Looking at my holiday wish lists from previous years (2005, 2006, and 2007), I’m discovering that many of the gifts I didn’t receive, I no longer want — at least not very badly. I’ve never actually needed a salad bowl set and have become increasingly intimidated by the idea of composting on my balcony. And I’m glad I never received gardening books or other gardening-related stuff, because I’ve discovered I’m a pretty horrible gardener.
That said, the gifts I did receive, I love and use. I’m not sure what the lesson is here, exactly…. except that this year, I’m only asking for stuff I really need (I think) for blogging purposes. This decision’s made for a decidedly less-girly list than previous years:
1. Travel to eco-events. [Received!] I’ve been riding around sans a rear bike light for a year now. Cali vehicle code only requires a reflector on the back, but I’d like to be safer on the road with this light — unless you can suggest a better one.
2. Photos. Yes, many of the pics on this blog suck, because Pixelle, my camera, hasn’t lived up to my expectations. Get me a Canon PowerShot and I’ll promise you better images in the years to come —
3. Data backup. After reading The Dog Ate My Hard Drive at Slate, I’ve decided it really is about time I backed things up better — though I’d like to think my current combo of Flickr, Google Docs, an iPod and a flash drive would have me back up — albeit after some trouble — if my computer crashed. This Simpletech external hard drive would make things easier in case of total system failure —
4. Better bio page. [Received! Here's my review.] Thanks to the Starbucks Challenge, I’m mentioned in this book, Strategies for the Green Economy: Opportunities and Challenges in the New World of Business, by Joel Makower. Naturally, I want to read it. Get it for me.
Know of greener options for the camera, hard drive, or bike light (maybe a pedal-powered variation)? Let me know in the comments. The book, you’ll be happy to know, is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
And I do have a longer wish list, if you’re curious about non-bloggy stuff I want –
Images via rei.com, amazon.com, and makower.com
Just got that exact blue camera – it’s quite good.
Comment by David — December 13, 2008 @ 6:59 am
No rear light?! I feel naked riding if I don’t have at least 2 rear lights (I typically have 3) and 1 or two headlights.
The law also requires a tail light and headlight after sun down in addition to reflectors, although if you have lights cops typically ignore the reflector requirement. The most common ticket given to cyclists during the SaMo police efforts to break up critical mass were tickets for lack of either rear or front bike lighting.
Legal issues aside, night visibility of cyclists by motorists is pretty poor, so lights are very important. I think we would all prefer a living green LA girl.
As to the econess of bike lights, the most effective way to go is battery powered LED’s with rechargeable batteries. Red LED’s especially last a very long time per charge. The pedal powered lighting systems are generally not as a bright, heavier, and they make your bike slightly slower by harnessing some of your kinetic energy away from going forward to generate the electricity.
The light you linked to is very popular and I have one in my assortment of rear lighting options. The new blackburn Mars 4.0 light that just came out is a similar style of rear light competing with the planet bike light, and I have it as well. I think the blackburn may be slightly brighter with the big beam flash but lacks the smaller red in between flashes, however has yellow side lighting for alerting cross traffic. Both are very good rear lighting options.
I’d also like to give a shout out to my friend Ashira (aka Red Riding Hood) who makes night time reflective patches and bright clothing that are more punk rock and less I am a safety nerd. She just set up a shop on Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=101224
If you want a planet bike light I’d be down to give you one, and you don’t have to wait till Christmas, because if you are doing any night riding I’d rather you be safe sooner then later.
Comment by Gary Kavanagh — December 15, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Dibs on the bike light and book, hee!
Comment by yoel — December 15, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Gary — Thanks for the light offer! I may take you up on that but let me see if I get it as a gift first :)
But back to the legal issues — A rear light is NOT required by the Cali vehicle code. A reflector’s required, but not a light. So if people have indeed been cited at critical mass for not having a rear light, that’s an incorrect citation — unless the city of Santa Monica’s enacted its own stricter rules –
Of course, I think we can all agree that having the rear light’s a good idea, regardless of what the law requires –
Comment by Siel — December 15, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Santa Monica does have some of it’s own laws, although I was having some trouble looking them up. I’m sure Alex T. could provide more background on the tickets that were being given out.
In any case, a rear light is important for safe night riding regardless of any legal incentive. Back when I drove and biked, it was pretty eye opening to me how almost invisible a cyclist without lights is to a driver at night, especially in areas with poor street lighting.
I had an old man cuss at me recently because he had to brake hard saying he at first didn’t see me, and I had 3 really bright bike lights on, a rear reflector and 2 large reflective patches on my large and yellow messenger bag. If I had no lights on he probably would have noticed me even later or not at all and I would have been struck from behind.
Comment by Gary Kavanagh — December 15, 2008 @ 4:39 pm