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.   
   >    
   > Cool. You'd be actively training drivers to kill the peds and cyclists   
   > who don't have transponders.   
      
   That was certainly the case when bike lights first appeared.  In some ways   
   it's even more true today when up to a third of riders still ride w/o lights   
   _because_ it's now illegal.     
      
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   
      
   VC 21201, Requirements for Bicycle Equipment   
      
   California sets certain minimum requirements for bicycles that operate on   
   public roadways. These include:   
      
       Each bike must have a brake that will allow a cyclist to stop one wheel on   
   clean, dry, level pavement.   
       A bike must have handlebars that rest below the user’s shoulder level.   
       A user’s bicycle must be an appropriate size that allows the operator to   
   safely use it in an upright position, with the ability to put one foot on the   
   ground.   
       Any bicycle that operates on a highway or public roadway in the dark must   
   have a lamp emitting white light, a red reflector on the rear of the bicycle,   
   and white or yellow reflectors on the pedals. A rider may attach a white light   
   illuminating lamp    
   to himself or herself in lieu of the first requirement.   
      
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   
      
   The law needs to be updated for lights as well as transponders because a rear   
   red light is more valuable than the front white light.  Any rider who isn't   
   using any lights is either suicidal and/or doesn't want to be visible.  I   
   often keep extra $1 button    
   cell lights and give them to any nearby gubers who don't have one.  They can   
   turn it on after a cop pulls them over.   
      
   The City of Tucson - Pima Cnty is very cycling friendly, providing free   
   training, free lunch and I believe free bike lights.   
      
      
   Bret Cahill   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)