Advocacy article in Seattle Times
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Advocacy article in Seattle Times
In today's (10/22/06) edition of the Seattle Times, the lead article in the Pacific Magazine is an article about Seattle bicycle advocacy and safety: https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...cpcycle22.html
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Nice, positive, upbeat article. Thanks for sharing that.
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Good article but I'm not sure I'd view CM as a good thing in some cases.
For one a lot of the people participate for the same reasons people involve themselves in riots. Because others are doing it & they have the follow the crowd mentalitity, etc. They do not know, care about or believe in the reasons behind it they are there because they can be. Then there are those who are trapped there, not wanting to be, have no way out because of the large crowd & are the ones you see on TV getting nailed by the police.
Those that believe CM is a good thing need to understand while their message is good they are sometimes going about getting it out the wrong way. They ride through the streets, often times not following the traffic laws, some of which are arrestable offenses, & they expect motorists to undertand where they are coming from, etc. Motorists see them disobeying traffic laws & get angry about it. Can't say I blame the police for arresting them. There is also the issue of often required credentials to hold such an event, the credentials are often called "parade permits". If there is an ordinance requiring something like that then it needs to be obeyed, especially if the participants are going to run red lights, stop signs, etc.
If those that participate in CM want to get their message out then when the event takes place all participants need to know what it is about, why they are there & to follow all traffic laws. If that means riding single file or at most only up to 2 abreast & stopping at all traffic control devices, then that is what it means & how it should be done. Otherwise I think it can do more harm then good.
Or if CM participants want to run red lights, ride more then 2 abreast & pretty much take up the entire roadway then they need to proper credentials to do so.
For one a lot of the people participate for the same reasons people involve themselves in riots. Because others are doing it & they have the follow the crowd mentalitity, etc. They do not know, care about or believe in the reasons behind it they are there because they can be. Then there are those who are trapped there, not wanting to be, have no way out because of the large crowd & are the ones you see on TV getting nailed by the police.
Those that believe CM is a good thing need to understand while their message is good they are sometimes going about getting it out the wrong way. They ride through the streets, often times not following the traffic laws, some of which are arrestable offenses, & they expect motorists to undertand where they are coming from, etc. Motorists see them disobeying traffic laws & get angry about it. Can't say I blame the police for arresting them. There is also the issue of often required credentials to hold such an event, the credentials are often called "parade permits". If there is an ordinance requiring something like that then it needs to be obeyed, especially if the participants are going to run red lights, stop signs, etc.
If those that participate in CM want to get their message out then when the event takes place all participants need to know what it is about, why they are there & to follow all traffic laws. If that means riding single file or at most only up to 2 abreast & stopping at all traffic control devices, then that is what it means & how it should be done. Otherwise I think it can do more harm then good.
Or if CM participants want to run red lights, ride more then 2 abreast & pretty much take up the entire roadway then they need to proper credentials to do so.
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have you ever ridden a critical mass, N_C?
this article did a fairly accurate job describing the issues facing the seattle bicycling community and the directions and trends in bicycling in our city here in the Northwest.
The cover photo of the sunday magazine was of a local bikeshop owner riding a tall bike, in defiance of the local helmet and open container ordinances, Pabst beer in hand, in the middle of the Critical Mass going uptown from the Pike Place Market!!! it was fokkin' beautiful)
using Critical Mass as the main story backdrop was helpful but a bit overweighted to it. it was the article's main vehicle so can't fault the writer for that though. the issue of the bogus arrrest by road raging sherrifs deputies has been on the minds of bicyclists and the community at large.
road rage runs high in Seattle.
this article did a fairly accurate job describing the issues facing the seattle bicycling community and the directions and trends in bicycling in our city here in the Northwest.
The cover photo of the sunday magazine was of a local bikeshop owner riding a tall bike, in defiance of the local helmet and open container ordinances, Pabst beer in hand, in the middle of the Critical Mass going uptown from the Pike Place Market!!! it was fokkin' beautiful)
using Critical Mass as the main story backdrop was helpful but a bit overweighted to it. it was the article's main vehicle so can't fault the writer for that though. the issue of the bogus arrrest by road raging sherrifs deputies has been on the minds of bicyclists and the community at large.
road rage runs high in Seattle.
