tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post5370521943947852967..comments2023-12-30T23:01:56.043-08:00Comments on Safe Streets Northridge: Northidge South Neighborhood Council unanimously supports completion of Reseda bike lanes.Safe Streets Northridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08101253359844352877noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141869576631967681.post-34016603049092536712011-04-05T22:41:56.277-07:002011-04-05T22:41:56.277-07:00Just want to let you know that I've really bee...Just want to let you know that I've really been digging the blog. When I had more time on my hands a few years ago, I put about 3000 miles on my bike riding around here. Most days, I was just about the only bike on the road. I decided to try to set an example and obey all the traffic laws in the UVC and LAVC. I stopped at stop signs and waved wary cars with the right-of-way on their way. I rode in the streets with traffic and was often forced off the road with honks and obscenities. But I often kept pace with traffic, and caught up to assailants at the next light, making a point to voice my displeasure loud and clear. But I had resigned myself to fate: As bicycling moulded itself as a foundation of my well being, it also became very likely be the death of me. Drivers are just too careless, aggressive and uninformed of actual traffic law to be safe entities with which to intermingle. I confronted quite a few people, afraid of their sudden vulnerability from an angry biker that caught up, of what could have been the consequences of their carefree habits.<br />"You could have killed me!"<br />"I gave you plenty of space..."<br />"Really? Did you hear the straps from my backpack hitting the side of your car? Just give me some space!"<br />And so on...<br />After an accident at work, I hung my bike up for a while. When I got well enough to work again, work was jamming. Even in this economy, work has left me busy and exhausted. I drive a lot from job to job (can't bike with a load of lumber and tools), and I've been seeing more and more bikes on the road. Not just bikes on the sidewalks, afraid to actually obey the law because doing so might be a bitter end, but bikes making left lane turns, taking lanes, pacing traffic! And to top it off, drivers are getting used to it. I don't see so many people cutting off bikers or honking at them or running them off the roads.<br />From where I am, things are looking up! I can't wait to get some free time and ride like I used to. But this time, maybe it won't have to be the death of me. Maybe we actually CAN have cake.bawbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05007308381450058492noreply@blogger.com