OBRA: OBRA Chat: Re: Code of Conduct (long, ...

Re: Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time)

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Collis, Randall (EUGENE OE 322)

2005-01-25

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OK mom!

--------------------------

Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

-----Original Message-----

From: ron strasser <ron-@spiritone.com>

To: sus-@teamestrogen.com <sus-@teamestrogen.com>; CycleO-@yahoogroups.com <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; 'obra' <ob-@topica.com>; shi-@lists.riseup.net <shi-@lists.riseup.net>

Sent: Tue Jan 25 22:54:13 2005

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time)

I agree that the bottom line is for us cyclists to not break the rules of

the road (especially in busy urban areas and country roads that have poor

sightlines). The auto drivers that see rules being disobeyed or have to

deal with it will not remember the other riders that are riding properly. I

urge cyclists to keep the respect of most motor vehicle drivers by being

courteous and riding in a predictable manner. I know that we cannot stop a

driver from breaking the rules of the road...but two wrongs do not make a

right. Even when you are in a hurry on your rides, you make many decisions

based on your own safety. I would urge all to consider obeying the rules of

the road as a personal safety decision... in the short and long term.

ron strasser

----- Original Message -----

From: "Susan Otcenas" <sus-@teamestrogen.com>

To: <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>;

<shi-@lists.riseup.net>

Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 5:05 PM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time)

Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list.

Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote

after

reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you

care

to read it, here's a link to my letter

http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639

8840172300.xml

as well as the original article

http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new

s/110544844993880.xml

Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from

"Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase,

and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way

cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation,

with both of us conceding a few points.

Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem

to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs,

riding

3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from

behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our

"rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with

him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter.

WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES

OURSELVES.

I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts.

### Note:

- If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another

thread.

- If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread.

- If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread.

Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with

them to advocate for change.

###

The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish

to

gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying

the

rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our

fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to

be said for peer pressure.

In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not

stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to

commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be

necessary. My favorite was:

"Remember the "three R's" of cycling:

         Same road

         Same rules

         Same rights"

For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be

perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign

instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask

friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so

that

we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely

pass.

I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so

I

can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at

http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html ). I'm hoping that some of you

will

also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there

isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as

individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially

if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think

and

expect.

So, I pose two questions:

1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other

individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving?

And

2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA,

OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on

this issue?

I apologize if this e-mail has come across as preachy. That's not my

intent. I just think we need to figure out a way to peacefully co-exist

with motorists and this seems like a good way to start. Please don't

flame

me if you disagree. Constructive criticism and discussion welcome.

Susan

--------------------------------------------

Susan Otcenas

TEAM ESTROGEN, INC. __~o

2038 NW Aloclek Dr., Suite 220 -\_<,

Hillsboro, OR 97124 (*)/'(*)

http://www.TeamEstrogen.com

1-877-310-4592

--------------------------------------------

Cycling Apparel and Accessories for Women

--------------------------------------------

To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

--------------------------------------------------------

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OK mom! 

-------------------------- 

Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld 

 

 

-----Original Message----- 

From: ron strasser <ron-@spiritone.com> 

To: sus-@teamestrogen.com <sus-@teamestrogen.com>; CycleO-@yahoogroups.com <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; 'obra' <ob-@topica.com>; shi-@lists.riseup.net <shi-@lists.riseup.net> 

Sent: Tue Jan 25 22:54:13 2005 

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) 

 

I agree that the bottom line is for us cyclists to not break the rules of 

the road (especially in busy urban areas and country roads that have poor 

sightlines). The auto drivers that see rules being disobeyed or have to 

deal with it will not remember the other riders that are riding properly. I 

urge cyclists to keep the respect of most motor vehicle drivers by being 

courteous and riding in a predictable manner. I know that we cannot stop a 

driver from breaking the rules of the road...but two wrongs do not make a 

right. Even when you are in a hurry on your rides, you make many decisions 

based on your own safety. I would urge all to consider obeying the rules of 

the road as a personal safety decision... in the short and long term. 

ron strasser 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Susan Otcenas" <sus-@teamestrogen.com> 

To: <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>; 

<shi-@lists.riseup.net> 

Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 5:05 PM 

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your time) 

 

 

Apologies in advance for cross-posting to more than one e-list. 

