Disqus - Latest Comments for JulianDavies

Re: Extra Fizz: Turnover, Bike Lanes, Broadband, and More

JulianDavies — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 20:37:52 -0000

Hi Sierra -

If you were quoted accurately by Crosscut ...

"“I assume a $4 million infrastructure project [the city estimates $2.3 million] will cross the threshold [for SEPA review]," says Sierra Hansen, a public relations rep retained by the Westlake Stakeholders. Hansen is referring to a protected cycle track that the plan prescribes for the corridor. “And it’s not the only one. It’s going to be the first of many. There are a half-billion dollars of investments in that plan. They’re glossing over the environmental issues.”

Hansen adds that the cycle track should even be reviewed under the Shoreline Protection Act, since it will stray into the shoreline zone at some points."

I'd say *that's* tacky, and an abuse of the process. Feel free to explain here why suing the city to hold the entire bicycle master plan hostage over perceived Westlake parking concerns, instead of participating constructively in the design process, was good PR for them.

And what is your *specific* environmental issue with a line on a map? Do you have design specs I don't? Shouldn't we maybe have a proposed design for the project before we review the environmental impact?

Re: Die, selfish gene, die

JulianDavies — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:27:49 -0000

Curious about the intensely negative reaction some posters have to epigenetics. Can you point to a quality critical review we could read that backs your assertions about junk science?

Re: The All New Evernote Web Clipper for Safari

JulianDavies — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:52:58 -0000

Tried to post on this yesterday ... still in moderation. Now this!

You're killing me here, with the updates to everything mobile and Safari, but still the janky old bookmarklet Web Clipper in Mobile Safari!

Seriously, have you tried this on an iPhone? The Save button is OFFSCREEN. Unusable. Yes, you can't do an extension for mobile Safari, I get that. But seems like it would be trivial to redesign the size of your Web Clipper save window to be usable on the number one mobile browser in the world today.

OKthxbye.

Re: 5 Ways to Use Evernote on Your Tablet

JulianDavies — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:51:09 -0000

Love love love evernote, but have to say that clipping on iOS Safari is still unacceptably painful.

You have poured resources into improving the Evernote experience everywhere else, can I please ask you to fix the bookmarklet so it works on iOS?

Especially on an iPhone, the popup clipping window is defaulted to be so big as to be unusable - the "Save to Evernote" button is off-screen.

Maybe there's a newer bookmarklet that works better already? If so, please correct me. Thanks!

Re: Study: A Drink Per Day During Pregnancy Seems Safe

JulianDavies — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:29:29 -0000

Terribly misleading title.
Do the people that write the titles even bother to read the posts, let alone the research articles?

Re: Transporting 900 Bananas and a Baby? Five Fab Kid and Cargo Bicycle Combinations

JulianDavies — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:14:27 -0000

Great roundup - I've been wanting to try the Shuttlebug. Nice canopy for that one too that keeps your hands warm, with nice communication to the front passengers. But I'm still a big fan of our MADSEN cargo bike, party in the back and all ...

Re: Ballard Businesses Propose Missing Link Alternative

JulianDavies — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:35:33 -0000

Wow - who woulda thunkit? The lawsuit-happy Ballard businesses have suddenly become scholars of European bike infrastructure. They're "very serious" about it, in fact.

Does this mean we'll see Warren Aakervik on Copenhagen Cycle Chic sometime soon?

Visualize: http://www.flickr.com/photo...

Or maybe Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel will be starting up a bike culture blog of their own: "Trackbikez!" - arty shots of Ballard beauties on bikes, wrecking on their tracks. Or start delivering cement by bakfiets? Fighting Seattle's helmet law?

And here I was thinking they were trying to preserve their free parking. Heck, they now want to take parking away (a few blocks over, in front of some other businesses, of course). And remove some traffic lanes while you're at it!

Thanks, Ballard Oil and SBS&G - I'll look for you at the next Tweed Ride. And can we look to you for funding the rest of the Bicycle Master Plan? I should have known we could count on you guys.

Re: Environmental study required for ‘Missing Link’

JulianDavies — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 03:29:57 -0000

What unstudied route are you referring to - the interim or future route? I wouldn't be surprised if the interim route wasn't proposed, since it's asinine.

