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From: mink@cfa.UUCP (Doug Mink)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Bicycles, Violence and Hatred
Message-ID: <137@cfa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-May-85 12:26:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: cfa.137
Posted: Tue May 28 12:26:11 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 30-May-85 06:43:57 EDT
Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Lines: 72


>   I have found that recently it has become a common practice to flame
>   car drivers for being inconsiderate to bicyclists. Who says that
>   bicyclists have any decency ?  Why does a bicycle have to be driven on
>   on a road for MOTOR vehicles[?]

Those roads, at least where I live, were for bicycles before there were cars
(and horses and pedestrians before that).

>   They are unstable (I always fear that the guy on the bicycle will
>   fall in front of my car...

While I've seen kids on bicycles wobble a bit, very few of the bicyclists
you'll encounter on the open road are 'unstable.'  A fast moving bicycle
is more maneuverable than a car, and on a rough road, may move sideways to
avoid potholes, but it is *very* unlikely to fall over in front of you.

>   [A bicyclist should] remain as far as possible from the road and
>   should use it ONLY in case of not having any flat ground on the side
>   of the road.

Most bicycles used on roads are meant to be used on roads.  They have narrow
tires which do not work on gravel, grass, or dirt, which are the common
borders of roads.  In Massachusetts, at least, bicyclists are supposed to
ride as far right as is practical.  If it is unsafe for a car to pass me,
I'll take up the whole lane until it is safe; if the road is narrow for
a long time, I'll move over to let the car by as soon as I can.  Bicycles
have a legal right to the roads for many reasons.  We were there first, in
the 1880's and 90's, fighting to get better raods built.  Roadmaps fold
to the size that they do so that they'll fit in bicycle handlebar map cases.
In urban areas, bicycles are the most efficient form of transportation
for individuals.  They don't smog up the atmosphere or consume valuable
petrochemicals, or require vast areas of concrete in which to be left for
50% of the time they're used.  Society, with a little convincing from
bicycle/ecologists, has decided that slowing down traffic a bit (and I can't
believe that bicycles are so populous around you that this is more than a
minor nuisance) is a small price to pay for the clean, cheap transportation
they provide.

>   Secondly, a bike rider on a road is causing a break in the normal flow
>   of traffic.

See above.

>   Thirdly, a bike is very narrow  and therefore should not be allowed to
>   occupy a full lane. What a gross waste of precious road space during
>   office hours.
> 
>   Cycles should be OUTLAWED from the main streets and heavy traffic
>   throughfares like they are from freeways.
> 
>   I am amused at the audacity of the bike riders to insist that they will
>   inconvenience others and claim that as their right to remain on the road.

It is true that bicyclists are a bit self-righteous about their right to
the roads, but battling cars for space every day is hard work, since yours
a very common, though not frequently as clearly stated, feeling.  If you're
driving your car less than 5 miles to work every day, try a bike.  It probably
won't take more than 10 minutes longer, you'll get some exercise, and you
too can feel superior to the motorists passing by.  In any event, remember
that bicyclists are like automobile drivers--there are good ones and there
are bad ones.  Most bicyclists learned how to deal with traffic in the school
of hard knocks; many have not been doing it for long and may have a few knocks
left.  If you want to do something constructive, convince your state or
municipality to provide more bicycle education in the schools, beyond
the neighborhood riding taught in elementary schools.

--
			-biking on the roads year 'round in Boston
			 Doug Mink
			 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
			 Boston Area Bicycle Coalition