CoViD-19: Science Behind New Mask Guidance For The Vaccinated | SDPD On Video Using Excessive Force | Local Reports: Gun Violence, Ped & Bike Deaths | Casbah: Durand Jones & The Indications, Sylvan Esso Tickets Go On Sale Friday |

  

I know I shouldn't still be up at 5am, but I really wanted to finish reading everything in my inbox and make sense of the CDC stuff that came out on Thursday before every media outlet continues to repeat that we don't ever need masks if we're fully vaccinated ever again. I'll move that whole diatribe after the jump. There was also a lot of interesting local news, including the success rate of the Convention Center reuniting unaccompanied minors with family or sponsors, a study on gun violence in our region, reporting on Vision Zero and pedestrian and bike deaths, and that horrific video of SDPD beating an unhoused man for the very serious crime of allegedly urinating in public in a city with so few bathrooms that you can probably count all of them on your fingers and toes in a county of 3.3 million people. And then the end of the post I included some Casbah news since I will eventually venture out of my cocoon for concerts again. If you click the flyers you'll get to the ticket links. 

I shall now attempt to sleep. So far Nova has no side effects from Pfizer besides a sore arm and being extremely tired after our four mile hike, so fingers crossed she's back at school today unscathed. I'll still do a Friday post after all the briefings and stuff but I thought I'd do this interim post because today is going to be a big news day. Be safe out there. 

CoViD-19: Vaccinated! | Normal Heights Drug & Weapons Bust | Pedestrian Fatalities Increased 22% During Pandemic | California Quietly Updated Guidance For Live Events & Theme Parks |

Koala Mama and Joey (Taken 3.19.21)

This week I kept seeing articles about vaccine jealousy or friends shaming friends about perceived line-jumping. While I understand having had this feeling back in December or January (like when weed shop employees were considered health care workers...like, really?) but vaccine supply has tripled since then and continues to grow. I've helped several people find vaccines appointments and there are now multiple ways to find them. Eligibility expands to adults 50+ next week and all people 16+ on April 15. Eventually we're going to get to a place where we're begging people, trying to convince them to get vaccines. I'm hoping when the Casbah reopens we can require vaccination cards with ID checks. If you're still trying to get an appointment, reach out and I can try to help. I am including the County's vaccine numbers so you can see when they tend to arrive and how the doses administered rate continues to grow. 

I got my second shot of Pfizer today and so far, so good, though everyone is warning me the chills will come about 8 hours after the shot. I got mine at the CVS off of 43rd St. The best thing was finally trying Sayulita's whose large order of carne asada fries could feed five people and their burritos are the size of an adult's forearm. We definitely overordered. And we'd definitely go out of our way to go back, especially because our favorite tamales can be found just down the street from there.  

I didn't do much reading today so I don't have many links to share, but I forgot to mention this crazy drug and weapons bust that happened a couple nights ago just a couple blocks up from my house. And I did include a link to StreetsBlog's article about the doubling of pedestrian deaths during the pandemic, but you probably could have already concluded that based on how piss-poor everyone seems to be driving these days. Also, California updatd guidances for live events & performances, and for amusement parks and theme parks.  Stay safe out there. 

Friday, November 1: Free Bike Lights at San Diego Central Library

*Light Me Up Safety Lights in photo do not represent what will be provided at this event

November 1: San Diego Cyclists Get Road-Ready with Free Bike Lights at Central Library

Bike light installation prepares bike riders for the end of Daylight Saving Time
Bike Coalition to make night time riding safer for commuters

WHAT:
As the majority of the country transitions from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, the San Diego County Bike Coalition and the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) are partnering to invite all bike commuters to receive free front bike lights. All riders on bikes can head to the San Diego Central Library where Bike Coalition staff and police officers will encourage safe, nighttime commuting with free bike light installation, helpful tips and important safety information about riding in the dark.

WHY:
With nightfall arriving almost 60 minutes earlier after Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3, the Bike Coalition wants to ensure all people in San Diego have access to what they need to be visible on busy streets and get home safely. People who commute on bikes and pedal home in the dark during the Standard Time months will be safer on our shared roads. California state law requires cyclists to use front and rear lights when commuting at night.

