[SDCBC] Pershing and the I-5

[Gene Carman]

This should not be an issue of "improving roads" but one of designing 
roads correctly for all road users in the first place.  Obviously the 
expense of designing the merges/roadways was available...  the 
motivation to do so to handle all traffic is simply not part of the 
charter of those that were tasked with the job.

Further, the motivation to change the speed upward does seem to be 
there...  but not to lower speeds...  again the public charter is not 
geared with all road users in mind.

As far as having the skills/courage to ride on such roads... and the 
fact that a limited few seem to be able to do so without incident, 
means that apparently that limited few feel that cycling should be 
something that only those with such advanced skills/courage dare to 
undertake...  perhaps as an extreme sport as were some of the other 
sports what were metaphorically outlined.

As for education...  noting the difficulty of arranging a recent 
session, I really have to wonder how the "educators" plan on 
conveying their knowledge to the vast "uneducated" masses?


>
>Again I am all for improving the roads so that they are safer for 
>not only bicyclists but all vehicle operators.  But I also consider 
>myself a realist, improving road conditions is a good thing but 
>expensive and there are many situations which are far from ideal, 
>pointing fingers at bad conditions does not help one ride them 
>safely.  As Brian Parent has convinced me, Education is the most 
>effective and economical approach to cycling safety, teach someone 
>to ride through I-5 and Pershing safely and you have someone who has 
>the skills to handle most any situation...
>