A reader wrote in asking questions about lights, read his question and then my personal answer.  From there, I turn the table to you all, what do you think he could do to avoid cars pulling out?

Q:

I wanted to get your input on lights/ being seen. Most of my morning commute is in the dark and in a bike lane. I have, on several occasions, almost been hit by cars pulling out from a side street despite the fact that I have a 270 lumen headlight shining in their direction. What else can I do to get their attention? Should I just accept the fact that they aren’t going to pay attention and wait for the to pull out.

A:

#1 a solid and a blinking light : Catch their attention, but be able to be seen
#2 reflective 3m tape that will be “caught” from all sides of your bike.  I have it on the rims of my wheels, seat stays, fork legs and downtube on some bikes.
#3 more than one light.  It is hard to catch someones attention with just one fixed light, they may think you are a reflection, mail box or not moving very quickly.

Now, what would you do differently?

Commute By Bike, and Bike Shop Girl is now syndicated at Versus.com to help lead the cycling community with commuting tips, stories and how to.  Much like we do on Commute By Bike already but to a bigger community!  I will be writing for Versus on commuter needs as well as showing highlights from events such as the upcoming National Handmade Bicycle Show.

Please go over to Versus.com, create a login and join my community! Also, make sure to keep up with the blog over there but I hope to have some sort of widget on the sidebar of Commute By Bike to keep you up to date with what’s going on over there.

Go on already…

If you aren’t signed up for the League of American Bicyclist email list, you should sign up now.   Incase you don’t, here are some things that peaked my interest from the latest newsletter

The State of the Union speech has been given, the budget has been introduced, and now Congress and our state legislatures are getting into the groove for 2010. Check out the list below for a sampling of the action – and if your state isn’t shown yet, find your statewide groupand keep an eye out for action alerts.

Meanwhile, the early registration deadline for the National Bike Summit is fast approaching – this Thursday, February 4! Sign up today for reduced rates.

Sincerely,

Andy Clarke
League President

Senate Job News

Senate Democratic leaders have drafted an initial version of an $80 billion-plus job-creation bill that will be heavy on tax breaks designed to spur businesses to make new hires.

Highlights:

• Total layout is $82 billion – roughly half the House’s proposal. Half of it will be funded by TARP Funding.
• The Senate is expected to be debating a small jobs bill starting next week.
• This bill will likely include a number of tax cuts/ incentives and likely transportation (although there is some debate)
• Highways will make up $14 billion, transit $7.5 billion, and high Speed rail and other rail $2.5 billion – an extremely different highway-transit ratio from the past – traditionally it’s 80 percent highway and 20 percent transit.

Check America Bikes for further updates.

Biking and Walking – 2010 Benchmark Report

The new report Bicycling and Walking in the United States: The 2010 Benchmarking Report, published by the Alliance for Biking and Walking, shows that lack of investment in biking and walking could be contributing to higher traffic fatalities and chronic disease rates in the U.S. Visit the Alliance Web site and the League’s Blog to find out more.

State Legislation

Action at the state level always picks up around this time of year. Here’s a sampling of some of the issues being tackled this year; let us know if your state/group should be on the list.

• The Iowa Bicycle Coalition continues to work on the first 5 foot passing law! Learn more here. All RAGBRAI fans should stay tuned to the IBC site as they prepare to fend off farm-to-market roads bicycle ban legislation that may get introduced.
• One Less Car is pushing an aggressive legislative agenda in Maryland for 2010 – three-foot passing law, removal of mandatory shoulder use, vehicular manslaughter and more. Come find out how to push this in Maryland at the OLC Smart Transportation & Bicycle Symposium.
• Bike Walk Mississippi is working on updated state traffic codes regarding bicycling, adding a three-foot passing law and a cyclist harassment language and penalties. Missippi residents can show their support here.
• Both the New York Bike Coalition and NYC-based Transportation Alternatives are gearing up for a busy year, with everything from bike parking to harassment laws on the table.
• The South Dakota Bicycle Coalition is working on a 3 foot passing law. Find out how to bring it to the attention of Transportation Subcommittee members here.
• Utah advocates are pushing to remove “far to right as practicable language” from their state codes and anti-texting while driving legislation. Learn more here and here.
• Virginia Bicycle Federation has a full slate of items this session ranging from following-too-close and three-foot passing, to allowing cyclists to proceed through a red light who’s sensor fails to respond. Follow their activity here.
• Washington State advocates are working hard to pass Complete Streets legislation and Vulnerable Road Users protection. Learn more at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington’s Legislative Issues page.

