[Vision2020] MPD Press Release
Joe Campbell
philosopher.joe at gmail.com
Fri Oct 30 16:54:47 PDT 2009
Great letter! Just to be clear, I agree with Matt, Sunil, and Paul
that there are problematic bikers. I disagree that the best solution
is biker beware. As a biker, I see the truth in biker beware. I have a
family; I'm not going to get myself killed. But I'm not the problem. I
ride primarily on trails. I'm not the one darting in front of your
cars. Ticket those idiots, as Wayne suggests.
I just want my right of way respected when I have it. I mentioned
three times in the last week where it was not. One time was a white
truck that accelerated from 1/2 block away. There biker beware is a
dangerous political dogma.
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 30, 2009, at 10:32 AM, "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com> wrote:
> There is no doubt that Matt, Sunil, Paul are correct about the
> behavior of certain pedestrians and bicyclists (and skateboarders,
> roller skaters, scooter riders, et al). Some are carelessly
> stupid. When caught, they ought be cited for their own good, and
> for the good of safe drivers who might unavoidably collide with them.
>
> However, the number of serious vehicle infractions -- not stopping
> for traffic signals or stop signs, not stopping when there is
> clearly time for pedestrians, etc in crosswalks, making unsafe turns
> and/or entrances, highly inappropriate speed -- that I frequently
> observe is frightening.
>
> I am sure that many are tired of hearing about this, but yesterday,
> I had another close call at Washington and 3rd. I was going east on
> 3rd and stopped for the light. The light turned green. I looked
> but didn't see anyone coming north on Washington. Just as I started
> to move and was crossing the pedestrian lane a SUV on Washington
> sped through the signal turning left onto 3rd. I had to brake
> sharply to avoid being t-boned.
>
> This intersection is only one block from the MPD office. The kind
> of incident I describe above is not uncommon. Frequently cars
> turning left onto 3rd violate not only the traffic signal laws, but
> pull out and block east moving traffic on 3rd when there obviously
> isn't a place on the north side of 3rd for them to clear from the
> oncoming traffic.
>
> It's not rocket science. If the MPD wants to have a concentrated
> enforcement action, then run a sting on that intersection for a
> month. Maybe the money collected from such a sting would help
> defray the expenses incurred by Steed, Krauss, their clueless
> leader, John Weber, and the City of Moscow trying to avoid complying
> with public records laws.
>
> Wayne A. Fox
> 1009 Karen Lane
> PO Box 9421
> Moscow, ID 83843
>
> waf at moscow.com
> 208 882-7975
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul Rumelhart
> To: Sunil Ramalingam
> Cc: vision 2020
> Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 7:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release
>
> 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
> >
> > =======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net/
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
> >
> >
> ---
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> >
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> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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> >
> >
> >
> ---
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >
> >
> > =======================================================
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> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
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> > =======================================================
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> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
>
>
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> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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