1. My process-related rant of a few days ago notwithstanding (we're all entitled to
one every now and then, and on some lists the list-admin has actually welcomed those
kinds of reminders being posted by users so the offenders would hear it coming from
someone else rather than just from the list-meister), I've enjoyed the discussion on
the CapCity Tollway. My opinion is that as valid as the argument against charging
bicyclists but not motorvehiclists is, it won't get us very far. I'm guessing that
distinuishing it from trails to nowhere will be more influential, as might also the
idea of a "friends" group to clean it up between infrequent public maintenance.
2. Some may recall that I posted about writing a piece in the _Northside News_ about
Ald. Borchardt's idea for a RR trail through the northside. The idea of doing a full
article on what was short notice was scaled back to a brief piece that alluded to some
of the problems and the proposal, with the main focus to solicit opinions from
readers, both on the idea of a rail-trail and where other improvements were needed.
This is something intended to lead to another article and also the formation of a
group of interested cyclists to work toward making the northside more bike-able. A
fellow Northside Planning Council member has indicated a willingness to lead or
otherwise be involved in such a group, although the group itself will most likely be
separate from the NPC.
I've gotten a number of replies already, but would like to hear from many of you as
well, whether you live on the Northside or merely have occasion to ride to or through
the area. Posting to the list is great, but it would be useful to me in preparing the
next article to have them sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] I plan to be writing
the next article sometime in the middle of this month. Thanks.
3. If it's permissible to say so on this list, I recently purchased a newer car
(gasp!) and will either be selling or donating the older one. (If you know of anyone
interested in a 1987 Cougar in decent condition as inexpensive motor transportation,
send 'em my way.) If I sell it this weekend, great, otherwise I was contemplating
donating it to the auto shop at East HS for the tax deduction and the warm and fuzzy
feeling. But having talked with the instructor and learned how they use the cars, I'm
a little less sure about the warm, fuzzy part. Yes, they use them to work on in
class, but it takes the form of selling the donated cars at well below market prices
to the students, who then drive them to school where they work on them in class.
My dilemma: Would I be contributing to the delinquency of a minor by getting someone
into the car habit before adulthood? ;-/
I've never been a fan of kids driving (and I'm not so sure about the way some adults
drive either, but that's another story). My own experience in the Great Northeast was
that I could have gotten a permit at age 16, a probationary licence with no driving
after 9pm at age 17, and a real licence at age 18, except that the probationary
licence could be converted to a real one sooner upon completion of grade 12 driver ed.
(But I did not start that early. I got my permit in Grade 12 for driver ed, and then
right to a real licence after I turned 18. My parents didn't think I needed to start
driving at 16/17 and I didn't turn out any worse for it.) This was long before
calling it "graduated licencing" became trendy (and less restrictive--ooooh, you can't
drive after midnight or 1am, there's a real limitation....). When a colleague's kids
started driving, I was shocked to learn that driver ed around here is in GRADE
10?!?!?!? What is it about the midwestern and southern cultu!
re that we give kids licences at 16 and even 15 in some places? It's not that there
aren't responsible teenagers out there, but why do we do it so soon? Geez, even
Barrett was a teenage motorvehiclist.
P.S. For those like Wong and Barrett who will want to give me shit about buying
another car at all, rather than kicking the habit completely, I will note in my
partial defence that it is a flex-fuel car, and for its first tankful under my
ownership, I did fill it with E85 rather than using 100%(or 90%) petrol. It's too bad
that there's only one place in the entire state (on the west side of Madison) where
the general public can buy the stuff. It's all over the place in Minnesota, and not
too terribly difficult to find in Chicagoland... but not in Wisconsin.
Now go have a lunch,
Now go have a beer,
Bob Paolino
"A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a
proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven."
--Jean Chr�tien
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