Brian Engelen
I believe that the steel cleat on your shoe will do a better job than your
wheel. The wire in the street is part of an inductive loop circuit. Iron
is sensed better than aluminum. If that doesn't work then throw on a
heaping pile of metal filings. Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan H [mailto:da-@bicyclerepairman.us]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 9:02 AM
To: Raisman, Greg; Jerry.-@comcast.net; ron-@spiritone.com;
sus-@teamestrogen.com; CycleO-@yahoogroups.com; 'obra';
shi-@lists.riseup.net
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your
time)
Yeah, after 2 signal cycles when I realize the light is not going to change,
I will dismount, squat in the middle of the intersection in my cleats and
wave my bike horizontaly over the metal detector loop until the light
changes. I'd rather get a ticket.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Raisman, Greg" <Greg.R-@pdxtrans.org>
To: "'Dan H'" <da-@bicyclerepairman.us>; <Jerry.-@comcast.net>;
<ron-@spiritone.com>; <sus-@teamestrogen.com>;
<CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>;
<shi-@lists.riseup.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 8:14 AM
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth your
time)
Just an FYI:
I've heard the signal engineers around here say, "Put your tire on the
wire." This will supposedly trip the sensor when you're riding your
bicycle.
So, When you see that black line on the pavement, under it is a wire
that
is
tripped by magnets when metal passes over. Try putting your tire right
on the wire. I've had better luck trying it this way.
Enjoy.
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan H [mailto:da-@bicyclerepairman.us]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:28 AM
To: Jerry.-@comcast.net; ron-@spiritone.com;
sus-@teamestrogen.com; CycleO-@yahoogroups.com; 'obra';
shi-@lists.riseup.net
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Code of Conduct (long, but hopefully worth
your
time)
A substantial number of red lights I encounter are NOT designed to
sense bikes.
That can be a problem. Usually a motorist will pull up behind me but
stop too far back to trigger the signal thinking they are being
courtious. I look back and becon them forward pointing at the road
immediatly behind me but most of the time I just get quizical looks
like that RCA dog and they just sit there so I increase the amplitude
of my signal with a big wave of my arm, like, "come here! See the big
loop in the road? it's a metal detector! Look!" About one in five will
figure it out and pull forward enough to trip the signal. I think a
lot people still think the signal
uses
a pressure pad. They don't. That went out with the 70's.
If the motorist does not trip the signal in 2 cycles I'm forced to
make an illegal manuever to get things going. Sometimes you just have
to.
----- Original Message -----
From: "ron strasser" <ron-@spiritone.com>
To: <sus-@teamestrogen.com>; <CycleO-@yahoogroups.com>; "'obra'"
<ob-@topica.com>; <shi-@lists.riseup.net>
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" <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
--------------------------------------------
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