 

Yesterday, the Oregonian published a Letter to the Editor that I wrote

after 

reading about the latest hit-and-run here on the west side. Should you

care 

to read it, here's a link to my letter

<A HREF="http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639">http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/110639</A> 

8840172300.xml 

as well as the original article

<A HREF="http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new">http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_new</A> 

s/110544844993880.xml 

 

Predictably, yesterday evening I received an anonymous phone call from 

"Jack" who wanted to talk about my letter. Luckily, he wasn't a nutcase, 

and we had an hour-long conversation about the differences between the way 

cyclists and motorists see the world. It was a productive conversation, 

with both of us conceding a few points. 

 

Jack's biggest beef with cyclists was the way in which cyclists often seem 

to flaunt the rules of the road. Running red lights and stop signs,

riding 

3 abreast or in packs that do not move over when vehicles approach from 

behind, failing to signal, etc. We demand "respect" and assert our 

"rights", yet fail to observe the rules ourselves. Frankly, I agree with 

him. Sure, motorists break the rules all the time, but it doesn't matter. 

WE CAN NOT OCCUPY THE MORAL HIGH GROUND WHILE NOT OBEYING THE RULES 

OURSELVES. 

 

I want to start a discussion on a "code of conduct" of sorts. 

 

### Note: 

- If you wish to debate the evilness of autos, please start another

thread. 

- If you wish to debate the war in Iraq, please start another thread. 

- If you wish to debate the FAIRNESS of said rules, DON'T start a thread. 

Pony up the bucks to join the BTA, or better yet volunteer your time with 

them to advocate for change. 

### 

 

The fact is, the rules are the rules, such as they are. If we ever wish

to 

gain the respect of the motorists, we have to do a better job of obeying

the 

rules of the road. And we have to figure out a way to politely tell our 

fellow cyclists that certain behavior is not acceptable. There's a lot to 

be said for peer pressure. 

 

In response to a recent post about police ticketing cyclists who were not 

stopping at a particular intersection yesterday, I would very much like to 

commend the OBRA members who pointed that no e-mail "warning" should be 

necessary. My favorite was: 

 

"Remember the "three R's" of cycling: 

 

 Same road 

 Same rules 

 Same rights" 

 

For myself, I'm making a pledge to do better. I know I can't/won't be 

perfect. But I'm going to re-double my efforts to stop at every stop sign 

instead of sometimes rolling through when it's "clear". I'm going to ask 

friends on group rides to be more conscious of approaching vehicles so

that 

we can be courteous to our fellow citizens by allowing them to safely

pass. 

I'm going to re-read "Pedal Power, A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists" so

I 

can be sure of my rights and responsibilities (free download available at 

<A HREF="http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html">http://www.stc-law.com/bikepower.html</A> ). I'm hoping that some of you

will 

also take some time to look at how you use your bicycle, and see if there 

isn't some small way in which you can improve as well. Every action we as 

individuals take is seen as representative of our entire class--especially 

if it's a negative action, which reinforces what motorists already think

and 

expect. 

 

So, I pose two questions: 

 

1) What's the best way for individual cyclists to communicate with other 

individual cyclists, on the road, about behaving? 

 

And 

 

2) What would be the most effective way for an organization (like the BTA, 

OBRA, the Wheelman, etc.) to do broad outreach to the cycling community on 

this issue? 

 

I apologize if this e-mail has come across as preachy. That's not my 

intent. I just think we need to figure out a way to peacefully co-exist 

with motorists and this seems like a good way to start. Please don't

flame 

me if you disagree. Constructive criticism and discussion welcome. 

 

Susan 

 

-------------------------------------------- 

Susan Otcenas 

TEAM ESTROGEN, INC. __~o 

2038 NW Aloclek Dr., Suite 220 -\_<, 

Hillsboro, OR 97124 (*)/'(*) 

 

<A HREF="http://www.TeamEstrogen.com">http://www.TeamEstrogen.com</A> 

1-877-310-4592 

-------------------------------------------- 

Cycling Apparel and Accessories for Women 

-------------------------------------------- 

 

To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. 

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org 

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. 

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org 

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com 

 

 

 





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