[*BCM*] cambridge

[Robert Arnold]

The driver have certainly made a huge difference in my own cycling
style. I'm much more agressive than I ever was in Seatte (where I
lived and biked in for nearly ten years without a single accident). I
think the general disregard for, hmm, turn signals, or, hmm, speed
limits, etc. makes for an overall culture of chaos on the roads. As I
said in my letter, if Cambridge wants to contain the cyclists, they'll
first have to contain the drivers. Otherwise, it's a wasted effort.
And I'd urge anybody getting a ticket from Cambridge police for
bicycle offenses to contest the ticket. Even if you do end up paying
for the ticket eventually, the due process of forcing a hearing will
cost the city more than they'll make from the tickets, and thus it'll
remove one more incentive for their crackdown.

Rob

On 6/27/05, Anne Wolfe <goannego at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm in London at the moment and spent the weekend in Amsterdam. 
>   
> Biking in Amsterdam is brilliant - the paths are well marked, and everyone
> cycles, Grandmas, little kids, guys in suits, my seven months pregnant
> friend, just everyone.  Cyclists are given the consideration they need and
> deserve. 
>   
> But in London, there's been an amazing transformation.  When I lived here 15
> years ago, it was only nutjob couriers on bikes, who were scarier than the
> drivers.  Now, loads of people bike.  Load of them.  The partner here in my
> office bikes to work every day, and this is hardly uncommon.  Organizations
> like National Trust and English Heritage include in their guides how to get
> there by bike.  Paths everywhere, and loads of people doing it.  For those
> who say cycle paths don't work, they'd only have to look at London to see
> that yes they damn well do. 
>   
> Of course the people here actually know how to drive as well, which makes a
> nice change from Boston/Cambridge.
> 
>  
>  
> On 27/06/05, Max Harless <mharless at wesleyan.edu> wrote: 
> > Mmm... bicycling in Berlin. Yes, it is bicycle nirvana here. But it
> > has a number of things that even money couldn't recreate in Cambridge: 
> > 
> > - People who are driving actually know how do drive; many don't even
> > bother to learn, because it's so expensive and such a pain in the
> > neck. People spend 3 to 5 whole seconds craning their necks to look
> > for bicycles before making a right turn -- I see this all the time -- 
> > because they know the bike lane has the right of way at a green
> > light... and what's this thing about right before left? They'll just
> > sit there as long as it takes me to figure out I have the right of
> > way.
> > 
> > - Most everyone has been on a bike since they were tiny (this is a
> > little frightening to watch, sometimes)
> > 
> > - It hardly snows here. (well... they SAY it snows, but I never saw a
> > plow THIS winter). (Does there exist a bicycle paradise with snow?) 
> > 
> > - Sidewalks the size of Central Sq. would be considered minimal...
> > There must be room for pedestrians, bike paths, huge trees... and
> > cafe tables for the jobless.
> > 
> > ...And so much more.
> > 
> > Traffic calming, though... that works everywhere. Particularly the 
> > creation of dead ends and other inconveniences for cars, but not
> > bikes.
> > 
> > Amsterdam... that's more like an amusement park ride, with no safety
> > features. I'm not really sure it's safe; it's just a lot of fun. 
> > 
> > As for CM in general, I would amend Lee's prose-poem somewhat
> > tritely... It'll happen if you make it happen. It's so easy.
> > 
> > max
> > 
> > >Turtle,
> > >
> > >Are Berlin and Amsterdam shining examples bicycle nirvana?  The are 
> > >definitely wonderful rides for me.  I have never felt so safe.  (perhaps
> I
> > >was only mesmerized by the architecture).
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Boston Critical Mass mailing list 
> > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Anne Wolfe, Esq, LL.M.
> Mobile: ( 077484) 76599  <-- NOTE NEW NUMBER!
> "No matter how persecuted you feel, you still can't defect to Disneyland." -
> Hilary B. Pryce 
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