[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[John Eldon]

Sorry, Jon and Serge, I disagree that "trying to change the behavior of others greatly detracts" from anything. For the three of us and all others who already know how to bicycle safely and defensively in traffic, the greatest threat to our very survival and quality of life comes from inattentive, inebriated, or aggressive motorists. Yes, we can always improve our own behavior as bicyclists, but we are rapidly reaching the point of greatly diminishing returns. Do you honestly believe that advocating for tougher laws for those who cause mayhem on our roads "detracts" in any way from your own efforts to be safety-conscious "ambassadors for bicycling," to use Jim's term? For that matter, do you honestly believe we can change the behavior of other bicyclists more readily than that of other motorists?

Again, the central problem is that we have a society in which the individual is too often not held accountable for his or her actions that cause harm to others, as judges and juries take an "aw shucks, accidents do happen," and "wow -- that could have easily been I in the driver's seat" attitude.

John E.


----- Original Message ----
From: "JonIsaacs at aol.com" <JonIsaacs at aol.com>
To: sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 5:27:47 PM
Subject: Re: [SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

>>>In a message dated 10/11/2007 3:08:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time, serge at issakov.org writes:


Worse, I think all the dubious efforts focused on trying to change the
behavior of others (motorists) greatly detracts from where actual
significant improvements can be made in terms of cycling safety:
changing the behavior of cyclists.

Serge


------

At last, a bit of wisdom, some reality, the diamond at the bottom of the well...

Lets work to change the things we can change, our own riding habits and maybe those of a other motivated cyclists.  It is fun to point the finger at motorists talking on the cell phone but the reality is people are going to be distracted, they are going to be talking on the phone...  

So let's learn to ride in the real world...

jon
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