Anonymous Has A Case of the Mondays; Crossbows As Self-Defense in SoCal; Parklets? No, Pooplets.

Protesters, deciding that it would be alright to come out of their mom's basements two days a week, have moved their pointless disruption routine to Thursday. They also muttered something about using the funeral of that Apple engineer who was struck and killed over the weekend as an excuse to leave work early on Thursday.  Like the mask inside your desk didn't give you away, already.

                   ______________________________________________________________

photo courtesy of goddesssophiawalker.com

Crossbows are something you don't see everyday. This changed for a 16 year old San Diego boy yesterday, when he was struck in the side by an arrow from the passenger window of an SUV at which he was throwing rocks. The boy was taken to a hospital, treated and released to his guardian.

His name wasn't released.

Nobody has been arrested.

                ___________________________________________________________

        

Outdoor toilets in India (left) and Amsterdam (right)

Urinating in public has always been seen as a last resort in America. However, in many other countries this proces has been embraced as a natural part of humans living in close proximity to each other. In an ever progressive stance, the city of San Francisco is thinking of constructing Pooplets (similar to a parklet in size and location) where specifically homeless people can relieve themselves in a sheltered, but still open space. These shelters would be similar in size to a bus stop, with multiple entrances, and enough clearance at ground level for police to easily enforce scofflaws and drug addicts from using these facilities nefariously. Scott James from The Bay Citizen researched how the new toilets differ from the existing ones, and where the biggest amount of crap is found in San Francisco.  Surprise, it's in the Tenderloin!

How To Deal With Assholes on Bicycles

New BART GM Misses Seattle, The Shire

Grace Crunican comes to BART via Seattle, WA via Hobbiton. File photo.

After a long and arduous journey BART's new general manager, Grace Crunican, will be arriving in the Bay Area in mid-September to begin her tenure. She takes over amid multiple BART police shootings, BART's decision to cut-off cell service inside stations during protests over the shootings, and updating BART's entire vehicle fleet by securing federal transportation funding and voter-funded ballot measures.  Coming to us from Seattle, WA, Crunican replaces Dorothy Duggar, who was asked to resign on claims she withheld information from the board, and resisted delegating responsibilities to subordinates. Duggar, however, brought accountability and transparency to the financial books of the long-embroiled transit agency.

SFPD Not Targeting Bicyclists; How to Counter-protest 'Anonymous';

Some drivers ignore the mandatory right-turn at 10th Street. Photo courtesy of SFExaminer.com

   Recent claims made by Streetsblog and other transit websites that the San Francisco Police Department have been selectively targeting bicyclists has been proven speculative.  Evidenced by the repeated enforcement (they run this sting quite regularly) by the SFPD of motorists disobeying the mandatory turn-lanes along Market Street at 6th and 10th Streets. Let's call them Cartyrs, people who refuse to believe they are the 'small guys' on the playground and continually peacock and posture until their noticed.  Trust me, as a pedestrian I "Notice" you everyday whizzing by me in crosswalks, pedestrian areas, and even inside BART stations.

  Again, these websites' agendas overshadow their noble and rational reasons for the fight; everyone should feel safe on our streets. Yet they seek some legitimized form of anarchy by believing they are above the law, or at least always the victim in the battle for street space. This seems eerily similar to the motorist's "arrogant" behavior they so often deem entitlement.

  Contrarian at best, their continued police bashing doesn't win them any leverage in their eventual fight for any future expansion of the San Francisco Bike Plan (SFBP) beyond the proposed build-out scheduled for completion late next year. I guess upholding the law isn't something these people want from a police department any more. Stop turning our brave men and women into scapegoats in the public media, karma's a bitch.

           _______________________________________________________________________

photo courtesy of phonejammer.com

  Here's a novel way of participating in the counter-protest to 'Anonymous' and their senseless and misdirected claims about BART Police.  In response, I'll offer my own non-violent, quasi-legal way of making Anonymous truly anonymous. You can purchase portable cell-signal blocking technology that fits in your pocket.  

  Just show up during a scheduled protest and stay close to protesters outside the station moderating or coordinating social media, blogs, and forums.  This is the crucial link in cutting off communication to the their fringe elements and the rest of the world. This will also block nearby news reporters from using their cell phones, so be careful.  Fight for your right to safe and convenient public transit, and take back the trains from these terrorists.  BTW, MUNI drivers have struck and killed NINE people this year, BART Police TWO.  Where are your priorities?

