From: scottae@unixg.ubc.ca (Scott Erik Anderson)
Presumably everyone knows by now that Larry Zimich was apparently punted 
deliberately onto the Lions Gate bridge deck last week by two bridge 
workers, nearly killing him. See Friday's North Shore News or Saturday's 
Vancouver Sun, front pages both.
Has anyone else had any run-ins with these guys?
Here's the letter I just sent to the Sun, which is probably far too 
pompous to publish, but was awfully fun to write:
Monday, October 20, 1997
Dear Sir/Madam,
After reading Saturday's account of the cyclist who was deliberately 
pushed into traffic by a pair of construction workers on the Lions Gate 
Bridge, I was sufficiently annoyed that I diverted from my normal morning 
commute in order to cross this particular span. I had hoped to shout 
abuse at a few of these hardhatted neanderthals; alas, none could be 
found. 
I also wished to see for myself the "cyclists must dismount when 
approaching pedestrians" sign that some witless apparatchik from the 
transportation ministry mentioned in his typically unhelpful comments. I 
eventually found it, faded and partially obscured by vegetation. It has 
probably been there for ten or fifteen years. What a useful sign. One of 
those particularly clueless "let's put up a sign so that when something 
bad happens, we're not held responsible" signs that only demonstrates 
further the rampant stupidity of the auto-cracy. 
If anyone in the transportation ministry had ever actually ridden a 
bicycle, let alone commuted regularly over the Lions Gate Bridge, they 
would know that dismounting on a decrepit, slippery one metre wide 
sidewalk is no easy feat, particularly when wearing cycling shoes. It is 
far safer to do as the cyclist who was nearly killed last week did, 
unclip one foot from the pedal and roll slowly past. If nothing else, a 
rolling cyclist is narrower, and space is always at a premium on that 
disgraceful excuse for a sidewalk. If people wonder why these signs are 
not respected, they should look to the ignorance of the authorities who 
install them, not to the cyclists who wisely disregard them. 
The failure to provide a safe bicycle commuting route across the Lions 
Gate Bridge is just one more example of the obstacles placed in the path 
of those who opt for a less environmentally destructive means of 
transportation. That said, I do realize that the entire structure is 
about to crumble away and fall into the drink - not just the sidewalks - 
thanks to the vision and intelligence of our political leadership. 
Sincerely yours,
Scott Anderson
--
Scott E. Anderson
    scott@spies.com
    http://www.spies.com/~scott
  Mentos, The Freshmaker!
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