Living Car Free - Lower Emissions

My mom sent me this today and I thought you folks would enjoy it too. :)

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5103/bikelanescomicdf9.jpg

Stolen from Yehuda Moon.

Fair enough. Regardless, its nice to see things like this in the mainstream (are newspapers still considered mainstream?). Especially in Mississippi.

It's certainly well-intentioned, but I think there's too much focus on making seperate infrastructure for bikes. Why can't we share the road? Paris does it. It won't require building anything. We could start by demanding that traffic laws are actually enforced... so going 10-15 MPH over the speed limit is not OK anymore. By this alone, more folks will be willing to saddle up.

It's certainly well-intentioned, but I think there's too much focus on making seperate infrastructure for bikes. Why can't we share the road? Paris does it. It won't require building anything. We could start by demanding that traffic laws are actually enforced... so going 10-15 MPH over the speed limit is not OK anymore. By this alone, more folks will be willing to saddle up.

Paris has some separate infrastructure. From my understanding bikes and buses share dedicated lanes. And until US drivers are a) better trained and get an attitude adjustment b) enforcement of traffic laws becomes uniform and effective we are going to continue to have problems. The separate bicycle infrastructure works very, very well in the countries that have implemented it. I am a life long cyclist and I have over 35 years of riding experience. Most cyclists don't have that level of riding experience nor want to mix with incompetent, inattentive motorists bent on being first in line every time. There are literally thousands of minor fender benders everyday in the US. They are very minor if it is two cars involved, that same accident could be fatal to a cyclist if they were the other vehicle. Build a safe and usable cycling specific infrastructure and they will come. BTW an MUP IS NOT a cycling specific infrastructure, it is a recreational trail...

Aaron:)

Paris has some separate infrastructure. From my understanding bikes and buses share dedicated lanes. And until US drivers are a) better trained and get an attitude adjustment b) enforcement of traffic laws becomes uniform and effective we are going to continue to have problems. The separate bicycle infrastructure works very, very well in the countries that have implemented it. I am a life long cyclist and I have over 35 years of riding experience. Most cyclists don't have that level of riding experience nor want to mix with incompetent, inattentive motorists bent on being first in line every time. There are literally thousands of minor fender benders everyday in the US. They are very minor if it is two cars involved, that same accident could be fatal to a cyclist if they were the other vehicle. Build a safe and usable cycling specific infrastructure and they will come. BTW an MUP IS NOT a cycling specific infrastructure, it is a recreational trail...Aaron:)

Of course, at one time, 35 years ago, you didn't have "that level of riding experience," but you managed to pick it up.

When I was a kid in the 1960s, we learned bike safety in grade school. I still remember the film strip that said, "When you're riding your bicycle, you have the same rights and responsibilities as the drivers of cars." This kind of training served us well in the so-called golden age of cycling in the 1970s.

I think we're entering a new golden age now. Unfortunately, today's newbies don't have the same training that I got in grade school. I don't think it's going to go real well!

Paris has some separate infrastructure. From my understanding bikes and buses share dedicated lanes.

Aaron:)

Apologies, you are absolutely right there. I do remember seeing that now.

Of course, at one time, 35 years ago, you didn't have "that level of riding experience," but you managed to pick it up.

When I was a kid in the 1960s, we learned bike safety in grade school. I still remember the film strip that said, "When you're riding your bicycle, you have the same rights and responsibilities as the drivers of cars." This kind of training served us well in the so-called golden age of cycling in the 1970s.

I think we're entering a new golden age now. Unfortunately, today's newbies don't have the same training that I got in grade school. I don't think it's going to go real well!

Thirty-five years ago I don't recall having nearly as much traffic and the number of vehicles on the roads has increased exponentially to the number of miles of roads in use. We too learned bike safety in grade school, I recall there being "streets" and intersections painted on the slab at the elementary school and the 1st-3rd graders using to practice driving and riding:thumb: It was complete with stop signs, yield signs and the like. I also recall the local police department coming out and handing out playground liscenses:lol:

Aaron:)

Of course, at one time, 35 years ago, you didn't have "that level of riding experience," but you managed to pick it up.

Only about 20 years here :P. Wasn't *born* 35 years ago.

For my age group (and people younger than me), road education happens at home. The required driver's ed class in school covered less material than my parents did. There was no practical component, just in classroom work. Most of my classmates drove very unsafely. Often, they couldn't manage simple driving tasks like a 3 hour drive to a major city. Driving in town (which is a lot harder) was not done well either.

Since most people my parents' age don't realize that driver's ed is so bad, they don't teach their children. And even if they do realize, they don't bother to start teaching until the kid is 16... about 10 years too late.