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I hate local news
Saw ABC7 "news" today. What a bunch of B.S. Very negative towards cyclists, and using data which I think is flawed.
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Can you elaborate a little more. What was the context of their story?
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Originally Posted by spingineer
Can you elaborate a little more. What was the context of their story?
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Great thing to put into the minds of the motorists... Now if they hit me, the news told them it was my fault :rolleyes:
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I missed the TV segment so here's the web story. The whole thing is infuriating to read.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...eam&id=5329449 http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2007/0...vs_cars_c.html |
What chapped my hide was that they only spoke with one cyclist- a messenger. I am sorry, but messengers are not representative of all cyclists. Unfortunately messengers are often the worst form of cyclists. They are under time pressures and are among the most likely to violate traffic laws. As a daily commuter I am very concerned about the one sided journalism. It would have been nice if they had presented a bit more broad picture of the cycling community.
The other stat I found surprising was the per capita incendent rate in Marin being the highest. |
Originally Posted by waterboy
What chapped my hide was that they only spoke with one cyclist- a messenger. I am sorry, but messengers are not representative of all cyclists. Unfortunately messengers are often the worst form of cyclists. They are under time pressures and are among the most likely to violate traffic laws. As a daily commuter I am very concerned about the one sided journalism. It would have been nice if they had presented a bit more broad picture of the cycling community.
The other stat I found surprising was the per capita incendent rate in Marin being the highest. |
Is this the same CHP that lobbied against and defeated a bill to make all bike lanes be built outside the door zone of parked cars? The same CHP that doesn't do much when a cyclist is run over and the motor vehicle operator is obviously at fault?
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Why do the CHP have any say about city streets? Is it even their jurisdiction?
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Originally Posted by BlastRadius
Why do the CHP have any say about city streets? Is it even their jurisdiction?
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"Unfortunately messengers are often the worst form of cyclists."
It is hard to keep from getting emotional about our passion, however generalizing about our brothers and sisters who make a living on their bikes doesn’t help the discussion. I ride with several messengers here in the SF area, and I find that I really like the majority, with a couple being very special to me. (They are polite and courteous and take things as they come.) There are a very few I choose not to ride with if they are part of the group because they are vulgar and insulting to drivers, pedestrians and other riders. It is about the same if I meet a bunch of folks at a party… some folks just feel more entitled than others, not just bike riders, and not just Messengers. If I sit and have a cup of coffee in the city and watch the bikes, I find there are plenty of folks showing a lot of respect, however we have a long way to go before a reporter can’t in a matter of moments find someone doing something shamelessly Boneheaded on a bike. Simply encouraging cyclists to follow the basic rules and laws, wearing helmets, getting off side walks; also, teaching folks to look in car mirrors, brake lights, and check the direction wheels are turning or pointing helps shed a little light on the mind of a driver and helps avoid being in the right of way but annoying or hurt none the less. A little respect for others would diminish much antipathy from the non-riding public. The best rider I know, rides for GodSpeed Messenger service, and is a credit to cyclists on any level. Blessings. |
Originally Posted by Rocke
"Unfortunately messengers are often the worst form of cyclists."
It is hard to keep from getting emotional about our passion, however generalizing about our brothers and sisters who make a living on their bikes doesn’t help the discussion. I ride with several messengers here in the SF area, and I find that I really like the majority, with a couple being very special to me. (They are polite and courteous and take things as they come.) There are a very few I choose not to ride with if they are part of the group because they are vulgar and insulting to drivers, pedestrians and other riders. It is about the same if I meet a bunch of folks at a party… some folks just feel more entitled than others, not just bike riders, and not just Messengers. If I sit and have a cup of coffee in the city and watch the bikes, I find there are plenty of folks showing a lot of respect, however we have a long way to go before a reporter can’t in a matter of moments find someone doing something shamelessly Boneheaded on a bike. Simply encouraging cyclists to follow the basic rules and laws, wearing helmets, getting off side walks; also, teaching folks to look in car mirrors, brake lights, and check the direction wheels are turning or pointing helps shed a little light on the mind of a driver and helps avoid being in the right of way but annoying or hurt none the less. A little respect for others would diminish much antipathy from the non-riding public. The best rider I know, rides for GodSpeed Messenger service, and is a credit to cyclists on any level. Blessings. well-written. cyclists come in all flavors, just like motorists...and journalists. until these 3 groups of people can come to an "understanding", let's do our own parts in helping to promote the understanding: ride safely, drive safely, and report/write safely. ommmm..... :) |
speaking of bad and sad news: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_5987878
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Here is the comment I made yesterday
This is garbage journalism, with the potential to incite a negative opinion of cyclist amongst the motorists whom have seen this report. There are many problems with this report that make it bad journalism: 1) The motive and resulting effect on the attitudes of the readers. You obviously did not think about how this is going to negatively impact the cyclist-motorist relationship out on the road, where I could be killed. This relationship is already fragile enough due to the hooligans in Critical Mass. Why make it any worse? 2) Reversing the shift towards alternative modes of transportation. During a time when cycling should be encouraged, you are discouraging it. 3) Data is invalid. Until the police can treat all bike-related accidents the same way that they treat car accidents, the data will not be valid. Sometimes the police don't even take reports. Either that, or they are not treated as seriously as an auto accident. 4) Lack of discussion regarding why there are these problems, and what can be done to fix them. Obviously there are reasons, besides blatant disregard for the law, that cyclists may occasionally break some rules. The transportation networks are designed to accommodate cars. To motorists, the cyclists are just "in the way." This is a topic which should have been included in this type of discussion. Bottom line is: This report is shallow, and does nothing other than point a finger at someone. It does so with unreliable and /or incomplete data. Unfortunately, many readers will not look past this. Thanks a bunch ABC, for being part of the problem instead of the solution. |
Originally Posted by ifox
speaking of bad and sad news: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_5987878
Isn't this the 3rd (or more) bicyclist killed by an elderly driver in Woodside within the last couple of years? A Foothill College professor was killed on Skyline last summer. A elementary school teacher was killed on Woodside Road a year or two ago. |
That's part of the Portola Loop ride. Another cyclist was hit by a drunk driver near that same overpass.
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Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
That's part of the Portola Loop ride. Another cyclist was hit by a drunk driver near that same overpass.
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Originally Posted by johnny99
Do you have any more details on this, like the date or name of the victim? Thanks.
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This is in the same area as the incident in which MaryAnn Levenson was struck and run over by a 76-yr old Walter Fred Sorenson in December of last year.
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Originally Posted by SteveE
This is in the same area as the incident in which MaryAnn Levenson was struck and run over by a 76-yr old Walter Fred Sorenson in December of last year.
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How is Mary Ann? What's the status of the case? I haven't read anything here to bring us up to date.
Naturally I hope she's better & the driver is incarcerated forEVer. |
MaryAnn is riding again. She did the Beat The Clock Time Trial earlier this year. I don't know if she rode it again today. There was an arraignment in early Maywhen the driver pleaded not guilty and the trial is scheduled for September 4th.
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Question "Authorities"
Originally Posted by BlastRadius
Why do the CHP have any say about city streets? Is it even their jurisdiction?
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Originally Posted by spingineer
He might be referring to John Peckham, who was riding on Old Page Mill Rd, which is very hard to get to, unless you specifically are trying to get on this road. He rode with Webcor, and was doing a lunch time training ride when a drunk driver ran him over. Can't remember the exact date, but it was about 2 years ago (I think).
M.A.Parker |
Originally Posted by Dchiefransom
That's part of the Portola Loop ride. Another cyclist was hit by a drunk driver near that same overpass.
Hit from behind, that sucks. |
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