An awareness outreach is forming to help teach drivers (and passengers) to simply open the door with their other hand to help prevent cyclists from getting doored. Even when we use self-driving cars, this little change in habit is going to be very helpful for preventing cyclists from getting doored! Here's a quick 2 minute video about it I just made: https://youtu.be/lvajgZd7q_I This is such a simple change to implement. It just takes a little bit of awareness to change the habit. I … [Read more...] about The Dutch Reach: To prevent cyclists from getting doored, tell people to open the car door with their opposite hand!
Driving
How to Parallel Park Like a Pro
For the longest time I used to favor a parking spot that didn't require parallel parking, but recently I just started following these steps and now I have zero hesitation doing it! Highly recommended! Instructions 1) Put on your turn signal so everyone behind you know what's you're doing. 2) Pull up next to the car in front of the space. Exactly beside them. Your back bumpers should be pretty much lined up and you should be about two feet away from the car. 3) Cut the wheel all the way … [Read more...] about How to Parallel Park Like a Pro
Hey Asshole! Yea You, The One Driving The Car!
If you were standing around and a car behind you blasts the horn without warning, would you be startled? Yep! Would you shit your pants? Maybe! Now imagine the same scenario, except this time you're riding your bicycle on the street, and all of a sudden the car behind you blasts the horn. It's not just startling but terrifying and incites a wide range of emotions. Listen up Mister Motorist: When a cyclist is in the middle of the lane, it's not because they hate you. … [Read more...] about Hey Asshole! Yea You, The One Driving The Car!
When someone in traffic aggressively passes me to become stuck behind the same car I was (GIF)
Don’t waste time looking for a close parking spot
Time and time again people speed to the store, only to spend 3 minutes circling the parking lot trying to find a spot that's near the entrance. Simply drive straight to the back and park. The walk to the entrance will take mere seconds. In a massive Walmart sized parking lot, if you park in the back, it's will probably take just 20-30 seconds AT MOST to get to the entrance. In a smaller lot the time is even more inconsequential. So stop being lazy god damn it! Use your brain. I mean your … [Read more...] about Don’t waste time looking for a close parking spot
How to Drive Efficiently on the Streets
This is the next building block that comes after my tips on driving efficiently on the freeway/highway. I'm trying to share everything I know to transform driving from a wound up, stressful experience to an efficient and relaxing one. Intro After driving in Los Angeles all my life, one of the most congested cities in the world, it wasn't until I started riding my bicycle on the streets that I realized how inefficient drivers (including me!) were generally behaving on the streets. When I … [Read more...] about How to Drive Efficiently on the Streets
Alternative Transportation is [Oddly] Liberating
While waiting for the bus this morning, I was watching all the cars zooming by and I realized almost everyone, no matter if they were in a coupe, sedan, truck or SUV, had just one person in it. I thought wow, first of all, a modern midsize car weighs a minimum of 3,000 pounds. All these people are driving a 3,000 pound machine, to transport their 200 pound selves. So much wasted energy, but it gives you insight as to how powerful gasoline really is, right? Contrast that with a bicycle, which … [Read more...] about Alternative Transportation is [Oddly] Liberating
If you park like this, fuck you!
Picture taken at Santa Monica College at one of the only spots where there is free parking near campus. Everything else is metered and free parking is very far away. That spot fits two cars EASILY, but not if you park like an inconsiderate jackass. … [Read more...] about If you park like this, fuck you!
How to Drive Efficiently On The Freeway
All my life I've been driving in one of the most congested cities in the world, Los Angeles, and I've learned how to do it with great peace of mind and efficiency. I'm very excited to share the simple things I do that have transformed driving to go from a tiring and stressful experience to a much more relaxing one. This is one of several articles about driving that are on the way. Each part is like a building block that may dramatically change the way you drive, save you a lot of money, … [Read more...] about How to Drive Efficiently On The Freeway
I Love Efficiency
First things first. I love efficiency. I am a fan of efficiency. I think in terms of efficiency often. When it comes to cars, I like lightweight cars. I like small cars. I like cars that are engineered to handle really well. For these reasons alone, I love old cars, as they used to weigh a lot less. And I love old European cars to be specific, as they both handle well and are light weight. When the MINI Cooper came out in 2003, it impressed me because there was finally a car on the … [Read more...] about I Love Efficiency