abb928b9   
   XPost: alt.autos.toyota, rec.autos.driving, alt.society.liberalism   
   XPost: alt.fan.michael-moore   
   From: tetraethylleadREMOVETHIS--@yahoo.com   
      
   On 2011-06-17, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher   
    wrote:   
   > On Jun 17, 12:52 am, Brent    
   > wrote:   
   >> On 2011-06-17, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser   
   Philosopher  wrote:   
   >>   
   >> > My midnight rides are kept strictly on sidewalks. Lights and helmet   
   >> > allow me some extra protection but PREVENTION is the best medicine.   
   >>   
   >> You're going to have a collision sooner or later unless you are going so   
   >> slow that you might as well be walking. Sidewalk riding is the most   
   >> likely way to get hit by a car (see crash type manual for bicycle-car   
   >> collisions) and RARE instances of hit from behind  do not change it.   
   >> Most of which are drunk drivers who can still hit you over on the   
   >> sidewalk.     
   >>   
   >> Please stop spewing this sidewalk riding misinformation. All it does is   
   >> cause people not to learn how to bike properly and make drivers think   
   >> bicyclists shouldn't be on the road. You are being counter productive.   
   >   
   > Sir, I'm aware of the risks, but I must proceed this way in order to   
   > survive. It's no man's land out there!   
      
   > I partially ride on quiet streets but at one point I minimize the risk   
   > by riding on sidewalks. Nobody else out there braving the streets.   
      
   You're simply being submissive and wimpy because you choose to be.   
      
   Playing up rare instances and preaching sidewalk riding is exactly what   
   _MOTORISTS_ who want bicycling banned from the roads do. Those that aim   
   to make bicycling appear dangerous because they don't like it do as you   
   do. Helmet laws, restrictions, bans, etc are all for "safety" we are   
   told. The real reason is limit bicycling. Pay attention to someone   
   who doesn't like bicycling... he will be pro helmet law for bicyclists,   
   favor riding on sidewalks, favor all this nonsense you favor. Why? He   
   doesn't really care about bicyclist safety. So why? Because it   
   DISCOURAGES bicycling, that's why.   
      
   Please stop discouraging bicycling with your posts or just admit you   
   want to discourage it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)