Cyclist Hit, Potentially Killed In Brighton (Updates Below)

I am getting reports that someone (larger guy with blue bike) was hit and maybe killed by a camry running a red light while on a cellphone on Stratmore St in Brighton, the report I got was that there was a lot of blood and that the cyclist didn’t get up. Does anyone know anything about this? I will continue to update this post with details.

To all the drivers out there, pay attention, your moment of inattention might transform you from a motorist to a murderer. To all the cyclists out there, keep your head on a swivel, paying attention is always a good idea.

EDIT: I called the cops,

They informed me that the person was in fact struck by a car, but DID NOT die. Which is great. I can only hope they heal up fast. If anyone wants more info they need to go to the police headquarters on Ruggles and request the info, as they apparently don’t give out more details over the phone for some odd reason.

New England Velodrome Dust Up

I don’t really know the full story here, but got this sent to me today, seems there is a bit of a dust up over the New England Velodrome.

New England Velodrome & Cycling Park
www.nevelodrome.com

Cycling for All!
January 2009- Vol 2, Issue 1
Thank you!

Dear Fellow Cyclists, volunteers, parents, sponsors and friends,

It is never easy convey disappointing news to friends and the task becomes more difficult when as in this case the news comes without warning and is the direct result of an intentional and calculated scheme by those who on numerous occasions professed to be in support of our project all the while studying our organization and planning to take over control for themselves.

First and foremost, the New England Velodrome & Cycling Park, thanks all of you for your many contributions over the past 5 years. Without you believing in, supporting and in many cases contributing sweat equity to our grass roots project the New England Velodrome and Cycling Park would have never gotten off the ground. It has been our pleasure to meet you all and to have had you as part of our cycling family.

Unfortunately, our collective efforts were brushed aside in the face of few more dollars. This morning, March 10, 2010, I was informed that someone had offered the owner of the property an increased monthly rent to take over control of the track, as well as the BMX and Cyclocross courses. This turn of events is in itself was upsetting to hear, however, it has also just come to light that this planned takeover was orchestrated by Jeff Palter and Kurt Begman of Cycleloft who attended our track and disingenuously expressed their support of what we had accomplished through hard work coupled with a collective passion for cycling. One can attempt to justify such actions on the basis of cold hard economics or in the interests of allegedly improving a product however the true reality is that this act is fueled by bruised egos and the desire to buy a concern after others have done the grunt work in establishing its viability. In short this act is contrary to very atmosphere many of you have fostered and come to expect from the New England Velodrome and Cycling Park and its staff.

Make no mistake about it, this was not a mutual decision nor was it necessitated by our own wish to turn over the cycling park to more “experienced hands”. This development came as a complete surprise, one we certainly did not anticipate on the eve of the upcoming cycling season. At this point we had sponsors on board, grants on the way and the schedule was complete. We tell you this only to assure you that the staff of the New England Velodrome and Cycling Park was 100% committed to the success of New England Velodrome & Cycling Park and it saddens all of us to have to deliver this news to you.

It is disturbing and disheartening to know that someone from the cycling community would do this behind our backs and with a vindictive motive. That being said, our sponsors and alliances are behind us in our venture to find a new home for the New England Velodrome & Cycling Park and Velocity BMX.

At this time we have no further information about what these new track owners plan to do and can not comment on how things will be run. We do know that the staff at New England Velodrome and Cycling Park did everything it could to make this work and offered as much as possible, but given the calculated nature and timing of these events it just wasn’t enough. Also, the staff of the New England Velodrome & Cycling Park will not be associated in any way with this type of business because it shows a lack of respect for the sport of cycling, the community, and the riders who made it all possible.

In conclusion, on behalf of the New England Velodrome and Cycling Park, I would like to extend my gracious appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all of you for seeing a similar vision, helping to nurture and develop it and sharing the common spirit inherent in this sport. I wish everyone the best of luck in the future and I promise to continue my pursuit of developing an indoor cycling park here in New England.

