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#11
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
On Jul 3, 11:27 pm, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:22:37 +0100, Phil W Lee wrote: snip Cycles are vehicle traffic. So it written, so it must be. However, when jousting with my 35 lb bicycle against a driver in his 4,000 lb vehicle, I often find it difficult to insist on my legal rights. I ride through a small farming town. Main road is interestingly similar to Mission St above: Three lanes, the middle a left turn lane. No bike lanes (hardly any anywhere in this town). People are mostly nice, though, and generally partly into the middle lane to leave space as they pass me. I ride as far right as practicable, which is a foot or two from the curb, make no sudden position changes, long gradual drift a little left for the storm drains. Yesterday I'm cruising into town and this pickup truck passes me - not giving much room, but giving extra "vroom" (accelerating past). The pickup is modified into a box van - painted Viet era camo green. So he's stopped at the light halfway through town, and I come up behind at the right - but not past - as the light goes green. "Vroom" away he goes toward the other end of town. So next he's queued up at a four-way stop near the other end of town. I hop onto the sidewalk, past the queue, veer into empty parking lot at the corner, check the street, cross the street into another parking lot, back onto the sidewalk, then roll back onto the right edge of the road. Camo truck pulls up alongside and hangs there. I hear him yelling something about pick the sidewalk or the road and stay there idiot obey the law. I don't think I violated any laws (not that I'm above violating some laws if the right opportunity presents ;-), nor have I impeded, endangered, or hurt anyone in any way - just having a blast. But this guy is steaming (I guess maybe 'cause the inferior bicyclist beat him across and out of town) - I've offended his sensibility. So I finally look over and he's holding up traffic and foaming at the mouth. So I raise a finger and keep riding. "Vroom" ahead... (I know what's coming next... ) brake lights and right hook pinching off to the curb. I throw my bike hard left - swear the lean angle put my front wheel *under* his rear bumper as I *just* cleared him on the left. raamman is absolutely right - avoiding confrontation is the best policy. Road rage is very upsetting and risky biusiness. Yes, I could keep their hostility to a low simmer by righteously submitting to the ways of a "legitimate road vehicle", instead of blowing their minds (and the lids off their resentment pots) with outlandish - but functionally harmless - hijinks. I won't "grow up" WRT to Ride Bike! (suppress / repress the inner child), but I should have suppressed / sublimated the cynical adult and given camo truck guy a smile and friendly wave instead of the finger (he still might have tried to kill me, though). They need to learn that cyclists are part of the traffic, and if the cars and trucks don't like that, tough, go to a racetrack. I suspect that the local planners are into expediency. Give the bicyclists an alternative route, and they will come. Unfortunately, there are a few recalcitrants that prefer to live dangerously. You can lead a bicyclist to water, but you have to practically drown them before they'll learn to drink nicely. Alternate routes abound. Motor vehicles are far more capable of accepting a diversion, so should always be the ones expected to avoid the congestion that they themselves cause. Huh? I see bicyclist all over the road ways, including riding on sidewalks and splitting lanes. Bicycles are far more maneuverable than motor vehicles, and far less restricted in where a bicycle can ride. *So* far less restricted that it's not even just another league; it's a whole different ball game. snip |
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#12
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
Per Jeff Liebermann:
Probably true. However motorists abhor a vacuum, or in this case, an lane with empty space. Given the opportunity, the typical motorist will risk life and insurance to fill the lane vacuum in order to arrive a few milliseconds earlier. For over 10 years, I drove something in Philadelphia called The Roosevelt Boulevard - about 10-15 miles to/from work. They had the light timing down really well to where you could drive from one end to the other in either direction at 28 mph and never hit a red light. Seemed to me that, at rush hour, a very high percentage of the people driving that road must have been regular - if not daily - users. Yet day-after-day we'd see people doing crazy stuff (driving way fast, slaloming from land-to-lane) just to slam on their brakes at the next red light. I mean, like *anybody* could see they were racing into a red light.... I think Jeff has it right: "... motorists abhor a vacuum..." -- Pete Cresswell |
#13
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
Per Dan O:
So I finally look over and he's holding up traffic and foaming at the mouth. After serving as treasurer of a 1,200-member civic association for seven years, I came away with the belief that, out of every thousand people, at least 2 of them are stone crazy at any given time - and it's not always the same two. -- Pete Cresswell |
