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From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: 55 mph speed limit
Message-ID: <316@varian.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 12:40:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: varian.316
Posted: Mon May 13 12:40:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 18-May-85 23:58:05 EDT
References: <2097@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA
Lines: 19

> 	So, my questions are: would bicyclists elsewhere be placed in more
> 	danger if the speed limit on limited access highways were allowed
> 	to go up?   Would people in your area stand for allowing the speed
> 	limit to go up ONLY on limited access highways?  Would bicyclists
> 	be placed in appreciably more danger if their non-limited access
> 	roads got higher speed limits (I seem to remember a 65 mph limit on
> 	one narrow road in Michigan back in '64 when I lived in Ann Arbor.)	  
	In California, cyclists are allowed very restricted access to 
	freeway shoulders in certain areas where there are no other pass-
	able roads from point A to B.  It is very carefully controlled--
	signs indicate where you can get on and where you must exit.
	Some of these are in urban areas but most are in the mountains.

	On the other point, i.e. increasing the 55 mph limit-- Californians
	drive 65 to 70 mph anyway on both freeways and 2-lane state highways.
	Besides I think the argument for cyclists is academic.  Once a car
	is over about thirty mph it lethalness (is that a word?), probably
	increases very little up to 70 mph and beyond.  I also don't believe
	a bad driver at 70 is any worse than a bad driver at 55.