From: bretcahill@aol.com   
      
   > >The Bike Shield app never caught on because of spotty data in scenic   
   areas.  Also some cyclists don't like posting their GPS.   
   > >   
   > >A transponder is the same thing as a bike light except it's at radio   
   frequencies, works around curves day or night, and motor vehicles tune in to   
   the frequency posted on the "Share the Road; Get Cyclist Alerts At AM 1090"   
   sign.   
   > >   
   > >It would require a dedicated receiver but it would be nice to give the   
   motorist a clue as to the distance to the cyclist around the curve, hidden   
   behind trees, so 3 different frequencies at 3 different power levels could   
   more or less indicate 3    
   different ranges, 40 - 50 m, 25-35m and 5-20 m.   
   > >   
   > >The GA needs an idea of the cost on a production run basis.   
      
   > Are you proposing that every vehicle and every person have a   
   > transponder?    
      
   If you just wanted to go with one frequency for one range, say 30 m, then the   
   motorist could, if he wanted, tune into the AM channel posted on the CalTrans   
   sign just like getting traffic and other information.   
      
   Even with the 3 range system it could still be totally voluntary for both   
   cyclists and motorists.  The motorist could opt out of the dedicated receiver   
   and not tune in to AM either.   
      
   Most motorists don't want to run over cyclists while many do want to look at   
   the scenery on California "historical highways" -- one mistake and you are   
   history.   
      
   A car tried to pass a cyclist on a curve or hill in NoVa by veering into the   
   on coming lane.  NoVa has even worse traffic than NorCal.  The motorist hit an   
   on coming vehicle.   
      
   > That would be a big market.    
      
   2 - 3 billion cyclists on the planet and, with greater safety, even more   
   riders.   
      
   Safety is a critical barrier to cycling for many.  I will not cycle San   
   Pasqual or Campo Rd.   
      
   > It would have to be imposed   
   > by law.   
      
   Windshield wipers and bike lights were introduced before they were required.   
      
   This is one of those things that that could be started off with what   
   libertarians like to call "voluntary" that is, ignore the fact that it ups the   
   ante for safety.  If most others have a new advantage and you don't keep up   
   you lose ground.     
      
   Cyclists will know motorists will probably slack off and look at the ocean   
   thinking they'll get an alert for every cyclist around the curve.   
      
   > It's being attempted on airplanes now.   
      
   Probably a more expensive longer range system.   
      
   The FCC said no licenses would be required for such a short range system, same   
   as those $6 RC helicopters they sell at Vons in the clearance rack along with   
   Thai fermented anchovy sauce.   
      
      
   Bret Cahill   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)