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Tag Archive for Mark Elliot
Morning Links: 92% of LA hit-and-runs unsolved, 8 hurt in Sunnyvale assault, and Complete Streets in Beverly Hills
April 24, 2019 / bikinginla / 2 comments
Don't county on the LAPD to catch any driver who runs you down.
According to the LA Daily News, only eight percent of reported hit-and-runs were solved by police in the City of Angels in 2017 — a one third drop from the year before.
Police blame a new statistical formula for the drop from the already far too low total.
Which is why it's better to stop hit-and-runs before they happen, rather than try to catch fleeing drivers afterwards.
If only our elected leaders cared enough to actually do something about it.
Horrible news from Sunnyvale, where a speeding driver slammed into a group of people, allegedly on purpose, sending eight victims to the hospital.
The police are saying they were all pedestrians, however, photos from the scene show a number of backpacks and bicycles strewn about the crash site.
It must be getting pretty chilly in hell these days.
Better Bike's Mark Elliot is asking for your input on the Beverly Hills Complete Streets draft plan.
Yes, Complete Streets in the former Biking Black Hole.
The newly bike-friendly, though decidedly anti-scooter, city is even proposing enhancements to its nascent bicycle, pedestrian and transit networks.
Which is something no one who participated in bike plan talks ten years ago would have expected, when city leaders effectively blew off anyone who showed up for meetings on two wheels.
And scheduled those meetings for times when bike riders who wanted to participate couldn't.
Things have changed.
But as we've seen in Los Angeles, it only takes a new election cycle or a handful of angry drivers to lose that newfound support for active transportation.
So add your comments to the plan.
And keep up the fight until the lines on the map turn into paint on the street.
I don't even know what to say here.
In a truly bizarre ruling, the US 6th District Court of Appeals concluded that marking the tires of a car to track how long it's been parked constitutes an "unreasonable search," and lacks probable cause.
Even though it's just marking the outside of the vehicle, which is open and in full view of the public.
It doesn't seem likely stand up on appeal. And only applies to the 6th District, which is made up of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
But it's one more example of the privilege drivers enjoy.
Thanks to David Drexler for the heads-up.
Pasadena will promote the upcoming Amgen Tour of California by forming a human bicycle sculpture at the Rose Bowl Friday afternoon.
Reservations are required if you want to take part. And the first 100 people to confirm will receive free VIP passes to the Final Friday Foodtruck Festival,
Bike Culver City discovers fresh Kermit on Overland Ave.
https://twitter.com/BikeCulverCity/status/1120866074835034112
Thanks to Ted Faber for the link.
The crowdfunding page for Frederick "Woon" Frazier is now up to nearly $9,000, just short of the $10,000 goal.
Hopefully some very generous and kindhearted people will push it over the top soon.
And yes, I've done my small part to help.
There will be a community meeting in Compton tonight to discuss the future of the LA River, hopefully including plans for completing a 51-mile bike path along its banks.
Santa Monica-based Bird is working to make their e-scooters more sustainable. And more durable, so they don't fall apart while you're riding them.
A Santa Clarita woman is calling for more bike lanes in the city after her mother was killed when she was rear-ended while riding her bike last month.
San Diego police release a sketch of the — alleged — perv who tried to lure a bike-riding nine-year old girl into his van next month.
Dockless bikeshare could be moving into San Diego's North County this summer.
Thanks to Robert Leone for forwarding news of a new study from UC San Diego confirming that "talking on a cellphone while driving quadruples the risk of a crash even when a driver is using a hands-free device," while texting results in an eight-times higher risk.
As San Jose's Better Bikeway San Jose project nears completion, not everyone is on board. On two wheels or four.
Just a tad bit of roadie bias here. Women Fitness offers "must-have tips for girls who love bicycling." Although it may come as a shock to them that many women somehow manage to ride a bike without spandex and clipless pedals.
A new study shows Americans are still sitting too much. Blame me for skewing the results; I'm still spending most of the day flat on my ass when I'm not rehabbing my new knee.
Bike lawyer Bob Mionske says states are finally coming around to Stop as Yield Laws — aka the Idaho Stop Law. And that's a good thing. Maybe if enough states adopt it, we can finally stop hearing the tired refrain that California is not Idaho. Because evidently, they don't think we know that.
Curbed considers how five American cities are expanding bikeshare to underserved areas.
JFK Jr was one of us.
A Colorado paper says Denver's 20-year transportation plan will solve traffic congestion — if drivers don't rise up against it. Then again, that's what they said about LA's mobility plan, which is gathering dust after the city backed down in the face of angry drivers.
An Illinois man faces up to 12 years in prison for the drunken hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a bike rider; he told police he knew he hit the man, but panicked and drove home instead of stopping. Sure, let's go with that. Because no one would just try to sleep it off, then turn himself in once he sobered up, right?
Oops. Just days after the NYPD ticketed bike riders for not having a bell — and confiscated their bikes in some cases — Gothamist posts photos showing New York's police commissioner doesn't have one on his bike, either.
Great idea. The University of Kentucky offers its students $400 vouchers for a new bike, as long as they promise not to drive for two years. Make it enough for an e-cargo bike, and I'll promise never to drive again.
A North Carolina man was injured when his bike was rear-ended by a speeding driver who had been weaving through traffic. Since he was deaf, he couldn't hear the driver approaching and had no chance to get out of the way.
You've got to be kidding. A plainclothes Miami-Dade FL cop is being investigated by internal affairs after swearing at a bike-riding mom and her two kids to get out of the road, insisting — incorrectly — that it's against the law for them to ride their bikes in the street. Then the cop intentionally doored her 14-year old son, knocking him off his bike.
Road.cc offers money saving tips for bike riders, including patch your own tubes and don't be such a weight weenie.
Once again, bike riders are heroes, as a pair of Canadian men spotted a duck in distress while on a bike ride, and rescued her eight ducklings from certain death by fishing them out of a storm drain.
A Canadian city and its bikeshare provider defend their decision to junk dozens of outdated bikes, saying they were no longer road worthy.
English police found the body of a 78-year old flautist, a month after she went missing while on a bike ride.
More on that Scottish bus service that ferries mountain bikers nearly 40 miles from Edinburgh to trailheads in the Highlands, eliminating numerous car trips.
A Scottish suicide survivor's sixth attempt to ride his bike around the world was cut short after it was stolen before he could even cross the British Channel. You know what they say. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again.
About damn time. Welsh police are setting up a special road rage unit to investigate video evidence of assaults on bicyclists and pedestrians.
A 23-year old Zimbabwe bike rider pled guilty to negligence after hitting and killing a pedestrian while riding 21 mph; he had been facing a charge of culpable homicide.
A pair of Philadelphia-area women are riding over 6,000 miles from Thailand to Spain to raise funds for street children in Nepal; they've made it as far as Turkey after 406 days on the road.
Nothing like finding a pair of 500-pound safes on the side of a bike path that were stolen 772 miles away. That feeling when you let your guard down, and your bike stolen gets along with several others at a cobbled sportive.
And probably not the best idea to knock London's first bike mayor off his.
A special thanks to Steve S for getting me back online after software issues locked me out of this site for over an hour last night. Without his help, you wouldn't be reading this today.
Although I'd probably be sleeping instead of writing right now.
Category: Morning Links / Tags: Better Bike, Beverly Hills, bicycling, Complete Streets, hit-and-run, LAPD, Los Angeles, Mark Elliot, Sunnyvale, vehicular assault
One last chance to fight for Santa Monica bike lanes in the Biking Black Hole of Beverly Hills
January 8, 2014 / bikinginla / One comment
Please forgive the short notice; I've been a little under the weather today.
Okay, maybe a lot.
But there's a meeting tonight that could make a huge difference for the safety of cyclists forced to ride through decidedly bike-unfriendly Beverly Hills. As well as encouraging more people to take to bikes and relieve the near 24/7 traffic congestion through the city.
If city officials actually care enough to listen, that is.
Tonight is the final meeting of the Santa Monica Boulevard Blue-Ribbon Committee, formed to weigh public input before making a recommendation on how to proceed with the planned reconstruction of the former famed Route 66 through the city. Including proposals for bike lanes, which have bizarrely been placed in opposition to a planted center median.
Even though, as Better Bike's Mark Elliot makes clear, the roadway could easily accommodate both.
The inexplicable opposition to bike lanes was made clear when the consultant hired by the city dropped an unexpected "preferred option" that included widening the roadway to include a center divider and an ultra-wide 16″ right lane.
But no bike lanes, even though they could easily fit within the widened street.
As Elliot explains, that appears to be intentional. The design, an effort to discourage riders on the newly designed street by preventing them from legally taking the lane. And the timing, an effort to short circuit the public process and jam through a design that maintains automotive hegemony on a street that belongs to everyone.
Keeping bikes from besmirching their precious little enclave of the overly entitled.
So let's make no mistake.
Bikes — and pedestrians — can easily be accommodated in the reconstructed roadway at little additional cost, providing a street that benefits everyone, safely and efficiently. And connects with bike lanes in Century City to the west and West Hollywood to the east to create a complete bikeway through most of the Westside.
The alternative is a short-sighted decision that discourages bike riding at a time when it is rapidly growing in popularity, and when alternatives to automotive transportation are desperately needed.
Especially in traffic-choked Beverly Hills.
They can make room for bikes, and take a modest step in improving the situation. Or be cursed by future leaders and city residents who will have no choice but pay the high price to correct their error at a later date.
And failure to include bikes on the street would only invite the sort of lawsuits city leaders have used themselves to fight other projects, including the planned Subway to the Sea. Particularly when it flies in the face California's Complete Streets policies, as well as such overwhelming public support.
The meeting takes place this evening starting at 6 pm at Beverly Hills City Hall. Be there if you can, or fill out the online comment form.
As for me, I'll be home nursing sick head.
But I plan to be at the Beverly Hills City Council session next month when the city formally decides on how to move forward. And whether to slide back into the Biking Black Hole they've only begun to tentatively step out of.
Speaking of Elliot, thanks for his recent call for donations to help support my work here at BikinginLA, among other deserving organizations. With the redesign of this site and the move to an advertising and sponsor-supported model taking much longer than anticipated, I can use all the help I can get.
If you do make a contribution based on his recommendation, consider giving part of it to support Better Bike. Mark Elliot has been relentless in fighting for your right to ride in a city that has been far less than welcoming to us.
Update: Thanks to Vanessa Gray and Danila Oder for the generous donations.
Category: Advocacy & Politics, Streets and Infrastructure / Tags: Better Bike, Beverly Hills, Mark Elliot, Santa Monica Blvd, the Biking Black Hole
A UPS SaMo minor bike lane miracle, and Sunday Funday Beverly Thrills fun was had by all
July 3, 2012 / bikinginla / 5 comments
I'm a firm believer in miracles.
I've learned over the years that they tend not to occur with a parting of the skies and a booming voice from above, but in small ways that you might not even notice at the time.
Like the Venice Blvd cab driver who pulled out from the curb too quickly, and set Mayor Villaraigosa on the path to unexpected bicycle advocate.
But I never expected one to come in the form of a Twitter comment from UPS.
Recently, I've had my fill of UPS drivers parking their big ass brown trucks in the bike lanes on Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. Something that seems to be happening with increasing frequency in recent weeks, forcing riders to share a lane with dangerously distracted, beach-air addled drivers.
So when it happened once again on Friday, I stopped to take a photo. And when I got home, tweeted my frustration to the world, never expecting a response.
Yet that's exactly what I got just moments later from UPS Customer Support. So at their request, I followed up with an email, including a close-up of the truck's license plate.
About an hour later, I was on the phone with a local representative, who promised me that the problem would be dealt with promptly. And that they would speak with local supervisors and dispatchers to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
But UPS earned some real respect for genuine customer service. And to a non-customer, no less.
It may not be a real miracle, even if it seems that way. But if more companies dealt with complaints that promptly and efficiently — or even just gave a damn — it would be a much better world.
And that really would be a miracle.
Will Campbell and John Wayne at the beginning of the ride; Will is the one on the bottom.
Allow me to offer my personal thanks to Will Campbell and special guest Mark Elliot for a truly thrilling Beverly Thrills Sunday Funday ride this past weekend.
Along with Greg Laemmle, Colin Bogart, Eric Weinstein, Niall Huffman, Carol Feucht and designated Tweeter Joni Yung for their contributions to ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride for everyone.
Not mention everyone who showed up to ride.
Or rather, especially everyone who showed up to ride.
Will offered a fun, insightful and entertaining tour of the biking black hole of Beverly Hills, starting with the very street where he learned to ride a bike (mumble mumble) years ago. And extended past the soon-to-be exploding Beverly Hills High School to sites such as the homes where gangster and Las Vegas founder Bugsy Siegel met his ignoble end, and Marilyn Monroe and Joltin' Joe DiMaggio shared a whole nine months of connubial bliss.
The only downside was the Beverly Hills cop who decided to welcome us to their fair city by using his loudspeaker to order everyone to ride single file — which not only isn't required under California law, but would have inconvenienced the exceptionally light vehicular traffic even more by stretching the 40 – 50 riders out over several blocks.
On the other hand, even though we were cruised by several other patrol cars over the course of the ride, the only other contact we had with the BHPD was a friendly wave in passing.
Mark Elliot shares his remarkably in-depth recap of the ride, and Hap Dougherty offers his typically great photos of the day.
And Will himself offers an exceptional timelapse video cutting the four hour ride down to a very fast and entertaining 11 minutes; don't miss the rapid-fire notations in the upper right.
Seriously, it's more than worth the click.
A preliminary hearing opened Monday for the two men charged with killing developmentally disabled cyclist Jordan Hickey in National City last year. According to testimony from a friend, Humberto Galvez and Juan Gomez bragged about murdering Hickey, reportedly picking their victim at random and shooting him three times with a shotgun as he rode.
Just for the fun of it.
Hickey's mother understandingly lost control during the testimony and had to be escorted from the courtroom.
There's not a pit in hell deep enough for these two alleged psychopaths.
