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________________________________________
From: Gunnar Shogren [gshogren@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 2:23 PM
To: Graber, Stephen
Cc: Frank Gmeindl; bikeboard Board
Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Police Chief Talking Points
Good list.
I too ride on the occasional sidewalk, but not really downtown, more
in short instances like what you're talking about Butch. But perhaps
we're not going to be able to have that cake and eat it too... time
will tell.
I'll have to disagree w/ you on "track stands", though I will recant a
little at the end...
Track stands are not good for the following reasons-
- Track stands are ambiguous. "What's he doing? Where's he going?
Is he going to fall? Is he trying to impress someone?"
- Putting a foot down sends a clear signal to other motorists. I
have stopped. I am abiding, Dude.
- Although it looks like being in a track stand would make you
quicker out of the gate, a lot of times this is not true. Depending
on where you are in your "balance sway", which way your wheel is
pointed at that moment, which way you're looking at that moment, etc.
At a full stop I can react quicker and more predictably w/ one foot on
the ground and pedal and body in the ready position. I can also
signal w/ my hands to others if need be, most folks won't try that
whilst in the track stand.
Since taking the TS101 course, then thinking about the way I ride, I
have pretty much stopped doing the track stand, and bark at others
when they do as well, especially when they come out of the stand and
they're all over the place.
Try the real stop in a few places that you normally track stand (in a
turning lane, turning at a intersection) and I think you'll find that
most others (cars and peds) treat you differently. More positively I
would say.
I will say that I do go through intersection in a "momentary stop then
roll-through", but technically I don't call this a track stand.
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 12:32 PM, Graber, Stephen sggraber@hsc.wvu.edu wrote:
Looks like a good list to me. I assume there will also be encouragement to
cite motorists for violations that endanger cyclists. I'd encourage Damien
to describe "track stands" to Chief Preston. Many cyclists can use that
technique to lawfully stop at stop signs etc. I once received a ticket for
"running" a stop sign- in fact I had ceased all forward motion and looked
bothways (Wilson & Grand, a dangerous intersection) but the officer told the
judge I never put my foot down and that was that! (The judge liked it even
less when I grumbled that motorists don't have to turn their engines off at
stop signs............). I'm glad to see restraint suggested for riding on
side walks. Some places that's our safest option. On my commute to Health
Sciences I ride up the side- walk along the main entrance by the Alumni
Center rather than risk the high speed traffic in the dual lane approach.
That's my 2 cents!
Butch
Stephen G. Graber
Biochem & Mol Pharmacology
PO Box 9142, HSN-3122
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-9142
phone: 304-293-2305
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From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Gmeindl [frank.gmeindl@comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 12:05 PM
To: bikeboard Board
Subject: [Bikeboard] Police Chief Talking Points
Bicycle Board Members,
Damien will be meeting with Chief Preston Friday to discuss enforcement. I
will meet with Damien tomorrow to discuss the attached talking points that I
am recommending. I would appreciate your comments and recommendations for
improving these talking points.
Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
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