Just a reminder we need Bike Lanes

On 2 Dec 2004 09:04:48 -0800,
(DonQuijote1954) wrote:

This why I put my bicycles away...

A while back, my daughter and I were riding bicycle down the sidewalk
(riding with traffic is out of the question, since this is a major
street and my daughet is small) and, as we neared the intersection, I
noticed a car competing with us for the flashing walk signal. Well,
luckily, the lady stopped. However, that triggered her anger and she
got out the car and yelled at me some unprintable insults before
roaring away in her powerful Firebird. And I wonder, am I on the
wrong? I don't think so. I ride the bicycle for some good reasons, one
of them being the environment. Why should the polluter have all the
power? Why should we be pushed to the sidewalk to begin with?

Anyway, here's what I propose:

Why not take the lane (ride in the center) until they design BICYCLE
LANES ALONG ALL MAJOR STREETS? We all know that we have no place now,
since riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is more dangerous than on an
unprotected street, and riding on the edge makes it likely that a car
hits us. We could wear shirts made to the purpose and make it a
national (or international) campaign. I'm pretty sure that when a few
people get knock down by cars, or traffic is backed up, someone will
take notice. There's an organization already doing something similar,
Critical Mass, which I'm sure can lend us a hand, or simply we join
them.

Time to pull my bicycles out...

Critical Mass
http://www.times-up.org/cm.php

***

Believe it or not many so-called bike riders in America argue AGAINST
bike lanes, and when I published the above letter I was received with
hostility from the bicycle elite... Who sponsors them remains to be
seen, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's General Motors...

I am one of those ardently opposed to bicycle lanes. When they are
present, they are usually clogged with slower riders, walkers,
joggers, runners, dog-walkers...take your pick. Even when these lanes
are on the side of the road and not separated from the road I run into
this. Now factor in that since the lane is there drivers demand that
you ride there...where it is not feasible if you are a sport rider
trying to get in a decent workout.

What is needed is a better driver education system, teaching everybody
to share the damn road. The law grants me as much right to be on the
road as the car next to me.

NobodyMan wrote:

I am one of those ardently opposed to bicycle lanes. When they are
present, they are usually clogged with slower riders, walkers,
joggers, runners, dog-walkers...take your pick. Even when these lanes
are on the side of the road and not separated from the road I run into
this. Now factor in that since the lane is there drivers demand that
you ride there...where it is not feasible if you are a sport rider
trying to get in a decent workout.

I have no idea where you live; most bike lanes around here work
well. They don't get "clogged" very often, they are not separated
from the roadway, drivers recognize that we cyclists leave the bike
lane for any number of valid reasons and don't become hostile when
we do. When I treat leaving the bike lane like changing lanes (left
shoulder check, signal, change lanes when it's safe), I get respect
from drivers.

Bike *paths* are a different story. I have yet to find one that's
decent.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

NobodyMan wrote:

I am one of those ardently opposed to bicycle lanes. When they are
present, they are usually clogged with slower riders, walkers,
joggers, runners, dog-walkers...take your pick. Even when these lanes
are on the side of the road and not separated from the road I run into
this. Now factor in that since the lane is there drivers demand that
you ride there...where it is not feasible if you are a sport rider
trying to get in a decent workout.

I have no idea where you live; most bike lanes around here work
well. They don't get "clogged" very often, they are not separated
from the roadway, drivers recognize that we cyclists leave the bike
lane for any number of valid reasons and don't become hostile when
we do. When I treat leaving the bike lane like changing lanes (left
shoulder check, signal, change lanes when it's safe), I get respect
from drivers.

Bike *paths* are a different story. I have yet to find one that's
decent.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists "end
up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind them;"
"This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but roads
aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

Wayne

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists "end
up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind them;"
"This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but roads
aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

Wayne

(Wayne) writes:

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists
"end up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind
them;" "This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but
roads aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

This is unfortunately the prevailing thought in America, that roads
are for cars. There are a number of mistaken beliefs underpinning
this error, for example that bicyclists don't pay taxes. Similar
comments are often made about other non-motorized road users like
Amish families. There is something about being in a car that makes
people arrogant- I notice it in myself as well.

(Wayne) writes:

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists
"end up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind
them;" "This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but
roads aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

This is unfortunately the prevailing thought in America, that roads
are for cars. There are a number of mistaken beliefs underpinning
this error, for example that bicyclists don't pay taxes. Similar
comments are often made about other non-motorized road users like
Amish families. There is something about being in a car that makes
people arrogant- I notice it in myself as well.

On 4 Dec 2004 12:43:43 -0800, Wayne wrote:

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists "end
up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind them;"
"This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but roads
aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

Wayne

I worked in Healdsburg, CA for about 3 years from 1999 to a post 9/11
layoff and there was an article in the local paper, Healdsburg or Santa
Rosa about a bicyclist who had been killed. His only crime was that he
had epilepsy and could not legally drive a car. He got hit and killed
due to the fact that the local authorities did not think it was worth
thier time and money to put at least a minimal lane in where he had
to ride. I wonder if his family sued them into thinking it was. I loved
working there because of all the wonderfully scenic places to ride before
my morning shower, at lunch, and after work. In this case he had no one
to car pool with and had to ride but the county just blew him off.

--
Bill (?) Baka

On 4 Dec 2004 12:43:43 -0800, Wayne wrote:

An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists "end
up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind them;"
"This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but roads
aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

Wayne

I worked in Healdsburg, CA for about 3 years from 1999 to a post 9/11
layoff and there was an article in the local paper, Healdsburg or Santa
Rosa about a bicyclist who had been killed. His only crime was that he
had epilepsy and could not legally drive a car. He got hit and killed
due to the fact that the local authorities did not think it was worth
thier time and money to put at least a minimal lane in where he had
to ride. I wonder if his family sued them into thinking it was. I loved
working there because of all the wonderfully scenic places to ride before
my morning shower, at lunch, and after work. In this case he had no one
to car pool with and had to ride but the county just blew him off.

--
Bill (?) Baka

(Wayne) wrote in message om...
An article in today's Orlando Sentinel: Traffic, Bicyclists on
Collision Course.

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/news/...orl-home-promo

Included in the story concerning the dangers of cycling in Lake
County, there are responses from an FHP officer -- tired cyclists "end
up misjudging distances or not hearing cars coming up behind them;"
"This is an attractive area for them to come and train .. but roads
aren't designed and built for them."

I would have thought a comment about stricter enforcement against
dangerous driving, and more official recognition that, even in Lake
County, bicycles are vehicles and have all pertinent rights, might
have been more helpful.

Wayne

This is reality. You don't belong there, you are not welcome there,
and you can only get killed. Of course, you can still try it, but you
are on your own.