What a Busy Year It Has Been For Me.

Here in Dallas, (The best city to get around on a bicycle.) I’ve had a lot of changes.

I have been working steadily which has kept me away from the keyboard most of the time.

And, to my surprise, I have developed a romantic interest in my old age. This too has distracted me from this forum.

Ms. Crystal Denise Trammel and I are engaged to be married this spring.

New Trial Date Set

My new trial date is August 17 at 2 p.m.

It will be held at County Court at Law 2,
109 S. Jackson street, Waxahachie.

Trial Date Changed From July 29

A new prosecutor is taking over Ellis County DA Finney's cases, and she has a jury trial already set in a different court on July 29th. I will post the new date as soon as I am notified by the court of when it is scheduled.

That said, my trial will be held before the honorable Judge A. Gene Calvert, Jr., At the County Court At Law Two, Ellis County, 109 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, 75165

Because Seeing is Believing

I have changed my position on using mirrors whilst cycling.

My position has been for years that unless you were astride a recumbent, or had impaired neck movement, mirrors were a silly distraction to the task at hand.

The reason for this is that the perils that face a cyclist are far and away predominantly ahead of him. We face hazards in the form of road surface impairments, obstructions and debris, and the turning movements of other traffic.

My feeling has been that until one is preparing for a movement that will potentially cross the path of following traffic, knowing what traffic behind you is doing is of no concern.

This not always true.

I now recommend the use of mirrors for cyclists

When one first takes to the roadway with a defensive position that uses body language to communicate his presence, he ought to use a mirror.

I can describe how traffic reacts to the presence of a slow moving vehicle, but few who are new to driving their bicycles in the traffic lane will really be confident of that until they observe it for themselves.

So when you grow weary of the close passes and the near misses of suddenly opened doors, right-hooks and left crosses and begin to assert your right to the roadway as an equal user of the public roadway, use a mirror.

Count the times you nearly get "runned over". (You might be surprised to see that it never happens!)

Observe how overtaking traffic yields to your presence. Take note of the delays you create. You will soon learn that any such expectation is simply a myth.

When you get tired of watching for such things that never happen, and have proved to yourself how even high speed traffic have no difficulties in overtaking you, you can put the mirrors away.

Because then you will have seen for yourself that the perils you face are in front of you, not behind you.

Bicycle Rules For Motorists TDH

1. A bicycle is a vehicle and any person riding a bicycle has all of the rights
and responsibilities as a driver of a vehicle.

2. Bicyclists are required to ride as far right in the lane as possible only
when the lane can be safely shared by a car and a bicycle, side by side.

Even then, there are certain conditions that allow a bicyclist to take the full
lane such as:

a. The person is overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in
the same direction.

b. The person is preparing for a left turn at an intersection or onto a private
road or driveway.

c. There are unsafe conditions in the roadway such as fixed or moving
objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, potholes, or
debris.

d. The lane is of substandard width making it unsafe for a car and a bicycle
to safely share the lane side by side. When this is the case, it is best
for the cyclist to take the full lane whether riding single file or two
abreast.

3. Bicyclists are not restricted to the right lane of traffic. One-way, multi-
laned streets are one example. Another instance is when the bicyclist is
changing lanes to make a left turn. The bicyclist should follow the same path
any other vehicle would take traveling the same direction.

4. Motorists should merge with bicycle traffic when preparing for a right
hand-turn. Avoid turning directly across the path of bicycle traffic.

Common Motorists Mistakes

1. The most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a motorist
turning left in the front of oncoming bicycle traffic. Oncoming bicycle traffic is
often overlooked or its speed misjudged.

2. The second most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a
motorist turning right across the path of the bicycle traffic. The motorist
should slow and merge with the bicycle traffic for a safe right-hand turn.

3. The third most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a
motorist pulling away from a stop sign and failing to yield right-of-way to bicycle
cross traffic. At intersections, right-of-way rules apply equally to motor
vehicles and bicycles.


TEXAS DRIVERS HANDBOOK
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Revised October 2008

Part of Chapter 13 of the Texas Driver Handbook

COMMON MOTORIST MISTAKES THAT BICYCLE RIDERS SHOULD
KNOW

1. The most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a motorist
turning left in the face of oncoming bicycle traffic. Oncoming bicycle traffic is
often overlooked or its speed misjudged.

2. The second most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a
motorist turning right across the path of the bicycle traffic. The motorist
should slow down and merge with the bicycle traffic for a safe right-hand
turn.

