[Vision2020] MPD Press Release

Fri Oct 30 08:06:37 PDT 2009

Sunil,

I think it goes without saying that people should follow the law.  
Unfortunately some of the folks riding bikes are kids and they are  
unlikely to behave rationally. Drivers should be on their guard.  
That's all I'm saying.

And if it didn't happen nearly every day that I ride my bike to  
Pullman that not only do cars fail to stop when I'm in a crosswalk --  
and there are signs saying they should do so -- but some actually  
SPEED up, then I might have taken the comment differently.

Last Friday I remained at a cross walk in the pouring rain while cars  
were rushing to get to a red light. I had the right of way but it  
didn't help me much!

Lastly, I ride my bike to and from Pullman about three says a week.  
AND I drive my car around town on a regular basis. As one who does  
both it seems to me that drivers are much worse than bikers in  
general. But that's just my opinion, perhaps.

There is room for complaint on both sides. But the advice in the  
original post in this link us directed at bikers only. That was my  
initial point. There should be care and courtesy from both drivers and  
bikers. And yes everyone should obey the law.

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 30, 2009, at 6:36 AM, Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com 
 > 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>  
> 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
> To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com; deco at moscow.com; 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>
> To: deco at moscow.com; 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
> To: 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
> To: Stephanie Kalasz
> Cc: v2020
> 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 
> > 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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