re: ‘Copenhagen’s bicycle ambassador talks about how important the bicycle is for liveable cities and how bicycle helmets are threatening bicycle culture.
‘
I note that not a single British City appears on his list of those making some effort for bikes. Interesting and slightly worrying
I could see a helmet law taking place in real life. I seriously doubt any city in America would ever institute a sidewalk only ordinance in their city’s charter. Furthermore, having tango’ed with the local law in an effort to change the local regulations, (albeit for a pedicab ordinance) the movement of the regulations has moved WAY too fast. I know some might argue this could have taken place over the span of weeks or months. If that were the case, why wasn’t Yehuda aware?
On the other half of the coin, Rick and Brian, you guys are doing a great job at engaging the reader (me) and striking the emotions.
On a separate note: What was the movie casting all about?
Most of the suggested cast was way to old and in some cases miscast. UNLESS the suggesting party was casting under the assumption the cast could be pulled from when they were in the appropriate age bracket, for example Jeff Bridges. No way he could be Yehuda now, but back in the day. . .
I made some suggestions but Im not sure the comment was ever posted. It always said, “Waiting for moderator approval.” Im guessing its because I linked to the IMDB pages.
Sorry! I had assumed I had set the comment filter to ‘low moderation’ but a few still were sitting in the pending queue. Apologies to the other eleven commenters as well waiting for their comment to appear here (or another day).
A clickable link to such a quintessential Wagner piece being played would be good – a son et lumiere strip. However, I realise that migrating the strip to a different platform is not something that can be achieved without problems arising, so no pressure…..
I’m guessing Yehuda will try to pass a law forcing gasholes (car drivers and passengers) to wear helmets for their safety. They won’t like that so much.
Go get ‘em Yehuda!!!
Of course, the idea is preposterous on its face for a number of reasons, but even assuming for a second it’s not entirely farcical, what do you do when someone from the next town over cycles over, or a touring cyclist from another state or country even comes through, who is then found to not have registered her bike?
Preaching to the choir, I know, but this is one of the questions that comes to mind every time this idea ever surfaces…
Actually, where I grew up (Portsmouth, Virginia) they’ve had mandatory bicycle registration since at least sometime in the 1960s. You went down to City Hall and gave them your bike’s serial number and a dollar or two, and they gave you a decal with a registration number you put on the seat tube of the bike. Supposedly it was an anti-theft measure; if the police recovered a stolen bike they would check the serial number against the registration records and notify the owner. (I never heard of anyone getting their bike back that way, but that was the theory.) The registration was a one-time thing and did not have to be renewed. I just checked online and they still have it; they call it a “bicycle license” and the fee is collected by the City Treasurer’s office.
Oh wow, a nightmare has begun! When I argued against mandatory helmet laws locally I took the stance that creating laws you know you can’t enforce and that encourage otherwise ordinary people to be lawbreakers just further erodes the strength of the law. I painted an image of cops trying to chase errant cyclists over a helmet bylaw. How easy is it really to catch a cyclist who doesn’t want to stop when you’re in a car? Then when you do, how to ticket them? Canadians are not required to submit to a search nor to carry ID when moving about the country, so how do you verify their identity when you catch a bare-headed cyclist?
So many control freaks think it’s as simple as making a rule then everyone follows it because it exists, but it’s not like that, we still have free choice, we can still dodge the enforcers, we can still disagree. When you take away the citizen’s ability to defy a law, you take away their ability to defy an unjust law. A society is only as free as the citizen’s ability to defy an unjust law.
I think what Yehuda should do is argue since bikes can only ride on streets where safe, offer the numbers of car on bike incidents and suggest cars only be allowed on all roads during peak hours.
Only affect 10 people!?! Yehuda and his pals should have headed this off already by actually counting cyclists. The methodology of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation project (national=USA) is very useful in this regard. We did this in Alexandria, VA and have been clubbing people over the head with “a million people per year on the Mt Vernon Trail” ever since. A year after we started, even the Mayor quotes our numbers.
looking forward to this plot progression, lets go Yehuda!
Like
Golden era of peaceful sipping coffe is over!
Roll on Critical Mass. Take down this townhall junta, Yehuda!
“Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups.” or “A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned.”
How about a Critical Mass ride on the sidewalks?! That should raise some eyebrows!
Hi!
I fuound a presentation concerning helmet laws and there effects … http://www.nationaler-radverkehrsplan.de/eu-bund-laender/eu/velocity/presentations/velocity2007_th3a3_pres.pdf
Show them this, Yehuda! http://youtu.be/07o-TASvIxY
That is a thoughtful item…
re: ‘Copenhagen’s bicycle ambassador talks about how important the bicycle is for liveable cities and how bicycle helmets are threatening bicycle culture.
