Having the experience of riding on such roads (high speed and narrow), and
doing so for years in Atlanta and the state highways of Northern Georgia and
Alabama and now Iowa, I can tell you that you would not be dead within a
week.  Cycling with traffic is something that requires cultivation of trust.
We cultivate trust as drivers that other drivers won't hit us--the same
thing happens to cyclists. The feeling of insecurity with cycling under such
conditions can cause a cyclist to do life threatening things just because of
the fear.

I'm not suggesting that cyclists and drivers (and surely pedestrians for
that matter) shouldn't operate defensively--I'm just saying the risk is
vastly overestimated.

Check out a book called "Effective Cycling."  Cycling is much safer on roads
that bike lanes--cycling on sidewalks is downright hazardous to pedestrians.
Bicycles and cars are much better mix together than cyclists and pedestrians
on the sidewalk.

One gets over the fear.  The drivers won't hit you--not on purpose anyway.
Be visible as a cyclist (i've long since gotten over the unfashionable
colors of safety orange and yellow).

And gas is $1.67 here in Iowa right now.  Adjusted for inflation, gasoline
hasn't been this cheap since before the 1973 gas crisis.  Most people seem
readily to plunk down huge amounts of money to enjoy the questionable
benefits of bottled water--I see the bottles littering the roads all over
(I'm cycling, remember?).

Donald Baxter, Iowa City, Iowa
'85 Vanagon GL
'96 Passat GLX Wagon
'97 Jamis Coda (hybrid bicycle)

www.mindspring.com/~onanov

"While pedestrians should be ensured safety along our roads, the protection
of intermittent foot traffic should not come at the expense of a motorist's
life."
-Tom Coleman, G(eorgia)DOT Commissioner

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Miller" <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: Things that irk me on my vanagon, and GAS PRICES, now that it's
Friday!

> No guts, no, well guts on the highway.  Good choice.
>
> I bike commuted for years.  Inbound, no problem at 5 AM.  Outbound, big
> problem at 4 PM.
>
> Mike
>
> On 2/27/04 8:35 AM, "David Brodbeck" <gull@GULL.US> wrote:
>
> > On Fri, 27 Feb 2004, Joy Hecht wrote:
> >
> >> Bicycles, folks, that's the way to go.  Good for the health, good for
the
> >> environment, reduces demand for fuel, reduces traffic congestion.
> >
> > I really do wish it were possible to ride my bike to work.  It's only
> > three miles, and I enjoy riding.
> >
> > Unfortunately I'd be dead within a week if I tried.  Most of those three
> > miles are on a 45 mph, two-lane road with no shoulder and no sidewalk.
> >
> >
> > David Brodbeck, N8SRE
> > '82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
> > '86 Volvo 240DL wagon
> >
> >