Beware the Change in Seasons

I was riding to work this morning at just a little later than the usual time (had a sick dog to deal with) and while riding past the firehouse on Diamond Drive, noted that the sun was at about 160 degrees behind me as it rose above the treeline. Thinking about that for a minute, I realized that meant that motorists pulling out of side streets and oncoming traffic would have the sun directly in their eyes when looking in my direction. That situation may intensify as the days get shorter.

Perhaps that is obvious, but I wonder how many crashes are caused by people not exercising situational awareness in realizing that the oncoming motorist making the left turn really, honestly, "didn't see you".

Be careful out there, and employ both mental (situational awareness and heightened observation) and physical (bright jerseys? forward strobe lights? etc.?)  countermeasures.

Speaking of this topic, I went over this once before.

Situational Awareness vs. Right Turning School Bus

Where Do You Cross The Street?

Sent this email to the Mayor of Idaho Falls on Sunday after getting here. Pictures show the problem, in part.

Lindsay Looking North

Lindsay Looking South

Dear Dr. Mayor Casper

 I walked from my hotel (Best Western Cottontree on Lindsay and Landbank) almost to the intersection of US 20 and Lindsay/Utah today in search of breakfast. I am not sure of your local laws on "jaywalking" or what constitutes a legal place for a pedestrian to cross the street, but couldn't find a marked crosswalk anywhere in what is about a two thirds of a mile distance along a wide road, crossing several times until I found a place I wanted to eat.

Are pedestrians supposed to use marked crossings in Idaho Falls? Given there are numerous hotels on both sides of Lindsay, has there ever been a thought to adding some marked ped crossings as amenities? Since only some of the hotels had full restaurants, a guest might spend a little time bumbling back and forth across the street.

Plus, if one is staying on the West side of the street, I hope your visitors get to enjoy your quite excellent trail along the Snake R. I jogged it yesterday afternoon after getting here. Lovely town you have here and I was impressed by the the size of the wind farm we flew over on the descent.

Best wishes,
 Khal Spencer
Los Alamos, NM

Umm...who is doing LAB's artwork?

Does anyone else see a strange similarity between LAB's art and Socialist Realism? At any rate, the call is actually to the National Bike Summit next spring.

Chipsealing Strikes the Jemez Mts (NM-4) Again

Posted to Pajarito Riders by Amy Regan:


-----Original Message----- Subject: Bikers Beware, the State strikes again!

The State is chip sealing State 4 thru the Jemez starting at the west end of the Via
to the state 4, state 126 junction in La Cueva.

The east bound lane is almost done. They should start on the west bound lane today.
Why they wanted/needed to chip seal new pavement is beyond my ability to guess.
They are spreading pea gravel several inches thick over the tar and leaving it for 24
to 48 hours. Only then do they sweep the excess off. A real big mess. Spread the word... Keith