‘
I note that not a single British City appears on his list of those making some effort for bikes. Interesting and slightly worrying
I could see a helmet law taking place in real life. I seriously doubt any city in America would ever institute a sidewalk only ordinance in their city’s charter. Furthermore, having tango’ed with the local law in an effort to change the local regulations, (albeit for a pedicab ordinance) the movement of the regulations has moved WAY too fast. I know some might argue this could have taken place over the span of weeks or months. If that were the case, why wasn’t Yehuda aware?
On the other half of the coin, Rick and Brian, you guys are doing a great job at engaging the reader (me) and striking the emotions.
On a separate note: What was the movie casting all about?
Most of the suggested cast was way to old and in some cases miscast. UNLESS the suggesting party was casting under the assumption the cast could be pulled from when they were in the appropriate age bracket, for example Jeff Bridges. No way he could be Yehuda now, but back in the day. . .
I made some suggestions but Im not sure the comment was ever posted. It always said, “Waiting for moderator approval.” Im guessing its because I linked to the IMDB pages.
Sorry! I had assumed I had set the comment filter to ‘low moderation’ but a few still were sitting in the pending queue. Apologies to the other eleven commenters as well waiting for their comment to appear here (or another day).
We can always do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLoPA_I6SL8
That last panel should have “Ride of the Valkyries” playing in the background.
I can already hear it playing in my head
A clickable link to such a quintessential Wagner piece being played would be good – a son et lumiere strip. However, I realise that migrating the strip to a different platform is not something that can be achieved without problems arising, so no pressure…..
But here’s a DIY link anyway… http://ia700200.us.archive.org/21/items/RideOfTheValkyries/ride_of_the_valkyries_2.mp3
LIKE.
If Yehuda rode like this, he’d be there by now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kiXh8YOzk
I’m guessing Yehuda will try to pass a law forcing gasholes (car drivers and passengers) to wear helmets for their safety. They won’t like that so much.
Go get ‘em Yehuda!!!
Mandatory bike registration?
Of course, the idea is preposterous on its face for a number of reasons, but even assuming for a second it’s not entirely farcical, what do you do when someone from the next town over cycles over, or a touring cyclist from another state or country even comes through, who is then found to not have registered her bike?
Preaching to the choir, I know, but this is one of the questions that comes to mind every time this idea ever surfaces…
Actually, where I grew up (Portsmouth, Virginia) they’ve had mandatory bicycle registration since at least sometime in the 1960s. You went down to City Hall and gave them your bike’s serial number and a dollar or two, and they gave you a decal with a registration number you put on the seat tube of the bike. Supposedly it was an anti-theft measure; if the police recovered a stolen bike they would check the serial number against the registration records and notify the owner. (I never heard of anyone getting their bike back that way, but that was the theory.) The registration was a one-time thing and did not have to be renewed. I just checked online and they still have it; they call it a “bicycle license” and the fee is collected by the City Treasurer’s office.
Oh wow, a nightmare has begun! When I argued against mandatory helmet laws locally I took the stance that creating laws you know you can’t enforce and that encourage otherwise ordinary people to be lawbreakers just further erodes the strength of the law. I painted an image of cops trying to chase errant cyclists over a helmet bylaw. How easy is it really to catch a cyclist who doesn’t want to stop when you’re in a car? Then when you do, how to ticket them? Canadians are not required to submit to a search nor to carry ID when moving about the country, so how do you verify their identity when you catch a bare-headed cyclist?
So many control freaks think it’s as simple as making a rule then everyone follows it because it exists, but it’s not like that, we still have free choice, we can still dodge the enforcers, we can still disagree. When you take away the citizen’s ability to defy a law, you take away their ability to defy an unjust law. A society is only as free as the citizen’s ability to defy an unjust law.
Well said Yolanda
Never confuse laws – or “morality” – with Ethics. They seldom intersect.
shouldn’t our hero be caped as he rides out into the night?
Or at least wearing his rain cape.
I think what Yehuda should do is argue since bikes can only ride on streets where safe, offer the numbers of car on bike incidents and suggest cars only be allowed on all roads during peak hours.
Welcome to Australia – we already have mandatory helmet laws!
this story arc has got me, the next panel can’t come fast enough.
Only affect 10 people!?! Yehuda and his pals should have headed this off already by actually counting cyclists. The methodology of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation project (national=USA) is very useful in this regard. We did this in Alexandria, VA and have been clubbing people over the head with “a million people per year on the Mt Vernon Trail” ever since. A year after we started, even the Mayor quotes our numbers.