Comments on: Bikes and the City http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:56:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Twenty Thousand Bikes - Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-64378 Twenty Thousand Bikes - Asymptotia Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:23:01 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-64378 [...] “Cycling in traffic is a bad, dangerous thing.” Not necessarily. There’s so much to say about this, and much has been said. See an earlier post (or two) with links, here here. Most of the claims of danger are made out of ignorance, and over-simplification, frankly. In some of the stories about the Velib system, people are pointing to all their favourite stories about people getting killed by lorries, and the like. All terrible, sure, but where are all the stories about people who were killed in cars that same day, or all the people who cycled that day for whom there were no accidents at all? On a more personal level, another advantage of LA is how easy it is to find a route to where you are going by using side streets that there are few or no cars on at all. The people I know who say things about how dangerous it is to cycle in LA are always thinking of cycling along the same streets they drive on. This is due to lack of local knowledge. Most drivers just don’t know the streets. For short journeys especially, people will be able to get around on these bikes without much contact with traffic, if they choose carefully. The few times you might have to go on a major bit of road you’re not confident of - just get off the bike and walk it for a stretch (or cycle on the sidewalk - hardly anybody’s using them anyway!) [...] [...] “Cycling in traffic is a bad, dangerous thing.” Not necessarily. There’s so much to say about this, and much has been said. See an earlier post (or two) with links, here here. Most of the claims of danger are made out of ignorance, and over-simplification, frankly. In some of the stories about the Velib system, people are pointing to all their favourite stories about people getting killed by lorries, and the like. All terrible, sure, but where are all the stories about people who were killed in cars that same day, or all the people who cycled that day for whom there were no accidents at all? On a more personal level, another advantage of LA is how easy it is to find a route to where you are going by using side streets that there are few or no cars on at all. The people I know who say things about how dangerous it is to cycle in LA are always thinking of cycling along the same streets they drive on. This is due to lack of local knowledge. Most drivers just don’t know the streets. For short journeys especially, people will be able to get around on these bikes without much contact with traffic, if they choose carefully. The few times you might have to go on a major bit of road you’re not confident of - just get off the bike and walk it for a stretch (or cycle on the sidewalk - hardly anybody’s using them anyway!) [...]

]]> By: serial catowner http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1430 serial catowner Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:12:24 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1430 Ok. I'll admit it- I bought the helmet <i>after</i> I suffered concussion from crashing without one. Beat some sense in me, it did. Ok. I’ll admit it- I bought the helmet after I suffered concussion from crashing without one. Beat some sense in me, it did.

]]> By: serial catowner http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1429 serial catowner Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:10:18 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1429 Hills aren't really a problem. Basic physics- you end up at the same altitude you started at. As for helmets, mine has a nice gash from the day I misjudged the angle on some railroad tracks. That could have been my head. Hills aren’t really a problem. Basic physics- you end up at the same altitude you started at.

As for helmets, mine has a nice gash from the day I misjudged the angle on some railroad tracks. That could have been my head.

