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Old 01-13-19, 05:47 AM
  #22  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
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Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

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Originally Posted by canklecat
That's a good thing. Drivers need to be reminded of the death toll they're exacting from society, particularly the numbers of pedestrians killed by careless, indifferent and reckless drivers.

There's a perception that most pedestrians and cyclists killed by driver negligence are somehow at fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I know of many in our area who were killed while legally crossing streets, or legally riding their bikes. There are virtually no commensurate consequences for negligent drivers. Thoughts and prayers. Minimal liability insurance payouts.

Disposing of roadside memorials contributes to this victim blaming and nobody's-fault attitude.

Sometimes positive change occurs only through civil disobedience. Sometimes society needs to be inconvenienced to understand that their "convenience" costs other people pain, injuries and death.

If you believe strongly enough in a cause, sometimes civil disobedience is necessary. Sink a concrete filled post hole, weld a bike to a metal post and make sure it reappears every time one is removed.
And if you're a child growing up in a city covered in white bikes from accidents from decades ago, are you ever going to want to ride a bike? Besides, if the message is aimed at drivers, a locked up bike is a pretty crummy medium.

​​​​​It's lousy messaging, conveys no information about what actually happened and when, imposes itself on people who likely have nothing to do with the event, and frankly is just giving some people more reasons to hate bikes.
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