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From: ellis@FLAIRMAX.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: bikes and cars
Message-ID: <219@FLAIRMAX.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Sep-83 01:35:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: FLAIRMAX.219
Posted: Mon Sep 26 01:35:52 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Sep-83 15:30:32 EDT
Organization: Fairchild AI Lab, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 36

As a bicyclist for almost 2 years (whose brother was killed riding a bike),
I feel that Anne Paulson's comments, idealistic though they may be, are
suicidal.

Some observations about bicycles:

    1. They are slower than cars, thus causing danger to any car required
       to slow down for them. 
    2. They are painless to automobile drivers.
    3. They are less visible than cars.
    4. There are so few crazies riding bicycles on the street that drivers
       haven't really yet learned how to avoid hitting them.

Lessons I learned riding bicycles:

    1. Never ride on streets that have cars, except for minor residential
       streets.
    2. Never ride in bike lanes. These death traps are a sign of a street
       that is too busy to be safe. 
    3. Use the sidewalk (f**k the law!) when you see or hear a car, or
       else find a safer route. On the left side you get an even
       better view of the enemy (a car), but right-turning vehicles
       (entering from the left) may get you this way.
    4. Remember to treat pedestrians with more respect than the cars
       treated you (which isn't hard). Good karma will probably reward
       you with no legal hassles (from using the sidewalk). 

    Essentially, this means a safe bicyclist is a `car' whenever the street
    is empty; at the first sign of the enemy, one becomes an instant
    pedestrian. Taking the above precautions results in a safer trip than
    even driving a car, though. 

Maybe if there were more bicycle martyrs, people would be shocked into being
more observant for bicyclists. We all appreciate your sacrifice, Anne!

-michael `still alive' ellis