LADOT General Manager Jaime de la Vega reports on what he calls L.A.'s best year ever for bicycles.
The 2011 – 2012 fiscal year saw 76 miles of new bikeways, nearly double the number the city committed to in the bike plan adopted last year. That includes 51 miles of bikeways, 21 miles of sharrows and 4 miles added to the Orange Line bikeway, as the city starts to see the beginnings of an actual bike network.
The most intriguing part, for me at least, was acknowledgement that LADOT is shifting from a historic focus on maximizing automotive throughput to a more complete focus on all forms of transportation.
Can the former department of automobiles really help the city of Angels evolve into the type of metropolis that embraces cyclists, pedestrians, and transit?
We think the answer is an unequivocal "yes".
LADOT is committed to making Los Angeles a place where cyclists are safe and city streets make room for bicycles.
We'll wait for Joe Linton's analysis of just how accurate the city's claimed mileage actually is. But just looking at L.A.'s new and improved streets suggests that LADOT is more than fulfilling their promise.
And that things really have changed in the department local cyclists have long loved to hate.
Meanwhile, the department presents their progress to the City Council Transportation Committee, and improves signage to help cyclists stay alive during the Riverside Dr. bridge reconstruction.
Mark Cavendish pulls another Tour de France stage win out of his hat, while Spartacus keeps the yellow jersey. World time trial champ Tony Martin steps up to stage 2 despite a broken hand. And evidently, 22-year old Peter Sagan really is that good, the youngest stage winner in nearly 20 years.
Once again, however, we should note that only Americans with names that start with L — LeMond, Lance and, briefly, Landis — have won le Tour.
Which means Levi Leipheimer remains our best hope for victory.
People for Bikes reports on the new federal transportation bill that dramatically cuts funding for bike and pedestrian projects. They won't say it, but let's remember which of our elected officials attacked cycling and/or sold us out, and cast our votes accordingly in the fall.
Meanwhile, PfB staffer Kate Powlison is among the five women riding the entire Tour de France course one day ahead of the men. Their stated goal is to inspire women to ride more often, and encourage people everywhere to tackle dreams that seem impossible.
Maybe so.
But hopefully they'll also inspire professional cycling to open more doors for women, either by a vastly improved women's tour or by opening top level professional teams to female riders.
You can't tell me that the best women aren't as good or better than many of the men who fill out the support roles.
And might even kick some ass if given the chance.
Tomorrow marks L.A.'s can't miss bike sale with the annual 4th of July Blowout Sale at Helen's in Santa Monica and Arcadia. And just a few blocks away, Cynergy Cycles is extending their No Tax sale through the 4th.
Any other big bike sales we should know about this week?
Flying Pigeon offers tongue-in-cheek advice — at least I hope it's tongue-in-cheek — on how to take your vehicular cycling to the next level. Sunday's Peace, Love and Family ride catches the eyes of local residents. Richard Risemberg reviews the Bromptons they took to Denver. LADOT kicks off the environment impact reviews that will determine if 43 miles of projected bikeways will ever be built. The LAPD reports on a four-month old biking under the influence arrest that left a 50-year old rider injured; something tells me there's more to the story if they're bringing this up after so long. Beverly Hills police let a road raging driver off the hook. New bike lanes appear in El Sereno. East Side Bike Club is hosting a 4th of July Ride to see the fireworks in Alhambra. Over at CLR Effect, Michael encounters an unpleasant odor that isn't the rider next to him, and notes that Glendora Mountain Road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic on the 4th of July, allowing for an unofficial high country ciclovía.
Readers respond to OC Register columnist David Whiting's recent column calling for more courtesy on multi-use trails. An Orange County florist gets attention with a bicycle through the store's front window. More on La Mesa cyclist Nicola Grossi, who lost 120 pounds in just two years of riding before dying in a solo collision on Saturday during the Climb to Kaiser ride. San Francisco bike corrals transform 30 parking spaces into 336 spaces for bikes. The Santa Rose Press Democrat says patient, defensive riding is the key to bike safety; they're right, of course, but only because too many motorists can't be bothered to do the same.
American cyclist and former model Dotsie Bausch overcomes anorexia to complete for the U.S. cycling team in the London Olympics. You can now get bike insurance if you live in the Portland area. A Utah man stabs a cyclist and a steals his bike; police find the bike in the laundry room of the thief's building. Denver authorities crack down on scofflaw cyclists — including ticketing a rider for not putting his foot down on a stop, which isn't illegal. A 90-year old Eau Claire driver kills a cyclist while driving on an off-road bike path; thanks to Witch on a Bicycle for the link. A Lancaster NY cyclist is killed by a dump truck; I usually pull off the road when I find one behind me, since they scare me as much as anything else on the road.
In shocking news, a Canadian study finds off-road mountain biking can be dangerous, and that bears often defecate in forested areas. Evidently, cowardly, murderous hit-and-run bastards aren't just an American phenomenon — which is one word I have never spelled correctly in my life. Irish authorities consider a plan to fine parents if their children don't wear helmets. A London lawyer is left with life-changing injuries after his skull is fractured when he's hit in a crosswalk by a serial red light running cyclist, proving that not all bastards are on four wheels. While other traffic casualties have dropped, serious cycling casualties and pedestrian deaths have spiked in London. A new sign design warns cyclists about the dangers of big trucks. What if roads were designed the same way bikeways are? David Hembrow says the right to ride on any roads may not always be in cyclists' best interests. Dutch police commandeer a tractor to chase down three bike thieves.
Finally, a deeply offended neighborhood watch group calls on L.A. to ban the annual Naked Bike Ride. Maybe if they didn't watch so closely, they wouldn't be so offended.
And just in time for the 4th, here's your new bike anthem for the summer.
Let's be careful out there this week. The period around the 4th is traditionally one of the most dangerous times for SoCal cyclists. Ride safely and defensively, so you can enjoy a lifetime of Independence Day riding.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Bike Events / Tags: Beverly Hills, bicycling, blocked bike lanes, Jordan Hickey, Los Angeles, Mark Elliot, National City, Santa Monica, The Beverly Thrills Ride, UPS, Will Campbell
Bicycling says we're sort of bike-friendly; Better Bike's Mark Elliot bounces off a Beverly Hills SUV
May 22, 2012 / bikinginla / 8 comments
Let's make it a Tuesday news day.
So settle back with your favorite libation and catch up on all the bike news that fits.
Bicycling magazine names their top 50 American bike-friendly cities.
And in a very surprising development, L.A. makes the list at 32, just ahead of Thousand Oaks at 38, and behind Long Beach at 19. Not surprisingly, Portland leads the list at number one, followed by Minneapolis, Boulder and newly bike-friendly Washington DC; New York City comes in just before San Francisco at seven and eight, respectively, while my hometown just misses the top 10 at number 11.
Best wishes to Better Bike's Mark Elliot, who was hit by an SUV in Beverly Hills on Saturday, just days after getting screwed by the city's auto-centric Traffic and Parking Commission. Fortunately, Mark says he's okay. But warns ominously that it might be you next time.
Robert Gesink wins the Amgen Tour of California just eight months after breaking his leg in four places in a training accident. Will Campbell shows just how fast the Amgen riders passed by. Aussie cyclist Robbie McEwen retires at the end of the Tour of California. LACBC offers photos of the final stage, which began in the biking black hole where Mark Elliot nearly got his ass run over. And once again, a feared carmageddon fails to materialize.
If you're only going to click on one link today, make it this one, as a writer explains how not to kill a cyclist. And then forward it to every driver — and cyclist — you know.
Flying Pigeon needs help moving to their new location on Tuesday and Wednesday. An Eastside bicyclist was injured after falling through a manhole after thieves stole the cover. Adonia Lugo and Allison Mannos question whether the urban poor and communities of color are being left behind by eco developments. Riding from Watts to Long Beach on a Friday night. Mayoral candidate and current CD13 Council Member Eric Garcetti has a new website. A UCLA study says excessive cycling could interfere with male reproductive health — and give you man boobs; thanks to Erik Griswold for the heads-up. New signage and pavement markings on the Santa Monica section of the beachfront Marvin Braude bike path could ease conflicts between cyclists and beach-going pedestrians. Long Beach urban planner Sean Warner says rational arguments supporting biking infrastructure may not be enough.
Two Fontana teenagers are being sought for shoving two children off their bikes and stealing them — the bikes, not the children. A Redlands rider is shot while on his bike Saturday night. Los Olivos hosted the California State High School Mountain Bike Championships over the weekend. A 54-year old Campbell cyclist is injured when a 17-year old unlicensed driver attempts to defy the laws of physics by occupying the same space she was in at the same time. Nearly 1,200 Tahoe cyclists attempt to set a record for single-file riding; almost three times that many are expected for the area's 21st annual America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride on June 3rd.
The Bike League is now tracking bicycling fatalities on a national level, just as I've been doing in SoCal; preliminary results show over a third of all bike-related collisions were hit-from behinds, followed by failure to yield (18% drivers, 10% cyclists). Riding a bike to work could cut your tax bill, as well. The bike writer for my hometown paper says education is more important than more bike lanes. A Lafayette LA cyclist disappears riding home from a night out. Bollards are almost always a failure of good bikeway design — especially when they go in for no apparent reason. Charleston SC proposes a 32 mile bikeway crossing eight bridges. Dave Moulton says it's time to opt out of the culture of speed.
A Halifax writer says cyclists deserve more respect and better infrastructure. A UK writer asks if adults are mature enough to share the road with children; good question. A British publication asks if the war between motorists and cyclists will ever end — or if it really exists. Free bicycles help keep Indian girls in school. A Singapore cyclist is found dead of unnatural causes along a trail.
Finally, an Aussie writer has had it up to here with people saying cycling is being spoiled by anyone on a sports bike. And a rider in Mississippi is reunited with his dog after three months in a coma following a collision.
Category: Bicycle Safety, General / Tags: Better Bike, bicycling, Bicycling Magazine, bike-friendly cities, Los Angeles, Mark Elliot
Beverly Hills steps up — and stumbles badly — in their attempt to accommodate cyclists
First watered down, then at least partially down in flames.
Over the last year or so, the biking black hole of Beverly Hills has consulted with cyclists to develop a bike route pilot program.
And those cyclists have chaffed under a process that seemed designed to reduce participation, while imposing so many restrictions on the end result that hit hardly seemed worth the effort.
In the end, the ad hoc committee working on the program recommended five pilot bike routes that seemed to offer only a slight improvement over nothing at all. Which, oddly, is exactly the amount of bicycling infrastructure the city currently offers.
Then the city's Traffic and Parking Commission proceeded to shoot two of the five routes off their low-hanging branch. And did it using the same old half and non-truths typically employed by anti-bike forces who have no idea what they're talking about.
Like bikes impede traffic. We don't belong in residential neighborhoods. We don't deserve safe infrastructure — or even the modest improvements the plan called for — because cyclists run stop signs.
Never mind that traffic flow could be improved and the streets made safer if some of those stop signs were removed.
And members of the commission even asked whether placing sharrows on streets like Charleville would give riders a false sense of security. As if we could somehow forget that we're riding in a city full of self-entitled motorists who believe they actually do own the road.
As Better Bike's Mark Elliot, who has lead the Sisyphean task to make bikes more welcome — or even welcome at all — on the city's streets put it, cyclists ended up with just three-fifth of half a loaf.
Which is better than nothing, I suppose.
But it does raise the question of why cyclists would bother to support the Rodeo Drive start of the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California in a city that so clearly doesn't support us.
Or why the Tour of California would start their race in such a bike-unfriendly city to begin with.
Speaking of the Tour of California, Liquigas-Cannondale's Peter Sagan overcomes a flat tire in the last five minutes to win the first stage; clearly, he and teammate Vincenzo Nibali did not come to California to take a stroll.
In other proc cycling news, the first Canadian to wear the pink jersey continues to lead the Giro d'Italia. Road.cc documents the day in Verona when U.S. cycling prodigy Taylor Phinney lost the leader's jersey after suffering a bad ankle injury in a crash just days earlier.
And the witch hunt continues as prosecutors go after Lance's former team manager Johan Bruyneel.
It's the first day of L.A. Bike Week, with a full slate of rides, activities and Bike to Work pit stops scheduled throughout the week.
Or as they call it in Beverly Hills, Monday.
If you're curious about biking to work this week, you could do a lot worse than brushing up on this bit of advice from KCRW chief engineer Steve Herbert.
The Times says bicyclists and pedestrians are remaking the city's classic boulevards, as people demand more bikeable, walkable and livable streets. Writing for Momentum Magazine, Rick Risemberg asks if Los Angeles is a cyclists' paradise regained. A cyclist is seriously injured after falling off a trail into a canyon in Porter Ranch. Long Beach ups the bike-friendliness a notch with new bike lanes and sharrows in new areas. A Carlsbad company trades bike to work for biking instead or working. The 75-year old Santa Cruz cyclist who was killed after going over his handlebars has been identified; and yes, he was wearing a helmet.
AAA and LAB team up to promote bike safety. A writer for my hometown newspaper says bike lanes add economic value; someday I hope to go back and ride those 38 miles of off-street trails and 112 miles of bike lanes myself. A Texas cyclist is recovering after being hit by a red light running state trooper. The Broward County FL sheriff's department mistakenly says the first rule of bike safety is wearing a helmet; actually, it's riding safely so you won't need one.
Audi and Specialized team up to build a 50 mph ebike prototype. After getting laid off, a British Frisbee champion plans a 4500 km ride to Istanbul. A camera happens to catch it all as a black-clad woman rushes up to attack a bike riding man; is it just me, or does that camera placement seem just a tad too convenient?
Finally, a writer makes a very apt comparison between cycling and battered wife syndrome.
And in case you missed it over the weekend, you can find a much longer list of links here.
On a personal note, a personal childhood hero passed away Friday, when one of my older cousins sat down after mowing the lawn, closed his eyes for a nap and never woke up. Dick had been a champion open-wheel racer in the 60's; his lifelong claim to fame was passing his rookie test at Indianapolis, then just missing qualifying for the Indy 500. His unsponsored, self-financed car may not have been fast enough to make the cut, but how many people can say they made the attempt on a set of tires borrowed from A.J. Foyt?
Rest in peace, cousin.
Category: Advocacy & Politics, Streets and Infrastructure / Tags: Better Bike, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Ad-Hoc Bike Plan Update Committee, bicycling, Mark Elliot
