December 11, 2005
Disaster Preparedness
Place: Falmouth, MA (in the arm pit of Cape Cod)
Subject: Disaster Preparedeness
Verdict: We ain't got no stinkin' preparedness
If the December Niner storm was any predictor, we have some real planning to do if we ever expect to be prepared for any sort of evacuation or disaster reponse on Cape Cod. I can only speak for our experience in Falmouth, and the experience was horrible: detours everywhere, exploding transformers, trees dangling out into streets supported by live electrical wires for two days, power outages, untreated roadways, etc. If there were ever a real disaster, we would all be gridlocked on sidestreets trying to get to impassible main roads.
This is how our street remained two days later.
Did anyone venture down to the lower Cape? It looked like tornadoes touched down. I saw similar damage after hurricane Bob. Friday's storm was the first thunder-snow storm I have ever experienced, anyone else? What a crazy storm. First, the wind was blasting from the south. Then, we were in dazzling, clear, daylight. The winds shifted, and started picking back up from the north. It got darker, and then this wall of snow was blowing toward us. Everything facing north was covered with wind driven snow, and the gusts were up to 70-80 mph. Power outages hit most of the Cape. Wild, wild stuff...
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 07, 2005
Driver Courtesy on Cape Cod's Roadways
A couple of recent editorial page letters to the Cape Cod Times have me a tad riled. In question, is whether or not “driver courtesy” does more harm on our local roadways than good. Granted, there are instances where waving a person out into traffic is inadvisable (when blind to oncoming traffic, or in multi-lane roadways). However, a little courtesy would not kill you people.
The anti-courtesy letter writer complained of nearly plowing into the rear of people stopping to let others out of side streets and parking lots. If you are nearly rear ending people you are either: (a.) following too closely, (b.) driving too fast for surrounding conditions, (c.) not paying attention to the conditions ahead of you, or (d.) all of the above. Put down your cell phone and pay attention.
A year and a half ago, I took a trip to Oregon. When I returned, I spoke of my amazement at the west coast drivers' courtesy toward pedestrians, cyclists and fellow drivers. In Oregon, as a pedestrian, you always have the right of way. Here on Cape Cod, the pedestrian only has the right of way if there is law enforcement present. I have had difficulty walking (or running) across Route 6A on numerous occasions. This is a forty-five mile an hour roadway at its safest, yet people speed up to fifty when they see that you may attempt to cross their paths. Cape Cod drivers are just plain self-centered and rude.
Speed limits are just as much for traffic flow as they are for safety. Here on the Cape, we habitually speed along in places that we have deemed safe straightaways. We fail to aknowledge that we are the first to complain when trying to pull out onto that same roadway from a parking lot or side street and the traffic is flying at us too quickly to safely enter. In the summer, in-town traffic is regularly moving along at stop and go pace, yet nobody wants to let anyone out. Drivers act as though that one car length will be the difference in their days. It is painfully obvious that nobody wants to give an inch. Patient and kind drivers are definitely in the minority here. What we need is a lot more courtesy and a little more enforcement of our safety laws. Unfortunately, it will take more than a few small voices to make this happen.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 03:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 01, 2005
Favorite Place Hosts Major Northeast Polluter
[mood| 
concerned]
My favorite place for leisure and exercise activity in recent years has been the Cape Cod Canal. Imagine my dismay at discovering this very place plays host to one of our region's top three polluters. The Mirant Corporation's Cape Cod canal power station pumps out 1,680 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide per MegaWatt Hour (or per hour in laymen's terms). It is the third worst polluter in the entire northeast (that is Maryland to Maine)- right here on pristine Cape Cod. It is no wonder many of the children of Cape Cod suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. This kind of pollution is like living with a smoker 24 hrs a day, and we catch much more here than just what the canal plant pumps into our air. It is time to find someplace else to enjoy my leisure time (like indoors?). A good argument for clean energy producers? You bet!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2005
Cape Cod's Traffic Scofflaws
[mood| 
"chillin'"]
While sitting in the normal evening traffic on the way home last night, some car load of morons (driver wearing oversized baseball cap cocked at an odd angle) decided to swing into the breakdown lane and start flying past everyone on the right. Well, this got me thinking. Most likely everyone else sitting there in traffic was thinking too. It was like a group rant that went on. It probably would have been nice if we could have all pulled over and discussed our feelings about how much this idiot had messed with our commute psyches.
