[Vision2020] MPD Press Release
Paul Rumelhart
godshatter at yahoo.com
Fri Oct 30 07:25:24 PDT 2009
In the Navy, we called this the "Law of Gross Tonnage". A sailboat
theoretically has right of way over an aircraft carrier, but good luck
asserting that right.
The one thing I wish some bicyclists would clue in on: car's don't stop
on a dime. They have a certain momentum that has to be taken into
account. In a fight between even a small car's mass and a bicycle,
guess who's going to win? Yeah, you might theoretically have had the
right of way - but it will do you little good when you are dead.
Paul
Sunil Ramalingam wrote:
> Joe and Tom,
>
> It was clear to me that Matt was not saying that 'Might makes Right,'
> or that he wanted to speed through town with disregard for the rights
> of bike riders. I don't see that in what he wrote. I do see him
> asking for the law to be applied to drivers and bike riders.
>
> What he did express, and I share it with him, is frustration for bike
> riders who at best ride like boneheads, if not sphincters. I still
> ride my bike some of the time, and I lived for years in Davis, CA,
> where I rode everywhere for years. And I don't ride down the middle
> of a one-way street expecting cars and trucks to get out of my way. I
> don't ride on a sidewalk if there are pedestrians on it, and I sure
> don't ride on a sidewalk and dart into traffic without making eye
> contact with the drivers heading towards me.
>
> Vehicle size DOES matter. That semi is not going to stop in time if I
> zip in front of it. Inertia is going to trump everything else, and a
> healthy sense of self-preservation ought to be front and center in
> each bike rider's mind when on the road.
>
> Sunil
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: philosopher.joe at gmail.com
> To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com
> Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:01:37 -0700
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> Is your politcal philosophy 'might makes right'? You make it seem as
> if all that matters is the size of the vehical.
>
> Look, you live in a town where a lot of folks ride bikes. Get over it,
> slow down, and observe all traffic laws.
>
> When you come to a crosswalk slow down since it is possible that some
> dumb kid might come darting in front of your BIG vehical. Likely he
> didn't read your warning and although he'll be dead you'll have to
> live with your own carelessness for the rest of your life. And when
> his parents sue you, your previous post is not going to look so good
> in court.
>
> Slow down; yeild to those with right of way. Not too much to ask!
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 29, 2009, at 10:39 PM, Matt Decker <mattd2107 at hotmail.com
> <mailto:mattd2107 at hotmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Does this impede the abilty to navigate the bike, such as down the
> wrong way of the middle of the one way street. Kind of like what I
> had to break hard with my truck and trailer today.
>
> To all bikers.....................
>
> I do not understand why it is such a hard concept to understand a
> vehicle is a big moving object. One that can cause really bad
> damage to the body if contact was made. I, and believe most
> drivers try to be observant to the surroundings but accidents do
> happen. With the sue happy society we have, I dread the idea of a
> biker breaking the law but I happen to get nailed with the citation.
>
> I just ask that all bikers, pedestrians, and drivers use their
> heads as well as live to the law and common sense.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:21:14 -0700
> From: rforce2003 at yahoo.com <mailto:rforce2003 at yahoo.com>
> To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com <mailto:mattd2107 at hotmail.com>;
> deco at moscow.com <mailto:deco at moscow.com>; vision2020 at moscow.com
> <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> You should signal if you can, but sometimes you're leaning on the
> brakes or holding on for dear life (usually, in my case).
>
> (4) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given
> during not
> less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle
> before
> turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given
> if the hand
> is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.
> http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070020.K
>
> Ron Force
> Moscow ID USA
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Matt Decker <mattd2107 at hotmail.com
> <mailto:mattd2107 at hotmail.com>>
> *To:* deco at moscow.com <mailto:deco at moscow.com>;
> vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
> *Sent:* Wed, October 28, 2009 7:47:44 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> Just counted four bikers not use turn signals today. Two more
> swirve from sidewalk to other sidewalk and one more blow through a
> stoplight today. That was just my usual 30 minute time
> downtown/campus.
>
> So my question to you, why not ticket those infractions as well as
> the usual driver ones too? What is so wrong with biker safety?
>
> MD
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: deco at moscow.com <mailto:deco at moscow.com>
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:02:41 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> Bicyclists and pedestrians are the enemy.
> Motorized vehicles are our friends.
>
> Therefore,
>
> The MPD doesn't give a rat's ass about vehicle infractions except
> DUIs , especially if they are not committed by white trash or
> other minorities.
>
> W.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Joe Campbell <mailto:philosopher.joe at gmail.com>
> *To:* Stephanie Kalasz <mailto:skalasz at ci.moscow.id.us>
> *Cc:* v2020 <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:03 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> Why have I not seen one reminder yet of the responsibilities
> of the driver? Just the other day I saw a police car drive
> through a crosswalk while people were walking in it. How many
> citations were written for this offense, I wonder?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 27, 2009, at 4:34 PM, "Stephanie Kalasz"
> <skalasz at ci.moscow.id.us <mailto:skalasz at ci.moscow.id.us>> wrote:
>
> MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT
>
> 118 East 4th Street
>
> Moscow, Idaho 83843
>
> Tel: 208-882-COPS Fax: 208-882-4020
>
>
> *PRESS RELEASE*
>
> Moscow Police Department Officers are focusing efforts on
> increasing public awareness related to bicycle safety.
>
> In an effort to increase public awareness and reduce the
> number of vehicle/bicycle collisions, M.P.D. Officers will
> be focusing their efforts on violations pertaining to the
> following traffic codes:
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-720
>
> When approaching a stop sign, on a roadway, bicycles must
> slow to a reasonable speed and yield to vehicles in the
> intersection and vehicles approaching the intersection; so
> close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Even though
> bicycles are not required to come to a complete stop at
> stop signs, if they are on the roadway, they are not
> excused from yielding and proceeding, only after waiting
> their appropriate turn. Their turn to proceed is assigned
> the same as that of other vehicles on the roadway.
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-720
>
> A bicycle, operated on the roadway, must stop when
> approaching a red traffic signal. The Bicyclist may then
> proceed as if the red light is a stop sign. The bicyclist
> must yield the right of way to all vehicles operating on
> the roadway with the applicable green or yellow light.
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-702, 49-714
>
> Bicycles operated on the roadway have the same
> responsibilities as motor vehicles to use appropriate
> lanes, appropriate speed, direction of travel, to not
> impede traffic, and yield or stop if need be for
> pedestrians in crosswalks. Bicycles are not permitted to
> pass vehicles on the right and bicyclists are required to
> use due caution.
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-721
>
> Bicycles must yield to foot traffic when on sidewalks.
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-803
>
> Pedestrians and bicycles leaving sidewalks must obey
> pedestrian control signals. It is unlawful to begin
> crossing the roadway when a signal shows a solid or
> flashing “Don’t Walk”.
>
> -Idaho Code: 49-704
>
> It is unlawful for pedestrians to cross roadways
> diagonally or between adjacent intersections where traffic
> signals are in operation.
>
> DANIEL L. WEAVER
>
> Prepared by:
>
> Chief of
> Police
> Officer Bruce Lovell
>
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