|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
I am convinced bicycling is not safe
On Nov 19, 3:42*am, Peter Clinch wrote:
KingOfTheApes wrote: I may be excused from not interpreting your long answer but are not from not interpreting my short worded solutions... BIKE FACILITIES (bike lanes and bike facilities) AND/OR TRAFFIC TAMING. You can shout all you want, but that isn't the key to safety. *The key to safety is mutual respect between road users. Well, this based on subjective appreciation. I think good drivers begin with education but ultimately depend on enforcement. So going back to my favorite metaphor, WE NEED THE BANANA (the treat) AND THE WHIP TO TAME THE BEAST. This side of the Atlantic we are sort of in the Wild West when it comes to traffic safety: NO LANE DISCIPLINE, NO CONTROL OVER CELL PHONES, UNREGULATED VEHICLES (SUV'S with deadly bumpers)... and LOTS OF SPEEDING TICKETS. The bike facilities doesn't get you out of accidents happening at junctions because if you want your "facilities" to go anywhere useful they'll have to intersect with the roads, and so when the bikes are on the roads the lack of awareness drivers have of bikes will be exaggerated by their being fewer bikes /except/ at the junctions. SUVs with deadly bumpers... well, even with "safe" bumpers the real key is not colliding with vehicles at all. *The key to that is mutual respect, and you don't get that from bike lanes, and any "taming" of the traffic you otherwise do is coloured by bikes being out of the equation except at the most dangerous points (junctions). Only way to solve this conflict is put cameras on main intersections. Any sort of bullying would cost the predator dearly ($$$)... to fund more bike facilities. You think Obama will change that? No. I guess only Jesus can, huh? Too bad for those who don't believe there's a Jesus. Well luckily, there's a revolution around. I'm also pretty sure that ghettoising cyclists onto half-baked "facilities" (and experience suggests that outside of places with existing bicycle culture like NL, Denmark, Germany etc. they *will* be half baked) won't help either. No great shortage of "facilities" round here. *It's usually quicker and safer for me to take the roads. OK, HAVING OPTIONS sounds good to me, and whether there's bike facilities or not, you should be able to ride wherever you wish. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Tom Danielson March 13 1978 - March 13 2008 | [email protected] | Racing | 0 | March 13th 08 09:31 AM |
Mt. Washington BC | nrkist | Unicycling | 4 | August 28th 05 11:21 PM |
Washington Post: A Rough Ride for Schwinn Bicycle | Ed | General | 12 | December 12th 04 04:24 AM |