squeezed, shoved, intimidated and injured by bicyclists and motorists. The sidewalk is designated as a walkway, not a parking lot for cars or a bike lane for cyclists," said David Grant, executive director of Senior Action Network, which organized the event.
"Pedestrians in San Francisco have been killed and injured by bicyclists," said Michael Radetsky, injury-prevention coordinator for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Since 2000, he said, there have been three reported deaths and more than 20 people injured badly enough to need hospitalization.
I've occasionally been guilty of this crime, but I totally understand the walkers' viewpoint. I've also been nearly plowed into by rude cyclists on busy sidewalks.
From the Chronicle.
Dr. Alexander Dlugi might be an idiot
Doctor Alexander Dlugi was riding his bike at no more than 8 mph, tried to pass eleven-year-old Lauren Ellis who was on her rollerblades, they both freaked out and crashed, he broke his collarbone, and now he's suing the little girl for "pain and suffering." Sheesh, what an unbelievable freak.
"People are responsible for their actions," says Dr. Dlugi's lawyer without a hint of irony. Yes, Doctor, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. Own up and apologize to the girl for running into her.
Since Doctor Alexander Dlugi seems sue-happy, let's see if he hauls me to court for libel on the basis of this post.
Dr. Dlugi is the Medical Director at the Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine in New Jersey.
Overtaking vehicles are required to pass at a safe distance, or even *gasp* stop or slow down if necessary. This applies to cyclists as well as motorists. Perhaps somebody should drive by Dr. Dlugi on his bike, honk just as he passes, then sue the Doctor for the damaged trim on the car when the Doctor, startled by the honk, veers into the path of the car and gets hit.
Update: Dr. Alexander Dlugi lost the lawsuit. The jury deliberated a whole 15 minutes.
"People are responsible for their actions," says Dr. Dlugi's lawyer without a hint of irony. Yes, Doctor, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. Own up and apologize to the girl for running into her.
Since Doctor Alexander Dlugi seems sue-happy, let's see if he hauls me to court for libel on the basis of this post.
Dr. Dlugi is the Medical Director at the Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine in New Jersey.
Overtaking vehicles are required to pass at a safe distance, or even *gasp* stop or slow down if necessary. This applies to cyclists as well as motorists. Perhaps somebody should drive by Dr. Dlugi on his bike, honk just as he passes, then sue the Doctor for the damaged trim on the car when the Doctor, startled by the honk, veers into the path of the car and gets hit.
Update: Dr. Alexander Dlugi lost the lawsuit. The jury deliberated a whole 15 minutes.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Streetfilms
Several people have already mentioned it, but Clarence Eckerson and the New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign have launched Streetfilms.org to host their videos. Clarence has been uploading his videos to YouTube.
Streetfilms.org: Check it out.
Streetfilms.org: Check it out.
NYC to regulate, limit pedicabs
"Sandra bike" by Koen De Jonghe. Seen at Bike Hugger.Bike-powered rickshaws or pedicabs began to appear midtown. Since then, these clean, safe and 1000% eco-friendly vehicles have proliferated mostly in Manhattan, the epinephrine sloshing around inside their super-fit operators manifested as a cheeriness that's in stark contrast to the murderous dyspepsia of all other drivers.-- Read more: New York City Council Votes No on Pedicabs, Yes on Globe-Warming, Gas-Guzzling Behemoths. Reported also at Streetsblog.
Yesterday the New York City Council voted overwhelmingly to put a stop to such hippy-dippy, tree-hugging nonsense. It bowed to the usual thuggish cartel of taxi-fleet bosses, "merchant" organizations, hotel and theater-owners, delivery-truck fleets, parking-lot operators et al. who have obstructed any meaningful reduction of internal combustion vehicles in New York City for decades, leeching off our common spaces and resources for their private profit and turning our streets and avenues, especially in Manhattan - into multi-storey sewers of lethal toxins, gasses and particulates.
Lottery winner buys bikes. "He bought bikes including as $12k BMC! This is especially cool when you consider that he bought a 2002 Jetta worth $15k. So he basically has spent more on cool bikes than a new car."
More bike news and blogging
Dekochari: Japan Bike Fashion.Bus racing.
Oil Is For Sissies: Moved, no forwarding address.
Off road fixed gear.
Cool video (with a story): Cat and mouse on the streets of London.
Another Australian bicycle blogger interviewed at the Cycling Diary.
Drink the Kool-Aid on male genitalia.
Free parking isn't free.
Caltrain fare increase
Caltrain fares to go up 25 cents per zone. Starting Monday, April 2, Caltrain’s will implement a new fare increase. The new fares will increase by 25 cents per zone. There is no change to fares within a single zone. In June 2006, the Caltrain board voted to implement this increase to help cover escalating operation costs. Passenger fares cover approximately 40 percent of the cost to run the service.
Monthly passes for April will be sold at the new fare rate, even if purchased before the 2nd of the month. My two zone monthly pass goes up from $99.50 to $106.00. See the full fare structure here.
Caltrain also announced a change to seven southbound morning-commute train departure times. See changed San Francisco departure times here.
Monthly passes for April will be sold at the new fare rate, even if purchased before the 2nd of the month. My two zone monthly pass goes up from $99.50 to $106.00. See the full fare structure here.
Caltrain also announced a change to seven southbound morning-commute train departure times. See changed San Francisco departure times here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)