#14
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
On Wed, 4 Jul 2012 06:40:20 -0700 (PDT), "TibetanMonkey, the Beach
Cruiser Philosopher" wrote: The Wise Man chooses the middle way. One must pick sides, for if you position yourself in the middle of the road, you will likely be run over by next passing machine. It's not like we want perfect world with no cars. To gain what you want, you must first ask for too much, and then settle for what you originally wanted. We could share the road nicely if our masters decided so. You are your own master, and your own worst enemy. They seem mutually compatible. The current fashion is not to share, but rather to occupy. Sharing the road is a matter of perspective. From one view, it is the physical manifestation of all things good about bicycling. From another, you are a slowly moving obstruction. Size matters. It's all big business, you know, and that stands on the path of progress. Big business is a successful small business that has eliminated wasteful competition. Big business does not follow the path progress. It follows the path of profit. It is difficult to go forward, while looking only in a rear view mirror. http://www.bicyclephilosophy.com -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:22:37 +0100, Phil W wrote: So why waste money on [bike lanes]? I have no idea. It seems to be an institution running on inertia. I suppose a study into the effectiveness of bicycle lanes to reduce accidents or increase ridership might settle the matter. However, without a demonstratively effective alternative to bicycle lanes, the municipalities will probably continue to build them until they run out of roadways, money, or both. I think in most cases, sharrows are more benign, less expensive, and probably still help those timid cyclists who feel they need paint on the road to give them permission to ride there. Cycles are vehicle traffic. So it written, so it must be. However, when jousting with my 35 lb bicycle against a driver in his 4,000 lb vehicle, I often find it difficult to insist on my legal rights. I almost never find it difficult. The law's on my side, and so is nearly 40 years of experience as an adult cyclist. Yeah, I know. Public roads would be great without vehicles. Take away the vehicles, and give everyone a bicycle, and nirvana is certain to follow. Just one small problem. Bicycles don't pay the road tax, so the public roads will start to rapidly deteriorate without the vehicles to support the necessary maintenance. Of course, the trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles will still be necessary, so instead of cars, the cyclists will get to dodge those. One anecdote: As I've mentioned occasionally, I was responsible for requesting the paving of a useful bike/ped shortcut path into the center of our village. The paving was done by the water company, who have a supply line under that right of way. That was, oh, more than 15 years ago. I was a bit concerned about maintenance, and once asked my favorite councilman if we could seal the pavement to make it last longer. Sorry, no budget for that. But all these years later, the pavement is only just beginning to look a little rough. Seems that if you don't have motor vehicles stressing the pavement, it lasts a tremendously long time. Similarly, a two mile section of roadway in our local metro park was closed to motor vehicles at least 20 years ago, though an interesting chain of events. It was paved at that same time. Its pavement is perfect today. Roller bladers love it. There's no way we'll do away with motor vehicles. But if we did, I think the pavement would hold up just fine for a long, long while. Motor vehicles do damage that's far beyond what's covered by their taxes and fees. -- - Frank Krygowski |
#16
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
On Wed, 4 Jul 2012 00:39:35 -0700 (PDT), Dan O
wrote: raamman is absolutely right - avoiding confrontation is the best policy. Road rage is very upsetting and risky biusiness. Yes, I could keep their hostility to a low simmer by righteously submitting to the ways of a "legitimate road vehicle", instead of blowing their minds (and the lids off their resentment pots) with outlandish - but functionally harmless - hijinks. I won't "grow up" WRT to Ride Bike! (suppress / repress the inner child), but I should have suppressed / sublimated the cynical adult and given camo truck guy a smile and friendly wave instead of the finger (he still might have tried to kill me, though). Your negotiated settlement with the camo truck driver obviously failed. Lacking tolerance, apparently by both parties, your options are to either escalate the confrontation by adding ordinance and armament to your bicycle, or getting the hell out of there before the hostile camo truck driver uses his superior mass to your detriment. Appeals to a higher authority are only useful for cleaning up the mess after the damage is done. Discretion really is the better part of valor. Calculate the odds of success. If they are too low, run. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#17
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
On Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:26:23 -0400, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote: Per Dan O: So I finally look over and he's holding up traffic and foaming at the mouth. After serving as treasurer of a 1,200-member civic association for seven years, I came away with the belief that, out of every thousand people, at least 2 of them are stone crazy at any given time - and it's not always the same two. It's much higher than that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder In the United States 46% qualifies for a mental illness at some point. (...) In the United States the frequency of disorder is: anxiety disorder (28.8%), mood disorder (20.8%), impulse-control disorder (24.8%) or substance use disorder (14.6%). Hmmm... that totals to 89%. I guess everyone in the US is nuts. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#18
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
Dan O wrote:
Yesterday I'm cruising into town and this pickup truck passes me - not giving much room, but giving extra "vroom" (accelerating past). The pickup is modified into a box van - painted Viet era camo green. So he's stopped at the light halfway through town, and I come up behind at the right - but not past - as the light goes green. "Vroom" away he goes toward the other end of town. So next he's queued up at a four-way stop near the other end of town. I hop onto the sidewalk, past the queue, veer into empty parking lot at the corner, check the street, cross the street into another parking lot, back onto the sidewalk, then roll back onto the right edge of the road. So how many seconds did your squirrely riding gain you? Probably no more than the time saved by the typical motorist fighting to pass a cyclist before the next red light. Camo truck pulls up alongside and hangs there. I hear him yelling something about pick the sidewalk or the road and stay there idiot obey the law. I don't think I violated any laws (not that I'm above violating some laws if the right opportunity presents ;-), nor have I impeded, endangered, or hurt anyone in any way - just having a blast. Every yahoo inventing his own chaotic motion in traffic feels he's perfectly justified. But this guy is steaming (I guess maybe 'cause the inferior bicyclist beat him across and out of town) - I've offended his sensibility. Thanks, Dan. You've generated another series of "Those f****ng bicyclists..." tales for the rest of us to fight past. So I finally look over and he's holding up traffic and foaming at the mouth. So I raise a finger and keep riding. Classy. :-/ raamman is absolutely right - avoiding confrontation is the best policy. Road rage is very upsetting and risky biusiness. Yes, I could keep their hostility to a low simmer by righteously submitting to the ways of a "legitimate road vehicle", instead of blowing their minds (and the lids off their resentment pots) with outlandish - but functionally harmless - hijinks. Thanks, Dan. You can also try going to music concerts and singing different songs in a loud voice during the performance. Or watching a movie while standing in front of the people seated behind you. Or barging your way into the front of a line of people waiting to buy ice cream. Heck, the possibilities for your kind of fun are endless! -- - Frank Krygowski |
#19
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
Dan O wrote:
So next he's queued up at a four-way stop near the other end of town. I hop onto the sidewalk, past the queue, veer into empty parking lot at the corner, check the street, cross the street into another parking lot, back onto the sidewalk, then roll back onto the right edge of the road. Priceless. hauke -- Now without signature. |
#20
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Even in enlightened California (taking the lane)
On Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:42:54 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote: There's no way we'll do away with motor vehicles. But if we did, I think the pavement would hold up just fine for a long, long while. Motor vehicles do damage that's far beyond what's covered by their taxes and fees. I think you're only considering the short term effects. If vehicular road traffic were abandoned, there would still be the a need for the public utilities under the roadway and infrastructure that supports it (i.e. bridges). I would expect the utility company to dig up the road, and sorta patch it back together because bicycles can function on lesser road surfaces. Similarly, bridges will be allowed to collapse, and possibly be replaced by bicycle and pedestrian friendly zip lines. Should we ever run out of gasoline, such a nightmare is possible. While there is some merit to returning to a pre-industrial agrarian economy, it's unlikely to happen. Technical progress has a way of sustaining itself and is unlikely to stop. The problem is that technology is also inherently inefficient, causing some damage as well as good. The human race has been fairly good at absorbing the side effects of progress, but that is unlikely to continue forever. At some point, the scale of environmental and social damage caused by progress will result in an anti-technology backlash. If you kill off the infernal combustion engine, the nuclear powered replacement is likely to be worse. There are some sci-fi stories that predict all this. Hopefully, I won't be alive to see it. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
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