]]> By: Stephen Uitti http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1231 Stephen Uitti Wed, 20 Sep 2006 18:02:08 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1231 In the summer of 1992, i rode my bike to work - about 9 miles, every day, in downtown Boston. As i recall, there were some 42 potential stops - you know, cross streets and such. By the end of the summer, i was averaging about 21 MPH, with a max speed of 22 MPH. The bicycle was, by far, the fastest way across town. Boston is fairly bicycle friendly. There are long sections, for example, up the Orange Line, where there are public walk ways, with bike paths. I also rode up Mass Ave and Dot Ave, with traffic. I had a speed advantage on these streets. Cars can not go 20 MPH on Mass Ave. Yes, i wear a helmet. I'm also very aware of what traffic is doing and not doing. The job i had was also very bicycle friendly. There was a locker room with showers. I parked my bike, not outside where it could be stolen, molested, and rained on, but inside, next to my desk. I have these things at home too. In the summers of 1994 and 1995, i rode to work in downtown Philadelphia. It was about 6 miles. This is not enough exercise, so, sometimes, i'd take a longer route home. There were no showers at the office, so my speed going to work was much, much lower. My bike had to be parked outside. I removed my seat, bike bag, and locked both wheels and the frame. And the bike suffered abuse still. I made the mistake of borrowing a bike one day. I was run off the road by a car. Some clueless driver could not decide to pass me, could not deal with my passing her. She caught up with me, and decided to take a right turn directly into me. No real damage. She pretended to only know spanish, but changed her mind when i started speaking spanish. The incident would not have happened on my own bike - which has a working rear view mirror, and has me sitting upright, with my hands by the brakes, rather than haunched over the handlebars with nearly unreachable breaks. A stupid setup, and i should have known better. My current commute is over 40 miles. Impractical for biking. In the summer of 1992, i rode my bike to work - about 9 miles, every day, in downtown Boston. As i recall, there were some 42 potential stops - you know, cross streets and such. By the end of the summer, i was averaging about 21 MPH, with a max speed of 22 MPH. The bicycle was, by far, the fastest way across town.

Boston is fairly bicycle friendly. There are long sections, for example, up the Orange Line, where there are public walk ways, with bike paths. I also rode up Mass Ave and Dot Ave, with traffic. I had a speed advantage on these streets. Cars can not go 20 MPH on Mass Ave. Yes, i wear a helmet. I’m also very aware of what traffic is doing and not doing.

The job i had was also very bicycle friendly. There was a locker room with showers. I parked my bike, not outside where it could be stolen, molested, and rained on, but inside, next to my desk. I have these things at home too.

In the summers of 1994 and 1995, i rode to work in downtown Philadelphia. It was about 6 miles. This is not enough exercise, so, sometimes, i’d take a longer route home. There were no showers at the office, so my speed going to work was much, much lower. My bike had to be parked outside. I removed my seat, bike bag, and locked both wheels and the frame. And the bike suffered abuse still. I made the mistake of borrowing a bike one day. I was run off the road by a car. Some clueless driver could not decide to pass me, could not deal with my passing her. She caught up with me, and decided to take a right turn directly into me. No real damage. She pretended to only know spanish, but changed her mind when i started speaking spanish. The incident would not have happened on my own bike - which has a working rear view mirror, and has me sitting upright, with my hands by the brakes, rather than haunched over the handlebars with nearly unreachable breaks. A stupid setup, and i should have known better.

My current commute is over 40 miles. Impractical for biking.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Clifford Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:42:27 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1213 ah, yes... the figs..... post coming. Just got to find the time.... -cvj ah, yes… the figs….. post coming. Just got to find the time….

-cvj

]]> By: a cornellian http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1178 a cornellian Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:29:01 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1178 I don't know you, so I'm not yelling at you. I don’t know you, so I’m not yelling at you.

]]> By: candace http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 candace Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:07:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1141 Clifford: I was referring to a cornellian's comment, 'I always wear one and yell at anyone i know who doesn’t.' I certainly don't think you were yelling at all! Anyway, it's time to go make dinner -- hope those figs met a productive end! Clifford: I was referring to a cornellian’s comment, ‘I always wear one and yell at anyone i know who doesn’t.’ I certainly don’t think you were yelling at all!

Anyway, it’s time to go make dinner — hope those figs met a productive end!

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 Clifford Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:58:24 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1140 Hi Candace, I for one was not yelling at you. If you don't want to wear a helmet, it is really up to you. Your head, not mine. I choose to do so, for that one time when I might need it. Cheers, -cvj Hi Candace,

I for one was not yelling at you. If you don’t want to wear a helmet, it is really up to you. Your head, not mine. I choose to do so, for that one time when I might need it.