Go Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh’s Mayor Ravenstahl announced a $1.1 million transportation planning effort, MOVEPGH, that includes Complete Streets and Livable Communities amongst its top priorities. The agenda tasks the City Planning Department to produce a Comprehensive Transportation Plan that will provide a vision and action plan for a more livable city that accommodates all users  regardless of age or mode of transportation.Read more.

The snow is melting outside which will leave me for a wet commute to work into the morning.  Here are the basic ways I keep dry during the rainy season.

• Fenders – Full coverage fenders are best but even a race style fender that clips on and off quickly will keep the mud off your back and a good amount of water out of your shoes.
• Plastic garbage or freezer bags – I’ll reuse either a plastic grocery bag or a gallon freezer Ziplock bag over my socks, prior to putting my feet into my shoes.  Make sure the bags are tall enough to be pulled up under your pants.  If wearing spandex with knee warmers I’ll put another pair of tall wool socks over the plastic bags, this is mainly to keep the plastic out of my chain and chainrings.  *This helps cut down on the cold from wind as well
• Wool – It keeps you warm even if it gets wet and doesn’t soak up the water as much as cotton.
• Messenger Bag or Backpack – As long as you don’t overheat with the bag on your back, it normally will keep some rain off your back if its a short distance.
• Huge Garbage Bags – A couple times I’ve ridden to work with no need or thought of rain over clothes and had to ride home with two huge garbage bags on my body.  One of them for the top with holes for my arms, and one on the bottom with two holes for legs.  Properly duck taped together of course!

What are some basic ways you keep dry?

In this podcast I go over how the Light & Motion Vega 200 review is going. In the second clip I show you how the Long Haul Trucker from our Perfect Commuter Bike Build is sitting.

Let me know any questions, comments or opinions. I’m still trying to work out these podcast in order to be ready for the Handmade Bicycle Show the end of February.

Sometime around 2004-2006 my daily commuted was from my parents home in Annapolis, MD to work in Adams Morgan of Washington, DC, where I worked at the service manager of City Bikes.  The commute normally included driving my car to the end stop of the metro line near College Park, MD.  Parking my car and then riding my bike into the city, roughly 14 miles through neighborhood streets and then into Washington D.C.

Little did I know, I was riding on some of the most dangerous intersections and roads that I would find in my lifespan.  My commute into the shop normally started around 8:30am, navigating through the end of rush hour.  My evening commute ranged from 6pm, or 2am.   The 1am time is why I commuted by bike, as the local metro line shut off early during the week and would leave me stranded in the city if I didn’t ride a bike.

The ride home after 10pm became the peaceful, calming and the one things I looked forward to everyday.  The ride alone is what kept me from moving into the city and cutting my commute into a 1/4 the distance.  During this late night commute I saw many things including drug bust, drunk drivers and other kooky bike commuters.  The lack of cars on the road gave me a false feeling of safety and the night wrapped her arms around me keeping me safe.

The New York Times has an article about The Night Riders. The unique individuals that find them on the streets long after others.

“There weren’t too many cars on the street, and those that were, it always seemed as if they were watching for me,” said Ms. Casner, 53. “I seldom had to stop or even slow down, and no one honked they way they do during the day. It was just, as I said, almost magical.”

No firm numbers exist for the number of New Yorkers who commute by bicycle during the wee hours. But in a city of inveterate overworking undersleepers, it’s a near certainty that many of the tens of thousands of regular bike commuters are doing so. Often festooned with lights and reflective clothing, these night riders find an almost monastic commute in the slowed-down streets.

Originally found at NYTimes

What is your latest or earliest commute?  How do you feel being on the road when there are no others?

Our guest writer today is Doug Rozelman.  He is a co-worker of mine and an avid cyclist.  Slo
wly he is trying to learn to use his bike for daily task, and to live the cycling lifestyle.  Read his first post Why I Go By Bike for good background on his commuting.

As irony would have it, severe winter weather strikes the Southeast on Day Two of my biking commitment.  To recap Day One’s activities, I enjoyed a pleasurable ride to work and back home; everything went according to plan.  The weather was cool and cooperative with little wind and no precipitation.  Though my journey home was dark, I was equipped with a headlight and graced by a tailwind, so the uphill venture was fast and easy.  I even managed to put my messenger skills to the test when I stopped by my apartment’s mailbox unit and picked up the day’s haul.  I anxiously embarked on Day Two with uncertainty of what the forecast would bring.

