Living Car Free - NYT: Men On Bicycles

We really should have a sticky 'LCF in the News', but here's a good editorial about poor immigrants using bikes to get to work and getting killed in the process.



Bicyclists and suburbs are an uneasy fit. I don’t mean the racing bikers who swarm like neon-colored beetles, hogging the middle of the road. I’m talking about the guys without helmets, on beat-up mountain bikes: restaurant workers wearing windbreakers over white dress shirts and ties; men in sweatshirts and baseball caps riding home from the store, plastic shopping bags hanging awkwardly off the handlebars.

Such sights are evidence of a valiant adaptation to a hostile environment. For immigrant workers, as with so many of us in the suburbs, life boils down to the job, the bed and the travel between. But when you live in a landscape designed for cars, and you are poor, and it is too far to walk to work, and there’s no bus to take you there, the only option is two wheels. This is what is cheap and effective. It can also be deadly.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/opinion/11sun3.html

It's just my experience, but as a concerned utility cyclist living and bicycle commuting in the Coachella Valley just north of the Mexican border, I tracked such stories in the local paper with interest.

I noted a few things. 1) The vast majority of cyclists hit in that area were immigrants. 2) Most of them were not obeying the laws when they were hit.

Most frequently, they were riding against traffic, riding without lights, cutting across intersections improperly or across traffic improperly.

There is a definite need to make immigrant workers aware of how to ride safely here. It could help a lot.

We really should have a sticky 'LCF in the News', but here's a good editorial about poor immigrants using bikes to get to work and getting killed in the process.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/opinion/11sun3.html

For another view of NYC Car Free lifestyle: see
A Few of Their Favorite Things

By DEBORAH BALDWIN (NYT)

Leon I. Jacobson’s Upper West Side apartment holds many collections, but the main one you notice is his collection of bikes, scooters and unicycles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/realestate/11habi.html

It's just my experience, but as a concerned utility cyclist living and bicycle commuting in the Coachella Valley just north of the Mexican border, I tracked such stories in the local paper with interest.

I noted a few things. 1) The vast majority of cyclists hit in that area were immigrants. 2) Most of them were not obeying the laws when they were hit.

Most frequently, they were riding against traffic, riding without lights, cutting across intersections improperly or across traffic improperly.

There is a definite need to make immigrant workers aware of how to ride safely here. It could help a lot.

Most of the people I see here crossing busy suburban arterials on foot -- not even at intersections, either -- appear to be Mexican immigrants. Sounds like the ones on bikes are just doing the same thing.

(I hate saying things like that; I feel so racist when I do....)

Sounds like drivers who purposely struck immigrants on bikes. Horrible, just horrible.

It's just my experience, but as a concerned utility cyclist living and bicycle commuting in the Coachella Valley just north of the Mexican border, I tracked such stories in the local paper with interest.

I noted a few things. 1) The vast majority of cyclists hit in that area were immigrants. 2) Most of them were not obeying the laws when they were hit.

Most frequently, they were riding against traffic, riding without lights, cutting across intersections improperly or across traffic improperly.

There is a definite need to make immigrant workers aware of how to ride safely here. It could help a lot.

This should extend to more than immigrants. Most newbie commuters I see heading out for the first time on city streets appear to not know even the most basic rules (like, "Don't ride in the gutter.." or "If you are on a sidewalk, look out for a right hook at an intersection").

The other side of the equation is the suburban nightmare where it is almost impossible to move around w/o a car. That needs to be addressed as well. Some of those makeovers you see at sites like Complete Streets (http://www.completestreets.org/) would help a lot.

In fact, that would be a great place to sink a chunk of this new "rebuild the economy" federal money.

We really should have a sticky 'LCF in the News', but here's a good editorial about poor immigrants using bikes to get to work and getting killed in the process.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/opinion/11sun3.html

I did a little research into the men mentioned in the article.

Hector Rapalo, 39, hit in Islip. Hit from behind at 10:45pm. I could not tell if he had lights. It was a hit and run.

