Critique my Letter to the Editor
04-14-06, 09:36 PM
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Critique my Letter to the Editor
Open to your comments:
To the editor:
Now that warm weather and high gas prices have returned, many people will soon be getting back on their bicycles, maybe for the first time in a long time. May is National Bike Month, containing within it Bike to Work Week (15th-19th), and Bike to Work Day (19th). Additionally, GoMaine's Commute Another Way Day is June 7th. With the increase in bicycle traffic, there is plenty of information that both cyclists and car drivers should keep in mind to successfully Share the Road. I write this as a bicycle commuter with 4 years experience, riding a 10 mile round trip 4-5 days a week, year round.
Cyclists: Contrary to what you may think, you will generally fare best following the same rules and practices as a car. Riding against traffic, or weaving back and forth between the road, sidewalks, crosswalks, and parking lots, are very dangerous practices because they put you in unexpected places to drivers, with little or no margin of error. Riding with traffic, to the right but not so far as to encourage unsafe passing, is best. If you are worried about cars coming up behind you, get a mirror. At intersections, it is often best to take up your full lane to prevent being passed and cut off, and you should ideally position yourself in the proper lane for the direction you are going. The key concepts are visibility and predictability. Lots more information may be found on the Internet under "bicycle safety".
If you ride after dark, you should not only have reflectors, but also lights, and bright or reflective clothing. Many red rear blinkies are under $10; buy several! A sufficient headlight than runs on regular alkaline batteries may be had for under $50, and several brands of very good lights with rechargeable batteries are under $100.
Drivers: Please be careful! In the ideal world, all cyclists would obey the laws and be considerate, but even when they don't, remember they are smaller and less protected than you, and they have families. Also remember that a bicycle has the legal right to be on the road (Maine Statute Title 29-A, Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2063). A bicyclist is allowed, but not required, to ride in the shoulder, and sometimes will choose not to, due to grates, debris, or parked cars. You should not pass a bicycle with less than 4 feet to spare, and be careful to not pull back in front too soon. The bike may be going faster than you think.
Please let's have a safe cycling season!
To the editor:
Now that warm weather and high gas prices have returned, many people will soon be getting back on their bicycles, maybe for the first time in a long time. May is National Bike Month, containing within it Bike to Work Week (15th-19th), and Bike to Work Day (19th). Additionally, GoMaine's Commute Another Way Day is June 7th. With the increase in bicycle traffic, there is plenty of information that both cyclists and car drivers should keep in mind to successfully Share the Road. I write this as a bicycle commuter with 4 years experience, riding a 10 mile round trip 4-5 days a week, year round.
Cyclists: Contrary to what you may think, you will generally fare best following the same rules and practices as a car. Riding against traffic, or weaving back and forth between the road, sidewalks, crosswalks, and parking lots, are very dangerous practices because they put you in unexpected places to drivers, with little or no margin of error. Riding with traffic, to the right but not so far as to encourage unsafe passing, is best. If you are worried about cars coming up behind you, get a mirror. At intersections, it is often best to take up your full lane to prevent being passed and cut off, and you should ideally position yourself in the proper lane for the direction you are going. The key concepts are visibility and predictability. Lots more information may be found on the Internet under "bicycle safety".
If you ride after dark, you should not only have reflectors, but also lights, and bright or reflective clothing. Many red rear blinkies are under $10; buy several! A sufficient headlight than runs on regular alkaline batteries may be had for under $50, and several brands of very good lights with rechargeable batteries are under $100.
Drivers: Please be careful! In the ideal world, all cyclists would obey the laws and be considerate, but even when they don't, remember they are smaller and less protected than you, and they have families. Also remember that a bicycle has the legal right to be on the road (Maine Statute Title 29-A, Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2063). A bicyclist is allowed, but not required, to ride in the shoulder, and sometimes will choose not to, due to grates, debris, or parked cars. You should not pass a bicycle with less than 4 feet to spare, and be careful to not pull back in front too soon. The bike may be going faster than you think.
Please let's have a safe cycling season!
Last edited by JohnBrooking; 04-15-06 at 09:34 AM.
04-14-06, 10:19 PM
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Very good as is. I like it.
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Make a BOLD Statement While Cycling!
Jim
Make a BOLD Statement While Cycling!
04-15-06, 12:38 AM
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I would swap the order of the Drivers / Cyclists sections. The assumption being that the majority of readers are going to be drivers and a smaller proportion might lose interest if they see early that they are also included in the intended readers. In fact I would start right off the bat by addressing drivers.
