Advocacy & Safety - Totally awesome opinion column

http://governors.spps.org/Bicycle_Lanes_Annoy_Many.html :rolleyes:

I know it's only a high school paper, but hey, these anti-bike sentiments start young. Someone should totally do something.

Anyway, I sent an email, for whatever that was worth. I know how much you guys love stuff like this, so here you go.

Pretty awesome!

This supports the idea that we should start young in building bike awareness. By the time a person is in high school they will move quickly to car culture. Also suggests that new drivers really dont have good control of their vehicles.

Freshman Count too!

Wow, well, that one isn't college bound. Or english isn't their first language, I'll hope that's it.

"It's my roadway and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to..." la-di-da-di-da... :rolleyes:


Wow, well, that one isn't college bound. Or english isn't their first language, I'll hope that's it.

English her first language not is. :D

I say we all send a bunch of intimidating email. ;)

Seriously, I guess they do start young. This is a Bad Thing(TM).

Um, I have seen people drive on the sidewalk! Also everyone always talks about the 100s of bicycle deaths each year. No mention is ever made of the 45,000 (a figure I remember from '00 I believe) deaths every year from auto accidents. Maybe we should ban cars for our own safety.

Does enlightment come from intimidation?

FYI - here is my relpy to the school paper staff...

Hello Laura Mathisen,

Interesting opinion article “Bicycle Lanes Annoy Many”. As a bicycle commuter, I have to agree with you – it is a challenge for someone to bicycle from point A to point B with out annoying motorists.

Needless to say I am not interested in annoying motorist or getting run over on my way to work, but I need to travel faster than safe sidewalk speeds (3 to 4 mph) and the public streets are my only option. So why aren’t there better bicycle facilities on the public streets so cars and bicyclists can travel together safely?

It is actually a complex problem involving money, politics and human nature. If you are interested in Journalism and public transportation you might consider exploring the local/state/federal process for road development and maintenance. If you want to “walk in someone else’s shoes” you might consider not using your car for a few weeks and rely strictly on a bike and bus to get around - just be careful not to annoy too many motorists.

Good luck – feel free to write if you have any questions or want additional feedback.

The solution at the end of the article was to avoid busy streets, get rid of bike lanes and ride on the sidewalks. All three are wrong.

My email wasn't intimidating (I hope) but I just responded to the article point by point in a reasoned manner. I agree that intimidation is not the best approach. And yes oboe, I know you were kidding.

By that person's logic, since thousands of people are killed by drunk drivers every year, we should just get all the sober ones off the road.

Basically all the "problems" she points to in her letter are the fault of poor driving, yet the cyclists should be punished. I'm just glad I don't have to ride (or drive) on a road with this person. If she really feels that uncomfortable driving, perhaps she should be the one on the sidewalk.

Edit: Her title "Bicycle Lanes Annoy Many" could use a counter-point article. It could be titled, "Idiotic Drivers Annoy Many More"

That person needs to think through her thought pattern a little more before she writes something so idiotic! Her argument is so full of holes I could ride my bike through them.

How does the saying go...Its better to be thought a fool than to opens ones mouth and remove all doubt.

Somehow I see a tie in to this thread, where the prevailing opionion is that the young lady should be excused for mowing down a cycling team because she was a new driver and it was just an accident.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=122965

Well, I wouldn't characterize it as the prevailing opinion. It looks like some of the people you are likely referring to are only suggesting getting all the facts before placing blame. I doubt many people disagree that people piloting multi-ton metal boxes out in public without the necessary experience are a hazard.

My opinion, worth just as much as this kid's, is that 16-18 year olds don't belong in cars anyway, they should be on bikes. Much of the worst driving I see is done by hormone-crazed chuckleheads in their mom's Ford Taurus, trying desperately to be cool hotrodders in a busted old sedan.

I like this paragraph:

Driver’s across the nation are frustrated with the ridiculous number of bikes along side them in the street.

I have a hard time believing she surveyed people all across the nation to come up with this point. She really backs her point up with this reliable source:

"Junior Brandon Callais feels very nervous around bikes on the street; especially on the busiest roads. “You feel really anxious to get as far away from the bikes as fast as you can, and it is just such a pain to deal with,”said Callais. Aww, poor guy, it is a pain to share the road. I wonder if it is a pain to drive when the snow is four feet high and the road is covered with ice.

"He has only been driving for a short while"

When I first learned how to drive, nothing was a pain. I use to love to go down and wait in the gas line because my parents would allow me to drive there.

" but the frustration is just as strong as any highly experienced driver."

How does she know? Where is her research? She probably spoke to her mom who said it was frustrating. Would it be less frustrating to be sitting in traffic behind the guy who otherwise would be on a bike?

I think I found her a boyfriend

http://www.usrbingeek.com/albums/friendsfamily/MVC_420F.sized.jpg

I know it's only a high school paper, but hey, these anti-bike sentiments start young. Someone should totally do something.
--- The young author, Laura Mathisen-Staff Writer, will change her position 180 degrees if she starts dating an environmental activist. Or a roadie.

I think I found her a boyfriend

http://www.usrbingeek.com/albums/friendsfamily/MVC_420F.sized.jpg

:roflmao:

Kids these days.

Kids these days.

"--By the way Mr. Rooney, you left your wallet in the kitchen. . ."