<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><P>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.</P>
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<P>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</P>
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<P>- Jon<BR><BR></P>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Erik Wile <esw@alum.mit.edu><BR>To: Boston Critical Mass <list@bostoncriticalmass.org><BR>Sent: Monday, March 3, 2008 10:06:21 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [*BCM*] StreetTalk with Portland'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>Portland 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 Portland!<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 Portland. 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>Boston. 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>Boston Critical Mass mailing list<BR><A href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org" ymailto="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org">list@bostoncriticalmass.org</A><BR><A href="http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list" target=_blank>http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list</A><BR>To unsubscribe email <A href="mailto:list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org" ymailto="mailto:list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org">list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org</A><BR></DIV><BR></DIV></div><br>
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