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: Warren http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Warren Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:01:48 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1134 Ha! From that BBC article, the solution is obvious: Wear a hairy helmet! Drivers will see it as a wig, so give you more room, while you still get protection from falls. (I wonder if that works for pedestrians...) Ha! From that BBC article, the solution is obvious: Wear a hairy helmet! Drivers will see it as a wig, so give you more room, while you still get protection from falls. (I wonder if that works for pedestrians…)

]]> By: candace http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 candace Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:30:22 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1132 Well, chaps, I don't see helmets as being very common in the Amsterdam that we all aspire to. What's the difference there? Here's a good link that sums up the whole helmets debate: http://www.cyclehelmets.org/ I suggest arming yourself with some objective facts before coming over here and 'yelling' at me. Like everyone else, I have fallen over. I have slid on wet asphalt and eaten pavement. I have even been hit by a car. In some of those instances, I was wearing a helmet, in others I was not. I simply don't regard it as a life-preserver, because in a lot of circumstances, it's not -- and that's not just my personal opinion based on anecdote. So...sometimes I wear one and sometimes I don't. On cycling in general and how they are treated here, Zoe Williams has a go: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1871017,00.html Well, chaps, I don’t see helmets as being very common in the Amsterdam that we all aspire to. What’s the difference there?

Here’s a good link that sums up the whole helmets debate:
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/

I suggest arming yourself with some objective facts before coming over here and ‘yelling’ at me. Like everyone else, I have fallen over. I have slid on wet asphalt and eaten pavement. I have even been hit by a car. In some of those instances, I was wearing a helmet, in others I was not. I simply don’t regard it as a life-preserver, because in a lot of circumstances, it’s not — and that’s not just my personal opinion based on anecdote. So…sometimes I wear one and sometimes I don’t.

On cycling in general and how they are treated here, Zoe Williams has a go:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1871017,00.html

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 Clifford Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:18:36 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1126 a cornelian (you put your message up while I was tying mine, so I missed it). We seem to have made similar points. Cheers, -cvj a cornelian (you put your message up while I was tying mine, so I missed it). We seem to have made similar points.

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1125 Clifford Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:16:30 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1125 Hi Candace... thanks for all the lovely info! I personally wear a cyclist for reasons that have nothing to do with motorists. I like my head, and (most of) what's in it. I don't want it bashed on the ground. Like everyone, I make mistakes when cycling, and I know how easy it is for those mistakes to happen at the wrong time. I once had to make a last second adjustment to avoid something and then lost my balance on a turn and fell off. May never happen again, but who knows? I come down a steep hill at speed every morning... I hope it never happens, but if I lost control, had brake failure, etc...... I'd rather be wearing a helmet. It is so trivial to bring it along when you cycle, why take the risk? None of this has anything to do with drivers, who I doubt are examinign the cyclist in enough detail to react to them differently depending upon their safety equipment. As for safety equipment making people behave badly in London..... I'm not convinced. I love London, and I love Londoners and my countrymen in general, but I have to say that bad behaviour seems to be becoming the norm in so many public venues there (witness the city centers in the UK in every town and city on a Friday or Saturday night).... I don't think that any excuse is really needed. -cvj Hi Candace… thanks for all the lovely info!

I personally wear a cyclist for reasons that have nothing to do with motorists. I like my head, and (most of) what’s in it. I don’t want it bashed on the ground. Like everyone, I make mistakes when cycling, and I know how easy it is for those mistakes to happen at the wrong time. I once had to make a last second adjustment to avoid something and then lost my balance on a turn and fell off. May never happen again, but who knows? I come down a steep hill at speed every morning… I hope it never happens, but if I lost control, had brake failure, etc…… I’d rather be wearing a helmet. It is so trivial to bring it along when you cycle, why take the risk? None of this has anything to do with drivers, who I doubt are examinign the cyclist in enough detail to react to them differently depending upon their safety equipment. As for safety equipment making people behave badly in London….. I’m not convinced. I love London, and I love Londoners and my countrymen in general, but I have to say that bad behaviour seems to be becoming the norm in so many public venues there (witness the city centers in the UK in every town and city on a Friday or Saturday night)…. I don’t think that any excuse is really needed.

