Virginia St. Pedestrian fatality update.

KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video -

KTVN Channel 2 has a pretty good report on the pedestrian fatality on North Virginia St. with some updated stats on Vehicle vs. Pedestrian accidents.  It's worth a watch. 

It does make me wonder why people aren't up in arms regarding changes to this intersection (stutter flashes, central divider islands, etc).  This particular intersection has resulted in 3 deaths in recent years.  It only took one (local celebrity) death to get changes made only a mile or so south by UNR. 

Please pay attention while driving!

***Update***  The pedestrian was in a cross walk at the time of the initial collision.  Was struck by a second vehicle in addition to the original collision. 

From RGJ:

The pedestrian killed in a crosswalk in north Reno this morning was hit by two vehicles, police say.
The investigation is ongoing, but Reno police Lt. Scott Dugan said the second vehicle hit the pedestrian with a "much greater significance than the first." That vehicle fled the scene, Dugan said. The driver of the first vehicle is cooperating, police said.

I realize that everyone thinks they pay attention while driving....so I'm including myself in this request.

The ingrained response we all give such a request is....."I do pay attention!"....but I'm not sure we really do.  If we all really did, we wouldn't be seeing these car vs. pedestrian accident reports about every 2-3 weeks (and it has been that often this year).

So why not actually take the time to watch the markings on the roads on your way home today.  Count the number of cross walks you pass on your own personal commute.  Note where they are....note the ones you never even noticed before even more.  Just this type of simple awareness exercise will help you avoid the situation!

And before the haters start in.....yes, I realize the guy crossing in a dark hoody, dark jeans, at night, in an area with no marked cross walk is adding to his own personal responsibility for crossing a road.  So...people who walk and cross roads at night....Stop doing this. 

Where the rubber hits the road....

Yeah, the blurry picture doesn't help...but that's not a pebble balanced on my tire.  That's the head of a inch and a half nail.  If pictures had audio...you'd be hearing that nice hisssssss noise.  On the up side, you'll notice the picture is take in the comfort of my office.  So I must have encountered this little gem shortly before arriving.  So remember, even though there isn't ice and snow in the bike lanes this year, there are still things you should be keeping any eye out for!

Habits.....

Yep, I took a picture of my bike with a couple lunch items set on the front fender, waiting to be put in a pannier for the trip to work.  I was thinking this indicated just how little actual material I had to blog about today.

What I realized however, is that this shows just how mundane a bike commute is.  It's exactly like the rest of the people in my neighborhood...swing by the grocery on the morning commute, grab something for lunch, and then head to work.

The only difference is I do it on a bicycle.  Here in the Reno that makes me rather unique....a one percenter if you will.  However, if I moved to Portland I'd be more like a 10 percenter, since many more people bike there.  Take it one step further and move to Holland and using a bike like this is just an everyday thing for most people.  Nothing special, not a big deal, just how they get around.

So, the next time you head out for a short trip to the store (or work) remember that getting in the car is just a habit.  And maybe...just maybe....it's not a good habit! 

Update Post on Bend Hot Toddy Ride.

Ok, my phone is giving me fits and won't connect to my computer.  So here's a shortened email version of a video I took on the Hot Toddy Ride up in Bend.  Basically, at one point we dumped off the bike path to this cul-de-sac just so we could see everyone riding at once.  Even in the short form it looks pretty cool (at least to me)!

A Bicycle Trip to Deschutes Brewery!

Ok, more stuff from the Bend, OR trip.  Shockingly none of us had actually ever been on the Deschutes Brewery tour....even the Preacher and his Wifey....who have lived in Bend on multiple occasions!  To their credit, they lived in Bend before this version of the brewery even existed!  Anyway, how do you do a bike tour of a brewery?  Here's how.....

Ride in style on a pimped out tandem.  Make sure to even do your banking by bicycle!  After all....you'll probably need to purchase souvenirs!

Arrive in time for your tour....or early if you'd like to start the tour with a taster of fine Deschutes beer!  Make sure to photo document the brew house and that the employees store their bikes right in the brew house!

***Note...this photo is not staged.  There really was a bicycle in the brew house when we toured through!***

End the tour back in the tap room.  Make sure to try all of your favorite beers and purchase lots of schwag!

Leave brewery tour by bike....notice another bicycle in brew house.  Take more photos that show your bikey reflections in the brewhouse window!

Biking in Bend.

Ok, too much stuff is happening in life for a really good write up on this....but there was a Bend trip.  There was a good amount of biking involved.  I'll try to do it justice later, but for now here are some pics.

There was general biking around town....in this case over to Deschutes for the brewery tour.  Note the buffered bike lane!

There was mountain biking on great single track.

There were hot toddies at the electric bike shop!

Before we headed out on the hot toddy Christmas ride.

Everybody had the bikes decked out with lights, bells, tinsel, etc.

The ride ended under the Hwy 20 bridge...which seems lame, until you are told there was a cargo bike with a very large sound system on it.  This turned into a bike light dance party.  The culvert acted as a nice base amplifier!