shane.-@comcast.net
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If you call the department that handles lights for your city, they can adjust the sensors. Weather seems to affect them so some times they need to be recalibrated with the change of seasons. I don't know about other cities but Corvallis is very good about this. They are usually out in a week and have it fixed.
-------------- Original message --------------
A substantial number of red lights I encounter are NOT designed to sense
bikes. Obeying the law (waiting for the light to turn green) is pretty hard
to do ... after you've waited through several greens on the cross traffic.
Cars in adjacent lanes occassionally seem perturbed when bikes run the red.
They've never had to wait through several greens.
Jerry Winter
----- Original Message -----
From: "ron strasser"
To: ; ; "'obra'"
;
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 7:54 PM
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"
To: ; "'obra'" ;
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
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<DIV>If you call the department that handles lights for your city, they can adjust the sensors. Weather seems to affect them so some times they need to be recalibrated with the change of seasons. I don't know about other cities but Corvallis is very good about this. They are usually out in a week and have it fixed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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