Give them some room

I don't like road biking. It was a blast in Colorado where I could climb hills, but in Texas you have flat roads and not-so-helpful infrastructure. My biggest issue, however, are the drivers. When I ride MTB trails, I can fall and get a little banged up, my fault. On pavement, the more likely event is that I get clipped from behind by some fatty in a Suburban because they were reaching for a Diet Coke (zero calories!). The end result would not be good.

Outside Magazine has a good article this month exploring the relationship between bikers and drivers. I would love to be able to commute to work on a bike one day, but we would really have to change a great deal in order to facilitate that. Check out the full article here. Its an interesting examination of psychology as well.

Non-Car Guy reviews the new Chevy Volt (and begrudgingly likes it)

I am skeptical of the Chevy Volt. First, its made by Chevy. Second it is the first of its kind (electric drive, can be charged by the combustion engine). Neither of those bode well for it. However, car-neophyte and import-biased Washington Post write Gene Weingarten was given one to test drive.

He loves it. Mildly amusing, and with some really interesting insight. Check the full story out here

(Hat/tip Big Picture)

Followup on Automated Driving

Again, via the Freakonomics blog at the NYT, here's a followup to my previous post regarding the possible future automation of driving.

Full article here

I'm off to Borough Market to get my grass-fed (and exotic game) meats for the week and keep me from getting bored of chicken and steak. Then on to my epic cheat-day/birthday at The Great British Beer Festival. Great Divide and Sierra Nevada, here I come.

Bear Breaks into Car. Goes for a Ride.

From Reuters: A bear broke into a car belonging to a 17 year old kid from Colorado, somehow put it in gear and went down the hill. All for a peanut butter sandwich.

I've done worse for peanut butter before, so I can't say I blame him. Sadly, there isn't any video of the actual bear-toboggan.

Full story here

Driver-less Cars

I'm sure at some point we've all considered the concept of a driverless car. The Freakonomics blog at NYT has some info about it.

It does make sense. Infiniti has been doing the smart cruise control for almost ten years now, a new lexus can parallel park itself. The new Garmins talk to each other to inform of traffic delays even before they happen. I do particularly like the point about human-restricted reaction times. We're just not hardwired to go THAT fast (though I do enjoy it).

Check out the full article here