What I've learned about biking in Boston

Between cruising the streets on my scooter through all temperature and weather for the last 3 years, and now riding around on my new road bike, I've learned quite a bit about biking, traffic, pedestrians, road markings, safety and of course, the selfish nature of drivers once they get behind the wheel.  I will be sharing some little things bit by bit.

Starting with something that all beginner commuter bikers might form a variety of opinions on: Bike Lanes, which are (thankfully?) popping up more and more throughout Boston and Cambridge.

Boston Biker has provided me with plenty of great information and insight to begin thinking about these lanes from the perspective of a biker and a driver, and does an excellent job of explaining HOW to use them.

Good advice from How to Use a Door Zone Bike Lane (a bike lane that has cars parked next to it):

You are going to have to trust me on this, but having two predictable vehicles (car and bike) interacting in a predictable and planned way (bike stays in a straight line, car moves over slightly passes then resumes position) is MUCH MUCH safer, than a car door randomly opening and breaking your face, collar bone, or worse. People get tossed into traffic and run over by doors opening, people swerve into cars and are run over when doors open. There is no easy way to predict when a car door will open, and getting doored is horrific (even at low speed) so the best method of dealing with it is to STAY OUT OF THE DOOR ZONE.

So far once of my confusions is when roads have bike lanes and then don't, and then do again, like when crossing over the Charles at N. Harvard or Western Ave.  I witnessed an argument between biker and driver about the biker taking a lane (a "driving" lane) after the bike lane disappeared, to get over the bridge.  There are signs on Rt. 28 near Storrow Dr about how the biker CAN take a lane, and I'd hope that maybe more signs like this will be put up around the city.

That's all for now.

p.s. New website coming soon with lots of fun stuff!

The Weekend Ahead

This is gonna be a busy weekend. Jen, Cyn, Jackie and Coop are visiting. So much fun is to be had. Here's a graphic preview...

Hint: *CLICK* the photos (especially the softball one!)



Coming to a bar or couch near you...


Saturday Afternoon Triptych








And just for fun...some dead fly art.

Thoughts on Disappointment

Just some thoughts for today...

Disappointment is the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations to manifest. Similar to regret, it differs in that the individual feeling regret focuses primarily on the personal choices that contributed to a poor outcome, while the individual feeling disappointment focuses on the outcome itself.^[1] It is a source of psychological stress.^[2]

Disappointment, and an inability to prepare for it, has also been hypothesized as the source of occasional immune system compromise in optimists.^[9] While optimists by and large exhibit better health,^[10] they may alternatively exhibit less immunity when under prolonged or uncontrollable stress, a phenomenon which researchers have attributed to the "disappointment effect".^[9] The "disappointment effect" posits that optimists do not utilize "emotional cushioning" to prepare for disappointment and hence are less able to deal with it when they experience it.^[10][11] This disappointment effect has been challenged since the mid-1990s by researcher Suzanne C. Segerstrom, who has published, alone and in accord, several articles evaluating its plausibility. Her findings suggest that, rather than being unable to deal with disappointment, optimists are more likely to actively tackle their problems and experience some immunity compromise as a result.^[12]

Lose/Win people bury a lot of feelings. And unexpressed feelings come forth later in uglier ways. Psychosomatic illnesses often are the reincarnation of cumulative resentment, deep disappointment and disillusionment repressed by the Lose/Win mentality. Disproportionate rage or anger, overreaction to minor provocation, and cynicism are other embodiments of suppressed emotion. People who are constantly repressing, not transcending feelings toward a higher meaning find that it affects the quality of their relationships with others.
-Stephen Covey

Character is the foundation stone upon which one must build to win respect. just as no worthy building can be erected on a weak foundation, so no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on a weak character. Without character, all effort to attain dignity is superficial, and results are sure to be disappointing.
-R.C. Samsel