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From: powers@noscvax.UUCP (William J. Powers)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.politics
Subject: Re: Bicycles, Violence and Hatred
Message-ID: <941@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-May-85 12:37:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: noscvax.941
Posted: Fri May 31 12:37:36 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Jun-85 00:23:49 EDT
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Xref: linus net.bicycle:929 net.politics:8608

> 
>   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. They are unstable ( I always fear that
>   the guy on the bicycle will fall in front of my car and that causes me
>   to overtake a bike with max. possible distance between us ) and can
>   be unbalanced by a ditch, stones etc. If the bicyclists have any
>   consideration for their auto driving brethren then they should strive to
>   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.
> 
>   Secondly, a bike rider on a road is causing a break in the normal flow
>   of traffic. Well, even at residential areas the speed limit is about
>   25-30 MPH and most bikers are travelling at ~15-18mph. In my opinion,
>   anything not capable of maintaining normal traffic flow speed should be
>   outlawed from that area. If there is a clear road and there is a bike in
>   my lane then it is a big IRRITATION for me to slow down to cross them. This
>   is the same irritation I feel when there is a stalled car in my lane or
>   an accident and it always happens when I am in a hurry to get somewhere.
> 
>   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.
>   For those who insist on their right to remain on the road, let me give
>   the example of a tomb in Rome with the inscription "Here lies the driver
>   who had his right of way". It is important to remember that if the other
>   guy does not give you right of way, then you don't have any !! So for the
>   bike riders - If the automobile guys do not respect your right then you
>   will not be a winner if you get entangled with them.
> 
>   Also, before you jump to conclusions, let me tell you that I neither yell
>   or abuse bikers, nor have I had an accident so far with anything but
>   rather all these emotions are built inside me whenever I see a lone bike
>   in my lane. I always wonder, why it had to be my lane ?  I neither
>   contemplate nor attempt to hurt any biker but only hope that he doesn't
>   lose his balance when I am about to pass him - my phobia.
> 
>   Hate mail is most welcome !!!
> 
>   sanjay


First of all where did the idea come from that roads were intended for
automobiles and not for biclycles.  Historically, roads were
originally intended for bicycles and autos were considered a nuisance.
Secondly, as a tax payer I pay for the maintanence and patrolling of
roads.  As an avid bicylce commutter, I am paying for the destruction
of roads, the enforcement of automobile ordinances, and the complications
of noise, pollution, and environmental and social suicide
forced upon me and my neighbors by automobiles,
without contributing mightily and thoughtlessly to the grotesque problem.
To put it bluntly, I am being ripped off by the over spending of my
tax dollars on issues which I not only try not to contribute to, but,
in fact, contribute to increasing my danger in riding to and from
work and play.  I resent the idea that I do not belong on the road,
when it is I who am susidizing your dependence on the automobile.

Enough said of that.

Bicylists do not and should not ride as far to the right of the road
for a very simple reason.  It is dangerous.  An experienced bicyclists
greatest danger is the motorist.  His/her best defense is to be
visible and alert.  The right side of the road is exactly where a
motorist, and, I might add, pedestrian are not looking for traffic.
Another reason for not riding far to the right is, of course, the
feared opening of car doors into ones lane.  A less obvious reason for
not riding too far to the right is that in order to avoid other
obstacles that are forever being placed in the road ( broken glass,
pot holes, etc.), that are esp. prevalent on the right side of the
road, it is better to swerve away from traffic than into it.
Still another reason for taking up a lane is that if you don't
motorists will often take that as meaning that you not only don't
belong on the road but that you're not on the road; and, therefore,
they can cut in front of you, force you off the road, and assume that
you can stop on a dime and are traveling at about 2 mph.

All of this aside, it is important that bicyclists and motorists
cooperate and communicate on the road, because it belongs to BOTH of
us.  A bicyclist must attempt to be visible for his or her own saftey
but he/she must also be considerate of the fact that we generally
travel more slowly than automobiles and, therefore, be prepared to
move to the right, or even stop if necessary, in order to permit cars
to pass us.
Furthermore, if a bicyclist wants to be treated as a slow moving
vehicle, with all the rights due one, they must act like one.
That is, they must obey all the traffic rules an regulations
prescribed to vehicles on the road.  If they don't, and they often do
not, they should have no reason to expect to be treated in the same
manner as a slow moving vehicle.
Motorists, for their part, must be on the lookout for pedestrians and
bicyclists.  If they want to pass, they should do so carefully and
possibly honk their horns to inform the bicyclist of their intentions;
and, by the way, not after they have passed as an expression of
frustration.  ( It appears to me that the inability to
communicate and the frustrations of modern life are, at the very least,
mirrored, if not intimately related, to the dependence on the
automobile.)
However, and this is an important point, this attitude
and situation is absolutely no different than that for any other slow
moving vehicle (Are you listening, Sanjay).  Absolutely no different.
If we were to follow Sanjay's rule, half of the people over 70
wouldn't be permitted on the road.

We are all in too much of a rush to get from one place to another
without any good reason.  Automobiles lock us inside steel cases in
order to protect us from our environment.  But that isolation is also
dangerous not only for bicyclists but for OUR community.
What does it say for the possibilities of a sane and happy society if
motorists and bicyclists cannot learn to live together.  What does it
say for the possibilities of blacks and whites, rich and poor, young
and old, Catholic and Jew, Russian and American.... ever, ever
learning to live together.  Believe or not, I honestly believe that by
riding my bicycle as much as I can is intimately related to dealing
with these problems; and, furthermore, the emotional and economic
dependence on the automobile confounds the problem.

Bill Powers