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

Weekend happenings and some future events...

Can't wait for fall in Boston...hope it stays decently warm enough to ride around for a few months!  Here are some upcoming events this weekend and in the next few weeks.

Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival: Ends Sat Sept 26

Join last year's 70,000 plus crowd to enjoy some of the best jazz, groove and blues music in the country in the heart of Boston.

Official Site: http://www.beantownjazz.org/

For tomorrow's schedule: http://www.beantownjazz.org/schedule.html

Hub on Wheels

• When:Sun 9/27 (8AM)
• Where:City Hall Plaza
• Address:1 City Hall Plaza Boston, MA 
• Cost:45.00

• For one day in September, Storrow Drive becomes a bike path.

  Join us for the 5th annual Hub On Wheels- Boston's only citywide bike ride takes place. It's your chance to ride along the Charles River with no cars getting in your way, explore the greenways and the shoreline, the neighborhoods and the communities we call home.

  Furthermore, your participation helps public school students get the technology and the skills they need to succeed in today's world. All of the proceeds from Hub On Wheels will benefit Technology Goes Home, a non-profit organization providing technology training and computer equipment to give these students the edge they need.
  

For additional information please visit: www.hubonwheels.org.

Bike Tours of Cambridge -- Oct 4, 2009

Discover new places and interesting routes between them on rides organized by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee. Most tours are themed, with brief talks and an informational brochure of images, text and map. The tours are accessible to all bike riders, moving at an easy pace in a group escorted by the Cambridge Police bicycle patrol. The rides are free of charge and end with free refreshments!

Next Ride: Pedaling the People's Republic – A History Of Political Activism In Cambridge

Sunday October 4, 2009

Departs 10:30 AM from Cambridge Common

Please arrive by 10:15 AM

http://cambridgebikes.org/

Uppereast - Oct 8, 2009

And...starting Oct 8 there's a new Thursday night women's night in Cambridge at OM. Check it out!  http://www.shuttavac.com/uppereast/

NY and St. Patty's Day

March NYC-1200C
Originally uploaded by Circuitree

Photos from my last trip to NYC, it's been quite a while...

Click for more.

More Boston Bike Stuff - News and Fun!

After YEARS of driving, biking and scooting roughly down North Harvard Street toward Harvard Square, it is wonderful news to hear it's going to be repaved, RIGHT NOW! The work will be done from July 13-25, bikers should stay on the sidewalk on the north side, and scooters beware, especially if the road is wet!

In addition to the smooth roads, bike lanes will be added on N. Harvard street (and parking decreased).

Turns out in 2010, the rest of N. Harvard street toward Cambridge St. will also be re-paved.

For more info, read the full article: Get ready for street paving in Allston

*******************

HUB ON WHEELS 2009

Get an unobstructed view of the city and a chance to fall in love with Boston all over again. A ride for everyone. Hub On Wheels is your chance to ride a car-free Storrow Drive and to explore the greenways, shoreline, and neighborhoods we call home.

WHEN: SEPTEMBER 27, 2009. There's also a race the day before. Check out website for more details.

Ride Logistics

• DATE: Sunday, September, 27, 2009
• START TIME: 8am
• LOCATION: City Hall Plaza
• DISTANCE: 10, 30, or 50 Miles
• FESTIVAL: Music, food, and fun 9am - 2pm
• FREE SNACKS & GIFT BAGS
• COST: $45 dollar registration fee
• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
• OPTIONAL DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING
• CHARITY: All proceeds support Technology Goes Home, click here to learn more!

MORE INFO: Hub on Wheels

**************************

More awesome events:

Bike Friday's: Ride into work with experienced ride guides. July 31st and August 25th. Learn more and register at www.bikefridays.org.

Rock, Roll and Ride: Community bike days for the entire family. July 18th, July 25th and August 8th. Click here to learn more.

Tour de Farms: Aug. 1 (sadly, I can't attend) Visit urban and community farms in the Boston area by bicycle and get a chance to sample fresh, locally grown food. Click here to learn more.

Don't use FreeCreditReport.com without reading the fine print! Really, just save yourself time and don't use it at all!

I needed to check my credit. I joined freecreditreport.com and just asked for the report with no added services. But really, the site is BS. Avoid it. Here's why:

It pulls your report from Experian, an already government required free service. Then it offers you monitoring of your report and help on ways to raise your credit. You may think you've said no to those offers, but WRONG you've signed up for credit monitoring.

You are asked for your credit card number and enrolled in a program that you really aren't aware of unless you actually read the Terms (who does that?). It explains that you aren't being charged for anything at the time on the page where it asks for your card and makes it seem they're just collecting account information in case you request further services.

