| Subject: | Re: Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) |
| Date: | 01/26/2005 04:53 AM |
| From: | Peter Murphy |
|
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE> <P>How is a cyclist supposed to earn the respect of car drivers when car drivers don't even respect each other?</P> <P>Even if all the cyclists followed every rule of the road, cars and truck drivers would not respect them because bicycles are an impediment to their destination, for which they are already late. </P> <P>I am not advocating disregarding the rules, quite the contrary. I believe in obeying traffic laws. But to think that you will gain respect from a part of the population, who believes you have no right to the asphalt, by just obeying traffic laws is naiive and about as productive as arguing with Lars Larson on the phone. </P> <P>Advocate for heavier traffic fines and prosecution of the people who break the law. This includes cyclists. If a cyclist blows a red light and gets caught, fine 'em, but also fine the car that did not come to a complete stop beore making a right turn on a red light.<BR><BR>Pete Murphy </P></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P> </P> <P>>From: ron strasser <ron-@spiritone.com> </P> <DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: ron-@spiritone.com <DIV></DIV>>To: sus-@teamestrogen.com, CycleO-@yahoogroups.com, 'obra' <ob-@topica.com>, shi-@lists.riseup.net <DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) <DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:54:13 -0800 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>I agree that the bottom line is for us cyclists to not break the rules of <DIV></DIV>>the road (especially in busy urban areas and country roads that have poor <DIV></DIV>>sightlines). The auto drivers that see rules being disobeyed or have to <DIV></DIV>>deal with it will not remember the other riders that are riding properly. I <DIV></DIV>>urge cyclists to keep the respect of most motor vehicle drivers by being <DIV></DIV>>courteous and riding in a predictable manner. I know that we cannot stop a <DIV></DIV>>driver from breaking the rules of the road...but two wrongs do not make a <DIV></DIV>>right. Even when you are in a hurry on your rides, you make many decisions <DIV></DIV>>based on your own safety. I would urge all to consider obeying the rules of <DIV></DIV>>the road as a personal safety decision... in the short and long term. <DIV></DIV>>ron strasser <DIV></DIV>>----- Original Message ----- <DIV></DIV>>From: "Susan Otcenas" <sus-@teamestrogen.com> <DIV></DIV>>To: <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>; <DIV></DIV>><shi-@lists.riseup.net> <DIV></DIV>>Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 5:05 PM <DIV></DIV>>Subject: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> > Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote <DIV></DIV>>after <DIV></DIV>> > reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you <DIV></DIV>>care <DIV></DIV>> > to read it, here's a link to my letter <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>>http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639 <DIV></DIV>> > 8840172300.xml <DIV></DIV>> > as well as the original article <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>>http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new <DIV></DIV>> > s/110544844993880.xml <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from <DIV></DIV>> > "Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase, <DIV></DIV>> > and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way <DIV></DIV>> > cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation, <DIV></DIV>> > with both of us conceding a few points. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem <DIV></DIV>> > to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs, <DIV></DIV>>riding <DIV></DIV>> > 3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from <DIV></DIV>> > behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our <DIV></DIV>> > "rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with <DIV></DIV>> > him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter. <DIV></DIV>> > WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES <DIV></DIV>> > OURSELVES. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > ### Note: <DIV></DIV>> > - If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another <DIV></DIV>>thread. <DIV></DIV>> > - If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread. <DIV></DIV>> > - If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread. <DIV></DIV>> > Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with <DIV></DIV>> > them to advocate for change. <DIV></DIV>> > ### <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish <DIV></DIV>>to <DIV></DIV>> > gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying <DIV></DIV>>the <DIV></DIV>> > rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our <DIV></DIV>> > fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to <DIV></DIV>> > be said for peer pressure. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not <DIV></DIV>> > stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to <DIV></DIV>> > commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be <DIV></DIV>> > necessary. My favorite was: <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > "Remember the "three R's" of cycling: <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Same road <DIV></DIV>> > Same rules <DIV></DIV>> > Same rights" <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be <DIV></DIV>> > perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign <DIV></DIV>> > instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask <DIV></DIV>> > friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so <DIV></DIV>>that <DIV></DIV>> > we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely <DIV></DIV>>pass. <DIV></DIV>> > I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so <DIV></DIV>>I <DIV></DIV>> > can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at <DIV></DIV>> > http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you <DIV></DIV>>will <DIV></DIV>> > also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there <DIV></DIV>> > isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as <DIV></DIV>> > individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially <DIV></DIV>> > if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think <DIV></DIV>>and <DIV></DIV>> > expect. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > So, I pose two questions: <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > 1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other <DIV></DIV>> > individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving? <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > And <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > 2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA, <DIV></DIV>> > OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on <DIV></DIV>> > this issue? <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > I apologize if this e-mail has come across as preachy. That's not my <DIV></DIV>> > intent. I just think we need to figure out a way to peacefully co-exist <DIV></DIV>> > with motorists and this seems like a good way to start. Please don't <DIV></DIV>>flame <DIV></DIV>> > me if you disagree. Constructive criticism and discussion welcome. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Susan <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > -------------------------------------------- <DIV></DIV>> > Susan Otcenas <DIV></DIV>> > TEAM ESTROGEN, INC. __~o <DIV></DIV>> > 2038 NW Aloclek Dr., Suite 220 -\_<, <DIV></DIV>> > Hillsboro, OR 97124 (*)/'(*) <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > http://www.TeamEstrogen.com <DIV></DIV>> > 1-877-310-4592 <DIV></DIV>> > -------------------------------------------- <DIV></DIV>> > Cycling Apparel and Accessories for Women <DIV></DIV>> > -------------------------------------------- <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. <DIV></DIV>> > To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org <DIV></DIV>> > To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. <DIV></DIV>>To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org <DIV></DIV>>To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV></div></html> |
