[SDCBC] Pershing and the I-5

[Bicyclist]

At 08:06 AM 6/26/2008, JonIsaacs at aol.com wrote:
- snip -
>
>So the other side of this coin is that as Jim has pointed out, 
>making the merge at the proper time, looking and thinking ahead, 
>these are things cyclists can learn to do right now, anyone who took 
>the time to read and understand Jim's comments should be able to 
>transverse this region effectively.

Well, actually I don't think "anyone" can bike anywhere. Many who 
have or can acquire sufficient strength, stamina and motor skills can 
bike just about anywhere it's legal when they also understand and 
apply a pretty high level of traffic awareness. A huge problem occurs 
when otherwise fit folks encounter surprises they are unprepared for.

Kathy doesn't like me to say it out loud, but IMHO bicycling is NOT 
for everyone and certainly not for everywhere; there is 
(unfortunately) too wide a range of traffic complexity out there on 
roads otherwise open for bicycling for the average American to be 
expected to traverse the more complex/difficult ones with any 
appreciable degree of safety - unless hopping off their bikes and 
getting through as a pedestrian works.

Bicycling can be a reasonable transportation mode and/or recreational 
activity. I want more people to take up the bicycling, but only with 
knowledge of their present capabilities (and how to expand those).... 
while some of us also work to reduce the complexities/dangers and/or 
provide good alternative routes as fast as we can.