[*BCM*] Longfellow/Cambridge Bike Police, Systemic Change, Courteous Mass et al.

[Kate Ziegler]

I just want to say, firstly, that I've really enjoyed all of the discussion
that's been going on the past few days. There have been a lot of interesting
perspectives brought forward, and though I don't necessarily subscribe to
all of them personally, I think sharing and seeing all sides is essential.

That being said, I was really struck by someone else bringing forward the
idea of systemic change - this really is the heart of the issue, as I see
it, and I think between all of our individual road rage and buggaboos on a
daily commuting basis, the larger systemic picture gets lost too often.
Still, this is the argument I tend to take on when challenged - the problem
is not specifically motorists or cyclists, but the system in which we all
operate. The basic system and culture needs to be changed to alleviate the
tensions of biking in a city as unfriendly to bikes as Boston. Yes, I run
red lights - I slow down first, and look, but I would much sooner keep
moving that have traffic honking and swerving around me when the light turns
green. Yes, I move between lines of traffic, because I've been rear-ended
when stopped in a lane. Yes, I ride more than three feet away from the curb,
often taking a lane, even in moderate traffic, but if I'm moving at a
reasonable speed I will always do so, to avoid dooring and debris. Would I
opt to ride differently and follow the rules if it were safe for me to do
so? Of course.

On a study abroad experience in Geneva, Switzerland, I biked everywhere.
Geneva has raised bike paths, bike traffic signals and bike turning lanes.
You can rent bikes for free with a 10 franc, refundable deposit. Women bike
in their heels and men bike in their suits. While certainly this is a
European-style ideal, it makes a world of difference - and running a red
light from your bike lane most often would mean collision with other
cyclists, not collision with cars.

Another city that has made some radical changes to promote cycling and human
friendly spaces in general is Bogota (I'm dying to go!) - this video with
the former mayor highlights a lot of the changes made, and explains the
challenges and obstacles in doing so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGycx75mqRk

On a slight tangent, I had an interesting altercation on my ride to work
this morning - On the underpass on Huntington, going under Mass Ave, a woman
pulled next to me, rolled down her window, honked and yelled that the road
is not a bike lane. As is my standard reaction, especially in the morning
commute downtown, I kept my eye on her car and of course caught up to her a
few lights down. I got off my bike, crossed in the crosswalk and stopped at
her car window, and began to explain (calmly, I'd like to emphasize - I
always try to be polite and calm, as people are usually so startled at being
recognized from inside their rolling castles that being angry would only
escalate) that traffic law both allows and requires me to ride in traffic,
not on the sidewalk, and that I'd like to apologize for any inconvenience to
her. Mid-speech, she rolled up her window, locked her door and RAN A RED
LIGHT to get away from me. I've never seen such a thing, in all the people
I've stopped and all the biking I've done. And really, I can think I'm that
intimidating. Any similar experiences, anyone?

Back to my argument for systemic change (and I think Courteous Mass is a
great addition to Critical Mass in awareness-raising!), this is also and
interesting video on bike-friendly cities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rwwxrWHBB8

Peace and safe riding,
Kate

-- 
Kate Ziegler
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
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