Like it or not, most Americans must go around with the bike on theback of the car to get somewhere

I think in order to make Miami, Anchorage and the rest of the country
more bike friendly you have to learn from Europe and do...

A comprehensive, continuous, integrated approach that extends beyond
pedestrian and bicyclist “treatments” to include elements such as:

- Parking policies
- Street design hierarchy that considers pedestrians and bicyclists
first
- Integration with and widespread availability of public transit
- Connected on-street and off-street walking and biking networks
- Ongoing promotional campaigns and activities
- Traffic safety education for children throughout their school
years;
- Visually rich pedestrian-level built environment;
- Routine photo enforcement; and,
- Numerous other policy and facility details that make walking and
bicycling easy, convenient, and enjoyable.
http://drusilla.hsrc.unc.edu/cms/dow...y%20Report.pdf

This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
[...]
This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:14:25 -0500, "Edward Dolan"
wrote:


"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
[...]
This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota



I can agree with that. After all, I have NEVER been hit by a car
while actually ON a bike path. But I have been hit by one while
trying to cross a street. And no it doesn't feel that good.

Originally Posted by Cosmoline
"Good point well taken. Disregard my previous post! Alaska really is
awful. And we all live in igloos and earthen huts."

No, my real worry is that Alaska has TOO MANY SUVS PERCAPITA.

***I think the real hellholes have a very high concentration of SUVs
and low concentration of bikes.***

Probably Florida and Alaska are way up there with Texas.

On Jul 17, 1:14*pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message

...
[...] This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled

to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Big Ed, I think WE NEED BOTH, some bikes beg the path (my Electras)
while others beg the road (my Seattle).

The thing is that when you ask for too much, they tell you, "SORRY, NO
DINERO."

Making the bike a legal vehicle entitled to the lane is a smart move
if you back it with cameras. 30 feet before and after your bike the
car must leave YOUR lane.

On Jul 18, 6:39 am, Harry Brogan wrote:
On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:14:25 -0500, "Edward Dolan"
wrote:







"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
[...]
This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

I can agree with that. After all, I have NEVER been hit by a car
while actually ON a bike path. But I have been hit by one while
trying to cross a street. And no it doesn't feel that good.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, it gotta hurt...

http://snopes.com/photos/accident/bikerace.asp

"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
On Jul 18, 6:39 am, Harry Brogan wrote:
On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:14:25 -0500, "Edward Dolan"
wrote:

"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
[...]
This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from
one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

I can agree with that. After all, I have NEVER been hit by a car
while actually ON a bike path. But I have been hit by one while
trying to cross a street. And no it doesn't feel that good.- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, it gotta hurt...

http://snopes.com/photos/accident/bikerace.asp

That picture has been posted several times on these cycling newsgroups and
serves to remind us all of how vulnerable we are on the roads with motor
vehicles. I will no longer ride my bike on high speed highways with no
shoulders. Way too dangerous. I must have a shoulder or else the traffic has
to be nonexistent.

Bike lanes without physical separators are no solution at all. Motorists
will veer into bike lanes without giving it a second thought if it suits
their convenience.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

On Jul 18, 8:55*pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message

...





On Jul 18, 6:39 am, Harry Brogan wrote:
On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:14:25 -0500, "Edward Dolan"
wrote:

"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
....
[...]
This is the LONG WAY... The QUICK WAY is to make every bike entitled
to the lane, and the cars better overtake them on the other lane --or
else smile for the cameras.

Bikes and motor vehicles need their own lanes entirely separated from
one
another by physical barriers. Otherwise you are just whistling Dixie!

I can agree with that. *After all, I have NEVER been hit by a car
while actually ON a bike path. *But I have been hit by one while
trying to cross a street. *And no it doesn't feel that good.- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, it gotta hurt...

http://snopes.com/photos/accident/bikerace.asp

That picture has been posted several times on these cycling newsgroups and
serves to remind us all of how vulnerable we are on the roads with motor
vehicles. I will no longer ride my bike on high speed highways with no
shoulders. Way too dangerous. I must have a shoulder or else the traffic has
to be nonexistent.

Bike lanes without physical separators are no solution at all. Motorists
will veer into bike lanes without giving it a second thought if it suits
their convenience.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yeah Big Ed, I'm riding some road now, but mostly we would depend on a
car to take a bike somewhere safe, like most Americans out there.

Hey, by the way, here are some of the worst states (in my opinion) to
ride a bike...

Originally Posted by balindamood
"I have been commuting year round in Anchorage for five years now,
even with our annual 5-months of poor road conditions, and I love it.
It has its problems, but from a bicycle perspective, it beats
everywhere I have lived before (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Massachusetts, Kansas City, Minnesota, North Dakota, and most
certainly...Texas).

Stay in Miami, or Kentucky, Boise, or wherever if you want. At 650,000
people in the entire state, it is starting to feel a bit crowded
anyway."

***

Thank you for not encouraging me to go over...

Anyways it seems the most problematic states are Florida and Alaska,
for different reasons, and then, of course, Texas...

Alaska is the Last Frontier and it got too many gold diggers or oil
diggers whatever.

