Yes getting cyclists to use lights, especially young adult males who are most likely to get hurt, is a challenge.
Those of us old timers will remember that 25 years ago the only riders wearing helmets were the serious riders. Today, in Madison, the majority of cyclists wear helmets. A lot of them don't fit properly but at least cyclists have bought into the idea that helmet usage is a good idea. I'd be thrilled if light usage was as high as helmet or seat belt usage. I am intrigued how the idea of wearing helmets became accepted by the casual cyclist. I also wonder why light usage isn't more common. Most who ride bikes also drive a car and should understand how difficult it is for motorists to see unlit cyclists. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robbie Webber Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Bikies] Re: Getting More Cyclists to Use Lights at Night Perhaps it's the gray morning, or the other emails in my box, but I'm skeptical about getting a high degree of light usage by bicyclists at night. Why? Because we still can't get people to use common sense precautions such as wearing a seat belt while driving! Every day, I see in the paper that there has been a serious injury due to a motor vehicle crash. The contributing causes often have to do with alcohol and/or excessive speed. But the injuries are often due to the fact that the driver or other occupants were not wearing a seat belt. Seat belts are permanently installed in the car. There is a reminder to put it on. Everyone is taught how important they are while taking drivers' education. There are laws mandating their use. And yet people continue to fail to use them. Last week a law enforcement officer was seriously injured here in a car crash - driving to or from work. Why was he injured? He wasn't wearing his seat belt! If people won't take the simple step of not wearing a seat belt, how much chance is there that we can get them to use a light at night? Not that we shouldn't try, but I'm guessing that compliance will continue to be pretty low. Robbie who has a 15 watt light and several backups in her bag -- Please note that my personal email has changed. Please delete robbiew at tds.net from your address book. My alder account remains active, and city business should be sent there. _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