Universal says no to bikes, Bob Mionske points the finger, Mark Elliot intelligently refutes John Cassidy
March 29, 2011 / bikinginla / 7 comments
City Watch looks at Universal's refusal to allow an extension of the L.A. River Bike Path and river revitalization efforts through Universal City.
As far as I'm concerned, until that changes, their plans for expansion should be dead in the water.
In fact, until they become friendlier to bikes and their riders — on and off their property — they shouldn't get the time of day from the city of L.A. And every cyclist in L.A. should oppose their plans.
Bob Mionske says the official explanation for the NYPD's over-the-top vendetta against cyclists pegs the BS meter, and points the finger squarely at NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly.
Meanwhile, New York streets may be safer than ever, but the battle rages on. The Century Road Club Association offers a form letter to fight back against New York police targeting Central Park cyclists.
And Mark Elliot of Better Bike Beverly Hills offers a very intelligent, highly detailed refutation of anti-bike New Yorker columnist John Cassidy; it's a long read, but definitely worth the time.
In the third part of her excellent bikenomics series, Elly Blue says that investing in bicycle infrastructure leads directly to increased physical activity, which leads to lower healthcare costs and reduced mortality. And the more people who are riding, the safer everyone becomes.
The L.A. Business Journal says if you drive, bike or motorcycle on the streets of L.A., you probably have broken teeth or a swollen tongue from all the potholes on the street, noting that just 3% of city streets are in good condition. Why does L.A. make it so hard just to park your bike and spend a little money? A Santa Monica writer say drivers aren't as courteous and alert as they should be, so give cyclists a little extra room. The Long Beach Post looks at the funeral and memorial services for bike advocate Mark Bixby, who "lived an extraordinary life." KABC-7 offers advice on getting back on your bike; although I'd think advising riders to use lights after dark would be more effective than recommending reflective tape. A really crappy press release announces events around the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling on May 1st. A new bridge will close a gap in a popular bike path around San Diego's Mission Bay. The Soldier Ride helps give a wounded vet hope. In typical fashion, San Mateo County releases a bike plan full of gaps and disconnected bikeways.
A team of HIV-positive riders will compete in this year's Race Across America (RAAM). Former framebuilder Dave Moulton looks at proper leisure riding position, while a bike shop worker says maybe most roadies are riding with the wrong handlebars — or maybe the wrong bike. Steve Vance says cargo bikes are American cycling's newest sub-subculture. Bicycling asks how you would vote on the charges alleged against Lance Armstrong if you were on the jury. Presenting the 10 most popular bike commuting cities; and no, L.A. ain't on the list. Tucson's second successful Cyclovia pleases everyone from 6 months to 70. After 80 years, the Empire State Building finally adds a bike storage facility. If you're visiting New York, you need to know what transit systems you can take your bike on and when. DC's M-street needs a road diet. Maryland moves to make negligent drivers who kill subject to misdemeanor manslaughter. A new bike safety video from LAB and the NHTSA is a little simplistic, but hits the right notes.
The UK's Transport Minister finds £836,000 laying around for bike projects. Britain's traffic jams decrease as gas prices rise and drivers switch to bikes and walking. London Cyclist offers a rave review of the Strida folding bike; yes, you can find one in L.A. A detailed look at the conflict between the desire for Dutch-style infrastructure and what's actually achievable. Oxfordshire road deaths increase 20% after speed cameras are shut off. Fabian Cancellara looks like the favorite for Sunday's Tour of Flanders. A recent Aussie study shows that tensions between cyclists and drivers result from impatience, fear and fright, levels of expectations and differing levels of awareness. A South African cyclist gets punched by a Dr. Thompson wannabe. Japan's 9.0 earthquake shifted transportation paradigms in favor of cycling. Not every woman wants a pink bike.
Finally, a great read from the UK on why cyclists don't own the road, we just rent it. And the European Union wants gas-powered cars gone from Euro cities by 2050, while the Brits want nothing to do with it; the UK's Transport Minister says it's no more likely than rectangular bananas. But before you write it off as just another pipe dream, remember a lot can happen in 39 years; in 1972 we were still listening to 8-tracks, the personal computer hadn't been invented yet and phones were still wired into walls.
Category: General / Tags: Better Bike Beverly Hills, bicycling, Bob Mionske, just the links, Los Angeles, Mark Elliot, Universal Studios
Rolling down Rodeo Drive and the best of the Westside with the LACBC last Sunday
February 9, 2011 / bikinginla / 5 comments
Some of the riders before the start, including the Spoke's Cynthia Rose in the purple top; photo courtesy of Harry Dougherty
Okay, so it turned out to be a very long ride.
When I mapped out a route for the I ♥ the Westside ride, the second in the LACBC's new series of Sunday Funday rides, I rode the 28 mile route in about two hours without breaking a sweat.
So I added another hour to my estimate to allow for a series of five minute stops to discuss different cities and issues along the way. And then added another half hour just to be safe, and assumed everyone would be on their way home to watch the Super Bowl commercials by 1:30.
Paul Backstrom discusses the proposed Main Street road diet in Venice
Like the song says, it ain't necessarily so.
What I hadn't counted on was the need to stop — repeatedly — when riders were cut off by traffic or red lights. Not mention an unexpected encounter with the Sweet E's Bakeshop truck in Culver City.
I learned a long time ago never to come between cyclists and their cupcakes.
In the end, we got back to our pier-side start point over an hour after what I thought was a very generous worst case scenario.
Rick Risemberg of Bicycle Fixation discusses native plants on Ballona Creek
On the other hand, we made it without a single flat or mechanical problem. And everyone who started out either made it to the finish with the rest of the group, or left along the route to meet other obligations.
That alone made it a successful ride in my book.
I also learned that leading a ride is a lot like hosting a party — you spend so much time looking after everyone that you barely spend time with anyone.
There were a lot of great people that I didn't get to spend as much time with as I wanted. And some I didn't get to meet at all, much to my regret. In fact, 42 riders started out, including four new members of the LACBC who signed up that morning.
An unexpected Culver City food truck encounter made it a very sweet ride
And everyone seemed to have a great time, myself included. Then again, any day on a bike is a good day, and the perfect Westside weather and great guest speakers just made it that much better.
We started off with a brief presentation from the LACBC affiliate Santa Monica Spoke's Cynthia Rose, who offered a brief overview of the many projects the Spoke is working on to make L.A.'s city by the bay live up to it's bike-friendly status.
After a brief jaunt down Main Street, I asked if anyone could tell me when we left Santa Monica and entered Los Angeles; not surprisingly, almost everyone was able to pinpoint the exact spot where the bike lanes ended, the road widened to two lanes and traffic sped up.
Jim Shanman discusses the work of the recently formed Culver City Bicycle Coalition
That lead to Paul Backstrom from Councilmember Bill Rosendahl's office speaking for a few minutes about the proposed road diet that would tame the L.A. section of Main, by creating a mirror image of the Santa Monica stretch. He noted that the city is working on solutions to move the bike lanes that would result out of the door zone, which has been fairly criticized in the original plans.
As we rode up Ballona Creek, Rick Risemberg, aka Mr. Bicycle Fixation and one of the city's leading bike advocates, volunteered to talk about the native plants and rest area that had recently been installed along the bikeway, as well as a water filtration system designed to keep pollutants out of the bay.
Bikes roll down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills; photo courtesy of Joni Yung
When we got to Culver City, Jim Shanman spoke briefly about the efforts of the newly formed Culver City Bicycle Coalition and their work on the new Culver City bike plan. And invited everyone to come back to participate in the LACBC-affiliate group's next monthly Family Ride on the 27th.
One of my first thoughts in planning this ride had been that I wanted to see bikes rolling down Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Bentley-choked Rodeo drive. But I regretted that I hadn't had time to reach out to Mark Elliot of the group Better Bike Beverly Hills — yes, yet another LACBC affiliate — to join us on the ride.
Mark Elliot talks about Better Bike Beverly Hills' work to make the city friendlier to bikes
So while we were stopped in Culver City, I asked if any of the riders were from Beverly Hills. When one man raised his hand, I asked if he was involved with the BBBH.
He introduced himself as Mark, and said "I founded it."
That was how I finally met Mark Elliot, one of my personal heroes among local bike advocates, if only because he's taken on one of the hardest battles in the L.A. area.
So when we got to Beverly Hills — which currently lacks a single inch of bike lane — Mark spoke about the work his group has been doing to transform the Westside's bicycling black hole into something more ridable. Including the group's efforts to capitalize on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restructure Santa Monica Blvd to make it, not just safe for cyclists, but actually inviting for the countless riders who now go out of their way to avoid it.
I talked about the decline of Westwood and biking through the VA; photo courtesy of Joni Yung
At our stop in Westwood Village, I spoke briefly about the decline of one of the city's most beautiful neighborhoods, and my personal vision to turn Westwood Blvd into a pedestrian walkway from Wilshire to the UCLA campus. We also discussed the new Veterans Administration master plan and the importance of regaining bike access through the Los Angeles National Cemetery, which was closed to bikes after 9/11 — evidently because of the threat that bicycles would pose to all the people buried there.
LACBC Executive Director Jen Klausner talks about the perils of riding and walking in Brentwood
Finally, Jen Klausner, Executive Director of the LACBC, spoke about the dangers that cyclists and pedestrians face in the Brentwood area, as well as the lack of adequate infrastructure to protect them from the dangerous behaviors and sense of entitlement displayed by many Westside drivers.
In the end, it was a great day, combining a fun, beautiful ride with an overview of local advocacy.
LACBC board member Alex Amerri (in white) will lead the next Sunday Funday ride March 6th
And it sets the stage for next month's Sunday Funday #3, in which fellow board member Alex Amerri will lead a fast-paced 62-mile ride through the north San Gabriel Valley.
And riders on that one probably won't have to worry about the group being broken up by red lights.
My thanks to everyone who turned out for the ride, especially Cynthia Rose, Paul Backstrom, Jim Stanman and Mark Elliot for their help in discussing the issues and opportunities for bicycling on the Westside. And special thanks to the LACBC's Jen Klausner, Joni Yung, Alex Amerri, Greg Laemmle, Carol Feucht and Martin Lopez-lu for making it a success.
Photo courtesy of Harry Dougherty
Harry Dougherty offers a great set of photos from Sunday's ride — definitely better than my feeble attempts and worth the click to take a look.
LAB calls on Colorado cyclists to support proposed legislation to fight the Black Hawk bike ban. I'd go a step further and encourage any cyclists to write in to support the legislation; Colorado's economy depends on tourism, so your opinions on the misguided ban on bikes that could affect your decision to visit the state matters.
The LACBC notes that a second workshop will be held Thursday night on the proposed redesign of the South Figueroa Corridor that could result in the city's first true Complete Street, incorporating real pedestrian and bike access.
And don't forget Wednesday's 2:30 pm joint meeting of the City Council Transportation and Planning and Land Use Committees at Downtown City Hall to consider the city's draft bike plan; this is the last public hearing before it goes to the full Council for approval. At the moment, it looks like illness will keep me away, but I urge you to show your support if you can make it.
Kids, don't try this at home! A cyclist was injured in a collision with a Blue Line train on Monday. According to authorities, he was holding onto a moving bus while wearing headphones and turned into the train when he let go.
Long Beach finally eliminates their illegal bike licensing law. A driver sticks her neck out to support the Wilbur Ave road diet (scroll down). RSVP now for a free bicycle inspection and safety check workshop at the Bike Oven Wednesday night. The city's first bike corral will be officially unveiled Friday morning in front of Café de Leche in Highland Park. CicLAvia invites you to help extend its route into South L.A. Flying Pigeon blogger Mickey Wally offers more of his great urban cycling photos. Green LA Girl talks with Jessica Meaney of Safe Routes to Schools. Car-less Valley Girl asks drivers not to mess with the balance on the street. How to contest a bad police collision report. Charlie Gandy talks about Long Beach's bike-friendly successes in Corona del Mar. Tracking San Francisco's most dangerous streets for cyclists. The Bay Citizen analyzes two years of bike collision data, and finds riders responsible for most wrecks — with the chief cause pedaling too fast. Huh? Now this kind of harassment from a passing car I wouldn't complain about.
Dave Moulton says learn something from DC's Swanson case, and don't let matters surrounding the death of cyclist Ben Acree in San Diego last weekend drag on for three years. Better food and bicycling could be the cure for childhood obesity. If there's a war on cars, then why are so many of the victims pedestrians (and cyclists)? Portland authorities search for the hit-and-run schmuck who ran down a stage 4 cancer patient. A Seattle lawyer jumps head-first into the Great Helmet Debate, concluding skid lids leave a lot to be desired. A Washington woman wins a lawsuit against REI for a defective bike part one day after she died in a backcountry accident. A Minneapolis study clearly shows the rate of bike crashes goes down as ridership increases. New York cyclists are up in arms over a citation to a rider for not wearing a helmet — even though that's not illegal under New York law. A HuffPo writer urges a backlash to the New York anti-bike backlash. More than half a million New Yorkers ride more than once a month, but the Daily News hasn't seemed to notice; makes you wonder what other stories they might be missing.
Brit blue-eyed soul singer Adele rides a bike. Pro cyclist Riccardo Riccò is hospitalized with kidney failure after allegedly botching a transfusion in an attempt to kick-start his comeback from a 2008 doping ban, while TdF winner Alberto Contador plans to fight the relative slap on the wrist Spanish authorities are reportedly planning to give him. Somehow, people shocked! shocked! to discover the windshield perspective of the host of the BBC's top-rated Top Gear show; BBC radio is starting a 10 part series on the history of the bike. L.A. cyclists have to contend with big ugly cars, while Dutch cyclists have to worry about big friendly dogs. The 2012 Olympic road course will finish with a sprint ending at Buckingham Palace; no word on whether the Queen's corgis will be in attendance.
Finally, a non-bike related conclusion as a motorcyclist's helmet cam shows exactly what it's like to get rear-ended at stop, but without the pain, courtesy of Cyclelicious. Will Campbell plans a train-assisted March March through the real Eastside along historic Whittier Blvd; knowing both Will and Whittier, this one you won't want to miss.
Category: Advocacy & Politics / Tags: Better Bike Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver City, Culver City Bicycle Coalition, Cynthia Rose, Jen Klausner, Jim Shanman, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Mark Elliot, Paul Backstrom, Rick Risemberg, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Spoke, Sunday Funday, Venice, Westwood


