The Useless Forum, and can it be saved?
#51
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#52
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A VRU would be a positive thing to establish. One day it might happen.
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#53
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A&S is not completely useless - it does give us comic relief from time to time. I don't like posting here because people argue just for the sake of arguing.
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#55
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But how many true "advocacy and safety" topics can there be? "How to ride safely on the road." "Should there be bike lanes and what should they be like?" "How to keep your bike maintained to be safe" (maybe not even for this forum). "There should be X law in Y place" (okay, there are a lot of places just in the U.S., never mind elsewhere-- this could keep us busy for a while). "Should or shouldn't you wear a helmet, and if so, what kind?" "What to do about dogs." "What to do about pedestrians." Etc.
Once all of this has been discussed (I'm guessing more than once), what is left besides current events?
Once all of this has been discussed (I'm guessing more than once), what is left besides current events?
#56
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I used to read every post in A&S because the rules were being constantly violated. Then I had them move it down the forum hierarchy a little so it doesn't get quite so much exposure. And that helped a lot. It used to upset me that people who actually advocated for cycling got run out of here, but now I just hope they don't see the forum.
I don't hold out much hope that this forum will be useful, I just hope it doesn't do too much damage.
I don't hold out much hope that this forum will be useful, I just hope it doesn't do too much damage.
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#57
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I used to read every post in A&S because the rules were being constantly violated. Then I had them move it down the forum hierarchy a little so it doesn't get quite so much exposure. And that helped a lot. It used to upset me that people who actually advocated for cycling got run out of here, but now I just hope they don't see the forum.
I don't hold out much hope that this forum will be useful, I just hope it doesn't do too much damage.
I don't hold out much hope that this forum will be useful, I just hope it doesn't do too much damage.
Liked for the honesty, and it is sad. As for advocacy, I seriously don't see how a newbie to cycling would find ANYTHING in this forum that would make them want to keep riding.
#59
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Let me give you one of the saddest stories I know. The decedent was a work colleague, and a great person. Despite being legally blind he would ride his bike a couple miles to catch a bus to work, day in and day out. He was killed when the driver of an automobile lost control on a very gentle curve, hit a guard rail, and then hit him:
https://democratherald.com/news/loca...688592d5e.html
Following an investigation it was determined that it was not likely that the State could prove criminal negligence beyond a reasonable doubt:
https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/lo...2af713158.html
So not every crash is caused by the narrow range of intoxicants and cell phones... I once responded to a crash where a person not familiar with our area drove straight off the road because they were looking at a waterfall that came over the ridge about a thousand feet above the valley floor. No drugs, no cell phone, just not paying attention.
I have driven the road where Grant was killed many times and had wondered how anyone who was not well past three sheets to the wind could lose control on that curve. Now I know. And that is why law enforcement departments have accident investigation teams.
I have had a vehicle steering system fail because a previous owner put SAE grade 2 bolts in a place where the manufacturer's shop manual specified that grade 5 or higher were required. Fortunately my event happened with nobody else on the road and I was able to maintain control well enough to come to a safe stop.
https://democratherald.com/news/loca...688592d5e.html
Following an investigation it was determined that it was not likely that the State could prove criminal negligence beyond a reasonable doubt:
https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/lo...2af713158.html
So not every crash is caused by the narrow range of intoxicants and cell phones... I once responded to a crash where a person not familiar with our area drove straight off the road because they were looking at a waterfall that came over the ridge about a thousand feet above the valley floor. No drugs, no cell phone, just not paying attention.
I have driven the road where Grant was killed many times and had wondered how anyone who was not well past three sheets to the wind could lose control on that curve. Now I know. And that is why law enforcement departments have accident investigation teams.
I have had a vehicle steering system fail because a previous owner put SAE grade 2 bolts in a place where the manufacturer's shop manual specified that grade 5 or higher were required. Fortunately my event happened with nobody else on the road and I was able to maintain control well enough to come to a safe stop.
... these are very sad anecdotes, in fact just about all the A&S anecdotes are tales of woe and begotten ness, A&S is kinda like reading the obits to remind yourself that you are lucky to be alive, especially if you ride a bicycle
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#61
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I only want bad drivers who victimize people to be held accountable. Often when cyclists are killed in "accidents" the drivers are not held accountable, party because of bias against cyclists. It's easier to blame the victim than acknowledge the truth that motor vehicles are dangerous and remedy the situation.
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#62
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My belief is that the very best thing we could do in the name of bicycle advocacy is to have mandatory bicycle law education. For cyclists, drivers and law enforcement officers. It would be a bit of a hurdle to bring cyclists into that mix, but it would be relatively simple to get drivers and cops through an educational program. The level of ignorance relative to cycling is staggering.
#63
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And speaking of people we could write their lines for....