I may have been wrong about bike paths, but it's not what you think
09-15-06 | 08:25 AM
#26
genec
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: West Coast
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Here in San Diego there was negative discussion about a bike path due to the perception that it may enable criminals access to back areas in neighborhoods.
A tunnel was objected to because women saw it as a potential violent crime area.
A tunnel was objected to because women saw it as a potential violent crime area.
09-15-06 | 08:33 AM
#28
Banned.
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Bannation, forever.
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Just like Helmet Head; Wonderful!
09-15-06 | 08:35 AM
#29
Banned.
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From: Bannation, forever.
Originally Posted by sbhikes
Hey you guys, I'm talking about a live kid, a Junior high kid, who is alive and who chooses to ride on the streets because he feels safer than riding on the bike path. But his reason for feeling safer has nothing to do with all the usually boogy-man nonsense about intersections with bike paths. It has to do with him being afraid of getting his bike stolen.
So, to avoid getting his bike stolen he rides on the street, on very busy streets you wouldn't expect kids to ride on and he does so confidently and with his father's encouragement.
So all this talk about deaths and needing road 1 courses is missing the point. The point was, we've probably forgotten what it's like to be smaller and weaker than people who might want to steal your very expensive bike.
So, to avoid getting his bike stolen he rides on the street, on very busy streets you wouldn't expect kids to ride on and he does so confidently and with his father's encouragement.
So all this talk about deaths and needing road 1 courses is missing the point. The point was, we've probably forgotten what it's like to be smaller and weaker than people who might want to steal your very expensive bike.
I have no problem with the kid riding on the street, or any kid for that matter. I just thought maybe if he took the course for kids taught by the LAB it would help his skills & make him a better cyclist now & into the future.
09-15-06 | 09:18 AM
#30
Thread Starter
Dominatrikes
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Still in Santa Barbara
Bikes: Catrike Pocket, Lightning Thunderbold recumbent, Trek 3000 MTB.
The kid already took a course at school. That's also why he now has a fancy mountain bike. But you are right, kids should take a course.
On the social aspect of crime I personally have not been a victim of violence since the 70s and I have not been a victim of property crime since the early 90s. I do believe that most people are more scared than they need to be. If you actually leave your cocoon of suburbia and go for a walk in a city neighborhood you will see all kinds of nice people out with their baby strollers and families and they will say hi to you. The world is actually not as bad as you believe it is when you stay isolated with the TV on.
The thing is I remember being a kid and it is different when you are a kid. I was threatened to be beaten up after school all the time. That never happens now that I'm an adult. I think kids live in a scarier world than adults do in some ways.
On the social aspect of crime I personally have not been a victim of violence since the 70s and I have not been a victim of property crime since the early 90s. I do believe that most people are more scared than they need to be. If you actually leave your cocoon of suburbia and go for a walk in a city neighborhood you will see all kinds of nice people out with their baby strollers and families and they will say hi to you. The world is actually not as bad as you believe it is when you stay isolated with the TV on.
The thing is I remember being a kid and it is different when you are a kid. I was threatened to be beaten up after school all the time. That never happens now that I'm an adult. I think kids live in a scarier world than adults do in some ways.
09-15-06 | 10:05 AM
#31
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by sbhikes
So all this talk about deaths and needing road 1 courses is missing the point. The point was, we've probably forgotten what it's like to be smaller and weaker than people who might want to steal your very expensive bike.
09-15-06 | 10:17 AM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by sbhikes
Got an email from a concerned parent. He makes his kid ride to school on the street. Why? Because he is afraid of robbery or thuggery on the bike path. It's seculded so sombody could steal your bike out from under you with no witnesses. Nobody will steal your bike out on the street. Too many witnesses. Also, if you get in an accident maybe somebody will come to your aid on the street. Who will see you on the bike path?
The boy has two bikes: a costco beater and a fully suspended mountain bike. He only likes riding the mountain bike. But he won't ride it on the bike path for fear of someone robbing him of it. So the only way to keep from driving the kid to school all the time is to let him ride his mountain bike on the street.
Goes to show you that you gotta get more information about all this stuff.
However, I remember being a kid walking to school on these seculded pathways and yeah, I was afraid of being beaten up or getting my lunch money stolen and I can't tell you how many flashers I saw, but I still think that a bike path is a good idea. One going right to the school. Maybe even post some moms or crossing guards along the way or something.
The boy has two bikes: a costco beater and a fully suspended mountain bike. He only likes riding the mountain bike. But he won't ride it on the bike path for fear of someone robbing him of it. So the only way to keep from driving the kid to school all the time is to let him ride his mountain bike on the street.
Goes to show you that you gotta get more information about all this stuff.
However, I remember being a kid walking to school on these seculded pathways and yeah, I was afraid of being beaten up or getting my lunch money stolen and I can't tell you how many flashers I saw, but I still think that a bike path is a good idea. One going right to the school. Maybe even post some moms or crossing guards along the way or something.
Someone else also mentioned that things depend a lot on the area. There is a spur path off the Beach Bile Path in Santa Monica, Ballona Creek. This path goes right behind the projects. Not safe a lot of the time. But the one time it is safe is near school start and end. Well safe as far as mugging type things go. One has to ride a little more carefully in the typical MUP sense. E.g. plenty of kids take that path to and from school.
09-15-06 | 10:26 AM
#33
Thread Starter
Dominatrikes
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Still in Santa Barbara
Bikes: Catrike Pocket, Lightning Thunderbold recumbent, Trek 3000 MTB.
I think it is a safe area. No crack addicts as far as I can see. I have seen a homeless guy back there but he seems nice.
Yes, we women are smaller and weaker but we're not likely to have some kid try to steal our bikes. That kid worries not that some crackhead will steal his bike, but another bigger kid.
He must have a safe place to lock it up at school since that is not a concern for him.
Yes, we women are smaller and weaker but we're not likely to have some kid try to steal our bikes. That kid worries not that some crackhead will steal his bike, but another bigger kid.
He must have a safe place to lock it up at school since that is not a concern for him.