Around the age of 47 to 53, women will begin menopause, otherwise known as the "change of life", which commonly comes with different symptoms, one being perimenopause spotting. The first sign of entering menopause is having irregular or missed menstrual cycles but other things also begin to happen such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, and a lot of confusion.
While menopause occurs normally, some women will start this process of life early due to hysterectomy or endometrial ablation. Perimenopause is the time just prior to menopause beginning, which can be anywhere from two to five years. Often, women will have symptoms, again such as perimenopause spotting that they never even connect to menopause until full menopause actually begins.
To confirm that menopause is actually starting, once a woman begins perimenopause spotting, she can have a blood test done, which checks for the presence of a certain hormone. This hormone called Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH decreases with age so when levels are low, the doctor would be able to confirm that the woman is in fact starting her change of life.
Often, a woman will experience perimenopause spotting once or twice and then it will go away but as she gets closer to actual menopause, it may increase or her menstrual cycle would stop suddenly. This process can take place as mentioned over a period of years or it could come on quite fast. In both cases, even though women know what is coming, it always seems to be an unwanted surprise.
Typically, perimenopause spotting stars due to an imbalance of the hormone, which means that ovulation is also sporadic. Because there is an interruption, women would have a difficult time becoming pregnant. Although most women in their late 40s are past the years of wanting to have a baby, we have seen an increase in women in their mid to late 40s having children more in the past 10 years. Therefore, a woman interested in having a child would need to be checked for FSH levels to determine if she is in fact having perimenopause spotting.
Of course, a woman that has any concern at all does not need to wait to contact her physician until she meets the above criteria. The reason this is important is that some women going through menopause would be at greater risk of uterine cancer, such as those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. Therefore, any concern whatsoever should be discussed with the doctor and while chances are the body is simply going through its normal aging process, there is nothing wrong with being cautious.
If perimenopause spotting becomes a serious problem, the woman may need to be placed on progesterone to control bleeding or have surgery in the form of a partial or full hysterectomy. If a partial hysterectomy is performed, the uterus would be removed but in the case of a full hysterectomy, the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries would all come out. Women need to understand that perimenopause is normal and expected, not something to fear unless the problem turns serious, which is rare.


