This is terrible. It should NOT be happening…but, I for one will do whatever I can to protect myself, including wearing that ugly vest. At this time, that is all I can do. We can come together, as a region, and discuss how we might be proactive, as communities. How can we turn outrage from finger-wagging and furor into practical constructive actions?
------ Sara Mattes > On Aug 31, 2023, at 2:12 PM, John Mendelson <[email protected]> wrote: > > People, a SCHOOL BUS hit a cyclist in broad daylight. This is not about what > anyone should be wearing but rather about the fact that driving entitlement > is reaching epidemic proportions here in Lincoln and all across the country. > > Much like gun-violence, there is plenty of outrage and lots of thoughts and > prayers and high-vis clothing suggestions but until we are willing to > confront the fact that traffic safety is a uniquely American problem and a > result of high vehicle speeds, larger cars, and road structure deficiencies, > nothing will change. > > https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries > > The US underperformance in road safety is especially dramatic: 11.4 Americans > per 100,000 > <https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-traffic-crash-data-fatalities> > died in crashes in 2020, a number that dwarfs countries including Spain (2.9 > <https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/spain-road-safety.pdf>), Israel > (3.3 > <https://www.timesofisrael.com/virus-lockdowns-help-cut-israels-2020-traffic-deaths-by-15/>) > and New Zealand (6.3 > <https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/spain-road-safety.pdf>). And > unlike most developed nations, US roadways have grown more deadly during the > last two decades (including during the pandemic > <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-road-deaths-rise-at-record-pace-as-risky-driving-persists>), > especially for those outside of cars. Last year saw the most pedestrians > killed in the US in 40 years > <https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/GHSA/Ped-Spotlight-Full-Report22#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20D.C.%20%E2%80%93%20Drivers%20struck%20and,Highway%20Safety%20Association%20(GHSA).>, > and deaths among those biking rose 44% > <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-road-deaths-rise-at-record-pace-as-risky-driving-persists> > from 2010 to 2020. > > On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:01 PM Laura Koller <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> I’m also a long time road cyclist, and I feel much more visible since I’ve >> added front (white) and rear (red) blinkers to my bike. Passing cars seem to >> give me much wider berth. It’s an extra step but seems very worthwhile. I >> also wear a day-glo green helmet. Visibility really does make a difference, >> imo. >> >> Laura >> >> On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:54 PM V Saleme <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> As a cyclist who resides in this town and accrues on average 250 miles a >>> week between trails and the road, I believe it’s important to devise a way >>> of getting out of this echo chamber and speak to the broader group of >>> people who, let’s face it, use this town as a cut through. They are the >>> problem, not the local residents. >>> >>> If I had to hazard to guess, they’re (non Lincoln residents) not on Lincoln >>> Talk and as they execute twice the speed limit minimally, on Tower Rd., >>> Deerhaven Rd., Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln Road, Bedford Road (where there’s >>> an actual sign that states “cyclists may use entire lane” if you can >>> believe it) thus head nodding amongst ourselves is not going to be >>> effective. >>> >>> Vic >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:41 PM John Mendelson <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> And I would strongly urge drivers to slow down, obey the law, >>>> <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c90-ss-14> and pay >>>> attention to what is in front of them at all times when behind the wheel >>>> of a large, powerful object capable of inflicting terrible injuries to >>>> walkers, cyclists, and other drivers. >>>> >>>> There is no clear consensus that high-visibility clothing makes a >>>> difference for pedestrian nor cyclist safety so let's please avoid any >>>> potential victim-blaming. >>>> >>>> See: >>>> >>>> https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2023/08/21-03_ca_hi-vis_brf_1.pdf >>>> (includes multiple peer reviewed studies) >>>> >>>> and >>>> >>>> https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bikes-and-biking/hi-viz-clothing-cyclists/ >>>> >>>> Thanks! >>>> >>>> John >>>> >>>> On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 1:21 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> I would strongly urge all walkers and bikers to wear some sort of neon/ >>>>> reflective safety vest. >>>>> They are lightweight and cheap and they really help drivers see us. >>>>> >>>>> Dark clothing, esp at dusk or in mottled shade, makes us disappear. >>>>> ------ >>>>> Sara Mattes >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On Aug 31, 2023, at 12:47 PM, Lynne Smith <[email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Fascinating article! As a helmet and goggle wearing cyclist, I’m now >>>>>> going to be extra careful since some drivers might not recognize me as >>>>>> human! >>>>>> >>>>>> Lynne Smith >>>>>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>>>>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>>>>> 781-258-1175 >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 31 Aug 2023, at 11:24 a.m., Ginger Reiner <[email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Julianne, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> That was me. I actually was hit by the school van in the interaction >>>>>>> although I stayed upright and am not hurt. Thanks for reaching out and >>>>>>> I’d love a witness statement. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To the rest of LincolnTalk, I write this as a reply-all because people >>>>>>> on bikes are sometimes viewed as “less human” or seen as being “not >>>>>>> from Lincoln” (which shouldn’t matter), and I hope that attaching my >>>>>>> name to Julianne’s story might help to counteract both of those >>>>>>> impressions. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847823001018 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ginger >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 8:59 AM jsug--- via Lincoln >>>>>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>>>>> Hi There, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> If you are the cyclist who was nearly hit by the school van on Lincoln >>>>>>>> Road this morning just before 8 am, and you were hoping to report >>>>>>>> this, I wanted to let you know I would be happy to provide witness >>>>>>>> statement if needed. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Best, >>>>>>>> Julianne >>>>>>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>-- >>>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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