Erik Long

Well said, Doug. You summed up what many of us had in the back of our
heads, and what the rest of us needed spelled out for them.

-Erik

----Original Message Follows----
From: Don Hanson
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] North Plains Cop/bike incident (from the digest) Long.
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:23:30 -0700

As citizens and cyclists, a 'pissing-match' with any
law enforcement Czar is not in our best interest. Know
that it is not going to make a law enforcement boss
change his mind or help his attitude towards cyclists
to have us all sniping at him on the internet.
Unfortunately, in the US, the automobile is KING, in
the minds of most of the public..Law Enforcment
included. And Law Enforcement personnel LOVE their
power, or their perceived power, to make us cyclists
pay. Poke them, and they have the power to make it
very unpleasant for us, as cyclists.
I don't have a real answer to a problem like this
fellow and his polices in North Plain, other than for
us to NOT confront him, to appear to challenge his
manhood, to try, confrontationally, to make him see
our side...he seems to be past all that already. He is
now in the "Those f---ing bikers, I will show them
who's right" phase..
We need to be real careful what we push for at this
point in time. As the popularity of cycling is growing
and roads become more congested also, we have to beware
of getting "legislated and enforced"
We must be careful what we wish for...We need to
look closely at Europe and Canada to see how they've
started handling the conflict between cyclists and
motor traffic on puplic roads..and emulate them.
Diplomatic and constructive dialogue rather than head
to head confrontation. If you go directly against the
cops (who will be supported by Authority, of course)
you will lose and create more problems for us all.
Don Hanson
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Don Hanson

As citizens and cyclists, a 'pissing-match' with any
law enforcement Czar is not in our best interest. Know
that it is not going to make a law enforcement boss
change his mind or help his attitude towards cyclists
to have us all sniping at him on the internet.
Unfortunately, in the US, the automobile is KING, in
the minds of most of the public..Law Enforcment
included. And Law Enforcement personnel LOVE their
power, or their perceived power, to make us cyclists
pay. Poke them, and they have the power to make it
very unpleasant for us, as cyclists.
I don't have a real answer to a problem like this
fellow and his polices in North Plain, other than for
us to NOT confront him, to appear to challenge his
manhood, to try, confrontationally, to make him see
our side...he seems to be past all that already. He is
now in the "Those f---ing bikers, I will show them
who's right" phase..
We need to be real careful what we push for at this
point in time. As the popularity of cycling is growing
and roads become more congested also, we have to beware
of getting "legislated and enforced"
We must be careful what we wish for...We need to
look closely at Europe and Canada to see how they've
started handling the conflict between cyclists and
motor traffic on puplic roads..and emulate them.
Diplomatic and constructive dialogue rather than head
to head confrontation. If you go directly against the
cops (who will be supported by Authority, of course)
you will lose and create more problems for us all.
Don Hanson