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Dr. Alexander Butler joins Lenox Hill Orthopaedic Institute
Alexander Butler, MD, joined New York City-based Lenox Hill Orthopaedic Institute and plans to focus on technological innovation in spine surgery.
Dr. Butler comes to Lenox Hill Orthopaedic Institute from a spine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, he told Becker's in an Oct. 21 email. His clinical work and research will center the advancement of minimally invasive surgery and innovation.
Dr. Butler's hiring comes as Frank Schwab, MD, reached one year as chair of orthopedics at Lenox Hill Hospital and system chief of spine surgery at Northwell Health.
"There are obviously a lot of phenomenal institutions in New York, though the opportunity to join Lenox Hill and Northwell was too exciting to ignore," Dr. Butler said in an email.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Eligibility: This course is suitable to leaders, care givers and other devotees committed to instituting devotee care with in ISKCON and in their local, regional and national communities. This course is most helpful to those who attend in teams, offering opportunities for strategic planning.
Brahma Samhita is an ancient Vedic text, the fifth chapter of which was found by Lord Caitanya in His visit to South India. The translation and commentary is by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and is a highly sophisticated presentation of Krishna consciousness.
This course aims to provide a comprehensive and practical understanding of what it means to be a householder practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness according to teachings of our Founder-Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda.