Santos Javier Ramos, 21, Selden. He was riding across Route 25 at 1:45 a.m.

Enrique Aguilar-Gamez, 26, Copiague; He came across the traffic lanes, just west of Straight Path 11:57 p.m. Driver was not faulted
.
Adolfo Reyes, 42, I don't know why he was included. The incident was dreadful. He was standing at job pickup site in Holtsville and a motorist pulled onto the sidewalk, drove 70 feet on the sidewalk and hit him. But he was not bicycling.

One article I read (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-libike305981853dec30,0,462209.story) mentioned that there had been 7 fatal bike accidents on Long Island in 2008.

It also quoted Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a consumer group based in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., who said day laborers and others with low incomes are most in danger of fatal crashes.

"If you are a low-income person, not only do you not have a helmet, but you don't have a light on your bike," he said.

It is sad indeed.

This should extend to more than immigrants. Most newbie commuters I see heading out for the first time on city streets appear to not know even the most basic rules (like, "Don't ride in the gutter.." or "If you are on a sidewalk, look out for a right hook at an intersection").

The other side of the equation is the suburban nightmare where it is almost impossible to move around w/o a car. That needs to be addressed as well. Some of those makeovers you see at sites like Complete Streets (http://www.completestreets.org/) would help a lot.

In fact, that would be a great place to sink a chunk of this new "rebuild the economy" federal money.

Most of these new commuters in Lansing are not immigrants, just regular Americans who have decided on cycling. And this predates the economic crisis, and even predates the high gas prices of 2008. I've noticed a lot of new commuters in the last few years.

I agree on the need for better streets in suburban areas as a long term solution. I hope some of this new stimulus money will address this problem.

In the short run, I think it would be better to initiate better safety education for cyclists. They should be taught vehicular cycling because riding in the streets is usually safer than riding on the sidewalks.

I did a little research into the men mentioned in the article.

Hector Rapalo, 39, hit in Islip. Hit from behind at 10:45pm. I could not tell if he had lights. It was a hit and run.

Santos Javier Ramos, 21, Selden. He was riding across Route 25 at 1:45 a.m.

Enrique Aguilar-Gamez, 26, Copiague; He came across the traffic lanes, just west of Straight Path 11:57 p.m. Driver was not faulted
.
Adolfo Reyes, 42, I don't know why he was included. The incident was dreadful. He was standing at job pickup site in Holtsville and a motorist pulled onto the sidewalk, drove 70 feet on the sidewalk and hit him. But he was not bicycling.

One article I read (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-libike305981853dec30,0,462209.story) mentioned that there had been 7 fatal bike accidents on Long Island in 2008.

It also quoted Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a consumer group based in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., who said day laborers and others with low incomes are most in danger of fatal crashes.

"If you are a low-income person, not only do you not have a helmet, but you don't have a light on your bike," he said.

It is sad indeed.

Good research. Lights and helmets could be provided by employers, using the $20/month tax credits available to them from the bailout legislation. A helmet probably won't save a cyclist who is struck by a car, but decent lights might have prevented these nighttime accidents.

I agree that cycling education is important but after hearing what some of my car driver friends had to say the other day about cyclists i think drivers need a LOT of education too!

from what it sounds like some of these "accidents" are more like murder. nothing can protect you from a driver who's intent is to hit you and kill you. having said that, economic factors clearly determine how one rides their bike. in the city where i live the poorest people clearly ride in the bike lanes going the wrong way. or if there is no bike lanes they are still riding against traffic. In general the poorest residents of the city don't really abide by the traffic laws. its more like what ever they feel like doing. even motorists skip through red lights often and rarely stop at stop signs.

Good research. Lights and helmets could be provided by employers, using the $20/month tax credits available to them from the bailout legislation. A helmet probably won't save a cyclist who is struck by a car, but decent lights might have prevented these nighttime accidents.

Problem is a lot of these people are possibly illegal and being paid under the table...

