Since when does actress and comedian Amy Poehler work for CatEye?
Use The Other Lane
Do these words not mean anything to anyone anymore? I was riding into work today excited as I took the bus the last two days because of all the snow. Although I probably could have rode the second day due to the actual amount of snow we got being blown way out of proportion of what they were predicting. I rode in the left lane most of the way because the right one was full of snow and I did not want my bike to be a big pile of slush by the time I arrived at work. As I was riding a car passed me on the left. He literally went into the other side of the road to pass me. Then another and another after that; each one closer then the one that preceded it. I considered taking the lane, but the middle of the lane was full of snow. Now, I don’t know if everyone is familiar with Western Ave. west of N Allen St., but there are two lanes, and instead of using the other lane most cars decided to merge into oncoming traffic to pass me.
Maybe I was at fault using the left lane instead of the right, but if there is another lane that is not in use why would someone merge into oncoming traffic to avoid me. I know the rule of “Don’t pass on the right,” but I would rather someone had pass me on the right today then get into an accident while passing me.
Written by Chris Belsole
Filed under Article
Late Winter Advice
Sure winter is almost half over, but it is never too late to get some good advice. Street films has a great video about Chicago suburbanites commuting through the winter with all the amenities.
Written by Chris Belsole
Filed under Article
Pannier Problems
I love this site BikeHacks.com. There are a lot of neat tips and tricks that you can do with spare bike components or if you are into DIY projects. Here is something we can all do. All you need is a floppy bag that does not fit right as a pannier and some cardboard. It is a pretty simple solution to a pretty common problem.
Written by Chris Belsole
Filed under Bike Tech
Where Do Bikes Belong
Bikes live in a strange catagory of vehicles somewhere between a motorcycle and a scooter. A place where they are okay for inside storage, but only in certain situations. Why are bikes not allowed inside buildings? I’m not entirely sure so let’s think about it for a moment. There are two main reasons to bring your bike inside, security and weather.
In my home I have peace of mind because every time I get home I park my bike in the basement and lock the door behind me. So why can’t I do this when I go out into Albany to grab a coffee or do some shopping? It would be a major draw for me to be able to bring my bike inside as to weather I visit a retailer or not. That way I could know that my bike is safe while I went browsing for interesting things or shopping for the week.
As for weather the weather is a factor it certainly is. To be able to keep your bike in a sheltered environment while mother nature is at her worst has huge repercussions on the long term life of the bicycle as well as the daily maintinence that is required if you are riding in the rain or snow everyday.
In New York City office buildings are required to provide bicycle accommodations indoors. Why not Albany?
The only place I know of in Albany that will allow you to bring your bike inside is the Hudson River Coffee House. If anyone knows of others I would love to hear from you.
Albany Bicycle Coalition 