A day or so after the report, I was charged a dollar. Showed up on my statement as from FCR.com. OK. A dollar, that's fine. I let it be. I continued to get more emails from FCR offering me services, which I immediately deleted.

Over a week later I see an unknown, unnamed charge in my BoA account (which is EMPTY because I just went off unemployment, started work, but haven't been paid yet!!). By calling the bank, I find a phone number attached to the charge and then called the number and guess what? Freecreditreport.com. Apparently, I was enrolled in a 9 day free trial and I didn't cancel it in time. An email maybe a day or two ago reminding me of this would have fucking been appreciated.

I assumed since I hadn't heard "scam" talk about this site I didn't need to look into it beforehand. But really, doing a basic search brings up some interesting info I wish I'd discovered before I got hosed.

In late 2006, Florida’s state attorney general’s office launched an investigation into Experian’s business practices, citing a “failure to adequately disclose negative option enrollment … deceptive advertising, misleading domain name, and failure to honor cancellations.”...

FCR is a shady and dishonest venture from Experian. I found that I was billed for a year of their service after giving my information for a one-time “free” check. When I disputed the charge, I thought that I had just been careless in enrolling. What a SHAM! – Erik, NJ (MSNBC’s Red Tape Chronicles blog)...

When I called to try to get a refund, it was pretty clear they weren't going to offer me one. They even tried to sell me on the redit monitoring service which would fight identity theft. I retorted that I was never interested in that and hit No, thanks for anything like that which had come up while I was registering. Finally, he cancelled my account and said I'd get an email confirmation. Well, that still hasn't arrived!!! If I run into any problems with the cancellation I'll have to follow the advice of this guy and this guy.

Bottom line: the safest way to request your free annual credit report is through AnnualCreditReport.com. Period.

Bay State Bike Week

Thanks to Yelp, I just find out that next week (May 11-17) is the Bay State (that's MA's nickname for all those of you who may not know) Bike Week. There are events throughout the entire state. See Calendar of Events.

Bostonian's can bike to work as part of the Mass Commuter Challenge. I've already been biking at least some of the way to work (weather permitting) but I can certainly try to do it every day next week.

The site registration is a little confusing as it sets up a page where you can email friends to accept donations for the ride. However, the pledge amounts for this event are in miles, not money and I'm not sure where money would go IF you had some donated.

Anyways, you can even join a bike convoy to City Hall for Mayor Menino's Bike Week Festival on Friday morning, which is a police escorted ride to downtown Boston.

I'm registered to ride for Harvard to work each day and also joining the Allston-Brighton convoy for Friday (will I get up early enough..?). For that I need a helmet though...guess my moped helmet will have to do.

It's been a while...photos, friends music and such

I have a handful of new photos up on my flickr account. Items include kittens we are fostering for Black Cat Rescue who are available for adoption, a Patio Series (link coming) I am starting for the Spring/Summer/Fall that takes place..you guessed it..on my patio. Maybe I'll start an Other People's Patios series as well. There was also a Psyforia event that I finally posted, pretty sweet lighting effects and kids dancing.



One of my favorite new uploads was of a show back in September of MeandJoanCollins. They recently had a CD release jam at the Paradise with World Inferno Friendship society (I am not allowed to take photos at the Paradise...) and an awesome article/interview published in the Boston Phoenix. Check it out here. Please check out their upcoming shows!!!!

Flu-Frenzy

People, relax.

Words like "pandemic" really get blown out of proportion.

Check out information about another pandemic flu in Spain in 1918:

It's estimated that about 28 per cent of Canadians and Americans contracted the Spanish flu. Worldwide, an estimated 2.5 per cent of the sick died of complications, which made the pandemic one of the most lethal flu outbreaks in recorded history. But there's another way to look at those statistics. You might observe, for example, that they mean that even during the worst ravages of the 1918 flu, 97.5 per cent of those infected survived and recovered...So, even if we had a repeat of the 1918 flu, the chances were seven out of 10 that you wouldn't catch it and if you did, the odds were better than nine out of 10 that you'd survive.

I did find something cool though. Search trends can tell you a lot about where and why a topic has become of interest. This is reminiscent of the Lycos50 (from Deano!) and the cRANKy top ten search I worked on.

One way to possibly track the spread of the swine flu is to look at where spikes in search activity around related terms is occurring. Google already does this with its Google Flu Trends, and has now extended that analysis on an experimental basis to Mexico with a site it just put up called Experimental Flu Trends For Mexico. These maps represent Google’s estimates of actual flu outbreaks based on correlations between search activity and how many of those people are really sick.

Check it out: Google trends for "swine flu" AND you can do this with any term, play around with it! For example, the top state searching for gonorrhea is Tennessee...better be careful at Bonnaroo!!!!

Oh yeah, and if you think you have swine flu, check this out: http://doihaveswineflu.org/