According to weather.com, I was expecting a windy day with periods of rain, snow, and even some sleet in the mix.  Temperatures were to remain steady in the mid 30s with winds at nearly 20-30 mph.  Planning on wearing a pair of jeans and my shop’s t-shirt to work, I donned a pair of Pearl Izumi wind and waterproof shell pants over the jeans accompanied by a Gore Phantom Jacket.  Accessories included a Trek Brimmed Thermal Cap beneath a Bell Sweep R helmet and Pearl Izumi Soft Shell Gloves.  I comfortably arrived at work shortly thereafter.  However, by the time I took off my jacket, I could hear the sleet bouncing on the roof!  I have always taken weather forecasts at face value, but today’s prediction was right on the mark.  Due to the inclement weather, we closed our store an hour early at 6:00 pm.  Cold, wet and rainy weather rarely boosts sales in a bike shop, so during the day, I had plenty of time to install some quick-release Bontrager Interchange Nebula fenders.

Prior to my departure, I checked the weather once again.  The temperature was hovering around freezing, and there were definitely freezing rain and moderate winds.  Although tempted to accept one of several coworkers’ offers to drive me home, I sought after the challenge!  Pants, jacket, hat, and gloves were all replaced, and with rear blinking lights in flash and a Light and Motion Seca 400on high beam, I began my ride home.  Surprisingly, the trek was not that bad; once I arrived home safely, I contemplated patting myself on the back for not succumbing to the gas-guzzler.

Reflecting upon this experience, I am curious to know how others would handle this situation.  I pose the following question: What rain gear and gadgets do you, the veteran commuters, use for inclement weather?

Keeping on topic of Bike Commuting products, I would like to know what your top products of 2009 were and why.  It could be that jazzy front basket you put on the front of your bike or a new pair of cycling pants.

Let us know!

Introducing a new guest writer, Doug Rozelman.  Doug is a co-worker of mine and an avid cyclist.  Slowly he is trying to learn to use his bike for daily task, and to live the cycling lifestyle.

Not long ago, I picked up a small, square-shaped brochure highlighting Trek’s “1 World, 2 Wheels” campaign. I nonchalantly flipped through the pages to explore its content. Before I could restock the coffee table display, I found myself in a combined state of astonishment, disappointment, and urgency. Pages 1 and 3, respectively, read as follows: “The solution to some of the world’s biggest problems is in your garage” and “For 2 miles or less, go by bike.” Never before have two simple statements had such an impact on me.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Doug, and my career for the past four years has been within the cycling industry. I currently work in a bicycle store in Charlotte, NC. Additionally, I have had the privilege to acquaint myself with Bike Shop Girl and ride alongside her since July.  She certainly has inspired me. According to Google Maps, I live 1.3 miles from my place of employment. Across the street, literally 1.7 miles from home, are two shopping centers equipped with grocery stores, restaurants and fast food establishments, apparel and sporting goods stores, and even a choice of barbers and salons. Excluding the occasional trips to visit family or occasionally work in an affiliate store, the majority of places I shop and spend my time are typically within this two-mile radius. As a result, I have experienced an epiphany; I plan to develop my passion for racing and recreational riding into something more, a lifestyle.

Along the way, I hope to accomplish a few other goals: (1) to embrace fully the cycling and commuting culture (2) to admit shamelessly and describe my shortcomings as a “rookie” commuter (3 ) to eliminate any excuse I have (or potentially determine) for not traveling by bike (4) to experiment with and review various cycling and commuter-targeted products and (5) to inform, enlighten, and/or entertain those fellow individuals choosing to follow my lead.

If you are just stopping in on our Group Build of the perfect commuter bike let’s catch you up.  After introducing who will be riding the bike, the overall landslide of bicycle frame choice was a Surly Long Haul Trucker. This wasn’t a surprise to me or many others.  Over at the Surly Long Haul Trucker Owners Group, Bryan from Renaissance Bicycles, started a topic about our bike build.  Everyone had positive things to say about the bike and I’m very excited to be using this platform going forward.

Our next step is the shifting type, there’s standard STI/Double Tap/Ergo shifting which is all from the brake hood area, then bar end shifting and down tube shifting.  I guess we could also through mountain bike style shifter pods into this as well.  One last thing in the mix is the Long Haul Trucker is available as a complete build, which would save me money as well on the build.