[SDCBC] "Actuarial inevitability" my #(#$&@ !

[John Forester]

It is standard highway practice, and therefore should be standard 
Class One Bikeway practice, to notify travellers when they approach 
conditions that unexpectedly present a danger that is not similar to 
the typical conditions along the route. The sharp corner sign, with a 
slow speed notice, probably would be appropriate at this point, and a 
center line might be appropriate also.



At 05:42 AM 7/18/2007, JonIsaacs at aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 7/17/07 9:32:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
>rob_leone at earthlink.net writes:
>
>>Fortunately, they both felt fine enough to dust off and go on their
>>merry ways. the roadie mentioned it was a blind corner, and said the
>>collision was "an actuarial inevitability."
>>   Maybe if we had bike paths without blind corners the actuaries will go
>>play elsewhere. I do know I'll be slow and vigilant rounding that bend
>>in the future, and ma even mark it for speical attention if I plan a
>>group ride.
>>
>>Robert Leone
>
>
>========
>
>I can't quite buy it myself...
>
>Blind corners are a fact of life.  Whether one is riding  a bicycle 
>or driving a semi, one needs to operate ones vehicle with the 
>awareness that someone may well be coming the other direction.
>
>As I remember it, that path is wide enough for two riders riding at 
>a reasonable speed to pass.  "Actuarial inevitability" seems more 
>like an excuse for sloppy riding to me...
>
>Isn't it just basic vehicle operating skills?  If you can't see 
>around a corner make sure you are can handle whatever comes 
>up.  That means riding slowly enough to stay on you own side and 
>maybe even slowly enough to stop if necessary.
>
>The only actuarial inevitability one has to be concerned with is not 
>a blind corner but rather the  chance of meeting a sloppy rider or 
>sloppy riding on one's own part....
>
>Blind corners are a fact of life that shouldn't present any special 
>challenge if everyone is paying attention and practicing "defensive riding."
>
>Jon Isaacs
>
>
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John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com
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