Tour de Links - Splinter

Maillot Jaune: Obama's budget consolidates all the bicycle programs under the $28 billion, 6-year "livability program" giving states greater leeway to decide how to spend the money. This should be good for DC. Miraculously, the 2011 budget that left the Republican controlled house still retains money for trails.

No amendment directly targeted the transportation enhancements program. An amendment that would cut funding for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund, which funds some trails, was defeated by a “nail-biting” 213-216 vote, with 32 Republicans voting against the cuts.

Podium - ICYMI, Alberto Contador = cleared of charges. Meanwhile Lance Armstrong has retired again, and this time he means it.  I place his return from retirement as better than Brett Favre's and Michael Jordan's 2nd but not Jordan's 1st. Massive understatement award:

Lance came back in to do two things: raise awareness for his foundation and cancer victims by putting the issue on the world stage, which was tremendously successful; and to win the Tour de France again, which turned out to be a lot harder than he thought.

What will he do now

Armstrong, 39, will also announce that he will co-chair a campaign for the California Cancer Research Act initiative, which would fund cancer research by adding $1 to the price of a pack of cigarettes in the Golden State, the adviser said.

If he doesn't go to prison, I expect him to run for Governor of Texas, which he'll win, but not without allegations that he cheated.

Podium - The guy from "Third Rock from the Sun" and the girl from "Real World: San Diego" are starring in a movie about "a New York City bike messenger who is pursued by a dirty cop." It's called Premium Rush and is set to come out in 2012.

Maillot Vert: In favor of bicycling facilities. Speaking of which, the proposed Portland-Milawaukie light rail will feature a parallel bike path, and where the bike path crosses the Willamette River, they're thinking about a "sonic bike path". It's not a tube that pushes you at near sonic speeds, but rather grooved pavement that plays Simon and Garfunkle's "Feelin' Groovy" as a bicycle rides over it. I like the idea, but I have to wonder about the state of art when they're stealing from car commercials. Also, Chicago is planning a sweet flyover bridge to deal with a lakeshore drive chokepoint.

Maillot a Pois Rouge: As the Fabulous T-Birds asked, ain't that tough enough?

Maillot Blanc: Safety advice for riding with a baby. Idaho decides not to require kids to wear helmets.

[The] bill failed amid concerns from Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, that it mandated to people what they could and couldn't do.

Isn't that what laws do?

Anyway, speaking of safety, hybrid cars really are a risk because of how quiet they are, (and because soccer moms drive like maniacs?)

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which found that hybrid vehicles were involved in “significantly” more collisions than vehicles with internal combustion engines, under certain circumstances.

Lanterne Rouge: During NYC's crack down on scofflaw cycling, a man was issued a ticket for riding without a helmet, which is not illegal. Also, NYPD is ticketing cyclist who run red lights in Central Park even when the roads are closed to cars. Those tickets carry the same fine as for those for drivers ($270). So when you're doing your crackdown at a time and place that only cyclists can ride, that would be targeting.

Caroline Samponaro, Transportation Alternative’s director of bicycle advocacy, says, "Police enforcement of the most dangerous behaviors on the loop drive is important. However, reports to Transportation Alternatives in recent weeks all sound like the NYPD is undertaking a ticket blitz, targeting bicyclists only, rather than targeting the most reckless behaviors that endanger walkers and fellow riders. This lack of discretion undermines the type of enforcement needed to make our streets safer.

"At a recent meeting to discuss the loop drive in Central Park, safe cycling advocates proposed flashing yellow traffic signals during car-free hours. The park is open to car traffic for only a handful of hours each day, but the rules for cars are in effect 24/7. It’s time to institute more rational regulations that serve the safety, exercise and transportation needs of the supermajority of people who use the park on foot and bicycle."

And NYC wishes they had bike racks on their buses like DC does. Don't they....Don't they...



The Case for Bike Racks on NYC Buses from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Comments

[Michael H.]

I expect that the UCI and WADA will appeal the Spanish federation's decision to clear Contador. I think the story is far from over.

Armstrong is training for triathlons now, but it's not clear whether he's going to enter the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. There are a lot of indications that he will indeed race there.

I still haven't heard about any really convincing evidence against him re the doping allegations. It's possible, but I find it hard to trust the primary source. Floyd Landis is an admitted doper and an admitted liar. He is also guilty of wire fraud (for soliciting and raising all of that money for his legal defense fund when he was fighting the decision to strip him of the Tour de France title). In addition to all that, there is a potentially massive financial reason for him to lie about all this. I've read about a possible legal claim he could have against Armstrong if he were ever able to convince others that Lance was a doper, to the tune of a few million dollars. Landis has lost his career and most of his income prospects after his doping scandal. He needs money desperately. All reasons why he makes a horrible witness. Unless there are reliable positive drug tests for Armstrong, I don't see how the feds could ever charge him with anything. Who would ever believe Landis' testimony in court? Not me. The prosecutors probably would never call him as a witness anyway.

Re the hybrid cars, I think the new Chevy Volt (GM's entry into the electric car/hybrid market) has an optional switch that adds an artificial noise to the car, to help alert pedestrians and cyclists of the car's presence. However, since it seems that the driver has to activate the mechanism manually, I don't think many drivers would actually use it.

[Michael H.]

The Chevy Volt is being rolled out slowly across the country. The D.C. area is one of the first markets to see sales to regular consumers.

[ontarioroader]

So is there no drug testing in triathlons? :)

Also, I've ridden a bike next to several electric and hybrid/electric vehicles running under only electric power. I really didn't find the lack of [internal combustion] engine noise a problem because a significant amount of what you hear from a car is tire noise [sound of the tires rolling on the street]. This noise is the same regardless of what type of engine the car has. I think pedestrian safety groups would be far better off focusing their efforts on getting the auto industry to stop putting distracting gadgets in cars. I'd love to see federal vehicle standards include a mandatory Faraday cage built into the body of all automobiles. This would probably cut pedestrian/driver injuries and fatalities more than any other singe action.

[antibozo]

I think the solution to the silent hybrid vehicle problem is obvious: require all hybrids (and full electrics) to make sounds like the Jetsons' car. :^)

More seriously, a switch-activated noisemaker isn't such a bad idea in combination with law and education. Think of it like a bicycle bell. Possibly it could be automated using some kind of proximity sensor. Some drivers occasionally tap their horns when passing but what's needed is a less-than-full-horn-blast alert noise.

ontarioroader: so you think people in cars shouldn't be allowed to listen to the radio? ;^)

[MB]

Anyone who still believes that Armstrong never doped will never be convinced by any evidence. Which is fine enough. But when they start playing internet lawyer re: Landis, it gets hard to leave it alone . . . :)

[Michael H.]

I'll be convinced when there's evidence. I'm not denying the possibility that he doped. Of course I know about the extensive doping history in pro cycling. It would be foolish to say that it's impossible that Armstrong ever doped. But there has to be reliable evidence before smearing his name.

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of his, but there needs to be evidence. Landis doesn't qualify.

Contador's case is different because there was a positive drug test. If they show a reliable positive drug test for Armstrong, that would change the situation immensely.