Last edited by Bekologist; 10-23-06 at 06:44 AM.
#6
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Originally Posted by N_C
They ride through the streets, often times not following the traffic laws, some of which are arrestable offenses, & they expect motorists to undertand where they are coming from, etc.
I agree that critical mass could be more effective if they actually followed the traffic laws. Think of how long the line of bikes would stretch if they all rode single or double file through the streets. The fact that they try to keep the pack together for safety demonstrates that the riders participating don't see themselves as real traffic, contrary to what their motto wants everyone else to believe.
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'riders don't see themselves as real traffic' is NOT the mood on a mass ride! I'm laughing just thinking about that...
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
Last edited by Bekologist; 10-23-06 at 07:50 AM.
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Originally Posted by joejack951
When is the last time you saw a driver of a motor vehicle get tackled and arrested for a traffic violation?
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Why do riders in critical mass have to violate traffic regulations? They will get their point across even better by simply following traffic regulations. You can't be arrested for riding your bike on the street even if it slows traffic.
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The thing I liked most about the article was the phrase "change the culture of the road." That's the benefit of bike/ped/complete streets facilities. Changing the culture of the road.
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I think the article about bike advocacy was good. How CM got tied into I do not know. All of the bike improvements being fought for are because of Bike Alliance of Washington and Cascade Bike club. I disturbs me to see these so called "commuters" Drinking beer while riding in traffic. Where is the safety factor in that.
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#12
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
'riders don't see themselves as real traffic' is NOT the mood on a mass ride! I'm laughing just thinking about that...
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
#13
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The part of the article that I think needed improving was a pivitol one. The safety presentation.
After giving some injury info there's a bit of speculation that unreported injuries are significant. I say, if an injury goes unreported (or untreated - doctors make reports on their treatments) chances are, it's insignificant. I've been hit by cars 3 times, reported it once (serious) and the other times it didn't harm me or my bike in any way so there was no need for a report. I've never made a report when I've tripped at home and banged my shoulder against the door either. Is there any difference?
I also have found it's how you ride that makes a big difference in collisions. My experience is similar to David Smiths' and I think the majority of cyclists that don't ride in a similar manner to him are the majority of cyclists that do end up in collisions. How are the results of riding a bike poorly any different than driving a car poorly?
It's good that David Hiller mentions, "Riding bikes is not killing people, heart disease is killing people. If everybody rode their bikes you'd see a startling decline in the rate of cycling fatalities, and you'd probably look at a startling decline in heart disease, too!"
After giving some injury info there's a bit of speculation that unreported injuries are significant. I say, if an injury goes unreported (or untreated - doctors make reports on their treatments) chances are, it's insignificant. I've been hit by cars 3 times, reported it once (serious) and the other times it didn't harm me or my bike in any way so there was no need for a report. I've never made a report when I've tripped at home and banged my shoulder against the door either. Is there any difference?
I also have found it's how you ride that makes a big difference in collisions. My experience is similar to David Smiths' and I think the majority of cyclists that don't ride in a similar manner to him are the majority of cyclists that do end up in collisions. How are the results of riding a bike poorly any different than driving a car poorly?
It's good that David Hiller mentions, "Riding bikes is not killing people, heart disease is killing people. If everybody rode their bikes you'd see a startling decline in the rate of cycling fatalities, and you'd probably look at a startling decline in heart disease, too!"
Last edited by closetbiker; 10-23-06 at 10:49 AM.
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How does an injury get reported? I had a motorcycle accident not too long ago and I really didn't want to get hauled off on the ambulance so I said I was fine. The EMT took one look at my leg and said, yep, you're gonna have a nice bone bruise there. Sure enough, it took a year for the bruise and the dent in my leg to fade. There was a police report because it was an accident with an injury but was the injury actually logged anywhere as a statistic that anybody can use for anything?