New Phelan Avenue Left-Turn Lane Endangers Pedestrians, Bicyclists

Students crossing the loop entrance of are constantly in fear of being struck by NB and SB motorists entering the college

  Upon arriving on the City College campus this week for the fall semester, I noticed a new left-turn lane has been installed on southbound Phelan Avenue into the City College campus loop.  This left turn is critical for drivers arriving from the north side of campus in order to access the loop, however, this new turn lane has created a dangerous conflict for pedestrians walking along the east side of Phelan Avenue. The newly installed bicycle lane on Phelan was also not taken into consideration during the redesign process.

  As the photo suggests, pedestrians must dodge cars entering the loop, or run to avoid being harassed by impatient drivers for blocking the entrance. This is the most widely used entrance to the campus by drivers picking up students, disabled-access vehicles, campus police, and faculty accessing the parking lot in front of Conlan Hall.  This was already a dangerous place for pedestrians crossing the entrance to the loop, now it is a death trap.

The existing conditions at the CCSF loop entrance looking Northbound

Suggested lowest-cost option for the CCSF loop entrance

  Options include installing a wide, brightly painted crosswalk, adding curb bulbouts to reduce the distance needed for pedestrians to cross, or adding a dotted line to link the bike lane on either side of the intersection. Pavement markings in the actual turn-lane could instruct drivers to yield to pedestrians for left turns into the loop.  Besides the curb bulb-outs, these other options are low-cost, simple solutions to a situation that can only get worse.

  All the intersections along Phelan Avenue were poorly designed to begin with (due to the bureaucracies involved in the initial design of the avenue) since the SFMTA, the fire department on Ocean, City College, and the City all had a say in the final design. Since no consensus was ever reached on the safest designs for these intersections due to bickering, we now have to redesign this street for everyone who uses it; without regard for red tape and the opinions of those who probably rarely walk or bike through the Phelan corridor.

  A copy of this blog post has been forwarded to the maintenance department of City College, the City College Police, and the CCSF Student Association to make them all aware of the importance of safety for pedestrians and bicyclists who attend or visit City College.

'Anonymous' Won't Stop Until It's Own Image, BART Police Destroyed

'Anonymous' terrorist group member, pre-selected lesbian, see fit to block the bike lane now too

  In it's latest effort to ruin it's own image, the "Hacktivist" group Anonymous claimed it will not stop interrupting BART service until the BART Police are disbanded. As this will never happen, and since I giggle everytime our lamestream media gives these social tangents an ominous characterization on our behalf, I thought some reflection was necessary. To lighten the mood, I'd like to point to a few other ways in which Anonymous has continued it's downward spiral of attention-grabbing nonsense.

1.  Certain protesters were climbing atop the BART trains at the Civic Center and Powell Stations to disrupt service. Of course

Slip-Up in Chinese Military TV Show Reveals Cyberwar

Slip-Up in Chinese Military TV Show Reveals More Than Intended | China News | Epoch Times:

BREAKING NEWS: 5.9 Quake Rocks D.C. Region

USGS map showing the strength and location of the 5.9 quake.  The worst earthquake in anyone's lifetime.

   Northern Virginia and the nation's capitol experienced a 5.9 earthquake at 1:51p.m. EST.  Speaking with relatives in Reston, VA and Frederick, MD, they reported light shaking for about 10 seconds, and then a moderately violent shake for about 3 seconds.  The earthquake was near Lake Anna, VA, which is about 100 miles southwest of Washington, D.C..

UPDATE from TBD.com: Two nuclear reactors near the epicenter have been taken off-line. Howard County and Prince Georges County Schools are now being evacuated. Planes at Ronald Reagan National Airport are on a ground stoppage. D.C. Metro trains are currently restricted to 15MPH, causing major delays throughout the evening. The U.S. Capitol buildings, The Pentagon, and most critical government facilities within the District are now evacuated.  Massive traffic delays are expected during the afternoon and into the evening.

   The quake was only 1/2 mile below the surface and noticeably shook buildings in downtown D.C., which sits atop a very think layer of clay.  D.C. sits on an ancient wetlands area containing loose and moist soils.  More reports will come soon telling of settling and areas of liquefaction.

Twin Cities Bicycle Plan Nearing Completion

Add caption

Public Transit Peace Terrorists, Or How I Manage on MUNI.

photo courtesy of Mondayne

  Calling attention to yourself is not new to terrorism.  Leaked videos and intercepted communications are par for the jihadist course. Regimes and governments use this information to their advantage; and to deter or prevent civil unrest. In the case of groups like Anonymous and No Justice, No BART, they are no more than iterations of the lack of values of certain groups of passive-aggressive individuals. Free speech doesn't come at the cost of shutting down a region's busiest transit corridor during rush hour.

