I like to restore old high-fidelity speakers. While trying to find some replacement potentiometers for a pair of 1969 Acoustic Research AR-2ax speakers, I was referred to Leeds Radio in Brooklyn, New York (in business since 1923).
Their info page tells you how to get there by bicycle, and offers you a free gift from their grab-bag box if you arrive via bicycle.
Need any radio parts? Try Leeds.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Upon further review...
Bicyclists' Rights
Bicycles have a right to the road
A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle... Sec. 551.101(a)
Cyclists don't always have to ride on the right
A bicyclist is NOT required to ride at the right curb or right edge of the roadway when (s)he is:
- moving as fast or faster than other traffic.
- passing another vehicle moving in the same direction
- preparing to make a left turn.
- avoiding a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway.
- operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is: less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.
- riding on a one-way road with two or more traffic lanes, in which case the cyclist may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway. Paraphrased from Sec. 551.103. Operation on Roadway
Bicycles may ride two-abreast
Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles. Sec. 551.103(c). Operation on Roadway
Bicycles may ride on the shoulder
A limitation in this section on driving on an improved shoulder does not apply to... a bicycle. Sec. 545.058 (c)(3). Driving on Improved Shoulder
Bicycles can park on the sidewalk
A person may stop, stand, or park a bicycle on a sidewalk if the bicycle does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic on the sidewalk. Sec. 545.302(d). Stopping, Standing, or Parking Prohibited in Certain Places.
Bicyclists not required to carry ID
A person commits an offense if he intentionally refuses to give his name, residence address, or date of birth to a peace officer who has lawfully arrested the person and requested the information. A person commits an offense if he intentionally gives a false or fictitious name, residence address, or date of birth to a peace officer who has law-lawfully detained or arrested the person; or requested the information from a person that the peace officer has good cause to believe is a witness to a criminal offense. [A person must identify him/herself only if arrested; no ID is required.] Sec. 38.02. Failure to Identify
Motorist Offenses
Actual or threatened harm by a motorist is Assault
A person commits an offense if the person: intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, ...; intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury…; or intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative. Sec. 22.01. Assault
Threatening harm with a motor vehicle is Aggravated Assault
A person commits an offense if the person commits assault as defined in Section 22.01 [above] and the person: causes serious bodily injury to another…; or uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault. An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree if the offense is committed [under certain circumstances]. Sec. 22.02. Aggravated Assault. "Deadly weapon" means... anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. Sec. 1.07(17)(B). Definitions
Recklessness which could hurt somebody is Deadly Conduct
A person commits an offense if he recklessly engages in conduct that places another in imminent danger of serious bodily injury. Sec. 22.05(a). Deadly Conduct
Reckless driving is a criminal offense
A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Sec. 545.401(a). Reckless Driving; Offense.
Motorist must stop if injuring someone
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall:
(1) immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible; (2) immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident; and (3) remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023 [below].
An operator of a vehicle required to stop the vehicle by [as described above] shall do so without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
A person commits an offense if the person does not stop or does not comply with the requirements of this section. An offense under this section is punishable by: imprisonment in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year; a fine not to exceed $5,000; or both the fine and the imprisonment or confinement. Sec. 550.021. Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death.
Motorist must stop if injuring person or vehicle
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of a person or damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall:
(1) give the operator's name and address, the registration number of the vehicle the operator was driving, and the name of the operator's motor vehicle liability insurer to any person injured or the operator or occupant of or person attending a vehicle involved in the collision;
(2) if requested and available, show the operator's driver's license to a person described by Subdivision (1); and
(3) provide any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including transporting or making arrangements for transporting the person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary, or if the injured person requests the transportation. Sec. 550.023. Duty to Give Information and Render Aid.
Injury caused by DWI is Intoxication Assault
A person commits an offense if the person, by accident or mistake, while operating a…motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, by reason of that intoxication causes serious bodily injury to another. "Serious bodily injury" means injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree. Sec. 49.07 Intoxication Assault
Death caused by DWI is Intoxication Manslaughter
A person commits an offense if the person: operates a motor vehicle in a public place… and is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake. An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. Sec. 49.08 Intoxication Manslaughter
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Five Es
The 5 Es of
- Encouragement includes developing awareness and building enthusiasm for walking, running, skating, and bicycling.
- Engineering tools include a variety of street and trail design techniques that can reduce traffic volumes on roads, decrease speeds on roads and trails, and improve safety for all users.
- Education programs teach motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists about their responsibilities and about traffic rules.
