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Dear Michael and group, I am glad I live in provincial Wisconsin and not in your Capitol. It seems from what you say that all automobiles are a "statement of psychological personality?" <MB--rethinking about SUVs, and driving-as-bullying in general--> I know that has been a long held view of the left and I have no idea where they get that view? It would seem to me people buy a car, bike, or boat according to their needs. When I was growing up our needs were for room inside the car and not on top or a trailer, and Dad had a Carryall. It was not some sort of phallic gesture on Dad's part as these writings imply. The color of the Carryall was green. Maybe there is some hidden meaning to that? Certainly Dad did not desire to bully bicyclists, walkers, runners, farm animals or anything else. His was the only Carryall in town at that time. We did not get some sort of psychological "buzz" from that, nor did we feel deprived by not having a Cadillac or Chrysler. Like most people in this country, Dad looked at a car as transportation and he kept his as long as possible. On the fringe or margin,--sure, there are those who might get a charge out of showing off a house, special car, special boat, or even (God forbid) an unnecessary (to some) special bicycle! In your face Critical Mass doesn't represent me any more than the Hell's Angels might represent me if I were inclined to have a motor cycle. But ill will for bicycles does affect me. And if one were to poll the cities where CM has been active, I would expect the result would show negativity. It is that simple. The writers here who have pointed both to confrontation as useful and to confrontation as counterproductive must look at the facts. Until we actually do have the "critical mass of bicycles" like--say--Holland, we are a minority. In your face minorities and those using profanity and reversed fingers don't get far. Driver education about bicycles should start in the schools and in the State test. That is where the advocacy groups should work. Maybe they are? But since there seems little to show, those activities should increase. Eric Westhagen Michael D. Barrett wrote: Re: |
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