[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[Neil Brooks]

--- Brandon Vanderberg <brandon_vanderberg at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I find it difficult to accept that a 'majority' of drivers, at any given time, are as dangerous
> as a .08 drunk driver -either through their use of cell phones, recent use of cell phones, or
> because they are thinking about a presentation. However I would agree that, at any given time,
> some are and that it does behoove us to ride accordingly. 

I'm not going to quibble with your use of the term "majority of drivers."  Rather, the point is
that studies show that cell phone use -- with or without hands-free technology -- impairs driving,
on average, as much as legally intoxicated driving does.

My experience ... in four wheels, on my bicycle, and on my motorcycle, gives me ab-so-lute-ly no
basis to disregard this.  It's confirmed, for me, every time I hope on a mode of transport and
move in the public transport arena.

Have you looked for, and reviewed, any of these tests?  They're quite fascinating ... if a bit
disheartening...

Here's just ONE link from a lightning fast Google:

  http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=138
 
> Having said that, is there any good reason to ride side by side? Chatting with one's riding
> partner would seem to be at least as distracting as thinking about presentations is to drivers.
> I would argue that whether it's 2 cars, 2 motorcycles, or 2 bikes, the road comes first and the
> conversation is best saved for the rest stops. 

With that, I couldn't agree more :-)