Comments on: Iowa petiton seeks to ban bicycles from most roads http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-8309 Mike Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:04:06 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-8309 This is laughable. Why is a bike considered any more of a hinderance than Iowa tractors, combines, drills, etc on the road? Don't cars and faster trucks have to slow down for all of these also? A bicyclist should be treated with the same regard. Would a farm truck come so close to another farm vehicle that they would hit it with their mirror? NO. So why would they take a chance and drive so close to a bicyclist? What is the 'significant impact' that is being perpetrated by a cyclist? That the truck might get to their destination 15 seconds later? Also, for all those people out there that think that trails were only built for bicyclists, they are also considered walking and jogging trails, and aren't always suited for long distance riding or training, especially for speed events. Long, uninterrupted roads are the only way to train for specific races. Roads were not only made for cars, the laws say so. This is laughable. Why is a bike considered any more of a hinderance than Iowa tractors, combines, drills, etc on the road? Don’t cars and faster trucks have to slow down for all of these also? A bicyclist should be treated with the same regard. Would a farm truck come so close to another farm vehicle that they would hit it with their mirror? NO. So why would they take a chance and drive so close to a bicyclist? What is the ‘significant impact’ that is being perpetrated by a cyclist? That the truck might get to their destination 15 seconds later?
Also, for all those people out there that think that trails were only built for bicyclists, they are also considered walking and jogging trails, and aren’t always suited for long distance riding or training, especially for speed events. Long, uninterrupted roads are the only way to train for specific races. Roads were not only made for cars, the laws say so.

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4203 elliott Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:38:32 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4203 Chad, We'd love to help, but I'm afraid we've got an awful lot of Austinites to straighten out first! Chad,
We’d love to help, but I’m afraid we’ve got an awful lot of Austinites to straighten out first!

]]> By: Chad http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4202 Chad Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:11:49 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4202 You’ve got to understand this is the typical 1950's mentality in Iowa. "Bicycles are a hobby not transportation" is what most folks believe. Most people see cars or preferably trucks as the only way to get from point A to point B. Coming back to Iowa after a decade in Portland, OR has really opened my eyes to what bicycles can really offer a community. Wish some of you bicycle activists from PDX, Chicago, Minneapolis and Austin would come help straighten some of these folks out. You’ve got to understand this is the typical 1950′s mentality in Iowa. “Bicycles are a hobby not transportation” is what most folks believe. Most people see cars or preferably trucks as the only way to get from point A to point B. Coming back to Iowa after a decade in Portland, OR has really opened my eyes to what bicycles can really offer a community. Wish some of you bicycle activists from PDX, Chicago, Minneapolis and Austin would come help straighten some of these folks out.

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4143 elliott Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:25:06 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4143 Carl, I experienced one such person when I did RAGBRAI years ago. While stopped by the side of the road, I listened to a farmer rant about all these cyclist. He had sold part of his land to the government for the construction of a FM road and couldn't understand why all these people were using it once it was built. I agree. We need to make room for all forms of transportation, not just really expensive, fossil fuel using pieces of metal. Carl,
I experienced one such person when I did RAGBRAI years ago. While stopped by the side of the road, I listened to a farmer rant about all these cyclist. He had sold part of his land to the government for the construction of a FM road and couldn’t understand why all these people were using it once it was built.

I agree. We need to make room for all forms of transportation, not just really expensive, fossil fuel using pieces of metal.

]]> By: Carl http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4141 Carl Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:32:34 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4141 I would venture to say that there are more accidents and fatalities related to slow moving, obstucting farm machinery than there are related to bicycles. I would say that this is a small group of radical people that believe because there land surrounds roadways the roads too belong to them. Let's all remember these are public roads... not personal driveways. We all pay taxes to have these roads. We live in a diverse, growing society that must be tolerant of others and learn to change to survive and prosper. Much like people have learned to accept slow moving farm machinery, they must learn to accept bicycles, minorities and reality. I would venture to say that there are more accidents and fatalities related to slow moving, obstucting farm machinery than there are related to bicycles.
I would say that this is a small group of radical people that believe because there land surrounds roadways the roads too belong to them. Let’s all remember these are public roads… not personal driveways. We all pay taxes to have these roads.
We live in a diverse, growing society that must be tolerant of others and learn to change to survive and prosper. Much like people have learned to accept slow moving farm machinery, they must learn to accept bicycles, minorities and reality.

