Mark & Juanita wrote:

On Tue, 8 Feb 2005 22:42:02 -0600, "Todd Fatheree"
wrote:

"Mark & Juanita" wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 10:42:55 +0000, "Luigi Zanasi"
wrote:

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 12:26:45 +0000, B a r r y wrote:

Steve Knight wrote:
http://matt-massie.com/archives/images/24fitness.jpg
I really cracked up with this picture.

I've seen people waiting for the front row parking spots at my gym.

I've also fought with two gyms over a lack of bicycle parking. The
first gym suggested that no one was interested in riding a bicycle to
the gym, as the gym had stationary bikes. G

My current place accommodated me, there are now 4 others who cycle to
the gym! We get our cardio on the way to the gym, rather than in it.

After a couple of months of going to the gym, I realized the absurdity of
driving there and then spending 20 minutes on an exercise bicycle or
treadmill, especially since the 5km ride is mostly uphill both ways. But
I
did wimp out this winter despite having studded tires on my bike. Don't
trust the drivers.

Well, since the roads were built for automobile traffic ....

Actually, most states have laws on the books that state that bicycles are
"intended users" of the road system.

todd

Yes, I know those laws are on the books. Doesn't change the fact that
bicycles travel 10 to 20 mph below normal traffic speed, are at an extreme
disadvantage, particularly on blind curves and are always going to be on
the losing side of any encounter with a car.

Sorry, just hit a sore spot with me, I live in an area near subdivisions
where people think that a narrow, 2 lane road with very narrow shoulders is
a great place to go riding. This road also has blind curves where one
coming around a corner could potentially hit a bicyclist travelling 25 MPH
on a 40 MPH road in many cases, the bicyclists don't use the shoulder since
the shoulder is barely there. The answer is *not* to penalize the people
using the road for its *really* intended purpose by making the speed limit
slower, it is hoping that somehow these recreational riders would gain a
bit of wisdom and courtesy and realize that a) they are endangering
themselves, and b) through their actions they are inconveniencing others,
taking away time from those people who might also like to get home or get
their business done so that they also can enjoy some recreational
activities.

Where I live in Georgia I have to deal with tractors going down the
road. They sometimes go slower than the cyclists. I deal with cow crap
from cow hauling trailers. There used to be farming where you lived
20-30 years ago pre yuppy scum days.

Is it possible that your driving of your car is taking away from the
rights of those who might want to enjoy their recreational acticvities
but are intimidated by you driving 50 in a 40 zone? Are the rights of
an automobile driver or drivers greater than that of the other
taxpayers who may not be in a car? Not all roads are built with
automobile fuel tax dollars. Riding where you live stinks. About the
only safe time to ride is Sunday mornings but that is quite dangerous
with the Baptists hellbent on getting to church to talk about love as
they run folks off the road. If you can dodge the Baptists or
Presbyterians or Methodists or Lutherans you can have an ok Sunday
morning ride. The Seventh Day Adventists are not much of an issue.

Bicyclists are not required to ride on the shoulder. State law. Most
Georgia roads don't have shoulders as an option. Have you lobbied your
state and local representatives for shoulders on the road without
wakeup cuts so that you can fly home without runners and cyclists in
your way? Don't forget to lobby for sidewalks which allow kids a safe
way to get around as well as old folks out for strolls trying to
recover from years of driving cars.

Waiting a minute or a few minutes to get around a tractor or cyclists
or old folks driving slow only kills someone if they pass stupidly.
you got 1440 minutes in the day. 2 minutes does not have to ruin your
day.