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
'riders don't see themselves as real traffic' is NOT the mood on a mass ride! I'm laughing just thinking about that...
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
have YOU ever ridden a critical mass?
(crappy photscan courtesy of the Seattle Times)
I really liked this article. I do think that they talked about CM a bit too much in it, but I liked the different perspectives on everything else. Well written, fair, and logical.
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Originally Posted by joejack951
When is the last time you saw a driver of a motor vehicle get tackled and arrested for a traffic violation?
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Originally Posted by joejack951
When is the last time you saw a driver of a motor vehicle get tackled and arrested for a traffic violation?
I agree that critical mass could be more effective if they actually followed the traffic laws. Think of how long the line of bikes would stretch if they all rode single or double file through the streets. The fact that they try to keep the pack together for safety demonstrates that the riders participating don't see themselves as real traffic, contrary to what their motto wants everyone else to believe.
I agree that critical mass could be more effective if they actually followed the traffic laws. Think of how long the line of bikes would stretch if they all rode single or double file through the streets. The fact that they try to keep the pack together for safety demonstrates that the riders participating don't see themselves as real traffic, contrary to what their motto wants everyone else to believe.
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Originally Posted by sbhikes
The thing I liked most about the article was the phrase "change the culture of the road." That's the benefit of bike/ped/complete streets facilities. Changing the culture of the road.
"Almost 40 percent of the population doesn't drive," says Barbara Culp, head of the Bicycle Alliance, "including disabled, elderly, children, those who can't afford it. So we have a car culture that ignores a huge percentage of the population. When we talk about Complete Streets, what we're really talking about is transportation equity."
Changing this culture is the key to making all forms of transportation acceptable.
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Originally Posted by sbhikes
How does an injury get reported? I had a motorcycle accident not too long ago and I really didn't want to get hauled off on the ambulance so I said I was fine. The EMT took one look at my leg and said, yep, you're gonna have a nice bone bruise there. Sure enough, it took a year for the bruise and the dent in my leg to fade. There was a police report because it was an accident with an injury but was the injury actually logged anywhere as a statistic that anybody can use for anything?
If you were to fall down and get up and go, there would be no report but if you were to fall down and get helped up by an EMT, they would log it as would the police, doctor or insurance company.
I'm sure cyclsits fall all the time, but I'm also sure it's very rare that the fall needs medical attention and as so goes unreported.
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Originally Posted by genec
I agree, and the telling quote for me was:
That quote points out that car culture has been given carte blanche for quite a while in our culture, while excluding others that are not car equipped.
Changing this culture is the key to making all forms of transportation acceptable.
"Almost 40 percent of the population doesn't drive," says Barbara Culp, head of the Bicycle Alliance, "including disabled, elderly, children, those who can't afford it. So we have a car culture that ignores a huge percentage of the population. When we talk about Complete Streets, what we're really talking about is transportation equity."
Changing this culture is the key to making all forms of transportation acceptable.
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Originally Posted by Keith99
How about the last time one ran instead of pulling over. Over half of the now popular car chases on TV start with what should have been a routine traffic stop, except instead of stopping the driver bolts. At least some of the CM stops are the same thing.
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The CM I would love to see is one that obeyed the letter of the law. You know, single-file, ride to right as practicable, heed all traffic signals and signs. Then you'll have this string of 500 cyclists going through town. And yet I can imagine they'll still get arrested...
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Originally Posted by flipped4bikes
The CM I would love to see is one that obeyed the letter of the law. You know, single-file, ride to right as practicable, heed all traffic signals and signs. Then you'll have this string of 500 cyclists going through town. And yet I can imagine they'll still get arrested...
It would be classic.
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Originally Posted by flipped4bikes
The CM I would love to see is one that obeyed the letter of the law. You know, single-file, ride to right as practicable, heed all traffic signals and signs. Then you'll have this string of 500 cyclists going through town. And yet I can imagine they'll still get arrested...
#25
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Originally Posted by genec
With each one of those 500 cyclists stopping individually for each 4 way stop...
It would be classic.
It would be classic.