Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!ames!eugene
From: eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Why I blow off STOP signs
Message-ID: <639@ames.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Nov-84 14:00:04 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.639
Posted: Fri Nov 16 14:00:04 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Nov-84 20:21:03 EST
References: <16200065@uiucdcsb.UUCP>, <1606@wateng.UUCP>
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 36

<188@ucsbcsl.UUCP> <125@ptsfb.UUCP>

> > As far as the bicyles being less dangerous than cars, you should see
> > the campus at the Univ. of Cal. Santa Barbara. Almost everyone here rides
> > a bike, all 14,000 of us.
> > I even remember a rumor that someone died as a result of a bike accident.
> 
> The rumor has at least some basis in fact, during my sojourn at UCSB
> (73-75) two cyclists crashed into one another at night, putting one in
> a coma .....
> vived.  And this all took place after the class break rush!

Yes, I went to UCSB, too (73-77).  I can see Jon's posting above brought this
out.  The person who got the coma was a friend of mine.  His name is
Bill Gordon [a superb up-and-coming climber, did a 5.10a for his first lead!]
The accident happened around 10 PM under a bridge East of Campus, so it
did not take place on UCSB proper.  Neither rider had a light or helmet
[I don't wear one either in cycling or climbing, a `cranial prophylactic' in
a words of another friend (I know, I know, I am crazy)].  Anyway, Bill
and the other guy were found unconscious.  Bill did not die, but he is
partially paralyzed on his right side for life.  A year later or so, they
started enforcing (tickets) for riding without lights.

There have been numerous other accidents at UCSB.  They try to segregate cars
from bikes from people.  I had two accidents while I was there (and while
attending grad school there).  Numerous friends, including Jon I remember,
also have had accidents.  Some of the problems are due to `engineering'
re: bikeways designed by automotive traffic engineers, but they were working
on this. [I've seen lots of this.  Cuty minaturized auto features such as
speed bumps in Redondo Beach...].  Still, UCSB has a pretty good system.
As with it autos: don't forget the nut behind the wheel.

--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Res. Ctr.
  {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,vortex}!ames!aurora!eugene
  emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA