<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>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.<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Oct 30, 2009, at 10:32 AM, "Art Deco" <<a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<div>
<div><font size="2">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">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.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">Wayne A. Fox<br>1009 Karen Lane<br>PO Box 9421<br>Moscow,
ID 83843</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2"><a href="mailto:waf@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</a></a><br>208
882-7975</font></div></div>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><b>From:</b>
<a title="godshatter@yahoo.com" href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com">Paul
Rumelhart</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="sunilramalingam@hotmail.com" href="mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com">Sunil Ramalingam</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Cc:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision 2020</a> </div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 30, 2009 7:25
AM</div>
<div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press
Release</div>
<div><br></div>In the Navy, we called this the "Law of Gross Tonnage". A
sailboat <br>theoretically has right of way over an aircraft carrier, but good
luck <br>asserting that right.<br><br>The one thing I wish some bicyclists
would clue in on: car's don't stop <br>on a dime. They have a certain
momentum that has to be taken into <br>account. In a fight between even
a small car's mass and a bicycle, <br>guess who's going to win? Yeah,
you might theoretically have had the <br>right of way - but it will do you
little good when you are dead.<br><br>Paul<br><br>Sunil Ramalingam
wrote:<br>> Joe and Tom,<br>><br>> It was clear to me that Matt was
not saying that 'Might makes Right,' <br>> or that he wanted to speed
through town with disregard for the rights <br>> of bike riders. I
don't see that in what he wrote. I do see him <br>> asking for the law to
be applied to drivers and bike riders.<br>><br>> What he did express,
and I share it with him, is frustration for bike <br>> riders who at best
ride like boneheads, if not sphincters. I still <br>> ride my bike
some of the time, and I lived for years in Davis, CA, <br>> where I rode
everywhere for years. And I don't ride down the middle <br>> of a
one-way street expecting cars and trucks to get out of my way. I
<br>> don't ride on a sidewalk if there are pedestrians on it, and I sure
<br>> don't ride on a sidewalk and dart into traffic without making eye
<br>> contact with the drivers heading towards me.<br>><br>> Vehicle
size DOES matter. That semi is not going to stop in time if I <br>>
zip in front of it. Inertia is going to trump everything else, and a <br>>
healthy sense of self-preservation ought to be front and center in <br>>
each bike rider's mind when on the road.<br>><br>> Sunil<br>><br>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>>
From: <a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a></a><br>>
To: <a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a><br>>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:01:37 -0700<br>> CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a><br>> Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release<br>><br>> Is your politcal philosophy
'might makes right'? You make it seem as <br>> if all that matters is the
size of the vehical. <br>><br>> Look, you live in a town where a lot of
folks ride bikes. Get over it, <br>> slow down, and observe all traffic
laws. <br>><br>> When you come to a crosswalk slow down since it is
possible that some <br>> dumb kid might come darting in front of your BIG
vehical. Likely he <br>> didn't read your warning and although he'll be
dead you'll have to <br>> live with your own carelessness for the rest of
your life. And when <br>> his parents sue you, your previous post is not
going to look so good <br>> in court.<br>><br>> Slow down; yeild to
those with right of way. Not too much to ask!<br>><br>> Sent from my
iPhone<br>><br>> On Oct 29, 2009, at 10:39 PM, Matt Decker <<a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a> <br>> <<a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a>>>
wrote:<br>><br>> Does this impede the abilty to
navigate the bike, such as down the<br>> wrong way
of the middle of the one way street. Kind of like what
I<br>> had to break hard with my truck and trailer
today.<br>> <br>>
To all bikers.....................<br>>
<br>> I do not understand why it is such a hard
concept to understand a<br>> vehicle is a big
moving object. One that can cause really bad<br>>
damage to the body if contact was made. I, and believe
most<br>> drivers try to be observant to the
surroundings but accidents do<br>> happen. With the
sue happy society we have, I dread the idea of
a<br>> biker breaking the law but I happen to get
nailed with the citation.<br>>
<br>> I just ask that all bikers, pedestrians, and
drivers use their<br>> heads as well as live to the
law and common sense.<br>>
<br>><br>>
<br>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:21:14 -0700<br>> From: <a href="mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com"><a href="mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com">rforce2003@yahoo.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com"><a href="mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com">mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com</a></a>><br>>
To: <a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a>>;<br>>
<a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">mailto:deco@moscow.com</a></a>>; <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a><br>>
<<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:vision2020@moscow.com</a></a>><br>>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press
Release<br>><br>> You should signal if you can,
but sometimes you're leaning on the<br>> brakes or
holding on for dear life (usually, in my
case).<br>><br>> (4) A signal of intention
to turn right or left shall be given<br>> during
not<br>> less than the last one hundred (100) feet