I have come close to hitting more than one of these riders when heading to work before dawn in the mornings, both driving and riding. Lack of any form of cycling education is the elephant in the room. Years ago it was a part of the grade school curriculum. In the Netherlands they have actually started classes for immigrants to teach them how to assimilate into the Dutch way of doing things, including how to ride a bicycle safely.

Aaron:)

From what the article says, it's pretty obvious that two of the riders were hit on purpose (the one hit by the 80 mph car and the one hit while just standing on a sidewalk). I'd call them victims of hate crimes. It's utterly disgusting. I am also quite willing to believe that the victims' ethnicity was even a factor in the other, probably hit-and-run cases; it's not likely that a driver who hit a WASP wearing Lycra, riding a $10,000 bicycle, would just ride off without a word.

That said, I do think that recent Latin American immigrants to the US bring customs with them that are potentially dangerous in their new environment. One of them is the habit of riding bikes on the left, against car traffic. I agree with an earlier poster who said that outreach/education is necessary.

From what the article says, it's pretty obvious that two of the riders were hit on purpose (the one hit by the 80 mph car and the one hit while just standing on a sidewalk). I'd call them victims of hate crimes. It's utterly disgusting. I am also quite willing to believe that the victims' ethnicity was even a factor in the other, probably hit-and-run cases; it's not likely that a driver who hit a WASP wearing Lycra, riding a $10,000 bicycle, would just ride off without a word.

The fellow standing at the job site was obviously a killed as part of a hate crime. The driver was way off the beaten track.

However, assuming that a driver in a tuner car driving at 80 mph on Christmas night was committing a hate crime and intentionally did it is a much bigger leap. Yes it was a hit and run, but at that hour with a car like that there could be a multitude of reasons that the driver fled including drinking, drugs, prior tickets to name only a few. Clearly the driver is a menace and needs to be caught, but to extend that to a hate crime is without base.

I also disagree that a lycra-wearing rider on a $10,000 bicycle would necessarily receive better care from the driver. Sadly, there are too many incidents that say otherwise like this one (http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/stan-oldak-nycc-club-rep/).

I agree that cycling education is important but after hearing what some of my car driver friends had to say the other day about cyclists i think drivers need a LOT of education too!

AMEN! I have long contended that the allowing a 16 year old to drive with only about 40 hours of total driver training is insane!

Aaron:)

I did a little research into the men mentioned in the article.

Hector Rapalo, 39, hit in Islip. Hit from behind at 10:45pm. I could not tell if he had lights. It was a hit and run.

Santos Javier Ramos, 21, Selden. He was riding across Route 25 at 1:45 a.m.

Enrique Aguilar-Gamez, 26, Copiague; He came across the traffic lanes, just west of Straight Path 11:57 p.m. Driver was not faulted
.
Adolfo Reyes, 42, I don't know why he was included. The incident was dreadful. He was standing at job pickup site in Holtsville and a motorist pulled onto the sidewalk, drove 70 feet on the sidewalk and hit him. But he was not bicycling.

One article I read (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-libike305981853dec30,0,462209.story) mentioned that there had been 7 fatal bike accidents on Long Island in 2008.

It also quoted Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a consumer group based in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., who said day laborers and others with low incomes are most in danger of fatal crashes.
.

How sad!

This is the reason I don't like riding in Long Island. It's horrible! The subdivisions go two or three blocks and dump you right onto the expressway! This is designed so the motorist cannot ride through the subdivisions at high speed. However, it also forces the cyclist to ride on roads where the cars are going 60 mph or more!

I have to spend quality time making routes through Long Island while avoiding the expressway using my GPS but it's a jungle. It's not only horrible for cyclist but the motorist also! Loads of car accidents and deaths on the Long Island Expressway.

I think a less expensive alternative to lights and a helmet would be to hand out reflective safty vests. But honestly, there really is no solution for the cyclist in Long Island. The infrastructure was designed for the motorist.

