[*BCM*] Re: Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 34, Issue 15

[tstrong at riseup.net]

Maybe Massbike could compile a list of known, dangerous streets to avoid. 
That would be the best help they could give Boston bicyclists.  Then no
one would have to find out the hard way. We have a wealth of knowledge
here that needs to be dispersed before another tragedy occurs.  I took
Massbike's safe biking course but found their insistence that city biking
is safe a little detached from reality.  City bicycle safety is not as
simple or easy as following a few road rules.  Not acknowledging this is
very irresponsible.




On Thu, April 5, 2007 3:19 pm,
bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org wrote:
> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
> bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>
> 1. Re: Re: bike death (Jym Dyer)
> 2. Re: Ghost bike (dillweed)
> 3. What better bicycling in Massachusetts means to me... (turtle)
> 4. Re: What better bicycling in Massachusetts means to me...
> (tjvitolo at bu.edu)
> 5. RE: My thoughts (David Watson)
> 6. Re: Ghost bike (Lee Peters)
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:37:03 -0700
> From: Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Re: bike death
> To: Boston CM <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <Jym.05Apr2007.461541b1 at econet.org>
>
>
>> this was my upstairs neighbor. not sure whether his family wants his
>> name released yet, but he was well-loved by a whole ton of people.
>
> =v= We (TIME'S UP!) do ghost bikes and other memorials around
> New York City.  We always contact the family before doing
> these things.  Most are appreciative.  Sometimes they don't want the
> deceased's name on the memorial.
>
> =v= So I recommend contacting the family.
> <_Jym_>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 15:27:20 -0400
> From: dillweed <gobikey at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Ghost bike
> To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:
> <1fb706c10704051227u2a063bay7bff5bdad9d280ed at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> RIP Gordon Riker
>
>
> http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID
> =1724908
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/attachments/2007
> 0405/acc2b656/attachment.htm
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:23:36 -0700
> From: "turtle" <turtle at zworg.com>
> Subject: [*BCM*] What better bicycling in Massachusetts means to me...
> To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <18729.1175804616 at zworg.com>
>
>
> The Bicyclist Manifesto:
>
>
> - I want to see safe and thriving streets in the Boston area (and
> everywhere else, too!). - I want to be able to drive a bike, car, scooter,
> walk on my own feet, use a wheelchair, take the bus or train, or whatever
> other safe form of transportation that I choose to use, and feel like
> other people know that I am there and understand that I belong there. - I
> want to have at least equal access use the public roads for transportation
> as all other safe and responsible travelers. - I want to know that
> everyone understand the basic laws of the road so that they are very clear
> about how to keep everyone safe. - I want those laws to be written or
> rewritten so that they are clear, effective, and designed to meet
> everyone's needs for health and safety as the top priority. - I want to
> have a legal system that upholds the laws, serves the safety of everyone,
> including me, and that continually works to reduce dangers as much as
> possible in an effective and fair way. - I want to have a legal system
> that strives to increase safety and health for everyone, rather than
> decreasing un-health and un-safe conditions (a subtle, but crucial
> difference akin to the difference between being average and being great). -
> I want a government that promotes education that permeates society and
> completely clarifies the laws and the rights and responsibilities for
> everyone, as they share the public streets with everyone else. - I want
> everyone to be open to finding new and better ways to keep everyone safe,
> and to be creative and respectful when encountering conflict with the
> general goal of improving things for everyone (win-win).
> - I want to have individuals and groups professionally responsible for
> doing research and investigation into ALL of the various possible elements
> that contribute to unsafe conditions, and to research all perspectives of
> the issue: emotional, physical, procedural, and cultural.  I want the goal
> to not be placing blame, but finding better strategies for a healthier and
> safer future. - I want to have a society, government, legal system,
> organizations, and peers who value my health and safety needs and take
> them into account when making decisions. - I want to have the opportunity,
> along with everyone else, to offer my ideas for solutions for safer and
> healthier streets and have them be respected, seriously considered, and
> given a fair critique for strengths and weaknesses with the general goal
> of increasing everyone's health and safety as the ultimate arbiter. - I
> want everyone who wants better bicycling in Massachusetts to focus on what
> is most valuable to them and to share those values with everyone else, so
> that we can have a goal to work towards.
>
> Your turn!
>
>
> Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
> -Turtle
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:24:25 -0400
> From: tjvitolo at bu.edu
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] What better bicycling in Massachusetts means to
> me... To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Message-ID: <20070405172425.5figz4yickc4s40s at www.bu.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=ISO-8859-1;	format="flowed"
>
>
>> Your turn!