traveled by the bicycle<br>>
before<br>> turning, provided that a signal by hand
and arm need not be given<br>> if the
hand<br>> is needed in the control or operation of
the bicycle.<br>> <a href="http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070020.K"><a href="http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070020.K">http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070020.K</a></a><br>><br>>
Ron Force<br>> Moscow ID
USA<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>>
*From:* Matt Decker <<a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a><br>>
<<a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com"><a href="mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com">mailto:mattd2107@hotmail.com</a></a>>><br>>
*To:* <a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">mailto:deco@moscow.com</a></a>>;<br>>
<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:vision2020@moscow.com</a></a>><br>>
*Sent:* Wed, October 28, 2009 7:47:44 PM<br>>
*Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press
Release<br>><br>> Just counted four bikers not
use turn signals today. Two more<br>> swirve from
sidewalk to other sidewalk and one more blow through
a<br>> stoplight today. That was just my usual 30
minute time<br>>
downtown/campus.<br>>
<br>> So my question to you, why not ticket those
infractions as well as<br>> the usual driver ones
too? What is so wrong with biker safety?<br>>
<br>>
MD<br>><br>>
<br>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>>
From: <a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">mailto:deco@moscow.com</a></a>><br>>
To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a> <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:vision2020@moscow.com</a></a>><br>>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:02:41 -0700<br>> Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release<br>><br>>
Bicyclists and pedestrians are the enemy. <br>>
Motorized vehicles are our friends.<br>>
<br>>
Therefore,<br>>
<br>> The MPD doesn't give a rat's ass about
vehicle infractions except<br>> DUIs , especially
if they are not committed by white trash or<br>>
other minorities.<br>>
<br>>
W.<br>><br>> -----
Original Message -----<br>>
*From:* Joe Campbell <<a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com">mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a></a>><br>>
*To:* Stephanie Kalasz <<a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us"><a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us">mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us</a></a>><br>>
*Cc:* v2020 <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:vision2020@moscow.com</a></a>><br>>
*Sent:* Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:03
PM<br>> *Subject:* Re:
[Vision2020] MPD Press
Release<br>><br>> Why
have I not seen one reminder yet of the
responsibilities<br>> of
the driver? Just the other day I saw a police car
drive<br>> through a
crosswalk while people were walking in it. How
many<br>> citations were
written for this offense, I
wonder?<br>><br>> Sent
from my iPhone<br>><br>>
On Oct 27, 2009, at 4:34 PM, "Stephanie
Kalasz"<br>> <<a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us"><a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us">skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us</a></a> <<a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us"><a href="mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us">mailto:skalasz@ci.moscow.id.us</a></a>>>
wrote:<br>><br>>
MOSCOW POLICE
DEPARTMENT<br>><br>>
118 East 4th
Street<br>><br>>
Moscow, Idaho
83843<br>><br>>
Tel: 208-882-COPS Fax:
208-882-4020<br>><br>><br>>
*PRESS
RELEASE*<br>><br>>
Moscow Police Department Officers are focusing efforts
on<br>>
increasing public awareness related to bicycle
safety.<br>><br>>
In an effort to increase public awareness and reduce
the<br>>
number of vehicle/bicycle collisions, M.P.D. Officers
will<br>>
be focusing their efforts on violations pertaining to
the<br>>
following traffic
codes:<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code:
49-720<br>><br>>
When approaching a stop sign, on a roadway, bicycles
must<br>>
slow to a reasonable speed and yield to vehicles in
the<br>>
intersection and vehicles approaching the intersection;
so<br>>
close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Even
though<br>>
bicycles are not required to come to a complete stop
at<br>>
stop signs, if they are on the roadway, they are
not<br>>
excused from yielding and proceeding, only after
waiting<br>>
their appropriate turn. Their turn to proceed is
assigned<br>>
the same as that of other vehicles on the
roadway.<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code:
49-720<br>><br>>
A bicycle, operated on the roadway, must stop
when<br>>
approaching a red traffic signal. The Bicyclist may
then<br>>
proceed as if the red light is a stop sign. The
bicyclist<br>>
must yield the right of way to all vehicles operating
on<br>>
the roadway with the applicable green or yellow
light.<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code: 49-702,
49-714<br>><br>>
Bicycles operated on the roadway have the
same<br>>
responsibilities as motor vehicles to use
appropriate<br>>
lanes, appropriate speed, direction of travel, to
not<br>>
impede traffic, and yield or stop if need be
for<br>>
pedestrians in crosswalks. Bicycles are not permitted
to<br>>
pass vehicles on the right and bicyclists are required
to<br>>
use due
caution.<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code:
49-721<br>><br>>
Bicycles must yield to foot traffic when on
sidewalks.<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code:
49-803<br>><br>>
Pedestrians and bicycles leaving sidewalks must
obey<br>>
pedestrian control signals. It is unlawful to
begin<br>>
crossing the roadway when a signal shows a solid
or<br>>
flashing “Don’t
Walk”.<br>><br>>
-Idaho Code:
49-704<br>><br>>
It is unlawful for pedestrians to cross
roadways<br>>
diagonally or between adjacent intersections where
traffic<br>>
signals are in
operation.<br>><br>>
DANIEL L.
WEAVER<br>>
<br>>
Prepared
by:<br>><br>>
Chief
of<br>>
Police
<br>>
Officer Bruce
Lovell<br>><br>>
=======================================================<br>>
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