Inane ramblings to avoid thread jacking

[JBubble]

As long as the wort stayed in the carboy and not on the ground, then you're doin' fine.

Mountain brewing?

Yup, figured we'd get it done before the snow hits. Looks like we'll get some decent snow this weekend!

[duc_fan]

I got a Motorola Droid 2 Global last week.  It has been rooted (hacked superuser/admin access), and the bloatware has been killed.  Operating system backed up.

This thing slurps down battery juice like my Dodge guzzles gas, but it's faster than a bat outta hell (1.2GHz processor).

I am a happy geek. 

[krolik]

Boo to Team Oregon for dissing the idea of lane splitting becoming legal in Oregon.

[Bendy]

It's outrageously out of character for liberty-cramping Califruit to have it, but they still do! That's all the reason Oregon should need! We don't need the law to protect us from ourselves!

[krolik]

I don't mind T.O. objecting on core safety values that they train to, but arguing that motorists might get upset and attempt to hurt lane splitters is like arguing that you should not be allowed to carry cash because you might get mugged.

What's up with that, Toolio?

[GAAN]

Story time

a few years ago we had a nasty wreck that shut down 26 for hours

cars were stopped from Rhododendron to Govy

I took my bike to get to the call

I split traffic over the course of 6-7 miles and had several people who saw me coming pull there cars out of the line of traffic in order to block me as well as people get out of their cars, step in front of me, and attempt to stop me from splitting traffic

even after they saw my bike stopped at the accident and me in my gear working on patients

they still stopped and told PD how much of a horrendous bastard I was

the cop came over later to let me know how furious several hundred people were with me

the portland metro area is not ready for lanesplitting

and

neither are the motorcyclists

As much as I would love the idea, proposing it to the people in this manner isn't going to make it popular and the babysaver's like Team Oregon are going to take the side of saving lives because that is the safest stance to take.

especially after the first 6 folk die while splitting

It would be better to propose a rule of lanesharing under the guise of relaxing rules for motorcyclists in groups riding next to each other and then having PD just not enforce the no splitting rule

but

that wont happen

[scott_araujo]

I have to say that sitting in the pouring rain in traffic for an hour riding home the other night, I missed lane splitting.

I rode for three years in California and never had a problem lane splitting BUT I only did it if traffic was going 10mph or less and never went more than 10mph faster than traffic.  When I saw riders whipping through stopped traffic at 60mph+ or when the traffic was flowing at 60pmh+ and then were weaving through at 90, I can see why people get mad. 

Also, Portlanders seem very caught up on traffic rules and the letter of the law.  I grew up in NY.  Back there if you're heading down the road and someone opens a door or some such partially blocking the lane with no one in the lane to the left, you swerve into left lane a little, avoid the obstruction, and keep traffic moving.  Yes you're out of your lane but no one else is using it.  Here it took me a few months to figure out that you're supposed to stop and wait or signal and change lanes completely lest you get honked at by other motorists.  I've adapted.

Mother, you need blinky lights for your bike.  Red white and green would complement an Italian bike nicely I think

Scott

[krolik]

I'm ready for lane splitting. [moto]

I believe the general rule in CA is 10 mph faster than traffic up to 30 mph then get back into the flow. The article did mention that the Hurt report indicated that lane splitting may reduce motorcycle accidents.

[scott_araujo]

IIRC there are no speeds or anything mentioned in the law.  It's vague which allows the police to cite anyone being unsafe regardless of speed.

Scott

[bnbmike]

I'm glad they are talking about lane splitting.  But enforcement, please!  When they start writing tickets to bicyclists that break every road rule there is, then I'll start to worry that they would write you a ticket for splitting.

There is a lot of road construction around here in the summer, I always split to the front of the line.  Being held for 10 minutes, wondering if the vehicle behind will see me is not a great feeling.  Every flagger I've encountered said it was a good idea to move to the front of the line.

I totally understand how motorist stuck in traffic get upset when a motorcycle drives by them, one of the reasons I live where "traffic" is more than 3 cars at the only 4 way stop in town!

[scott_araujo]

A friend of mine got a ticket in Portland on his bicycle for not stopping at a stop sign.  He had slowed but not stopped. $125.

Scott

[bnbmike]

A friend of mine got a ticket in Portland on his bicycle for not stopping at a stop sign.  He had slowed but not stopped. $125.

Scott

WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO! 

[scott_araujo]

He was pissed but didn't grumble too much, he Knew he didn't stop and admitted it.  Just wasn't happy about the $125.  I think that's what they call a deterrent   And don't cheer too loudly.  Part of the reason they enforce these things in the city is because there have been several bicycle-pedestrian collisions where people got hurt and several bicycle-auto collisions where the rider died in recent years.

In Idaho (or some other state) it's actually legal to just slow for a stop sign on a bicycle.  Makes sense, I think in many places you can slow enough to see if it's safe or not without a full stop.  And of course I'm sure the police can ticket if they don't think you slowed enough.  I think certain groups are trying to get it passed in PDX but it's not here yet.

Scott

[MendoDave]

Story time



the portland metro area is not ready for lanesplitting

and

neither are the motorcyclists

As much as I would love the idea, proposing it to the people in this manner isn't going to make it popular and the babysaver's like Team Oregon are going to take the side of saving lives because that is the safest stance to take.

especially after the first 6 folk die while splitting

It would be better to propose a rule of lanesharing under the guise of relaxing rules for motorcyclists in groups riding next to each other and then having PD just not enforce the no splitting rule

but

that wont happen

Once Motorcycles start splitting lanes, people will just have to get used to it. It might take awhile, but after sitting in traffic on the 5 and 10 bikes go splitting on by your door every day, I think folks will get used to it.  Bikes can overheat stopped in traffic and motor cops need to get where they need to go doncha know.

[GAAN]

Once Motorcycles start splitting lanes, people will just have to get used to it. It might take awhile, but after sitting in traffic on the 5 and 10 bikes go splitting on by your door every day, I think folks will get used to it.  Bikes can overheat stopped in traffic and motor cops need to get where they need to go doncha know.

Oh I agree, they will indeed get used to it

but

there is going to be some violence and death first

I would be highly surprised if at least 2 bikers aren't killed by angry assholes before folks get comfortable with the idea