I agree that cycling education is important but after hearing what some of my car driver friends had to say the other day about cyclists i think drivers need a LOT of education too!
Where do drivers learn to speed just to speed? Actual conversation doing 10mph over the speed limit going to a Christmas party in the far suburbs.

me: "Why are you following that car so closely?"
driver:"I'm not following closely, she's going too slow. Its not my fault she isn't going fast enough."
me: "Are we late for the party?"
driver:"No, we have plenty of time."

I'll never get in a car with that guy driving again. Years ago when I had a car there seemed to be this unwritten rule in the DC suburbs that if you aren't going at least 15mph over the speed limit you're "Blocking traffic.". Even in a rainstorm in a construction zone I'd had people flip me off and honk for doing just 10mph over. It seems that drivers still have that attitude. Its another reason I'm glad I'm car free but scares me when I bike out to the suburbs.

"Blocking traffic" means that you're going slower than everyone else.

It really doesn't matter what the speed limit is -- if you're going slower, people are going to try to get around you.

Just don't be a clot. Go with the rest of them and save the hassle for someplace else. To go slower than everyone else on purpose is like saying, "It's not my fault they're driving too fast" -- which isn't any more considerate than your acquaintance who said "It's not my fault she isn't going fast enough."

"Blocking traffic" means that you're going slower than everyone else.

It really doesn't matter what the speed limit is -- if you're going slower, people are going to try to get around you.

Just don't be a clot. Go with the rest of them and save the hassle for someplace else. To go slower than everyone else on purpose is like saying, "It's not my fault they're driving too fast" -- which isn't any more considerate than your acquaintance who said "It's not my fault she isn't going fast enough."

Okay...I will run my big heavy truck with a fully loaded trailer at 70mph+ down the Fairfax Parkway...NOT! Running at the speed of traffic is not always safe...they wreck...I don't :D

Aaron:)

Snide remarks about TTs aside, I fail to see why it's such a good idea to be a rolling road hazard. It's just as selfish to trundle along 20 mph slower than everyone else as it is to be zooming along 20 mph faster.

Get off of your damned moral high horse and just go with the flow for once. Maybe the daily rush hour accidents will start to subside around here.

Lack of any form of cycling education is the elephant in the room.
Aaron:)

Yes, but clearly not only for those guys. I see lots of commuters, even with helmets and lights, riding on the sidewalk. Which is fine by me, except that they really don't understand the danger of the sidewalk [or the alley or the parking lot...for that matter].

I recall my own first trips out into the street and being amazed at some of the observations I made through my own experience. Finally, I did some research on the Internet [like BF] and got some better ideas.

I'm hoping to be able to turn some of those new riders to web sites like : http://bicyclesafe.com/ (http://bicyclesafe.com/). Even this brief web page could save a life.

Snide remarks about TTs aside, I fail to see why it's such a good idea to be a rolling road hazard. It's just as selfish to trundle along 20 mph slower than everyone else as it is to be zooming along 20 mph faster.

Get off of your damned moral high horse and just go with the flow for once. Maybe the daily rush hour accidents will start to subside around here.

Speed limits are set for a variety of reasons, regardless of the "need to raise local revenue" conspiracy theory. I typically drive the posted speed limit, slower if conditions deteriorate or warrant. I have averaged over 30,000 miles a year for 35 years with no accidents and only 2 tickets. I contend that the bulk of the drivers on the road are incompetent, and under trained; I drive accordingly.

BTW I was on the Fairfax Parkway on Tuesday evening and the trailer was loaded with equipment from our job site at Northrup Grumman in the area...not my idea of fun.

Aaron:)

Speed limits are set for a variety of reasons, regardless of the "need to raise local revenue" conspiracy theory.

I don't care. I don't f'ing CARE. I never said anything about some revenue conspiracy.

If everyone's going 80, don't risk causing an accident by sticking with the 50 mph speed limit. If everyone's going 30 on that same road, don't try going 50 just because "it's the speed limit".

Frankly, it's a good thing that there are enough drivers who pay attention or else you would've gotten rear-ended a few times already.