-cvj

]]> By: a cornellian http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1124 a cornellian Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:02:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1124 I am definitly not on the fence about helmets...I always wear one and yell at anyone i know who doesn't. The reasons are pretty simple. One of my friends little sissters was biking did something and ended up going over her handle bars. The result of this is she landed head first on a walmut sized stone and is rather sevearly paralized as a result. I know a professor here who has a helmet in two peices from when he went over his handle bars. On a cite athority note, the your de france requires cyclists to wear helmets except for the last 3 miles of climb if the race ends at the top. As to this "I shouldn't have to dress defensivly" meme, balderdash. You are betting your life on someone else's competence. Would you leave balancing your check book to a random guy you pulled off the street? Alternately think about what happens if you do get hit by a car and it was the cars fault. Great you feel morally supior because it is <i> their</i> fault. This does not change the fact that you were hit by a car and are most likly pretty screwed up. I was hit, as a pedestrian, by an eclipse going ~30 as he ran a red light. It's all the drivers falut, they covered all my medical and gave me a settlement, however none of this changes the fact that I can't run competativly anymore because my knees were too damaged in the accident or the fact that one of my fingers hurts when ever the weather changes or i try to make a tight fist. and riding in the snow is just more challanging than riding the rest of the year.... I am definitly not on the fence about helmets…I always wear one and yell at anyone i know who doesn’t.

The reasons are pretty simple. One of my friends little sissters was biking did something and ended up going over her handle bars. The result of this is she landed head first on a walmut sized stone and is rather sevearly paralized as a result. I know a professor here who has a helmet in two peices from when he went over his handle bars.

On a cite athority note, the your de france requires cyclists to wear helmets except for the last 3 miles of climb if the race ends at the top.

As to this “I shouldn’t have to dress defensivly” meme, balderdash. You are betting your life on someone else’s competence. Would you leave balancing your check book to a random guy you pulled off the street? Alternately think about what happens if you do get hit by a car and it was the cars fault. Great you feel morally supior because it is their fault. This does not change the fact that you were hit by a car and are most likly pretty screwed up. I was hit, as a pedestrian, by an eclipse going ~30 as he ran a red light. It’s all the drivers falut, they covered all my medical and gave me a settlement, however none of this changes the fact that I can’t run competativly anymore because my knees were too damaged in the accident or the fact that one of my fingers hurts when ever the weather changes or i try to make a tight fist.

and riding in the snow is just more challanging than riding the rest of the year….

]]> By: candace http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1122 candace Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:41:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1122 Point the first: Wearing a helmet may give drivers a false sense of security when interacting with a cyclist, and they may not give them enough room or care when passing. An article graced the BBC about this very subject a few days ago: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm Anyway, if you want to start a hilariously predictable flame war on any cycling message board, walk in and make a grand pronouncement about helmets. Personally, I'm on the fence about this issue, but I usually do not wear one unless I'm on longer distance jaunts. I believe they probably do afford some protection, but I also believe that the onus should not be exclusively on me as the cyclist to 'dress defensively'. This is also why I don't wear a high-vis jacket, which is quite common in London. I also fear that helmets give the cyclists themselves a false sense of security and in turn encourage the truly appalling cycling I see here. If I had a choice between equipping every cyclist with a helmet or a copy of Cyclecraft (wonderful book), I would choose the latter (except in the case of children). Point the second: London, I think, is well on its way to acheiving a critical mass of cyclists. I feel like perhaps it's at a critical point right now, since there is tension in the media about cycling everwhere you look. Politicians ride bikes to look trendy, and the Daily Mail exercises some truly horrific anti-cyclist hatemongering of Jeremy Clarkson proportions pretty much every week or so. The behaviour of cyclists in London is pretty abysmal, but I think it's in reaction to the behaviour of the peds and motorists, equally abysmal at times. I'm not sure what will come of it, but sometimes riding to work feels like going to war. I love cycling here...but I also hate it. TfL is currently running a two-pronged media campaign: to get cyclists to obey road rules on one hand, and to get motorists to give cyclists some room and respect on the other. I look at the continent's cycling culture with envy, and it seems to me like simply changing a few laws (like the consequences of killing a cyclist on the road due to careless driving) and doing some widespread cyclist education would go a long way to defusing the tension. Point the third: The World Naked Bike Ride graces our fair streets every summer: http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/ I have to say, I have not participated ;) Point the first:
Wearing a helmet may give drivers a false sense of security when interacting with a cyclist, and they may not give them enough room or care when passing. An article graced the BBC about this very subject a few days ago:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm

Anyway, if you want to start a hilariously predictable flame war on any cycling message board, walk in and make a grand pronouncement about helmets. Personally, I’m on the fence about this issue, but I usually do not wear one unless I’m on longer distance jaunts. I believe they probably do afford some protection, but I also believe that the onus should not be exclusively on me as the cyclist to ‘dress defensively’. This is also why I don’t wear a high-vis jacket, which is quite common in London. I also fear that helmets give the cyclists themselves a false sense of security and in turn encourage the truly appalling cycling I see here. If I had a choice between equipping every cyclist with a helmet or a copy of Cyclecraft (wonderful book), I would choose the latter (except in the case of children).

Point the second:
London, I think, is well on its way to acheiving a critical mass of cyclists. I feel like perhaps it’s at a critical point right now, since there is tension in the media about cycling everwhere you look. Politicians ride bikes to look trendy, and the Daily Mail exercises some truly horrific anti-cyclist hatemongering of Jeremy Clarkson proportions pretty much every week or so. The behaviour of cyclists in London is pretty abysmal, but I think it’s in reaction to the behaviour of the peds and motorists, equally abysmal at times. I’m not sure what will come of it, but sometimes riding to work feels like going to war. I love cycling here…but I also hate it. TfL is currently running a two-pronged media campaign: to get cyclists to obey road rules on one hand, and to get motorists to give cyclists some room and respect on the other. I look at the continent’s cycling culture with envy, and it seems to me like simply changing a few laws (like the consequences of killing a cyclist on the road due to careless driving) and doing some widespread cyclist education would go a long way to defusing the tension.

Point the third:
The World Naked Bike Ride graces our fair streets every summer:
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/
I have to say, I have not participated ;)

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1113 Clifford Sat, 16 Sep 2006 19:41:08 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1113 Hi Yvette... interesting point! It is all so easy to just fill up a giant shopping trolley without thinking. When I have my bike I do indeed think a great deal more aboout what I take to the checkout. (Although, even thought I'm only getting a basket's worth of goods, I still use a trolley since I usually put my bike in the compartment underneath while shopping.) -cvj Hi Yvette… interesting point! It is all so easy to just fill up a giant shopping trolley without thinking. When I have my bike I do indeed think a great deal more aboout what I take to the checkout. (Although, even thought I’m only getting a basket’s worth of goods, I still use a trolley since I usually put my bike in the compartment underneath while shopping.)

-cvj

]]> By: Yvette http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1110 Yvette Sat, 16 Sep 2006 18:59:19 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1110 I couldn't justify a car for college, particularly in a flat state like Ohio, so biking works rather well hereabouts until the snow flies. I went to Europe this past summer to visit relatives and carefully selected a bicycle basket while over there (you can't get good ones in my area if you're over the age of six), a situation which amused my relatives so much that they got me a new bicycle bell as a going-away present. As a result of these new additions, my bike is the most (in)famous on campus just because of the sheer novelty of being a standard European-style one. I'd also like to note that after several trips to the grocery via bicycle where you can't carry anything that doesn't fit in your basket or in a backpack, I think America could solve its obesity problems if everyone had to do something like this. You really start to think about what you buy when you've got to ferry it all home on your own power. I couldn’t justify a car for college, particularly in a flat state like Ohio, so biking works rather well hereabouts until the snow flies. I went to Europe this past summer to visit relatives and carefully selected a bicycle basket while over there (you can’t get good ones in my area if you’re over the age of six), a situation which amused my relatives so much that they got me a new bicycle bell as a going-away present. As a result of these new additions, my bike is the most (in)famous on campus just because of the sheer novelty of being a standard European-style one.
I’d also like to note that after several trips to the grocery via bicycle where you can’t carry anything that doesn’t fit in your basket or in a backpack, I think America could solve its obesity problems if everyone had to do something like this. You really start to think about what you buy when you’ve got to ferry it all home on your own power.

