Comments on: So much ignorance, where do I begin?

By: fred_dot_u

fred_dot_u — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:10:20 +0000

mark lane, of the Daytona News-Journal wrote a column in Sunday’s paper about the change in the law. It was more-or-less wishy-washy, but in a favorable direction. He is a “cyclist” but I don’t think he’s taken any training, as is the case for so many riders. He’d probably look quite favorably on getting additional education, but that’s an unfounded opinion, aka a feeling.

By: John Schubert

John Schubert — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:51:54 +0000

Keri,
Where do you begin?
Here’s my answer. (It’s easy for me to say, somewhat less easy for you to do.) Run one of your new classes (which you need a name for!) for newspaper staffers. They probably have a few sports writers, active outdoor writers and columnists who would be interested. Request very strongly that the editor who wrote that editorial attend too.
The ignorance behind the editorial is analogous to someone who’s never seen the inside of an anatomy book telling people how to conduct surgery. Tell them they need a day’s worth of instruction in anatomy.

By: JohnB

JohnB — Sun, 23 May 2010 11:19:31 +0000

Re: LisaB’s comment, it strikes me that it would be worthwhile for someone to contact the Tallahassee newspaper’s editorial board and try to sound out their position on this bill and/or its mandatory bike lane provision.

By: Brrr

Brrr — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:40:09 +0000

If they want to force cyclists to stay in bike lanes (in any jurisdiction), the first step would have to be to ban right turns and parked cars along any bike lane. If they can’t take that simple step (which I’m sure is a non-starter), that alone should help them to understand why cyclists need to stay out of these bike lanes most of the time.

By: danc

danc — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:19:38 +0000

Thumbs down!!

By: rodney

rodney — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:51:14 +0000

I have come to realize that the people who know the least about a subject talk the most and the loudest.

My co-workers are amongst these so called “experts on the issue”. I have YET to get one of them to ride with me in the bike lane.

Apparently, they KNOW the truth and are trying to save face in a cowardly way. It goes like saying “I am the man of the house……when my wife is not around.”

One must have an idea of the TRUE reality of the situation is, but most folks just will not take the opportunity or expend the effort to be anything other than an armchair QB or backseat driver.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Sat, 22 May 2010 15:57:43 +0000

Measured, controlled, fact-based responses to this editorial are appropriate. That said, it’s unlikely this editorial will have any impact on the governor’s decision. The newspaper doesn’t have that much clout in Tallahassee. But I’m wondering what prompted the Sentinel editorial board to select this topic. If the editors support the many provisions of HB 971 (like allowing drunk drivers to get their license back after four offenses), they would have cited these and explained their merits in a compelling and convincing way. But HB 971 — an 81-page bill — was barely mentioned. No, this editorial board is not in favor of HB 971, which BTW the Sentinel political writers barely covered during the session. They’re in favor of mandatory use of bike lanes and all that it entails. Which begs the question why…why now?… and makes me wonder who — or what — is really behind this editorial.

By: JohnB

JohnB — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:31:24 +0000

And a link to this post too.

By: JohnB

JohnB — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:30:45 +0000

Where do you begin? Letters to the editor. Lots of them. Summarizing this post. And Brad or Mighk should respond with a guest editorial. Get on it! Good luck!