Treat yourself to a test drive in the 2019 Toyota RAV4. It features a front-wheel-drive platform, an automatic transmission, and a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine. Toyota infused the interior with top shelf amenities, such as: a rear window wiper, 1-touch window functionality, a trip computer, front bucket seats, lane departure warning, an overhead console, and a split folding rear seat. Audio features include an AM/FM radio, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and 6 speakers, enhancing the audio experience throughout the interior. Toyota also prioritized safety and security by including: dual front impact airbags with occupant sensing airbag, head curtain airbags, traction control, brake assist, a panic alarm, an emergency communication system, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. Adaptive cruise control maintains a pre set distance behind the car ahead of you, simplifying highway driving and enhancing safety. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


Maybe an allergy to Sweet Peas?
Bang 'em together. That should work.
Seems logical. But since when has logic ever ruled in this strip?
False courage. He knows he can't get himself in trouble now.
You have to admit, it's an extraordinary feet!
Wikipedia has a good (extensive) article.


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OzAnimals Travel
your guide to Australian Nature Experiences
List Your Nature Attraction
Flinders Island, Bass Strait, Tasmania
Flinders Island is the largest island in the Furneaux Group of 52 islands (and the only island with a permanent settlement, of about 900 people). It is located along the Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland. Measuring 70 kilometers by 40 kilometers, Flinders Island has over 450 kilometers of road for visitors to use.
Flinders Island is located 20 kilometers off the north-eastern tip of Tasmania, Cape Portland.
The Furneaux Group was sighted by Tobias Furneaux in 1773, who was part of Captain Cook's expedition, and then explored again in 1798 when Flinders and Bass circumnavigated Tasmania, proving it was an island.
The Furneaux group of islands used to be part of the land bridge which connected Tasmania to the mainland.
Flinders island is quite mountainous, with a third of the land mass being hilly and rocky, with granite ridges. Mount Strzelecki and the surrounding area form Strzelecki National Park. The higher elevations on the island are mainly forested, with eucalyptus. The coast has long sand dunes, lagoons, and wetlands, and the coastal land is covered by brush and scrubs.
18,000 years ago the Bass Plain was flooded to create Bass Strait, where Flinders Island is located. This means that flora and fauna has evolved differently than species in other areas in Australia. The island is also very unique because it is the location of some species' northernmost habitat and others' southernmost habitat.
The island has a variety of native animals: echidnas, wombats, skinks, potoroos, pademelons, geese, snakes, bats, possums, and wallabies. The Furneaux islands are known for their plethora of birds – over 200 species among the islands, including land birds, birds of prey, seabirds, shore, estuary and lagoon birds. Offshore visitors can find, dolphins, whales, and seals. Over 800 plant species can be found on the Furneaux Group islands.
From Flinders Island, you can explore over 50 islands, mostly uninhabited, with over 60 shipwrecks and over a 100 beaches.
Activities (Nature and Wildlife Interest)
Flinders Island is appealing because of its diversity of activities to interest all types of visitors. The island has many land- and water-based activities to choose from:
Swimming and beachcombing: Flinders Island has kilometers of sandy beaches and sand dunes for visitors to explore.
Rock-climbing: The granite ridges that run the length of the island provide ample opportunity for rock-climbing.
Snorkeling and scuba diving: The island is surrounded by historical shipwrecks, making it an excellent diving location. Tasmania offers some of the best temperate diving in the world, with rich kelp forests and great visibility (up to 40 meters).
Bushwalking: Walking is a very popular activity on the island, with many walking trails ranging from easy jaunts to more challenging hikes such as the walk to the Mt. Strzelecki summit.
Boating and fishing: Charter a boat for cruising or fishing in the waters surrounding the island.
Scenic flights: Take a scenic flight around the Furneaux group of islands.
4WD tours: join an off-roading tour which includes an educational component about the island's history, wildlife, and flora and fauna.
Fishing: Trevally, shark, calamari, salmon, and flathead are frequently caught off the coast of Flinders.
Golfing: Flinders has a 9-hole links course, a course that has only been parred once since it was opened forty years ago.
Bird-watching: The island is a stopover for many migratory birds; visitors can spot over 200 species of birds that inhabit or visit the island.
Driving: Take the self-guided Flinders Island Drive Trail to visit many of the island's natural attractions and to learn about the island's abundant wildlife and birdlife.
Flinders Island offers a variety of accommodation options, from resorts, to hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and cabins. Visitors can stay in over a dozen places around the island, though the towns of Whitemark and Lady Barron offer clusters of accommodations.
The island has about 25 self-contained houses, cottages, and B&B options, including:
Vistas on Trousers Point: Comprises eight luxury suites, within a 40,000 acre national park, near beaches
Bucks at Lady Barron: three bedroom home overlooking the water at Lady Barron.
Echo Hills: self-contained four bedroom cottage, which can accommodate eight people.
Flinders Island Tourist Lodge: B&B located on a ridge with excellent views.
Seven camping grounds dot Flinders Island:
North East River: near North Beach, across the dunes, with toilets, water, and a fire BBQ 100M from the camping area.
Killiecrankie: privately-owned camping ground
Allport Beach: 100M from the beach, with a free gas BBQ and toilet facilities
Lillies Beach: Right on the beach (great for snorkeling and swimming), with a toilet and fire BBQ.
Trousers Point Beach: With its own secluded swimming beach, toilet facilities, a fire BBQ, a gas BBQ. This is located in a national park, meaning that visitors must purchase a Parks Pass before their visit.
Lady Barron: By Yellow Beach, with BBQ and toilet facilities and located next to the Lady Barron tennis courts.
The Patriarchs: Located at the Patriarch Wildlife Sanctuary, with BBQ facilities.
There are several ways to reach Flinders Island by air:
Scenic flights run from Melbourne (Moorabbin Airport, 90 minutes) and from Lanceston (across the Bass Strait, 40 minutes) on Airlines of Tasmania to Flinders Island Airport (3 kilometers north of Whitemark).
Regular commercial flights run from Essenden and Lanceston.
Charter flights run from Melbourne, Bridport (Tasmania), Tooradin, and Gippsland (Victoria), and arrive at either Lady Barron or Whitemark airports.
Ferry services run between Bridport (Tasmania) and Port Welshpool (Victoria) to Lady Barron, but only once a week.
King Island, Bass Strait, Tasmania
Maria Island, Tasmania
Tasmania Zoo, Devils Heaven, Launceston Lakes
ZooDoo Wildlife Park, Richmond, Tasmania
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Brighton, Tasmania
External Territories
Zoos and Sanctuaries
Western K.I Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve
East Coast Natureworld, Bicheno, Tasmania
The Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia
Recherche Archipelago (Bay of Isles), Western Australia
Cockatoo Island, Sydney, New South Wales
Great Palm Island, Queensland
Dunk Island, largest of the Family Islands
Fitzroy Island, Queensland
Whitsunday Island, Whitsundays, Queensland
Tiwi Islands – Melville and Bathurst Islands
Thursday Island, Torres Strait
the Mackerel Islands, Western Australia
Copyright © 2011 OzAnimals Travel. All Rights Reserved.


small_vector is a vector-like container optimized for the case when it contains few elements. It contains some preallocated elements in-place, which can avoid the use of dynamic storage allocation when the actual number of elements is below that preallocated threshold.
small_vector<T, N, Allocator> is convertible to small_vector_base<T, Allocator> that is independent from the preallocated element capacity, so client code does not need to be templated on that N argument.
All boost::container::vector member functions are inherited. See vector documentation for details.
The allocator used for memory management when the number of elements exceeds N.


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HomeBooksRomance
Options Collector's Edition
by CD Moulton
53 pages47 minutes
A virgin at 19. Never been passionately kissed. Mother frigid. She was not going to live that empty life. She heard, if your first was an Indian you would be spoiled for anyone else. She was going to learn if that was true!
Publisher: CD MoultonReleased: Aug 2, 2014ISBN: 9781311499356Format: book
Read More From Cd Moulton
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Magic & Voodoo collection
The Voodoo/Magic Collection
Nick Storie Mysteries: Time Will Kill You
Mirrors Collector's edition
Comedy, Murders And Weird Happenings: Seven Novellas
A Bloody Nuisance
Murder and Detective Stuff in Paradise
Possession, and Expectancies of Hell
My Excuses for Being an Author: Autobiographical
Murderous Methods
Flight of the Maita Book Eighteen: Anomaly Collector's Edition
Flight of the Maita book two: Settling In
Flight of the Maita. Escaping Boundares Collector's Edition
The Face in the Sunset Collector's Edition
Flight of the Maita Book Seventeen: Changes
Flight of the Maita Book 41: Duty's Call
CD Grimes book two: The Later Years Collector's edition
Flight of the Maita Book 44: Growing Up
Nick Storie Mysteries: Nick and Two Murders
Sing A Song of Murder Collector's Edition
The Best of Nick Storie Bad Move
Fading Paradise
Simple Explanations of Evolution and All That
Nick Storie book seven: Morality Play Collector's edition
CD Grimes book six: Dead Stop Collector's edition
Options Collector's Edition - CD Moulton
an erotic story
by C. D. Moulton
Collector's Edition © 2014
Smashwords edition © 2014
all rights reserved: no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder/publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Lucy Gladstone struck out again at the dating game. She was a virgin and, according to her mother, would destroy her chances of a good life that ended with going to heaven if she gave in to her natural desires.
Tom Whitecloud was living a few doors down a floor below. He was, unlike so many, beautiful!
Several girlfriends at work warned her that making an Indian her first would ruin her for other men. They would all seem so dull and inept.
She had several options. Follow her mother's advice and probably die a spinster? Find a man to make a woman out of her? Take the extra chance that the one she wanted, Tom Whitecloud, would leave her wanting more than any man other than an Indian could deliver?
She couldn't hold out much longer. Which option would be best for her?
Mom's way was as much as out. Then Tom stopped her on the stairs as she was coming home from being dumped – again. It seemed, at times like these, that no man was interested in a second date with a girl who wouldn't put out.
Marbleville
And Then...
CD Moulton has traveled extensively over much of the world both in the music business, where he was a rock guitarist, songwriter and arranger and in an import/export business. He has been everything from a bar owner to auto salvage (junkyard) manager, longshoreman to high steel worker, orchid grower to landscaper, tropical fish farmer to commercial fisherman. He started writing books in 1983 and has published more than 200 books as of January 1, 2014. His most popular books to date are about research with orchids, though much of his science fiction and fantasy work has proven popular. He wrote the CD Grimes, PI series and the Det. Nick Storie series, Clint Faraday series and many other works.
He now resides in Puerto Armuelles, Panamá, where he writes books, plays music with friends, does research with orchids and medicinal plants – and pursues his favorite ways to spend his time: beach bum and roaming the mountain jungles doing his botanical research. He has lately become involved in fighting for the rights of the indigenous people, who are among his closest friends, and in fighting the extreme corruption in the courts and police in Panamá.
He offers the free e-book, Fading Paradise, that explains what he has been through because of the corruption.
Lucy Gladstone sighed heavily as she climbed the four flights of steep stairs to her dreary room.
Another night, another bust.
What the hell was wrong with her? Everyone said she was attractive and intelligent, but she had yet to have a second date with a guy. She could get the first date in two minutes flat. It seemed guys wanted to date her, but that she did something that made them stay away. They all said they had a good time and would call – then never did.
Maybe it was true, what Arlene said. Put out or get used to it.
Weren't there any decent guys anymore? She was raised in a religious family and was taught from infancy that good girls didn't even kiss a guy on the first date.
She had normal feelings. She had wanted to do a lot more than kiss a couple of them, but knew it would lead to something more and a girl must be a virgin when


