<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">In a message dated 7/17/07 9:32:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time, rob_leone@earthlink.net writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Fortunately, they both felt fine enough to dust off and go on their <BR>
merry ways. the roadie mentioned it was a blind corner, and said the <BR>
collision was "an actuarial inevitability."<BR>
Maybe if we had bike paths without blind corners the actuaries will go <BR>
play elsewhere. I do know I'll be slow and vigilant rounding that bend <BR>
in the future, and ma even mark it for speical attention if I plan a <BR>
group ride.<BR>
<BR>
Robert Leone</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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I can't quite buy it myself...<BR>
<BR>
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. <BR>
<BR>
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...<BR>
<BR>
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.<BR>
<BR>
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....<BR>
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Blind corners are a fact of life that shouldn't present any special challenge if everyone is paying attention and practicing "defensive riding."<BR>
<BR>
Jon Isaacs</FONT><BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour</HTML>