Comments for DanBailey.net http://www.danbailey.net cyclist, writer, font designer, geek Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:43:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on An Open Letter to My Girlfriend by caza http://www.danbailey.net/162/an-open-letter-to-my-girlfriend#comment-207 caza Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:07:26 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=162#comment-207 man this is some deep sh*t haha this helped me with writing a letter to my gf man this is some deep sh*t haha this helped me with writing a letter to my gf

]]> Comment on On the Use of Language by Dan http://www.danbailey.net/167/on-the-use-of-language#comment-205 Dan Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:36:08 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=167#comment-205 Well, Dave, here I had no idea you were reading this blog. Of course, no one ever comments here, so I really have no idea what kind of readership I have, beyond what Google Analytics tells me. Yeah, the "frak" thing...I dunno. It sounds contrived. Kate uses "friggin" to good effect, and I'm starting to wonder if it's not the emotion behind the statement that makes it so impactful. Well, Dave, here I had no idea you were reading this blog. Of course, no one ever comments here, so I really have no idea what kind of readership I have, beyond what Google Analytics tells me.

Yeah, the “frak” thing…I dunno. It sounds contrived. Kate uses “friggin” to good effect, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s not the emotion behind the statement that makes it so impactful.

]]> Comment on On the Use of Language by Dave Z http://www.danbailey.net/167/on-the-use-of-language#comment-204 Dave Z Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:02:33 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=167#comment-204 Two words for you: Battlestar Galactica. Frak the frakking frakkers. Two words for you: Battlestar Galactica. Frak the frakking frakkers.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to My Girlfriend by jenni http://www.danbailey.net/162/an-open-letter-to-my-girlfriend#comment-203 jenni Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:44:16 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=162#comment-203 aww. this is the sweetest ever. i love kate too! but, you know, in a different way. you guys are great together. aww. this is the sweetest ever.

i love kate too! but, you know, in a different way. you guys are great together.

]]> Comment on Challenge Me by Sherry http://www.danbailey.net/97/challenge-me#comment-200 Sherry Mon, 26 May 2008 04:45:20 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/97/challenge-me#comment-200 Write about living under an overpass or in a cardboard box and describe your treasures/your necessities. Write about living under an overpass or in a cardboard box and describe your treasures/your necessities.

]]> Comment on Routes by Friday: Half-Suck, Half Awesome | DanBailey.net http://www.danbailey.net/routes#comment-193 Friday: Half-Suck, Half Awesome | DanBailey.net Sat, 17 May 2008 17:40:15 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?page_id=5#comment-193 [...] Routes [...] […] Routes […]

]]> Comment on Awareness and the Road by Greg http://www.danbailey.net/113/awareness-and-the-road#comment-192 Greg Fri, 16 May 2008 21:15:20 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=113#comment-192 @Melissa, In the USA at least, I wouldn't be too nervous about an unwarranted charge of manslaughter. Recently, near my town, a motorist drove off the road onto a very wide (8 foot - which is really quite unusually wide for around here) shoulder and ran over a couple on a tandem bicycle, killing them both. No citation was issued, which is the usual result around here. Which is even stranger considering how many times my son has been stopped by the local police because "his wheels touched the white line" - evidently it is a traffic offense to even drive onto the white (shoulder) line. Frankly, I think it is just an excuse they use to do random stops of young drivers. (paraphrasing) Sure, there are plenty of skilled motorists, but I also see a lot of idiots out there driving cars who have no more clue about road safety than the man in the moon. Often they are juggling their Starbucks coffee, iPod, and cell phone when they should be navigating their vehicle. I'll accept the need for licensing bicycle riders after they outlaw those common, and well known to be dangerous, distractions for motorists. Bicyclist's have to dodge bad pavement, storm drains, rocks, broken glass, and various vehicle parts, and thus may occasionally be forced to make a sideways move. Rarely is it an "uneven edge of the road" that is an obstacle to a bicycle. Consider the responsibility of the local road maintenance authority to keep the roads cleaner and safe from debris, and those people that toss bottles and other items from their car onto the shoulder of the road. To Dan's most excellent series on bike commuting, I would add the recommendation of getting a small rear-view bike mirror. I prefer handlebar mounted as I don't want a spear of metal and glass attached to my helmet or sunglasses, thanks! @Melissa,
In the USA at least, I wouldn’t be too nervous about an unwarranted charge of manslaughter. Recently, near my town, a motorist drove off the road onto a very wide (8 foot - which is really quite unusually wide for around here) shoulder and ran over a couple on a tandem bicycle, killing them both. No citation was issued, which is the usual result around here. Which is even stranger considering how many times my son has been stopped by the local police because “his wheels touched the white line” - evidently it is a traffic offense to even drive onto the white (shoulder) line. Frankly, I think it is just an excuse they use to do random stops of young drivers.

