First let me say I'm not picking on Wizard. I just think her view of this subject is obviously one seen from only one side, the side behind the wheel of an automobile. I've been on both sides of (and halfway through) the windshield.
Wizard Marks wrote: > I've always taken the position that to hit anyone or anything while > driving one's bike/car/truck/bus is the BIG mistake. Thus driving is a > cooperative experience. To do that, one has to have a certain regard > for the laws. MN: Too many people in cars and on bikes have no regard for any laws including the laws of physics, and have no intention of cooperating with anyone. WM: >Bicycles, in my often aghast observation, seldom stop for red > lights and stop signs, ride on the sidewalks, will ride against the > traffic, and, even with bike lanes clearly marked, will insist on riding > on the other side of the street where no bike lane is marked or > expected. They have no headlights or tail lights, nor do they wear > reflective clothing uniformly. MN: Stopping for a red light or stop sign could get you killed in my neighborhood, or if you're lucky, just beaten and robbed. So could having any kind of lights on. I've taken enough and seen enough abuse to know this is a fact. I don't ride around here much anymore for those reasons. When I do ride, I have always felt that if I get hit by a car, there's about a 95% probability that it's going to be my fault unless they were trying to run me down. You have to ride defensively, as well as aggressively in the city. Sometimes you have to ride the sidewalk to keep from getting squashed. I stay out of most bike lanes. They are on the left side of the street, which is not the side motorists are used to seeing bikes on. That strip of paint is ignored at best, viewed as a personal affront at worst, by many motorists. It's also used as a parking lane. When the lines were painted downtown, I rode every block of every bike lane to see for myself what they were like. Then I went to the police traffic division and asked if I was bound by law to ride in the bike lane if I was on a street where one was painted. They told me they preferred that people use them, but the law doesn't require it. I absolutely will not use the bike lane on Hennepin. It is a nightmare. Don't even get me started about bullying by bus drivers. Rush hour downtown really is a rush on a bike! WM: > I've been bent out of shape on many occasions because there is no > accepted protocol at corners where autos will be turning, bicycles could > be turning (arm signals are not often practiced to, at minimal, give the > driver behind a clue about something happening), and cars are parked > right up to the edge of the sidewalk. MN: I believe there is an accepted protocol. It's in the state drivers manual. Cyclists are bound by most of the same laws as motorists. If I get caught riding without lights after dark, I should get a ticket. Same goes for failure to yield, signal, etc. If I'm at a corner waiting for a cyclist to do something and he doesn't signal, I'm going to proceed if I have the right of way. Sometimes they will complain, but I nip that in the bud by offering them a copy of the state drivers manual.I think it might be a good idea to require every vehicle on the road to have a copy in the glovebox, or in the bike pack. WM: > In my estimation, bicycle traffic is so erratic in behavior that > it's the devils own time trying to figure out what a bicycler is up to. > So,I don't think that putting the onus on the police is going to be > entirely successful. Put some onus on the bicyclers as well. Get the > state to pamphletize the metro area on a set of protocols. The whole > situation is very, very iffy. MN:One could say exactly the same thing about auto traffic being erratic, and yes, there should be some personal responsibility on the part of bikers as well as motorists. I realize personal responsibility is a foreign concept to some,and dirty words to others.That's where a hefty fine helps speed up the learning process. I don't believe another pamphlet is the solution. Uniform enforcement of existing laws seems to be a better way to get peoples attention. Lots of bike shops have had information on traffic laws readily available for a long time. Too bad gas atations don't keep stacks of drivers manuals on hand. The information is out there, but If people choose to ignore it,nobody's gonna stop 'em. Mike Nelson Central REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