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|2000 INDEX|
Communicat's
Fiji Economy 2000
Economy - overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year, including thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled non-stop air service from Los Angeles. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further damaged the sugar industry, but its recovery in 1999 contributed to robust GDP growth. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 235,000
Labor force - by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.)
revenues: $540.65 million
expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995)
Electricity - production: 550 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 20%
hydro: 80%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 512 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports: $393 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber
Exports - partners: Australia 34%, UK 18%, other Pacific island countries 11%, US 11%, NZ 5%, Japan 5% (1997)
Imports: $612 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Australia 45%, NZ 15%, Japan 7%, US 5%, Singapore 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $213 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $40.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.9654 (January 2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995)
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Translations - Language Translators
Revised 01-Nov-00
Copyright © 2000 Photius Coutsoukis (all rights reserved)
ctr10/10/00


Life..why art thou such an intricate puzzle?
Why are humans always in such a hurry?
O Life..why are people blind to thy loving nature?
O life..why does thy spherical music fall short of countless ears?
And dismissing darkness by making the utmost of every uttered breath ?
O life..how I love thee!
O life..how I adore thee!
O life..o life..i really love thee!
If I were Mayor, I'd make the world a better place by Stop all forms of cruelty against animals and human beings!
What/who changed my life and why Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment changed my life!He deals with some very profound issues and in a one part of the book, he describes how a bunch of people torture an innocent carriage horse...I was quite marked by this and spent a good time crying!I also find the main character of the book, Raskolnikov, quite intriguing..his views..beliefs..and how he changes..
Quotation "What is this life if full of care; we have no time to stand and stare..."
Happy Diwali sweety, Have a blast and boure mem gato la pas donne love.


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May MADness with MAD Dragon Music Group | The Triangle
May MADness with MAD Dragon Music Group
By Tosh Farrell
MAD Dragon Records and MAD Dragon Music Group are gearing up for a big month of new releases and events from their signed artists. As a small college record label, this much activity is a first for the organization.
For those of you who don't know, MAD Dragon Records is Drexel University's student record label. MAD Dragon's roster consists of both local Philadelphia-based artists and Drexel University students. They sign both established acts and artists working to break and define their brand.
Students in the business concentration of the music industry program take three or more terms of the MAD Dragon Music Group class, where they learn about running an indie record label and work with artists on developing and launching their projects. The label offers artists and musicians a great home to cultivate and grow their art, providing many services including the various recording studios on campus and a distribution agreement with Sony Music partners, The Orchard. There is also a section of the class that focuses specifically on the music marketing associated with the MAD Dragon Records releases.
The first release this May from MAD Dragon comes from Philadelphia rock band Chestnut Grove. Chestnut Grove drops their new EP, "Black Champagne," May 4. The local band is a recent sign for MAD Dragon, but they have been performing and releasing music since 2011.
"Black Champagne" shows a new side of Chestnut Grove, focusing on the grittier side of rock 'n' roll. The EP is filled with distorted guitar, ripping vocals and infectious riffs. The project's single "Scratch an Itch" has gotten airplay on Philly's alternative radio station, Radio 104.5. The band will be holding a release party May 4 at 6 p.m. in Drexel University's Studio One, and will have a full show at the Ardmore Music Hall May 5.
The band Past Life will be dropping their new single "Apollo" May 11. Past Life's members are from Chester County, Pennsylvania and the group has a strong mid-2000s-indie, alt-rock sound. Their music is full of unique chord progressions, embellished instrumental layers and unmatched energy.
This new single "Apollo" is the lead single off their forthcoming EP which is expected in July. After they drop the new single, the band will be going out on a short tour which includes a stop in Philadelphia at batting cage/music venue Everybody Hits.
The last big release for the month is from a student at Drexel. "Sort-of-pop-sort-of-not" artist Mazie is a freshman in the music industry program. The lead single from her new EP, "omw," is coming out May 18. She is originally from Baltimore, and cites Amy Winehouse and Billie Eilish as musical influences. Her previous music was heavily inspired by jazz music, but her new music is more electropop.
The single dropping May 18 is called "oh my god." It's a dance pop track that shows off a new side of her artistry. The full EP will arrive June 1, but you can check her out live before then. She will be having an EP release show at The Tip with musical acts Just Friends, Marquel, Kennedy Murphy and DJ Nico Oso.
It's an exciting time for MAD Dragon Music Group, so make sure to keep an eye out for their new releases and check out some of the events they have coming up. You can find the label at maddragonmusicgroup.com and follow MAD Dragon Music Group on Facebook and Instagram to keep up on their future releases.


Musk said Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund had brought up taking Tesla private multiple times during the past two years.
Musk said he met with the fund's managing director on July 31 and left that meeting confident that a deal to take Tesla private with the fund could be done.
Elon Musk is defending his "funding secured" tweet.
In a company statement on Monday, Musk said Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund had brought up taking Tesla private multiple times for almost two years. The Saudi fund recently bought a 5% stake in Tesla. Musk said he met with the fund's managing director on July 31 and left that meeting confident that a deal to take Tesla private would close.
"During the meeting, the Managing Director of the fund expressed regret that I had not moved forward previously on a going private transaction with them, and he strongly expressed his support for funding a going private transaction for Tesla at this time," Musk said in his statement. "I understood from him that no other decision makers were needed and that they were eager to proceed.
In his latest statement, Musk said he had announced his thoughts about taking the company private because he wanted to have "meaningful discussions" with large shareholders but couldn't do so if he didn't disclose his thinking to all shareholders.
"I made the announcement last Tuesday because I felt it was the right and fair thing to do so that all investors had the same information at the same time," Musk said.
Musk did not initially disclose details about where the funding would come from, nor did a statement from Musk on the company's website posted later Tuesday have any details about where the money would come from.
This sparked confusion and raised questions about whether funding was really secured.
In his statement on Monday, Musk said he had been in communication with the managing director of the Saudi fund since sending the Tuesday tweet.
Musk said that full details regarding the source of funding would be provided before anyone would be asked to decide on going private but that it was "premature" to share such information.
Musk said a deal to take Tesla private would be funded primarily by equity and not debt and that he expected two-thirds of shares owned by current investors to remain as part of a private Tesla.


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Michael Barrett on his work at Stockholm's Museum of Ethnography and the representation of Africa
Series 1 (spring 2015)
Series 2 (autumn 2015)
Michael Barrett
In this episode of AnthroTalking we went to Stockholm's Museum of Ethnography to talk to the museum's curator for Africa, Michael Barrett who has a PhD in Anthropology from Uppsala University. In this podcast he tells us about his PhD research in Zambia, how he came to work as curator for Africa at the Museum of Ethnography and explains how, as curator, he handles knowledge production around this huge continent.
We also discuss how the museum is situated within Sweden's network of National Museums of World Culture network, collaborations with international partners and current exhibitions Michael is working on: one project on the origins of symbolic culture in Africa, as well as a longer term assignment re-working how Africa is represented in the Museum of Ethnography's collections. Finally he raises an important question, asking how the museum and anthropologists could work together in the future.
Kinga Jankus and Kelsey Oldbury
museum, curator, anthropology, Africa, Michael Barrett
Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm
National Museums of World Culture in Sweden
Professor Thomas Larsson at Umeå University
Professor Chris Henshilwood at University of Witswatersrand
Jankus, Kinga and Oldbury, Kelsey "Michael Barrett on Stockholm's Museum of Ethnography and the Representation of Africa" AnthroTalking: Podcasts at Stockholm University's Department of Social Anthropology, online: March 25, 2015, http://www.socant.su.se/english/about-us/anthrotalking/michael-barrett-on-his-work-at-stockholm-s-museum-of-ethnography-and-the-representation-of-africa-1.229936
"Flutter" by Jahzzar
Page editor: Lina Lorentz
Source: Department of Social Anthropology
AnthroTalking is a podcast produced by a group of students currently enrolled in the department's master's programme. The podcasts feature interviews with anthropologists from Sweden and abroad. You will hear them reflect upon their work and their experiences in the field, and comment on a wide array of issues and debates. If you have suggestions for future episodes or feedback on any of the episodes, please email anthrotalking@gmail.com.
Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/anthrotalking and https://twitter.com/anthrotalking.