WHO:
San Diego Bike Coalition
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Central Library

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Location: San Diego Central Library (330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101)
Date and Time: Friday, November 1 from 5 to 6 p.m.

Source: GoMixte

Sunday October 27: CiclosDias Takes Over Streets of Normal Heights, North Park, and City Heights

I super love CiclosDias events, which is why I'm so disappointed in myself for not getting this up sooner, but Sunday, October 27th is CiclosDias!!

(source: GoMixte)
October 27: Mid City to Become Car-Free Playground for CicloSDias
San Diego Bike Coalition invites the public to support local shops at open streets celebration

WHAT
On October 27, streets like Adams Avenue in Normal Heights and El Cajon Blvd. in City Heights will close completely to cars, creating a cyclist’s paradise and encouraging residents and tourists to bike, walk, skate or stroll through neighborhood streets. CicloSDias brings people of all ages together in new areas of San Diego each time to support local businesses and enjoy time outdoors.

Live entertainment, activities for kids and food vendors will line the streets instead of the usual motorized vehicle traffic. The event encompasses close to four miles of car-free exploration: click here for the map.

WHY
Drawing inspiration from Los Angeles’s CicLAvia and Bogotá’s weekly Ciclovía, CicloSDias brings the public out to open streets to enjoy connecting with communities and local businesses while catching a glimpse of what streets would be like without car traffic. CicloSDias participants will get to rediscover their neighborhood in a more intimate and unique way.

VISUALS/ACTIVITIES
Hundreds of community members walking, biking, skating through Adams Avenue and other Mid City streets
Live music from five bands spread along Adams Avenue
Bike maintenance workshops with Bikes del Pueblo
Shopping at local shops and food vendors
Fair at 44 party with live music and Zumba class led by the YMCA
A SAN DIEGO TRADITION
CicloSDias first rolled through San Diego in 2013 in North Park. Since then, the Bike Coalition has engaged community partners, city officials, local businesses and neighbors to host six additional open-streets celebrations in beach and inland communities across San Diego County.

WHO
This year, CicloSDias is a partnership between the Bike Coalition and:
The City of San Diego
County of San Diego
The California Office of Traffic Safety
San Diego Police Department
Adams Avenue Business Association
City Heights Community Development Corporation
Fair at 44
Metropolitan Transit System
YMCA
Blind Lady Ale House

Dockless Bike Share and Scooter Share Tips

I have an unpublished blog post that I've been stewing on for a couple months now, titled "Bikes & Scooters Aren't Assholes, People Are" where I've been aggregating a few dozen articles, links, rants, and screenshots of people bitching and complaining about Bike Share and Scooter Share. But the reality is that my opinions are vastly unpopular and I didn't want to thrust myself into that sort of shitstorm, where everyone yells at me IN ALL CAPS online and tells me to die and gets all mansplainy on me (for an example, look at my responses to my tweet about Bird scooters @sddialedin). So I thought I would just share this for now, and maybe when everyone's panties aren't all in a bunch and we can talk civilly about sharing the road with all users, even the asshole ones, then I'll get back to that other post. 

Since Comic-Con is here and everyone is using these things (today I used an OFO to get from one event to another), and since I met a Safety Ambassador from Bird who told me a ticket for riding on the sidewalk is $400 and $1000 for riding tandem, I wanted to at least finally share these informational digital leaflets that were distributed by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. 

Normally I love feedback, but in this case, I really do not give one shit about what you think about this issue, so save your comments for your own social media. 

Saturday: Tour De Fat Returns To San Diego

I don't really like just posting press releases verbatim, however I'm running out of time before I head out to DCFC and with my birthday on Monday, I just don't want to spend anymore time online today than I have to. So that being said, I love Tour de Fat and not donating my Mazda back when I had the chance is probably my biggest regret of the last few years. Between this and Adams Avenue Street Fair, San Diego Blues Festival, and Oktoberfest Celebrations kicking off, you should have no shortage of fun stuff to do this weekend.

New Belgium Brewing’s traveling carnival, Tour de Fat, returns to San Diego this Saturday, September 26. The festivities kick off in Golden Hill Park and New Belgium is looking for a car-for-bike swapper – someone willing to swap his or her car keys for a $2,250 stipend to buy a dream bike and live car-free for a year.

