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Re: Biker radicals
In article <191412Z16071995@anon.penet.fi> an276657@anon.penet.fi writes:
>
>
>So what do we do about it? Well if they want to be treated like drivers
>then we treat them like drivers, by the book. Nothing illegal but no
>slack either, treat them just like you'd treat any car. No more letting
>them pass you on the right when you are making a right turn. No more
>yielding to them when they're in the cross walk or on the sidewalk, if
>they aren't supposed to be there you don't yield to them. If they ride
>at night without lights you don't see them and they're not there. If
>they want to make a left turn they can just wait till there's a gap, I'm
>not giving it to them. And if they have a stop or yield sign I'm just
>going to assume that they are going to stop, no more waving them
>through. If they're riding on the wrong side of the road, fuck em, I'm
>not moving over. Let's see how they really like it when we all stop
>being Mr. Niceguy. Let them see that the real world of driving isn't as
>nice as they seem to think it is.
I know this wasn't the reaction you WANTED from us "radicals" who live by
1995 law instead of 1950 law...but.....
Sounds good to me.
I agree that if cyclists want to be treated as vehicles, we must obey
vehicular laws. NO problem. When i teach a biking class here at the
university, this is one thing i stress to the students. When I see a
youngster cycling to school...on the wrong side... i ride beside him and
*gently* explain to him that what he is doing isn't safe, and say "follow
me!"
The reason the law is changed, BTW, is because of research. Bikes used to
be treated as toys, and thus followed pedestrian law. It was discovered
(and you can see for yourself if you try it) that it is more dangerous
for bikes to be on sidewalks, crosswalks, etc than in the lanes with traffic.
Cyclists need to learn how to ride like a vehicle, and how to keep safe
but give automobiles the chance to pass when it is safe. I think every
"radical" here tries to do this
>One other thing, I had always thought that if you hit a biker you were
>always at fault, like hitting a pedestrian, but according to a cop I was
>talking to it's not so. If a biker runs a stop light and you hit him
>he's at fault, in fact if your car is damaged you can sue him. Gee,
>some of the those changes in the law aren't so bad!
>
I guess the part of your post/theory i don't agree with is your attitude
toward the coexistence of bikes and cars. YOu seem to be saying: fine, we
have to be together, then I'll do my damndest to get you hurt, even killed.
Is this what you meant? I'd like a real answer on this one. It's one
thing to assuage your tender ego with a threat.. is that what people
should really think?
Why not do your best to let bikers know what YOU< the driver, want in
this situation, assuming we are going to be sharing the road. I'm all ears.
Kev Statema
n8842746@henson.cc.wwu.edu
(not anonymous, you notice)
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