[*BCM*] Re: Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 34, Issue 17

[TSmith4918 at aol.com]

if it hasn't been said, I think it's downright important to recognize that  
biking on streets is dangerous by definition (size/weight/control/visibility  
disparities) among the vehicles sharing finite space:  for me, not a biking  
trip is started without a momentary thought that this could be "the last ride"  
and hardly any trip is ever concluded without some terrifying moment created 
by  a slight/gross misjudgment on my part, or on the part of the vehicular and  
pedestrian public.  probably most of the people on this board feel  this.  
But I still ride because it's so dang enjoyable.  
 
very moved to hear about the biker on huntington;  regardless of  fault, it 
could have been any one of us.
 
be safe and be smart
 
 
In a message dated 4/6/2007 11:31:15 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rsarnold at gmail.com writes:

We don't  know what his intentions were at the time of the accident, 
obviously. It's  entirely possible that he was attempting to position himself for a 
left turn  and got trapped between lanes. More information about the specifics 
of the  accident would help alleviate these kinds of questions, of course, but 
until  we have that information we can't presume he was riding irresponsibly. 
Like  I've said elsewhere, it's very easy to blame the victim in these  
circumstances, especially when there aren't laws (to my knowledge) that  protect a 
cyclist's right of way through traffic, and there are no questions  on the 
driver's exam on how to safely pass a bicycle. The simplistic  designation of 
bicycles as vehicles seems lazy and inadequate and, ultimately,  leads to 
tragedies of this nature. Instead, there should be a separate class  of laws and 
regulations aimed specifically at bicycles and other non-motorized  vehicles, along 
with specific protections for right of way, minimum distances  to be given, 
etc. 







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