marcprecipice

marcprecipice, 2 months ago to SanFrancisco

A toddler and an adult were killed, and a baby and two other adults (including the driver) were injured, when a driver hit a bus shelter in San Francisco today. This event produced some polarized reactions today and I wanted to talk about how I see it. https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/16/one-child-one-adult-killed-others-injured-when-car-strikes-bus-shelter-in-west-portal/ #StreetSafety #VisionZero #SanFrancisco.

marcprecipice, 9 months ago to climate

Attending Berkeley’s CERT Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness & Berkeley Hazards 101. One thing you can do with climate change worries is to prepare to help address problems when they arise. Look for CERT training in your city! https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/disaster-preparedness/community-emergency-response-team-cert #ClimateChange #DisasterPreparedness #Berkeley

marcprecipice, 9 months ago to Trains

I saw this earlier today but didn’t realize it was posted by Amtrak. Nice work, Amtrak. https://twitter.com/Amtrak/status/1697640473718890653 #Trains #Tågskryt

marcprecipice, 6 months ago to cycling

It's extremely discouraging how much I've become used to near-misses while cycling around the East Bay. Yesterday, a driver got into a left turn lane and then decided to veer out into a lane of traffic, directly into my bike, and would have hit me if I hadn't yelled. Today, a driver tried to make a rushed left turn, stopped due to cross traffic and nearly backed into a cyclist behind him, then nearly hit me trying again on the turn—on a “Bicycle Boulevard” (Russell & Shattuck). #BikeTooter

marcprecipice, 10 months ago to Cruise

I’m interested to see the 2023 reports when they get released. These are all (for #Cruise and #Waymo, at least) from before they were driverless. I have a suspicion disengagements happen pretty often for the “driverless” cars, and I’d love to see how often. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/autonomous-vehicles/disengagement-reports/ #AutonomousVehicles

marcprecipice, 8 months ago to random

🗽🗽🔥🌃
🐅⬆️🔋⬇️
🚇🏃🏼🕳️🪨
🗽🗽🔥🌃‼️

marcprecipice, 9 months ago to random

Welp, finally had a bike stolen in Berkeley. It’s insured (through Velosurance), and fortunately I have another bike to use, so it’s mostly an annoyance. If you ever buy a bike used, it’s a good idea to look up the serial number on BikeIndex.org and see if it might be stolen: https://bikeindex.org/bikes/1655058 #BikeTheft #Berkeley

marcprecipice, 7 months ago to random

“‘There tends to be a willingness to agree that robot driving will make public transportation obsolete,’ said Norton, on how politicians address robotaxis. Not so much because people actually believe that, but because politicians try to appeal to suburban voters — and it’s easier to promise investment in roads rather than public transit, he said.” https://missionlocal.org/2023/10/autonomous-vehicles-threaten-to-worsen-congestion-experts-say/ #PublicTransit #AutonomousVehicles

marcprecipice, 18 days ago to cycling

If riding an ebike is "cheating" compared to other exercise, why do my ebike rides have such a profound effect on my happiness and physical well-being? Why do I have measurably better health and get dramatically more minutes of activity compared to when I was riding a non-electric bike? Why can't I find a single downside to this form of exercise other than cost?

If it walks like exercise and quacks like exercise, maybe just call it exercise and leave off the judgment.

#BikeTooter #EBikes

marcprecipice, 5 months ago to random

I took someone in their 70s, who hadn't been on a bike in decades, for an ebike ride this week and it was a total failure. I found a good bike shop and picked out some Gazelles for us to ride, but the shop person set the seats pretty high—great for normal use, but not for someone feeling unsteady. He fell trying to put a foot down and that was that. I've gone over it in my head a bunch of times thinking how I could have helped more, but I'm still bummed.

marcprecipice, 7 months ago to random

I had fun playing around with this AI tool to "Add a touch of Dutch to your streets." https://dutchcyclinglifestyle.com Here's what it came up with for Hopkins. #Berkeley #FreeStreets #WarOnCars