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04-15-06, 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnBrooking
Open to your comments:
To the editor:
Now that warm weather and high gas prices have returned, many people will soon be getting back on their bicycles, maybe for the first time in a long time. May is National Bike Month, containing within it Bike to Work Week (15th-19th), and Bike to Work Day (19th). Additionally, GoMaine's Commute Another Way Day is June 7th. With the increase in bicycle traffic, there is plenty of information that both cyclists and car drivers should keep in mind to successfully Share the Road. I write this as a bicycle commuter with 4 years experience, riding a 10 mile round trip 4-5 days a week, year round.
Cyclists: Contrary to what you may think, you will generally fare best following the same rules and practices as a car. Riding against traffic, or weaving back and forth between the road, sidewalks, crosswalks, and parking lots, are very dangerous practices because they put you in unexpected places to drivers, with little or no margin for error. Riding with traffic, to the right but not so far as to encourage unsafe passing, is best. If you are worried about cars coming up behind you, get a mirror. At intersections, it is often best to take up your full lane to prevent being passed and cut off, and you should ideally position yourself in the proper lane for the direction you are going. The key concepts are visibility and predictability. More information may be found on the Internet under "bicycle safety".
If you ride after dark, you should not only have reflectors, but also lights, and bright or reflective clothing. Many red rear blinkies are under $10; (buy several! - Is this necessary? I only have two and they last for years. It may be an idea to buy extra batteries and carry them with you, however) A sufficient light than runs on regular alkaline batteries may be had for under $50, and several brands of very good lights with rechargeable batteries are under $100. [B]A forward-facing light is also both required by law and an excellent safety feature.[/
Drivers: Please be careful! In the ideal world, all cyclists and motorists alike would obey the laws and be considerate, but when they don't, remember they are smaller and less protected than you, and cyclists have families just like you. Also remember that a bicycle has the legal right to be on the road (Maine Statute Title 29-A, Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2063). A bicyclist is allowed, but not required, to ride in the shoulder, and sometimes will choose not to, due to grates, debris, or parked cars. You should not pass a bicycle with less than 4 feet to spare, and be careful to not pull back in front too soon. The bike may be going faster than you think.
Please let's have a safe cycling season!
To the editor:
Now that warm weather and high gas prices have returned, many people will soon be getting back on their bicycles, maybe for the first time in a long time. May is National Bike Month, containing within it Bike to Work Week (15th-19th), and Bike to Work Day (19th). Additionally, GoMaine's Commute Another Way Day is June 7th. With the increase in bicycle traffic, there is plenty of information that both cyclists and car drivers should keep in mind to successfully Share the Road. I write this as a bicycle commuter with 4 years experience, riding a 10 mile round trip 4-5 days a week, year round.
Cyclists: Contrary to what you may think, you will generally fare best following the same rules and practices as a car. Riding against traffic, or weaving back and forth between the road, sidewalks, crosswalks, and parking lots, are very dangerous practices because they put you in unexpected places to drivers, with little or no margin for error. Riding with traffic, to the right but not so far as to encourage unsafe passing, is best. If you are worried about cars coming up behind you, get a mirror. At intersections, it is often best to take up your full lane to prevent being passed and cut off, and you should ideally position yourself in the proper lane for the direction you are going. The key concepts are visibility and predictability. More information may be found on the Internet under "bicycle safety".
If you ride after dark, you should not only have reflectors, but also lights, and bright or reflective clothing. Many red rear blinkies are under $10; (buy several! - Is this necessary? I only have two and they last for years. It may be an idea to buy extra batteries and carry them with you, however) A sufficient light than runs on regular alkaline batteries may be had for under $50, and several brands of very good lights with rechargeable batteries are under $100. [B]A forward-facing light is also both required by law and an excellent safety feature.[/
Drivers: Please be careful! In the ideal world, all cyclists and motorists alike would obey the laws and be considerate, but when they don't, remember they are smaller and less protected than you, and cyclists have families just like you. Also remember that a bicycle has the legal right to be on the road (Maine Statute Title 29-A, Chapter 19, Subchapter 1, Section 2063). A bicyclist is allowed, but not required, to ride in the shoulder, and sometimes will choose not to, due to grates, debris, or parked cars. You should not pass a bicycle with less than 4 feet to spare, and be careful to not pull back in front too soon. The bike may be going faster than you think.
Please let's have a safe cycling season!
