BIKE: My first letter

[Bob at Amp Electric]

Mr Barnes, I don't understand why you say "I am not sure why you think
we're the local government...." to Mr. Gilbreath who writes "I just
thought I would post it here so the forum can see what I sent to the
Mayor and city Council." His post seems to me a perfect use of this
discussion list.

And I disagree that associating oneself with an advocacy group is a
better way. If a single person is motivated and dedicated to his cause,
he may be more persistent and can tell his own true first-hand stories
with passion. To me this follows the idea of picking your battles
judiciously.

Nor do I understand "...take the lane! ... But don't hog the entire
right half, either." Perhaps Mr. Gilbreath seems to get himself into
"those fights" because the APD is selectively not enforcing traffic
infractions against cyclists.

-----Original Message-----
From: forum-bicycleaustin.info-bounces
[mailto:forum-bicycleaustin.info-bounces] On
Behalf Of Byrnes, Rick
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:36 AM
To: Forum-bicycleaustin.info
Subject: RE: BIKE: My first letter


No one else has responded here, so I'll say something.
Mr Gilbreath,  you raise many good points.  I'll respond to just a few. 
I am not sure why you think we're the local government.... far from it!

You've got to pick your battles judiciously.  No one person is ever
going to get the local authorities to change their position on cycling.
It's better to associate oneself with a good advocacy group. 
And  there's so many ways traffic laws are observed more in the breach
than the observance that common infractions are taken for granted.
Unless you're physically harmed by dogs, you'll likely get nothing by
making an issue of unleashed animals.  I'll go out on a limb and say
that most people, including policemen, assume a grown man should be able
to handle himself in situations where a small woman, or a child, would
be in danger. 
Trying to ride on such busy streets as West Fifth or Sixth is just too
dangerous.  It's not worth the risk and I won't ride them either.
There's
safer streets.  
When you do ride on those safer streets, take the lane!   Make cars,
trucks,
and buses go around you. But don't hog the entire right half, either. 
I don't know why you seem to get into those fights... but consider that
courtesy, in general, pays off better than stubborness. 



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