I don't care. I don't f'ing CARE. I never said anything about some revenue conspiracy.

If everyone's going 80, don't risk causing an accident by sticking with the 50 mph speed limit. If everyone's going 30 on that same road, don't try going 50 just because "it's the speed limit".

Frankly, it's a good thing that there are enough drivers who pay attention or else you would've gotten rear-ended a few times already.

And whose fault would that be? Not mine, it is the overtaking vehicle's responsibility to avoid things in front of it. Exceeding safe speeds is one of the major contributing causes of accidents.

FWIW I have been rear ended...while sitting stopped at a red light, bimbo was texting and didn't see me:rolleyes: How you can miss a large RED dually pickup with a huge chrome bumper is beyond me.

Aaron:)

redacted by admin.

Sorry, but this isn't the way the roads work. We have laws and rules, and all road users are expected to abide by them. If people are driving 80, they're breaking the law. If they hit somebody who was driving the posted speed limit of 50, it makes no sense to blame the law abiding driver. The fault lies with the speeding driver, who is (by definition) a criminal. Period. The speeder will be found at fault at any court in the world, and will get a fine or even a jail sentence.

Sorry, but this isn't the way the roads work. We have laws and rules, and all road users are expected to abide by them. If people are driving 80, they're breaking the law. If they hit somebody who was driving the posted speed limit of 50, it makes no sense to blame the law abiding driver. The fault lies with the speeding driver, who is (by definition) a criminal. Period. The speeder will be found at fault at any court in the world, and will get a fine or even a jail sentence.

Not when they're found to be blocking traffic.

Really, what is the problem with sticking with the flow of traffic? How incredibly difficult of a concept is it?

You guys mean to tell me that you're going to drive and CREATE a 30-mph speed differential just so that you can feel better about yourselves?

Are you really that stupid? Honestly, do you expect that it makes sense?

Why should I bother saying anything at all...

....

You very much need to check your attitude and reread the guidelines of this forum. You are way out of line, IMO.

You really need to check your attitude and reread how to drive in traffic.

When you decide to make sense, come back.

Really, what is the problem with sticking with the flow of traffic? How incredibly difficult of a concept is it?

You guys mean to tell me that you're going to drive and CREATE a 30-mph speed differential just so that you can feel better about yourselves?

Are you really that stupid? Honestly, do you expect that it makes sense?

Why should I bother saying anything at all...

I am maintaining control of my vehicle. A 80,000# rig CANNOT stop as quickly as a 3,000# car. It takes longer to accelerate too. FWIW my "rig" grosses over 20,000# but the above applies. If I am doing the posted speed limit I am not creating the 30mph speed differential the people breaking law and exceeding the posted speed limit are creating the problem. If I run my rig at 30 mph over the posted speed limit I am creating another set of issues that I will be held LIABLE for if something goes wrong. I chose to obey the letter of the law as well as the laws of physics.

Aaron:)

Really, what is the problem with sticking with the flow of traffic? How incredibly difficult of a concept is it?

You guys mean to tell me that you're going to drive and CREATE a 30-mph speed differential just so that you can feel better about yourselves?

Are you really that stupid? Honestly, do you expect that it makes sense?

Why should I bother saying anything at all...

You seem to have a sociopathic inability to understand the rules of society, whether on a road or in an internet forum. Why don't you just leave?

I am maintaining control of my vehicle. A 80,000# rig ...

What rig? When did I talk about a rig?

You seem to have a sociopathic inability to understand the rules of society, whether on a road or in an internet forum. Why don't you just leave?

The first rule is to get home safe.

Making yourself a rolling hazard breaks that rule.

Next?

I am maintaining control of my vehicle. A 80,000# rig CANNOT stop as quickly as a 3,000# car. It takes longer to accelerate too. FWIW my "rig" grosses over 20,000# but the above applies. If I am doing the posted speed limit I am not creating the 30mph speed differential the people breaking law and exceeding the posted speed limit are creating the problem. If I run my rig at 30 mph over the posted speed limit I am creating another set of issues that I will be held LIABLE for if something goes wrong. I chose to obey the letter of the law as well as the laws of physics.

