BVC-CHAT Bicycle safety & perception

[jeanmarie at brazoscyclists.org]

Jean Marie wrote:

> Frank sent this to me from the ACA list.  I thought it was a good 
> article!
> http://www.bicyclefixation.com/wheels.htm

Frank:

> Hmmm...I guess I should read it, then.
> 
> I liked this statement:  "If a bike helmet offered real protection
> from automobiles, it wouldn't say inside it, 'Not for use with
> motor vehicles.'"

Getting back to the main theme of the article:

"If bicycling was as dangerous as many wish us all to believe it is (cycling
professionals as well as politicians and pro-helmet activists), our
political and
economic tensions with Communist China, Japan, and Asia would be greatly
reduced,
because there wouldn't be anyone left to threaten us! (Perhaps those bodies
in
Teinanmen (sic) were only cyclists who had died while riding around the
square).

"Because the rhetoric is so intense, it's easy to be misunderstood on this
issue.
But we need to look at the monster we have created in "bike safety." I have
even
heard one nationally prominent cycling advocate compare bike safety to gun
safety.
There we go again, equating bicycles with life-threatening activities, when
we
should be emphasizing (both to cyclists and non-cyclists) the health
benefits of
cycling. "

A Road 1 course can really help here.  I've had 3 nibbles on this ... anyone
want to join in and propose a time to do this?  We need about 4 hours of
classroom
time and a half-day out on our bikes.  We could do this as a Friday
evening/Saturday
morning activity or any schedule that best suits everyone.

Jean Marie

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