My most recent biking post was accidently posted on my blog, normally reserved for tech stuff. I maintain this seperation so people interested in tech stuff don’t have to read my emo posts, and vice versa. I didn’t realize this until some dingbat commented on it with a bunch of the usual bikes versus cars mantra. Oh well.

As previously mentioned, yesterday was bikey. Someone from The Bikery had a story to tell about getting a ticket for riding in the road way, and his hopes for getting some press about how it’s perfectly normal for bicycles to ride in the roadway. I’m trying to figure out who he was exactly. Most interesting is that I hadn’t spent much time thinking about how Seattle has local bike laws. Apparently he got a ticket for SMC 11.44.040 which reads:

Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed slower than the normal and reasonable flow of motor vehicle traffic thereon shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe, except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway that carries traffic in one (1) direction only and that has two (2) or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may utilize the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists. (RCW 46.61770(1))

Note the reference to RCW 46.61.770, as it’s pretty much the exact same law. I noticed this minute difference though, which I found interesting:

or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe

Which reminded me of getting harassed myself by SPD.

I ran into a couple friends the other day while out for lunch and once of them made a comment about how casual the dress code (or lack thereof) at my company is. I got laughing about how everyone else here who bikes to work does so in full squid attire with carbon fiber accessory, showers on site, and puts on normal dress clothes. One of them proceeded to poke fun at my riding a schwinn [import] fixie convert to work. It’s funny to me a for a few reasons. I don’t really talk about it much, so somewhere along the way I picked up a new stereotype; neat.

Speaking of Schwinns, there’s a World Sprint 10speed in the garage that is in terrible shape that Tori and Barner found at a yard sale a year or so ago. While not being able to sleep last night I ordered a wheel set for it, so I’m commited to fixing it up now. I want a 10 speed again, and I’m figuring on putting some fenders on it before the rain flys and riding it to work this winter when it’s wet out instead. It’ll take a little while as project though, I’m thinking about painting the frame, and I don’t know what condition the derailleur’s are in. One step at a time.