Florida is the Deep South, and some people are subhuman, specially
broke people and cyclists.

And Texas...

Originally Posted by mlts22
"Ironically, there was a bill that almost got passed in Texas that
would require 3 feet passing distance, six for commercial vehicles
between a cyclist and other traffic, but it was explicitly vetoed.
This is the second time this type of bill hit the floors of Texas's
lawmakers too."

***

Well, I think Texas is still considered part of the Wild West.

It'll get to pass though when lawmakers ride bikes too --if ever.

"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message
...
On Jul 18, 8:55 pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
[...]
That picture has been posted several times on these cycling newsgroups and
serves to remind us all of how vulnerable we are on the roads with motor
vehicles. I will no longer ride my bike on high speed highways with no
shoulders. Way too dangerous. I must have a shoulder or else the traffic
has
to be nonexistent.

Bike lanes without physical separators are no solution at all. Motorists
will veer into bike lanes without giving it a second thought if it suits
their convenience.
[...]

It is too much work to get your post looking right as it appears on my
computer, so just allow me to comment on those 3 states that you mention in
your message.

Florida.

The state is a disaster because Americans are wealthy enough to move to
wherever they think it is warm. The only solution is for Americans to become
as poor as most third world peoples. Poverty encourages roots.

Texas.

The only part of Texas I ever liked was the Big Bend country. You can't even
live in much of Texas (Houston for instance) unless you are behind an air
conditioner for most of the year.

Alaska.

Yes, I suppose the Last Frontier, but with 20th century technology behind
you, what does it matter. Most Alaskans have to live behind their furnaces
for most of the year. Not even Eskimos live like Eskimos anymore.

What is wrong with all 3 states is the rootlessness of most Americans. It
would be better if we were all more rooted. I am looking forward to Obama
making us all as poor as a church mouse. Then maybe we will stay put.
Poverty encourages roots.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota



ComandanteBanana wrote:

Yeah Big Ed, I'm riding some road now, but mostly we would depend on a
car to take a bike somewhere safe, like most Americans out there.

Hey, by the way, here are some of the worst states (in my opinion) to
ride a bike...

Originally Posted by balindamood
"I have been commuting year round in Anchorage for five years now,
even with our annual 5-months of poor road conditions, and I love it.
It has its problems, but from a bicycle perspective, it beats
everywhere I have lived before (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Massachusetts, Kansas City, Minnesota, North Dakota, and most
certainly...Texas).

Stay in Miami, or Kentucky, Boise, or wherever if you want. At 650,000
people in the entire state, it is starting to feel a bit crowded
anyway."

Thank you for not encouraging me to go over...

Anyways it seems the most problematic states are Florida and Alaska,
for different reasons, and then, of course, Texas...

Alaska is the Last Frontier and it got too many gold diggers or oil
diggers whatever.

Florida is the Deep South, and some people are subhuman, specially
broke people and cyclists.

And Texas...

Originally Posted by mlts22
"Ironically, there was a bill that almost got passed in Texas that
would require 3 feet passing distance, six for commercial vehicles
between a cyclist and other traffic, but it was explicitly vetoed.
This is the second time this type of bill hit the floors of Texas's
lawmakers too."

***

Well, I think Texas is still considered part of the Wild West.

It'll get to pass though when lawmakers ride bikes too --if ever.

On Jul 19, 5:20*pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"ComandanteBanana" wrote in message

...
On Jul 18, 8:55 pm, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
[...] That picture has been posted several times on these cycling newsgroups and
serves to remind us all of how vulnerable we are on the roads with motor
vehicles. I will no longer ride my bike on high speed highways with no
shoulders. Way too dangerous. I must have a shoulder or else the traffic
has
to be nonexistent.

Bike lanes without physical separators are no solution at all. Motorists
will veer into bike lanes without giving it a second thought if it suits
their convenience.

[...]

It is too much work to get your post looking right as it appears on my
computer, so just allow me to comment on those 3 states that you mention in
your message.

Florida.

The state is a disaster because Americans are wealthy enough to move to
wherever they think it is warm. The only solution is for Americans to become
as poor as most third world peoples. Poverty encourages roots.

Texas.

The only part of Texas I ever liked was the Big Bend country. You can't even
live in much of Texas (Houston for instance) unless you are behind an air
conditioner for most of the year.

Alaska.

Yes, I suppose the Last Frontier, but with 20th century technology behind
you, what does it matter. Most Alaskans have to live behind their furnaces
for most of the year. Not even Eskimos live like Eskimos anymore.

What is wrong with all 3 states is the rootlessness of most Americans. It
would be better if we were all more rooted. I am looking forward to Obama
making us all as poor as a church mouse. Then maybe we will stay put.
Poverty encourages roots.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota

Sorry for the confusing post but you get the point of it.

Many valuable insights, particularly about poverty encouraging
roots... and also bikes. Yes, wealth feeds SUVs and tough times
encourages bikes because they allow you to live on peanuts.

But a strong middle class can afford good bikes and have more time for
recreation. Everybody wins but the very greedy.