>>
>>
>> Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
>> -Turtle
>>
>
> I want Turtle to be appointed National Cycling Czar, and given a budget
> of $3,000,000,000 ($10/person) to start implementing her vision.
>
>
> Quoting turtle <turtle at zworg.com>:
>
>
>> The Bicyclist Manifesto:
>>
>>
>> - I want to see safe and thriving streets in the Boston area (and
>> everywhere else, too!). - I want to be able to drive a bike, car,
>> scooter, walk on my own feet, use a wheelchair, take the bus or train,
>> or whatever other safe form of transportation that I choose to use, and
>> feel like other people know that I am there and understand that I belong
>> there. - I want to have at least equal access use the public roads for
>> transportation as all other safe and responsible travelers. - I want to
>> know that everyone understand the basic laws of the road so that they
>> are very clear about how to keep everyone safe. - I want those laws to
>> be written or rewritten so that they are clear, effective, and designed
>> to meet everyone's needs for health and safety as the top priority. - I
>> want to have a legal system that upholds the laws, serves the safety of
>> everyone, including me, and that continually works to reduce dangers as
>> much as possible in an effective and fair way. - I want to have a legal
>> system that strives to increase safety and health for everyone, rather
>> than decreasing un-health and un-safe conditions (a subtle, but crucial
>> difference akin to the difference between being average and being
>> great). - I want a government that promotes education that permeates
>> society and completely clarifies the laws and the rights and
>> responsibilities for everyone, as they share the public streets with
>> everyone else. - I want everyone to be open to finding new and better
>> ways to keep everyone safe, and to be creative and respectful when
>> encountering conflict with the general goal of improving things for
>> everyone (win-win).
>> - I want to have individuals and groups professionally responsible for
>> doing research and investigation into ALL of the various possible
>> elements that contribute to unsafe conditions, and to research all
>> perspectives of the issue: emotional, physical, procedural, and
>> cultural.  I want the goal to not be placing blame, but finding better
>> strategies for a healthier and safer future. - I want to have a society,
>> government, legal system, organizations, and peers who value my health
>> and safety needs and take them into account when making decisions. - I
>> want to have the opportunity, along with everyone else, to offer my
>> ideas for solutions for safer and healthier streets and have them be
>> respected, seriously considered, and given a fair critique for
>> strengths and weaknesses with the general goal of increasing everyone's
>> health and safety as the ultimate arbiter. - I want everyone who wants
>> better bicycling in Massachusetts to focus on what is most valuable to
>> them and to share those values with everyone else, so that we can have a
>> goal to work towards.
>>
>> Your turn!
>>
>>
>> Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
>> -Turtle
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 18:09:50 -0400
> From: "David Watson" <david at massbike.org>
> Subject: RE: [*BCM*] My thoughts
> To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <EJEGIGDJFKOPNPPFOBKBIEHLHPAA.david at massbike.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> MassBike expresses its condolences to family of the rider; we're thinking
>  about how to respond to this tragedy.
>
> While MassBike does work on projects statewide, much of our activity
> actually is in metro Boston.  Not only is our Metro Boston chapter
> incredibly involved in local projects (Charles River paths, Longfellow
> Bridge, Storrow Drive, Cambridge Road Hazard ID Day, MassBike Spins Ride
> Series, etc.), but our office is continually working behind the scenes on
> urban issues.  We've been so busy that we haven't had time to update our
> website, so the information on our projects and priorities is not
> current. The bike safety bill is very relevant to urban riders, dealing
> with passing, turning, and dooring.  We're trying to work with the city to
> make sure that new road projects include bikes in the plan.  At the
> National Bike Summit in
> DC last month, we asked Congress to appropriate money for the Conserve By
> Bike program to encourage people to ride instead of drive on short trips,
> and asked them to support the Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit Act, which
> would encourage companies to pay cash incentives to people who ride their
> bikes to work.
>
> Because so much of what we do is not immediately visible to the public,
> we've been trying harder lately to let everyone know what we're working
> on. If you'd like to stay up-to-date or get involved, please subscribe to
> our email list at
> http://www.mainstreetmail.com/signup/index.php?listID=324&redirect=http:/
> /ww
> w.massbike.org.
>
> And we are always open to input from you, the riders on the streets every
>  day.
