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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi Jon,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> I use a pole like you
speak of with a flag on the end. I have a Carridice saddle bag
where I put all my junk. This bag straps to the saddle bag loops on the
saddle/. The flag pole just fits between the saddle loops inside the two
saddlebag straps through the loops. The neat thing is that if you do it
this way, the flag pole can extend out towards the cars who come too close or
if you’re on a bike path or around people it can slide back in out of the
way. I love it and feel it does keep the cars just a bit more away
from me. You can find the poles and flags on Buggylights.com. I’f
you don’t use a saddlebag, hopefully your saddle has saddlebag loops so
just strap the pole to those. The pole is fiberglass so it’s a bit
flexible so it wont take you down. The pole will come too long so just
cut it down to where you’re comfortable with it-mine is maybe 3 feet and
the carridice bag is maybe 12 or 15 inches wide-so it’s a nice set
up. The pole comes with a rubber protector on end just past the flag so
that if you get too close to a car and forget to slide the flag back out of the
way you wont scratch some guy’s dear and precious Lexus. Hope that
helps<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Jon Ramos<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:47
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Boston
Critical Mass</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [*BCM*] StreetTalk
with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>'s
Roger Geller...</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>How
about a sign that says "Only pass me if it is SAFE" I have
thought about writing that in large letters on my bike bag, but by the time the
driver is close enough to read it, they are already too close for comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I
have also thought about some kind of a pole that extends perpendicular off of
my bike the left about two feet. This would prevent a driver from
passing too close... It would have to be reflective so that it can be
easily seen, and also snap away easily in case it does get hit (so that it
won't take you down with it) maybe the pole could have a sign on it...
hmmm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>- Jon<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>----- Original Message ----<br>
From: Erik Wile <esw@alum.mit.edu><br>
To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Boston Critical Mass</st1:PersonName>
<list@bostoncriticalmass.org><br>
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2008 10:06:21 PM<br>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] StreetTalk with <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>'s
Roger Geller...<br>
<br>
<br>
Wow!<br>
<br>
That was a really exciting presentation! Too much to summarize for<br>
those who missed it. But I will say it did give me a little hope.<br>
<br>
One of the most exciting things was hearing that business owners in<br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City> have
actually asked the city to replace some on-street car<br>
parking with on-street bike parking in front of their cafes!!!<br>
Whenever one of my snooty neighbors complains about bikes parked on<br>
the sidewalk I always enthusiastically agree and say that they should<br>
carve out a few on street parking spaces for a bike corral. That<br>
shut's 'em up. But they're actually going for it in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>!<br>
<br>
One thing that surprised me: Roger talked about various bike lanes and<br>
even a left-turn bike lane that were all working well for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>. I<br>
asked when they got police "buy in" to the bike revolution...
assuming<br>
that the only way that the bike lanes could work is if the police were<br>
actively enforcing the no parking/travelling in bike lanes rule.<br>
<br>
It turns out that they still don't really have the police on their<br>
side. That even recently Police have been ticketing bikes for failing<br>
to stop at stop signs. Just to flex their muscles.<br>
<br>
But somehow, despite the lack of help from the authorities, it is<br>
working there. It just seems to be about getting a critical mass<br>
[ahem] of influential people to actually believe that bikes are<br>
traffic too. All their traffic engineers, for example.<br>
<br>
He had an interesting point about bike safety. He said that a key<br>
next step is getting bike behaviors that are safe [eg taking the lane]<br>
to also be comfortable. [getting cars to chill out if it's not safe<br>
to pass.] I must say that BCM helps us be more comfortable in the<br>
streets, and safe during the ride, but then again when the ride is<br>
over, the drivers rage remains. How do we get cars to chill?<br>
<br>
For solo riding I was thinking maybe an electric message board sign on<br>
my rack for extra-narrow roads saying "toot if you really need to<br>
pass." Maybe that would defuse things. Maybe a couple people
will<br>
honk and maybe I'll get to the side when I can, but eventually the car<br>
directly behind will realize they don't _need_ to pass and act as a<br>
moving blocker.<br>
<br>
Hmmm, naah, everyone's late for work, or overeager to get home;<br>
generally unhappy about where they are when they're driving in<br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:City>.
I'd be deafend, and I don't really want honked at all the<br>
time. I dunno. Ideas?<br>
<br>
Just tryin' to be positive,<br>
-erik<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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