3. The third most common motorist caused car-bicycle collision is a
motorist pulling away from a stop sign, failing to yield right-of-way to bicycle
cross traffic. At intersections, right-of-way rules apply equally to motor vehicles and bicycles.

Page 13-3

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

Sec.　541.302. (15)　　"Shoulder" means the portion of a highway that is:
(A)　　adjacent to the roadway;
(B)　　designed or ordinarily used for parking;
(C)　　distinguished from the roadway by different design, construction, or marking; and
(D) xxnot intended for normal vehicular travel.

Because an improved shoulder is defined the by the law this way, it has certain consequences that materially impact the safety of a cyclist who may wish to operate on the shoulder.

Because improved shoulders are "not intended for normal vehicular travel", warning signs that would inform highway users of a change in the disposition of the shoulder are not erected.

In the photo above, the roadway’s shape is changing from a median in the center to a "suicide" shared left turn lane. A warning sign has been erected to inform travelers of this change.

There are no signs informing travelers that the "Ennis City’s mandatory bike lane" is coming to an end and to be alert for cyclists entering the travel lane.

The posted speed limit for this section of the roadway is 45 MPH.　　　　　

A Close Call.

I was traveling home in unusual weather. I was fighting a headwind.

I had just turned north on FM 1722 away from our airport. I could hear that there was some traffic behind me waiting to clear the sharp turn in the road before overtaking me.

As usual, I paid them no mind. It is, after all, their responsibility to overtake slower traffic in a safe manner and with due care.

The engine pitch changed as they accelerated to overtake me.

I suddenly became alarmed at their behavior. They were passing me on the right!

There is no improved shoulder here, and it is a steep drop off into the ditch. He is overtaking me fast, his engine screaming as he floors it! I can only imagine him losing control and skidding into me!

I glance over my right shoulder to see which way to dodge.

There is no car in the ditch. Or behind me…

As I glanced behind me in alarm, I realize that the “traffic” I heard is a single engine airplane taking off from the airport and climbing over my head!
I had a good chuckle at how my hearing and traffic “bias” fooled me!

Local Road Work

For months it looked like this. Yikes!

Ennis City road department has completed their resurfacing project on Kaufman Avenue.

They have done a very good job!

There is a special delight in driving on smooth pavement.

It sports four 12 foot lanes and a center common turn lane in the 35 mph section. I am allowed to travel on this part of the roadway.



It has four 12 foot lanes with disappearing shoulders in the transition between 45 mph and 35 mph section.



It has not been established where along here I am allowed to leave the shoulder and begin operating on the roadway.

There is no indication of where along here I am required to abandon the roadway for the shoulder. (Or is that a “designated bike lane”?)

I am not allowed to travel on the roadway along these part according to local police, the local prosecutor and the local court, contrary to State law. Go figure!

Nemo and Daisy

On one of my common routes, I have a pair of friends; Nemo and Daisy.

They would always bark at me, and I would bark back (In a friendly way!) as they ran down the road pacing me. The always “chased” me from their side of the fence. They had about a quarter mile of frontage to gallop across.

The only problem they ever caused me was that their friendly barking would alert one of the dogs down the way that I was coming. (Casey) I could usually sneak by him going east, but Nemo and Daisy would give me up every time I went west.

Casey, however, has learned to keep his distance with only one application of my squirt bottle. We get along fine now.

Encouraged by my friends on the internet, one day I stopped (Yes, stopped! Gasp!) to take a picture of Nemo and Daisy, but they wanted to make friends. I now stop in for an enthusiastic hello whenever I happen by.

I met their owner a while ago. While I was petting them he came out to see if they had been menacing me. I assured him it was most likely the other way around. Thus I finally learned their names!

Daisy is paranoid and shy of automobiles. She is uncomfortable on the road side of the fence when a car is coming by. Their owner said she had been hit once. From her behavior, I’d say she didn’t like the experience. For that reason I roll up the driveway to the gate to pet them.

Nemo is the dominant one, and they stick together. So I noticed when Daisy greeted me by herself a few weeks ago. And then, after a short absence, Nemo was back. But he was limping now. His back leg was mangled. Only he knows how. I was told it is a permanent injury.

Despite only three healthy legs, he is almost as fast as before now, but he abandons the chase sooner.

For these two, life on my side of the fence has been harsh to them. I enjoy stopping and showing them there is some kindness over here as well.