VIDEO: Threats To Freedom And Those Who Create It

Zoom to 7:18 for the meat

1-California Cheats on The Richmond, Prefers Forest Hill

  Upon exiting Forest Hill Station yesterday, I encountered an apparent lost bus.  I notified the Muni operator of the error and he informed me that sometimes the new LED placards go, "All like crazy and shit." I responded, "I like kinda think, like, they should like, do something about it, ya know?" 

  I then told told him about similes, to which he responded, "Thanks, I like, try and take care of my teeth?!"

SFPD Enforcement Highlights Need For 'Dismount Zones'

     

                                                    Bicyclists in Boulder, CO talk about dismount zones and riding responsibly

  Does Streetsblog hate the SFPD? It seems they do by their latest reaction to a traffic enforcement sting along Market Street recently, and the subsequent investigation by Streetsblog showing how many operators where cited. Streetsblog doesn't like to acknowledge the reality that exists at most intersections within San Francisco; bicyclists break the law most often (with pedestrians being a close second). Finally, factual evidence has emerged to support what we already know, there are just as many douchebag bicyclists as there are douchebag drivers (this includes motorcycles that use the bike lane/shoulder), as there are douchebag pedestrians.  Basically, we all suck at paying attention when it really matters.

Ignorant Drivers 2 for 2 In This Week's "Target Practice"

Via the Press Democrat came news that the boy who was struck by a car in a Santa Rosa crosswalk has died.  The mother says the first driver to approach the crosswalk waited for her and her 3 children to begin crossing, but the suspect in the adjoining lane hit the gas and struck the child; catapulting him into the air in front of his siblings and mother. The ignorant driver was cleverly caught by police just an hour later, through a tip he had hitched a ride with a woman in a Volvo with a recorded license plate number.  The suspect is in his 20's, Latino, and has been cited multiple times in the past for operating a motor vehicle without a license.  The driver is now charged with felony hit-and-run; and will hopefully finally face justice. The child is survived by a twin sister and a 6 year old sister. R.I.P.

and via Marin Independent Journal comes word a 52 year old bicyclist was struck as a car veered into it's path along the shoulder of Tiburon Boulevard around 4 p.m. yesterday.  The bicyclist was jettisoned off the bike, but sustained only moderate injury and is reported in good condition at Marin General Hospital.  The right lane was reopened to traffic within the hour. No word on if the 70-year-old driver pissed himself.

Phallic Headstone Angers Sportscar Owners, Ectomorphs

  Sportscar owners and ectomorphs alike are outraged by the extremely large and blatantly phallic headstone of a person struck and killed by a motorist last year. One unnamed Cupertino executive who drives a Lotus Elan was quoted as saying, "I'm an ectomorph, and mine's not even that big.  This memorial spits in the face of every tall, skinny white guy with an huge cock!"

Donations to The Large Penis Support Group are appreciated in lieu of flowers. 

Don't Eat The Dead Lesbians, They're Forbidden!

Hilarious!

D.I.Y. Streetcar Seating

Leave it to someone to create a place to sit and leave it for others to share at the F-train stop at Laguna outbound. Too bad the city ripped out all the benches years ago; everyone needs a bed.

Dallas Eclipses San Francisco In Addressing Homelessness

In an article from Next American City, Mary Jones profiles The Bridge, a successful and revolutionary approach to dealing with Dallas' homeless. A whopping 93 percent of people who have transitioned to permanent housing maintain long-term housing without cycling between homelessness and institutionalization, as opposed to the 75 percent who hop around from hospitals, jails, streets, or shelters.

Bicyclists Get Red-Light Footrest in Copenhagen

Bicyclists now have a chance to rest while waiting for the right-of-way. photo courtesy of Copenhagenize.com

Please bring these to San Francisco! We with short legs will thank you.

Pleasanton Gets First Bicycle Red-Light Sensors

Bicyclists in SF generally encounter timed
signals instead of sensors

  Many a bicyclist and motorcyclist has encountered this situation at one time or another.  You approach a red light (more common in suburban areas) and wait, and wait, and wait some more.  The light never changes unless a motorist triggers the signal.  New technology promises to distinguish between bicycles, motorcycles and motorists in a trial being conducted in Pleasanton, CA.

  This piece by Robert Jordan of the Contra Costa Times highlights the sensors and the frustration felt by people who choose alternate forms of transportation around the Bay Area. And in this light-hearted piece from the San Jose Mercury News, the author highlights creative ways alternate modes of transportation attempt to trip the current red-light sensors.

   As more tools are utilized in creating a safer environment for all conveyances, the more accepted alternate modes will be acknowledged and respected by those in decision making positions. Let's fight for federal funding to bring these sensors to San Francisco's most dangerous un-timed intersections.