]]> By: John Branch http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 John Branch Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:42:40 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1090 Clifford--I'm glad you appreciated that article. For me it was almost like reading an account of a dream. In fact, this morning I daydreamed about living in such a place. For most of the past 10 years, in two different cities, I've only ridden for recreation (public transport is how I've gotten to work), but I've gotten the same kinds of responses you have: expressions of surprise, concern about danger, etc. I don't have anything to add to your account except this: in New York, I've had a lot of near-collisions with people on jogging paths and in Central Park on weekends when the roads are closed, whereas in my relatively limited riding about on the city streets I haven't encountered much dangerous and unpredictable behavior, simply because people drive in lanes. Clifford–I’m glad you appreciated that article. For me it was almost like reading an account of a dream. In fact, this morning I daydreamed about living in such a place.

For most of the past 10 years, in two different cities, I’ve only ridden for recreation (public transport is how I’ve gotten to work), but I’ve gotten the same kinds of responses you have: expressions of surprise, concern about danger, etc. I don’t have anything to add to your account except this: in New York, I’ve had a lot of near-collisions with people on jogging paths and in Central Park on weekends when the roads are closed, whereas in my relatively limited riding about on the city streets I haven’t encountered much dangerous and unpredictable behavior, simply because people drive in lanes.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1087 Clifford Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:56:43 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1087 My favourite bicyle protest was not long ago in london.... I was walking along near Trafalgar Square and out of the blue came about 40 men and women of all ages - and shapes and sizes - totally naked on their bikes. I can't recall what they wre protesting, but they certainly got a lot of attention. Of course, if I recall correctly, I did not have my camera.... so could not do an interesting blog post about it. Sigh. -cvj My favourite bicyle protest was not long ago in london…. I was walking along near Trafalgar Square and out of the blue came about 40 men and women of all ages - and shapes and sizes - totally naked on their bikes. I can’t recall what they wre protesting, but they certainly got a lot of attention. Of course, if I recall correctly, I did not have my camera…. so could not do an interesting blog post about it. Sigh.

-cvj

]]> By: alfons http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1085 alfons Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:13:56 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1085 Oh, there are even bicycle protests. <a href="http://strncpy.org/Photos/Bicycle%20Protest%20G8/" rel="nofollow">Really</a>! Oh, there are even bicycle protests. Really!

]]> By: alfons http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 alfons Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:11:09 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1084 Yeah, my Canadian family was literally shocked when seeing the bicycle lanes. The abundance of bicycles comes with a price though: They are still quite interesting objects to steal. Most of the stolen bikes also end up quite depressingly at those parking places, picking up rust. Or end up in canals. But yes, it's rather a bicycle walhalla. :-) Yeah, my Canadian family was literally shocked when seeing the bicycle lanes.
The abundance of bicycles comes with a price though: They are still quite interesting objects to steal. Most of the stolen bikes also end up quite depressingly at those parking places, picking up rust. Or end up in canals.
But yes, it’s rather a bicycle walhalla. :-)

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Clifford Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:24:10 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1077 Warren... Oh yes Helmets! Why don't people use them? And lights! And obey the traffic rules.....!!! Don't get me started..... -cvj Warren… Oh yes Helmets! Why don’t people use them? And lights! And obey the traffic rules…..!!! Don’t get me started…..