- Enforcement enlists the help of local law enforcement to focus efforts in problem areas and increase community awareness of safety issues.
- Etiquette includes developing awareness of the rights of other users, and the display of courtesy toward all park visitors.
Urban Cycling Tips
It's easy to feel very uncomfortable when you start cycling on the streets in
General Tips
· Practice riding your bike until it is second nature. There are too many other hazards to risk being distracted by starting, stopping, signaling, looking behind and gear changing.
· Cycle 3-6 feet away from the curb and 4 feet away from parked vehicles.
· Assume you are invisible to everyone else ‑ always plan your 'escape route'.
· Your main visibility weapon is making eye contact with drivers.
· Anticipation is the most effective way to avoid the majority of accidents.
· Your hearing is far better than that of cocooned motorists; use your ears as an information source. Scan the road ahead with your eyes.
· You can buy a reflective safety vest to increase your visibility day or night. Bright orange flags are also available to increase your visibility.
· Use bike routes, back streets, and trails if you can...they should be safer.
· Look behind, and then signal clearly before changing road position or making maneuvers.
· Trust your feelings ‑ if it seems unsafe, then get off and walk until you're past the danger.
· Always, always, ALWAYS ride your bike on the right side of the road WITH the traffic flow.
· Carry the tools and supplies necessary to fix a flat. Practice, practice, practice. Keeping your tires inflated to their proper level will decrease the possibility of flats greatly.
· Carry a cell phone or a supply of quarters should you need a ride home. You can carry your bike on DART buses and trains if there is available room.
· Never pass on the right side of large vehicles (between vehicle and curb), especially semis & tractor-trailer trucks, as they may turn unexpectedly leaving you few escape routes; add in parking meters, fire hydrants and sign posts, and it can easily be lethal.
· Assume all the doors of parked cars and stationary taxis will open just as you pass.
· The gutter offers many surprises, which is a good reason to stay away from it: drain gratings can trap your front wheel, potholes breed there, broken glass collects there, and you'll often find bulky objects (including pedestrians who've stepped off the pavement without looking).
· Rain lowers motorist driving standards, makes manhole covers and paint stripes slippery, and affects your braking ability. Frequent gentle application of brakes helps performance.
· Approaching a side road on the right: You should move in the middle of the right hand lane ‑ if you are turning right it will mean you do not need to swerve out, and if you are going straight on it will discourage right turning motorists from trying to overtake you.
· Shopping Bags on handlebars or long flowing clothing will eventually catch in a wheel, throwing you violently off your bike. Get a rear rack and/or front basket. Backpacks will do in a pinch.
· Effective brakes are vital ‑ do not cycle until they work properly. When wet, brakes will not work as well when first applied. See above.
· If a pothole appears just in front, don't swerve out unless you're sure there's no vehicle behind. If you can do it safely, stand up on your pedals before you hit the hole. Practice “bunny hopping” your bike so that you can hop over some potholes.
· Night ‑ always use lights ‑ a reflective yellow vest is also very effective.
· Keep hydrated. In hot weather, drink plenty of water before, during, and after riding. The exertion of riding, combined with the constant breeze caused by cycling, will cause you to loose more fluid through evaporation than you are aware.
83% of serious road bicycle accidents do not involve a motor vehicle. Of these the most likely causes are: wet roads, bag/clothing caught in wheel, bike mechanical failure (brakes, chain falling off), cycling from sidewalk onto a road, and collisions with pedestrians and animals.
You must obey the same traffic laws as motorists. There are occasions when you may feel you need to infringe a traffic regulation in order to remain safe ‑ you may have a moral right to do so, but the law will not recognize this unless the situation is exceptional. Flagrantly flouting the rules of the road brings cycling into disrepute; furthermore, your actions may irritate a motorist so much that they take it out on the cyclist behind you.
Every person riding a bicycle shall be granted all rights and be subject to all duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. Sec. 551.101
Cyclists fare best when they act as, and are treated as, the drivers of other vehicles.
A map of the Dallas Bike Plan is available on-line. Go to www.dallascityhall.com and follow the Online Services button to the Interactive City Map. This is a scalable map that can also display aerial photographs of the City. At the bottom of the Map Legend (left hand side of page) is a link to access more features. Click this link to get an expanded map legend, and then select Bike Routes and Bike Trails. All City streets that are part of the 800 lane-mile Dallas Bike Plan will now be displayed.
Transportation Alternatives Coordinator
paul.summer@dallascityhall.com
No local bike shops were harmed in this production.
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