[*BCM*] riding

[Marq Maru]

I think I'll steer clear of the term "HPV"
I don't want people thinking I'm hitchin myself to the Human Papaloma Virus 
(genital warts) Buggy
You can have it, but I don't want it.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "turtle" <turtle at zworg.com>
To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] riding


> Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:
>
>> What is an HPV?  Human Powered Vehicle?
>
> Yep.  I'm trying to get into the habit of using "HPV" as an inclusive
> term, rather than be exclusive with the term "bicycle", since I think
> diversity and solidarity are great tactics for a better world.
>
>> It is shocking that enforcement of this kind costs money, when the
>> punishment is a fine.  Double, or triple the fines until you can afford 
>> it
>> or don't need to do it.
>
> An intersting proposal.  Problem is it unfairly targets poor people, who
> will be really harmed by a large monetary fine, while the rich can just
> shrug it off.
>
> In Sweden, I believe, fines for violating the law are based on a
> percentage of your income.  A neat trick.  But not likely to be used in
> the US, where wealthiness is synonomous with godliness.
>
> As for education, start with the cops......no wait,
>> they have drivers' licenses, the same ones we do.  THEY AREN'T DOING 
>> THIER
>> JOBS.  So, I guess my base reaction is to install infrastructure to do 
>> the
>> job that the police aren't doing.
>
> Infrastructure can only do so much.  It's certainly part of the
> solution, though.
>
>> It is relative.  It would not be called 'special' in Europe.  It is more
>> integrated.
>
> I'm not sure what you are getting at here.  There are plenty of
> dedicated bike lanes and paths in Europe.  That's what I mean by
> "special", as opposed to including bicycles as part of normal traffic.
>
>> I don't know how to make people nicer, does anybody?
>
> There are lots of ways to help people be nicer.  Making sure they have
> their basic needs met (food, water, security, a home, a healthy
> environment, a way to support their families, etc.) is a fantastic way
> to relieve people's stress, which will turn off their "fight or flight"
> hormones, and turn on their happy hormones.  Being friendly and
> compassionate to them is good too.  Making sure they are not crowded
> into a tiny space with hundreds or thousands of other people is another
> one.  Allowing them access to lots of beautiful nature is yet another.
>
> I agree that good road design is important.  But good road design to me,
> as a cyclist is a nice clean, with a relatively flat and level surface
> that is wide enough to allow faster traffic to pass at least
> occasionally, and that has some clear indication of right of way,
> especially at intersections.  Anything more than that seems a waste to
> me.  This is the kind of road I grew up riding on, and it worked
> extremely well for me and seemed to work quite well for others.
>
> -Turtle
>
> ----------------------------
> "One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we
> seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal.  We must
> pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means." - Martin Luther King Jr.
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