There's an interesting angle here, to what effect I don't know: The major reason cars have to pull forward to see if it's safe to make a right turn is SUVs. I hope someone somewhere is keeping statistics on right-turn-on-red- related "accidents" (OK crashes) involving vision blocked by SUVs. Too bad we can't make them choose between right turn on red and the legality of unnecessarily large, vision-obstructing vehicles. It's a talking point, anyway.
Also, the father of a dedicated Buddhist and pacifist friend of mine used to ride with a "blackjack" handy. That's a ballbearing or lead in a leather pouch with a handle. If motorized vehicles came within the three foot distance, he'd pock them down the side. Vehicles making a right turn without looking would be fair game for this self-defense option. Perhaps bike-shops could sell the devices. Here's one that's commercially available: http://www.safetycentral.com/leatslapblac.html . Some more: http://www.securityplanet.com/slapper.htm I know enough people who have fallen off their bikes trying to swing a U lock, this might be safer and more effective. Alex > > From: Joseph King <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2003/07/24 Thu AM 09:33:49 CDT > To: bikies <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Bikies] right on red? > > > > Right on red in general is a reasonable thing, > > I respectfully disagree with Bob on this one. It is not at all reasonable > for pedestrians who pay the price for this 30 second convenience to > motorists in several ways: > > A. In order to see traffic coming from the left motorist must often roll > into the cross walk -- and this is the cross walk that would have the green. > > B. Motorists come up to red lights pre-occupied with traffic from the left > often failing to notice the pedestrian starting to cross from their right. > > C. Motorists that turn right on red fill the gaps that are naturally > created by the traffic lights making it more difficult for pedestrians, > motorists, and cyclists to cross at uncontrolled intersections. > > Balance A, B, and C against the 30 seconds saved on the daily commute and > decide for yourself. > > --joe > > Joseph King > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > bombay: www.BombayBicycle.org > madnorski: www.MadNorSki.org > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