The iPhone is an extraordinary mobile device and the ringtones sound brilliantly on it especially when its speakers are not making additional disturbing sounds.
But Apple, with its unique style, wishes to make money out of everything so for using your favorite song as a ringtone you'll have to pay 0.99$ for every ringtone and you are only limited to the songs downloaded from iTunes Music Store, leading to a 2$ price per ringtone.
Now, with the launch of the new 1.1.2 firmware and iTunes 7.5 it becomes easy and affordable to create your own ringtones. First of all an audio files editor is required to modify the desired mp3 files because the iPhone doesn't accept ringtones longer than 40 seconds. After adjusting the wanted part you'll have to save the file as an mp3. If you wish, you can use fade in and fade out effects to make it sound better. Now just drag&drop the mp3 in iTunes and convert it in to AAC. With a right click, you'll have to select the "Show in Explorer" option. Change the file's extension from m4a to m4r and double click for opening it in iTunes. Connect the phone and make sure that the ringtone synchronization option is checked. Now all you have to do is selecting the new ringtone from the phone's settings.
For Mac users there's an interesting application called MakeiPhoneRingtone that is very user friendly and much more easy to use then the previous method.


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Roussennac é uma comuna francesa na região administrativa de Occitânia, no departamento de Aveyron. Estende-se por uma área de 17,27 km².

Comunas de Aveyron

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


With the views of historical Balboa Island, tasty cocktails, delightful food choices, exceptional service, and access to a projector, Newport Beach Yacht Club is the perfect place for any party, reception or dinner ... no matter how big or small.
There's always something going on worth celebrating!
Bring your party, reception or dinner to us and you won't have to worry about a thing. We can customize all lighting, sound, theme package and do everything for you, you simply need to invite the guests!
Our newly renovated Docksider Room is perfect for parties starting at 30 people. We offer everything from buffets to simple cocktail parties to even plated meals offering our guests the ability to customize according to their needs. We offer a full service bar as well as a beautiful balcony to allow the guests to mingle while enjoying a beautiful view.
If a smaller party is what you are in search of we have the perfect patio with a view to accommodate you and your guests. Call our Banquet Director Briana Warren at (949) 760-0221 or email her at banquets@newportbeachyachtclub.com to discuss party size and menu choices.
NBYC is the perfect place to host your next business meeting or luncheon by reserving our Boardroom which is perfect for up to 15 people. Have a private viewing party for events such as the Super Bowl or Grammy Awards.


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The history of 'White Elephant', the prototype banished by TVR
August 17, 2016 by jason
The TVR White Elephant, one of the last prototypes survivors of the mark.
The company sports a british TVR never characterized it or by being a brand more or by having a life placid. It is currently in the process of rebirth, with new ownership and new projects after a few years of inactivity, in what will be a cycle of life that is completely new and different for the firm, which until just a few years ago had been based in Blackpool, a town situated to the north of Great Britain.
Of the previous epoch, which ended up in bankruptcy with the Russian businessman Nikolai Smolenski to the front, since there are only the memories that make up the own story of the firm. History that, like many brands, also has its secrets and legends.
One of the last anecdotes of the signature began to emerge a few days before the arrival of Smolenski to TVR, to the middle of the last decade, and the stars in one of the models more striking and characteristic of the firm and that, oddly enough, don't know too many fans, the TVR popularly known as the TVR 'White Elephant' or White Elephant, a Tasmin prototype that was registered with the plates F120 SCK and that the closest call Nelly.
Your body of synthetic material is a single piece.
In the time before the last Cerbera or Tuscan, the signature of Blackpool offering a range based on exciting sports models of two-seater format of the coupé or roadster, as were the Tasmin, 350, and 420. sports Models typically british content weight that from the eighties had a characteristic sharp front, the heritage of the current design in a wedge of the seventies.
Precisely at the end of that decade, TVR wanted to freshen up the look of the model Tasmin, for which, at the request of the Peter Wheeler, then visible head of the brand, decided to make a prototype very special, something more than a simple recarrozado on the frame of an existing model. To do this, they took a tubular frame SEAC of competition at that rendezvous of a body of highly modified from a Tasmin 350, flattening the sharp front of another prototype, the 420 Sports Saloon, losing during the process the headlights retractable look stunning in those moments all the TVR.
But unlike the rest of the production of the brand, this model was not made in fiber glass conventional, for the prototype F120 SCK used for the first time the technique of compressing the glass fiber against foam, a system that will be employed later, all models of the brand, and was premiered with success in this prototype only.
The maximum speed of this one off was encrypted at nearly 300 km/h.
For the engine, instead of employing the usual mechanical british from Ford or Rover and which had traditionally used the brand, was used for the first and only time a propeller Holden is australian, a V8 5.0-liter loaned for evaluation by the division of sport Holden Special Vehicles, accompanied one transmission, the Borg-Warner T5 5-relationships. This block, which was provided by the Tom Walkinshaw, was a motor racing pilot, which were manufactured just a dozen and that had as their sole purpose to serve as a testbed for the engines that used the australian brand in competition, so it is likely that the V8 engine installed in the prototype white TVR is one of the last existing of that series.
The V8 australian generated more than 400 horsepower, which at that time was an immense potential for the tiny prototype out of fiberglass, which although never stated the total weight, we can deduce that its mass should be between 1,000 and 1,200 kilos, if we take into account that the first TVRS of the era that used the V8 Rover weighed in dry only 1.050 kg. The figure of maximum speed makes clear the true potential of the prototype, 185 miles per hour, which correspond to 297.7 km/h, although it is not known that the mark came to check it out some time.
The result, as might be expected given the ingredients, it was a one off spectacular, especially for the body work, which had steps of wheel widened with respect to the Tasmin standard. All the details and specifications were dictated by Peter Wheeler, who used the prototype as a personal vehicle for two years.
In the rear we find a hole, destined to the basket for the dog of Peter Wheeler.
therefore, commissioned the white sport with a series of very particular elements. On the one hand, in the trunk of the two-seater we can find a hole hidden to save the hunting gun that Wheeler used to wear when he went out hunting, and as usually he was accompanied by his dog to hunt, he also requested a gap-specific to accommodate your dog after the seats.
As a substitute for the Tasmin, the White Elephant did not come to set, their aesthetics are not considered sufficiently novel with respect to the sport it was meant to replace, in addition, various problems became the engine australian infeasible, that he did go to the mark by the most economical V8 engine of Rover, that the mark had already been employing since a few years ago.
however, as a project, White Elephant was the unit tests perfect for the new system moulded body, process that is extended to the following models.
Image of the prototype abandoned at the factory.
After being the personal vehicle of Peter Wheeler for two years, the prototype was sent as a piece of display to the main dealer for TVR, which was only used sporadically. Years later, he was sent back to the factory, where ended up being the vehicle used by employees to run errands, such as going to lunch. With time, the prototype ended up in the back of the small factory, falling into oblivion for the fans of the brand.
Years later, a fan of the brand that he had the opportunity to visit the factory in Blackpool managed to sneak into the backyard, discovering the prototype abandoned, so I tried to buy it by all means, without success, the company was not interested in getting rid of the, despite the fact that its state of neglect was evident. The front hood and the almost horizontal moon back had disappeared, leaving it completely exposed to the elements, both its exterior and interior. At the same time that was discovered, not only was inundated by the within, in addition to the plants already growing in your passenger compartment, according to the testimony of the client.
In those early years of the proliferation of the internet, some researchers and explorers urban were surprised to discover the prototype is rotting away in the backyard of the factory, which caused a few more attempts to get the white prototype, without any success, TVR was not ready to sell White Elephant at any price.
Abandoned in a corner of the back yard of the factory for years.
however, come the summer of 2004 and a few days that Nikolai Smolenski is to do with TVR, that first client that had crept into the storage room of the factory, named Howard Bryan, decided to make a last attempt. After contacting Peter Wheeler directly, managed to convince him to be done with the remains of the abandoned prototype, becoming the savior of the White Elephant.
The state of the TVR was regrettable years to the outdoors with the interior and the engine bay to the air had made a dent in, so return it to its original state was not going to be easy or cheap. In that moment began a long process of reconstruction, more than that of restoration, which would take nothing less than 9 years and about 70,000 pounds, little more than 80.600 eur included in the price of purchase of the remains.
In 2013 concludes the long process that engaged various specialists british, and which included improvements in the section on cooling, a constant problem of the prototype the years it was in use, restoring all the splendour that it enjoyed in its day as a White Elephant. Since then, the white prototype has been seen in some events in the Uk, where it has been earned the recognition that the own brand has refused to give her to banish him to a corner of your backyard.
Currently, the prototype shows a state impeccable.
His story and the intense process of restoration has been reflected not only in several specialized media british, also has its own website, where he tells his story and the many steps that you llevó its complex restoration process.
today, this prototype, one of the few prototypes of the brand that still exist, not only is the living part of the history of the brand, in addition occupies one of the most eye-catching of the same.
Koenigsegg Agera XS, a Agera RS special for the united States
Mikko Hirvonen debuts his record on race in Hungary