-=> Quoting Richard Glazer to Doug Carter <=-
 RG> The reverse of the scenerio in which cars would move completely to
 RG> the left while passing you by is cars that don't move at all when
 RG> passing a bicycle.
 Hi Richard... I'll say that I've missed some comments on this...
 Our FEED has been screwed up a bit out here for a while... seems to be back
 online again now.
 Fortunatly, drivers that fail to yield are fairly rare... even jerks mostly
 don't like to run afoul of the law, or worse yet scratch the paint...
 However, IMPAIRED or Distracted Drivers are out there and do cause some
 damage... sadly, often from places you would not expect.  It is imperative
 that cyclists become involved in the local goverment process... You need
 active cyclist advisory groups making REALISTIC and fairly standardized
 recommendations to local government... and making sure that they don't make
 up their own silly rules... and THEY WILL otherwise.
 One of the first things must be that POLICE know and enforce those 
easonable
 and normal laws as specified under Provincial (State) Highway rules.  When I
 was in Toronto, it was mandatory for Bicycle Police to take the CanBike 2
 course, THEN the Police Bike op's course...  Civilians also were encouraged
 to take the CB2 course (or CB1, Canbike for Kids as appropriate)... that
 made sure that we all understood the same rules... The Bike Cops were then
 encouraged to educate all the other officers, as well as incorporate the
 SAME knowledge into the general school courses...  This was happening.
 Many places (here for one) have not really heard of CanBike (or Effective
 Cycling in US)... and should... or at least follow the general pattern
 in their local teaching.
 Another item is that Cycling needs to make sure that there are Standard
 ways to pursue the activity... Municipalities have only so much leeway 
egall
 to vary from what the Province allows... and the Province LIKES to make sure
 that munis don't exceed their grasp... same for Federal level (although many
 do wonder about PQ sometimes ).
 One of the nice things about bikes is that THEY CAN adapt to changing needs
 and conditions quite quickly... laws can and do allow us the right to get
 off and WALK from time to time in order to take advantage of PEDESTRIAN 
ules
 and facilities.  THAT is what most of us consider those bike paths to be...
 although they do allow riding... over the years I've used the term
 PEDALESTRIAN to describe most people on bikes... those who treat cycling 
ike
 advanced walking... and I'm NOT being derogatory, as many advance to being
 better cyclists quickly... but many do not... remaining happy with their
 facilities... GOOD FOR THEM!  But that does not encourage good usage for
 those of us who use bikes as major transportation... a right supported under
 the federal charter of rights and freedoms... the right to travel freely.
 Face it, many highways (legal def) can and should be closed to bicycles...
 Other physically identical highways can and should be open to bicycles...
 Local situation being the determining factor... ie a parallel roadway (or 
at
 for that matter) that is equally suitable for use... this is the case in 
any
 areas... eg.  local road along restricted multilane route... and is often
 preferable...  Whereas, say a total ban on bikes from roads without any
 alternate route is not acceptable and likely violates many laws of the land.
 RG> I'm becoming less tolerant
 RG> these days with this type of behavior. I even chasesd a car to a red
 RG> light and told him what had happened. The driver was indifferent to
 RG> what I had to say. I swear I could have slugged him, but rather told
 RG> him how uncaring and what danger he posed, well perhaps not in those
 RG> words. 
 That is not really a good choice, although "bin there, dun that" comes to 
in
 personally... and I've had slivers in my elbow from NB and PQ logging 
rucks.
 And had the pleasure of being bombarded by hard candy and the occasional 
eer
 can (various levels of full) from all sorts of vehicles in PQ... one I had
 stopped by the SQ ( had my radio with me)... he said he was just tossing me
 cool one because I looked hot and thirsty, thus the full can.  I would have
 rathered that he asked first and slowed down... I was and he missed...
 and he sure didn't need any more.
 Doug
 
... With friends like these, who needs halucinations?
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