[SDCBC] avoiding the right hook, was Re: Gilman / I-5 interchange

[Jim Baross]

This may sound cold, but "lesser skilled" road users probably should 
become competently skilled before venturing into traffic. That's what 
we all did or do as drivers of motor vehicles... we learned to drive 
a car in easier situations and as we acquired more competency, we 
increased our access to more of the transportation systems. Lesser 
skilled bicyclists should be very careful about where they choose to 
ride, and they are advised to learn to become competent, right?

Why should we be expecting all of our traffic situations to 
accommodate all those uses (walking, bicycling, motor vehicle 
driving) by any of those who don't know what they are doing?

I don't mean that public roads shouldn't accommodate all people. 
"Roads are (or should be) for people, not only people in cars."

Those who cannot, may not, or who choose not to drive a motor vehicle 
should be able to travel the public route with a similar level of 
safety and convenience by a mode of their choice that is within their 
competencies to handle; they just should not be expected to be able 
to travel any route when using a mode at which they are dangerously 
"lesser skilled."

Most children and adults who are less than competent for the 
situation when bicycling (or using motor vehicles) should switch 
modes to one at which they have satisfactory levels of skill.

I advise people who might use a bicycle to get through the Gilman / 
I-15 intersections to dismount and become a pedestrian; assuming they 
have sufficient skills to take on that role. The drivers who fail to 
yield to pedestrians are operating illegally. Reconfiguration of the 
intersection with traffic control signals or other changes to better 
control those illegal drivers apparently is not of high enough 
priority for the City or Caltrans.

At 07:21 AM 2/21/2007, Gene Carman wrote:

>Without the bike lane there at all...  where do you feel lesser 
>skilled riders would position themselves?   I think it would be to 
>the right off all the traffic, thus ensuring a right hook.

Lesser skilled riders are likely to choose incorrect positions. The 
same holds for lesser skilled (and impatient) motor vehicle operators.