Advocacy & Safety - newspaper article (I got published)

I got published (http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100311/OPINION08/303119995/-1/opinion01) , and the editor even said I gave her some good tips and she's a cyclist.

Registration may be required.

Awesome. A byline and everything. Kudos!

Gotta wonder about the content however... with regard to "teaching kids... " I wonder how many kids could "take control of the situation" especially when confronted by angry motorists in large, noisy vehicles.

I love this "alpha dog" thinking... it works so well for young children and small women.

Congratulations on getting published. One interesting thing I picked up was the note about amber reflectors to the sides. It sounds unusual; most bikes I see these days have white spoke reflectors, rather than amber ones.

But yes, similar letters and articles about bikes on the streets can go quite a ways toward educating the public.

One small criticism:

"....This winter, when the bike lanes were impassible, I was riding on the road and I was passed, honked at and sworn at by drivers with complete disregard for my well-being.

This is legal according to this excerpt...."

It appears that I can legally pass, then honk and swear at cyclists in Erie. I'm sure that's not what you meant.

congrats and nice picture

One interesting thing I picked up was the note about amber reflectors to the sides. It sounds unusual; most bikes I see these days have white spoke reflectors, rather than amber ones.

Yea.. I didn't even realize that until I was writing the article. They're hard to even find, and I haven't gotten them yet.

It appears that I can legally pass, then honk and swear at cyclists in Erie. I'm sure that's not what you meant.

Well, I'm sure it's legal to do all of the above, but no that's not what I meant. I'm surprised the editor didn't ask for clarification. I knew what I meant, and I'm sure most people reading the article will understand if they read it in full.

with regard to "teaching kids... " I wonder how many kids could "take control of the situation" especially when confronted by angry motorists in large, noisy vehicles.

Well, kids don't generally ride on busy streets but side streets instead. If kids don't know how to properly interact with cars then they shouldn't be interactive with cars. The two major things I keep seeing with younger people is that they are riding at night without lights, and riding against traffic. Both of those are important things to learn.

Besides, I never stated I was required to ride in the lane, but that I was permitted to do so by law. As I noted in the article I occupy the bike lane or shoulder when it is safe to do so.

Well, kids don't generally ride on busy streets but side streets instead. If kids don't know how to properly interact with cars then they shouldn't be interactive with cars. The two major things I keep seeing with younger people is that they are riding at night without lights, and riding against traffic. Both of those are important things to learn.

Besides, I never stated I was required to ride in the lane, but that I was permitted to do so by law. As I noted in the article I occupy the bike lane or shoulder when it is safe to do so.

It's the "take control of the situation" aspect that bothers me... There should not be any such requirement for any valid road user to ever have to "take control of the situation." It should just be a matter of queuing up and going, period.

Any time there is a need for someone to "take control," there is a potential for control conflict... and as I said... children and small women are not going to tend to fare well when confronted by angry motorists in large loud cars.

This is pure BS: "If you show clearly that it's not safe for drivers to pass you, they're unlikely to try." Motorists can and will try anything when they feel delayed, or that their "perceived ownership" of the road is threatened. The worst case example is the Mandaville Canyon Doctor case in LA.

You even give classic examples of how you were treated... "I was riding on the road and I was passed, honked at and sworn at by drivers with complete disregard for my well-being." Apparently you failed to take your own advise... Did you "take control" of the situation?

Yes, you are correct that the laws give all road users equality, too bad that Motorists, Law Enforcement, and Judges may not. Reality does not match theory.

On the flip side... congrats for being published... sorry, I failed to acknowledge that in my original statement. If you now have a venue, you may want to elaborate on that equality issue for all road users in future articles.

It's the "take control of the situation" aspect that bothers me... There should not be any such requirement for any valid road user to ever have to "take control of the situation." It should just be a matter of queuing up and going, period.

I didn't write that. It came from here:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/bike/web/road_where.htm

It appears the editing process made it less clear what was original content and what were quoted excerpts. While the referenced articles don't always work in practice, they're better than the practices I see from both cyclists and motorists.


You even give classic examples of how you were treated... "I was riding on the road and I was passed, honked at and sworn at by drivers with complete disregard for my well-being." Apparently you failed to take your own advise... Did you "take control" of the situation?

I took control of the situation in the only way I was able. I continued on my legally permitted path until they were able to pass or I was able to be courteous and pull over. I don't always play the "alpha dog". I realize it's a lot easier if everyone treats each other with respect.

My article was intended to inform both cyclists and drivers what the laws are and what the rights of cyclists are. I was not trying to encourage anyone to ride in a manner they were uncomfortable with, unless of course it is specifically required by law, such as riding in the same direction as traffic.

Dude. Is that a mug shot or your DMV photo?

Dude. Is that a mug shot or your DMV photo?

That's as good as I get :) I thought about wearing my balaclava but then I didn't figure that would make a good impression.