| Subject: | Re: Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) |
| Date: | 01/27/2005 04:53 AM |
| From: | Dan H |
|
Yeah, after 2 signal cycles when I realize the light is not going to change, I will dismount, squat in the middle of the intersection in my cleats and wave my bike horizontaly over the metal detector loop until the light changes. I'd rather get a ticket. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Raisman, Greg" <Greg.R-@pdxtrans.org> To: "'Dan H'" <da-@bicyclerepairman.us>; <Jerry.-@comcast.net>; <ron-@spiritone.com>; <sus-@teamestrogen.com>; <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>; <shi-@lists.riseup.net> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 8:14 AM Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) Just an FYI: I've heard the signal engineers around here say, "Put your tire on the wire." This will supposedly trip the sensor when you're riding your bicycle. So, When you see that black line on the pavement, under it is a wire that is tripped by magnets when metal passes over. Try putting your tire right on the wire. I've had better luck trying it this way. Enjoy. Greg -----Original Message----- From: Dan H [mailto:da-@bicyclerepairman.us] Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:28 AM To: Jerry.-@comcast.net; ron-@spiritone.com; sus-@teamestrogen.com; CycleO-@yahoogroups.com; 'obra'; shi-@lists.riseup.net Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) A substantial number of red lights I encounter are NOT designed to sense bikes. That can be a problem. Usually a motorist will pull up behind me but stop too far back to trigger the signal thinking they are being courtious. I look back and becon them forward pointing at the road immediatly behind me but most of the time I just get quizical looks like that RCA dog and they just sit there so I increase the amplitude of my signal with a big wave of my arm, like, "come here! See the big loop in the road? it's a metal detector! Look!" About one in five will figure it out and pull forward enough to trip the signal. I think a lot people still think the signal uses a pressure pad. They don't. That went out with the 70's. If the motorist does not trip the signal in 2 cycles I'm forced to make an illegal manuever to get things going. Sometimes you just have to. ----- Original Message ----- From: "ron strasser" <ron-@spiritone.com> To: <sus-@teamestrogen.com>; <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>; <shi-@lists.riseup.net> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 7:54 PM Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) I agree that the bottom line is for us cyclists to not break the rules of the road (especially in busy urban areas and country roads that have poor sightlines). The auto drivers that see rules being disobeyed or have to deal with it will not remember the other riders that are riding properly. I urge cyclists to keep the respect of most motor vehicle drivers by being courteous and riding in a predictable manner. I know that we cannot stop a driver from breaking the rules of the road...but two wrongs do not make a right. Even when you are in a hurry on your rides, you make many decisions based on your own safety. I would urge all to consider obeying the rules of the road as a personal safety decision... in the short and long term. ron strasser ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Otcenas" <sus-@teamestrogen.com> To: <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>; <shi-@lists.riseup.net> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 5:05 PM Subject: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) 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 across as preachy. That's not my intent. I just think we need to figure out a way to peacefully co-exist with motorists and this seems like a good way to start. Please don't flame me if you disagree. Constructive criticism and discussion welcome. Susan -------------------------------------------- Susan Otcenas TEAM ESTROGEN, INC. __~o 2038 NW Aloclek Dr., Suite 220 -\_<, Hillsboro, OR 97124 (*)/'(*) http://www.TeamEstrogen.com 1-877-310-4592 -------------------------------------------- Cycling Apparel and Accessories for Women -------------------------------------------- To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com |
