i was wondering if you authored it ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick McClure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 5:26 PM Subject: Re: hmmm.................
> How long have I been saying this? > > At 04:08 PM 7/23/2002 -0800, you wrote: > >Bicycles and cars don't mix > > > >http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/columnists/vassilaros/s_8263 1.html > > > > By Dimitri Vassilaros > >TRIBUNE-REVIEW > >Tuesday, July 23, 2002 > > > >I don't want to share the road with a bicycle. However, you and I must > >because if we did not, it could lead to tragedy. Drivers have to follow > >the law, but that does not mean we have to like it. > > > >The Tour de France seems to have spawned the Tour de South Hills < if > >you'll pardon my French. > > > >Are your secondary arteries clogged by clumps of Lance Armstrong-esque > >bicyclists sporting aerodynamic helmets, colorful skintight synthetics > >and baseball-size calf muscles? > > > >Drivers anywhere near East McMurray Road are plagued by these swarms > >most weekends. Do you have the same problem where you live? > > > >If you see them up ahead, you are forced to drive slower than the > >slowest one of the pack while you ponder if you can pull out without > >grazing one and not plowing into an oncoming car around the next bend. > > > >Bicyclists are an accident waiting to happen. > > > >Your municipality should be doing whatever it can to get them off the > >road. It can start by taking down those yellow street signs with black > >silhouettes of bike rider and car that encourage road sharing. > > > >Common sense tells you roads are designed for most motorized vehicles: > >golf carts, riding mowers and farm equipment being some of the > >exceptions. Yet flimsy, two-wheeled vehicles powered by huffing and > >puffing are allowed < even welcomed, according to those yellow signs. > >The governments' values are upside down. > > > >Since bicycles are allowed on our streets, why not in-line skating and > >skateboarding? > > > >Cars, trucks and motorcycles pay for our roads. State and federal taxes > >siphon about one-third of the cost of a gallon of gas, according to the > >stickers on some gas pumps. Take the time to read one the next time you > >defy the EPA by topping off your tank. > > > >A motorist must pay for all the stickers on his car every year < two on > >the windshield and one on the license plate < even if no repairs are > >warranted. He also pays for a driver's license and auto insurance in > >case of an accident. He pays dearly if he gets a speeding ticket, and > >he even pays a tax for the privilege of throwing away his old tires. > > > >And do not forget the government makes every motorist pay the hidden > >costs of all safety features mandated for our vehicles. We are forced > >to wear seat belts, and motorcycle riders are forced to wear helmets. > >Do you think many bicycle riders have been stopped and ticketed for > >safety violations? > > > >If the government is so concerned about highway safety seat belt > >this, air bag that and crash test after crash test why does it allow > >bicycles anywhere near traffic? Can you name another vehicle on our > >streets that has no safety features? Does the government care about > >safety or not? > > > >When those spoke-thin road hogs start paying their fair share of road > >costs like motorized vehicles do then maybe we could consider > >allowing them on a few isolated roads like in our city, county and > >state parks, where the only drivers they could threaten would be the > >teenagers whose parents are teaching them to drive. > > > >The politically correct crowd loves bicycles. They don't use fossil > >fuels They don't pollute. And the more people can be convinced to ride > >them instead of cars, the more people will want to move back into the > >city so their ride Downtown and back would be doable. I have even seen > >bike racks on PAT buses. > > > >Bicycling is a practical way to commute, if you live in Beijing. Cars > >are a luxury there, but they are a necessity here. Safety should be a > >necessity, too. > > > > > >Dimitri Vassilaros can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or (412) > >380-5637. > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