Swappers are chosen after submitting an application describing why they are ready to give up their vehicle for the gift of two wheels. Submit your video at: NewBelgium.com/Events/Tour-de-Fat/CarTrader.

The San Diego stop is the ninth of the 2015 Tour de Fat season and will feature eclectic entertainment, yo-yo performances and even vaudeville acts. Everyone 21 and older is invited to sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, New Belgium’s latest year-round offering, Slow Ride Session IPA, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series.

Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds from the San Diego stop will go to:

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
San Diego Mountain Biking Association

Last year, the San Diego Tour de Fat stop had approximately 7,000 attendees and raised $45,701. In total, Tour de Fat has raised more than $4 million for cycling-related nonprofits.

Tour de Fat – San Diego Details
American Sign Language interpreting will be provided at this year’s San Diego Tour de Fat!

Date:
Saturday, September 26

Location:
Golden Hill Park

Main Stage:
10:00 a.m. — Parade Registration
11:00 a.m. — Parade Kick-Off
11:50 a.m. — Fashion! (Best Costumes of Tour de Fat)
12:00 p.m. — Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
1:10 p.m. — The Slow Mo Show
1:30 p.m. — The Slow Ride Races
2:10 p.m. — 1,000 Person Dance Contest – Winner receives a New Belgium Cruiser!
2:40 p.m. — Car for Bike Trade
2:50 p.m. — SSSSnake! Rides Sputnik!
4:00 p.m. — Reggie Watts
5:00 p.m. — Finale

Stage Stage:
12:00 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
Superfriends Variety Hour: Death Defying Comedy, Chain Saws, Yo-Yos and Bananas

Le Tigre Circus Tent:
11:15 a.m. — Marnie Sams Muffin Show (Kids Show)
11:50 a.m. — The Other One
12:20 p.m. — Fire Leopard
1:10 p.m. — The Kroup
2:00 p.m. — Yo-Yo Time Machine
2:30 p.m. — Honeymoon Cabaret
3:30 p.m. — The Other One
4:20 p.m. — Etiquette School

Lips Lounge Tapping:
12:00 p.m. — Eric’s Ale, Hop Stout, Cocoa Mole
2:00 p.m. — Carnie’s Blood

Benefiting:
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
San Diego Mountain Biking Association

Price:
Admission – FREE!
Donations for non-profits are accepted
Beer – $5

CicloSDias: Hillcrest & Banker's Hill Open Streets on Sunday

CicloSDias is back! For the third time, San Diego is closing 2 miles of streets to vehicular traffic so people can walk, bike, roll, scoot, and skate freely on our city streets. The first two events were incredible, with thousands of pedestrians and bikes taking to the streets for the first CicloSDias that ran from Downtown through South Park, North Park, and ending in City Heights and the second one which closed major corridors in Pacific Beach. This time around, the streets run in Bankers Hill and Hillcrest, which also means easier bike access to Balboa Park. The open streets event is free and open to all ages and abilities and runs from 10am-3pm. For more information, check out the website here.

This Weekend! San Diego Bicycle Film Festival

This weekend, the Bicycle Film Festival rolls through town. This is all the info from their Facebook event page. Spread the word!

Bicycle Film Festival San Diego
February Friday 28-March 1
Presented by KIND Healthy Snacks

FRIDAY
5:00pm AutomaticBrewingCo BFF CPA release: Tiger!Tiger!
6:00pm Photo Exhibit
Breakless: Photos by Matt Lingo: Coffee & Tea Collective
People on Bikes by Gym Standard
7:00pm Ride with Leader Bikes
8:00pm After Party: Live Wire

SATURDAY
12:00pm-3:00pm Party at Tiger!Tiger! Enjoy Automatic BFF CPA!

BFF SCREENINGS at Museum of Photographic Art
PROGRAM 1: THE WAY I ROLL 4:00PM
PROGRAM 2: CINEMATIC SHORTS 6:00PM
PROGRAM 3: URBAN BIKE SHORTS 8:00PM
Bike valet by San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
Free Fairdale bike raffle

After Party: Bar Pink w/DJ Mike Delgado (Moving Units)

Thanks to everyone above, as well as our other partners:
Urbanist, ABUS, Dudek Law Firm APC, Adams Avenue Bicycles, theawarewolfs.com, Blind Stokers Club