]]> By: james http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4125 james Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:32:19 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4125 if this does pass it would be a sad day in iowa. And what on earth are some of these people smoking with the spending tons of dollars on bike trails. Iowa has very little bike trails as it is and most are grass, dirt, or in the City (sorry we like to see the country side too). Instead of wasting time trying to ban cyclists from the road why not lobby to put in bike lanes like in many europe countries. Also the comment on getting ride of bikes on all city streets that don't have a bike lane has to be the dumbest idea ever. Guess that dummy doesn't want kids riding bikes either. And what about the people that commute to work on a bike (trying to save money on gas and reduce the carbon foot print) I tell you what lets ban walking too. In fact if you can't get somewhere via a powered motor then we should just ban it and become more of a country of fat overweight slobs. if this does pass it would be a sad day in iowa. And what on earth are some of these people smoking with the spending tons of dollars on bike trails. Iowa has very little bike trails as it is and most are grass, dirt, or in the City (sorry we like to see the country side too). Instead of wasting time trying to ban cyclists from the road why not lobby to put in bike lanes like in many europe countries. Also the comment on getting ride of bikes on all city streets that don’t have a bike lane has to be the dumbest idea ever. Guess that dummy doesn’t want kids riding bikes either. And what about the people that commute to work on a bike (trying to save money on gas and reduce the carbon foot print)

I tell you what lets ban walking too. In fact if you can’t get somewhere via a powered motor then we should just ban it and become more of a country of fat overweight slobs.

]]> By: beverly http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4121 beverly Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:03:00 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4121 Instead of banning bicycles, how about putting bike lanes and maintaining them. There is federal money available to do this and it would benefit everyone. Doug is right, it is not about safety, it is about not wanting to be inconvenienced. Instead of banning bicycles, how about putting bike lanes and maintaining them. There is federal money available to do this and it would benefit everyone. Doug is right, it is not about safety, it is about not wanting to be inconvenienced.

]]> By: mark http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4110 mark Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:09:34 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4110 What a sad day. Take away one more freedom. If this passes, I’ll be ashamed to say I’m from Iowa. What a sad day. Take away one more freedom. If this passes, I’ll be ashamed to say I’m from Iowa.

]]> By: Doug http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/08/03/iowa-petiton-seeks-to-ban-bicycles-from-most-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-4108 Doug Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:43:23 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=6783#comment-4108 `It is not surprising in a state that’s agriculture industry is so heavily dependent on petrochemicals.' Um, what? All commercial agriculture nowadays is heavily dependant on petrochemicals. One man, working his farm with his ox could feed his family, with some extra left over to sell at market. But if you want a handful of farmers to be able to feed thousands of people, that's done through tractors, harvesters, etc. Fertilizer might be used. The food is transported with trucks, trains, boats, etc. All heavily dependent on petrochemicals, in *every* state. `Why would you want people to choose transportation that limits this dependence?' Um, you know why people drive. Don't play dumb. They drive because it's usually faster. It requires less effort. You can carry more cargo. The odds of being injured in an accident are smaller. Air conditioning. The reasons go on and on -- and they're real reasons. People aren't going to switch just for more `independence'. (Now, to safe money, that might prompt them to do so. But it'll have to be a lot of money for most people.) `One wonders where Iowans will be when gas returns to $4/gallon or more.' One should know -- they'll be driving their cars, griping about the cost of gas. Sure, some small percentage will switch to walking, biking or public transportation, but most will still be driving. Even at $10/gallon, people will still be driving -- but at least at that point they might start switching to other things in significant numbers. What they're proposing is a remarkably bad idea -- mostly because of how selfish it is. It's not about safety -- it's about not wanting to be inconvenienced. And of course you know that. `It is not surprising in a state that’s agriculture industry is so heavily dependent on petrochemicals.’

Um, what? All commercial agriculture nowadays is heavily dependant on petrochemicals. One man, working his farm with his ox could feed his family, with some extra left over to sell at market.

But if you want a handful of farmers to be able to feed thousands of people, that’s done through tractors, harvesters, etc. Fertilizer might be used. The food is transported with trucks, trains, boats, etc. All heavily dependent on petrochemicals, in *every* state.

`Why would you want people to choose transportation that limits this dependence?’ Um, you know why people drive. Don’t play dumb.

They drive because it’s usually faster. It requires less effort. You can carry more cargo. The odds of being injured in an accident are smaller. Air conditioning. The reasons go on and on — and they’re real reasons. People aren’t going to switch just for more `independence’. (Now, to safe money, that might prompt them to do so. But it’ll have to be a lot of money for most people.)

`One wonders where Iowans will be when gas returns to $4/gallon or more.’ One should know — they’ll be driving their cars, griping about the cost of gas. Sure, some small percentage will switch to walking, biking or public transportation, but most will still be driving. Even at $10/gallon, people will still be driving — but at least at that point they might start switching to other things in significant numbers.

What they’re proposing is a remarkably bad idea — mostly because of how selfish it is. It’s not about safety — it’s about not wanting to be inconvenienced. And of course you know that.

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