(paraphrasing) Sure, there are plenty of skilled motorists, but I also see a lot of idiots out there driving cars who have no more clue about road safety than the man in the moon. Often they are juggling their Starbucks coffee, iPod, and cell phone when they should be navigating their vehicle. I’ll accept the need for licensing bicycle riders after they outlaw those common, and well known to be dangerous, distractions for motorists.

Bicyclist’s have to dodge bad pavement, storm drains, rocks, broken glass, and various vehicle parts, and thus may occasionally be forced to make a sideways move. Rarely is it an “uneven edge of the road” that is an obstacle to a bicycle. Consider the responsibility of the local road maintenance authority to keep the roads cleaner and safe from debris, and those people that toss bottles and other items from their car onto the shoulder of the road.

To Dan’s most excellent series on bike commuting, I would add the recommendation of getting a small rear-view bike mirror. I prefer handlebar mounted as I don’t want a spear of metal and glass attached to my helmet or sunglasses, thanks!

]]> Comment on Intro to Bike Commuting, Part II by Intro to Bike Commuting, Part IV | DanBailey.net http://www.danbailey.net/57/intro-to-bike-commuting-part-ii#comment-183 Intro to Bike Commuting, Part IV | DanBailey.net Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:07:04 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/57/intro-to-bike-commuting-part-ii#comment-183 [...] One: Introduction Part Two: Getting Started Part Three: Contingency Planning Part Four: Improving the Experience Part Five: Commuting in [...] […] One: Introduction Part Two: Getting Started Part Three: Contingency Planning Part Four: Improving the Experience Part Five: Commuting in […]

]]> Comment on Intro to Bike Commuting, Part I by My Commuting Future | DanBailey.net http://www.danbailey.net/56/intro-to-bike-commuting-part-i#comment-182 My Commuting Future | DanBailey.net Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:06:02 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/56/intro-to-bike-commuting-part-i#comment-182 [...] [If you’re here for more information on commuting by bicycle, try starting with this particular entry.] [...] […] [If you’re here for more information on commuting by bicycle, try starting with this particular entry.] […]

]]> Comment on Awareness and the Road by Melissa Maples http://www.danbailey.net/113/awareness-and-the-road#comment-181 Melissa Maples Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:08:36 +0000 http://www.danbailey.net/?p=113#comment-181 I'll admit, cyclists on the road have always made me nervous. I don't know if they don't realise how much they weave, or if they just can't help it due to the edges of roads being so uneven, but they always seem to jerk two feet to the left just as I was getting ready to pass. It gives me a heart attack, because of course regardless of whose fault it would be, in the case of an accident, I as a car driver would always, always get the blame. Good luck telling the judge "he darted in front of me" when you're up against a charge of vehicular manslaughter. I think the situation sucks, because car drivers get a lot of shit about bicycle accidents, but in most states/countries (including the UK), bicyclists do not have to have a license, nor are they required to take any classes or road safety tests before braving public traffic. There is also no age or mental capacity requirement. I don't see how this is acceptable in any way. In my opinion, anyone who operates any kind of moving vehicle, motorised or not, on public roads should have to pass a basic road safety test and get a license (including the requisite sight test/corrective lenses requirement). Sure, there are plenty of skilled cyclists, but I also see a lot of idiots out there on cycles who have no more clue about road safety than the man in the moon. I'm always hyper-aware of cyclists and pedestrians, and some of these people I look at and think it's a wonder they haven't been killed yet. And of course when they do get killed, it'll automatically be the fault of the car driver regardless of circumstances. I don't think that's fair at all. I’ll admit, cyclists on the road have always made me nervous. I don’t know if they don’t realise how much they weave, or if they just can’t help it due to the edges of roads being so uneven, but they always seem to jerk two feet to the left just as I was getting ready to pass. It gives me a heart attack, because of course regardless of whose fault it would be, in the case of an accident, I as a car driver would always, always get the blame. Good luck telling the judge “he darted in front of me” when you’re up against a charge of vehicular manslaughter.

I think the situation sucks, because car drivers get a lot of shit about bicycle accidents, but in most states/countries (including the UK), bicyclists do not have to have a license, nor are they required to take any classes or road safety tests before braving public traffic. There is also no age or mental capacity requirement. I don’t see how this is acceptable in any way. In my opinion, anyone who operates any kind of moving vehicle, motorised or not, on public roads should have to pass a basic road safety test and get a license (including the requisite sight test/corrective lenses requirement).

Sure, there are plenty of skilled cyclists, but I also see a lot of idiots out there on cycles who have no more clue about road safety than the man in the moon. I’m always hyper-aware of cyclists and pedestrians, and some of these people I look at and think it’s a wonder they haven’t been killed yet. And of course when they do get killed, it’ll automatically be the fault of the car driver regardless of circumstances. I don’t think that’s fair at all.

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