Just because I'm on a bike doesn't mean I don't appreciate a direct route as much as any driver, and diverting up to Ballard and then back down to Shilshole just so SBSG employees can park for free on public right of way is ridiculous. There are any number of ways to make the SBSG in/out crossing safe for folks using the trail.

As for the future route, I'd be shocked if it wasn't among the five, since it's the direct route along the public right of way (currently used for the occasional choo-choo ride).

But unless you can produce or accurately reference this study, I'll remain more than a bit skeptical.

As for "petulant", and "spoiled", and "childish", I'm not sure you and the other business owners are coming off as statesmanlike as you might think you are.

Re: Environmental study required for ‘Missing Link’

JulianDavies — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:58:46 -0000

BBO - Are you seriously boiling this down to the "the city just needs to follow the rules just like we do" argument? Even with bbb1's clarifications?

If you're sincere, can we expect your support for building the trail when we do the analysis for the unfunded, no-timetable-to-build segments?

Or will you move on to some other hypocritical (in the sense of SBSG's recent environmental violations), obstructionist argument?

Re: Environmental study required for ‘Missing Link’

JulianDavies — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:35:41 -0000

Exactly what Hiller and SPG noted - the silver lining here is that we can dispense with the absurd "interim route", created to appease SBSG and Ballard Oil (that worked out well, didn't it), and build the "future route" first.

For all the time and money that's been wasted on the lawsuits, the Chamber could have worked out a deal for displaced parking at the old Yankee Diner lot (hotel or no hotel, there's plenty of room) or similar location.

Re: Good Samaritans help fallen cyclist

JulianDavies — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:40:54 -0000

Is this a relevant comment to a cyclist losing teeth after slipping on ice or pushing an agenda?

Re: Good Samaritans help fallen cyclist

JulianDavies — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:31:20 -0000

My friend lost teeth in the same spot. Seems to be quite the stimulus package for our local dental economy. I hope you feel better soon.

Despite what the esteemed collegiate cyclist said above, I doubt that taking a velodrome workshop on fixed-gear track riding would have done much for you today. And his advice to ride fast and hop the tracks is, well, atrocious.

Re: A look at the proposed change for 15th/Holman

JulianDavies — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:19:28 -0000

Hey - I drive too, and find that when I drive my own personal a**hole quotient rises by 70% - impatient, aggravated, entitled, angry at anyone in my way, stressed, and unhappy. So I understand the feelings involved here, but also that it's not a permanent condition. For most.

Re: A look at the proposed change for 15th/Holman

JulianDavies — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:15:47 -0000

As an everyday cyclist, I don't love improvements like this because they take away turn lane space for cars to safely pass me. Then again, I wouldn't ride on 15th there because it's a suburban sprawltastic-style arterial right here in Ballard. As for all the comments about dangerous scofflaw pedestrians, I think there's some "windshield perspective" going on here.

Yes, jaywalking is currently illegal (and some pedestrians are high, drunk and stupid, as are many drivers). But so is the speeding commenters here seem so worried about preserving. Anecdotal comment above not-withstanding, which do you think is the greater public danger - speeding or jaywalking? Hint: http://www.slate.com/id/223...

Re: Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

JulianDavies — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:18:04 -0000

sdrake - maybe you missed the part about the Missing Link being funded *already* from taxes and levies? as for the Hateraid ... I don't think you left me any. you might want to chase that with some facts, though.

I love when the wingnuts argue for more taxes for things they don't want to pay for.

Re: Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

JulianDavies — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:16:39 -0000

Sounds like the urine runoff alone is a hazard.

I don't know if a multiuse trail (vs parked cars) would help or hurt the runoff, honestly. Thanks for the info.

Re: Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

JulianDavies — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:17:55 -0000

Ah so. It's the parking. Well color me totally unsympathetic to their perceived "right" to have free employee parking on the public right of way.

Free parking isn't.

I like the forklift tow truck concept though.

Re: Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

JulianDavies — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:03:12 -0000

As a card-carrying member of your stereotype, I can assure you none of us think Ballard is "diverse". We have just awful guilt about that, didn't you know? Especially with the new school boundaries.