An “after” photo showing the same street with planter boxes, space for pedestrians and cyclists, and zero cars.

marcprecipice, 4 months ago to random

Shoot, I should have asked this during #BikeNite. Does anyone have great resources for training corkers/ride leaders for group rides? We improv’d for @KidicalMass last time and I am hoping to do more/better this time. Thanks! #KidicalMass #CriticalMass

marcprecipice, 4 months ago to random

@ivory as far as I can tell, private mentions from people I don’t follow only show up if I look at a post to which they reply—not in my timeline, mentions, or notifications. iOS only, I think. Am I missing something? No relevant settings I can find. Thanks.

marcprecipice, 9 months ago to random

@sue somehow I thought you should know about this. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-john-wick-themed-bar-is-opening-in-manhattan-this-month-091123

marcprecipice, 2 months ago to random

Here’s a dumbass bike route I just rode, which I’m convinced is the optimal east-west route in South #Berkeley.

What makes it optimal?

• every arterial crossing but one has a traffic signal
• it’s mostly on side streets

What makes it dumbass?

• it almost completely avoids Berkeley’s “Bicycle Boulevard” network, meant to be the best bike routes around town
• none of the signals have bike detection
• it involves five, one-block jogs north-south
• no novice rider would ever find it without help

marcprecipice, 3 months ago to cycling

That’s not a cargo bike. This is a cargo bike. #BikeTooter #CarryShitOlympics #CargoBike

marcprecipice, 11 months ago to SanFrancisco

“It is an abomination. It is the worst infrastructure I have ever seen anywhere in the world.” https://missionlocal.org/2023/06/crashes-confusion-unfinished-sf-valencia-bike-lane/ #BikeLanes #SanFrancisco #RoadSafety

marcprecipice, 12 days ago to cargobike

For #WorldBicycleDay, I’ll post this picture in answer to one of the most frequent questions I get about biking: “But how do you get groceries?” My #CargoBike is large but can hold five full grocery bags up front with no problem, and two more on the back rack if needed. You can do it! It’s easy if you try. #BikeTooter

marcprecipice, 7 months ago to climate

Maybe we should, I dunno, act or something (🎁⛓️) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/climate/antarctic-melting-sea-level-rise.html?unlocked_article_code=1.40w.1UQ_.WKrdTGagaHFM&smid=url-share #ClimateChange

marcprecipice, 4 months ago to climate

“Our preliminary estimates suggest that annual electricity use from cryptocurrency mining probably represents from 0.6% to 2.3% of U.S. electricity consumption.” ‼️ https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61364 #ClimateChange

marcprecipice, 3 months ago to random

I'm so sad to read about the death of Julia Elkin, who was struck by a driver while jogging in the Berkeley hills. This should never have happened. Condolences to Julia's family and friends. https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2024/02/27/traffic-safety/berkeley-resident-julia-elkin-traffic-fatality/ #Berkeley

marcprecipice, 3 months ago to random

I like it when the city treats protected bike lanes as infrastructure that it matters to maintain. Thank you #Berkeley for buying a bike-lane-sized street sweeper.

A mini street sweeper traveling the other direction down the Milvia protected lane.

marcprecipice, 4 months ago to random

Not the K-rails!!! Is there nothing left to us?!!???!

“…the barrier tested wasn’t designed to handle vehicles weighing more than 5,000 pounds. ‘So far, we don’t see good vehicle-to-guardrail compatibility with electric vehicles,’ he said.”
https://insideevs.com/news/707059/electric-pickup-truck-guardrails-weight/ #RoadSafety

marcprecipice, 7 months ago to earthquake

Huh? #earthquake

marcprecipice, 9 months ago to ebikes

I recommended this bike a while ago, the Cannondale Compact Neo. I take it back; reliability has been awful. Currently on my way back to the shop with it and then I’ll donate it. #EBikes #Cannondale #BikeTooter