04-15-06, 09:05 AM
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John- good job! I am looking forward to Commute Week and Another Way Day here in Maine, now that finally the weather and the daylight hours are cooperating! I agree with EnigManiac, maybe try to shorten the letter to some degree, and maybe include something more about the benefits of cycling. Hopefully, the PPH will print your letter, if not maybe in the Forecaster or Notes....
04-15-06, 09:08 AM
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very good letter... I would only change one thing:
most people are too cheap to drop that kind of money on a light... not saying that's right, but that's how it is. I just checked Performance, Nashbar and REI.com and the cheapest front lights they have are like $10-20. cheap lights may not be the most optimal for night riding (and I would stress this point also) but it's better than nothing (which is what a lot of cyclists unfortunately have in the way of front lighting) and if you want to reach people, you have to appeal to their cheap tendencies, that's just how it is.
I also second "they have families just like you"
other than that, great letter.
Originally Posted by JohnBrooking
A sufficient light than runs on regular alkaline batteries may be had for under $50, and several brands of very good lights with rechargeable batteries are under $100.
I also second "they have families just like you"
other than that, great letter.
04-15-06, 09:22 AM
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very good, but it's more like a column than a letter.
04-15-06, 09:40 AM
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Great article, thanks for doing this!
About lights: I would just mention that they can be bought for as little as $10 and up, without any more details. Instead, insist that lights should be used before dark, and not only after, and are required by law. Mention also about wearing light and preferably bright colored clothing.
About lights: I would just mention that they can be bought for as little as $10 and up, without any more details. Instead, insist that lights should be used before dark, and not only after, and are required by law. Mention also about wearing light and preferably bright colored clothing.
04-15-06, 09:42 AM
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Thanks for the comments, I will take them all into consideration. As to length, I honestly don't know what I can leave out! I already feel that I condensed each of the concepts as much as I could. Most of us here could go on at much more length about any one of them. (And probably have! ) The only thing I could do is drop some of the points, but I feel they are all important.
The paper does print guest editorials, but I think you have to attend at least one editorial board meeting to be considered for that. I keep thinking of doing that, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
) The only thing I could do is drop some of the points, but I feel they are all important.The paper does print guest editorials, but I think you have to attend at least one editorial board meeting to be considered for that. I keep thinking of doing that, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
04-15-06, 10:21 AM
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Good letter. This is the only statement I would definitely change.
Riding with traffic, moving right only when necessary, safe, reasonable and between intersections (never at intersections or their approaches) to allow faster traffic to pass, but not so far right as to encourage unsafe passing, is best.
Riding with traffic, to the right but not so far as to encourage unsafe passing, is best.
Last edited by Helmet Head; 04-15-06 at 10:50 AM.
04-15-06, 11:06 AM
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If you don't want to shorten significantly, you could request that they publish it as an Op-Ed piece, it would also have more prominence in the paper that way. You might also be able to make few extra points, you should find out what the paper's word count guidelines for letters and/or an Op-Ed piece are.
04-15-06, 11:13 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by EnigManiac
I had 68 letters published last year and, to date, this year an additional 21. Only very few were more than two paragraphs.
I'm impressed with 68 letters...I publish 2-3 per year.
04-15-06, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cooker
Yeah, responses to someone else's opinion should be pithy and hopefully witty. The briefer and sharper the quip, the more likely to be published. On the other hand, this proposed letter is the primary one, so perhaps it can be longer.
I'm impressed with 68 letters...I publish 2-3 per year.
I'm impressed with 68 letters...I publish 2-3 per year.
04-15-06, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnBrooking (with example edits by nb
To the editor:
With the return of warm weather and high gas prices, many will soon be getting back on their bicycles. May is National Bike Month, including Bike to Work Week (15th-19th) and Bike to Work Day (19th). Additionally, GoMaine's Commute Another Way Day is June 7th. As a year round daily 10mi bicycle commuter with 4 years experience I recommend several tips for both cyclists and car drivers to successfully Share the Road with the increase in bicycle traffic.
...
I edited the first paragraph as an example of a way to condense it a bit if that is whats needed to get is published. Other suggestions made by others are good.
Al
04-15-06, 08:05 PM
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Nice work! Cut it and print it!
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
04-15-06, 08:13 PM
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Letters to the Editor of my paper have to be 250 words or less. But I've written longer ones and had them published as special "Voice of the Week" or whatever. Your letter is good, so maybe it'll qualify. But to be safe you might want to make it a little shorter. The info is too important to be discarded due to length.
If you are a prominent member of some local bike organization you might be able to get a special spot due to your status, too.
If you are a prominent member of some local bike organization you might be able to get a special spot due to your status, too.