Anyway, I was thinking how perfect it would be if a driver could snap a picture of a jack ass stunt like that and have them ticketed for it. So, I investigated. It just so happens that Shanghai is ahead of us in this department, only they reward the photographer ($2.40 per infraction). Now, here is some incentive for keeping a camera and doing some traffic time. In Shanghai, they have recognized how difficult it is for traffic police to witness the irresponsible and illegal activities of drivers. The public safety is at risk here, and they have very thoughtfully come up with a solution that puts these scofflaws in jeopardy of being ticketed at all times. It is a great benefit to the safety of the driving public and a money making proposition for the entire community. What a concept!
Granted, there would have to be restrictions to camera use in slow or stopped traffic and limits on the rewards to two or three hundred dollars per person, per month. However, I think this might clean up some of these driver's acts - at least the ones who are driving legally to begin with. All in favor...
In a cycling/traffic related story this morning, we have evidence of the value of wearing a helmet and the dangers of our local roadways. Unfortunately, this story illustrates just how little the law can do to protect us from people who have no regard for it.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2005
Barnstable County Fair Demolition Derby
[mood| 
serious]
Fog added to the visual effects of cars slamming into eachother at the fair last night... there was more than a fair in the air. The Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby has become an annual summer event here on Cape Cod, and the crowds speak to its popularity. Perhaps it is just the release many of us need from our daily grind here. Aside from people standing in the bleachers and impeding the views of those behind them (nothing a few loud shouts didn't remedy in our seats), the evening was the typical, metal-munching event we have come to expect. For a few images of the event, CLICK HERE.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2005
The Local Hangout
[mood |
shocked]
The Boardwalk in Sandwich was always the place to hang out when I was a kid. We always went there to cool off on hot summer days by jumping off the bridge. Swimming, floating and jumping its many creeks could entertain us for days on end. As we grew older, the boardwalk remained a safe place to hang out, to take your girlfriend, or meet for a cold beer (not legally of course). Fortunately, aside from the occasional mud fight and the illegal drinking, the Boardwalk was a safe and serene place to visit.
I can't say I was surprised when people in the barber shop started talking about young kids flashing guns at the Boardwalk the other day. Kids seem to have taken the mentality of the Grand Theft Auto games and other violent entertainment and adopted it as part of their active lives. It is sad, however, that a place like Sandwich and the Boardwalk has to fall victim to this spreading epidemic of teenage crime and ignorance. The Town Beach at the opposite side of the Boardwalk was where I asked my love to marry me last week. It would be a shame if it gets to the point where we no longer have these safe places to venture.
Just so no one makes the mistake, I am complaining about the kids and their behavior – not about the guns. Guns are not to blame, the people who use them are. Just as earlier generations probably complained about my loud music and partying, I am complaining about the ignorance of much of this younger crowd. I am bemoaning their acceptance of violence as a way of life and their lack of any sort of ethics (in their work or lives). Television and video games are destroying our nation's youth, and we are not doing enough about it. It is all about fundamental family values and this starts at home. Unfortunately, that is not the answer in most of these cases... that is the problem. Most of these kids don't know “home” or values as we were taught growing up. Unfortunately, there are no simple answers. They are slipping away, and we will all be paying the price later.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 24, 2005
Massachusetts Fails Children
[mood| 
confused]
Yesterdays Cape Cod Times had a letter to the editor that was quite disturbing. Martha Chaprut wrote of an experience with the court sytem that should have us all demanding new laws on the books. She told of being there for a friend's daughter who had been molested and witnessing the hurdles placed in front of the prosecution in these cases. In Massachusetts the victim is at a disadvantage. Yes, we have innocent until proven guilty – I understand and value this concept. However, previous convictions should be admissable in a molestation case. We look at previous convictions in drunk driving cases, why not in child molestation cases?!?! Why can't the prosecution call witnesses? That seems completely unbelievable and I am wondering if there is more to this. Am I missing something? How can the prosecution make a case if they can't call witnesses? Ms. Chaprut tells of the trial's outcome:
...the finding was not guilty - not unexpected, considering the obstacles. Please tell me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this brave little girl violated twice - once by her attacker and once by the legal system? And we instruct our children, if they're touched inappropriately, to tell someone. Why?
The lead story in today's CCTimes was a child pornography case. We hear more and more of high level sexual offenders living among us and skirting the laws. It is time we get tough on these people and make previous offenses admissable in court and their crimes a scarlet letter on their existence. Once one of these predators commits a crime once, they will repeat. There is no argument that could convince me the laws on the books are working. We have too many examples of the system's failure. It is time for an overhaul.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack