Lost in OK

With more than a little controversy, the Oklahoma City Council has approved a timeline for all the MAPS 3 projects. Included in this timeline for the 57 miles of new bicycle trails included in the MAPS projects:

Trails

• Fifty-seven miles of trails for walking, cycling and other outdoor activities are planned. The locations of the trails are still being worked out, but they expect to make use of lakes and other well-used areas of the city. They will be built in three phases beginning in 2013.

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With the end of the legislative session, we now can report on the final disposition of the four major cycling bills that were being considered this year:

• SB443: Requires bicycle safety questions on the driver’s license exam. Passed and signed by the governor.
• HB2049: Designates Route 66 as the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail.  Originally, the bill only partly covered Route 66, but in the end it was expanded to cover the entire length. Passed and signed by the governor.
• SB487: Would have allowed for  an optional $5 donation during driver’s license renewals to go for bicycle safety education. Died waiting for final vote after reconciliation.
• SB951: Probably the most important bill in this year’s session would have clarified the 3-foot rule and would have increased penalties for people throwing objects at cyclists. Died in Senate Subcommittee.

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So unfortunately, it has been another long delay since I was last able to dedicate some time to the blog.  At least this time I was able to spend some time during the last few months getting some great riding in, including a wonderful trip during this year’s Oklahoma Freewheel.  There has been a lot of news in the last couple of months so please have some patience as I get caught up . . .

Sad news to mark my return to blogging, a man on a bicycle was struck from behind in a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning:

A hit-and-run incident left a Norman man seriously injured Friday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

Troopers said Brian Dressler, 32, was struck from behind about 4 a.m. while riding his bicycle on the shoulder of the Interstate 35 bridge over the Canadian River in Cleveland County.

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Awful View, originally uploaded by RadicalWacko.

More awful scenery from my new office.

Sorry folks, but I’m back to playing catch up.  Firstly, the Oklahoma City Council is holding the public hearing phase on the major changes to the city’s bicycle ordinances.  The meeting is occurring today starting at 8:30 AM in the City Council Chamber on the 3rd floor of 200 N. Walker.

As you can see from the full agenda, there is a lot of ground being covered so I can’t really say when the ordiances will changes will be considered.  If it happens when I happen to have a free moment, I will be live tweeting the discussion at @okcbicyclist.

I was tired on the way to work.  Then I had to work a 13 hour day.  Then I had to ride home in the dark, after midnight, while facing a 15-20 mph headwind.  So today I learned that cycling while exhausted is completely possible . . .

So I got the lights and gear transferred over to the Surly who I think is getting a new name.  I haven’t been happy with any of the names I’ve tried out so far, but I’m trying out Ms. Billie Blue.  No relation to the Australian convict.

In any case, today I learned how wonderful it is to ride your commute with a bicycle that you can count on.  I didn’t really realize how much I effort I spent constantly checking the chain, listening to the derailleur for the slightest sound of binding, checking that the brake cable hadn’t slipped for the 50th time, etc.  Just being able to really sit back and enjoy the ride was extremely pleasant.

Well today is a sad day for #30DaysofBiking. I know I’ve been talking about it for a long time, but my old trusted Cannondale Touring Bike which I’ve had since I was 15 years old has finally reached the complete end of its life. On the way home tonight, the rear derailleur came into pieces tonight on the way home. The picture below doesn’t really show the complete extent of the damage, but it was a pretty catastrophic end considering I was doing about 17 mph when it happened, thankfully outside of several broken and bent spokes there was no personal injury.

The 45 mph gusts of yesterday convinced me to chicken out from the 60 mph gusts this morning.  Therefore I waited till late after I got home from work and the wind had died down before hitting the road.  Weekday nights are pretty quiet in Oklahoma City, especially after 10:30 at night on a Monday.  I saw only two cars on my 30 minute ride.  With the streets that quiet and the lights shining off the street, it’s like you are the last person left alive in the city.  It’s at times like these that I truly remember how liberating biking can be . . .