re: Rights vs. Responsibility

John,


Seeing that men and women on bicycles have over time  traversed  
almost every corner of the earth in all climatic conditions and  
thousands of places that were far to difficult for cars and trucks to  
navigate your "Snow-weather" warnings seem overly cautious indeed.

Even though I am in the South I have commuted with little trouble  
through snowy wheel tracks in better safety than in dry clear weather  
by my estimation.

I think it all depends on circumstances.  I wouldn't commute on I-95  
anytime but the light traffic, quite streets of a snowy socked in  
suburban street seems relatively benign with a little skill and  
minimal prep.

To me; cycling the Ice Road Truckers (IRT) Northern route would be a  
preference to their High Altitude Indian IRT edition roads on a bike.


Again circumstances vary but if the weather is so bad (snow) you have  
to get in a car over a bike it was too dangerous to drive a car  
yesterday,   It would seem you might think of moving onto the bike  
because of the worry your car might get damaged stuck or need to be  
abandoned.  A bike can be pushed or carried over obstacles if needed.

Visibility is a big concern. Often cyclists assume they are visible  
when in fact they are not. Route selection is part of the  
responsibility of course if there is a choice.


The comment:
"not only putting yourself in danger, but also endangering auto  
drivers, truck drivers, bus drivers and any others that have to  
quickly slow down or swerve to avoid hitting a "crazy biker"""
Sounds a lot like something the Blackhawk, CO official stated as the  
reason to ban bikes from town, some cyclists that is.

Anyway, My opin,

Gilbert Anderson

<<Message: 1
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 12:19:14 -0800 (PST)
From: John Strong <stronghold42002-/[email protected]>
Subject: Rights vs. Responsibility


    Okay, I am all for bicyclist's right to the roads and am an avid  
cyclist myself, but there is a point where we all need to balance  
common sense with that right. With recent weather conditions I feel  
it is a matter of common sense to not ride when you have to ride down  
the tire ruts to get anywhere. There are times when we would be  
better off and much safer to ask a friend for a ride or travel in our  
own car until the conditions improve. I mean, what are we trying to  
prove by riding in unsafe conditions anyhow? I know that there are  
some out there that only have a bike for their sole form of  
transportation, but if you are riding unnecessarily in terrible  
weather, then I feel you are not only putting yourself in danger, but  
also endangering auto drivers, truck drivers, bus drivers and any  
others that have to quickly slow down or swerve to avoid hitting a  
"crazy biker" that is riding in a snowstorm or blowing rain just to  
prove a point. With rights come
  responsibility and lets all use some common sense. We lose enough  
bicyclists without doing stupid things to aggravate things. What do  
you all think???>>