| Subject: | Re: Code of Conduct |
| Date: | 01/26/2005 04:53 AM |
| From: | Jake Bigham |
|
--Apple-Mail-1--398737679 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; delsp=yes; format=flowed This is not intended to throw fuel on the fire of controversy but I have always thought it odd that people refer to "same rules". There are not the same rules: I don't think motorists are supposed to pass other motorists in no passing zones with oncoming traffic. I don't think 13 year olds are allowed to operate motor vehicles on public roadways Motorists are not supposed to use bicycle and pedestrian paths; they are not supposed to use bike lanes either. doesn't the law allow for cyclists to ride two abreast in some instances (not that I think it is a safe idea)? bikes do not (to my knowledge) need insurance or registration. I think there are a lot of differences in the rules and rights and in many places (not Oregon, I guess) there are many roads that are prohibited for use by cyclists and pedestrians as there are (far fewer miles of) pathway that are prohibited to use by cars and trucks. I am not sure I get the connection between obeying stop signs and the hit and run described in the first email -Jake Bigham On Jan 26, 2005, at 10:40 AM, Robert Nobles wrote: Susan, Unless someone asks you for advice or you are leading a group ride, I don't think people will be too receptive to legal pointers on how to ride. Especially if they are not endangering anyone (but themselves) by breaking some of the more minor car traffic laws that they believe don't make sense for bikes due to our slow speeds, small size, and good lines of sight. Susan Otcenas <sus-@teamestrogen.com> wrote: Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list. Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote after reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you care to read it, here's a link to my letter http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/ 110639 8840172300.xml as well as the original article http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/ metro_west_new s/110544844993880.xml Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from "Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase, and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation, with both of us conceding a few points. Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs, riding 3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our "rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter. WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES OURSELVES. I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts. ### Note: - If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread. Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with them to advocate for change. ### The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish to gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying the rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to be said for peer pressure. In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be necessary. My favorite was: "Remember the "three R's" of cycling: Same road Same rules Same rights" For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so that we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely pass. I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so I can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you will also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think and expect. So, I pose two questions: 1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving? And 2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA, OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on this issue? I apologize if this e-mail has come Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. Learn more. --Apple-Mail-1--398737679 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=ISO-8859-1 This is not intended to throw fuel on the fire of controversy but I have always thought it odd that people refer to "same rules". There are not the same rules: I don't think motorists are supposed to pass other motorists in no passing zones with oncoming traffic. I don't think 13 year olds are allowed to operate motor vehicles on public roadways Motorists are not supposed to use bicycle and pedestrian paths; they are not supposed to use bike lanes either. doesn't the law allow for cyclists to ride two abreast in some instances (not that I think it is a safe idea)? bikes do not (to my knowledge) need insurance or registration. I think there are a lot of differences in the rules and rights and in many places (not Oregon, I guess) there are many roads that are prohibited for use by cyclists and pedestrians as there are (far fewer miles of) pathway that are prohibited to use by cars and trucks. I am not sure I get the connection between obeying stop signs and the hit and run described in the first email -Jake Bigham On Jan 26, 2005, at 10:40 AM, Robert Nobles wrote: <excerpt>Susan, =A0 Unless someone asks you for advice or you are leading a group ride, I don't think=A0people will=A0be too receptive to=A0legal pointers=A0on=A0ho= w to ride. Especially if they are not endangering anyone (but themselves) by breaking some of the more minor car traffic laws that they believe don't make sense for bikes due to our slow speeds, small size,=A0and good lines of sight. <bold><italic>Susan Otcenas <<sus-@teamestrogen.com></italic></bold> wrote: Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list. Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote after reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you care to read it, here's a link to my letter = http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1106= 39 8840172300.xml as well as the original article = http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_n= ew s/110544844993880.xml Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from "Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase, and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation, with both of us conceding a few points. Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs, riding 3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our "rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter. WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES OURSELVES. I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts. ### Note: - If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread. - If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread. Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with them to advocate for change. ### The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish to gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying the rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to be said for peer pressure. In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be necessary. My favorite was: "Remember the "three R's" of cycling: Same road Same rules Same rights" For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so that we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely pass. I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so I can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you will also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think and expect. So, I pose two questions: 1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving? And 2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA, OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on this issue? I apologize if this e-mail has come Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. <color><param>0000,0000,EEEE</param>Learn more.</color> </excerpt>= --Apple-Mail-1--398737679-- |
