[BIKE: Relevant to recent discussions]

[Lane S. Wimberley]

Michael Bluejay writes:
> Please, come up with something better than (1) or (2) above.  

Well, I'm not positive about "better," but I thought one of the
original points in this thread (and also in earlier threads on this
tired subject) was that disobeying laws in plain sight of motorists
(aka, the majority) is not exactly the best way to ensure equal access
to public resources and infrastructure development.

Yes, I know (and defended your view on this) that this is wrong.  I
agree that we should vigorously reject this faulty reasoning.  But, we
are remiss if we fail to acknowledge the political reality that
decisions will be made under the influence of this reasoning, however
faulty.  I think it's reasonable, then, to suggest that striving to
get cyclists to generally abide the law (at least, when in the
presence of other road users) has greater value in this context than
does broad endorsement of individual judgement.

I'll add that, right or wrong, when the public perception of cyclists
as law breakers is reinforced by this behavior, we should be too
surprised when judges, juries and law enforcement opt to deny us
justice when we are involved in accidents, as they are (again, rightly
or wrongly -- it doesn't matter once the gavel comes down) more likely
to decide that fault _probably_ lies with us, since we are a member of
a generally disobedient class.

I suppose there's also the angle that such behavior is a disservice to
folks like Patrick and Mike, who job it is to argue on our behalf in
front of folks who are likely to be swayed by the (faulty) logic
alluded to above.

-Lane

PS For the record, I have (to my amazement, frankly) seen no fewer
than three cars full-on RUN red lights in the last five days or so.
(Woulda been creamed by one of them had I not been alert and vigilant
when I got the green.)  I've also seen a few cyclists run lights and
(mostly) stop signs, with only one being particularly eggregious, as
it was a fully loaded 4-way stop, it wasn't the cyclist's turn to go,
yet he blew through.  Most of the cyclists I've seen on my route seem
to have been better behaved than usual, nearly always stopping at
lights (albeit frequently on the far right), and mostly stopping (or
substantially slowing) at stop signs.  As always, YMMV.

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