Re: Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

JulianDavies — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:59:04 -0000

Unless the sight of orange or beards is that vexing to them, I'm not sure what their beef would have been. We weren't blocking their driveway. And when my toddler had to pee, we were polite enough to leave their big green building alone. But those parked railcars sure do come in handy.

Re: ‘We are the Missing Link’ event Tuesday

JulianDavies — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:20:41 -0000

Just to clarify - it's not a ride, so you can arrive at the rally anytime, by whatever mode of transportation you favor.

As for driving the kids, that works too ... but I don't know if it's safer. It feels safer, sure. But motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for most pediatric age groups. We lack reliable numbers about the denominator (how many miles/hours driven versus biked), though, so it's hard to compare.

Re: ‘We are the Missing Link’ event Tuesday

JulianDavies — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:42:17 -0000

It goes until 6:30, and then continues at Dutch Bike Seattle, nearby. Bring the kids! I am.

If it started later, it would start in the dark.

And actually, point of fact, I think the NSIA businesses are now holding out for a low-orbit spaceship technology solution.

Because they're all about our safety, just not right now.

Re: Mayoral candidates address the ‘Missing Link’

JulianDavies — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:42:06 -0000

Sorry, then, I misread you - things were sounding very VC in your tone ...

Sounds like we agree on most things here (including MADSEN's).

But the alternate routes you suggest work as safer streets to ride on (I use them too), but the Missing Link is a designed and funded connection for a multi-use trail that should connect, IMHO, rather than dump people out on streets with lots of congested intersections to negotiate.

As for the interim route, the 17th/Ballard/Vernon jog is too circuitous for most. The confident cyclists will stay on Shilshole, and the rest of will muddle along as we have been. Smart infrastructure makes it faster and more convenient to ride bikes, not less.

Re: Mayoral candidates address the ‘Missing Link’

JulianDavies — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:51:11 -0000

SeaSpider - we get it. You're a vehicular cyclist who thinks separate bike infrastructure is unnecessary. In which case, you shouldn't be talking about rerouting the BG trail (trails are evil, remember?), but instead should be nammering on about how all we need is education in "effective cycling".

But what you and the rest of the "1% club" (what bicycle modal share is and will be with such a narrow-minded focus on what works for fit, experienced, confident adult cyclists) fail to acknowledge is that a lot of cyclists, especially older, younger, newer, less fit, nervous, etc prefer separate facilities, when available.

Not to mention that I don't know of a *single* city with a high bike modal share that relies solely on the "just ride like SeaSpider and you'll be fine" approach.

And unless you have injury statistics from other cities and their track crossings, why bring it up? Why would I trust the vague impressions of someone who thinks I'm a "dumb" "whiner"?

Re: Community members ask the candidates

JulianDavies — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:47:51 -0000

Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were special, and that those of us you're putting in harm's way need to "live with it". I'm well aware that life isn't 100% safe - I'm the one riding a bicycle on roads with exceptional drivers like you.

If you have any room for some knowledge in there with all those firmly held opinions (for example, there's a real safety difference between talking to passengers and talking on a phone), please read just a little bit about distracted driving. Here's an easy link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009...

You'll find your special case (actually, not so special, as most drivers think they're "above average") discussed here as well: the driver that thinks they have extraordinary multitasking powers that others lack. Quick summary: you don't.

Re: Community members ask the candidates

JulianDavies — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:04:39 -0000

Handsfree may be legal, but it's still unsafe - you'll be 4 times more likely to cause a crash.

I realize you're getting important work done and your time is very valuable to you, but if you choose to operate heavy machinery on your way to the airport, do us all a favor and pay some attention.

From the excellent NYT series "Driven to Distraction" (http://topics.nytimes.com/t...
"Extensive research shows the dangers of distracted driving. Studies say that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated. Research also shows that hands-free devices do not eliminate the risks, and may worsen them by suggesting that the behavior is safe."

As for Nickels and Simms wrecking highway 99, I think it was actually the earthquake that left us with an array of unattractive options. I'd just rather not spend 4+ billion dollars shaving 10-20 minutes off your airport run.