[DVBC] Fw: [WCBC] Bicycling commute

[albert dworkin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: albert dworkin<mailto:aldw at msn.com> 
To: msullivan at sparkweekly.com<mailto:msullivan at sparkweekly.com> 
Cc: WCBC<mailto:WCBC at list.whiteclaybicycleclub.org> ; DVBC at list.DVBC.org<mailto:DVBC at list.DVBC.org> 
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 3:52 PM
Subject: [WCBC] Bicycling commute




To whom it may concern,

As a bicycle commuter to work, I must strongly object to any reference that suggests limiting my ability to ride on the public roadways.

Kelly Housen recently made some selfish and narrow minded comments in your newspaper implying that roadway access for bicycles should be forbidden, since automobiles are occasionally required to share the road and subsequently slowed in their progress.  Perhaps this was done in an attempt to create humor or stir up conflicting viewpoints.  These inflammatory remarks can only serve to create ill will in a segment of the motoring public that is susceptible to ideas which further their narrow views about bicycle travel.  One good way to counteract the previous column would be to acknowledge the fact that there is a huge disagreement about Ms.Housen's  dogmatic attitude. 

In riding my bicycle to work every day, I have sometimes encountered aggressive and hostile actions by motorists and frequently been subjected to shrill immature and profanity-laced screaming by both juveniles and adults.  Also, there have been many acts of cooperation and courtesy by auto drivers.  Unfortunately there are relatively few bike paths or road shoulders, forcing me to ride on streets with all sorts of attitudes from auto and truck drivers.  If we had more education and dialogue with one another, I am sure that some of these misunderstandings could be resolved.  

In particular, it would help if the motoring public was made aware of how vulnerable bicycle travel can be.  There have been some serious injuries and also some deaths when automobiles and bicycles did not co-exist.  Your newspapers could perform a major step in this regard by running a series of articles along the lines of educating both sides about the differences in viewpoints.  We have bicycle clubs and agencies that would work with you to help in this venture.

I believe that there could be huge progress if we all learned from a dialogue along these lines.

Sincerely,

Albert Dworkin, M.D.


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