UPDATED: Bad month

Last year, 21 cyclists died in New York City.

This June, there's been three deaths, plus several terrible accidents. All of the accidents are the result of extremely difficult cycling conditions. Further, some are placing the blame of two of the deaths on city and city employee negligence.

Yesterday morning, Transportation Alternatives had a rally and press conference on the steps of City Hall to discuss the tragedies and call on Mayor Bloomberg to update and complete the city's Master Bicycle Plan.


On the steps of City Hall.


Houston Street, where 23 year-old Derek Lake was killed, is nicknamed "Boulevard of Death" by bikers.


The view from the steps.


Paul White, of Transportation Alternatives, addresses the crowd and media.

Other photos available here.

A Memorial Ride for the three fallen cyclists was hosted last night by Times Up!.


We met at the Intrepid on a rainy evening to honor the fallen cyclists.


The crowd for the Memorial Ride.

Visual Resistance installs a ghost bike at the scene of each accident to remember those who have fallen and create visibility among drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.


Stopping at the site of Dr. Nacht's accident. He was struck while riding on the West Side Greenway by a crossing NYPD tow truck who didn't have the right of way and neglected to yield to Dr. Nacht.


Remembering Derek Lake. His accident occurred at LaGuardia Place and Houston. Many place blame on the DOT, because Lake lost control of his bike after riding over a metal construction plate on the street that was not legal. He then fell into the path of a large truck.


The ghost bike.

***
Elsewhere:
Michael, from Bike Blog, has a great set of photos on Flickr.

Bravo

Slate weighs in on the destruction of Brooklyn with an open letter to Frank Gehry.

0 for 2 on Flag Day

Flag Day's a big day for me.

Unfortunately, Flag Day 2006 finds me at work (boo) and very ill ( double boo).

(Also, I may be a little loopy, as I just gave my second high-five of the day. Before 10:30.)

Limited

The Ramada Limited. It's like a regular Ramada, only limited.
--Andrew

Rural Georgia's an interesting place. Especially when you visit a wealthy resort located just past the poverty.

At Barnsley Gardens, the high-end resort where the wedding was held, nearly every sentence directed toward me ended with a "sir"—often by men twice my age. A good example would be something like, "May I bring you another pina colada, sir?"

Yes you may.

Surprisingly, the motel I stayed at didn't offer the same amenities. While it did have a LARGE POOL—or, at least a sign that read LARGE POOL—the swimming area lacked bikinied-women and a menu full of cleverly titled cocktails. Come to think of it, I also didn't notice the steam room, hot tubs, spa and salon, shooting gallery, European-themed beer garden, private canoe pond, croquet lawn, mountain bike trails or tennis courts. But I'm sure they were all there.

Next up in the never-ending slew of weddings for mid-20s urbanites is the Andrew and Erica affair. For them, I head to Maine, one week from Saturday.