FLCC> [Fwd: Cyclovia begins Sat]

[Wayne Gottlieb]

I agree that it doesn't help make friends among
motorists (And they are our friends...) to disobey
traffic rules.  However, I would like to comment on
both issues.  1) Going through red lights:  During
some of our rides, the FLCC cyclists will often go
through an intersection en Mass.  We don't go through
red lights, but if many of us are turning left and a
car comes before we've finished, cars will often wait
for us, even though they have the right of way.  Their
courtesy is answered by profuse thanks from the
cyclists.  We like to stay together.  2) Blocking
lanes:  Sometimes we ride in very large groups (20-50)
and try to be aware of much faster cars that need to
pass.  Our official policy is to ride single file when
cars pass, not wanting to be a burden on the local
traffic.  However, we're on East Hill where speeds are
45+.  Downtown, this might be different, where cars
are not going much faster than the cyclists.  What
might be more important is to be sensitive to the
needs of local motor traffic and avoid the tendency to
be the "righteous" cyclist.  I hope the critical mass
rides will be posted. I've been impressed to see them
pass and always wished I had my bike with me. Wayne
--- Wendy Skinner <ws at twcny.rr.com> wrote:

> Gotta comment: Bicyclists should ALWAYS obey the
> same traffic rules that apply to cars. Streaming
> through red lights is not only dangerous but will
> not make friends. Those who get through a light
> ahead of the rest should pull over safely and wait.
> Taking an entire lane is fine if you ride at the
> prevailing traffic speed. Not allowing other traffic
> to function is also unsafe and completely
> unnecessary.
> 
> I might join a community ride if I felt there was
> more structure and planning and that I would not be
> embarrassed to be seen. I may be misunderstanding
> this effort, but the "shut it down" approach is
> dated and irritating. It can backfire and make
> people more opposed to sharing the streets.
> 
> Please be careful out there.
> 
> Wendy Skinner, lifetime cyclist and first female
> bicycle messenger, Marathon Messengers, Boston.
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: BobWölfé Jung2 
>   To: Curb your car coalition ; bpac at icycle.org 
>   Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 1:58 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Fwd: Cyclovia begins Sat]
> 
> 
>   Hello all, 
> 
>      If anyone is interested in joining with a
> community of cyclist already around, today is
> Critical Mass. We meet at 5pm and ride at 5:30pm
> (usually 5:20 and 5:40-5:45 actually) on the west
> end of the commons (by the UPS store). Perhaps
> someone might want to come by and sell the idea of
> Cyclovia to folx there...
>      Of course Critical Mass has been doing this in
> Ithaca since around 1995 or 96, I believe.. 
>          http://www.critical-mass.info/
> 
>      Then again, there seems to be some contention
> around the fact that for reasons of safety we
> (Critical Mass) tend (there are no leaders or rules)
> to try and stay together (massed up)...this includes
> not being split up by red lights...so if the front
> of the group goes through a light, and some folx
> catch the red, they keep going. Being split up and
> having cars between us is felt to be dangerous. For
> similar reasons, we will take the entire lane and
> sometimes more than just one...lately we (in Ithaca)
> seem to try and leave at least one passing lane open
> on multi-lane roads. We have no destination or even
> route picked out, just a pleasant, sociable bike
> ride around town. 
> 
>       We certainly would welcome anyone to come and
> join us today, or any last Friday of the month. 
> 
>       I'm also curious, will Ithaca's Cyclovia be
> shutting down streets to motorized traffic as in
> other towns/cities? That certainly would take care
> of a lot of the safety issues.
> 
> 
>   -- 
>   -BobWölfé Jung2, K.S.C.
>   Anarchic Discordian Bike Pirate
>