Friday Roundup – Bicycle Bits & Pieces

You may want to be a bit more holistic here. The “Complete Streets” idea can be used to continue disrespect for bicyclists by prioritizing walkers, runners, baby jogger pushers, etc and merely saying “mixed use is required” doesn’t fix that problem. Nor does painting in a “bike lane” that cars routinely use for their own convenience.

The way to fix things is to require automobiles to give a wide berth and to issue tickets when the driver is obnoxious, dangerous, texting, talking on a cell phone, doing makeup, shaving, reading a paper, changing a CD, etc. But police departments are too busy trying to find “terrorists” who are wearing underwear or shoe “bombs,” and they can’t be bothered busting lunatic drivers.

So let’s change the drapes and the carpet and repaint the walls. Look! The house has been remodeled and we’re all happier now! (Why does the roof still leak and why don’t the windows seal out the chilling winds?)

Please look deeper. This program is just like Obamacare, window dressing that actually makes things worse. Lunatic drivers will keep texting while behind the wheel, keep applying makeup, keep shaving, keep reading their newspaper or memorandum, etc. Police will keep doing nothing about it. And legislatures will keep making moves that are showy but insubstantial.