Aaron:)

Not to mention that your other "rig" is a bicycle, equally incapable of traveling as quickly as some of the other vehicles on the road. Drivers and traffic engineers like to accuse us of "blocking traffic" but the simple truth is that we have an equal right to use the road. So do other slower vehicles, including Amish buggies, farm equipment, and hearses.

This issue is of paramount importance to transportation cycling--indeed we wouldn't be able to use our bikes at all if we didn't have a strongly upheld right to use the streets and roads. As the old slogan goes:

"We're not blocking traffic--we are traffic!"

Not to mention that your other "rig" is a bicycle, equally incapable of traveling as quickly as some of the other vehicles on the road.

So do you advocate taking the lane while riding a bike on the interstate?

So do you advocate taking the lane while riding a bike on the interstate?

Not usually, but in your case I'd make an exception.

What rig? When did I talk about a rig?
Rigs are traffic, and so are bicycles...not that I would even attempt to ride a bicycle on the Fairfax Parkway.

Aaron:)

Man, BarracksSi, you are usually a pretty level headed and reasonable guy, but you really need an attitude check today. I don't know if you had a bad day or what, but take a chill pill buddy.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on a few issues. I certainly would not advocate taking the lane on the interstate, which may well be illegal anyway, you may have to check with your state DOT on that. However, to suggest that you should speed because everybody else is doing it is pretty ridiculous. I understand your point of view about impeding the flow of traffic and the dangers, however in attempting to force other, law abiding, drivers to drive at this faster speed, you are creating a whole other set of dangers in drivers who are not comfortable or competent driving at that speed. This could be for a variety of reasons, including age and medications which can reduce your reaction time. While I certainly do not want incompetent drivers on the road, it is expressly foolish to force these drivers, who may otherwise be competent, into unsafe driving conditions for everybody around them.

At the end of the day though, the US (supposedly) operates on the rule of law, not the rule of opinion. I think the laws are pretty clear on this one; you don't get to choose the speed limit. Where there is a posted minimum speed, you must also obey that. I believe in Iowa, it is not legal to ride a bicycle in those areas due to horsepower requirements or some such anyway.

Although this whole tangent about driving 80mph in a 50mph zone has little to do with living car free tbh.

Well, I have to agree with BarracksSi here. Overall, I suspect that the danger of floating in traffic even if it is going above the limit is much less than being militant about not exceeding the posted limit and causing turbulence in the traffic flow. This is basic physics.

But mesasone, you are spot on. This is kind of an odd hijacking of a thread on people who are car-free. We shouldn't even worry about driving above the speed limit on the freeway, since we can't when we are car-free. :lol:

Well, I have to agree with BarracksSi here. Overall, I suspect that the danger of floating in traffic even if it is going above the limit is much less than being militant about not exceeding the posted limit and causing turbulence in the traffic flow. This is basic physics.

But mesasone, you are spot on. This is kind of an odd hijacking of a thread on people who are car-free. We shouldn't even worry about driving above the speed limit on the freeway, since we can't when we are car-free. :lol:

Nothing militant about it...it is self preservation. More than once I have avoided multi-vehicle pile ups by NOT going with the flow, and driving at speeds in relation to road conditions. Being a conservative, defensive driver works. It may not make the egotistical, harried, obnoxious drivers around such a driver happy, but that is their issue to correct and deal with. The average driver in the US looks about 8 feet past their bumper and pays attention to little else, that is a going to bite them in the backside sooner or later.

Currently traffic accidents kill 41,000+ people a year and injure another 2.9 million, there are roughly 6.4 million traffic accidents a year. That is a huge hit to the economy to the tune of over 230 billion dollars, or more annually.