-cvj

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Clifford Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:23:18 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1076 Yes, Jude, I agree. I think that people are really difficult to get to do something "unconventional". The conclusions is that there is simply something wrong with the person who chooses to walk a different path, even for something so simple, where that path is being walked elsewhere. Odd. -cvj Yes, Jude, I agree. I think that people are really difficult to get to do something “unconventional”. The conclusions is that there is simply something wrong with the person who chooses to walk a different path, even for something so simple, where that path is being walked elsewhere. Odd.

-cvj

]]> By: Jude http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1070 Jude Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:26:21 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1070 I live in a small town in Colorado. I don't currently have a functioning bicycle, but unless I'm buying groceries, I generally walk. It's a 5-minute walk to the school my sons attend, so for the open house last night, I walked (my son biked). His was the only bicycle in the rack. I feel certain that everyone else drove. They had to fight their way out of a crowded parking lot while we just walked away. I'm certain that we could have beat most of the drivers to their homes. I think it's great that you're biking in L.A. Ray Bradbury has lived there his entire life and biked or walked everywhere. He was considered odd for doing so, so he wrote a story about his experiences--"The Pedestrian." I'm not sure what it is that inspires people to drive inefficient vehicles in traffic jams, but if you can't get people to take a 5-minute walk in a safe small town when gasoline costs a lot, then I'm not surprised that bicyclists are rare in a large city. Is it laziness? I think so. But I also think that a lot of people simply haven't given it any thought. They complain, but they can't see the simple solution right in front of their faces. I don't drive my kids to events--we walk or they bike. Sometimes, though, I walk to the school and meet my sons so that I can carry their instruments or backpacks. People have questioned why I'm carrying their things, and I respond, "I don't give them rides anywhere, so this is how I spoil them." Their dad, on the other hand, used to drive to the fitness center he owned, work out for 3 hours, then drive home for lunch, drive back to work, drive to our house, back to work, then home--all of which were within easy biking distance. He *drove* to his workout. No logic there, is there. I live in a small town in Colorado. I don’t currently have a functioning bicycle, but unless I’m buying groceries, I generally walk. It’s a 5-minute walk to the school my sons attend, so for the open house last night, I walked (my son biked). His was the only bicycle in the rack. I feel certain that everyone else drove. They had to fight their way out of a crowded parking lot while we just walked away. I’m certain that we could have beat most of the drivers to their homes.

I think it’s great that you’re biking in L.A. Ray Bradbury has lived there his entire life and biked or walked everywhere. He was considered odd for doing so, so he wrote a story about his experiences–”The Pedestrian.”

I’m not sure what it is that inspires people to drive inefficient vehicles in traffic jams, but if you can’t get people to take a 5-minute walk in a safe small town when gasoline costs a lot, then I’m not surprised that bicyclists are rare in a large city. Is it laziness? I think so. But I also think that a lot of people simply haven’t given it any thought. They complain, but they can’t see the simple solution right in front of their faces.

I don’t drive my kids to events–we walk or they bike. Sometimes, though, I walk to the school and meet my sons so that I can carry their instruments or backpacks. People have questioned why I’m carrying their things, and I respond, “I don’t give them rides anywhere, so this is how I spoil them.” Their dad, on the other hand, used to drive to the fitness center he owned, work out for 3 hours, then drive home for lunch, drive back to work, drive to our house, back to work, then home–all of which were within easy biking distance. He *drove* to his workout. No logic there, is there.

]]> By: Warren http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/comment-page-1/#comment-1067 Warren Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:50:51 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/09/15/bikes-and-the-city/#comment-1067 It has recently been pointed out to me that bike riders in the Netherlands don't wear helmets. Furthermore, <a href="http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1047/Get_on_your_bike.html" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">20% of all traffic fatalities there are bicyclists</a>. Not exactly Eden, but 20% < 80%. (And if someone could just get them to wear helmets...) It has recently been pointed out to me that bike riders in the Netherlands don’t wear helmets. Furthermore, 20% of all traffic fatalities there are bicyclists.

Not exactly Eden, but 20% < 80%. (And if someone could just get them to wear helmets…)

]]>