Logic vs. Emotion

[LittleBigMan]

Logic dictates that when two systems collide, the more powerful system wins. Creating two separate systems for bikes and cars is an idea favored by the motoring public, because "they win."

A separate system for cyclists, apart from the same roads used by cars, will of necessity be inferior and subordinate to the system used by cars. When one meets the other (which must happen on a two dimensional scheme, unless you want to invest millions in "bicycle bridges,") the cyclist will always have to yield right of way to motorists. Always.

Separating cyclists from motor traffic, from a cyclists' viewpoint, is based not on logic (see above,) but on emotion: the cyclist's alleged fear of traffic. This is a poor basis for any safe transportation system.

Separating cyclists from motor traffic, from a motorist's viewpoint,
is based on logic, as it should be: get the bikes off the street and I don't have to deal with them.

When logic and emotion collide, who will win?

[JonR]

Well, Pete, in this country at least, emotion seems almost always to win. But in this case, logic will win, because it's on the motorists' side, and the motorists will always win for various reasons, ranging from greedy to criminal.

[Chris L]

Can someone please explain to me how "logic is on the motorists' side"? I mean, we all know of the problems of urban congestion and car dependence and the depletion of petroleum resources before an alternative is found etc, etc. What logic do they have exactly?

Personally, I think emotion is on their side (if you can call laziness an emotion). They probably will win out in the end, but not with logic.

Chris

[JonR]

Originally posted by Chris L
What logic do they have exactly?
I didn't mean to imply they have sterling logic; it's logic of a very simple sort, tailored to their mental capability:

a. Cyclists are an unpleasant problem for us.
b. If we get rid of cyclists, we will be rid of that problem.
c. We will get rid of cyclists.

Q.E.D.

[LittleBigMan]

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Our society accepts and seems to even encourage laziness... there is little to no logic behind motorist's actions, they are just doing things the easiest way possible. God knows that exercising and being healthy would be a terrible thing.
You have not only hit the nail on the head, you have buried the head into the wood.

[AlphaGeek]

Originally posted by Pete Clark
You have not only hit the nail on the head, you have buried the head into the wood.

Ooooh, Ouch! Wooden heads!

[Chris L]

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Our society accepts and seems to even encourage laziness... there is little to no logic behind motorist's actions, they are just doing things the easiest way possible. God knows that exercising and being healthy would be a terrible thing.

Badger is once again 100% correct. The good news is, I stand a realistic chance of outliving global fuel supplies, so there might just be a shift in logic. The bad news is, I may be about 80 when it happens. I hope to still be riding at that age, but you never know.

Chris