Aaron:)

Most of the people I see here crossing busy suburban arterials on foot -- not even at intersections, either -- appear to be Mexican immigrants. Sounds like the ones on bikes are just doing the same thing.

(I hate saying things like that; I feel so racist when I do....)

Since there are about 4 times as many Salvadoran as Mexican born children registered in the DC schools I wonder why you see more Mexicans than Salvadorans. How do you distinguish by looking?

Well, I have to agree with BarracksSi here. Overall, I suspect that the danger of floating in traffic even if it is going above the limit is much less than being militant about not exceeding the posted limit and causing turbulence in the traffic flow. This is basic physics.

But mesasone, you are spot on. This is kind of an odd hijacking of a thread on people who are car-free. We shouldn't even worry about driving above the speed limit on the freeway, since we can't when we are car-free. :lol:
I feel like poor driving is a danger to car-free people. Also, I don't think tailgating is considered a safe way to float with traffic. Maybe the state of the art in safe driving has changed since I took drivers education and the two second rule is now considered unsafe. What with anti lock brakes perhaps 1/2 second is ok?

I feel like poor driving is a danger to car-free people. Also, I don't think tailgating is considered a safe way to float with traffic. Maybe the state of the art in safe driving has changed since I took drivers education and the two second rule is now considered unsafe. What with anti lock brakes perhaps 1/2 second is ok?

When did I ever recommend tailgating?????:twitchy:

To me floating in traffic is going at the same speed as other traffic and allowing enough room around you.



Now I do realize that if you do allow enough following distance, you will actually go slower than traffic because other drivers will mistake proper following distance for a gap in traffic and you will be constantly easing off the gas to reestablish a safe following distance. :lol:

Since there are about 4 times as many Salvadoran as Mexican born children registered in the DC schools I wonder why you see more Mexicans than Salvadorans. How do you distinguish by looking?

They're all brown to me. :lol:

It's just my experience, but as a concerned utility cyclist living and bicycle commuting in the Coachella Valley just north of the Mexican border, I tracked such stories in the local paper with interest.

Bicycling | Sky diving (http://www.ekoventure.com)

Well, I have to agree with BarracksSi here. Overall, I suspect that the danger of floating in traffic even if it is going above the limit is much less than being militant about not exceeding the posted limit and causing turbulence in the traffic flow. This is basic physics.

Kayaking | Sky diving (http://www.ekoventure.com)

For another view of NYC Car Free lifestyle: see
A Few of Their Favorite Things

By DEBORAH BALDWIN (NYT)

Leon I. Jacobson’s Upper West Side apartment holds many collections, but the main one you notice is his collection of bikes, scooters and unicycles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/realestate/11habi.html

I thought this guy sounded a lot like me until I got to this part in the article:



A word of advice to pedestrians tempted to stray into the bike lane: Mr. Jacobson also owns a helmet with a set of antlers, and he’s not afraid to use it.


Although it sounds like something I could use. Does Nashbar sell these?

how about this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_abGRa1b0BJc/Res2Z-GfTJI/AAAAAAAACn4/nz30JG3XX_8/s400/antler+bike.jpg

I was actually looking for an image of a guy with an actual rack tied to his handlebars, but couldn't find the image. Somewhat amusingly, I did find this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2775551857_1ece430f5e.jpg?v=0

If everyone's going 80, don't risk causing an accident by sticking with the 50 mph speed limit. If everyone's going 30 on that same road, don't try going 50 just because "it's the speed limit".
Speed limits are set for a reason and it makes sense to obey them.

The posted speed limit is the maximum speed at which you are allowed to drive, under ideal conditions. In heavy snow conditions in winter, it would be foolish to drive at our 100 km/h speed limit. Sometimes one-third of that speed is too fast. And in the event of an accident in rough weather, a motorist could be charged with driving too fast for road conditions, even if he or she was moving well below the posted limit.

If everyone is driving significantly faster than the limit, the highways department would examine whether the posted speed limit should be raised.

I drive the speed limit or under when using a car... does that make me a bad person/driver?