Sincerely, Tony Eberhardt

The Wind Was A Blowin’ And The Bikers Were A Bikin’

This morning I rode to work with a whole big group of other people. I had not planned on riding with so many. I got up, looked out the window, put on my hat, put on my helmet, zipped up my sweater, pulled up my wool socks, put on my jacket, put on my shoes, wrapped a scarf around my head, put on my gloves, and was out the door (a scant ten minutes after starting). In short it wasn’t the kind of day I was expecting to run into a critical mass of cyclists. But boy was I happy to find tens of other cyclists out there braving the driving snow and in general having a grand old time.

This more than anything else screams to me that we have pedaled past some critical point. 2 years ago on a day like this you would be hard pressed to find a single cyclist out on the streets, and more than likely it would be a grizzled super commuter that had been braving this kind of weather for 25+ years. Today however, on almost any given day you will find a whole host of cyclists plying the streets of Boston/Cambridge/Somerville.

So the real question is, “what happened?” What was it that suddenly opened the flood gates to cycling. Was it gas hitting 4 dollars a gallon? The threat of global warming? The cities baby steps towards cycling infrastructure? The obesity epidemic? The horrible pain of driving in this city? The rise in popularity of fixed gears? The creation of this website (ha ha)?

My opinion is that it was a bit of each. I think we have reached the point where the snowball is rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger. The more people that cycle, the more people see cyclists. The more they see them, the more they feel comfortable giving it a try (everyone else is doing it right?). More cyclist will drive demand for more cycling infrastructure, which in turn will draw out more people (“New bike lane! I will try riding to work.”). More cyclists on the road will condition drivers to look for cyclists leading to less accidents, plus removing people from cars means there is less cars on the road which could also lead to less accidents (data from Cambridge and others seems to show this). There are many positive feedback loops in play here, all of which are pushing more and more people to try cycling for the first time as a mode of transportation.

My prediction is that 2010 is going to be the year that cycling took a HUGE leap forward in terms of popularity in Boston. The last remaining mental barrier is this weather, when spring rolls around expect the streets to be packed with two wheeled citizens. Get your friends, get your bikes, and come be part of the fun! Till then, a big tip of my helmet to all of you pushing through this weather. While us snow riders know that winter isn’t that bad, I think we are all hoping spring gets here fast.

BU Bridge Closed At Night Starting Feb. 21

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Evening/Overnight Bridge Closure Boston University Bridge

On Sunday, February 21, 2010 through Thursday, March 4, 2010 the Boston University Bridge, which carries traffic over the Charles River between Cambridge and Boston, will be closed to traffic from 9 PM to 5 AM each week (Sunday to Thursday.) The upstream sidewalk will remain open during the bridge closure for bicycle and pedestrian access. Drivers are encourages to plan ahead and seek alternative routes during the closures.

MassDOT crews will be completing demolition work as part of the first phase of construction on the Boston University Bridge Rehabilitation Project. All Cambridge-to-Boston traffic and Boston-to-Cambridge traffic will be detoured to the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. Buses and emergency vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridge.

For transportation news and updates visit the MassDOT website at
www.mass.gov/massdot
the MassDOT blog at
www.mass.gov/blog/transportation
or follow MassDOT on twitter at
www.twitter.com/massdot

Evil, Jerk Face Doctor Gets Five Years In Prison

Remember that asshole “doctor” (do no harm…what?) who pulled in front of those two cyclists in California then slammed on the brakes, he got five years in prison for that. Good to see just a little justice in this world, I would like to think that when you intentionally try to kill someone you go to jail for it (even if the weapon is a car). Now if only we can make it so when you shoot a guy in the head you get the appropriate sentence.

A former emergency room doctor who deliberately braked so that two bicyclists rammed into his car in a road rage assault was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison.

Christopher Thompson, 60, wept and apologized to the two injured riders before he was sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

“The physical and mental scars are my fault,” he said.

…

Prosecutors had sought an eight-year term while Thompson’s attorney argued for probation.

Thompson, who worked at Beverly Hospital in Montebello, has been jailed since he was convicted in November of assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious bodily injury, reckless driving and mayhem.

Thompson deliberately hit his brakes, causing the bicyclists to hit the back of his Infiniti sedan on July 4, 2008, prosecutors said. One rider smashed through the back window, breaking his nose and front teeth. The other crashed to the pavement, separating his shoulder.

Read more at the globe