>
> -David
>
>
> David Watson
> Executive Director
> MassBike
> 171 Milk Street, Suite 33
> Boston, MA 02109
> Phone: 617-542-BIKE (2453)
> Fax: 617-542-6755
> Email: david at massbike.org
>
>
> MassBike - Better Bicycling for Massachusetts
> Visit us at www.massbike.org
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
> [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org]On Behalf Of Ian
>  Thistle
> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 1:03 PM
> To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Subject: [*BCM*] My thoughts
>
>
>
> So I have been stewing over the last day and here are some points I'd
> like to bring up for discussion.
>
> First, I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the
> young man who died.  I didn't know him personally but it seems like I
> easily could have.  I'm not sure if his name has been officially released,
> so I'm not going to say it, but he was a friend of friends of mine.  It's
> a terrible tragedy that I'm sure will stick with us for a long time.
>
> What I'm upset about is this:  Anyone who rides frequently in Boston
> could have told you that the area where he was hit is very dangerous.  One
> of the first responses on this list called it a "highway," and I agree.
> People
> drive very fast and the road is needlessly narrow.  You always have to
> watch out for Northeastern / MassArt / SMFA students crossing the street
> without warning and yet it's the quickest route from downtown to Mission
> Hill,
> Brookline Village, and so on.
>
>
> Sometimes it unfortunately takes a tragedy for things to change.  I'd
> have hope that the area would be improved, except the area of Cambridge St
> where Kirsten Malone was killed three years ago (if I remember correctly)
> is still just as dangerous as it was the day she died.  Similarly, anyone
> could have told you that area was really dangerous before she was killed.
>
> Now, MassBike does some good things, but for a cycling advocacy group,
> they haven't done much to make things better for cyclists in the city (at
> least that I can tell in the four and a half years I've lived here).  One
> of their major recent victories was securing $40 million of funds for bike
>  paths (link here).  Most of these are in the rest of the state, and the
> ones that are in the Boston area aren't ones I will ever ride, nor do most
> of my biking friends.  I don't want to stereotype, but they seem to mainly
> be for "weekend warriors" rather than commuters.  No matter who rides
> them, bike paths are in my opinion counter to the safety of cyclists,
> since they get overwhelmed by joggers and rollerbladers and they reinforce
> the idea to drivers that cyclists belong off the road.
>
> I don't want to pin it all on MassBike, as I fully support a lot of the
> things they are doing.  I guess what I'm mostly looking for is some way to
>  get my voice heard, as a cyclist on the streets of Boston who sees the
> city as needlessly forboding to cyclists.
>
> Lastly, I wanted to voice to everyone that while being scared to ride is
> a natural and understandable reaction to this death, that they shouldn't
> stop riding.  Fewer bikes on the streets makes it harder for everyone
> still riding, not to mention increasing pollution and lowering personal
> health.
>
> Be safe,
> Ian
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/attachments/2007
> 0405/8f091d9a/attachment.html
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 18:21:46 -0400
> From: "Lee Peters" <leepeters at gis.net>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Ghost bike
> To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <008001c777d0$ccb7a9c0$0601000a at Unit2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Thanks so much for your response - ya'll are gems.
>
>
> Okay, I found a bike very close to where I live and plan to get it on
> Friday.  I will paint it up and set it out at the site.  It is very likely
>  that I will set it out there on Saturday of this weekend.  I will let
> you know the time through this list.
>
> I called MassArt and they aren't sharing the name (even though I guess we
>  have it now).  I will NOT put a name on the memorial unless I hear it is
> ok from a member of his family.  The MassArt people know we are setting up
> a memorial and may pass it on.
>
> You are special crowd, indeed.  Special thanks to Tommy.
> best, Lee
>
>
>>
>> New subject line for the bike memorial:
>>
>>
>> Wow, what a great response.  I like the idea of using an un-rideable
>> bike.  I can arrange to pick up the Huffy at that Longwood location
>> tomorrow or sometime over the weekend.
>>
>> Maybe it is best to contact me off list to work out the details.  I bet
>>  you could just leave the bike out on the street for a couple hours
>> without losing it too.  Try leepeters at gis.net .
>>
>> After picking the bike up, I will make some preparations to place the
>> bike.  Then I can call out to the CM listers to see if anyone wants to be
>> there for placement.  This can also happen at a set time over the
>> weekend if I get the bike in time.
>>
>> We can also go by there with CM at the end of the month for a short
>> vigil.  Unfortunately, we have done this before for another biker.
>>
>> Also, I am a MassArt grad and will try to find out his name from that
>> community.
>>
>> Thanks so much for your response.
>>
>>
>> Lee
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>
>
> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 34, Issue 15
> **************************************************
>
>